Black 21: (Golden Hills Legacy of Black 21 Book 1) (4 page)

She ran past
him and slammed the door shut, but his laughter followed her into the house.
 

Christian drove
to Jack’s Den, knowing his father would be there in one of his so-called
meetings. He needed to cancel the whole thing for Daisy’s sake. It was beyond
what he wanted, what she needed.

He pulled into
the lot. The building looked formidable in the rain as if its true essence came
through on days like these. Hardly any customer cars were there besides the
usual his father met with. The Stones were part owners. William Stone pretty
much ran the whole town, and Christian wanted no part of it. He wanted out.

Christian
strode in and told Marianne, the older cashier/hostess, he was there to see his
father. He remembered her having better days when he was younger, but the years
haven’t been kind to her. Stress did that around here.

She nodded to
the back, arching her drawn on eyebrow. “He’s in with the men, honey. Might
want to wait till it’s over,” she warned.

“My father
never waits for me so I will return the favor,” he snipped. He began to walk to
the back and stopped with a heavy sigh, turning back to Marianne. She didn’t
deserve that. “It’s important,” he added to which she smiled and nodded.

He still felt
upset after being with Daisy and didn’t know why. The urge to protect her from
this town grew with every moment she stayed here. The door gave easily and he
walked in to a hushed silence, the men turning his way. “Gentleman, I need to
speak to my father...alone.”

These men have
known Christian since before he was born. They have known his father since
their schooldays and before that. But the look they gave him right now was as
if he were a king and they his servants. He hated it. No, he despised it.

His father cut
his thoughts with an irritated tone. “Christian, what is so important you need
to interrupt this meeting? Can’t it wait until I get home?" William sat at
the head of the long wooden table like a judge would his court. For being only
forty-two, he carried the reign of someone much older.

“I don’t want
Daisy to be part of this – party,” Christian blurted out. “Let her go home.”

The room of
seven men sucked in their breath, fidgeting in their seats. His father just sat
there with a calmness Christian knew too well. His father cleared his throat
while the men waited for his response, glancing between Christian and their
boss. “You know your responsibility, son. It’s more than just a date. It must
be Daisy,” he said in a low controlled voice. “Anything else?" He sat back
in his chair with his hands folded before him.

Christian
walked closer and put his hands down on the table to lean in. “I don’t want it
to be her. I know what was promised, but it’s still my day. Charlotte wants it.
Please – let Daisy go home.”

“You care about
her now, don’t you?" Damn it, Christian!" He slammed his fist down,
shaking the wood.

“She’s really shaken
up from what happened to her at home. She doesn’t know I know, but it’s eating
me up inside.”

“Ah yes, the
robbery you’re talking about? A brilliant idea Joe, Richard, and I had, wasn’t
it?”

“Make the men
leave now,” Christian ordered.

William turned
to the men and jutted his jaw to the door. They stood immediately and obeyed.
Before they left, each one bowed to Christian as he nodded back to them. The
door closed and his eyes returned to his father.

“You look like
you detest that kind of respect, Christian. That is your rightful place now.
Start enjoying it. The power is growing stronger in you,” he said. “In two
months, you will have it all!”

“I don’t want
it all! Never asked for it,” he hissed at his father. “Now tell me what you’re
talking about with setting her up.”

“We knew it was
the only way to get her to come out here to stay for a while...for the period
we needed her. She wasn’t harmed, just a little scare.”

“Who did you
have do it? Some random ex-con you paid off?”

“Dane.”

Shock filled
Christian’s face. “Dane? You had Dane commit this crime against his own cousin?
My God, Dad. What the hell were you thinking?”

“He wore a ski
mask and spooked her a little, that’s all. Let’s not turn this into something
it’s not. She’s fine.”

“No, she’s not,
Dad. She’s not fine at all. I’ve only known her a couple of days, and I can
tell there’s something wrong.”

William clapped
his hands together. “Oh well, I’m sorry about that. Now go home and get ready
for the hayride. You’ll really enjoy this portion of the ritual, my son. I can
promise you that.”

