The Beast Within (The Elite Series) Read online

  Laren couldn’t hold back a smile, however she quickly straightened her lips.

  Connor’s mother stood back, aghast. “Connor, I thought I raised you better than that.” Looking over at Laren, she began to apologize. “I am so sorry, Laren. I don’t—I can’t—”

  “No need to apologize, Mrs. Moore. Thank you for the tea and for letting us know about the men who visited you. Rest assured the matter will be dealt with quickly and professionally.”

  Still recovering from her son’s rudeness, she took Laren’s hand in her own and addressed her with sincere gratitude. “Thank you, Laren. Thank your family for me as well.”

  Now it was Connor’s turn to be out of the loop. What men had visited his mother? What did they want? And why didn’t Laren want his mother to know they’d already met?

  As Laren moved toward the office door, Connor intercepted her. “Please allow me to walk you to your car. You never know who you might run into out there.”

  “That would be very nice, Connor. Thank you.”

  The two walked side by side, neither saying a word until they reached the door. Once outside, Connor turned to Laren. “If you wanted my attention, you could have just asked me out like a normal person instead of stalking me and finding out where I work.”

  Laren rolled her eyes. “Please.”

  “But seriously, all joking aside, it’s time for some answers.”

  The cool mid-day June air, accompanied with a slight breeze, met them on the other side of the door. People walked busily from shop to shop. Cars cruised by at slow speeds, wary of pedestrians.

  Still walking to her car—a brand new black BMW 5 series—Laren said, “Ask me.”

  “Who are you and what are you doing at my mother’s shop?”

  “Connor, it’s really not that mysterious. I work for my father, who owns a lot of real estate in the area. My brother and I are just here making sure his assets are in order.”

  “And earlier today you were at a meeting in the woods?”

  “Granted, not the most professional of settings, but yes.”

  “What were you talking about with my mother when you said ‘the men who visited you would be dealt with?’”

  Laren chose her next words carefully. “Another large company has recently moved into the area and is trying to buy our properties by scaring our renters off or strong-arming them into signing bogus contracts and giving them illegitimate rights to our land.”

  “And why didn’t you want my mother to know we met before?”

  “The less people know about what’s going on, the better. My father values discretion above all else. It just didn’t seem important to tell your mother about our meeting earlier today.”

  Connor was a great judge of character and he knew when people were lying to him. The subtle shift in tone, the wandering eyes, the hesitation, all told him that Laren, though maybe not lying, wasn’t revealing the entire truth. Connor knew Laren’s cryptic answers should have sent up warning signs, but instead something urged him to find out more about her. “You said that if we met again, it would be fate.”

  “I was wondering when you were going to get to that. I do remember saying something along those lines.”

  “Tomorrow night? There’s a new restaurant downtown on Main and First, six o’clock?”

  Laren hesitated, but then gave in. “Okay, Connor, you have yourself a date.”

  Connor watched Laren drive away and couldn’t help but wonder what the odds were that their paths would have crossed again so soon. He was interrupted by a familiar voice.

  “Penny for your thoughts?”

  He recognized this voice all too well; he’d looked forward to hearing it every morning for years. Yet now, it held pain, not pleasure.

  Connor turned to see Katie, his “friend,” behind him. Fashionable as always, she wore a new pair of white shorts, a loose-fitting top that hung off one shoulder, and a headband that gently held back her honey blond hair.

  “Just thinking, Kat,” he said using his pet name for her. “What are you up to?”

  “Out with a to-do list for the day. Going to stop by your mom’s shop to pick up some insect repellent. We have an invasion of ants in our guesthouse and it’s gross. Oh, by the way, have you told your mom yet?”

  Connor knew what she meant. He’d been admitted into numerous universities on athletic scholarships, but he knew he couldn’t leave his mother and the shop. Instead of moving away from home, he’d elected to attend the local community college. He chose to keep this information from his mother. Connor knew she would insist he travel away from home, getting the full college experience, so he was still waiting for the right time to tell her.

  Katie, on the other hand, didn’t have a care in the world when it came to deciding on a college. Her father and mother were both attorneys and very wealthy. She didn’t have a second thought about leaving for school and pursuing her dream. Katie had wanted to be a doctor as long as she could remember. She had been admitted into a leading university in that field. It just so happened this university was on the west coast, on the other side of the country.

  “No,” Connor said. “Just haven’t found the right time.”

  “You know, the longer you wait the harder it’s going to be, right?”

  “I know, I know.”

  “If you want, I can be there with you when you break the news.”

  “Thanks, you’re a great friend.” He added just enough emphasis on the last word for Katie to take notice.

  “Connor.”

  “What? I love being your friend. It’s great.” With that he winked at her and they both couldn’t help but laugh.

  “It’s for the best, Connor, you’ll see.” She reached up and placed her hand on his left cheek. “I gotta get going but I’ll call you soon.”

  When she left, Connor was more confused than ever. He resented her for breaking up with him, although a small part of him couldn’t blame her and even understood. And as much as he didn’t want to admit it, he still had feelings for her.

