Page 68 of Dark Things
“Same, football season is in full swing, so I’ve been practicing a lot. Where’s your boyfriend?”
I stop just outside of the track and turn to give Tom my full attention, which for most is not a good thing. He’s fidgeting, moving from foot to foot, his ears turning a light shade of red.
“Haunt had other things to do. Why?”
He shrugs and looks out watching the other horses and handlers on the track for a moment before turning toward me. “He’s not a good guy. I know you haven’t been at Skyton long, and we don’t really know eachother, but that guy isn’t right in the head. I wanted to warn you.”
If I wasn’t so fucking sick with worry I might laugh and make a joke, but today I only have my own poisoned blood circulating around my body. There’s no room for joy or laughter without Haunt.
“Look, Tom, I take it you’re not a fan of Haunt’s, but you really don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Haunt isn’t the one who should come with a warning label. It’s me. I’m not a good girl, or whatever the fuck you’re thinking.”
His face should look shocked or worried, but it doesn’t, and that leaves a pit in my stomach. I walk closer to him, putting me shoulder to shoulder with Caviar. The horse is starting to get antsy, and I need to get him on this track and warmed up if we’re going to make the race, but Tom looks like he knows something, and that’s a fucking problem.
He blows out a breath, and his hands go into the pockets of his jeans. I give him a small assessment, waiting for his response.
Finally he speaks. “Do you know who you’re really racing for? Who Haunt’s family is?”
My blood turns frozen. No one should know who Stan really is. No one outside our bubble of minions knows who he was in his old life. Stan Graves is a racehorse owner, breeder, and all around douchebag to clients, but no oneknows.
“I’m going to warn you because you seem like agood guy. Forget everything you know about Stan Graves. Go to Cornell, make something of yourself and stay out of the business that you truly don’t want a part of.”
His eyes find mine, the intensity there something I haven’t seen in a regular guy in a long time. Tom is involved with something, but I don’t have time to find out what. I tug on the lead and walk Caviar around Tom, not turning back.
“Just be careful,” he says, but I don’t respond.
Walking Caviar into the entrance of the barn, I use the mounting block off to the side and climb on. He does his stupid dance, throwing his head a little, but I keep him grounded and in the zone. Maybe if I get his brain to concentrate on racing I won’t have an issue with getting him through the gate, because I don’t have fucking time to deal with overexcited horses, asshole bosses, or sweet guys who think they can save me.
A part of my heart is gone, and that’s the only thing that’s important right now.
28
Haunt
THE NIGHT BEFORE
The guys bring me to the club. I was hoping we’d go to the ranch that Mario calls home, but I guess this is as good as I’m going to get—not that I’m looking forward to the near future. I’m sure it’s going to fucking hurt.
They tried to grill me in the car about what Reb told me to tell Brooks, but I’ve been quiet, my mind on how she’s going to come for me. It’s not going to be pretty. When Reb is in a mood, a lot of people die.
My hands are tied, and my clothes are a little ripped. I even have a cut lip from the punch Colter threw because he didn’t like being told ‘no’ one too many times. It’s the least of my worries.
The club is closed when we get inside, everyone gone for the night. They lead me toward the same curtain we discovered last time we were here. Staffholds a keycard to the reader and the door clicks open. Silence greets us, but that’s not always a good thing.
The corridor leads to three different doors. The one on the end is slightly ajar. I can hear low voices talking the closer we get, and once we’re in front of the door, I know who’s behind it.
Staff knocks on the door and a voice calls to enter. When Mario looks up from the papers on his desk his face falls into a frown. “What the fuck is this?” he asks, his eyes darting to Colter first.
“We caught a rabbit,” Colt says, giving me a small push forward. “Thought he’d be better suited here than at the fight club.”
Gino scoffs from behind him, but Mario’s gone a little too still. I guess my reputation precedes me.
“And how exactly is that you caught Ghost?” he says, voice low. He steeples his fingers, glaring at Colter.
Brooks jerks from behind me. Guess not everyone knows who I truly am. “Clocked him outside of the club. Didn’t see us coming. Figured he’d be more important than Brooks fighting. We came straight here,” Colter says.
Staff’s fists are clenching next to me, and I can hear the rise of Brooks’ breathing, but my attention is focused on Gino’s cruel smile. He’s practically bouncing on his feet. I imagine I’m going to get worse than what we did to him in the forest. Should have killed him when I had the chance.
Mario stares at me for a moment. He doesn’t seem happy about me being here, and that’s curious. If he’s hated Stan as much as Stan hates him, why isn’t he using this as an opportunity? I dislike that I don’t know the answer to that.