“Exactly why I
want out. I can’t force her to do that. She’s not ready. What if I just didn’t
accept this position and left town?”

In a monotone
voice, William answered. “You have no choice, Christian. You must accept it and
accept it willingly. You know how many young men in this town want your status?
Dane can’t wait to have his time next year. He doesn’t even mind that it will
only be half the power you have, he’ll take what he can get,” he added.

“Right. We used
to be best friends. He’s changed,” he added, dropping his voice. “I just want
out. Let Dane have it all...the power, the glory. Let him be the one they bow
to!”

“No. I will not
have this talk." He ran his well-manicured hand through his thick black
hair and took a deep breath. “You are my son. It’s only right. It’s an honor. I
love you. You’re a good boy, Christian. Go home and get ready for the hayride
event,” he demanded, waving his hand off to dismiss him.

“Why her, Dad?
Why Daisy?”

“You know why.
She’s been groomed for this day since she was born just as you have. She just
doesn’t know it,” he added, going back to his paperwork in front of him.

Christian
stood, knowing that was the end of the conversation. His father always had the
last word, always would. He walked out to his truck, his head hung low, his
step a little slower, and his heart a little heavier.

The thought of
Dane going to her room and touching her things made him sick. He remembered how
Dane used to talk about Daisy when they were teenagers. The way he would
describe her was not of a family way. He talked about dreams he had of her and
how he would one day get her alone, how he would pull her long red hair.

As he lugged
the door open to his truck, a bunch of daisies fell out to his feet. He looked
around, but the parking lot was empty. Deep down, he knew this was just the
beginning of a nightmare he wanted to never begin.

***

In his truck,
Daisy wondered what was going through Christian’s head after picking her up. He
was so quiet. Too quiet, even for being mad. The ride to Meadow Farm off of
King Road where the hayride was to be held felt like a hearse ride. Yes, too
quiet. Except for maybe a sigh or a throat clearing every now and then. They
pulled into the dark parking lot filled with trucks, BMWs, sports cars, antique
cars.

The July night
held so many promises of hope and magic. Was he that insulted by her pulling
away? He was the one who said he wanted nothing more of her. She felt like she
had lost her friend.

After jumping out
of the truck, it appeared quiet in an eerie way out here, not peaceful. More so
than the ride in the hearse. She pulled her arms through her purple sweater,
protecting her from the chilly night air, unusual for a July night as if the
weather was cooperating with the fall event.

Christian
looked down at her. “Sorry it’s so cold out here. It’s an open field.”

“It’s fine. I’m
good now, thanks,” she said with a smile, but still nothing more of him. She
pulled her ponytail out to allow her long hair to hang down her back, warming
up her bare neck. She caught him glancing at her hair and then looking away.

They walked
through the lot to where stacks of hay stood. A lone howl sang in the night.
The smell of burning leaves enveloped them. She even thought she heard a
child’s cry. Yes, it was officially fall in July. She could feel his eyes on
her every so often, watching for her expression.

They stopped at
the hay truck. She looked out into the black night, the stars being the only
light right now except for a lamp post here and there. This was not the same as
the bonfire where there were a ton of people and hoopla. No, not the same at
all. The energy felt different. Her arms broke out in goose bumps even with the
knitted sweater encasing them. “Christian?” she asked with hesitancy. “Where is
everyone?”

“For now, just
you and me, Daisy." He tensed his jaw while looking past the hay truck.

A tall, blond
man about in his thirties walked out and hopped in front of the steering wheel
after bowing to Christian and then to Daisy. He waited for them to take their
seat in the back with all the hay.

“There’s going
to be a few things I’m going to do that are part of this ritual, so I hope I
don’t offend you.”

“Sure,” she
shrugged.

Christian
turned to her and lifted her up into his arms and onto the truck. She wiggled
in his arms, shocked as he carried her to the back. She jumped down. “Really?”

“Sorry, Daisy.
I warned you, though. There are eyes everywhere, so can you just go along?” he
pleaded.

She scanned the
darkness to see these eyes. “Fine." Shuddering, she took her seat and
adjusted her clothes. She was glad she wore pants tonight. She could still feel
his heart pounding next to her ear when it had pressed there moments before.

