Page 38 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species

As soon as Tina settled into the passenger seat beside him, Zacharia followed the duo. The young man might have tried to boost his manhood via the Mercedes’ accelerator, but the bad weather didn’t allow him to get far before Zacharia caught up. He trailed the Mercedes into one of Sofia’s newer neighbourhoods.

“I’m curious,” Tina said, eyeing the residential blocks on either side of the street. “Are you taking me to a new restaurant?”

“We’ll see, darling. We’ll see…”

The Mercedes glided to a halt in front of a five-story residential cooperative and the couple directed their steps towards the entrance. From across the street, Zacharia idled in his vehicle, snapping a few photos with his phone. Though unobtrusive, the photographs captured the amorous intentions of the duo.

Tina exhaled. “We’re not on a date, are we, Zacharia?”

He examined her made-up face and the new dress she had donned for the occasion. “I’m afraid not, Tina. We’re not.”

“And I suppose there’s no dinner at a restaurant?”

“Regrettably, no.”

“Are we at least heading home?”

“Later, we are.”

Lights flickered on the third floor, thick drapes blocking any further view.

Zacharia reclined in his seat, pondering. Was Stilettos truly an enigma, or were they conjuring phantoms beneath her stiletto heels? A wealthy widow, suddenly bereft of her philandering husband, mourning with a younger stallion. On the surface, she was unremarkable. Yet, as another thread in the vast, tangled skein he was determined to unravel, Zacharia would pursue her mystery until he could confirm she was merely a shadow of her deceased spouse.

Tine frowned. “Those two are probably on their third round by now! Something we should be doing instead of lingering in the damned car! What are we waiting for, Zacharia?”

“I’m not sure…”

“I’m leaving.” She exited the vehicle, and he did not attempt to dissuade her. Tina was a capable adult. Moreover, she was a vampire and could manage her way home.

Around two in the morning, a taxi arrived, and Stilettos’ companion emerged alone from the building. He drifted away in the hired ride, but Zacharia remained.

The next day, Stilettos, in comfortable sneakers, ventured out for her morning coffee at a nearby shopping centre. Zacharia kept his distance while she settled down and ordered from the waitress.

Then he took a seat across from her on the table. “Rough night?”

Stilettos surveyed him with an expressionless face. “And you are…?”

“Someone you won’t be seeing again if our conversation goes smoothly.”

Her eyes flickered, calculating. Judging by last night’s company, Zacharia didn’t fit her taste in men, but few womenwere immune to the icy blue of his eyes.

She sipped her coffee and set the cup back on its saucer. The corners of her plump lips twitched into a thin smile. “Now you’ve piqued my interest…”

“I have a few questions about your ex-husband.”

She frowned. “You really know how to kill the mood, don’t you? And here I thought fate had arranged for me a fun little rendezvous with a stranger.”

“I thought the fun rendezvous was last night.” Zacharia pulled out his phone, showing her the photos he’d taken.

She chuckled. “You’ve been following me? Sexy. Are you from the media? You don’t look like a reporter.” Her gaze swept over his neatly trimmed hair and leather jacket.

“I’m not a reporter.”

“A detective?”

“Let’s just say I had business dealings with your husband.”

“Were you his bodyguard?”