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Aggie
Aggie felt none of the usual anticipation as she worked her way back to the chalet, just a vague sense of dread. Too many memories lingered there, memories that included more than just the peace and solitude the place provided. Zeke hadn’t spent a lot of time there, but he’d certainly left an impression.
Over the past few months, she’d gotten used to the idea that Zeke was no longer part of her life. The ache remained, however, a constant presence deep in her chest. She carried it with her—a painful reminder that her life had never been and would never be normal.
Perhaps that was why she’d stayed away as long as she had. She’d known that returning to the chalet would bring those feelings to the surface. But after spending three months in a crowded city, bombarded by people and noise, overcome by the sheer sensory overload, she needed a break to recharge, and the chalet was the one place to do that safely and without fear of discovery.
Well, she hoped that was still the case. Zeke knew about the place, which, strictly speaking, meant the location was now compromised.
Zeke would not betray me that way.
Nor did she believe he would betray her friends. Not that he knew anything specific, but he knew enough to cast unwanted attention their way if he wanted to.
Aggie had warned Nix when she sent the information on McNamarra’s bank accounts, just in case. That was a fun conversation. Nix had told her not to worry about it, but how could she not? She had so few friends. So few people who knew anything about her. And none of them, not even her brother, knew everything.
Her existence was a solitary one, and most of the time, she liked it that way.
T liked to say she was a human conduit, a funnel through which great quantities of information and emotions flowed. Sometimes, bits and pieces got trapped, and over time, she reached capacity and needed to clean her filter to function properly again.
He also said she was a glutton for punishment, putting herself in the midst of situations where she connected most with those she was trying to help.
He wasn’t wrong. She’d always been that way, particularly with negative emotions. She felt those more strongly than the others, which was probably why she was compelled to do what she did. Living among them. Getting to know them. Experiencing firsthand the effects of greed and corruption at the lowest level made it real in a way that sitting behind a screen in a luxurious refuge never could.
Unfortunately, she could only do it for several months at a time before she became overwhelmed.
Meditation helped, as did sticking to a primarily organic diet, but eventually, she needed to distance herself from everyone and everything.
Simply put, being around people drained her.
Well, being around most people did. Zeke was an exception, which was why Nix’s words had struck such a chord with her. Aggie felt different around Zeke. When she was with him, she felt connected to another human being in a way that didn’t drain her, but fortified her.
“Your soul mate. Your perfect match.”
Nix’s words echoed in her head for the billionth time. It was a nice thought, but soul mates didn’t walk out and disappear so easily, did they?
Aggie arrived at the chalet in darkness, too tired to do much of anything besides shower and crawl into bed. She slept a solid twelve hours and probably would have slept even longer if her bladder hadn’t been close to rupturing.
With sunlight streaming in through the windows, she yawned and made her way to the coffee machine. Part of her had hoped—irrationally—that Zeke might be waiting for her, but everything was just as she’d left it.
Wherever he was, she hoped he was happy. She hadn’t been in contact with Nix, so she had no idea what, if anything, had come from the information she’d sent her way.
Aggie started the machine, then foraged for something to eat. She added a call to the delivery service to her list of things to do.
She found some trail mix and sat at the breakfast counter, trying not to think of how Zeke had perched her on it more than once and snacked on her.
That was when she saw it. A business card, propped up against a tiny crystal vase. Linen, with pearly-white raised holographic lettering. Archangel Ink.
Her heart began to pound furiously as she reached for it. She turned it over, registering the handwritten message scrawled on the back.
Good for one custom tattoo. Must present in person to redeem.
* * *
Aggie shoved her hands into her pockets and looked at the shop on the other side of the street. It looked like a classy place, far removed from some of the dives she’d seen in her travels.
The street-facing window was large and tinted black with the same holographic image on the card.
She watched as a steady stream of people came and went, dwindling as the hours ticked by. It seemed to do good business, but she wasn’t surprised. She’d seen some of Zeke’s drawings. He was an extremely talented artist.
Just do it, Aggie.
Drawing a deep breath, she summoned her courage, crossed the street, and walked inside.
It was like entering an art museum. A semicircular reception desk sat just inside. Behind it, a spectacular mural of a fierce angel warrior, wings spread, sword in hand, ready to do some damage. To the left, a waiting area with leather seating and framed artwork. Two small, matching, curved desks were there as well, where clients could look through designs in binders and discuss options with artists.
What Aggie didn’t see were actual tattoo stations, but she could hear muted conversations and buzzing from the back.
An extremely attractive young woman came out of the back and smiled in welcome. “Welcome to Archangel. Can I help you?”
“Hi. Yeah.” Aggie pulled the card out of her pocket and handed it to the woman.
The woman’s eyes widened, and then her grin grew. “You must be Aggie. He’s been hoping you’d come.”