VEX: Valley Enforcers, #1 (16 page)

Acacia

The prickling, hair raising sensation that I was being watched was one hundred percent due to the horror movie marathon that I had in Vex’s dark living room in the middle of nowhere. Alone. At least that’s what I tried to convince myself as
You’re Next
played on the big flat screen television. It was the third creepy movie I’d watched in a row and the psychological thrillers were starting to have their dirty way with me. The marathon was a last ditch effort to entertain myself and not worry about Vex.

When he said he’d be gone for a few hours I didn’t know he meant thirteen. That was how many had passed since his departure. I still wasn’t sure when he’d be back, but a lone text message around six in the evening that read
‘Wish I was at home with you. I keep getting caught in the rain. Stay warm, baby. I love you.’
sated my fears that something ghastly had happened. He warned me that they were working long shifts to try to comb the thousands of acres that the clan owned. It seemed like they were trying to find a needle in a haystack.

After Vex left I showered and dressed, opting for one of his oversized (on me, at least) short sleeved Henley shirts and a pair of sweatpants I pulled from my duffle. I felt completely unashamed of the snooping that followed my shower. Vex didn’t have cable, but he did have a handful of subscription services. I put
Family Guy
on for background noise and combed through his house like a rookie private investigator.

After nearly two hours of snooping I came to the conclusion that my big bad mate was pretty boring. He didn’t have porn stashed under his bed and there weren’t any satanic shrines in the closet. His taxes were neatly organized in a file cabinet and he kept top shelf liquor stocked in his living room. I did feel a
little
guilty going through all his family photos, but I wanted to see Vex at a time where the world didn’t seem to be heavy on his shoulders. There were snapshots of a much younger Vex – without his signature long hair – flashing the peace sign while he stood on a dock with a fishing pole. Hakeem and Vex wearing dorky Christmas sweaters. Their mom holding his niece. At the bottom of the photo box were a few faded Polaroid photos of a dark skinned man with a thick mustache and eyes that were hauntingly similar to the dark orbs I often lost myself in. I spread all of the photos out on the living room floor and played Peeping Tom to Vex’s life; and when I was done, I filed them back in in their tidy boxes and returned them to his closet.

I ate an obscene number of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch while I Skyped with Aiden and James. I gave them a tour of Vex’s house through the camera lens of my smartphone and then fended off questions about his abs, our future wedding, and our litter of children. There was no way to tell them that there was a chance Vex and I would never have children, so I played along and hoped my smile didn’t appear too forced. I never considered myself someone who wanted a lot of children. Kids meant marriage, and happily ever after wasn’t really in my books. Vex changed all of that. And I found myself wanting at least one munchkin with him. Having Noah and Ava around didn’t give me baby fever, but day dreaming about a brown skinned baby with Vex’s silky black hair and my elfin ears sent me into overdrive. I didn’t want to wait for kids or marriage. I wanted Vex’s mark and I wanted his cub to be in my belly. Instead of seeing uncertainty when I looked to the future I saw myself happy. I never thought that was possible, but it made my heart do flip-flops.

The minutes began to drag as the hours went by. I called my mom and checked up on my dad. He had another day in the hospital before he was released, but he had already started his cardiac therapy. My mom was pleasant on the phone, and though some of her questions seemed forced, I was glad she was making an effort. When I could think of nobody else to call (Eden and Jade both ignored my attempts), I started working my way through the overflowing hampers in the bedroom and bathroom and sat down to look up the salons in the area.

Vex hadn’t officially asked me to move in with him but I didn’t see myself leaving Brown Bear Valley. I’d attach myself to his back like a blood sucking leech if it meant I’d get forever with him. The prospect of getting back into a salon was both terrifying and exhilarating. I knew my licenses needed renewed and I’d need a refresher course, but while I played out the different fairy tale scenarios in my head, I always saw myself working in the beauty field again. I didn’t want the dirty physical labor that came with a factory, and there was no way I’d ever make it as a waitress. That left me pumping gas or flipping burgers. I’d rather live in a cardboard box and eat grass than contribute to grease buckets that stimulated animal abuse across the globe, and working at a gas station until I died in a fiery explosion didn’t seem that appealing. The salon in the Valley didn’t have an updated website, but there were two in Center Village that caught my eye. They seemed relatively hip and both used cruelty free and vegan products. I took a screen shot of their information and decided to call them when I was feeling a tad braver.

