Desire for you- ALPHA RYAN Book 1
Chapter 32

ILAY

I rolled my eyes and looked after Michael and his girl. In love, engaged, married, it could be that simple... With everything but me.

I sat down at the bar and looked over to the stage where one of the strippers was putting on a show and everyone around was cheering.

"Looks like you've been dumped." A woman said and sat down next to me on the bar stool.

I looked over at her and scrutinized her briefly. At least she wasn't one of the strippers, on the contrary, she looked smartly dressed, wearing a black midi dress and high heels decorated with rhinestones.

"Mhm, yes, he's found true love..." I said and waved the barman over.

"A bourbon for me..." I glanced over at the lady, "What'll it be for you?"

"Hmm, I'll have a bourbon as well." She replied, crossing her legs.

"I'm Julieth and you are?" she asked, taking a sip of the bourbon as it was placed on the counter for her.

"Elijah," I replied, leaning against the bar with one arm.

Her brown hair was braided into a severe French braid, her doe eyes had a beautiful radiance. When she smiled, dimples formed in her cheeks and it just reminded me of how thin Catherine actually was. In my mind, the situation of watching her at the cliff, when she was naked and frail... appeared. The scars, her desperate state and then... the jump into the depths.

I automatically grabbed my collar and tried to loosen it with two fingers.

"Are you all right, Elijah?" Julieth asked me. I nodded hastily, "Yes, I'm just very warm here..." I lied to her and undid the first button of my shirt.

"Elijah, you pronounce that in English, don't you?" she asked me. I wasn't really paying attention at that moment because my thoughts were all about Catherine.

I nodded again, "It's best if you call me Ilay," I suggested and looked her in the eye.

Innocent and pure. She couldn't be that, could she? "What is a woman doing in a strip club anyway?" I asked and took a sip of the bourbon.

She shrugged her shoulders "You know, I didn't actually want to be here, I was forced by my girlfriend. There are male strippers in here too and they're having a bachelor party..." she smiled at me "I'm usually at work and when I'm not at work I'm looking after my grandmother, she lives in a nursing home and has dementia..." she explained, sipping her drink.

I bit my lip "Don't you have any other relatives apart from your grandmother?" I asked her, pretending to be interested.

Her look became sad "Well, my parents died in a car accident, I don't have anyone else apart from my grandmother."

... No one to look for you... I thought to myself.

'How far along are you, Ryan? Do you have a potential candidate? Michael bailed, he found his mate here at the club,' I told him.

'Excuse me? He found his partner in a strip club?

'Imagine, she gave him a clean show,' I added.

'Well then, so be it... Things aren't any better for me. I have a nurse here who looks just like Catherine and treats me like a king... I can't bring myself to rip her heart out Ilay... If you can handle it, please do, but I really can't get it together'

I rolled my eyes inwardly and could partly understand him. Having to face a second Catherine in this situation and kill her was really not easy.

'I might have a plan here, Julieth...' I said, looking over at Julieth, who was watching the show. 'I just want to be sure that she's the right candidate for this, not that we'll spill blood for no reason...'

'Can't you manipulate her into giving you the answers directly?' Ryan asked me.

Technically I could, I could read their minds too, but even if I could. I still had time... I'd drag her along as a sort of one-night stand and no one would miss her.... I'd leave a text message for her friends and the whole thing would be over...

Hmm, that sounded like a plan at least.

"Do you want to dance, Julieth?" I asked her, looking at her with amusement.

She smiled broadly at me and nodded "I'd love to" she said.

I took her by the hand and pulled her to the other side of the club onto the dance floor.

The Michelle Morrone-Feel It song was playing and I put my hands on her waist and danced with her to the beat.

"Where are your friends anyway?" I asked her, looking around a little as we danced.

"Over there," she said, pointing to my right. I could already see the girls, who were probably whispering to each other about the two of us and holding their hands over their mouths.

"Looks like they're having a good time..." I said, biting my lower lip as I looked at Julieth. She really was a beauty, but every time I did, Catherine came to mind.

Julieth's cheeks turned slightly pink and she became a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, they're just... the way they are." she smiled at me and she must have been really uncomfortable.

"How old are you, Julieth?"

"How old do you think I am are?" she asked me.

I had to laugh quietly "You do know that this shot can backfire? Especially as you women are very sensitive..." I was beginning to replace Julieth adorable...

