Page 32

There’s a reason you feel like your life’s in danger. He almost killed Dr. Grubert right in front of you.

Freaking out is warranted here.

The vehicle stops like my battered heart.

He steps out, walks to the passenger side, and opens the door for me.

The perfect gentleman.

The walking nightmare wrapped in a deceptive, dark lie.

“So here’s the plan,” Luca says, extending a hand out to help me. “We’ll grab breakfast and get this settled. Then I’ll take you for errands and drop you off in time for the old man’s walk and your afternoon shift. Deal?”

It better be, his tone says.

I reject his hand and slide out on my own.

“Okay.” I’m just glad we’re in public.

For a hardened killer, he has good taste in local cafés.

This place is actually a newer favorite in town. I’ve heard my coworkers raving about it, and it delivers trays of Italian pastries and sandwiches to Everhart staff putting in to-go orders pretty often.

The place is crowded, too, which puts me more at ease.

He wouldn’t dare attempt anything illegal or slaughtery here.

Despite the crowds, we’re lucky.

A seat outside by the front window opens up as we approach. It’s a great place to people watch.

Not that I’ll be doing much of that with a vampire across from me.

Colorful flowers burst up from the window boxes, sprouting down as ivy snakes up the side of the building. It’s a very cool space, green and calming, a huge contrast to the storm in my veins.

I make a mental note to check out this side of town before summer ends, more than the cute indie bookstore just outside the sprawling Everhart campus.

That is, if I live to see the end of summer.

We sit there in silence, looking over the menu until a waitress comes. “Signore, so happy to have you here this morning.”

“Thanks, Sophia.” He doesn’t seem particularly pleased, but I’m surprised he knows her name.

The waitress looks cautious, her face tense. What does she know about him?

Luca looks at me, waiting for my order.

“I’ll just have a chai latte. Thanks.”

“Coffee, black.” Shocker. “And your pasticcini. Make that two, she’s never tried it before.”

He nods at me and my face heats. Monster or not, I won’t turn down a free pastry.

“Coming right up!” the waitress says, pivoting away.

“So you’re royalty here?” I whisper.

He shrugs. “I tip well, and they know it.”