Dark Heart Surrender by Lee Monroe Read Free Book Online Page A

We can’t be reacting like babies every time we stumble across something we don’t like the look of.’ Pete shuffled the papers in front of him into a neater pile and put them into a plastic envelope. He grimaced down at his untouched tea. ‘If I were you, I’d put more energy into making a proper cup of tea.’ With a humorous nod at Luca he got up from the table, taking his mug with him. ‘You’ll get there,’ he said over his shoulder.
    Luca watched the old man disappear back out to his tiny office, then looked down at the black liquid left in his own mug. It had indeed been disgusting and left an unpleasant dry taste in his mouth. He pushed the mug away from him, putting his head in his hands. Pete’s explanation was reasonable. But it didn’t explain where the animal, or whatever it was, had found it, or why it had brought it into the hut from what must have been some distance away. No one lived for miles around the training ground; it was just a vast expanse of country lanes. Not the kind of place you went to for a walk, either. And though he knew it was stupid, Pete’s mention of foxes had sent a chill through Luca. Could it just be a coincidence that Dot had talked about the mythical fox yesterday and brought the creature back into Luca’s mind. No one he knew of had ever seen these creatures. But Ulfred had spoken of them in almost reverential tones, with a kind of respect for such a powerful animal. Luca trusted his father’s wisdom and his instincts, even though he was a long way from all the beliefs and mythology of Nissilum.
    Pete came back out of his office. He was putting his jacket on; buttoning it up to the neck, he checked his watch. ‘I have to get home, son. My wife needs something doing at home – and the grandchildren are coming over later.’ He smiled. ‘They’re practically all grown up now. But they still like to visit and get spoiled by my old lady.’ He nodded at Luca. ‘Let’s call it a day. If the weather’s not against us tomorrow, we’ll be back at the grounds.’
    Luca stood, relieved. Finishing early meant he’d be home before Jane. They’d get a decent evening together. ‘If that’s OK?’ he said respectfully. ‘You’re sure you don’t need me to do anything around here?’
    ‘No, that’s all right.’ Pete yawned. ‘You get on home to that beautiful girl of yours. Be back here in the morning.’ He picked up a bag of tools, heading for the door. ‘If you could just lock up after me?’
    ‘Sure.’ Luca slipped a hooded sweatshirt over his head.
    ‘And listen.’ Pete paused. ‘Stop filling your mind with dark thoughts.’ He stared at Luca, his eyes serious now. ‘There is such a thing as a self-fulfilling prophecy you know.’

CHAPTER NINE
     
    ‘W e don’t have to stay long.’ I bent to look in my dressing-table mirror, holding up earring options to my ear. Past my reflection I glanced at Luca, sitting on the end of my bed, doing up the sleeve buttons of his crisp white shirt. Abandoning both pairs of earrings, I adjusted my dress – a tightish, black, short shift I’d bought in the charity shop in Bale a few weeks earlier. I pulled my fingers through my hair and wondered if I ought to put on more make-up. I reached down and picked up my kohl pencil.
    ‘You look lovely,’ Luca said behind me. ‘Simple. Beautiful.’
    I turned to him, smiling. ‘You wait till you see Ashley. She’s so glamorous. I’m going to look like a regular plain Jane beside her.’
    ‘Never.’ His eyes travelled up and down my body and we shared a moment of mutual desire. We’d been having a lot of those moments lately. It was getting almost awkward. I smoothed down my dress with my hands, not wanting to meet his eyes all of a sudden. We had never done more than touch and kiss each other, but it was getting harder to ignore the impulses that happened when we were alone. We both wanted it, but it couldn’t happen. Not in this house. And there was a part of me that