"Well I guess I will see you next week then." I said while getting in my bronco and he watched me like a wolf would a piece of meat. I giggled nervously before driving off. On the way there I thought about how glad I was that Draven hadn't still been there when Justin had turned up. He didn't like Jack because he felt something for me but at least he behaved himself! Justin was just a big flirt and would do it in front of anyone, including Draven. Oh yes, it was definitely better that Draven didn't know about Justin. Then it hit me, Ragnar had probably seen the whole thing! Oh no! I couldn't see him which suggested I might have got away with it but something told me this wasn't a likely outcome. Oh well, it was only a hug.

I got to the diner and checked the clock on the dash. I was only ten minutes late after some luck with traffic lights and a heavy foot on the gas pedal. Jack was already inside and I waved as I pa.s.sed the window. He had already secured a booth next to the window and soon the b.u.t.terflies in my stomach turned to wasps! I was dreading this but I knew it was the right thing to do. Of course it didn't help that he was grinning at the very sight of me. It was going to be like dumping puppies.

He was wearing his usual ripped jeans and today's choice in T shirt was a faded Rolling Stones' but the lips had cracked from years of washing. His hair was the same wild bronze with lighter bits at the front and it flopped around in every direction. His soft features and gorgeous honey eyes lit up as I came nearer.

"Here she is," he said getting up and hugging me. I didn't tense up as I had done with Justin. I don't know what it was about Jack but he was one of those guys that put you instantly at ease. He was tall and had a toned build because he spent a lot of hours hiking. We sat back down and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. Then it faded as I realised that this might be the last time we were like this. That he might not want to be friends any longer. My heart sank.

"Hey Jack, I'm so, so sorry." I blurted out and he looked shocked. I guess I just had needed to say it now for a long time, that it was the first thing I wanted out of my lips. At least I had said it even if it was the last time he wanted to talk to me.

"What for?" He was making this even harder, especially when he wouldn't stop smiling at me like I was b.l.o.o.d.y wonderful.

"For everything! I have treated you all wrong, I should never have done that to such a good friend and then I gave you that letter and then I didn't call..." I was fumbling out my words like they were hot mouthfuls I had to get rid of.

"Keira stop! You don't have to explain or apologise for anything. I am a big boy and knew what I was getting into." Oh G.o.d, this just made me feel even worse!

"What do you mean getting into?" I asked feeling ashamed.

"Keira, I couldn't help the way I felt for you and I guess I still can't but I have known for some time that you didn't feel the same. That still didn't stop me though. I could tell that first night when you saw him that he was the only one you had feelings for.... but Keira that doesn't mean I blame you and I certainly don't want to stop being your friend." I had tears welling up and I hid my face behind my menu for a moment.

"I don't deserve such a good friend." I said looking down and reading nothing on the plastic in my hands. He pulled the menu from me and held my hands in his.

"Keira, I am lucky to have you as a friend. I won't lie and say I am happy that you and Dominic Draven are together but I am glad that you are with someone who obviously cares a great deal for you/" This made me look up at him and his eyes showed such sincerity.

"How do you know that?"

"Keira, when you disappeared he had everyone in the club spoken to. The band stopped and the lights on full. I saw the desperation in his face when I handed him the letter you wrote. I was very surprised when he thanked me and even shook my hand." He said, looking at the same hand as if seeing the memory on it.

"However, I wasn't surprised that he chose you. He is lucky to have you." This made me blush again as I wasn't great at receiving compliments, especially when I didn't think they were justified by my appalling behaviour.

"Keira, will you tell me something if I ask?" I knew this was coming and I told myself earlier that if he asked I would trust him. He deserved that much from me...he deserved the truth. I nodded knowing this wasn't going to be an easy conversation to have.