  Heading into his mother’s store, he finished the day by helping her clean, perform inventory, and fill purchase orders.

  That night Connor had a dream that left him in a cold sweat. In it he was running through the woods on the same trail he’d taken earlier that morning. But this time he was being chased. His pursuer crashed through the underbrush as it barreled through the woods behind him. The darkness surrounded Connor and would have engulfed him if not for the full moon shining down through the forest’s canopy. A light mist rose from the ground and consumed his feet every time they touched the dirt path.

  Connor pumped his legs faster and faster; his heart beating like a war drum. Daring to take a look behind him, all he saw were two huge yellow eyes gaining on him. Looking forward, he increased his pace.

  As he rounded a bend, he saw two figures sitting on a bench. The first was Katie, white as a ghost—unnaturally white. She wore a doctor’s coat and urged Connor to escape the beast behind him.

  Beside her was his mother. Dressed in her green work apron, she added her voice to Katie’s, yelling at him to run. He passed them at record-breaking speed, unable to slow himself. His chest was burning; air came in sporadic gulps. He longed to rest.

  That was when he saw another group of figures. There were a dozen of them, all wearing long brown cloaks and standing directly in the middle of the path.

  “Move!” he tried to yell, but instead an oxygen deprived gasp escaped his lips.

  As he approached the group, he realized he recognized faces. On the right was Laren, her piercing emerald green eyes and stoic beauty made her easily recognizable. On the left was her brother Lu. Standing like a wall, he glared at Connor as he approached. Yet by far the most disturbing figure out of the group was the one that stood immediately in his path.

  Like the others, this figure wore a long brown cloak, hood pulled back from his face. Connor was sure he never met him before, yet he seemed somehow familiar. Like
he’d known this man his whole life,

  He was taller than most men. A square jaw and straight nose with light wrinkles around his eyes gave him a noble appearance.

  Connor was mere feet away now, preparing to maneuver around the group, when the stranger’s eyes changed from brown to a vicious red. His eyes were the most terrifying thing Connor had ever seen. They were half human, half something else. The man moved towards him.

  Connor couldn’t stop himself. His forward momentum was too great. The strange man opened his arms and rushed to meet him.

  “It’s time to stop running!” the stranger yelled, waking Connor from his nightmare.

  The next morning, Connor had to force himself to concentrate on something other than his dream. He took his normal morning run, this time opting to skip the trip to the forest, and jog around his neighborhood just to be safe.

  He threw himself into work at the shop, moving fifty pound bags of fertilizer, stocking cinder blocks, and sweeping every square inch of the store. His mother couldn’t help but notice.

  “Connor, are you all right?” she asked.

  “Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Because you haven’t stopped moving since you got here, and if you sweep the floor any harder, you’re going to start digging a hole.”

  Connor relaxed his grip on the broom. “Sorry, there’s just a lot on my mind.”

  “I understand, sweetie. Things with Katie can’t be easy right now and with all you have to do before you leave for college, I know things can seem a bit daunting.”

  Connor bit his lip. He hated lying or even telling half-truths to his mom. He knew if he told her his plan of staying in town she would force him to go. It was better to tell her in a few weeks when there would be no possible way to do a late registration and he would have no choice except to stay.

  Instead he just gave his mother a hug, “Don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be fine. Really.”

  That night, as Connor prepared to meet Laren for dinner, he wondered why he was so attracted to her. Of course she was beautiful and witty, but there was something else, a force that drew him to her and he didn’t know why. He hadn’t even felt this way about Katie when they first met. These thoughts of Laren led him back to his dream as he dressed for dinner. He tried to clear his mind.

  He put on a pair of clean jeans, a dark grey button-up dress shirt, and perhaps a spray too much of his favorite cologne. His generosity when applying cologne proved true as he was forced to roll down the windows in his truck or suffocate in the fumes of Axe.

  On this cool Tuesday evening, the downtown plaza was busy as usual. Bright lights welcomed customers to enter the cozy shops for their annual summer sales.

  Spotting the restaurant, he recognized Laren’s new black BMW, parked his truck beside it, and walked inside.

  Inside, the aromas of French bread, pasta and marinara filled the air. The walls were decorated with black and white photos of Italy and Italian families. They told stories of pride, love and joy. The lights were dimly lit to add to the atmosphere, and Frank Sinatra’s familiar voice sang quietly in the background.

  Entering the lobby, he saw Laren scanning the photos on the wall. She was wearing a black cocktail dress that hugged her feminine figure perfectly.

  “I was just thinking, I don’t know that we’ve actually shaken hands yet.”

  Laren turned, her green eyes twinkling. “You know, I think you’re right.” She extended her hand. “Laren. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Connor, and the pleasure’s all mine.”

  A hostess soon ushered them to an intimate booth and provided menus. Sitting across from Laren, Connor couldn’t help but realize how little he actually knew about her. This was to be expected, since they just met the previous morning, but still he felt that he should know more, that he needed to know more. Connor would never be called a ladies’ man, but he was a decent conversationalist when he felt comfortable, and lucky for him, Laren wasn’t the shy type.

  “So, Laren, I know you’re here on your father’s behalf. Is that your full-time job?”

