The ship is huge, one of the largest ferries I’ve been on. Since we never know when more of the bad guys are going to jump out of the shadows, we keep our bags containing our weapons with us while we eat at the ferry’s restaurant. We have nine hours until the first stop at Corfu, Greece, so we’ll pretty much just be chilling out and napping until then. We were one of the last groups of passengers to board, so I highly doubt anyone is lying in wait on this ship. The first two stops at Greek cities, and especially the final stop for us in Patras, are another story. By the time we get there, it’ll be tomorrow late morning or early afternoon.
Jackson pulls a tablet PC out of his bag and stares down at the screen for a long time. I’m watching the clear blue ocean out the window when he says, “Got an email from Simon.”
That gets my attention. “What does he say?”
“He’s working on finding out who took the hit out on Gabriel. Doesn’t have any info yet, but does have a couple good leads. He says for us to sit tight and he’ll get back to us when he knows more.” After a short pause, Jackson adds, “He also suggests that we off Gabriel ourselves and collect the mula.”
I roll my eyes at that. “You just made that up.”
He raises one eyebrow. “Did I?”
“Yes.” I give him a knowing look. Simon’s ruthless, but not that ruthless.
After a mini staring contest, he finally looks back down at the screen. “I can see that you still haven’t come to your senses, so I’ll just email him back a quick okey-dokey.”
“Okey-dokey,” I playfully tell Jackson.
“They’re going to bring my food right now.” Gabriel mutters, not the least disturbed about the conversation he just heard. “Okay, right now. Right about now.”
Barely missing a beat in his typing on the touch screen, Jackson grabs a roll out of the basket on the table and chucks it at Gabriel, hitting him in the eye. “I’m also going to email Porky requesting some fake ids for boy toy, asking him to send them to Simon’s Athens residence.” Jackson suddenly grunts and Gabriel grins. A kick under the table?
“Whatever. I suppose the big boys will be coming out of the woodwork now, huh? The money’s good enough.” Our food comes and we start digging in. Not bad, but I’m so hungry at this point that raw meat would probably taste good.
In between bites, Jackson asks Gabriel, “So, what have you been up to since you’ve been in New York to make someone want you dead?”
Gabriel looks up from the food he’s been concentrating on, glancing from Jackson to me. “To answer your question, absolutely nothing, unless someone didn’t like the way I slouched in class.”
“It could have nothing to do with your unlikable personally. Could be that someone is out to hurt Anna and plans on using your death to do it,” Jackson suggests.
I open my mouth to protest, but Jackson raises his eyebrows, so I shut it. No point in denying it to Jackson since he witnessed my heartbreak two years ago. I’ll admit it at least to myself. A dead Gabriel would result in a rampaging Anna. If anyone is going to kill him, I think I’m the only one who’s earned the right. If Jackson’s correct, and Gabriel is being targeted to get to me, then that really sucks, because there are a lot of people in the world who would want to get a little revenge against me. I get around.
That makes me lose my appetite. I push my half-eaten food away, taking a drink of water. Gabriel grabs onto my hand and squeezes it. Nice, but it doesn’t reassure me of anything but his affection for me.
Back in the cabin, we all fall asleep in the clothes we’re wearing. There are only two seats to lie down on, so Gabriel makes a bed on the floor next to where I’m sleeping on the padded bench. Other than reaching up to pinch me on the butt once, he behaves himself.
When we wake up hours later, we’re at to the first stop. Passengers get off and others get on. From here on out, we’ll have to be more alert. The next stop is only an hour and a half away and then the ship is on its way to the final destination of Patras. After the second stop of the morning, we make our way back to the restaurant for some breakfast. We still have six more hours on this boat and kill most of the time out on the deck, checking out the passing scenery.
It really is beautiful here. I tell myself that in no way am I to think of this as romantic in any way. The ferry is taking a route between some of the Greek islands and the view of the rocky shores in the distance is amazing.
