Destiny's Revenge (Destiny Series - Book 2) by Straight, Nancy (novels in english .TXT) 📗

watching this morning?” She waited as if she expected me to deny it, then continued, “I did not lie to him. I knew you were in a park – I did not find out until this afternoon which park.”

I wasn’t upset with the idea that she had lied to Max, but it made me feel better knowing that she didn’t. “You saw my plan. Why do you think it isn’t a good one?”

“As I said, the Beast has a good understanding of your mind. He will anticipate your plan. It does not mean you will not be successful; it just means there is a possibility you may fail.”

I contemplated that for a minute. She had been more help than I had a right to expect. I decided to end our visit, “Thanks, Rewsna, I get it.”

“Good night, Lauren. I wish you all the continued luck you have been afforded.”

Chapter 17

I awoke to a bright sunny day nearly blinded by the rays of light shining through the windshield. My back was stiff, and sometime during the night, Peanut must have gotten scared or something because he was lying on the passenger side floor with his head stretched onto the bench seat. He saw me stirring and quickly licked my face and stretched.

I opened the door and stepped out to let him relieve himself. As I stood in the early morning light, I was ready to put my plan in motion. I put Peanut back into the truck and grabbed my shower gear that I’d bought from a convenience store yesterday and made my way to the bathrooms. I took a shower, pulled my hair into a wet pony tail, brushed my teeth and headed back to the truck. Peanut reminded me of Max in that he was a nervous wreck anytime I was out of his sight.

Sitting in the driver’s seat, I closed my eyes and thought of Max. The familiar tunnel appeared in front of me, and I stepped in quickly. He was again sitting on his front porch with his cell phone in hand. I knew I needed to call him again, and let him know I was okay, but not until I finished my first errand. Ripping myself away from Max when every fiber of my being wanted only to be near him, didn’t get any easier. Every time I peeked in on Max, I knew I had to stop all this and find my way back to him.

I put the truck in drive and headed back to Joe’s house. I had pulled the truck right up to the porch, made my way up the steps, and walked through the front door with Peanut at my side. Taking my cues from Peanut, I watched the hair on the back of his neck: as it stayed flat against him, I decided it must be safe, at least right this second. Joe was at the table eating a bowl of cereal and smiled, calling, “Loraine, I wasn’t expecting you!”

His enthusiasm was welcomed, but I only held my hand up in a quick wave as I walked into the bedroom Max and I had shared to retrieve my purse. I had it in my hand and tried to leave as quickly as I came. I was two steps from the front door when I heard Peanut release a deep angry growl. Crap!

In a voice I did not recognize, very low and gravely, I heard, “Lauren, my dear, we have been looking for you. Please make yourself at home.” Joe motioned for me to sit on the couch. As I tried to walk past him to the door, he caught my arm. His grip was forceful with his fingers constricting my arm to the point of pain. Peanut witnessed the exchange and lunged. Joe’s grip didn’t loosen, but we both fell to the floor, Joe landing with Peanut’s mouth around his neck.

I screamed, “Peanut, No Halt.” I knew whatever had taken possession of Joe’s body was evil, but I also knew that Joe was in there somewhere.

Joe smiled as Peanut’s mouth remained on his neck. In that same slow gravely voice, “Very nice of you, Lauren, to keep the dog from killing me. This body is on loan. I’m sure the owner would be none too thrilled to find himself in a cemetery. Now, are we ready to be cordial with one another?”

Pretending to be stronger than I was feeling, I answered, “I don’t want to speak to you, or your master, I’ve just come to gather my things and be on my way.”

Joe laughed, a sadistic horrifying laugh that made my skin crawl and every hair follicle on my body stand at attention. Joe maintained his rigid grip on my arm. With his free hand he reached up and grabbed Peanut by the throat and threw him across the room; Peanut’s body smashed hard against the far wall. A whimper escaped, and I knew he was hurt. Joe stood up from the floor still gripping my arm in his hand. “Lauren, he has waited long enough to see you again. I knew if I was patient, you would return. Your predictability is your greatest weakness. We’ll just take a seat here on the couch and wait. He will be here momentarily.”

“Who is this ‘he’? Do you mean the Beast? Not quite a man, not quite an animal, stripped of his powers by a girl – this is who you serve? You would be better off hooking up with a bartender; at least at the end of the night you would have some of that liquid courage.”

“Be careful, young one. You know not of whom you speak. He has been very good to you. I do not recommend you anger him again.”

“I know exactly of whom I speak. You know why I wasn’t fearful to come back here today? Because I took his power of sight. I know where he is