“Thank you.
Again, I’m sorry. Sorry for all this,” he mumbled. “You may go now, Jake,” he
spoke to the driver.

The wooden bed
of hay jerked away and she caught herself from falling. Christian’s arm
steadied her.

“It’s okay,
really. I get it." She smiled and then added, “Still friends?”

Christian turned
to her and looked deeply into her eyes. “Always, Daisy." He gazed at her a
little longer and returned his eyes to the driver’s head.

The ride bumped
along. She bit her nail and spoke out of nervousness. “Christian is such an
unusual name. I like it, but it’s different. I thought girls were called that?”

“My mother
named me,” he answered. “Thought it would – protect me.”

“Where is your
mother? I mean I’ve met your dad but you don’t speak about her.”

He took a deep
breath and answered, “She died when I was sixteen. Hanged herself when I was at
a bonfire, whooping it up,” he explained without emotion.

“What? Oh, my
God, Christian! I’m so, so sorry. I never knew. I–”

He touched her
arm to calm her. “How could you know? I know you lost your mother as well, correct?”

“Yes, but I
never knew her. It was in childbirth, but you knew your mother,” she added. She
grabbed his arm and laid her head on it. “You blame yourself, don’t you,” she
stated. And then she realized what he had said. “How did you know about my mother?”

“Remember my
father is friends with your family. I hear these things,” he admitted. “I’m
sorry for your loss as well, Daisy. It’s hard for a girl without her
mother." He looked down into her eyes and gave a sad smile. “And to answer
your question, yes I do blame myself sometimes. I stopped going to those
parties until that last one.”

Daisy wiped a
tear and sniffled. Confusion replaced sorrow. “Wait, you said protect you.
Protect you from what?" As she waited for his answer, she could hear
whispering sounds. “Do you hear that?" A sharp wind whipped her hair into
a frenzy, as they turned in the huge open field. She drew her sweater tighter.

“Yes,” he
responded. His jaw still hardened. “Do you trust me, Daisy?”

She drew back
and looked into his eyes, looked out into the open field then back at
Christian. Finally, she nodded.

“I can tell
Jake to take us back and end this.”

She shook her
head.

“I’m glad you
trust me." He cupped her face and kissed her, startling her at first, but then
allowing it. His tongue stroked the tip of hers in a gentle motion, shocking
her senses. The kiss turned deeper, more insistent, more urgent.

All
self-conscience fears abandoned her. She returned the kiss in the same urgency
of his. A small groan escaped Christian, deepening the kiss, becoming more
insistent. “Oh, Christian,” she moaned, never feeling so alive just from a
kiss. Their tongues entwined like silk against silk, tasting each other, not
getting enough. Daisy’s breath grew heavier to match Christian’s, a hunger
growing inside them.

She leaned in
to his chest as his hands caressed her back. Then she felt it, claws gripping
her from behind, scratching her, breathing that wasn’t Christian’s, a
growl-like sound. She twisted around to see who was there but nothing.

“You trust me,
right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re safe
with me right now. No matter what you feel or hear. Do you understand?” he
murmured against her mouth for her to hear.

“I don’t like
this,” she cried, shaking her head.

“I know, honey.
Just trust me and it’ll be over,” he whispered so low she had to strain to hear
him. “I won’t let anything hurt you.”

“I trust you,
Christian,” she said, looking into his eyes. He pulled her face back to his so
her eyes leveled with his. She noticed for a brief moment that his pupils
dilated and then returned to normal. Their foreheads touched and he cradled her
close to him.

“Daisy,” a low
grunted voice came behind her. A demonic laughter erupted in her ear. “My
Daisy, my Daisy, my Daisy,” over and over from that low, guttural voice.

She let out a
scream. “Christian...what is that?” her voice trembled. She couldn’t bring
herself to turn around for she knew she would see something this time, could
feel it. Sweat broke out in a wave.

Christian put
his finger to his mouth to hush her. “Close your eyes and make a wish,”
Christian instructed her in a low whisper. He enunciated wish.