"What happened to you that night?" His voice was soft and soothing. I knew this was him trying to make it easier for me. Then the waitress came over to us, giving me little more time to think about how I was going to start. But the more I thought about it, the more I knew I had no other choice than to start at the gruelling beginning. Jack ordered two sodas and I looked outside to find my watch dog on guard. I was about to wave but stopped myself before I looked nuts. After all no one else could see him and this was proven when a couple walked past him and came into the diner. And trust me when I say this was not a man you would just have walked past without a mouth dropping moment!

I waited until the c.o.kes came and the snotty waitress went back to refilling her salt pots. Bless Jack because he just sat patiently and waited for me to find the courage to start.

"Well there really is no other way to put it, so here goes....I was kidnapped." I said but he looked like he was going to choke on the ice cube he'd been sucking on.

"Jack, are you ok?" I said handing him my napkin so he could dispose of the cube.

"I'm sorry can you just run that through me again please....you say you were....kidnapped?" He whispered that last word like it was a sinful one.

"Look, I think I need to explain my past before I explain that night. The thing is Jack, this is the most private thing I could tell anyone. I have been running from it for two years now and only my family knows the truth. It's the reason I came here and it's the reason I have.... lied." I said this expecting more of a reaction but no, so far so good.

"What kind of lies?" He said in a non judging tone.

"First, my real name is Catherine Keira Williams not Johnson and I am really twenty three not twenty one like everyone thinks." I let this sink in before carrying on. His face tried to remain unmoved but I could see the shock in his eyes. Whatever he had expected, it hadn't been this. I continued to tell him about how and when I first met Morgan and what the result of that was. I tried to miss out the details but Jack wanted to know, as many would. I answered his questions and saw how difficult it was for him to hear. He tensed his fists and gripped the table making it shake. He even ground his teeth whenever I got to a more disturbing part.

Once I had finished I told him the second half but had to change it slightly to leave out all the supernatural stuff. I explained how he had tricked me into meeting him and luckily Draven found where he was keeping me before he could really hurt me. When I had finished, he lent back against the leather backed booth and stared at his hands for a while before speaking. He then raised his eyes and I saw pure hate there for the very first time and it scared me when he said, "I hope Draven killed him!" This was so out of character that I shuddered. What could I say, yes he did, he stabbed him in the heart once but then he came back and killed himself! Nope I couldn't go with that. When he saw me struggle for an answer he made it easy for me.

"You don't need to tell me Keira, I think I can gather for myself and with a man like Draven I can't imagine it was a good way to go but for this, I would agree with him. This Morgan clearly needed to meet his end." He said bitterly at the thought of me in the clutches of that mad man. He looked down at my gloves that were under my sleeves and shook his head at what they must be hiding.

"I don't think I have met anyone as brave as you. But I have to tell you, I never thought you tried to kill yourself. I always thought it must have been some kind of accident." This touched me more than he could ever know. I had not yet met anyone that thought this way. Everyone had thought I tried to commit suicide, even my family had thought that I had tried to end it all but they had all been wrong. I just could never bring myself to tell them that they might have been next in Morgan's deluded, warped mind! I took his hand in mine and kissed it.

"Thank you. You don't know what it means to me, to hear you say that. You are the first to have given me the benefit of the doubt. Everyone else just a.s.sumes...well you know." I said looking down at my arms and I automatically pulled down on the material.

"I really appreciate you confiding in me and I will not say a word but I guess you knew I wouldn't, otherwise you wouldn't have told me." I looked up to meet his face that had once again changed back to his usual happy self and he winked at me making me laugh. He really was one of the best friends I had ever had!

"I don't deserve such a good friend" I said as I playfully flicked him with the end of my straw.

"Well what can I say, I will just have to charge you later on, when your rich boyfriend opens you a bank account!" He said laughing and I faked being hurt and flicked even more c.o.ke on him. We both giggled liked naughty kids and we got some evil looks from the other customers.

"Now pack that in!" I said before he could throw an ice cube my way. Jack got up and went to the rest room and as I followed his tall frame walk away, I noticed a pair of eyes watching me...purple eyes!

