Back to You by Sia Wales Page B

I call out cautiously, trying to make my way through the wall of people separating us.
    When he hears my voice, he looks my way, a tormented look on his face, his lips locked in a deep furrow.
    “Just listen to me, Donn Brooks.”
    “Maybe we should get out of here?” Donn barks, gripping J.’s arm. It doesn’t sound like a suggestion.
    I weave through the crowd near the bar, almost reaching Donn, when he turns toward me again. His eyes widen in surprise and I’m just a couple of steps away. Those empty, terror-filled eyes fix on me. J. darts off into the darkness of the storeroom before I can reach them, with Donn close at his heels. He grabs J. by the arm and drags him away by his leather jacket.
    I’m about to dash into the storeroom, but Donn comes around the corner out of nowhere, alone. He quickly runs to my side, and appears as pale as a ghost. He bumps into me as he comes to a quick stop and curses. I lose my balance and almost fall to the ground, my legs twisted around. He breaks my fall with one arm, then quickly untangles my legs, one at a time.
    I make an effort to get up, as he throws worried glances toward the storeroom doorway. He seems paralyzed. At the entrance of the short corridor is a dark figure, immobile.
    He stretches out his arms to embrace me. But once in his arms, he turns me toward the light in the bar, as if he is using his body as a shield to protect me.
    He gazes into me for an instant. He has managed to wipe away all the panic and tension that has built up in my body, thanks to his bizarre talent of controlling the emotions of people around him. He then nudges me into a quiet corner. I try to slip out of his embrace but he grips my wrist to keep me away from the crowd.
    I no longer feel alone. Donn Brooks, the one and only vampire that manages to keep me under his spell, is by my side. His hand pulls my face and buries it deep into his chest. He nods to someone by the bar, telling them not to interfere. I try to look, but can only see and he doesn’t seem to be looking at us. Still with an arm around me, Donn seems calm, even if his teeth are showing and his nose flared up as if in warning.
    The music drowns out my breathing. Around me, partygoers are eating, laughing, dancing, and totally unaware that they could soon be faced with a terrifying scene of danger, maybe even death.
    Donn is studying something intently over my shoulder.
    “I remember that kid,” he says in a low voice when he sees Bryan weaving through the tables. “He used to work here.”
    “That’s right,” I confirm. “He just started working at The Rise in Boston.”
    “The one who thought you were his girlfriend,” he jokes. “Is he still delusional?”
    I watch Bryan heading toward me out of the corner of my eyes. “Some people don’t know how to take no for an answer,” I say, my eyes glancing at Donn briefly. I would almost have preferred it if Bryan had gone home, although I’d rather not be on my own with Donn.
    “Persistence pays off,” Donn says.
    “It’s usually pointless, though,” I add.
    “It’s worked so far.”
    “Some you win, some you lose.”
    “Try to be a good girl, baby,” he warns, pronouncing each word carefully.
    “I give up trying, I can’t compete.”
    “You win, then,” he whispers, his voice tender, velvety. “I have no plans to corrupt your sweet innocence.”
    I search for a retort, but Bryan comes around the table beside us.
    “There you are,” he says, brushing off Donn with a glance. Donn eyes are like thunder, but he maintains control.
    He looks totally out of place in Medford––too pale, too sharply dressed. Bryan’s head barely reaches his shoulders. I don’t want to think of how small I look next to him and the difference in years that show on his face. Both look at me and I anxiously wave a hand at Donn.
    “Bryan, do you remember Mr. Brooks?”
    “Sure, his face looks familiar,” he admits sharply, his eyes narrowing. There is a trace of irony in