My movie marathon started when Vex texted me. I knew he wouldn’t be home for dinner, but I still made a heaping pot of spaghetti and garlic bread. I watched
The Babadook
while I cooked and ate, and when it was over I immediately stared
The Taking of Deborah Logan
. Halfway through the film I started to get the uneasy feeling that I was being watched. I was used to the adrenaline spike and butterflies that came with all things creepy and macabre, but there was something utterly authentic about the anxious tremors that kept me on the edge of my seat. I turned all the lights on and even checked behind the shower curtain, but when I curled back up on the couch with a throw blanket I still had goosebumps.

The perturbed sensation I felt didn’t stop me from putting on another horror flick after the credits began to roll. I wasn’t enraptured by the film enough to miss the headlights that shot through the partially opened curtains in the room. Without pausing the movie or slipping on shoes, I ran out to greet Vex. I didn’t give myself time to think about it being anyone else.

The big black Tahoe settled my nerves and the man who stepped out of it made me feel like I downed five shots of espresso in less than a minute. I threw myself at Vex. I was barely able to contain the squeal of excitement when he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

“What’s wrong?” He questioned automatically. “Are you okay? I told you not to come outside. I could’ve been anyone. You don’t even have shoes on, for fate’s sake.”

I frowned and looked up at him. With an annoyed shove, I worked my way out of his embrace. “Excuse me for being happy to see you.”

“That’s not what I meant, Acacia,” He sighed. His arms shot out and pulled me back against him. I didn’t put up a fight. “I can’t let anything happen to you. Right now I have no idea what the hell is going on, and it makes me nervous. I just want you to be safe.  I’m sorry.”

“Way to make me feel like an asshole,” I mumbled.

He tapped at my chin with a finger and lifted my head. Loving eyes the color of bitter chocolate stared down at me. “That wasn’t my intention. Now come on; it’s late and I need food, a shower, and you. Not necessarily in that order.”

We walked towards the house with our fingers locked together. “I made spaghetti. There’s a ton of leftovers in the fridge.” I paused before adding with a half shrug. “I also did laundry, snooped through literally all of your possessions, talked to my mom, Skyped with Aiden and James, and looked up how to get my cosmetology license recertified.”

“Wow. You’ve been a busy little hellcat today,” He chirped with an impressed smile. He locked the door and began to wiggle out of his clunky, mud covered boots. “What are you watching?”

“
You’re Next
. It’s a slasher about this rich family being terrorized on a weekend getaway. Can we finish watching it while you eat? It’s really good and I don’t want to leave it for tomorrow.”

Vex blanched. “You know how I feel about uh… those kinds of movies.”

“You say it like it’s triple X rated erotica!” I chortled.

“I’m totally okay with erotica. Let’s watch some of that. Way better than whatever the hell it is you have on right now. Yay boobs! Boo creepy masks and weird fucks who stalk down hallways with machetes. I’m not about that.”

I lifted my arms and attempted to flex. “You think guns like these would let any monsters get you? Hell nah! I’m a certified badass, Vex. By association that means that you’re an honorary badass.”

He smirked and pumped his arm up. The bulging muscles rippled. “I eat monsters for breakfast, baby. I’m the certified badass, and you’re my cute little sidekick.”

“Hey, now!” I wagged a finger in his direction and feigned anger. “The only thing monstrous about your breakfast is your calorie intake. And how dare you call me a
cute little sidekick!
Rude. I’m definitely not going to put out tonight.”

