Page 12 of Fangs and Family
I undressed in the bedroom and headed toward the bath, knowing I had to relieve the tension in my body or I’d never be able to think clearly. In the past, I would simply call a discrete agency for someone willing to make a donation and, depending on how they felt, possibly do something a little more pleasurable. Now, though, I had to rely on bagged blood and the microwave. My head was too messed up for anything else.
‘What have you done to me, Nina?’ I said, sliding into the bath and letting the water cradle my tired body until sweet oblivion gathered me in its arms, leaving only the image of her beautiful Romani eyes2 in my mind.
It had been two days since I’d talked to Nina, and it took all of my willpower not to drive to her apartment. I wanted to see her, but that would only repeat the mistake I’d made in the past. My assumption that she felt the same as I did ended with the door being slammed in my face, convincing me I’d assumed wrong. This time, Nina had to come to me; it had to be her choice. The other, less noble reason I hadn’t gone, was to prove to myself I was stronger than my need for her. Two years of stewing in doubts and anger, unsure of what I’d done wrong to deserve her outburst, still hurt like a festering wound, and I would not beg for her attention.
Two days! How long will you make me wait?I thought, buttoning my shirt, this time carefully, as the previous attempt left me looking like a child who didn’t know how to dress. The tension was wearing me out, and I felt physically tired while waiting for Nina’s call. I spent my time investigating her past. Even with Sara’s revelations, I couldn’t find much, and it only angered me when I found out how much her brother and her husband had taken from her.
The telephone rang, reminding me of a meeting with a client. There was no number on the screen, only the word private flashing repeatedly until I picked it up.
‘Yes?’
‘Adam … it’s Nina…erm… can we talk?’ Her voice sounded hesitant, but the sound of it left me smiling like a fool.Finally, my darling. You finally called, and now we can play. My thoughts raced, overjoyed by the end of this waiting game.
‘Adam? Are you there? Gods, I thought this was the right number. I’m sorry, my bad.’ She blurted out, and before I could answer, Nina ended the call.
‘Fuck!’ I looked at the grey cellphone as if the lump of electronics was to blame for my blunder. Calming my breath, I tapped in Nina’s number.
‘Hi, Nina. Sorry about that, I was with a client,’ I lied, the words flowing from my lips smoothly to explain my lack of response.
‘Ah, I’m sorry. I can try again later.’ She said, but this time, I didn’t let her finish.
‘No, you wanted to talk, and it took you two days to decide on calling me. So we’ll talk.’ I answered harshly and heard her sucking in her outrage.
‘Well, if you wanted to talk to me sooner, you should have called me. It’s not like you don’t have my number. Oh, and there’s no need to worry; I won’t be asking Sara to scry for me again.’ The anger in her voice drove out the hesitancy, as she sounded more like the Nina I knew.
‘Oh, should I call you? After calling me a man-whore and, if I remember correctly, an obsessive leech, then telling me if I ever called you again, you’d stab my withered heart with a splintered stake?’ The silence from Nina made me curse my lack of control, which made the two years of suppressed anger spill out.
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realised they still hurt. Nina had wounded me more than I’d ever admitted, and a small part of me wanted justice for how she made me feel. Still, I shouldn’t have brought it up now, no matter how good it felt.
After a long pause, Nina spoke, her voice quiet but determined, almost emotionless.
‘I’m sorry, alright? I was wrong. You’re not an obsessive leech. Can’t we just forget about it, have a normal conversation and try to get on? Leszek and Sara won’t be splitting up anytime soon, and it’ll break their hearts to see us continually fighting.’ The reasonable request grated, especially following the incomplete apology, but I held my temper and turned on the false charm.
‘Of course, Nina. We can even be casual acquaintances if that’ll make you happy. So what can I do for you?’ I said, grinding my teeth while fighting with conflicting emotions.
‘I need help finding my brother. I tried every other option, but when they failed, everyone pointed me in your direction. I will pay for your time, of course,’ she said, and I barked out in surprised amusement, annoyed she didn’t ask me as a friend, clearly putting money as a barrier between us.
‘Did the nurses suddenly get a pay raise? I don’t think you can afford my services.’ I couldn’t help myself.
I worked for Leszek’s Amber Syndicate, but he didn’t mind if I took a side job every now and again. However, my services didn’t come cheap, and my clientele were either wealthy or talented individuals with something unique to offer in payment. Even if Nina sold all of her possessions, she wouldn’t be able to afford me. Not that she needed to. I was going to help her anyway, but she didn’t need to know it. I wanted her desperate to agree to anything I proposed because I knew what I would ask of her would be a difficult pill to swallow.
‘You’re an arsehole, you know that, don’t you?’ she said with a sigh before adding. ‘Fine, what do you want?’
I want you. I want to see you, touch you, taste you…I want time to convince you that you never want me to leave,whispered the voice in my head. Unfortunately, I couldn’t say that because if Nina suspected that was my intention, I would have the proverbial door slammed in my face again.
‘This isn’t a conversation to hold over the phone. Let’s meet. I know a place in town, a steak house.’ I said, hoping the smell of raw blood and roasted meat would distract me from the intoxicating scent of Nina’s skin, which I remembered all too well.
‘You in a steak house? No irony there, then. Fine, when?’ she asked, and I quickly sent her the name and address.
‘This evening, Nina. I’ll meet you there at seven and make sure you have an appetite. I don’t want to attract attention talking over an empty plate.’
‘Oh, what else? Will you tell me what to wear too?’ She said, and for some reason, her snappy tone made me happy. That was my Nina, the woman who pushed her fingers into my mouth to examine my fangs.
‘Wear the red one, sweetheart. Your skin looks ravishing in red.’ The image of her in the short red dress with her pixie-cut hair enhancing the curve of that delicious neck sent a shiver of anticipation straight into my groin.
Well, thank you, Pawel,I whispered after she ended the call. I didn’t care about that bastard’s life. He was my chance to get closer to Nina, and I was going to take it because simply talking to her made me happier than any moment over the last two years.
I arrived early at the restaurant in order to use the time to have a brief conversation with the manager, using a little compulsion and no small amount of money to persuade them to keep the tables surrounding our booth free from customers. The aroma of sizzling meat and blood washed over my heightened senses, distracting me, and I congratulated myself on the choice of venue.