Oh great! Draven had been watching my entire 'date' as he called it! I now swallowed hard knowing that I was going to be in for it later. I shook my head at him but the middle aged trucker he was using just mouthed the word "No" at me while shaking his finger at me. When Jack got back, I decided to try and ignore him and I carried on with Jack as if I hadn't noticed. Well I was going to get an ear bashing anyway so I might as well have a fun afternoon before Draven got hold of me.

"So Jack, it's my turn to ask something of a sensitive nature." He curved up one side of his mouth like he had been waiting for me to ask.

"You want to know about Celina don't you?" He said looking at me over his now refilled c.o.ke gla.s.s.

"Well yeah," I said shamefully feeling like a gossip.

"It's fine, well I mean, it freaked the c.r.a.p out of me when I saw her there but now I guess I can finally move on. But I won't lie....it hit me hard." I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. All this time he had thought Draven had stole his girlfriend away two years ago, he had even semi believed that he might have killed her. Celina was Draven's a.s.sistant and had made me believe his fiancee at one point but this had been a lie to keep me from feeling for him. Of course it hadn't worked but it still hurt like h.e.l.l! Celina of course was a Demon and had started a relationship with Jack years earlier. This is one of the biggest crimes a Demon or Angel can commit. So when Draven saw her in his club with Jack he put a stop to it. But instead of punishing her, he allowed her to stay in this plane and work for him. Jack, of course, didn't know this and still doesn't, so I was curious to what she told him that night he saw her up in the VIP area.

"She explained that she was actually engaged." My heart stopped for a moment but started again when he continued.

"She thought the guy had been unfaithful but it was a misunderstanding. She ran away to her aunt's house and no one knew where she was to explain the truth. He works for Draven, apparently, so when he saw her that night at the club he took the opportunity to tell her what really happened. She didn't go into it and he wasn't there that night but when he works for Draven, she tags along." This story had been well thought out but I gathered for a Demon, lying wasn't a hard job to master and if it didn't work, they could just control their mind so they would believe what they were told. Which had me wondering if the reason he seemed to be taking this so well, wasn't actually down to some mind manipulation? Whatever the reasons I was just glad he didn't seemed to be hurting about it.

"I know what you're thinking, why not just tell me that...right?" He said and just nodded as I was pretty sure he wouldn't want to know what I was actually thinking!

"Well she told me that her fiancee is a bit of the possessive type and she didn't want him finding out about me because she didn't want him to do me any harm. But when I helped Draven by giving him that letter, he agreed that he would not discuss our meeting again" I was lost for words and knowing the truth about this wasn't making it any easier to pretend I didn't.

"So how do you feel now?"

"I guess I'm fine, now I know." Ok, I think he must definitely have received a little Demon therapy from the red headed beauty Celina.

"Well I'm glad something good came out of that night. Thank you for giving Draven that letter, you helped save my life." I said sincerely.

"I just wished I'd had the guts to do it sooner but no offence, your boyfriend is one scary a.r.s.e dude!" I smirked and looked sideways to the trucker which Draven was still using to listen in and I saw him grinning at this statement. He obviously liked the idea Jack was scared enough of Draven, to not pursue me romantically. Then I laughed as the waitress eyed him warily so he went back to sipping his coffee. Thankfully Jack thought I had laughed at his last comment so I said, "Yeah, he can be intimidating at times but he means well and he was extremely grateful for what you did." I said a bit louder than I needed to and the trucker snorted making the people next to him jump at the sudden outburst. Jack raised his eyes in disbelief.

"No really," I said again.

"Well, no offence Keira but he was the last person I did it for." Ok I was walking on thin ice now, as I half expected the trucker to get up and throttle him because he swivelled in his stool and stared at us both with purple tinted fury. I frowned at him giving him my sternest stare trying to will him to back down. Jack was turning to see who I was glaring at and I waited for disaster. My harsh eyes were replaced by ones of dread and pleading. But just in time, Jack was faced with more of a creepy smile and it came across as more of a gay admire, than the hate it had been. Jack sort of smiled back but quickly turned away, being clearly freaked out.

