Order of the Omni: A Supernatural Romantic Suspense Novel (The Immortalies Book 1) Penny Knight (100 best novels of all time TXT) 📖

“It will all be ok, trust me. I won’t let anything happen to us. I promise.” My words come out as a vow, an oath. With so much confidence that I convince myself, as well.

True to his word Leo came back and escorted us into the black Chrysler. Broderick, the man who saved us, driving again, Leo in the passenger seat, and Topher and I huddled together in the back. Once I gave Broderick our address, we took off in silence with me still gripping Topher’s hand.

We pull up to the familiar red door of our apartment and pile out of the car. With me leading the way, I pull out the keys from my purse without breaking stride. As I reach for the handle to put in the key, I notice the door is slightly ajar. My hand stills as I sense something is extremely wrong. I nudge the door open gently, flick on the light and enter my home.

My body seizes up as I evaluate what my eyes are seeing. The house is trashed. A mess. Drawers from the kitchen were pulled out and lay on the floor. All the books on my bookcase are sprawled out. I see the cushions from the sofa are slashed. Someone was looking for something. And I have a feeling I know what that is.

“My computers!” Topher cries as my heart sinks when he runs past me up the iron staircase. Please, let them be ok. I pray, but I know there is no hope.

“No!” I hear him scream. Shit, this is bad.

“It isn’t safe here.” Leo’s deep voice comes from behind. I close my eyes hard. “We can keep you both safe, at the hotel.”

I swallow. This is not what I want. I don’t want to go back and have to rely on someone to keep us safe. I want to be at home curled up on the couch with a glass of wine watching one of my travel shows while Topher cooks up a storm in the kitchen.

When my eyes open, I look up and see Topher slumped over the railing looking lost and broken. I can’t stand seeing him like this, I’ve failed him. I promised it would be ok and in an instant my words mean nothing. I don’t have a choice but to go back to the hotel. If it were just me, I would tell Leo to shove it. Him and his mysterious sidekick and all the freaky things that have happened since I was at that fucking hotel. But what is the alternative? Stay here and potentially risk something happening to Topher? It’s one thing for me to be nearly killed, but if anything happened to him, I would not survive it. Whether I like it or not, I must go back and let him help. I don’t trust him, but so far, they’ve shown that they can protect us.

But I will find out what’s going on. I will find out what he wants, because no one is so eager to help strangers out of the kindness of their heart when the dangers are as high as they are.

“Ok,” I whisper. “Let us pack some things first.”

“Of course,” he says. I inhale deeply and walk up the stairs straight to Topher.

My arms engulf him, and he slumps into me. “It’s all gone E, everything. Just gone.” I hold him tighter.

Eventually, I pull back. “Let’s pack some clothes and go back to the hotel for now. We can get some rest and then we’ll figure it out, ok?” I squeeze his arms.

He nods. “This is shit.” His sad face breaks my heart.

“Sure is, but life is shit sometimes. We know this and will be ok. We have each other, yeah?”

“Always.”

“Always,” I smile.

It’s well into the middle of the night when we arrived back at the hotel. My body limp and my eyelids heavy. I’m on autopilot as I follow Leo through the foyer into the elevator. The ding sounds, and the doors open straight into the foyer of the penthouse.

The room was not like the one we stayed in earlier. This was more regal, grand. The enormous living quarters were decorated with late century furniture, marble floors and a crackling open fireplace next to a black grand piano.

“I will show you to your rooms,” Leo says.

We follow him as he leads us down the hall towards an open door to Topher’s room. Topher doesn’t react, he just walks in and thanks him as he disappears behind the closed door. He needs time, I get it.

I continue following him further into the hall until we get to two doors that are opposite each other. He opens the left door and I follow him through. The room is larger than my entire warehouse. There’s a huge king-sized bed on one side, and a living area with a sofa, desk and table near the window, on the other. It’s the most beautiful place I have ever stayed in by far.

I turn back as Leo heads towards the door to leave.

“Hey.” I say. The first word I have said since we left the warehouse.

He stops and looks right at me; it’s unnerving still being in his presence. It hits me we are alone for the first time. The two of us. In a bedroom, no less. I shuffle my feet, trying to keep balance as the thought knocks me around. I clear my throat.

“Thank you for taking us in.” It’s always better to lead with a compliment when you’re about to ask for something.

“Of course, I’d rather you’re here safe,” he says.

I nod. “So, look. We have work tomorrow. Again, I appreciate your hospitality and concern. But you must realise we can’t just stay here, we have responsibilities.”

His eyes are locked on me and I’m waiting, also, holding my breath. I need