Chapter 9

Amelia

I've been sitting behind this desk for an hour and I am bored out of my mind!

I'm used to the rush of the ER and never getting a chance to sit down. This is the polar opposite, I've even resorted to naming the two fucking fly's that keep buzzing past me. It doesn't help that Cronos is being distant. Last night I thought we crossed a bridge. Clearly I was wrong, he just wanted to use me and get off. Okay, I admit I definitely got off as well but that isn't the point. He left me on my fucking knees while he escaped to the bathroom. Even when he was finished he didn't climb into bed beside me, he stalked out of the room and slept on his recliner in front of the fireplace!

I'm pulled from my thoughts when the front door opens. I climb to my feet with a smile on my face but the moment I drink in the sight of the woman, the smile slowly slides off my face. She is beautiful. Natural blonde hair that is just past her shoulders, blue eyes that hold so much innocence and a body that rivals swimsuit models. She smiles kindly and it takes great effort on my part to return that smile.

"Hey, you must be Becky's replacement?" she says cheerfully and extends her hand to me. "I'm Tracey."

My arm feels like it weighs a ton as I lift it and shake her hand. "Max," I reply in an even tone but her smile never falters.

"Nice to meet you," she says as she pulls her hand back and tries to step around my desk to head toward the back. I cut in front of her.

"Sorry, it's staff only back there," I clip out. I'm lying through my teeth as I have no idea what the rules are here, but the thought of this beautiful blonde who is clearly Cronos's age heading back there alone with him has my stomach churning.

"Oh, I know. I am staff." Her smile is nowhere to be seen as she sidesteps me and heads into the back while I stand here watching like a broken hearted puppy.

"Thanks for coming." I hear Nos say when she enters the room. I feel tears pricking the backs of my eyes. I want to find a cleaning closet and hide in there as pictures of him fucking her next to Sally's body play on a loop inside my head. Unable to handle the pain searing my chest, I turn to flee but stop short at the sight of an elderly man standing there with the broadest smile on his face.

"My lord, my Bethy wasn't telling tales, you really are beautiful." I reel back and frown at the old man. He shakes his head and takes a step forward only for me to back up one. He freezes instantly. A look of understanding washes over his face and I cringe when the smile he was sporting vanishes. "I mean you no harm, my dear, my name is Bill and my wife Beth served you and the boy at the diner."

I swallow and nod even though I can't recall much about that day, but keep nodding anyway and go along with it. I never used to fear being alone in a room with a man before but now, I feel like the walls are closing in on me. Bill must see something on my face because he takes a step back and tries to smile reassuringly, but my heart won't stop beating into overdrive.

"How about we go find the boy?" I can't help the laughter that breaks free, this old timer referring to Cronos as a boy is just… I have no words. I nod my head and wave for him to follow me, appreciating the fact he keeps a good distance of space between us. I pause outside the swinging doors when I remember that Tracey is in there. Rather than asking me what's wrong, Bill just pushes through the doors, leaving me no choice but to follow after him. I freeze when I find the space empty and the slab that held Sally vacant. "Boy?" Bill calls out.

"Back room!" Cronos calls back. I tense and drop my gaze to the floor feeling a tinge of pain in my chest.

"Give us a minute!" Tracey adds, her reply has my breath hitching.

Did we just interrupt their fuckfest?

When I hear footsteps approaching, I can't even bring myself to lift my head, I don't want to see him with just fucked hair, knowing she would have been running her fingers through the strands and tugging on it as she came on his cock. I close my eyes and will my tears to remain at bay, I won't let him see them fall. I have no right to feel this way but I can't seem to stop myself from feeling jealous.

"You look rough, boy, did she take longer than you bargained for?" Bill's question has me cringing and biting down on my lip to keep from screaming at him to shut the fuck up!

"It's getting easier. I still feel bad for draining her but it's dressing her after we finish that I struggle with." My anger peaks, how can he speak about fucking her and then dressing her after they finish in front of me like it means nothing when he left me naked and on my knees last night!

"Are you fucking serious?" I snap as I finally lift my head to look at him, only to frown at the sight of him in a… hazmat suit thing. Cronos looks pissed while Bill just looks confused. Before another word can be spoken, Tracey enters the room pushing Sally on the gurney. Tracey wears a suit similar to Cronos.

"Watch your mouth, Max ," Cronos spits the name at me like it burns his tongue. I look between the three of them before focusing on Sally and that's when I notice she is dressed in a silk blouse and black slacks with a pair of ballerina shoes on her feet.

Oh my God!

Shame washes over me. I open my mouth to speak but Cronos crosses the room, grips my arm and drags me back out into the hallway. I can feel his anger radiating off him in waves—I fucked up badly. He doesn't stop pulling me after him until we are next to my desk. I look up at him ready to apologize but the dark look in his eyes has me clamping my mouth shut.

"You want to explain what the fuck that was?" he snarls in a deathly low tone.

"I–I… I thought?—"

"You thought what?" He sneers as he bends so we are eye level. I clamp my mouth closed, knowing now isn't the time to push him. "You thought I was sinking my cock into Tracey in the back room?" I recoil but he doesn't let me move away, he grips the front of my shirt and pulls me in close so our noses touch. "Unlike you, angel, I don't sleep with every person who bats their lashes at me." My jaw unhinges at his cruel words. "Sit your ass down and do your job?—"

"Boy, that's enough!" I see Bill out of the corner of my eye glaring at Cronos. The latter ignores the old man as he continues to glare at me.

"Do your job and stay the hell out of my business, Max ." He releases me with a slight shove and I catch myself on the edge of my desk. I watch as Cronos turns to face Bill, who looks at Nos like a disapproving father.

"You know better than to handle a woman like that," Bill scolds.

"She isn't a woman, she's a siren that lures men in only to kill them slowly from the inside out." I gasp at his description of me. Is that really how he views me now?

"Head on out back and help Tracey finish up with Sally."

"You don't tell me what to do, old man," Nos seethes.

"Boy, now isn't the time for one of your power trips. Head on out back now, before you do more damage here." Nos snarls but does as he is told, making sure to shoulder check Bill on his way past. The moment the Devil himself disappears through the swinging doors, my legs give out and I drop into my chair, gasping for air. Bill is before me in an instant and resting his hands on top of my shoulders. "Breathe for me, darling." I nod and try to do as he asked. Bill is patient and doesn't hurry me, he just keeps smiling and offering me words of reassurance.

"Thank you," I rasp out when I finally manage to get my breathing under control. Bill shakily rises to his feet and smiles down at me as he takes a step back.

"That boy has a temper but I've never seen him be so harsh to someone other than me," he admits. I inhale sharply and nod.

"We have a… complicated history."

Bill nods but I can see a shadow fall over his features. "The baby you carry, is it… his?" I blow out a loud exhale, clearly my hiding period is over now.

I smile sadly and shake my head. "No."

"Hmmm."

I furrow my brow. "What does, hmmm mean?"

He shoots me a boyish grin. "He clearly feels for you, darling, and he must just be messed up that the wee one inside ya isn't his."

I shake my head. "Cronos doesn't?—"

"Denials are a waste of good air." I balk at the old man. "Working and living together without fixing past issues isn't a good mix." I drop my gaze to my lap and wring my hands together.

"I don't have any another choice," I admit shamefully.

"Come on, darling, let's give the brute his space. I think I have an idea that will benefit everyone."