  Laren responded in a relaxed fashion with an answer that sounded well rehearsed. “I’m lucky to be part of a family that has been in New York for generations. My ancestors were smart enough to buy land in the city and the surrounding areas. As a result, property and business management has long been the family profession.”

  “Being so close to your family must be nice.”

  “It has its pros and cons. You met my brother. I love him to death but he’s not the most social person.” Changing the topic ,she returned the question. “And you, Connor? You look like you’re close to your mother. From my limited interaction with her, she seems like a wonderful person.”

  Connor smiled, reflecting on how fortunate he was to have such a loving parent. “She’s the strongest person I know and has always been there for me.”

  “And your father? Does he work at the shop as well?”

  Connor shifted his gaze to the white tablecloth. “I never knew my father, he left when I was a baby.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Connor. I didn’t know.”

  “Please. There’s no way you could have, and besides, tonight we’re just getting to know each other. So tell me, what is that emblem on your necklace?”

  Laren shifted her eyes down and gently cupped the tiny bronze trinket in her hand just like she had done in the forest. “It was a gift from my father, a token passed down from my ancient ancestors. It represents our family crest. My family and I are descendents from landowners that originated in early Rome. The symbol is our house sigil. It stands for strength, honor, and family loyalty. My last name is Abelardus, Latin for ‘noble strength.’”

  “That’s so cool. I mean, to be able to trace your heritage back that far. I don’t even know my father. Is Lu your only sibling?”

  “Uh, no… I have a younger brother, who’s… who’s off at school.”

  Connor could hear the hesitation in her voice when she spoke about her family, so he decided to redirect the conversation. “And I’ll throw out a guess. You’re probably my age, eighteen, and going to college to study—” He looked her up and down. “Cryptozoology.”

  Laren’s eyes widened and she stifled a laugh, “What? Cryptozoology? No, I’m an economics major at—at a private university. I’m out for the summer helping my family with business and I’m—I’m nineteen, but you were close.”

  During dinner, Connor had the feeling Laren wasn’t used to talking about herself or her family. The way she paused before explaining certain aspects of her life and the carefully chosen words she used to describe her family made Connor wonder if there wasn’t more to the story. Soon Connor couldn’t contain his thoughts and his intuition had to speak.

  “I’m just going to throw this out there; you’re not used to talking so much about yourself or your family, are you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean the way you hesitate and the look of concentration you get on your face when you talk about your family. It’s like you’re scared you’re going to give away a national secret.”

  Laren paused for a moment. Just long enough for their efficient waiter to clear their plates and ask if they needed a dessert menu. Taking their orders, the waiter nodded in approval and scurried off.

  “You’re very intuitive, Connor. Most people don’t give it a second thought when I talk about myself or my family, but you’re right. I’ve been raised to be very discreet when discussing personal affairs. There are competitors out there that would love to get some piece of information to use against us.”

  “Well, Laren, you can rest assured that I’m not a spy or saboteur and I won’t bite. I’m just a harmless guy trying to find out more about a new friend.”

  She gave him a genuine smile, not a smirk or a grin, but a smile that showed relief. “Thank you, Connor. It feels good to be able to talk to someone. Between school, family and family business, I don’t get a lot of time to just
talk to a friend.”

  “Right, your family’s not big on you going out with anyone outside of their circle of approved suitors.”

  “My family is very traditional and thinks they should have a hand in choosing who I do or do not go out with.”

  “And, it seems like they choose all the wrong ones,” Connor said, finishing her thought.

  “The exact wrong ones.”

  The rest of the night went quickly over cheesecake and fresh raspberries. The two moved to less serious topics like sports, hobbies, and places they had travelled. If the physical attraction Connor already felt toward Laren wasn’t enough, once out of her shell, Laren was one of the easiest people to talk to. Connor loved hearing about her likes and dislikes, the way she scrunched up her nose when she disapproved of something, and the dramatic way she rolled her eyes when she was about to laugh.

  By the time the final plate was cleared, the two had talked for almost three hours.

  “Wow, the time just flew by. Connor, wait, I’ll split the check with you.”

  Connor hadn’t hesitated for a moment when the waiter brought them their bill and he held it close to his chest. “I got it. You’re a visitor to our town, and with the way my mom talks about how great your family’s been, it’s the least I can do.”

  “That’s really nice, but please, I insist.”

  “Nope.” Connor hugged the bill closer and signaled for the waiter. “Unless you can take it from me, I’m going to pay.”

  Laren seemed to consider trying to take the check for a moment. “Okay, you win. I don’t want to cause a scene or hurt you.” She winked.

  Making their way through the busy restaurant and into the lobby, Laren suddenly stopped. Her happy carefree smile disappeared and was replaced by a look of concern and suspicion. Her brow furrowed as she cautiously looked around.

  Before Connor could ask her what was wrong, the two were greeted with a friendly yet edgy, “Hello.”

  Turning toward the stranger, Connor was greeted by a well-dressed man. He was average height and build, his slicked back black hair was perfect, and his crooked nose gave him the look of an old-school gangster.