"What was all that about?" He whispered behind his hand.

"Beats me!" I said trying not to laugh at the memory of this big fat trucker smiling like a little girl dressed in her best, smiling at a boy she fancies! Well if Draven wanted to play games then he definitely won with this move.

We continued to chat for a while longer until I noticed the time was getting on and I needed to get ready for work. Jack walked me out to my car after receiving an even creepier wink from his new trucker friend. Thankfully we started laughing about it once we got outside. As I said goodbye he leaned into kiss me on the cheek, when an almighty crash came from the dumpsters being turned upside down made us both jump.

"Wow what the h.e.l.l was that?" He was asking the right person as I had seen the whole thing but I couldn't tell him that it had been my colossal bodyguard having a paddy at the sight of me be kissed goodbye! Jack couldn't see him and I was thankful. Ragnar looked enraged and his skin looked aflame as he showed it. I got in my car before Jack could finish his gesture. I pulled away not caring how Ragnar got back. I felt like a prisoner having my every move watched. This wasn't protection, this was a dictatorship. Was I even in any danger or was this just an excuse for Draven to catch me doing things he didn't like.

By the time I got home I was still gripping onto the wheel like it was the enemy. We were going to have words tonight, that was for sure. I wondered would it always be like this. A constant up and down of agreeing and disagreeing. He was just going to have to get used to not getting his own way all of the time. I pulled up outside the house and Ragnar was there already waiting for me. I sighed before cutting the engine and begrudgingly got out to deal with him and his face of thunder.

"Ragnar" I said nodding to him as I approached. He crossed his stone pillar arms across his vast chest.

"You should learn your place and know it's not to anger your Master." He said in his usual hoa.r.s.e deep voice that had a strong accent. I got closer to him and crossed my own arms but I doubted it had the same impact as he had. Never the less, I jutted out my chin and raised my head.

"He is NOT my Master, he is yours! I don't answer to anyone, do you understand?" I said this in my sternest voice and I was amazed that it didn't shake in the face of this monster Viking.

"Huh!" He just lifted up his shoulders as if he didn't believe me and this angered me more but he just smiled to himself like he knew the trouble I would be in later and moved to let me pa.s.s. I couldn't help it and knew it was childish but as I walked past him, I said "Jerk" under my breath. But this had him laughing heartily as he walked away to do his rounds of the house. I could still hear him once I was inside. However Libby and Frank couldn't.

I tried to hide my frustration from them as I walked in the living room. Justin had gone but Frank and Libby were still talking about him.

"Oh hey Kazzy, did you know Justin was here?" Libby asked but before I could answer, Frank spoke for me.

"Oh yeah she was here to hear the boyish charms of my brother. I think he has a soft spot for you Kaz because he wouldn't shut up about you after you left and wanted to know all about Dominic. He also wanted me to ask you if you would take him to the club next weekend, as he's coming back to stay for a few days?" Oh no, this was bad! I was about to protest but my helpful sister came to my aid.

"Yeah, sure she will." Ok, maybe not!

"Won't you?" She said giving me the eye as if to say, you b.l.o.o.d.y well will! So I caved and nodded knowing this was definitely going to come back and bite me in the a.r.s.e and not in one of those nice, s.e.xy ways!

I could just imagine Draven's opinion on this and the idea of having to tell him was making me forget Jack. h.e.l.l, he was a piece of cake to explain compared to Justin! If Draven thought me seeing Jack was bad, then this was going to be a disaster, t.i.tanic style. Jack was just minor league flirting but Justin, he was a big player and was definitely up there with the pro's. The problem I faced was not controlling Justin, Oh no, It was controlling Draven...

My Demon rage fuelled boyfriend.

Chapter 10.

Never a Good Time I was ready for work in record time and it was probably down to autopilot. I was still frustrated with Draven's possessive behaviour, first with having Ragnar following me around for so called safety and then with Draven eavesdropping at the diner. But despite all this, my main frustration was the opposite of all these things. It was really down to how much I missed him when I wasn't around him.

