TWENTY-FOUR

“Do you really think Christian is responsible for those deaths?” Mateo asked as we walked out of the café and headed toward the park.

“I don’t know what to think.” I admitted, though something nagged at me. “He knows how to do it. He knows to cover his tracks, cover the wounds, and hide the bodies. And, I don’t know that Christian would go after cows. That part really doesn’t make sense.”

“And what happened to the other cow?” Mateo asked as we reached a bench and took a seat, our paper coffee cups in our hands.

“No idea, unless it ran away. But still, why cows when he had a man there?”

“I don’t know. He is still a newborn. Maybe he was just that hungry. What I really want to know is, if it was him, what the hell is he doing up there?”

How did he get there and where is he headed were also questions I wanted answered but didn’t voice. Every fiber in my being told me to get on a plane and go look for him in that area, however, my mind reminded me that he didn’t want to be found.

“Where do you think he’s going?” Mateo asked anyway.

“Back to the US I’m assuming. He did take his passport but I know he has no money. That doesn’t make sense either,” I ran my hand through my hair, as if that would wipe away the thought of Christian wandering the Andes alone. He was a vampire but could he take care of himself, this early on? Would he make it to the United States on foot with hunters possibly tracking him along the way? My stomach turned at the thought of him being found by them, especially if they’d been alerted by the recent killings.

“After we get Jose Luis and his sister back, I think we need to follow Christian’s trail,” Mateo said.

“We don’t even know if it was him,” I turned to him. “It could’ve been anybody. It’s possible it wasn’t even a vampire, possible that the villagers’ just have overactive imaginations.” At least, that’s what I wanted to believe.

Mateo looked at me with concern. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.” He was dropping it for my sake but I didn’t mind.

“He obviously doesn’t want to be found so we are not going to look for him. He won’t answer his phone or return any of my calls, and believe me, I left many messages. It is obvious, at least to me that he wants out. That’s exactly what I’m going to give him,” I stood and picked my empty cup up off the ground. “We better get back before Fiore and Aloysius send a search team after us.”

Mateo laughed as he took my cup to deposit in a trash can we passed. “So, am I forgiven?”

I looked at his pouty face and couldn’t contain my laughter. “Forgiven, for now.” I took his proffered arm and we walked in silence the rest of the way to the apartment.

“Everything ok?” Fiore asked as she met me on the way to my bedroom.

“Yes,” I answered and walked into the room, motioning for Fiore to follow me. “Have you heard anything else?”

She shook her head. “No. We’re set to go around nine or ten tonight. We want to make sure all tourists have cleared out. It will keep them out of harm’s way and make our search easier, if Jose Luis isn’t where we think he is.”

“Sounds good,” I sat on the bed next to her. “Where is Aloysius?”

“He took Lucia and the children out for lunch. Margarita and Carlos went with them. He’s taking them shopping for more clothes afterward so he won’t be home for a while.”

“I think I should pack up Christian’s things, get them out of the room,” I said, my voice barely audible.

Fiore took my hand and squeezed it. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, especially before what we have to do tonight. I think it’s best to keep your mind clear and your spirits as high as you can.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right, but I’m going to have to do it sometime.”

“And I promise I will help you when you’re ready. I won’t let you get all sad all by yourself.” Fiore wrapped an arm around me and squeezed me to her side.

“So what do we do until then?” I asked.

“I have an idea. Let’s go to the beach. It’s a nice day, not sunny but not too cold,” she suggested.

“Aren’t we going to stand out as the only two on the beach at this time of year?”

“Who cares?” Fiore laughed. “We don’t know any of those people. Get your bikini and I’ll meet you downstairs.” She stood and left the room giving me no chance to protest.

Leave it to Fiore to want to go to the beach right before a battle. Sometimes I wished I could be as carefree as her. I knew she was having some difficulties in her relationship with Aloysius. She felt unsure as to where they were heading since he never told her he loved her. I could understand her concern but I also saw the way Aloysius looked at her, hung on her every word when she spoke, and worried about her, even if she didn’t know it. I saw his face light up every time she entered a room, just the way Christian’s did.

“Stop it!” I muttered to myself. I grabbed my bikini out of my drawer and slipped out of my clothes. Christian wasn’t here to help me with the tie at my neck so I struggled to do it myself. I slipped my skirt and shirt back on, grabbed my towel and a book, and stuffed them into a bag. Looking at myself in the mirror, hair in a messy bun, I decided I was ready.

Fiore and I found a quiet spot to lay our towels on the beach. Since neither of us had thought to cover our skin with some colored foundation, we figured it was best to stay away from curious eyes. Lying on my stomach facing the water, I propped my head on my arms and took in the sight. A sea duck sat on top of the water, its wings tucked at its sides, letting the soft roll of the waves carry him back and forth to the shore.

“That would be a peaceful life, don’t you think?” Fiore turned to me, laying her head on her arm.

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m sure there’s some predator out there he has to fear and run from.”

“Yeah. That would be Melinda the Condor.”

That comment made me laugh. Fiore’s amused eyes told me she pictured what I pictured, Melinda with the body of a condor, but with her human head, swooping over the water to catch the duck with her nail-polished talons. We both laughed so hard I forgot about everything for a few precious moments.

“Lily, did anyone ever tell you how hot you are?”

“What?” I lifted my head to get a better look at her face, to see if she was joking.

“I am being serious. I would kill to look like you.”

