by Lisa Freed
“Teresa. Ahhhhh…how I’ve missed you!” Lance cooed into my ear.
My eyes flew to Mateo who mouthed ‘Victor?’ Mutely, I nodded.
I didn’t even bother addressing him as Lance, he might sound like him but his smooth delivery was purely Victor.
“Victor, where are you? And ugh, I’m so freaking mad right now!” I stormed, my emotions getting the better of me. When I peeked over at Mateo again his eyes were big and stunned.
“Yes, I know, I know…sorry about that, but you’ll get over it.” Victor’s voice was a low unbothered purr. “I knew you would come to Greece, and it’s perfect you are here because I need your help. With Lance.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’s perfectly fine, but I can’t do what I came here to do with his white American body, he stands out too much.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that I’m releasing Lance to your tender care. Meet me at my hotel so we can do the handoff. I’m staying at the Athens Tonda Hotel, room five ten. See you soon. Kisses.” He didn’t wait for my reply, just disconnected after that nauseating exit line.
So many thoughts and emotions swirled in me as I digested the much anticipated, finally received call. At last, I could do what I came here to Greece for. My time with Mateo made it so easy to forget my real reason for being here, a lot of guilt flooded in at that point. But in the end, it was exactly as Mateo had said, Victor knew I would come and had called when he was good and ready. Out of spite, I felt like not bothering to go to his hotel until later today or even tomorrow, to prove that I wasn’t at his beck and call. What if I hadn’t dashed off to Greece and was still in Delaware? Did he ever consider that?
None of it made a bit of difference, I had come and Lance still needed me. That released me from the trance-like state I had been in. Springing up, I pushed my phone back into my purse and pulled out a handful of Euros to cover the cost of my breakfast.
Mateo remained sitting, drinking his coffee. When he spoke, his voice didn’t have the usual calming effect. “Slow down. Tell me what is going on. Maybe I can help.”
“No, you’ve been wonderful but I need to do this- you can’t help with this.”
“Then please promise me you’ll be careful,” Mateo pleaded, placing his outstretched hand on the table.
Would a trans-continental romance work? Jet lag would stink but it might be worth it. I reached out my hand to touch Mateo’s but he moved it to grab at his napkin which he balled in his fist.
Had he deliberately avoided my touch? No, it was my confused mind playing tricks on me, and boy was I befuddled!
“Thank you,” I told him feeling my nose start to tingle, a sure sign tears were coming, “but it’s Victor, he won’t hurt me.”
The napkin hit the table with force. “How do you know that? As a spirit he couldn’t hurt you, he had no substance.”
A weary smile stretched my dry lips. “Mateo, Victor was strong, he could move things with ease and now body jump. If he had wanted to hurt me, he could have. He’s my friend.” Pulling my purse over my arm I tugged it in place on my shoulder. “A friend I’m not very happy with, but still a friend.”
“Is that all?” Mateo pushed, his dark eyes glittering as a bitter smile gave his face a fairly ugly cast.
The almost tears from a moment ago spring free in embarrassment and guilt. He had no right to question me like this. I lashed out. “Yes, that’s all,” I snapped, turning and walking away.
“Teresa!” Mateo called out, a pleading note to his voice.
Stopping, I glanced back at him, as did most of the other diners in the room.
“Call me?” he implored.
A brief nod was all I could offer him. I was too afraid to speak, too worried about what might tumble out.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I went back and forth about going up to my room but ultimately decided there was nothing there that I needed. My purse had my wallet, phone, passport- not that I thought I would be needing that but I felt better having it on me- and I had finally remembered to put my mace back in there. I felt prepared for whatever Victor had planned.
Waiting outside for the taxi, my eyes kept scanning the hotel for Mateo’s tall form leaving. Either there was a side door he had left by or he was still in there, which I guess could have been the case. When my ride stopped and I still hadn’t spotted him, my disappointment pulled at me. I didn’t like the way I had stomped off, it seemed so childish now.
