Temptation in Neon by Connor Peterson

Author:Connor Peterson [Peterson, Connor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Casual Disaster Press

Chapter Twelve

When Liam didn’t stroll from the bedroom and out the door like usual, Danny stole periodic glances at the shut-off room, unnerved by the unsettling quiet on the other side. Mari surprised him by exiting from inside first, and when Danny realized she had dressed and done her makeup, he raised an eyebrow at her.

She smirked in a conspiratorial manner. “Have a good night,” she said, mouthing the words and adding only a soft whisper to them. Danny watched her walk out of the condo, struck mute, and when movement from the bedroom captured his attention again, he glanced back toward it without preparing himself first. Liam stood in the threshold, staring silently at him and looking nonplussed. Danny felt his pulse quicken. Freshly dressed, and with his longish hair tied back, Liam projected what had probably caught Danny’s eye the night he let himself get swept up on the dance floor.

The vampire ignored the curious interest in Danny’s eyes, nodding at what Danny wore with detached amusement. “I liked that suit,” he said.

“Suit?” Danny asked. Glancing down at himself, he saw he had fallen asleep in the donated outfit and laughed. “Oh, right. To be honest, I’ve barely been paying attention to what she’s handed me to wear. If not for Mari, I probably wouldn’t have even showered.”

“Mari’s done us all a public service, then.” Liam sobered, and let himself become lost in thought. “I find myself wanting to ask something impossible of you,” he said. “But it’s either do this of your own free will, or I will have to enthrall you to do it. And you seem to prefer being in control.”

“That sounds ominous,” Danny said.

“It is, but if you cooperate, I’ll allow you to retrieve some things from your apartment.” Liam leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms in front of his chest as he did. “Mari pointed out to me that you’d behaved yourself while out. I would like to trust your obedience, but I’m not sure you yet understand that your old way of life is over.”

“Right. I’m Mari’s pet now?”

Liam sighed. “She pointed out that it was rude of me to call you that, so I won’t. But your life isn’t your own. That part hasn’t changed.” A genuine and conciliatory frown tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I’m sorry, Danny.”

“It’s alright.” Danny dug his hands in his pockets, shoring himself up as he did. “Okay, what ware you beating around the bush in not asking me?”

“I need you to call your job and quit. We have people at the police station who say they’ve reported you missing. Again…” Liam weighed his words, delivering them again in a way that almost made him sound apologetic. “… You can’t carry your old way of life past this point.”

“And you can’t risk having more people searching after me.”

“Correct. I don’t expect you to be eager to comply with my reque–”

“I’ll do it.” Danny shut his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled it slow, fighting to chase away the rush of nerves that had raced through him.

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