Page 46 of Fade With Me

As I considered my options, Sal suddenly emerged from the kitchen, muttering curses under his breath. A fresh stain had splattered across his already-greasy white shirt.Oh no, now it’s ruined,the sarcasm practically oozing from my mind.

His sharp gaze locked onto mine, his temper fraying even further. “What are you looking at?!” he barked, his tone barely restrained.

He was in one of his moods, loud and brash, even by his usual standards. The diner phone shrilled, slicing through the tension in the air. Sal snatched it up on the first ring, his response short and sharp. “Yeah?”

I could hear Reggie’s voice muffled on the other end, but the words remained indistinct. Sal steppedoutside to continue the conversation in private, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a thousand questions about what they were discussing.

I had to act fast. Sal would be back in ten to fifteen minutes, tops. There was no time to waste. If I was going to make a move, it had to be now. Without a second thought, I peeked out the window to confirm he was still engrossed in his call, then bolted for his office.

When I reached the door, I paused, casting a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure I was alone. A deep breath steadied my nerves, and I turned the knob, easing it open. The office was a mess, papers strewn across the desk in a chaotic swirl, a reflection of its owner’s haphazard personality. I dove in, rifling through the clutter, careful not to disrupt the disarray. Invoices, financial reports, and miscellaneous documents stared back at me, but none held the answers I was looking for.

Just when I was about to give up, something caught my eye: a small, delicate silver pendant in the shape of a viper, nestled among the scattered papers. Its intricate design shimmered faintly in the dim light, the black onyx eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. I felt an inexplicable pull toward the serpent, as if it were beckoning me to touch it. Before I could second-guess myself, my fingers brushed against the cool metal.

A surge of energy shot through me, like a spark of electricity crackling through my veins. The sensationwas equal parts exhilarating and terrifying, leaving me breathless and unsure if I’d imagined it. I yanked my hand back, startled, and stared at my fingertips, half-expecting the pendant to have left a mark. My pulse quickened. Intrigue and dread twisted inside me, and the air seemed to hum with silence, as if its power was still echoing deep inside my mind.

But before I could process what had happened, the sound of Sal’s boots hitting the floor outside sent a jolt of panic through me. I whipped around and knocked over a stack of papers, sending them fluttering to the ground in a noisy cascade.

“No!” I hissed, breath catching in my throat.

My hands trembled as I shoved everything back onto the desk, praying he wouldn’t notice. One last glance, and I bolted for the door. It clicked shut behind me, soft but final.

Sal had his back to me, but the moment he heard my footsteps, he spun around, suspicion tightening his features. “What are you doing?” he demanded, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

I forced a nonchalant tone, hoping to throw him off. “Do I need to start asking permission to use the restroom now?” I shot back, feigning innocence.

He blinked slowly, the silence stretching tight between us. His expression shifted, but he said nothing. Instead, his jaw tensed and his nostrils flared, subtle but telling. I flashed him a sweet smile before turning on myheel, heading back to the front to restock the napkins and condiments.

As my shift wound down, I left the diner with a false sense of normalcy. But the moment I passed the windows, I pivoted sharply and slipped across the street to the convenience store, keeping low and quick. I scanned the parking lot, careful not to draw attention.

A sharp whistle cut through the air. I turned to see Zeke’s car tucked away in a corner. I returned a subtle wave, then jogged over, careful to keep my movements low-key. Sliding into the passenger seat, I shut the door quickly, hoping we hadn’t been noticed. With a smooth shift, Zeke pulled out of the lot, leaving the diner and its watchful eyes behind us.

As we drove off, Zeke’s gaze lingered on me, his eyes sweeping over my dress. “This is my favorite one yet.”

The compliment stirred a warm flutter in my stomach, and a genuine smile spread across my face. “Thanks!” But then, Sal’s words echoed in my mind:Your dress looks like trash.Trash my ass.

He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, his fingers tapping a relaxed rhythm on the steering wheel. “So,” he said, his voice casual yet laced with something warmer, something inviting. “How do you feel about heading to my place to go over our plans?”

A spark of excitement flickered to life inside me. “Yeah, of course,” I replied, my words tinged withanticipation. “As long as I’m home by eight, we can go anywhere.”

Then, as my gaze drifted back to the road ahead, something clicked. “Wait—are you staying at an Airbnb or a hotel?”

I had to be careful. I couldn’t risk Reggie seeing me walk into some seedy hotel with a strange man. That would set off all kinds of alarms.

He paused for a moment, then gave a casual shrug. “I actually bought a house. Didn’t want to risk anyone coming in and out.”

Of course he did.

A mental picture formed as I imagined his house. I pictured a grand estate, with immaculate lawns stretching out and a sprawling mansion that would make my farmhouse look like a shack by comparison. Maybe a team of servants scurrying around, and Zeke referring to his bedroom as a “chamber” in a way that was equal parts aristocratic and absurd.

But when we pulled into the driveway, I gasped. “Your house is…really charming,” I blurted out, feeling sheepish about having imagined something entirely different.

His eyes narrowed into thin slits, full of suspicion. “What were you expecting, exactly?”

I shifted, a flicker of embarrassment creeping in. “At this point? Honestly?” I let out a breath, lifting my hands in exasperation. “A castle with a dragon.”

His laughter came instantly, rich and full, wrapping around me like a familiar melody. He tipped his head back, the sound filling the space, warm and unguarded.

The car rolled to a standstill, and the driver's seat was empty. Zeke had vanished in the blink of an eye. Before I could even process it, he was already outside, swinging my door open with a flourish.

---