The playful expression on his face turned to panic. He took a step towards me, but I countered his movement by taking a step backwards. “I meant it endearingly! You’re a cute, little, badass sidekick. Is that better?” He reached out for me, but I stuck my tongue out. “Don’t deny me, baby. It’s been a hell of a day.”

“I don’t want to be a sidekick. We can tag team the monsters.” I let him corner me against the couch. He circled my shoulders and leaned to kiss my forehead. “So can we watch the movie or not? I’ll hold you
extra
tight tonight. Promise.”

“When you put it like that.” He nipped at my neck and it felt like electricity. “And for the record, I don’t want you within ten feet of a monster or bad guy or fucking asshole at the bar who doesn’t know to keep his hands to himself. I know that you can take care of yourself and you’re this punk rock goddess, but I want to take care of you. It’s my job. It’s more than that. It’s built into my DNA to protect you, Acacia. We’re partners, but don’t get upset if I do all the heavy lifting. Okay?”

“I don’t look cute when I sweat,” I commented teasingly. I wasn’t sure what else to say. I thought we were exchanging playful banter, but Vex turned the dial up and made me trip over my own feet as I fell even harder for him.

“I’m serious. I would throw myself in front of a moving vehicle for you. I’d take a bullet for you. I’d kill for you. I will do anything and everything in my power and then some to make sure you’re safe and taken care of.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and lifted on my toes to press a kiss to his lips. A tremor in my voice betrayed me. “I love you.”

“And I love you, baby.” His lips were soft against mine. It was a relatively chaste kiss, but that didn’t keep me from seeing stars when he pulled away. His lips quirked to the side and I felt him give my bottom a tiny, playful pat. “Go start your damn movie while I heat up some leftovers.”

I turned the movie on but kept the volume low while he bustled around in the kitchen. I updated him more on my day and told him about everything from my dad’s rehab to the salons I found in Center Village. He handed me a bottled brew before sitting next to me. With a mouth half full of spaghetti he told me that Big Betty was already fixed and ready to be picked up. I had new wheels and presumably, a new home, so I wasn’t sure what to do with her. Nevertheless, I was glad that I’d be able to collect more of my things.

Vex did a good job of distracting me with conversation to keep his focus off of the television. When I would stop chatting and wave my hand to shush him, he would hum really loudly or chew with his mouth open. I made a mental note to never watch movies with him; he was completely annoying. He was either the guy who commentated in the theater or screamed so loud he got kicked out of the showing. There was absolutely no way I could go the rest of my life not watching slashers or possession movies.
I’ll have to force him to watch Supernatural or The X-Files. Something. Anything. They’ll be a good introduction to the creepy stuff I love.

I was in the middle of figuring out how to best trick Vex into loving horror when the eerie feeling was back. I looked over at my shifter of a mate to see if he noticed anything different. With his heightened senses, he’d be able to tell if something was out of place. I started to relax when I noticed his demeanor was completely the same. And then it happened all at once. A dour expression sheeted his face and he calmly set his plate on the cushion beside him.

“What?” I breathed hesitantly.

“There’s someone outside –”

Whatever else he was going to say fell dead on his lips when there was a banging against the exterior of the house. It wasn’t a pleasant knock on the door. The angry thuds were reminiscent of the thumps that nearly destroyed my RV. This time, at least, it sounded like there was only one assailant. Fear wrapped around my throat and the healing scar that marked my arm tingled like I was Harry Potter and Voldemort was around the corner.

“Call Deacon and tell him to get over here immediately,” Vex asserted. His voice was low and dark, and he tossed me his cell phone while he rose to his feet and stalked towards the front door. The pounding got louder. It was like a tornado was crashing against the sturdy frame of the cabin. “Don’t come outside. I don’t care what you hear; stay inside.”

I didn’t say anything because I knew I’d end up following him out the door. I promised Vex I wouldn’t let any monsters hurt him. I’d run headfirst into the darkness to protect him – to hold his hand and assure him everything would turn out okay.