Seeing Red (The Dark Love Series) (6 page)

* * * *

As I walk into New To You, the bell rings on the door. I hear Sydney yell, “Be right there!” She must be busy with another customer. Usually Syd is sitting at the front desk reading a magazine and working the cash register when needed.

              I look over toward Syd, and she is with another girl.
The girl is blonde and is wearing our company work shirt. She must be new here.

             
As she turns to face my direction, she flips her dirty blond hair. It's Reese Anderson. What is she doing working here?

             
“Nina, this is Reese Anderson. She will be working here with us,” Sydney introduces.

             
“Nice to meet you, Nina,” Reese says as she holds her hand out to shake mine.

             
“You too,” I reply, shaking her hand.

             
As my hand is in hers, she tilts her head to one side and gives me a weird look. Is this like a witch thing or something?

             
I clear my throat and remove my hand from hers. What was that all about?

             
“Well, it was nice meeting both of you. I'll see you tomorrow for my first day,” Reese says quickly and leaves in a rush.

             
“What was that all about?” I ask.

             
Sydney is staring toward the front door with a confused look on her face. “I honestly have no idea.”

* * * *

I was only scheduled to work a five hour shift today, but it turned out to be a nine hour shift. It was better than sitting at home by myself and listening to the ticking of that annoying clock in the kitchen. I hate being by myself. I hate sitting in the quiet. I try to surround myself around people so I don't fall back into severe depression.

              “See you in school Monday, Syd.” I smile and wave goodbye to her. She smiles and nods her head. Her eyes instantly go back down to the magazine in her hands.

             
As I walk outside to my car, I'm fumbling through my purse. “Damn keys,” I mumble to myself.

             
I finally find them and look up to see an older woman standing in my path. Her eyes are piercing mine with her eyebrows raised. “Nina McKay,” she says softly.

             
“Yes?” I ask, confused.

             
She starts to walk closer to me. “I know what you are. I know the creatures you surround yourself with. I'm not judging you. I just want you to stay away from my granddaughter, Reese.”

             
“Excuse me? I don't know what you're talking about,” I lie as I walk around her to get to my car.

             
“Don't play me as a fool, Miss McKay. I sense danger from you, and I want you to stay away from Reese.”

             
“Mrs. Anderson, can I have a word, please?” Andrew shows out of nowhere. Of course he would be spying on me. Maybe I should rephrase that and say, checking up on me. Andrew won't let me go anywhere by myself because of the Brothers.

             
Mrs. Anderson takes one took at Andrew and start immediately shaking her head. “I know what you are too. Please stay away from my family. We don't want to be involved in your troubles.”

             
“Ma'am, my name is Andrew Madsen. My parents were tremendously close with your family.”

             
“Madsen?” She asks.

             
“Yes, Mrs. Anderson. My parent's names are Eva and Samuel Madsen. I just want to ask you a few questions. I don't want any trouble.”

             
“What do you want to know?” Mrs. Anderson asks as her short gray and white hair blows in the wind.

             
“Well,” Andrew stutters. “I was just wondering if you knew them personally?”

             
Mrs. Anderson shakes her head. “No, I don't. They were very close to our family, though. The Madsen name has been passed down in my family as safe creatures of the night.”

             
“What does that mean?” Andrew asks.

             
“It means we can trust your family. My kind isn't fond of your kind, but your family is an exception.”

             
“Do you know if my parents are still alive?” Andrew clears his throat.

             
Mrs. Anderson tilts her head in confusion. “They are still alive. That's all I know.”

             
Andrew looks like he's in shock. My eyes hit the ground. “My parents are definitely still alive,” he whispers to himself.

             
“Yes, Mr. Madsen,” Mrs. Anderson announces. “I should be going.”

             
“Thank you, ma'am,” Andrew says.

             
Mrs. Anderson nods her head, and walks away silently.

             
Andrew's parents are still alive. “Are you okay?” I ask him.

             
Andrew's eyes lock on mine. “Yes, love, I am fine. I'm just confused. My parents are still alive.”

             
“That's good, isn't it?” I ask.

             
“Yes, but why haven't they come for us? It just doesn't make sense. They said they would, and...” Andrew stops talking.

             
“They will come,” I say with optimism.

             
“I have prayed for them to come for decades now. I don't think they're going to come for us,” Andrew whispers.

             
“Baby, they will come.”

             
Andrew just shakes his head and lets out a sigh. “Let's get you home, my love.”

Chapter 9

The Ex

Dear Diary,

              My heart is aching for Andrew. His parents have been alive his whole existence and they haven't even tried to find him. I can't say I understand what he's going through, because I truly don't, but I have a good idea.

             
Every day I still feel something missing in my heart. Something still isn't right. Don't get me wrong, Andrew helps my depression and he dug me out of the hole I put myself into, but it feels like something is out of place in my heart. It isn't whole.

