Chapter 8

"Zora!" Cass sang as she stormed into my room.

I pulled my blanket over my head. Today was my only day off and Dash texted me last night that he was coming over to fix my shower in the morning.

"Wake up! I want the tea."

"There is no tea," I mumbled.

"You know this is a small town right?"

"Yeah," I said from under the blanket.

Cass climbed on my bed and yanked the blanket off me.

"I don't want to do anything today, Cass," I groaned.

"I don't care! Spill. Hayley told me she saw you and Gunner together at Pointer's Bar."

"Where did she hear that from? Christine?"

I hadn't meant to say that but now Cassidy wouldn't let it go.

"Was she at the bar? You can't lie."

"Yeah, I did… she was with Kaleb." It hurt a pinch thinking about our kiss and that he only kissed me because he wanted to know what it felt like to kiss me.

Cass grimaced. "She's a total social climbing whore."

"Cass!" I gasped.

"It's true!"

The doorbell sounded. I glanced at my phone. Dash hadn't told me what time he was coming over. The doorbell sounded again.

"Who's that?" Cass asked.

"I don't know… I'll be right back."

Cass nodded. I slipped into a robe and jogged downstairs. The person hadn't stopped ringing the doorbell.

"I'm coming!"

I yanked the door open and gasped. Keegan stood on the other side, his sandy blond hair draped over his face.

"You've been avoiding me, Zora."

I backed up and Keegan entered my space. He kicked the door shut. I backed into the living room with a racing heart.

"I haven't been avoiding you, I've just been busy."

"Not good enough, Zora. Your Father took my money and I haven't seen a cent of it."

"I'm trying…"

His brown eyes zoned in on me. There wasn't a place I could run to. He slammed his fist on the mahogany table and rattled the picture frames. I glanced at my Father's face. What did he use the money for?

"You're going to pay me back, Zora, one way or another." Keegan grabbed my shoulders and rattled me.

"Let me go!"

He locked me in his hold. I wiggled but his strength was too much. I raised my knee and rammed it into his inner thigh.

"Fuck!" Keegan cried.

I kicked his ankle and shoved him back.

"Get out!"

Keegan whipped his arm and struck me across the face. I fell backwards and hit my head on the corner of the table.

"You're going to pay for that too. You little bitch!"

His brown eyes turned hellish red he opened his mouth and two razor-sharp fangs threatened to tear me limb from limb.

"Oh shit," I crawled backwards, despite the throbbing pain in my skull.

"Not so tough are you, sweetheart?"

"Get away from her!" Cass yelled.

She caught Keegan off guard. He turned and her boot hit him in the gut, sending him onto the couch. The old couch gave out and broke.

My best friend's eyes glowed bright yellow, and her manicured nails turned to black vicious claws.

"Stay out of this wolf," Keegan snapped.

"Get out before I rip you apart. This isn't a fight you're going to win."

Keegan looked between Cass and me. My best friend was the bigger threat and if she shifted he might not survive her attack.

"I'm leaving, okay?" Keegan said.

"Don't come back," Cass spat.

"You won't always be here. I'll be back for my money."

Cass growled but he zipped out of the room in the blink of an eye.

***

"Why didn't you tell me, Zora?" Cass asked as she placed frozen peas on the back of my throbbing head.

We sat on the couch opposite the broken one.

"I don't know…" I winced.

"Vampires are extremely dangerous creatures."

"I didn't know he was a vampire, Cass." Tears stung my eyes and I felt my throat clogging.

Why would Daddy get involved with a vampire?

Cass frowned but she rubbed my back. I leaned into her and she hugged me. Without her, I might have been vampire food.

A sharp knock came at the door before it opened. I jumped when Dash entered carrying a red toolbox my heart nearly leapt out of my throat. Cass and I froze as he lifted his chin and inhaled the air.

"Why do I smell blood?" He asked.

Cass and I stared at each other but before Cass would spill the beans, because I knew she was going to, Dash noticed the blood on the collar of my robe. He dropped the toolbox.

"What the hell?"

Cass got up and allowed Dash to take up the space.

"What happened?" He demanded.

"Vampire," Cass sighed.

"Vampires? Here? How?"

"Geez, what do I answer first?" I said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"This isn't funny. There haven't been vampire attacks here in years, why you?"

"That man… who I… uh… owe money to."

"You didn't mention he was a vamp," Dash snapped. "I'm going to kill him."

Cass fished out her phone. "I'm calling Kaleb. This is a crime in our world!"

"No! I owe him money; Cass he has every right to-"

"He has no right to touch you!" Dash blasted his rage sending shivers up my spine.

I leaned into the makeshift ice pack. I couldn't win with these guys but it warmed my heart that they cared. While I dealt with the rippling pain in my head I had questions and not a place to find answers. What business did Daddy do with a vampire? Where did the money go?