CHAPTER 36
CHRISTIAN'S POV
In as much as i wished to come clean to Luna about my name and nationality, something held me back. It was like an invisible hand gripping the back of my neck every time I thought about telling her the truth. Well,atleast i was honest about what I do!
The lie wasn't complete, but it wasn't the truth either. And the strange part was… the more time I spent thinking about it, the heavier it began to sit in my chest.
Slowly, Luna began competing with Brenda on who deserves to stay in my thoughts. Even if I was thinking about Luna, my thoughts trailed off to Brenda. Even when it's Brenda, Luna always made sure to interrupt my thoughts.
It was like two ghosts fighting for space inside my head. One was my past. The other… something I still didn't understand yet.
I put on my shoes as I got ready to meet Luna, finally. To really meet her without the masks and all,just her. The house was empty due to Elijah's absence. The silence inside the walls felt strange without the small sounds Elijah usually filled it with. The moment Daemon's name came up,i decided to send him to Eden. Atleast,there is knew he was safe.
Safety. That was a rare luxury in my world.
I glanced at my watch,I wasn't late. I still had about forty five minutes to spare. The polished steel reflected the dim light of the room as the seconds ticked calmly forward.
After I spoke to Luna and confirmed that our date was still on,I drove to the warehouse.
The smell of oil, steel and old wood wrapped around the place the moment I stepped in. The low hum of machinery and distant voices echoed through the large space.
"The order is worth three hundred million, we pulled this off…our wallets and pockets will be smiling!" Massimo handed me a file.
I flipped through it and smiled at each page. Numbers like those could make kingdoms rise… or start wars.
"We might need a new tech guy! Or girl…technically any gender will do! Christian is busy at the distillery and we barely see him. I think another head might do us a favor!" I suggested. Christian was always happy to help but getting him too deep? No,i wasn't doing that.
"I'll put the word out!" Massimo spoke as he walked me to the car.
The cold air outside brushed against my face as we stepped out.
I was about to close the door when Massimo stopped me.
"Boss,a shipment this big,means big trouble. Someone might try something on us.."
"You mean Daemon?"
He nodded slowly. "The fucker might try to sabotage our delivery." He seethed,clenching his teeth.
I leaned against the door for a moment, thinking.
"And that's why we'll do diversion. We'll lead him to something he's not prepared for!" I smiled.
Massimo's eyebrows lifted slightly. He knew that smile. It usually meant someone else was about to walk straight into a trap.
"Carefully step away from the car,I have a date!"
Massimo threw his hands up in surrender and stepped away from the car,watching me drive off.
I would've never thought that Luna was into these types if bars.
The place looked rough around the edges.
It was more like a juke joint, excellent.
Warm yellow lights hung low from the ceiling, casting soft shadows over the wooden floor. A blues guitar hummed from somewhere near the back stage while the faint smell of whiskey, beer and old smoke filled the air.
One more similarity with Brenda.
She had taken me to a bar in Mississippi where they played nothing but Blues music. Overall, I loved the place.
I sat down at barstool next to the counter, resting one arm on it,I ordered a beer.
The cold bottle sweated slightly in my hand as the bartender slid it toward me.
I was halfway finished when on the far left end of the counter,I saw her.
At first my brain refused to accept it.
I blinked once.
Then twice.
I don't know who you think her is,but her is BRENDA freaking BELAIR!
What was she doing here?
The music suddenly felt louder. The room slightly smaller.
"Thank you!" I said to the juke lady as I placed the empty glass back on the counter.
I walked over to her.
I stopped a few inches from her and took my time to admire God's creation.
She was devine.
The dim lights kissed her skin, giving it a warm glow. Her locks cascaded over her shoulders like dark silk, catching the bar light every time she moved.
Just perfect.
Wait,what? What am I doing admiring my ex while waiting for another woman? That's just so wrong.
As if sensing eyes on her,Brenda turned and looked straight at me.
For a split second her face carried confusion. Her eyes narrowed slightly as if her mind was trying to place a memory that suddenly appeared in front of her.
But she straightened it out immediately.
I bet she was asking herself what I was there for.
I don't know when I began walking but I found myself taking a seat next to her.
She drowned herself in the large glass cup of beer infront of her,doing anything to avoid me…that much I could tell.
"Hey!" I said,studying her face.
"Hii!" She replied, pursing her lips into a small smile.
The smile was polite… careful.
"Nice place, you come here often?" I was trying everything i could to make a conversation.
"Almost everytime I take a break from th distillery!" She replied.
My eyes dropped from her face to her chest that shimmered with a glitters.
Then from her chest to that insanely juicy bust.
Her boobs were packed up like freshy made donuts.
They once were mine,I once relished them.
Once had them overflowing in my hands,kneaded them to please us both.
The memories flickered through my mind like forbidden footage I shouldn't be replaying.
"And you? As far as I can remember, these aren't exactly your.." She couldn't find the right word without making both herself and me racist.
"People change Brenda!" I smiled.
She chuckled and rolled her eyes.
The sound of it felt strangely familiar… like hearing an old song you didn't realize you missed.
"So…how's little Elijah?" She asked.
"He's fine, growing by the day."
She nodded and got a refill.
We spoke for about an hour.
The conversation flowed easier than I expected. The awkward tension slowly melted away with each sip of beer.
I noticed how her eyes darted from her wrist watch to the door.
"Are you expecting someone?"
"Yeah, a friend of mine is in town and we agreed to meet up here!" She sighed,a little disappointed.
"How ironic! I was also waiting for a friend!" I replied.
The universe really did this one.
We both were at the place to meet with our friends and ran into eachother.
What is the universe trying to do?
"Guess we both have been stood up!" She laughed.
The beer was now taking its effect. Her movements were now careless and free,not calculated.
Her shoulders relaxed. Her laughter came easier now.
She smiled and laughed alot too.
And somehow… sitting there across from her… it felt dangerously easy to forget everything else waiting outside that bar.