             
My stormy days have passed me, but now I still feel the sprinkling of the rain on my face. What is it? What is missing? What is lost?

Love, Nina

* * * *

I look over at Andrew, and he's sound asleep. The sunlight peaks it's way through his bedroom window. The sun is almost at its highest. From a distance, I look out the window and see the bright green grass shining, and the tree leaves are blowing in the wind.

              “Good morning, my love,” I hear a faint whisper beside me.

             
I turn to face the love of my life and smile. “It's nice waking up to your face in the morning.”

             
“You took the words right out of my mouth, beautiful, sweet, lady,” Andrew smiles as he comes closer to me, and kisses me gently on my lips. His kiss leaves me speechless with butterflies flying around in my stomach. I feel my face get warm and I start to blush. “I love you so much,” Andrew murmurs in my ear.

             
“I love you more,” I smile.

             
“That's impossible because I definitely love you more,” Andrew playfully argues.

             
“Think what you want, but I know the truth,” I wink at him, as I rub my nose softly against his.

             
My eyes are closed. Andrew's arms are around my body. His lips glide across my neck and up to my lips.

             
I hear someone clear their throat. “Sorry to interrupt you, but Andrew, I really need to talk to you,” Alex blurts out quickly as she tries to focus her eyes somewhere other than toward us.

             
“Can it wait?” He asks.

             
“I'm afraid not. It's important,” Alex says and walks out of the room.

             
“I'll be right back, my love.”

             
“I'll be right here, babe,” I smile.

             
Andrew walks out of the room without a shirt on. I see his bare skin hit the sunlight that brightens the house. His muscular body is making my mouth water. God, he's so sexy. I feel myself bite my lip.

             
I close my eyes and start daydreaming while I wait for Andrew to come back. I wonder what is so important.

             
“Baby,” I hear Andrew say. “We need to talk.”

             
I instantly sit up and think the worst. “What happened?”

             
Andrew clears his voice. “I wasn't completely honest with you about something.”

             
“What?” I ask cautiously.

             
Andrew walks over to me and sits beside me on the bed. “There was this girl. She was Alex's best friend. We dated for a while.”

             
“Why are you telling me this now? Did you love her? When was this?” I get anxious and start blurting out questions.

             
“Well, we dated for about ten years. It wasn't true love. It couldn't amount to the love that we share, Nina.”

             
“Ten years?” I gasp in shock. “Ten years? Andrew, why wouldn't you tell me about her? Our past is in the past. You should have just been honest with me. Is she a vampire?”

             
“Yes.”

             
“Why are you telling me this now, Andrew?” I ask.

             
Andrew hesitates on answering my question. “Well,” Andrew pauses. “Alex invited her to stay with us for a few days to help with the Sulivic Brothers. She thought we would need as much help as possible.”

             
I raise my eyebrows. Andrew's ex-girlfriend is best friends with his sister, and she is going to stay at the Madsen residence for a few days.

             
Jealousy sweeps over me. I begin to feel very angry, but I take a deep breath. I trust him. This is the man I love, and he loves me. He would never do anything to hurt me or jeopardize the love we share. “Okay,” I say. “I trust you.”

             
“You should, Nina. I would never do anything to ruin the love we share. I love you and only you.”

             
“When is she suppose to be here?” I ask, still feeling jealous.

             
“Ora should be here today,” Andrew admits.

             
“Ora? Today?”

             
“Ora, Alex's friend. She should be here sometime today. Calm down. Remember, she is here to help all of us. I love you. Always and forever.”

             
I shouldn't be stressing. I do need to calm down. “I love you too. Always and forever.”

* * * *

I hear the doorbell ring and I jump. There is nothing to be jealous about. He is mine. He only wants me. He loves me. He doesn't love her. I have to keep repeating that to myself. He is mine. He only wants me. He loves me. He doesn't love her.

              I stay seated next to Andrew on the couch, while we both watch TV. Andrew has it on some sport channel, and is making me watch football. I never have understood football, even though Andrew has attempted numerous times to educate me on the sport.

             
“Alex,” I hear Ora yell. “I've missed you so much, beautiful!” I look over and stare at Ora. She is drop dead gorgeous. She is tall and thin, with perfectly straight blond hair. The black dress she is wearing hugs her thin body. How can I stay calm when Andrew's ex-girlfriend looks like a runway model? Any girl would dream to look like her.

             
Jealousy is starting to fill my body. These few days are going to be the longest of my life.

             
“Ora!” Alex yells as they begin jumping up and down as they hold onto each other's hands. “Where have you been? I have missed you so much!”

             
“I've been everywhere. You know me, baby,” Ora laughs. Her teeth are perfectly straight and sparkling white.