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There was no way to take the suitcase and the cat with him into the shadows. Small objects were one thing, but an animal and a large suitcase were another story. He was going to have to leave Sorrel’s apartment the old-fashioned way.
It was just past seven in the morning. The sleepy town of Riverhaven was, unfortunately, anything but. Eric had hardly made it down Sorrel’s apartment stairs before he ran into one of her employees. He thought his name was Mateo.
Mateo was wearing a pink apron covered in flour. If it were any other day, Eric would have smiled at the scene. Mateo waited at the bottom of the stairs, eyeing Eric and his cargo suspiciously.
“Hey, man.” Mateo flicked his head. “Have you seen Sorrel? She should have been at the bakery an hour ago, and she’s not answering her phone.”
Eric hated lying, but he had no choice. He smiled. “Sorry about that. I was keeping her busy, if you know what I mean.”
Mateo gave him knowing grin. “It’s about time.”
Eric held up the suitcase which was, oddly, gray, not pink, and the cat. “Actually, we were hoping to get away this weekend for some alone time. Sorrel will be down soon to make arrangements with you.”
Mateo slapped Eric on the arm, his eyes focused in on the rope marks around Eric’s wrist.
Damn. I should have covered those up. I don’t have time to alter Mateo’s thoughts.
Mateo wagged his brows. “Dang! You guys got your freak on last night. It’s always the sweet, quiet ones.”
Eric had half a mind to punch Mateo for thinking such things about Sorrel, but he was too grateful for his dirty mind.
“You’re a lucky man. Bonita is over the moon for you. Now maybe she’ll stop playing her sad love songs.”
Every word Mateo said was like a stab to his heart. “I hope so too. I wish I could talk longer, but I’m anxious to get going.”
“Of course. Of course. Don’t let me keep you. But, a word of warning: treat her right or you’ll answer to me. If I have to hear “Endless Love” one more time, I may shoot you.”
Eric would let him. “Take care, man.” Eric sauntered off, trying not to act suspicious. He knew he would be a person of interest once they discovered Sorrel was missing, and if she died, he would be suspect number one. It was true though. He’d inadvertently killed her. No. She can’t be dead.
He jogged across the bridge to where he had parked his car, hoping his father hadn’t seen it or what was in it. He’d obviously been following Eric. For how long, he didn’t know. Eric threw Sorrel’s suitcase in his trunk before hopping in the driver’s side with Tara, who he placed on his passenger seat. With trepidation, he reached into the shadow under his dashboard and breathed a sigh of relief. His blasted book was still there. Eric pulled it out and held it in front of him. “I hate you. She’s going to die and it’s all my fault.” He threw the book in the back seat and started his car. He needed to find a secluded place to destroy his book. His apartment was out of the question now that he’d been spotted leaving Sorrel’s place. Would he ever catch a break? He repeatedly slammed his fists against the steering wheel.
With the last slam of his fist, the moonstone book began to glow, and his chest began to burn. It was the sensation he associated with the book speaking to him. He didn’t care what it had to say. He was destroying the damn thing. He threw his car in reverse, but the burning and glowing both grew to the point that he couldn’t safely see, and he felt as if he were on fire. With a loud groan, he shifted the car into park and retrieved his nemesis.
Tara was curious and crawled into his lap while he opened the book. As soon as Eric flipped it open, it stopped glowing, and the heat in his chest dissipated. Once again, the book was the victor. It always was. But very soon, Eric would be the winner, even though it meant losing everything.
Eric sighed and resigned himself to another godforsaken riddle as he turned to the last page. For once the book showed him some mercy. A single tear escaped Eric’s eye and landed on the onyx page.
Sorrel still lives. An abandoned warehouse five miles up the river. Make haste.Chapter Twenty-TwoI wasn’t sure if I was dreaming, paralyzed, or dead. If I was dead, I must be in hell. My entire body felt like one large uterus on the worst period ever. I was having the kind of cramps not even my clary sage elixir could touch. Even though I knew I was in pain, my eyes refused to open. To top it off, I was having weird dreams or thoughts about Eric. I couldn’t tell. I kept hearing him tell me I could heal myself and wake up. The voice kept getting louder, and I wanted it to go away. He’d lied to me. Used me. He was my enemy. Or was he? My mind was too muddled to think clearly.