“Are you crazy?” I jumped up and sat back on my knees.

“Really,” Her eyes stayed focused on mine. “You have the most gorgeous brown eyes. Actually, I think they’re black. They’re so deep I could get lost in them and never find my way out.”

The conversation she and Christian had while I was healing from being staked came rushing back to me. I looked away and focused on the waves, the duck now gone. “And I would kill to look like you,” I said hoping she wasn’t hearing my thoughts.

“Yeah, about that…”

She’d heard. I busied my hands by digging in my bag for the book I’d packed, not even remembering what it was. “You don’t have anything to explain. That conversation wasn’t meant for me to hear.”

“I know but I knew then you could hear. I also know how hard you tried not to look at me after that,” she sat up facing me. “Christian wanted to know what my problem with him was. I felt I owed him an explanation since I knew I wasn’t treating him well.”

I held a hand up in front of me. “Seriously, Fiore, you don’t owe me any kind of explanation. I did hear your whole conversation and I understand why you two acted the way you did with each other, all the bickering and nitpicking, the constant wise ass remarks.”

She inched closer to me. I backed away as best I could while sitting on my legs.

“Lily, I don’t want you to think I was imagining the whole thing or making it up or anything. I did think I was in love with you. I was jealous of Christian and the love you showed for him.” She paused to look at my face, noticing the tears welling in my eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring him up right now. I’m trying to cheer you up and I’m making it worse instead.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. “I can’t help it I’m so lovable.” I laughed to ease her worry.

“You said it,” she smiled. “Can I ask you something?” Her tone turned serious again.

I raised my eyebrows.

“It’s more a favor than a question,” She bit her bottom lip. I nodded. “I’m curious… Did you ever think of me…you know?”

“What? I don’t think I do know.” I moved back and crossed my legs in front of me, sitting Indian style to get some distance.

“I’m sorry,” she looked at my eyes again. “I should just come right out and ask.”

I gulped. “What already?”

“Can I kiss you? I always wondered what it would feel like,” she said, her face sure and unafraid.

My head spun and my muscles tensed. I had a feeling that’s what was coming but hearing it from her lips was totally different. I couldn’t get my mouth to cooperate and form words so I just nodded, suddenly starting to shake. She gave me no time to think as she leaned toward me, her face inching closer, her lips moist in anticipation. I held my breath and closed my eyes as her hand found the back of my head, pulling me closer, her fingers twining in my hair.

Her lips touched mine with such softness that I wasn’t sure I didn’t imagine it, at least at first. As my stomach fluttered, her kiss got harder, her tongue pushing my lips apart and finding mine, dancing with it. Her other hand pushed against my lower back as she pushed my body against hers. I tried to lose myself in the new experience, tried to picture this beautiful, sexy Italian woman holding and kissing me so passionately but all I saw were Christian’s blue eyes. I felt his perfect mouth against mine, his strong manly hands against my body. I reached and put my hand against the back of Fiore’s head, feeling her long, thick hair, but I still pictured Christian. My stomach sank with guilt.

“I’m sorry, Fiore,” I whispered when we parted. I looked down at the sand, afraid to meet her eyes. “I can’t do this.”

“It’s ok, Lily. I understand. Thank you for letting me satisfy my curiosity,” she answered as she crawled back onto her towel.

“So?” I asked trying to lighten the mood. “How was I?”

She smiled, her eyes sparkling. “You were great. You have very soft lips, did you know?”

“I guess but…” I wasn’t sure how to say it.

“How did I feel about it?” she asked for me. “I liked it. You are gorgeous and sexy, smart, sophisticated, but…”

“But I’m not Aloysius?” I smiled catching her eyes.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. You’re not Aloysius.”

“You are so in love,” I teased as I shook my towel out, swatting her with it before folding it and shoving it back in my bag. “He loves you too.”

“I hope so,” she said as we made our way back to the street and home to prepare for the rescue. “I just wish he’d tell me how he feels.”

“He will. He’s a bit slow. He’s a man, remember? He’ll tell you when you least expect it.”

Changed and ready to go, I met the others where they were gathered in the living room. Aloysius gave me the once over with his eyes and then turned to Fiore and did the same. Fiore glanced at me as if nothing had happened. Aloysius smiled but said nothing to either of us. Could he possibly know? Maybe, and maybe it would help Fiore get what she most deserved. Before I could pull her aside and question her, Aloysius called us to attention.

“Mateo, Fiore, Lily, and I will be leaving from here as soon as we have the ok from Giovanni. The rest of you know what to do and where to do it. I will give the ok to retreat as soon as we have the hostages we are attempting to rescue. Understood?” He looked at everyone and they nodded. “Very well then, to your vehicles. We will await your call, Giovanni.”

The whole group filed out the door on their way to the vehicles waiting in the parking garage under the building. They were to position themselves on the mountain, scope out the area, and then call Aloysius so the rest of us could disappear from here and reappear at Arturo’s house. My confidence diminished when I instinctively looked for Christian who would normally have been standing next to me. Taking his hand, I would have felt safer and surer of myself. I no longer had that luxury.

Aloysius leaned into me. “We will talk about him later. I saw something today that makes me wonder.”

“Yes, I know. I saw it too.”

“Innocents and animals? That could become a problem, for him, for all of us,” Aloysius whispered in my ear and then straightened. He walked to take Fiore’s hand but not before his eyes met mine with coldness I’d never seen in him. A chill ran down my spine.