Chapter 5 - A DEAL IN THE KITCHEN
Bella ran to the kitchen and locked the door. The cook, Ron, took one look at her face and picked up a heavy frying pan.
“Trouble?”
“Yes.”
The back door opened. William came through it, breathing hard. “Bella, get behind me.”
“No,” Bella said. “Tell me what he wants.”
“He thinks you can open the contract.”
“He’s right. I opened the cabinet.”
William’s expression tightened. “How long has he been outside?”
“Long enough to see me notice him.”
Lilith appeared at the back door. “We have maybe a minute.”
Bella turned to Ron. “Go out the delivery door. Call the police about a break-in.”
Ron looked at the three of them, decided questions could wait, and left.
The collector walked into the empty dining room. Bella could see his shape through the kitchen window.
“I can offer her a deal,” he called. “She opens the contract. I leave the children she might one day have alone.”
William went rigid. Bella caught the word might. The collector did not know what she was yet.
“I’m not coming out,” Bella called.
“Denise Mercer gave me your address. She said you’d listen if I promised your family money.”
Bella’s stomach dropped.
William reached for her. “She didn’t know what he was.”
“She knew he wanted me.”
The collector pressed a hand to the glass. Cracks spread across it.
Lilith shoved William and Bella toward the delivery exit. “Go. I can hold him.”
William hesitated. Lilith’s face softened for one brief second.
“I have survived worse men than this,” she said.
May you like
They escaped into the alley. As Bella climbed into William’s car, she looked back. Lilith stood alone in the diner kitchen, one hand raised against the breaking glass.
Then a bright red light filled the windows, and Lilith vanished.