She just shrugged her shoulders "I'm not very sensitive, I've heard it all before"

"Well, I reckon you're twenty-eight, twenty-nine?"

"You're good, twenty-eight is right." she beamed at me happily.

"How old are you Ilay?" she finally asked me. Mhmm good question, I had actually lost count from a thousand, but I had the look of a thirty-two year old.

"Thirty-two" I said. She looked at me in amazement "Well, I would have guessed you were younger, you're holding up well." she said with a laugh.

I had to grin "Thank you" I said and looked deep into her eyes so that I could penetrate her thoughts...

She was worried about the old people's home bills, she had exams coming up and then there were her thoughts about me. I had to grin inwardly because I already had her wrapped around my finger. I kept digging around in her thoughts and couldn't replace anything that would exclude her from all of this...

At some point, we were so tired from dancing that we sat back down at the bar laughing and ordered something to drink.

A little alcohol never hurt anyone. At least not Julieth. She didn't know what was in store for her.

"What do you work as Ilay?" she asked me, sipping her Sex on the beach.

"I'm a business owner..." I said, shrugging my shoulders. Business owner of dead souls, if you looked at it closely.

"Oh yeah? That sounds exciting, what's your business about?" she asked again, running her fingers through her hair. Her lips were rather thin and she kind of resembled Anne Hathawey.

"We're mainly in the fashion business, but I'll be happy to tell you about that tomorrow at breakfast... If you like..." I said, smiling charmingly at her.

There would be no breakfast... this would be Julieth Montgomery's last night... Too bad the good ones always have to die...

She was preoccupied with the thought of whether or not to say yes to me.

"I'd really love to..." I said, running my fingers through my hair in embarrassment. I moved closer to her ear, "A midnight snack would be wonderful too..." I whispered softly in her ear and looked deep into her eyes.

She was mesmerized and stared at me with wide eyes.

"Show your friends that you've got more..." I urged her on and put my hand on her waist.

She was unsure at first and finally nodded. "Where are we going?" she asked me.

"I'm going to take you to the most beautiful place..." I said and offered her my hand to lead her out of this place.

She nodded, put her hand in mine and followed me out...

RYAN

I was relieved because Ilay had found a potential candidate. No wonder, this guy could be a handyman, a kidnapper and a seducer all at the same time. I wouldn't be surprised if he could even play doctor and bring her back to life.

I sighed with relief that at least I didn't have to kill Nadine. I had to tear the scar open again with my finger, as it healed so quickly.

I was visited by the doctors and was eventually allowed to leave after they reapplied my bandage.

"Oh yes Ryan, it was a pleasure!" she said, smiling broadly at me.

"Would you like to go out for dinner?" she asked me uncertainly. Had I just been asked out on a date?

She really reminded me of Catherine... If only she had been, I would have agreed straight away...

I shook my head sadly "You know, I'd really like to, but I really care about my girlfriend..." I said, smiling at her sympathetically. If she knew that I actually wanted to kill her... "And actually, it's already late, I have to go," I said and ran out. God, I didn't like dumping her like that, it wasn't nice.

Ilay surprised me with the news that Michael had found his companion and just left him standing there. I almost laughed at the idea. I wonder where Michael is now? In seventh heaven, surely. On the seventh floor of our hotel? Definitely.

I got on my bike and let him go. I rode through the city, it was already morning and there was a cold wind blowing. The streets were still empty and I was gradually approaching our territory. I looked around me, fall had done its work and now it would be winter's turn. It had snowed a little, but the snow had melted quickly due to the still high temperatures.

I loved winter, seeing the countryside and the trees in white, drinking a hot chocolate... with Catherine in my arms... Damn it, Catherine, why did you have to throw yourself off that cliff?

I drove towards the cliff where Catherine jumped and left my bike just before it. I approached the spot and looked around. The sound of the waterfall opposite was soothing. My gaze, which fell downwards, was less so. I felt a shiver run through my whole body and just imagining how Catherine might have jumped down here was depressing.

I sat down on the edge of the cliff and let my legs hang in the air.

We'd rescue you soon, Catherine...

Onyx had been quiet since the incident and said nothing. I guess he was angry at me and everything. He was angry at Ilay and actually wanted him dead. He wanted me dead because I hadn't marked her. I couldn't blame Onyx. Was a mark worse? A mark ordained by the moon goddess or the situation of losing Catherine?

A spark of pain ran through my body and just the thought that someone else had marked her just hurt...