Jackson gets off first in Patras, acting as a scout. He’s scoping for people who are just asking for us to shoot them, while also procuring a taxi for us. It’s a short taxi ride to the train station. The train will take us all the way to Athens, where I will in no way think of me and Gabriel as being on a romantic getaway. Look what happened after Barbados, Annabelle.
From the way Gabriel keeps smiling at me and trying to hold my hand, he’s obviously thinking of things that way. To get his mind out of the gutter and the bed he’s probably picturing in Athens, I announce at the train station, “Jackson and I have decided that we’re charging you for your protection.” Jackson does a little choke-laugh and I pretend not to notice.
Gabriel just gives me an unconcerned look. “Okay.”
“Fifty thousand each,” I quickly say.
He scowls, pointing at Jackson. “In that case, can I fire him? I’d really prefer to be alone with you and it’d cut the cost in half.”
Smiling smugly at him, I shake my head. “Sorry, we’re a packaged deal on this job.”
“Thank god he doesn’t want to be alone with me,” Jackson jokes. “I’d have to charge triple for that.”
Chapter 46
Gabriel
Sitting across the small round table from Anna, alone for the first time in days, she avoids my stare. My cooking isn’t that good, but she’s digging into her omelet like it’s laced with crack. Eat away woman, I can be patient. Especially if I get to watch Anna wearing that robe while I fantasize that nothing’s underneath it but skin.
We arrived in Athens yesterday and settled into the mysterious Uncle Simon’s home. Anna locked herself into her room almost immediately, claiming that she had contacts to call, emails to send, murders to plot, nails to paint. You know, the usual. It was plainly all a ploy to avoid me. Like I said, I’m patient.
When I woke this morning, I heard the shower running from the hall bathroom. After a quick walk through the house, I realized it was just me and the person in the shower. I started making breakfast for myself and whoever was in there. When Anna was the one to walk out of the bathroom, I had to hide my smirk, happy to see her and happy not to be forced to give the extra omelet to her brother. When I asked, she didn’t know where Jackson had gone off to. My hope is that he won’t be back anytime soon, or this week.
When she finishes, grabbing her dishes and mine, she mumbles, “I’ll wash these, then I have to make some more calls.”
“I’m bored,” I say in a petulant tone before she can escape.
She’s already halfway to the sink when she turns around, still holding one dirty dish in each hand, with cups and silverware balancing on top of them. “Watch TV.”
As she puts them in the sink, I talk to her back, “It’s mostly in Greek.”
“Go online,” she suggests, turning on the water.
“I want to get out of the house. I’ve never been to Greece.” The plan is to do normal couple things with her today, as if this was a planned vacation, not a hasty getaway.
She’s silent as she does her work. Once the forks, silverware and cups are all on the drying rack, she finally turns around, leaning back against the sink, gripping the countertop behind her and biting her full bottom lip. “You can’t go out alone.” She already looks resigned, and too damn beautiful even without any makeup on.
I manage to hold back a triumphant smile. “I know.”
With an irritated huff, she walks out of the kitchen. “Give me twenty minutes to get ready.”
Rushing back to my room, I take a quick shower and get dressed. Not knowing where to hide my
weapons, I settle on slipping my gun in the back waistband of my jeans and pulling my black t-shirt over it. I also stuff a sheathed knife into my boots, wriggling it around into a comfortable position. We were careful while traveling here, staying low-key, so unlikely to have been followed. But you never know.
I run into Anna in the hallway and grab her hand before she moves away, pulling her along with me out the door. Smiling at her while she locks the front door, I yank on her skirt. “You look adorable.”
She gives me an ‘Are you serious?’ look, lifts up the hem of her skirt to show me a glimpse of the blades strapped around her thighs, then nonchalantly descends down the steps. I’ve always had a weakness for a woman who carries weapons so close to her most dangerous one of all. If I said that out loud, she’d probably smack me.
