She giggles. “Bodice rippers, huh?”
I cock my head to the side. “Yes. Zav said they’d be helpful.”
“Oh, baby.” She pats my shoulder. “So helpful.” She leans in and presses a kiss to my cheek. My chilled skin instantly warms at her touch. A motorcycle in the dead of winter in Chicagowould be too much for most people, but I don’t feel temperature the way a normal human would. It’s probably too much for Ava, though, so after today I won’t take her out much until it warms up.
“Have a good day at work,” I tell her, my hand skimming hers as she goes to leave.
“Have fun with your bodice rippers,” she laughs.
I long to tell her I love her. At least I think that’s what this feeling deep in my chest is. It’s similar to what I felt for my sister, but different. More, somehow. Something deeper. But I don’t think now is the time to say it. I wait until the door shuts behind her and the wind has carried her scent away from me before I don my helmet once more and speed off toward the library.
Bodice rippers arefascinating. In the span of just a few hours I’ve devoured three. I can’t seem to read fast enough. I never knew there were so many names for the male appendage. Things like sword and sheath and velvet-covered steel. It’s fascinating.
I send a text to Zav.
Me: These books are intriguing. Thank you for the recommendation.
He immediately sends back a laughing emoji. I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean. I’ve gotten better at texting, but the slang and emojis are still problematic for me.
Me: Why are you laughing?
Zav: No, reason, Valentine.
He sends a bunch of hearts behind that.
I bristle.
Me: Valen. Call me Valen.
Zav: Okay, Cupid.
Me: Do not call me that.
He doesn’t reply, and after a few minutes, I send a string of question marks, but he continues to ignore me. With a huff, I slide my phone back into my pocket and return to reading. These books might not be helping me with any sort of research, but they’re incredibly addictive and hard to put down.
They’re so hard to put down, in fact, that Ava rings and asks me where I am. It’s only then I realize I was supposed to pick her up ten minutes ago. I quickly put away the stack of books I read and head to the checkout with the others so I can read them at home. Waving to Edith on the way out, I place them gently in my backpack, not wanting to damage the books in any way. Then I hurry out to my bike and to pick up Ava.
As soon as I pull up, I know there’s something wrong. It’s in her posture. In the way she keeps her arms wrapped tightly around her body on the sidewalk and her head downcast like she doesn’t want to meet my gaze. She pulls the helmet on and hops on behind me. Her arms squeeze me tight as I pull into traffic.
“I need to ask you something,” she says when we get back to the garage beneath the apartment building.
“What is it?” I ask, reaching behind me to rub her thigh before she fully climbs off.
“Do you think they’re still looking for you?” she asks, holding the helmet to her chest. I hop off and take it from her, carrying both to the elevator. “Whoever took you andheld you prisoner?” I can tell it pains her to ask me this. It’s rare that Ava is withdrawn, and I don’t like it one bit.
I shut my eyes, recalling a memory from a few weeks ago. It was after I took Ava to work, a day much like today. I didn’t tell her because speaking out loud would make it feel too real.
I’m being followed.
The thought is instinctual. As discreetly as possible, I change my course and sure enough, the man about fifty feet behind me also changes direction. When I manage to catch a glimpse of him, he doesn’t look familiar, but he is a vampire, and that’s all the confirmation I need.
This isn’t someone friendly. His aura is a putrid color.
Stay calm,I tell myself.
I let my senses do most of the work for me. I don’t smell or feel anyone else nearby that I think is a threat.
Turning down an alley, I scale the wall and wait in a shadowed corner.