He was definitely like a drug and when I was without it, I was cranky. I would rather be around him disagreeing and arguing than not at all. I was still stewing over all these little factors when I was in my car driving towards club Afterlife. It was strange, as though the closer I got to him the happier my body felt. I even turned on the radio and sang along to some cheesy music. I was half way through Tina Turner's 'Simply the Best' when I arrived.

It was already starting to go dark when I got inside the club and as soon as I walked through the huge oak doors my body filled with a warm positive energy. It was like a wave of joy and it took all my effort not to go running up the stairs into Draven's arms and say to h.e.l.l with work! I wondered if he felt the same about me... could he sense that I was here?

The Club wasn't busy yet but I knew that as soon as the band set up, then the club would flood with Goth's, Emo's and Rockers. We even had a few Cyber Goth's as I called them. Now they were extreme! With huge material hair and the biggest boots I had ever seen. Some wore coloured gas masks over their mouths and I had no idea why. But at the moment, the bar area only held a few early gothic birds with Mike and Helen working behind it. I hadn't seen them for what seemed like ages but it had only been a week.

"Hey guys!" I said hoping for the same happy response.

"Well look whose back, word had it you quit." Mike said in a friendly tone and my heart calmed after that. Helen waved before reloading the gla.s.s washer.

"Yeah, I kind of did but no one else would have me, so here I am." I said half joking and Mike smiled. This was a clear indication that none of them knew about my new relationship with their boss, along with mine.

"Well, it's good to have you back." Mike said but just then Ca.s.sie came from behind the back room carrying some empty gla.s.ses and said, "Speak for yourself!"

Ca.s.sie had never liked me and the feeling was most definitely mutual! She was a little s.l.u.t and she didn't try to hide the fact. She hated me for two reasons, the first was that Mike took notice of me and the second was because I had been chosen to work in the VIP area. This had sealed the deal as she would have sold her soul to get up there. I smiled at her to show I was a bigger person than the Gothic Barbie look alike that was now scowling at me. Mike rolled his eyes as he wasn't her biggest fan, although you wouldn't have thought so to see Ca.s.sie throwing herself all over him, like a wasp over a squashed grape.

The evening started to get busy when a band called 'The Shin Splints' started to play but they were a little heavy for my taste. I was behind the bar serving the swarm of students when the worst thing possible happened. Ok, slight over statement, but to a girl at work it was never a good time to get your period. I had to grab Helen and ask her for any girly supplies as I had forgotten to load up my bag. Lucky for me she always had some, so she informed me.

I ran to the toilet to a.s.sess the damage and yep you guessed it, I had leaked! After some clean up and lots of toilet roll, I was ready to go again until the worse bit about periods. .h.i.t me....the pain! I usually didn't get bad periods but every once in a blue moon I would get a real doozy that would make me feel like I was giving birth to a baby elephant....and tonight was the night for it! I could normally cope if I had pain killers to take but I had none. Again I had to ask Helen but on this, she was no help. So I soldiered on only every now and again I had to stop for cramps.

"Keira are you alright?" Mike asked as I was taking a minute by the sinks.

"Yeah, just cramp" I said like I had spent the day running. Ha, me running, I hated to run!

"Kaz, I have five sisters and I know enough about girls to understand the signs! You get yourself off early... it's quietening down now and Jerry is fine with it." I wanted to laugh at this last part, of course Jerry would be fine with it, considering my connection to Draven, I think he would have given me his first born if I asked for it! I nodded while already getting my bag and jacket from the hook in the back room. This was Jerry's office and also where we kept some of the spare bottles of spirits. Jerry was at his desk cashing up one of the tills.

"You off now?" He asked looking up. He was smiling until he saw my face then it dropped. I knew then that I was deathly pale.

"Umm...I hate to say this but you don't look good kid." He frowned and looked like he was going to pick up the phone but I knew who he'd call and I didn't want the fuss.

