Between Darkness and Daylight by Gracie C. Mckeever
Authors: Gracie C. Mckeever
Tags: Siren Publishing, Inc.
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joke about."
She almost snatched her hand out of his grip, ready to read him, and good. Instead, she held on tighter and pulled him close instead.
He was trying to distance himself, she could feel it. Perhaps he was feeling a little self-conscious, regretted relating so much to her over lunch.
Well, she wasn't going to let him make her the bad guy, and whatever was eating him, she wasn't going to let him get away with trying to dump her or dump on her. Especially not now, this close to the school.
Nova still had a bad feeling about his being in or around the building today, her heart speeding from her knowledge as much as from their sprint they'd from the restaurant.
"You don't have to come back with m—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know you're a big boy. But I want to see where you work. I have the time and the luxury." Maybe she shouldn't have added that last bit, given him another point of contention or reason to get away 74
Gracie C. McKeever
from her. But she didn't care. She was going back with him whether he wanted her to or not and she gave him a look that made sure she got that point across.
He surprised her again when he chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, drawing her along as he strolled. "I'm glad one of us does."
Nova didn't say anything, all her concentration on the large smoked-glass and stone building they were nearing. A sea of kids gathered out front and bright down jackets, stylish leathers, multicolored knit caps, and other expensive name brand outerwear abounded. Individuals and groups loitered at the entrance, waiting to go in.
She caught sight of Ransom among a crew of older rowdy teens near the school entrance, right before all hell broke loose at the center of the crowd.
Between Darkness and Daylight
75
Chapter 7
A shriek pierced the air, rising above the usual shouts and laughter of the surrounding teens, and was enough to quash the sense of well-being and sensual tranquility that he and Nova had nurtured at the pizzeria and during the walk to the school. Otherwise, the scene unfolded around him as if no one else heard anything untoward—business as usual—but the sunny day instantly took on an ominous edge. The hard-on he’d been battling since Nova’s earlier phone call and finally given in to at the restaurant wilted in his pants.
Zane immediately searched the throng for Ransom and found him lounging against the school building adjacent the entrance and among a crowd of older boys he probably wasn’t supposed to be hanging with, especially after that stunt he’d pulled on Nova.
“There’s Ransom!” Nova raised her hand and waved and the boy quickly glanced left and right before raising his hand to return her greeting.
Probably hoping none of his buddies saw him—didn’t want to seem soft. Zane had a second to grin at his nephew’s antics before the kid stumbled forward as if shoved from behind.
“Ran!” Zane rushed forward, pushing through the crowd, Nova tight on his heels, as if afraid to get lost.
The crowd in front of them spread like pins under a bowling ball.
Zane heard another scream, but still couldn’t see who was making all the commotion at the center of the separating mass.
He stepped forward just as Manuela Diaz’s mother broke through the throng, shouting profanities in Spanish and reaching into her bag.
Zane watched the knife plunge toward his chest, the sharp blade edge glinting bright beneath the autumn sun, had a second of déjà vu before someone shoved him hard and the crowd swallowed him.
76
Gracie C. McKeever
* * * *
Ransom had thought twice about acknowledging Nova and his uncle, and after only a brief pause, his hand had gone up, his heart speeding as it had the first time he spotted Nova on the street and tried to take her purse.
He furtively pushed himself up off of the building façade where he’d been leaning, intending to meet Uncle Zane and Nova halfway.
Eddie and the guys had been riding him all day about how his
She almost snatched her hand out of his grip, ready to read him, and good. Instead, she held on tighter and pulled him close instead.
He was trying to distance himself, she could feel it. Perhaps he was feeling a little self-conscious, regretted relating so much to her over lunch.
Well, she wasn't going to let him make her the bad guy, and whatever was eating him, she wasn't going to let him get away with trying to dump her or dump on her. Especially not now, this close to the school.
Nova still had a bad feeling about his being in or around the building today, her heart speeding from her knowledge as much as from their sprint they'd from the restaurant.
"You don't have to come back with m—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know you're a big boy. But I want to see where you work. I have the time and the luxury." Maybe she shouldn't have added that last bit, given him another point of contention or reason to get away 74
Gracie C. McKeever
from her. But she didn't care. She was going back with him whether he wanted her to or not and she gave him a look that made sure she got that point across.
He surprised her again when he chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder, drawing her along as he strolled. "I'm glad one of us does."
Nova didn't say anything, all her concentration on the large smoked-glass and stone building they were nearing. A sea of kids gathered out front and bright down jackets, stylish leathers, multicolored knit caps, and other expensive name brand outerwear abounded. Individuals and groups loitered at the entrance, waiting to go in.
She caught sight of Ransom among a crew of older rowdy teens near the school entrance, right before all hell broke loose at the center of the crowd.
Between Darkness and Daylight
75
Chapter 7
A shriek pierced the air, rising above the usual shouts and laughter of the surrounding teens, and was enough to quash the sense of well-being and sensual tranquility that he and Nova had nurtured at the pizzeria and during the walk to the school. Otherwise, the scene unfolded around him as if no one else heard anything untoward—business as usual—but the sunny day instantly took on an ominous edge. The hard-on he’d been battling since Nova’s earlier phone call and finally given in to at the restaurant wilted in his pants.
Zane immediately searched the throng for Ransom and found him lounging against the school building adjacent the entrance and among a crowd of older boys he probably wasn’t supposed to be hanging with, especially after that stunt he’d pulled on Nova.
“There’s Ransom!” Nova raised her hand and waved and the boy quickly glanced left and right before raising his hand to return her greeting.
Probably hoping none of his buddies saw him—didn’t want to seem soft. Zane had a second to grin at his nephew’s antics before the kid stumbled forward as if shoved from behind.
“Ran!” Zane rushed forward, pushing through the crowd, Nova tight on his heels, as if afraid to get lost.
The crowd in front of them spread like pins under a bowling ball.
Zane heard another scream, but still couldn’t see who was making all the commotion at the center of the separating mass.
He stepped forward just as Manuela Diaz’s mother broke through the throng, shouting profanities in Spanish and reaching into her bag.
Zane watched the knife plunge toward his chest, the sharp blade edge glinting bright beneath the autumn sun, had a second of déjà vu before someone shoved him hard and the crowd swallowed him.
76
Gracie C. McKeever
* * * *
Ransom had thought twice about acknowledging Nova and his uncle, and after only a brief pause, his hand had gone up, his heart speeding as it had the first time he spotted Nova on the street and tried to take her purse.
He furtively pushed himself up off of the building façade where he’d been leaning, intending to meet Uncle Zane and Nova halfway.
Eddie and the guys had been riding him all day about how his
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