Tall, Dark & Lonely (Pyte/Sentinel #1)(26)

Joshua looked at the money in his hand and back at David. He wanted to stay, but pizza was pizza after all. “Can I get a meatball and mushroom pizza?”

“You can get whatever you want,” Ephraim said. “And if you keep everyone out of here then you can even keep the change.”

“Cool!” He ran out of the room, leaving David, Ephraim, Mrs. Buckman, Madison and Candy alone.

David started to stand up. “This is just a misunderstanding that’s all….I swear….I…I’ll just be going,” he stammered.

“Sit down, now!” Ephraim roared. Everyone jumped. David practically fell back into his chair.

Madison’s face was bright red. She’d never been so embarrassed or felt so used in her life. Part of her wanted to run, but she needed to find out who this man was. The man she considered giving herself to. Oh god, she wanted to curl up into a ball and die. This was so humiliating.

“Mrs. Buckman, if I promise to answer all of your questions later will you leave the room now? I promise to handle this properly.” Still he looked at David.

Her grandmother sighed and nodded. She trusted him to handle this situation the same as any of her other problems. “Thank you, Ephraim.”

“Come on, this is just a mistake!” David pleaded.

“Candy, I have a few questions for you and then you can leave as well, okay?” Ephraim asked.

Candy looked confused, but nodded. “Do you know this man?”

“Yes.”

“From?”

“He comes into the club most nights. He lives with Crystal and they have a baby. Why? What is going on here?”

“Where does he work?”

“A bookstore.”

“Did he go to college?”

Candy laughed. “Are you kidding? He just got his GED last month.”

David’s face turned bright red.

“What is going on here?” Candy demanded.

“Nothing. Candy, why don’t you go make sure that Joshua is ordering enough pizza, please.” She stood up and left, throwing one last look at them. “Lock the door from the inside,” Ephraim softly ordered.

He waited until he heard the door click shut before he stood up. David jumped to his feet. He grabbed the carving knife from the roast beef platter and held it up in front of him while he backed away and moved towards the locked door.

Ephraim gently took Madison’s arm and pushed her against the wall. Without hesitation he stepped in front of David. “You owe the lady an apology and an explanation.”

David licked his lips. “I’m leaving.”

“No, you’re not. You’re apologizing. Why did you lie and date her if you had a girlfriend and a baby at home?”

David looked at her and gave her a weak smile. “I’m sorry it was just a bet.”

“A bet?” she asked, stepping forward. She was going to slap him!

Ephraim took another step, placing himself directly in front of David. David held the knife up with a shaky hand. “Get that damn thing out of my face, boy.”

David shook his head. “No, you’re going to hit me!”

“Of course I am and you’re only pissing me off more with that damn knife!” Ephraim reached out and grabbed the knife by the blade, ripping it out of David’s hands and tossing it behind him and away from Madison.

Madison scrambled to pick up the knife before either man could pick it up again. She grabbed it and stepped away quickly looking at the blade, shocked by all the blood dripping down the blade.

“Now, you were telling us about a bet?” Ephraim prompted. If his hand hurt it didn’t show. He stalked forward as David retreated.

“It was stupid. She came into the bookstore a month ago and the guys and I took a bet who could nail her.” He held up his hands. “I didn’t know it would take this long! I didn’t mean to keep up this act this long. I swear it was just a bet!”

Ephraim shot a quick look back at Madison. She was crying. Ephraim fought for control as his teeth descended. “Your eyes…what’s wrong with your eyes?” David asked nervously. Ephraim turned his head before Madison could see.

“Madison, please leave,” he said in a soothing voice.

“No.” Her voice broke.

“Madison, now!” he roared. He couldn’t control it any longer. He ran his tongue over his fangs, trying to send them back, but they refused to go. His hands shook with rage and the need to tear this bastard apart.

Madison took a deep breath. She couldn’t leave, she just couldn’t. “No, I’m staying.”

“Damn it, Madison, leave now!”

“No!”

Ephraim opened his eyes and turned back to look at David. “Oh my God! What the hell is this?” He grabbed a chair and flung it at Ephraim and ran for the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Ephraim demanded as he moved in front of David, cutting him off. David stumbled back against the table. His entire body began to shake.

“Please, I’m so sorry…so sorry…I’ll never do anything like this again I swear!” He sobbed uncontrollably.

Ephraim grabbed David’s shirt with one hand, raising him off the ground until David was looking down at him. His arms and legs flailed wildly.