Chapter 54: Negative Thoughts

David was still racking his brain trying to figure out what Josef could have Candice working on that would keep her so out through the night, vampire schedule or no, and necessary to keep him out. He's worked out, showered, and tried to get some freezer time in but he couldn't let it go.

He knew it was thinking with his small head but he couldn't help it. Things with Candice had been going great. He thought so at least. Sometimes they didn't even talk, but it didn't seem to bother her. He knew he'd been a fool in the past thinking things had been good only to realize they had been anything but, however, since then he had been working hard to pay more attention to things. He owed her that much.

She had been so understanding with everything with Mia and then what Coraline had put her through. But she had been distracted the last few days and she wouldn't say more than work. He could scent it was more than work but he didn't want to push her. Now Josef was interrupting them and she was rushing to his side happy he was taking her up on her offer. What type of work could she possibly be doing then?

A sharp pain laced though his heart as his mind went somewhere he hadn't allowed it since she quit working as a freshie. He had many things to offer her and he could provide for her. He could do so well in fact. He wasn't as rich as Josef and he didn't have near his amount of power though. She had chosen him. She had stuck by him through everything. Maybe it was just too much for her.

His mind was spinning with these dark thoughts as he lay alone in their freezer surrounded by their scent. He was going back and forth on tracking her down and doing something she would probably be upset about later when his phone began to ring. Hopping out of his lonely ice box he grabbed his phone to see it was Mick.

"Hey Mick, what can I do for you?"

"Beth and I have a plan. We need an unknown face and muscle. Are you up for it?"

Happy for the distraction he accepted, "Where do you need me?"

"We hope to be moving out in the next couple hours. If you could meet us at the office when you're able."

"I'll be right there." He started to dress happy to have something to do. He didn't know what they needed him for but he was more than willing to do whatever it was.

Looking at the time it was close to 4am. He dressed quickly and was headed down the stairs when he heard the door open. Candice was home. Finally. She looked up at him in surprise, "What are you still doing up?" She smiled up at him clearly surprised.

She was wearing the same clothes she'd been wearing but she had showered. And she had on new shoes. He couldn't for his life name the designer but they were new and expensive he was sure.

"Mick called. They need my help on a case. I'm headed over there now. New shoes?"

She looked down a smile pulling on her lips, she did love her shoes. "Yep. Josef." She said it casually but he bit his cheek to keep from saying anything he didn't have time to think about now.

"Get some freezer time."

She nodded and grabbed his arm as he got within reach, "I will. I wish you were joining me though." His undead heart sped up in his chest.

"Rain check," he used her same words as he kissed her temple and headed for the door. He needed to get out of there and his spinning mind before he did something stupid. Right now Mick and Beth needed his help.

He'd arrived at the office and they had filled him in on the plan. It was a bit of a stretch but he liked the idea right now. His part was minor, probably unnecessary but he understood their precaution.

Now they were just waiting for the call to head out. Which meant he had more free time to think about Candice and why she would have showered before coming home. Would it be so he didn't scent anything on her? If so what was she trying to hide?

Mick put a drink down in front of him, "You look like a man distracted."

David glanced around and realized Beth had stepped out of the office without him noticing. Some head of security he was. "I'm fine."

"Out with it." Mick leaned back on his desk waiting for David to start talking. "Look you look like you're about to burst with anxious energy."

"It's Candice."

Mick waited but he didn't say more. "What about her?"

"She's been different the last few days. She's keeping secrets and it involves Josef. I think…I don't want to think it but she came home after seeing him last night with a new pair of those designer shoes she loves fresh from a shower."

Mick was surprised, "You don't think she's…"

"I don't want to think it but..."

Beth had returned in time to catch that part and marched right over to him punching David in the arm. "Owe, what was that for?" He asked surprised.

"For being an idiot." She reared back to hit him again in the same arm when he ducked away.

He backed away from her, "How am I being an idiot?"

Beth crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back clearly upset. "We have enough to worry about right now without your insane….whatever this is. Do you really have such little trust in Candice? She's your mate, David. If you don't have faith in her then you are an idiot and don't deserve her."

"I know she loves me. But Beth with everything that's happened with us, everything I've put her through…" He paused unable to finish the thought out loud. "She's been spending more time than ever with Josef keeping secrets. She went to see him and had showered before coming home. Why would she do that if she didn't want me to scent—"

"What about Josef?" She cut him off. "You think Candice would cheat on you with Josef which is ridiculous but what about him. Do you think he would do that to you, let alone Jean?"

He came up short unable to find words. He hadn't thought this thing through. He'd been so caught up in thinking the worst he hadn't thought of out the details.

Mick stepped in then, "Josef may act the flippant playboy but we all know he loves Jean with his heart and soul. He wouldn't ruin that. He wouldn't hurt a friend like that either."

David put his head in his hands, "Fine you're right. I didn't think this through. I just don't know what I would do if I lost Can. She's my everything."

Beth could see he was hurting over this. It pained him to even think she would betray him and she understood but she also couldn't stand to see him think so badly of her best friend. "You have a funny way of showing it. Instead of talking to her about it you go around thinking she's cheating on you and ruining a marriage while she's at it."

"I didn't—"

"No you didn't. You didn't talk to her like an adult."

He stood up, "She is keeping secrets. I can't force her to tell me the truth."

"No you can't. But I will tell you something right now, Candice is my best friend and she would never do this. If she's keeping secrets then she has a good reason. If you don't trust that then you need to have a serious talk with her because this," she waved her hand up and down in his direction. "This way of thinking is only going to hurt your relationship."

The office phone rang pulling them out of their emotional drama for the moment. Mick answered and was off quickly. "We're ready to get moving." He looked at David, "Are you sure you're up for this right now? We could ask someone else to do this."

He shook his head, "No, I'm okay to help with this."

Beth raised her eyebrow in a manner so like Mick he couldn't help but smirk. David caught it too and held up his hands in surrender, "Let me help you with this and then I will go home to my mate and talk."

Beth nodded in agreement. "Let's get this thing on the roll."

To Be Continued…

Evilous

Still alive I promise. I've been so caught up in a million things in life and I haven't been able to write Moonlight. I felt like every time I tried I wasn't doing it justice so I had to take some time away and come back fresh to keep going with my characters and the stories I love. I promise it may take me a bit between them with life and such but I will never abandon a story.