The city is crowded, with this time of year being big for tourism. It’s also the warmest time of year, hence Anna’s summery outfit. I’m guessing her other weapons are in that bag she has draped over her shoulder. She explains that an area called Thission is within walking distance. Not caring less where we go, as long as she’s with me, I tell her to lead the way. Her attempt at act as if she isn’t just crazy about me as I am her is amusing. But at the same time it’s frustrating. It’s a good thing I’m so damn patient.
Surprisingly, even with the heat and the sweat pooling at my lower back where the gun is against my skin, it ends up being one of the best days I’ve had in a long time. Independent as she is, I still try to treat her like a lady whenever she’ll let me get away with it, by opening doors and picking up the tab. We don’t do anything particularly special. Just browse in some shops, stop at a small restaurant for lunch and walk off the calories in a park. It’s great to have time alone with her.
Throughout the day I subtly steal a touch here and there. At first, it’s just the brush of my body against hers. Later, I move up to placing my hand on her lower back. When she stiffens under my touch, I pretend not to notice and she gradually relaxes. By the time we’re leaving the park, she’s finally let her guard down and is laughing at my jokes.
The sidewalk in front of a line of shops a couple blocks from Simon’s house is crowded. Taking the opportunity, and excuse, I grab onto her hand and pull her along with me as I wind my way through the tourists. Once past the people, and once again on a residential street, I keep a firm hold on her hand.
We’re still holding hands as we reach the steps of our temporary residence. Jackson’s sitting there with an annoyed look on his face. He glances down at our joined hands and rolls his eyes. “Not this crap all over again. All I know is, nobody better shoot me this time around.”
Anna slides her hand from mine, looking uncomfortable. Jackson’s not helping my cause. “Shut up, Jackie, before I shoot you in the ass.”
Ignoring us and bypassing Jackson, Anna calls out over her shoulder, “I need to check my email.”
Jackson gives me a smug smile. “So, how you liking Athens?”
“I’m liking,” I answer casually, adding, “Very romantic.”
“Wonder who wants to kill you.” Jackson shrugs negligently. “Not that I can’t understand why they would want you dead.”
“You’re an ass.”
He chuckles. “I know.”
Walking up the stairs past him, I ignore the urge to kick him in the ribs. The house is quiet and after knocking on Anna’s door, all I get is an, “I’m busy!”
Realizing that there’s nothing for me to do now, I shut myself in my room and lay down on the bed. Drifting off to sleep, I hope it takes a really long time to figure out who wants me dead. I could go on the run and hide out with Annabelle forever.
Annabelle
Peeking into Gabriel’s room, I see that he’s napping. Quietly, I close the door and grab my bag on my way to the front door. With my hand on the doorknob, I hear Jackson call out, “Running away?”
I stop but don’t turn around. “I need air.”
“Open a window.” The amusement in his voice makes me grind my teeth.
Reluctantly, I turn to face him. “I’ll be back later.”
Jackson is standing there in cargo shorts, no shirt and bare feet. “You don’t have to be here, Annie.” He motions back towards the hallway with the hand he’s holding a gun in. “I can keep loverboy alive and you can get away from here. Go back to Paris, spend time with Marie.”
Not wanting to meet his eyes, I glance down the hallway over his shoulder. “He’s not your responsibility.”
“He’s not yours either,” Jackson states matter-of-factly.
Spinning around and opening the door, before it shuts, I tell Jackson, “Yes he is.” To the empty street, I say, “He’s more than that.” Then, as if someone is shooting bullets at my feet, I’m out of there.
The closest market is only five blocks away, so I figure that’s as good a destination as any. It’s not really air that I needed, but space. Locked in my room, with Gabriel on the other side of the wall gives me no room to think. No air to breathe. Damn, I need Simon to figure out the client’s identity so we can end this.
No matter what’s happened in the past, I’ve never wanted Gabriel dead. It would kill me too. Not that I see a future or second chance for us. Hell, make that a tenth chance. If I weren’t so constantly heartbroken by our volatile romance, I’d laugh at the events of the past few years. A bullet to both of our brains would put us out of our misery.