After giving the driver the hotel name, I settled back into the uncomfortable firm, unyielding upholstery of the bench seat. My hand drifted to my phone in my purse which I had slung next to me on the seat. Perhaps I should call Mateo and apologize for my earlier behavior. Continuing to toy with the contents in my purse I decided not to make the call. I tried to pay attention to the scenery rushing by as the car sped down the road. This was a part of Athens I hadn’t seen.
Huge homes and business buildings towered over us. Dirt and grime stood side by side with pristine, shining white. Colorful awnings drew my eyes upward and I saw green plants spilling out and over balconies. And everywhere were people and cars.
From time to time I would get a peek at the ruins high above on hills, their stark beauty stealing the air from my lungs. Pressing closer to the cool window of the car, my neck turned in an attempt to get a last look at the magnificent columns and the buildings that were various shades of oatmeal beige not as white as I had pictured in my head. Why hadn’t I made a point to visit them?
I slumped back against the hard seat, my shoulders and back unhappy with it but there was nothing I could do about it. Same with seeing the Temple of Zeus or the fabled Parthenon. They could be the reason I came to Greece again, to finally have a relaxing, sight-seeing vacation. Mateo popped into my head even though I tried to push his face out of my thoughts.
Yes, he was adorable but I think my feelings really came from his willingness to help me, his generosity just pulled at me in a way nobody else had ever done. Not Lance and certainly not Victor. The only one that came close was John.
Speaking of John, he never had returned my call. My fingernail, that I had been chewing on, caught painfully between my teeth. A sharp sliver ripped off when I tugged. Grimacing in annoyance, I used another fingernail to pry it out, tasting blood when it was free. Why was I stressing so much? Victor wanted to give me Lance, what I came here for, boom, the end. I had to shake this silly fixation on Mateo. Maybe it was time to swear off men for a few months.
The car had stopped, the grizzled driver turned in his seat staring at me with a bemused expression on his face that let me know I had been absorbed in my mental pep talk for far longer than I realized.
When he realized I was finally with it, a large grin split his whiskered face exposing strong, white teeth that gleamed in the sunlight. He gave me a wink as I handed him the fare, then got out of the vehicle to open the door for me.
Exiting the taxi and staring up at the hotel, I felt like an ice cube was being rubbed down my neck. My hotel had been quaint, open, and friendly. This, this hotel practically screamed money with its sleek ten story design, heavily tinted windows that made the building appear to be several continuous levels of glass, and mostly just the way it jutted out aggressively from the other buildings that lined the street. It was Victor, no doubt about it. If I had taken the time to drive around the city and had seen this hotel, I would have known immediately he was there, it just suited his style so perfectly.
The interior didn’t disappoint. The floor looked wet, the black tiles were so gleaming. Glittering gold disks hung from the ceiling in asymmetric patterns and a grand staircase swept upward dominating the lobby area. Two lovely women were standing behind the check-in desk, identical welcoming smiles on their faces as they gazed at me. Instantly I was relieved I hadn’t changed out of my dress. If I had been in shorts and a t-shirt I probably would have been asked to leave.
I knew Victor’s room number so didn’t need to sp
eak to them but his room was on the fifth floor and no way did I want to climb that soaring staircase no matter how regal it looked. Plastering a smile on my face, I approached and directed my question to the lady on the right who had long black hair done up in a half bun that resembled a bow.
“Excuse me, where are the elevators?”
Instead of answering she looked at her companion before asking me, “You are here to visit?”
“Yes, I’m friends with one of your guests. He’s in room five ten.”
“Oh yes, turn to the left and just past the stairs are the elevators.”
“Thank you.” I felt their eyes following me as I made my way to the elevators which were tucked discretely back in the staircase’s shadow.
On the ride up, I rehearsed what I wanted to say but that plan fell through when I knocked on the door to five ten and a Greek man in his mid-twenties with his long black hair greased back into a low ponytail answered the door. I stood and blinked stupidly, no doubt looking like a fish out of the water.
