Shadow Of Death . Amy Blankenship

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СКАЧАТЬ after Trevor had walked around him to head inside.

      “You coming, or are you just gonna stand there all day?” Trevor asked over his shoulder feeling a lot better now that he had dumped some of the weight he’d been carrying.

      “Yeah, I’m coming,” Chad mumbled feeling like a complete ass for acting like a spoiled brat all day.

      Trevor stopped him before they went inside wanting to lighten the mood, “I have a reputation to keep so… if you don’t mind.”

      Chad waved his hand, “Yeah, yeah, I know… no making you look like a girly-man regardless of how tempting it is.”

      Trevor raised his fist and growled, making Chad laugh and quickly dart around him to run inside. It was good to see Chad at least making an attempt to smile again. The man really hated being center of attention but that’s what he gets for getting himself killed and scaring the hell out of everybody.

      When Trevor heard Envy cry out and Chad groan loudly, he opened the door curiously and entered the building. A smirk appeared on his face when he saw Chad sprawled against the bar with an ecstatic Envy clinging to him like a dryer sheet.

      “So good to see you,” Envy squealed.

      Chad’s eyes went wide at the amount of force she was using to hug him. “Envy,” he rasped playfully, “can’t… breathe.”

      There were a few snorts and chuckles at Envy’s display to her recently resurrected brother, not that they blamed her.

      “Sorry,” Envy said with a giggle and let go of Chad to smile at Trevor. He quickly looked away and she knew why the moment she felt Devon’s arm come around her.

      Trevor looked around at all the preparations for Halloween. The club had already passed out flyers announcing the grand re-opening and everything had to be ready. They had changed their minds from having a private Halloween party, to making it the kickoff of their bigger, better club.

      “So, what’s going on?” Envy asked.

      “Chad won't stay at the castle and he refuses to live at Night Light,” Trevor answered earning a heated glare from Chad.

      Envy frowned showing her worry, “Why not? You can’t stay by yourself anymore.”

      Chad’s expression became brooding as he turned to his sister, “I’m a grown man Envy but I’m not ready for a rest home just yet. It shouldn’t matter if I live alone or not. If whatever attacked me wants to find me, then nothing is going to stop him or her.”

      “Or it,” Devon injected into the conversation and extended his hand, “Welcome back to the world of the living.”

      Chad shook his hand, “Yeah, I’d just like to be able to live that life with a sense of freedom.” He sighed when he noted Trevor and Devon giving each other the cold shoulder.

      Envy frowned, “But why can’t you live at Night Light? It’s the perfect place. No one is getting through those doors without a couple dozen wolves pouncing on them.”

      “I wouldn’t feel comfortable there,” Chad answered truthfully. “If I have to, I’ll set up a sleeping space in one of the more private jail cells at the station.”

      “Do you mean in the Hole,” Trevor demanded making a face.

      Chad shrugged, “At least I’ll be safe and under constant surveillance… which seems to be what all of you want.”

      “It’s not like that Chad,” Envy said sadly. “We’re your family… your friends. We just want to make sure nothing comes after you again.”

      Trevor ran a hand through his blonde hair as Envy’s sadness hit him like a brick wall, “Okay, I’ve had it with this crap. Chad, you can move into my place… I got more than enough room and I’m rarely there. You’ll basically be on your own with the exception of me popping in every now and then. The alarm system is one of the best available and it’s a lot nicer than the Hole.”

      Chad looked over at him with a startled frown on his face. He never even thought of that and the fact that Trevor had offered wasn’t to be taken lightly since they all knew how much Trevor liked his privacy.

      “All right,” Chad said softly, actually liking the idea. “We’ll go get my stuff and I’ll move in with you later today. But,” he continued, “I keep my apartment. That way when I want some time to myself I actually have a place to go.”

      “Too late,” Envy said guiltlessly. “I cancelled the contract on the apartment yesterday and all of our stuff is now stored.” She shrugged at the look Chad gave her and tilted her chin defiantly, “What? My name was on that lease too.”

      “Whatever,” Chad gave up deciding to drop the subject.

      Trevor nodded and clapped a hand on Chad’s shoulder, “Well, look at it this way… that’s better than her burning the place down and you having to arrest her for it. I’d take what I can get if I were you.” He glanced at Envy just in time to see the relieved light in her eyes and knew he’d just made her a very happy girl.

      “Come on,” Envy said excitedly, “you gotta see what we’ve done to the club so far. It’s a lot bigger than what it was.”

      Chad gave Envy a patient smile and let her drag him from one end of the club to the other. Trevor followed a few feet behind them taking in the new decorations and grinning at the numerous glow-in-the-dark Jack-O-Lanterns that were being set against the walls on the floor.

      Warren was on the scaffolding, hanging upside down next to the mirror ball putting something on the faceted surfaces of it.

      “Run it,” Warren called out after he’d pulled himself upright.

      The lights went out and the mirror ball came to life. Trevor raised an eyebrow as the ball reflected light back across the floor and walls. Hundreds of witches, skeletons, and black cats with their backs arched high in the air were giving the appearance of running from shadow to shadow.

      “Looks awesome bro,” Devon called up.

      “Did you remember to order the fog fluid from The Witch’s Brew?” Warren asked him.

      Devon gave him a thumb up, “It’ll be in tomorrow morning. Nick offered to pick it up for us.”

      “He’s Alive!”

      Chad yelped when he was suddenly grabbed from behind and spun around. When his feet found the floor again, he had to grab onto the railing to steady himself. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Nick standing there.

      “Nick,” Envy admonished. “Don’t do that.”

      “Why not?” Nick asked with a smirk. “Tis’ the season to get the crap scared out of you. Besides, it’s not every day I get to see someone who cheated death. I gotta get my hug too.”

      Chad had regained enough of himself to bat his eyelashes at Nick. “Why Mr. Wilder,” he said in a sticky sweet voice, “I didn’t know you cared.”

      Nick paused and slowly looked back over at Chad who was grinning stupidly.

      “Damn,” СКАЧАТЬ