But despite everything, I still love him. It’s too bad I can’t trust in having my love returned. Like the saying, there’s a thin line between love and hate, and for Gabriel, it’s a tightrope. Which side he’ll fall off of at any given moment is unpredictable.
What’s the worst for me is that I’ve only grown to love him more over the years. No separation or bullet seems to make it fade. All this time spent with him is making it worse. Doing the tourist thing with him today was like some sort of fantasy. The holding hands, the getting along and the love in his eyes. It was like a glimpse of what could have been. What’s impossible and stupid of me is to pretend for even a single day. Jackson’s presence on the steps was the slap in the face I badly needed, a reminder that it isn’t real.
At the market, I only grab enough items to make dinner. Besides the fact that I have to carry it back, I also don’t want to get so much I won’t be able to use going to the market as an excuse to get away tomorrow.
Walking back to the house, my cell rings. It’s Simon, so I answer. “I’m here.”
“I’m closing in on the information we need. Porky only has to verify and it’ll be taken care of.” The authority in his voice and guidance when needed is something I know I can always count on.
“I’ll make the hit.” I want to be the one to end any threat against Gabriel.
“No, you’ll stay where you are.”
“Brent then?” I ask. I’m annoyed at being told what to do, but at the same time know that he’s the boss. I tend to not like his authority when I don’t agree with it.
“No, Annabelle. I’ll handle the matter personally.”
“Who?”
“When I have confirmation, then you’ll know.”
“That’s it?” I ask, exasperated as always by his vagueness.
“Bye, Annabelle.”
As I round the corner to our block, I drop the phone back into my bag. The feel of a sting on my arm has me about to curse summer weather and the mosquitoes that roam. That is, until my vision starts to gray and I pull a dart out of my arm near my shoulder. Then I’m just cursing my own stupidity. Then . . . nothing.
Gabriel
The shadows in my room tell me that I’ve slept till dusk. Feeling groggy from the aftereffects of an afternoon nap, I roll off the bed and come to my feet. My first thought is bathroom and a minute or so later, I’m following through with my second thought, Annabelle.
Her bedroom door is partway open and a gentle push on it shows me that she’s not there. Of course not, if she was, the door would be locked to keep me
out. Laughing to myself, I saunter down the hallway and practically bump into Jackson. “What the fuck, man?”
Ignoring me, he nudges past and stalks to the front door. I notice his tension and my instincts say that he’s looking for a fight. I’m kinda feeling relaxed right now, but I guess I could humor him. After standing in the doorway, looking both ways down the street, he grunts and slams it shut. He starts to pace and I assume that’s what I interrupted when we ran into each other.
“What’s the matter with you?” I ask, starting to feel his irritation rub off on me.
He barely spares me a glance. “She’s not back yet.”
Well, there’s only one ‘she’ he could be speaking of. “Anna?”
“She’s not answering her cell either.” He opens the door again, as if expecting her to magically appear.
Now I’m feeling his worry, a whole lot of it. “Where the hell is she?”
He gives me a ‘You’re a retard’ look. “Don’t you think I’d be there looking for her, if I knew? Instead of babysitting your helpless ass?”
Not wanting to fight with him when we should be concentrating on Anna, I try to think rationally. “Well, she can’t have been gone more than a few hours. I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
Again, he seems to not be paying attention to me. He walks to a side table and starts picking up items off it. He tucks a gun into the back waistband of his pants. Extra clips and a wallet are shoved into his pockets. He stares down at a big ass knife as if unsure where to stuff it. It ends up going into his boot, under his pant leg. Finally, he answers, “I have a bad feeling. We’re going looking.” I’m feeling something similar in my gut.
Before he turns back around, I’m heading down the hallway back to my room. Off the dresser, I grab my gun, a couple clips and a smaller version of the knife Jackson is sporting. Overcompensating much, Jackson? He’s texting on his cell phone on the front steps when I exit the wide open front door. My weapons are as concealed as his in cargo pockets and under a baggy t-shirt.
I lock the front door, don’t want any surprises when we return, then join him down on the sidewalk. “Which way would she have gone?”
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