The man grinned, his full lips parting to reveal the flash of gold in one of his upper teeth. “Teresa, come in! Come in!” His English, heavily accented, burst forth in a deep growl. He held the door open and stepped back giving me a clear view into the room. The entire wall was nothing but windows, the curtains pulled wide to let the light in. A bar complete with several crystal decanters with brown liquor was to the right. Huge king-sized beds with plump white duvets were on the left and on one of the beds sat Lance, a short tumbler in his hand.
“Lance!” I cried out, stepping fully into the room as the unknown man behind me closed the door soundlessly.
At my call, Lance looked up, a tired grin spread across his pale, lined face. “Teresa?” He stood up, walking toward me and wrapping me in his warm embrace. The cold glass pressed deeply into my back making me squirm to get away as did the almost overpowering smell of Scotch that surrounded him.
“I’m so glad to see you!” he awkwardly tried to hug me again but I sidestepped him and sat down on the bed. My eyes went from Lance to the other man who stood staring at us. His black shirt’s sleeves were rolled up exposing his heavily tattooed arms, the muscles flexing as he crossed them over his stocky barrel chest.
Lance sat back down on the other bed, taking a long gulp of his drink. His red-rimmed eyes were wet with tears when he looked at me again. “I’m so very thankful that Victor was able to get ahold of you.” He looked confused for a moment, his brow furrowed as his blue eyes narrowed. Then a crooked grin lit his face and he gestured with his now empty glass toward the dark stranger. “Where are my manners! Teresa, this is Victor. Victor, Teresa.”
I glared at Victor, not liking this at all. He merely grinned, exposing that gold tooth again that caused a quiver of fear to snake through me.
“Teresa, I don’t know what I would have done without Victor. Here I am in Greece, knowing nobody, no money, no nothing, and this guy helps me.” Lance rubbed at his eyes, then squinted at his glass. He rose and walked over to the bar where he poured himself another generous helping of Scotch.
“Lance, let me have a few words in private with Victor.”
“Sure, I’ll sit out on the balcony for a bit.” Lance refilled his glass again then walked confidently over to a large window which he attempted to open.
“Next one over,” the man Victor had taken over said, his voice still strange to my ears.
“Oh,” Lance said, patting his way to the next floor to ceiling window which did indeed turn out to be the door to the balcony. He stepped through it and sat on one of the chairs, a slight smile on his haggard face.
The man calling himself Victor tugged the pale blue drapes closed over the window and door areas where Lance was sitting outside, ensuring that he couldn’t see in nor would we see him. Turning to me, he waggled his heavy dark brows suggestively then came closer, a dangerous glint in his black eyes, his lips swooping down to capture mine.
“Stop that!” I cried out, shoving at him, my palms making contact with his warm shirt and the hard skin under it. “How could you even think I would be okay with a kiss?” I gestured in the direction of the balcony then at the man standing in front of me. “With any of this?”
I went to the bar area and opened the mini fridge, found a Coke, and helped myself. “I put my life on hold, flew thousands of miles, wandering around stressed out of mind and you have the nerve to try to kiss me?”
“Seemed a nice time to try,” he replied with a smirk.
That wound me back up. “And with someone I don’t even know! Who knows what this guy could have?” Ugh! I swished the soda around in my mouth before swallowing it, trying to get vile thoughts out of my mind.
“Well, he is a low-level drug dealer so clean might not be the word I would use for him,” Victor supplied with a full display of those wicked looking teeth.
“A drug dealer?! What the hell! Victor, what are you doing?” I slumped down in a chair next to the bar, my energy drained.
He grabbed another soda from the fridge and joined me in the other chair. “Something I have dreamed of doing. I’m going to pay a visit to my brother and his wife.”
“Oh.” That surprised me. Somehow, I had been expecting something much more sinister than a family visit. “You’re not going to kill them, are you?” I asked, my eyes fully on his face.
He threw back his head laughing wildly. It was rather freaky to watch.
The laughter ended abruptly as if a switch had been thrown. “No, I’m not planning to kill anyone. I do need you to take care of Lance though. He’s acting very off.”
