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I stiffened, then glanced over at Mrs. Mankin. “Hey, Mrs. M? Did you see anyone go into the shop tonight?” My gaze flicked back to the open back door as apprehension lifted the hair off the back of my neck.
But it could be as harmless as one of my employees coming in unexpectedly. And two of them had keys, so really, Mario could have come in tonight to get a head start on Christmas pickup orders, or Justin could be here to drop off an order.
But there were no delivery vans, and Mario’s car wasn't parked in the lot.
“Dear?”
I looked back at Mrs. Mankin and realized she’d been speaking. “Sorry, what?”
“Would you like me to call Harold, Jack?” she asked. “So you don’t have to go in alone?”
I shook my head. No offense to Mr. Mankin, but I trusted my own abilities to save myself more than I trusted his. “No, thank you. I remember now; I just forgot to lock up earlier.” It was a lie, but I definitely didn’t need her or her elderly husband strolling into the shop behind me and becoming accidental victims if someone was here to steal from me. Or worse, harm me.
Had I not revoked Gannon’s entry earlier, I’d chalk this up to an ex-boyfriend who was unwilling to take a hint.
After holding my gaze for a long time, Mrs. M finally nodded, then slipped inside the cleaners.
I breathed deeply and tucked my keys into my pocket, then slung my purse over my arm, and readied myself with my dominant hand hovering near my stake. Then I pushed the door open and moved quickly inside.
The door shut behind me without my help, and I froze as a sinking sensation filled my belly with dread.
I definitely wasn’t alone.
But, thanks to Vinny and his surprise attack last week, this time, beneath my puffy jacket, was a holster and two sharpened stakes.
This time, I was prepared.
I was also excited, because it was likely Vinny again, showing up to test me before our date. I bit down on my bottom lip to keep from grinning—
“Jack,” a man who was not Vinny said.
Ice trickled down my spine and cooled my blood. My pulse sped as I struggled to focus in the dark shop, frustrated by the lack of nightlights. After Vinny’s surprise visit, I’d told myself I wanted to install low lighting that would stay on all night so I’d never be caught off guard in pitch blackness again, but I had yet to act on that idea.
“I’d expected a male.” He chuckled softly and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. “Your father was a clever man.”
My muscles hardened at the mention of my father and I took a step back, but the vampire tsked and I froze.
“Surely he was clever enough to have taught you not to run from a vampire.” The man’s voice was velvety smooth and deliciously accented and I hated the way I liked the sound of it.
Because this was the one I’d been waiting for.
I knew it with every cell of my being.
“You knew my father.”
“Indeed, I did.” English, but not modern England. The lilting way he said each word indicated royalty and wealth, not modern-day slang. But there was no telling with vamps; they could be twenty years old or two-hundred… and not look a day over twelve.
I tilted my head, searching for the monster in the dark kitchen. I’d waited almost a year for his appearance.
I wanted to see my enemy.
Wanted to look into the eyes of the man who turned his back on my father.
I struggled to keep my anger under control even as my blood boiled. I’d been training for this moment for so long but had begun to think he’d moved on.
Or been staked.
I’d hoped for the latter.
