my apron as I made my way across the dining room floor to the kitchen. I ignored my fathers’ shocked expression as I clocked in and immediately went to work on setting up tables. Lately, I haven’t made it to work very often. I knew I laid a heavy burden on my parents and their struggling business, but I had convinced myself they were better off without an angry, bitter waitress swearing at customers. But deep down I knew, any help was better than no help. After Toby had gone missing a few weeks ago, they needed me more than ever.
As I was filling the salt shakers, an old couple came in and sat in my section. I rushed back to the kitchen and started a fresh pot of coffee and grabbed them a basket full of fresh biscuits. It was rare to see an elderly person, let alone a couple. They became easy targets for the Vamps because of their inability to fight them off.
The husband ordered for his wife and they laughed and talked for nearly two hours, before leaving. The rest of my shift was a blur. Couples and families came and went. My feet ached by the time my shift was over and I had, at least, two pots of coffee to myself. I was wired and exhausted at the same time.
The sun was beginning to set as I drove home and I decided to swing by the local pool hall where all of my friends from high school still hung out. I parked by the Paper Mill and made my way into the tiny rundown building on a back alley in Spring Grove. A few familiar faces noticed me and smiled in acknowledgment. I smiled back shyly and made my way to the back room where a heated pool game was in full swing.
Men yelled over the music and accused each other of cheating. Someone threw a pool stick and I ducked as it hit the wall beside me.
“Ezra’s hustling again?” I asked Madelyn, who shot me a wry grin as she tucked her fire red hair behind her ear. “I got next,” I yelled over the commotion. I grabbed a twenty out of my purse and threw it on the table. “I got next!” This time, the guys looked up and nodded, acknowledging my existence. I smiled back and leaned against the wall, watching the game unfold as I tried not to think of the handsome stranger from last night.
Ezra won, of course, and came over to receive a victory kiss from Madelyn. After a minute or so he looked over at me with a cocky grin.
“Let’s go,” he said, inclining his head toward the table. Ezra could have gone pro. He was the best pool shark I had ever seen, but his love for drugs had been greater than for the game. His once muscular physique was now thin and pale, dark purple marring the skin under his sunken eyes.
I racked the balls and waited for him to break. He did and balls scattered across the table with lightning speed, sinking three. His talent was incredible and such a waste. The bell above the door rang as people flooded into the pool hall for the evening rush.
During the day, this place looked abandoned, but at night, it came alive. The main room became hushed, and we quickly took notice of a commotion in the back. Everyone grabbed a pool cue and waited to see what was coming our way. Three men walked through the doorway, glaring at everyone in sight. The leader, a tall man, built like a farm hand with dirty blonde hair spoke first.
“I’ve got next,” he said with a slight Irish accent. His lips curled up into a smile, revealing his pointed fangs. Vampires could go undetected if they chose. This act was a sign of aggression. He wanted us to run. No one spoke as they made their way across the room to our table. I shot them a look of utter disgust and bent over to take my shot, sinking a ball.
I had pure hatred for vampires. Ever since their existence came to light, they preached equality while torturing and killing anyone who didn’t bow down and worship at their feet.
I walked around the table, shoving past them to take my next shot. I bent over, taking aim as a hand grabbed my ass from behind. I spun around shoving my cue stick under the vamp’s neck, my