I half turned to the balcony, I couldn’t see Lance but I could hear the chair banging around out there. “Well, he’s drunk, what do you expect?”
“No, it’s beyond being drunk, he doesn’t seem to be able to function that well.”
My eyes narrowed and the soda can emitted a few hollow clinks as it crumpled under the force of my hand. “He was fine all the other times you possessed him. Did you do anything differently, other than how long you’ve had him?”
Those scary dark eyes jumped around evasively. “I did have to do some back and forth possession so I didn’t have him this entire time.”
At my scowl, he explained further. “I had to check a few things out in spirit form. Lance’s very American appearance was entirely too conspicuous.”
I tossed my empty and trashed soda can into the wastebasket, smiling slightly when it went in. “Well, what did you expect?! He’s a tall, blonde lawyer with capped teeth!”
“I might not have thought my plan out clearly.”
“You think?” I sneered. Then I settled back down. “Okay, so you took over whoever this guy is,” I waved my hand at him then continued, “and now you’re giving me back Lance since he’s a problem. Thanks.”
“Lance should have been fine to return home on his own but he’s not. So yes, you’ll need to help him.”
“And what if I was still in Delaware?”
One of those bushy brows rose as a sardonic grin filled his face. “Teresa, we both knew you would rush to help Lance.” He gave me a slow wink. “And to help me.”
UGH! I stood up, muttering about men under my breath while wanting very much to kick Victor in the shin.
Getting to his feet, his hard hands grabbed my shoulders. Though not a tall man, he still loomed over my meager five-four frame. “You cannot deny your nature. I knew you would come, just as I know you will help Lance.”
I shrugged his hands away and threw myself back into the seat I had just vacated. My arms crossed tightly over my chest. “Flattery gets you nowhere. Of course, I’ll help Lance, someone needs to. But first, you’re going to tell me what you’re planning to do with your brother and his wife.”
“If you’re so worried, come with me,” he retorted.
I hadn’t thought of that!
Erratic thuds sounded on the door to the balcony pulling my attention away from Victor. He sprang up first, opening th
e drapes and then the door to admit Lance who looked paler and more exhausted than he had a few minutes ago.
“Has he been eating and sleeping okay?” I asked Victor.
“Teresa, I’m right here, don’t talk about me like I’m not,” Lance slurred as he tripped over the long drapes and made his way to the bed, falling face first onto it. He lay there limply, drool oozing out of his open mouth onto the comforter. His one arm hung over the side of the bed and I watched with my breath held as his thankfully empty glass tumbled from his hand to the hardwood floor with a loud crash. Lance didn’t stir.
Stepping over to it, I carefully picked it up. Turning it over in my hand, I saw not a single crack or chip. Remarkable!
Victor came over and lifted up one of Lance’s eyelids with a dirty looking thumb. The blue of Lance’s pupil was exposed but the man snoozed on. Victor released it with a backward flick of his thumb.
“Today’s been the longest he’s been back in his body, he ate breakfast, then started hitting the booze while I was on the phone.” Victor returned to his seat, sitting down with his legs comfortably spread, a long hand dangling between them with the can of soda in it.
“You said you’ve been going between Lance and being yourself, what has Lance been doing while you’re you?” I couldn’t bear to look at Lance nor did I really want to look at the drug dealer Victor was currently occupying so I kept my gaze fixed on the other buildings I could see through the windows.
“Sleeping mostly, I guess. I don’t know, I wasn’t here.”
I could make out a trace of impatience in his voice. “Am I bothering you, Victor?” I asked, tossing a dirty glare over my shoulder at him.
“Look, I did what I did and there’s nothing that can change that now. Lance is fine, or will be once he gets his bearings about him.”
“Let me make a phone call,” I said, going over to the unoccupied bed where I had left my purse.
Victor didn’t say anything about my abrupt subject change but did raise his brows when I took my phone and purse and let myself out of the room. In the hall, I pulled up my call log and redialed the one I knew to be Mateo’s number.