After Sunset Read online

  Copyright © 2020 by Nicole Renee

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Teddy Williams

  Cover Design & Formatting by AB Formatting & Design

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  To my sister.

  To my parents.

  To the hopeless romantics.

  1

  “See you later Winny!”

  Waving off her last customer she waited until the door shut before sighing. It was a busy day at the bookstore but Winny couldn’t complain. As long as people were coming in, she was happy. It gave her the independence she’d craved for so long. Now that money was coming in regularly, Winny could breathe a bit easier. Walking around the small, quaint space filled with books of every kind, she hummed as she dusted off prints from the hard surfaces. Due to the fact that Winny chose to keep a few baked goods for sale, it was always a bit of a mess by closing. As she wiped the crumbs scattered across the vintage wooden table tops onto the floor so she could sweep them up with the rest of the debris, the woman smirked thinking about the conniption her friends would have at seeing her tidying up the mess left behind by her customers. Their incredulity would be expected, seeing as how Winny had a degree in biological sciences.

  At first, when she told her best friends that she was moving from California to pursue her dream of opening a place filled with old texts and literature after college, they were skeptical. After all, this was a digital world. Newspapers were slowly becoming extinct, and the chances of finding people holed up in a book store in their free time was a rarity. Despite all the odds, Winny knew it would be the right move. Besides, there was nothing for her left in California.

  “But Winny, your friends are here, and we love you. You’re family-”

  “Died. Last year,” Winny finished quietly. Smiling sadly, Amy glanced over at Jesse who reached over and grabbed Winny’s hand. The man sighed.

  “Why risk it, though? You have a life here. It’s where your parents were. Even the house they left you. You told us that they made sure you’d never have to worry about a thing. Why give that up?” Shrugging, Winny had no answer for them. The only thing she knew was that it was time. She kept her promise that she would finish college. But now that she graduated, she couldn’t see herself joining the masses looking for work.

  That was over two years ago. And she knew that her friends loved her dearly, as she did them. But she also knew that she felt restricted in her hometown. The town that had once energized and inspired her had begun to feel claustrophobic. She couldn’t help feeling as though the town that she had grown up in was now tainted by the death of her parents. Granted, she would always miss the view of the ocean. Even now, in her mind’s eye, she could see the beautiful Pacific stretched out for miles.

  Though at times she had to ward off sporadic bouts of nostalgia, the woman embraced her new home. Louisiana was a completely different world than California. The disparity between the two locations still astonished her at times, but the place had wormed its way into her heart.

  Suddenly, Winny was pulled from her musings by the sound of the jingling bells that hung from her front door, signaling another customer.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but we’re closed— Oh my god! Are you alright?” Winny shouted as she ran over to the man crumpled near the front of her entrance. She gasped when she saw the amount of blood gushing from his side.

  “This doesn’t look…” Winny’s voice trailed off as her eyes met his. She knew people in the Bayou were into some weird crap, but never had she seen eyes like that in her life. Fathomless black eyes that bored into hers. Something about his gaze was predatory, animal like. She lowered her eyes, trying to process what she’d just seen, while focusing on how to stop the sudden flow of blood.

  Winny made a move to stand from his side. “I’m going to call for help, alright?”

  “No!” The deep voice grunted out. “I’m fine. I just need a minute,” he said weakly.

  She watched helplessly as the long form of the mocha-skinned man crawled further away from the door. Judging by the amount of blood pouring out of him, she wasn’t sure if he had a minute, but she wasn’t going to argue with him.

  “Um…Well, I have a first-aid kit in the back. Let me get it for you.” Winny was about to turn and leave when all of a sudden she felt frozen. It was as if she was locked in place, feet rooted to the floor as soon as his black eyes connected with hers. Winny suspected that he was trying to see if she was telling the truth.

  She wanted to ask what he was doing to her but found that words escaped her. Her trepidation increased at the thought that he was somehow preventing her from moving or speaking.

  For some strange reason, Winny felt that the man looking at her wasn’t…human. That would typically alarm anyone else, but for some strange reason Winny found herself unbothered.

  When the man blinked and nodded, releasing her from whatever compulsion she was under, her posture slumped slightly. Winny took a step back, realizing that she was no longer stuck in place. Had he released her from his compulsion by a blink and nod?

  “Okay. Get the kit,” he said raggedly.

  Uncertain of whatever ability this man possessed, she simply nodded. Winny ran to her back office, practically diving for the first-aid kit. She grabbed her gun and lifted her shirt, placing it in the back of her jeans. The cool steel resting against the small of her back gave her a sense of confidence. She would help the man, but if he pulled any stunts, she would be the one in control. A niggling in the back of her mind assured her that she wouldn’t need to use it, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

  She ran to the front of the store and found that the mystery man had dragged himself along the carpet to the little nook against the back wall near the plush leather red couch. It was every customer’s favorite chair because it offered some privacy while at the same time providing natural light from the outside. Right now the only light streaming through the window was the one coming from the lamppost.

