Chapter 16
Sixteen
Two weeks have passed since my birthday and Nero has been keeping his distance from me once again—not eating with me, just saying a quick hello when he pokes his head in my room before I turn in for the night.
Was my birthday another regret of things he’s done with me? I, for one, do not regret it. It was the single most thrilling and exciting moment of my life. I’d never had a man go down on me before, and I honestly didn’t know that anything sexual could be that good.
If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think it was a fever dream. But no, he’s stoked something in me that continues to burn, even weeks later. Now we’re back to Nero not touching me, barely talking to me, and I’m living in his house.
Since I worked late last night at Black Magic Bar, I get up late on Sunday morning. I’m getting used to this sleeping in thing now that I don’t have to do a bunch of chores. I check the time and realize I only have an hour and a half before I have to be ready.
Anabelle tracked me down a few days ago and asked me if I wanted to spend today with her and Rapsody. It’s probably silly, but I’ve never had any girlfriends before, at least outside of the places I work, and I’m a little nervous to spend a day with them. What if they don’t like me once they get to really know me?
I put that worry aside and get out of bed, heading straight to the shower.
An hour and a half later, right on schedule, there’s a knock on my door. Anabelle and Rapsody stand there, dressed casually.
“Hey. I wasn’t sure what to wear. Is this okay?” I look down at my jeans and snug T-shirt.
“Perfect for what we’re going to do,” Anabelle says. “We’re going bowling.”
“Have you ever bowled before?” Rapsody asks. “I’m a first-timer.”
“A few times when I was little. I didn’t realize there was a bowling alley in Magnolia Bend.”
Anabelle grins. “There’s not. But there’s one in Midnight Manor.”
My mouth drops open. “No way!” What doesn’t this place have?
We start down the dim hallway together, side by side, Rapsody giddy with excitement.
“This is our first time in the south wing. We had to have Nero draw us a map so we could find you,” Anabelle says, laughing.
“Really? I assumed you would know every nook and cranny in this place.”
She shakes her head. “No, the guys stay out of each other’s wings if they can help it. I’ve never had any need to venture into Nero’s private space until you arrived.”
I smile at them and a tingling sensation travels up my spine, as though someone is watching me. I’ve had the same sensation more than a few times over the last month, and I still can’t explain it. This place can be pretty creepy, especially at night. Though I usually feel pretty comfortable in the middle of the day.
“Can I ask you guys something?” I look between them as we pass by the stained-glass raven.
“Of course,” Rapsody says.
“Do you guys ever get the feeling like you’re being watched here?”
They share a look then return their attention to me.
“Strange things happen around here sometimes,” Anabelle says, but she doesn’t elaborate.
Anabelle leads us to a room and opens the doors. Of course it’s not like any bowling alley I ever remember going to. It’s elaborately decorated with arches and pillars separating the lanes.
“Asher said everything should be good to go. He asked Marcel to make sure before we got here, and someone will bring us drinks and snacks.”
“Yay for girl time!” Rapsody says.
Excitement bubbles inside me like an overfilled glass of champagne. The idea that I might be able to build a friendship with these women feels like a novelty I never thought I’d have. After my dad married Louise, I had high hopes of having sisters close to my age to talk to and laugh with. But I was wrong on that front.
Fear surfaces quickly. What if Nero eventually asks me to leave Midnight Manor? Will this friendship survive?
“Let’s do this,” Anabelle says, taking a seat in front of the monitor and entering our names.
“I’m going to suck so bad,” Rapsody says, though she doesn’t sound that worried about it.
“I’m not going to be great either. It’s been well over a decade since I’ve bowled.” I try to make her feel better.
Rapsody picks up one of the bowling balls. “Wow. These are heavier than I thought.”
She goes on to explain how sheltered she was when she was raised. I get the sense there’s more to the story, but I don’t want to pry when we’re just getting to know each other.
“Okay, we’re all set!” Anabelle says, popping up off the seat. “Cinder, I put you first, then Rapsody, then me.”
I chuckle and walk toward the bowling balls and pick one up. “Is that so Rapsody and I don’t feel too bad when we see how good you are?”
“I’m going to be terrible, don’t worry.”
I take the ball to the line, trying to visualize what I want it to do, then I pull my arm back and release it. It starts off pretty well, but about halfway down, the ball veers left and ends up in the gutter. The girls cheer anyway, and I grab another ball. This time I manage to take out one pin on the end.
I shrug and return to where they are. “Better than nothing.”
Rapsody goes next. We try to give her a few pointers, but both her balls end up in the gutter.
Then Anabelle takes her turn. She manages to knock down all but two pins.
We keep rotating through our turns, and at the end of the first game, Anabelle is the clear winner, with me having the second highest score, then Rapsody.
“Do you guys want to break for some food and drinks before we play the next game?” Rapsody asks. “I need to let the sting of defeat wear off.”
Anabelle and I laugh.
“I’m getting hungry. I could definitely eat. I worked late at the bar last night, so I slept in and didn’t have time to eat breakfast.”
A member of the staff had come in and left us some food and drinks while we were in the middle of the game, so the three of us go over to the table and take a seat around it. There’s an assortment of pub foods—nachos, wings, french fries, some veggies and ranch dip, and some mozzarella sticks.