"I'm fine, just a bit of a head ache but nothing an early night won't cure." I said making him think twice about the phone call idea.

"Yeah, that band was a bit far out tonight." Jerry liked rock music but he was more of an old fashioned lover of it than some of the new stuff and when tonight's band had mixed techno with screaming, it had all gotten too much for him....and me!

"Well, Draven wants you to go you upstairs after your shift." He said trying to look busy and impartial. I nodded before leaving but my body not only hurt, it was now filled with dread. The last thing I wanted was an argument with Draven about today's disapproving Keira act! So I did something very out of character. I walked out from around the bar and continued until I got to the double doors that led outside to the car park. I knew it was wrong and rude but I just couldn't stand the rest of the evening pretending everything was fine, when all I wanted to do was crawl up in bed and cry from pain. Why is it that if you don't take tablets straight away, then it doesn't ever seem to go or even fade? It just felt like a thorn bush was growing inside my uterus!

I saw my car in its usual parking s.p.a.ce and got out my keys ready to stick in the lock. I looked about expecting to find Ragnar but he was nowhere and suddenly I felt a bit vulnerable. This was stupid now, I was getting dependant on having a bodyguard to feel safe. I took a moment to lean my head on the metal frame to cool my burning head before unlocking the door to the driver's side. It had taken me a while to get used to driving this side of the road and for ages I would go to the wrong side of the car, which when I looked up, had happened again.

I was losing it!

Then hands came out from behind me making me jump and scream out. They slammed the door shut before I could get in. I stared at the window knowing it was Draven behind me and as soon as I inhaled in his perfect scent, I felt some of the pain ease. I wouldn't turn round to look at him because I knew I would meet his temper. I felt him lean down to my ear and his lips touched my skin making me shudder.

"Why are you leaving me Keira?" His voice was steady as if he was using a lot of control not to get angry. I took in a deep breath and turned round to face him hoping that the dim light from the few lamps around wouldn't show my sickly skin. I was expecting to find hard features but as soon as he saw me his eyes went wide and his hand came to my face. He ran the back of two fingers down my cheek and then looked worried.

"You are very hot and also pale... are you unwell?" Oh great, now I had to lie to the Master of detection.

"I'm fine, it was just hot in there." I said looking down so he couldn't see my eyes lie. I was a dead giveaway when I looked them in the face.

"Then please tell me, why is it you think you can drive home in the pa.s.senger seat?" He said in a smug tone and one trying to hide humour.

"I said I am fine!"

"Then answer my question, why were you leaving me?" He asked softly making his hand cold and putting it to my burning face. It felt amazing! I closed my eyes and let his cold skin sooth me before answering him.

"Because I didn't want to argue with you." I said looking him up and down. G.o.d, now he looked HOT! He was wearing a black pin striped suit with a waistcoat but with no tie. His hair was styled back and he had shaven the stubble off, making him look very smart and above all, s.e.xy as h.e.l.l. I bit my lip and tried to concentrate on keeping a steady rhythm in my chest. I expected this would make him angry, so when I saw him smiling at me I was shocked and confused.

"And that's the reason you were going to go and say nothing?" His voice invaded my mind and I let it because with every word out of that delicious mouth, it was making my pain fade. I felt a bit ashamed that this was what I was going to do and lowered my face without answering but he took my guilty face as confirmation. He bent his knees to look under where my face was hidden.

"I'm sorry." Was all I could say and he pulled me to him for an embrace. I let his strong arms hold me to him and I tried to swallow the pain I had down below.

"Keira, there is no need for you to apologise. If you would like to leave then you are free to go but I would like you to have protection at least," he said but I got the impression this was something he didn't want. So I quickly said, "I don't want to leave you, I just didn't want you to get angry at me for today." He frowned down at me but I just rested my head on his chest because I didn't like it when he frowned.

"Why would I get angry at you? Just because I am used to getting my own way it doesn't mean I will take it out on you, when I don't." So this whole time I had been worrying for nothing! I was such a fool.