  His eyes snapped open as she knelt down beside him.

  She held up the kit. “I have some disinfectant if you’ll just lift your shirt up,” she said quietly as she opened the medium sized box. She grabbed the pair of blue nitrile medical exam gloves. He continued to study her through the locs falling into his eyes as she slid them over her elegant fingers. He was trying to intimidate her, which in turn was beginning to irritate her, especially when she was trying to help.

  Though Winny refrained from rolling her eyes, her curt words revealed her exasperation. “Hey, you’re the one who came into my store bleeding on my rug. Which I just purchased by the way. I’m only trying to help so I would appreciate it if you would save your glower for whoever did this to you,” she finished tightly.

  She noticed his eyes slightly widen in
surprise by her sudden firm demeanor. Winny grabbed the bottle of disinfectant, missing the small tilt of his full lips, along with the admiration his gaze.

  “Sorry…And thank you for your help.” Raising a bit of his shirt, she winced when she saw how deep the cut was. The man shouldn’t be able to have a coherent conversation with the way he was bleeding. He looked to be uncomfortable, but that was it. No shouts of pain or writhing in agony. It caused her to wonder if maybe some men really were battle-ready.

  Whistling, to distract from the slight shake of her hands, she grabbed the cloth before dousing it in the strong solution. The only sounds that could be heard were the man’s heavy breathing when she placed the cloth over his wound. Winny urged him to stay as still as possible while gently dabbing the deep laceration.

  When the pain ebbed a bit, the man spoke a bit breathless from the constant prodding.

  “You don’t seem too squeamish. Have you helped a lot of people before me with deep cuts?”

  She shrugged. “You could say that. Well, that was the plan, anyway.” When he looked curious, she answered his unspoken question. “I was thinking of attending medical school. Then I thought of the years of schooling and put the brakes on that dream. I settled instead for getting a CPR and first-aid certificate. Good thing, huh?”

  “You could say that,” he said between clenched teeth.

  While getting fresh gauze and antiseptic, she spared him a glance. “Not that I’m nosy or anything, but since you came into my bookstore bleeding, on my new rug, I think maybe you owe me a slight explanation. What happened?”

  When he tensed up, she continued. “I mean, right now I’m inclined to believe any old thing. I own a bookstore for crying out loud, and I spend my time picking through plotlines. For all I know you could be a part of some underground vampire gang. Or maybe you were caught cheating? Or maybe you owe a gangster some exorbitant amount of money? All of the above?” She asked lightly, keeping her gaze on putting ointment on his skin. When he didn’t answer she sighed.

  Obviously this was going to be a tough client.

  “I guess that means I have to go with option D.”

  His brow raised in curiosity, wondering what would make her eyes dance in merriment.

  “It’s obvious, isn’t it?” she placed the gauze on his abdomen and began to tape it down. “You’re a gay for pay call boy who was caught by his lover’s wife and stabbed.”

  His eyes widened in shock before he chuckled, and she relaxed when some of the tension left his shoulders.

  “How about we start with names. I’m Winter. Winter Frame. But I go by Winny. I’m thirty-three and I’m a Virgo. That is if you’re into all of that. What’s your name?” He smiled a bit.

  “That’s a unique name, Winter. I like it. I’m Akachi. Akachi Slade,” he said quietly. The man watched her face, looking for any recognition, and was surprised when she looked at him blankly. She guessed by the look on his face that his name meant something but she had no clue as to what.

  Shrugging, she snapped off a glove before holding her hand out. “Sorry we met under these circumstances, but it’s still a pleasure meeting a new face.”

  His large hand enveloped her much smaller one. He ignored the throbbing pain on his side, and thanked the woman. “I won’t forget this, Winny. Thank you.”

  As she smiled at him, Akachi was mesmerized how it lit her entire face. It was rare to see someone display genuine emotion. At least, that was the experience in his world.

  An hour and a half later, Winny was able to remove all the blood from his torso and found a clean but old oversized sweatshirt she brought a couple of months ago. She took the bloodied dress shirt and jacket and threw it in the trash. The garment was beyond repair. On the way back to her patient she also grabbed a bottle of water and some snacks, hoping to stabilize the man until he got to wherever he needed to go.

  Walking past the counter, Winny was surprised to see that he was standing. In fact, he was doing more than that. Apparently he had spotted the mop she kept by the entrance and was using it to clean up the mess he’d made on the floor.

  “Akachi. You don’t need to do that. You’re still injured. All you’re going to do is aggravate it with all that movement,” she said before setting the snacks and water on the table beside the red chair that he’d been sitting in not even five minutes ago.