“How’s married life?” I ask Anabelle before biting a fry.
She gives me the widest smile. “Amazing. We’re planning a trip to Europe in the coming months. I’ve never been and really want to go. Somehow, I convinced my reclusive husband to take me.”
“That sounds amazing. Where all are you planning to go?” I dip another french fry in ketchup and eat it.
Anabelle tells us all about her plans, and I can’t help but imagine myself doing the same thing with Nero. When she’s done filling us in, I turn my attention to Rapsody.
“Any wedding plans underway yet?”
She shakes her head. “You don’t know this, but years ago, Kol and I were engaged, though we never made it to the altar.” She frowns. Seems my instincts were right that there’s a lot more to her story. “That time we’d planned to get married at city hall, just the two of us. That’s more our speed. Who knows, maybe we’ll do that again.”
“Don’t you dare! If you do, you’d better make sure I’m there,” Anabelle says.
Rapsody laughs. “Well, whatever we do, I don’t think it will be a big affair.”
“Fine.” Anabelle rolls her eyes playfully then turns to look at me. “What about you?”
“I’m not getting married.” A nervous laugh leaves my lips.
“But if you were to get married, what would you want your wedding to be like?” she asks.
“I used to think I’d want a huge affair with lots of people, flowers everywhere, and an expensive designer dress. Now…” I shrug. “I don’t know. Now I think what matters is who’s waiting at the end of the aisle.”
“Amen to that,” Anabelle says.
“Speaking of… can I ask what’s going on with you and Nero?” Interest sparks in Rapsody’s eyes.
My cheeks heat. I’m not sure how to answer. Will Nero be upset if I tell his brothers’ significant others what we’ve done?
I can be truthful about one thing. “I’m really not sure. He’s hot and cold.”
They nod knowingly.
“It’s the Voss way,” Anabelle says with amusement in her tone.
My head tilts. “What do you mean?”
“Asher and Kol were the same. If you’re into him, my advice is to just be patient. He’ll figure himself out, and once he does, he’ll be all in.”
I don’t want her words to give me false hope, but I can’t help it. “You think?”
“Definitely,” Rapsody says, sounding so sure.
“I don’t know. Just when I think I’m making some headway with him, he disappears.” I take a bite from a mozzarella stick.
“Like I said, it’s the Voss way.” Anabelle gives me a reassuring smile.
I hesitate to bring up something I’ve been wondering about, but it’s been in the back of my head every time I’m around these women. “Did he tell you how we met?”
Rapsody shakes her head. “No, but I’m ready for the details.”
I nervously laugh. “We met at the strip club where I work.” Not entirely true, but it doesn’t matter.
I watch their eyes for any signs of judgment but find none. I know for sure that Anabelle knows I work at TT’s, but I don’t know about Rapsody. If she’s surprised at all, she doesn’t show it.
“For months he would come in and watch me dance from a table at the back and then leave before I was on the floor.”
“Okay…” Anabelle waits for me to continue.
“I guess what I’m asking is, do you think Nero could ever fall for someone like me?”
Understanding blankets Anabelle’s face, and she frowns. “You mean a beautiful, friendly, smart woman? Yes, I do.”
I shift uncomfortably. “But he’s a Voss. Could he really be with a stripper?”
Anabelle squeezes my hand. “Honey, you wouldn’t be here if the answer was no.”
I think about her words and realize she’s probably right. Nero is letting me stay here in his home and has made no indication that he wants me to leave any time soon.
“We all have a past,” Rapsody says. “It doesn’t make any of us any less worthy.”
I get the feeling she’s speaking from personal experience, and I give them a small smile. “Thanks, ladies. I’ll try to be patient then.”
They both nod, and we keep eating.
I miss Nero. I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning. A part of me hoped I’d find him waiting for me when I returned late last night after my shift, but no such luck.
Then I remember my shift last night at Black Magic Bar and the line of expensive vehicles that came through Magnolia Bend, heading to Midnight Manor. The same line of cars that rolls through town on the last Saturday of every month.
I remember the first Saturday night I worked there and saw them and asked one of the locals what it was all about. They said no one knows. Apparently, the cars have come for decades, but no one knows who or what they’re here for. Urban legend claims there’s some kind of ritualistic sacrifice that happens once a month, and others claim it’s a meeting of the Illuminati. I didn’t hear anything last night.
I decide I’m going to ask the girls to get a straight answer. “I was working the bar last night and couldn’t help but notice all the vehicles that came through town on their way here. What’s that about?”
Anabelle stops bringing her mozzarella stick to her mouth, her eyes pinging to Rapsody, who swallows and gives me an expression to say she definitely knows what I’m talking about. The space fills with an uncomfortable tension. I shouldn’t have asked.
I wave them off. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me.”
Anabelle’s shoulders sag. “We wish we could, but we can’t. I’m sorry. If we could tell you, we would. But maybe ask Nero.”
I nod. “Okay, no biggie.”
Are the townspeople right in their assumptions? I don’t know what I just walked into, but it’s clear it was the wrong thing to ask. One thing is for sure, Midnight Manor has its own secrets.