Page 25 of Alpha’s Possession

Taking the risk before I can hesitate or overthink, I run across the road, and my stomach instantly drops when the man behind the counter announces that cutting a copy of the key would cost me fifteen dollars.

I hand him the money and the key, cursing to myself as now I’m left with twenty-five dollars to cover food and other necessary items.

I tell the man I will return to pick up the key once it’s done and rush back to work to wait by the loading dock. I tap my foot against the concrete impatiently when I notice a smoke store worker pull the roller shutters down; I shriek and rush back across the road. I wave my hands at the man from the smoke store, only to see the delivery van pull into the loading docks. Fuck, damn it, shit!

“The key!” I extend my palm toward him as I ask the vampire who works there to return what I paid for, along with the original. Leaving such an important key in the hands of someone as shady as this guy is absolutely not an option for me. My career, and probably my life, would be at stake if I make a mistake like that.

As the man groans, he pushes up the roller shutter and darts inside, cursing and groaning. A few minutes later, he comes out again and hands me an envelope with both keys inside. When I see the delivery driver get out of the vehicle, I gush a quick, “Thank you!” and I sprint back to the loading docks as a woman steps out of the delivery van.

Chapter Nineteen

~Harlow~

A low, angry row of curse words leaves me when I realize what this important delivery is. A fucking load of dry cleaning! Is Thane for real right now? I had to stay behind, after work hours, to pick up his dry cleaning and bring it to his house? That man must be delusional, because there is no other excuse I can think of to explain his unreasonable requests and the insane lack of brain cells. The van even has a sign on it stating it delivers city-wide! No reason he couldn't get it delivered to his damn house.

I stomp to the back of the van, boiling in anger, barely holding myself together. The small woman jumps as she turns around and faces me. I don't mean to startle her, but I'm too pissed off to care. I assume she is scared because I am panting like a heifer from dashing back and forth across the road.

Once the woman piles up Thane's clothes, I sign the paperwork for his stupid dry cleaning and watch as the woman drives away while I'm stuck in the shittiest situation of my life.

Well, not quite the shittiest of them all, but I'm so damn close to a mental breakdown. I’m sure Thane would be delighted to see that because he would be rid of me and probably land me in the loony bin because of his antics.

Glancing at my phone, I see I have twenty minutes to get to the packhouse, and I head for the bus stop. I barely get to the front of the building when I see the bus drive past me. I chase after it, waving frantically in an effort to get it to stop.

The bus driver either ignores my waving arms and screaming or doesn't see me. I am seriously on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I will never make it in time, and I need this job. I didn't put up with their fucking bullshit only to get fired because of a fucking dry cleaning service being bloody late!

I rummage in my bag when I notice the man from the smoke shop getting in his car, having finished locking all the roller shutters in place and securing the building. Walking over to him, I stop beside his flashy silver car.

"Excuse me, do you know where the closest taxi stand is?" I ask him, knowing I would have to use my last twenty-five dollars to get to the packhouse on time. As he looks over at me, he scratches the back of his neck. He isn't bad looking, but it is clear he is as sleazy as most vamps.

"Down near the subway," he answers, and I groan, stomping my foot in annoyance. Great! That is a ten-minute walk alone. "Where are you headed?" he asks, and I rummage through my bag and hand him the paper with the address.

"I am headed that way. How much money you got?" he asks while pulling on a leather jacket, and I roll my eyes. No one could do a good deed around here. He just said he is headed that way!

I pull my scrunched-up money from the bottom of my bag. "That's it?" he asks, flicking his dark hair from his red eyes and licking his plump lips. His fangs protrude slightly from his upper lip, glinting under the streetlights, and I fight the urge to take a step back from him.

"Do I look rich to you? Yes, that is all I got," I snap, annoyed and about to snatch my money back. He glances me up and down and purses his lips before sniffing the air. "Ah, definitely not, buddy. You are not feeding on me," I tell him before he suggests such a thing.

"Depends, how badly you want to get to Mr. Keller's place?" he taunts. My face falls. Of course, this asshole knew my boss. "I will make you a deal. Let me take one little bite, and—"

I hold up a hand, stopping him.

"No freaking way. I know Omega blood is addictive," I tell him with a wave of my hand. He lets out a breath, eyeing me.

"And I am not fucking you either. Just give me my money back," I tell him, trying to snatch it back, but he pulls it away.

"Then give me something else," he purrs, licking his lips.

"And I am not sucking your dick. Just give me my damn money. Fuck, all you men are the same!" I growl at him.

"Fine, fine, show me your tits. I won't tell him you just had his master key cut in my store and I will drop you off at his place," he says slyly. I feel all the blood leave my body at his words. He knew what the key was for? He laughs while I’m on the verge of throwing up. I glance at my phone and curse. I don't really have a choice. If I’m late, Thane said he would fire me, and this asshole now knows he has me.

"Fine, but I have to be there in twelve minutes. Think you can manage that?" I ask. He whistles and rocks back on his heels and sighs.

"Yeah, I can get you there in time. We have a deal?" he asks, his eyes sparkling mischievously, and I nervously glance around. Man, anyone would think the man had never seen a pair of breasts before with how eager he is. Yet, the street is pretty empty.

"Hurry, hurry, or we won't get there in time," the vampire says.

I grit my teeth and put the dry cleaning on the hood of his car. Closing my eyes, I cringe. It's just skin. I remind myself that I need my job. I lift my shirt, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. He huffs before he grabs one. I growl when I hear the click of his phone camera and I rip my shirt down and growl at him.