  He turned to her and offered a smile. While she was gone, she noticed that he’d tied his dreads so they were all on top of his head, giving her a clear view of his eyes, which were the deepest green she’d ever seen. That was, when they weren’t completely black. He is definitely a looker, she thought in amusement.

  “I’m feeling much better,” he said, snapping her from her reverie. “I felt bad for bleeding all over the rug you just purchased.”

  Winny rolled her eyes before snatching it away, and shooing him over to the chair.

  “You’re only making a mess. And I don’t need you to clean up. I’ve got this under control thank you very much.”

  He chuckled before holding out his hands.

  “I do apologize my lady for encroaching on your territory,” he said eyes twinkling with merriment.

  “You’re forgiven. Now sit,” she motioned to him. He moved quickly to his chair before opening the bottle and drinking heavily. When she pointed to the crackers he winced.

  “Ah, not exactly my type of food. But thank you,” he said before finishing the rest of the water. She frowned.

  “It’s supposed to replace what you lost.”

  Making eye contact with her he spoke quietly.

  “Based on what you saw tonight, do I honestly seem like the person who needs salt, or electrolytes?” he said eyebrow raised. Winny gave a solemn nod.

  “I stand corrected,” she said softly. She took the stool across from him, before looking down at her watch. It was midnight.

  “Why haven’t you asked me?” Akachi asked after a while.

  “Asked you about who did this to you? I figured you had a good enough reason as to why you were quiet about it,” she said before lowering her gaze to her clasped hands. He scoffed.

  “You know that’s not what I mean. Why haven’t you asked about my eyes? Surely you know I’m not human. This is a chance for you to make money, or blackmail, or whatever you think will take you to the next level in life.”

  Winny shook her head before offering a sad smile.

  “I have everything I want Akachi, and I got it the old-fashioned way. Working hard, and doing right by people. I have no need to start blackmailing people to secure my own successful life,” she stated with finality. Akachi was impressed. It was rare he met a human, and especially a woman, who didn’t want something in return for what they thought they knew of him or his brother.

  “There is something you can do for me though,” she said which caused him to swallow and hide his disappointment. He thought this one was different.

  “It depends what the request is,” he said, forcing a smile. Winny took a seat before smiling at him.

  “I would like you to tell me who did this to you so we can find them, and make them pay for hurting you,” she said with conviction in her voice. Akachi was stunned, and it showed on his face. Winny bit her lip thinking she said something wrong.

  “I’m sorry, I was just trying to help.”

  Eyes wide, Akachi reached over and placed his hand on her arm.

  “No! I was just surprised.” He barked out a laugh before continuing. “You are surprising Ms. Winter Frame. And normally I would be all for giving out names so people could be punished, but I think for your safety it’s best I keep quiet.”

  “But-”

  “I’ve already dragged you into this mess with me. You already know too much,” He said eyes filled with warning.

  “They shouldn’t get away with it. Whoever did this to you.”

  “They won’t,” he supplied easily. “But I appreciate you caring. I cannot honor your request,” he said warmly. “But I ho
pe you can honor mine. I would very much like a friend.”

  “Be your friend?” she asked surprise in her voice. He smiled.

  “Yes. I don’t have many. It’s hard to trust certain people. Especially when you can sense their deceit,” he hissed the last part, causing her heart to pick up, and her eyes widen.

  “Can you sense when someone is lying?” she asked, unable to keep the excitement from her voice.

  “The point is,” he ignored her last question raising a brow, “that I would like to come by. Would that be okay? When this whole issue is squared away of course.”

  “Of course,” Winny answered without hesitation.

  He beamed. “Excellent.” He studied her face for a moment, and just as he was about to speak the front door opened. Winny forgot to lock the door, as she’d been occupied with helping Akachi. The man’s eyes and hers both widened in shock.

  “They can’t know I’m here,” he whispered before sliding to the floor. She hissed back at him.

  “Who are they? And should I call the police?” she said, before pulling out her phone.

  Akachi wet his lips before shaking his head. “No.”

  When he didn’t elaborate anymore, Winny stood before pressing her phone on 911. She waited until the operator answered before giving her address, and keeping the phone in her pocket in case of an emergency.

  She had to do something, at least distract until the cops got here. “Stay here.”

  The man said nothing only studied her face. She had no clue what that meant, but she’d ask him about it when she returned.

  Not waiting for his response, Winter made sure her hand was on the trigger behind her back before smiling at the two muscular men standing in the front center of her store. One was white-skinned with blonde hair and ice-blue eyes. The other was a Spanish man with dark hair and even darker eyes. They both were tall and intimidating looking. However, Winny wasn’t concerned. She thought of what her dad always told her.