by Marie Harte
“No, not soccer. Real football.” The girl put down her spoon and looked serious. “I don’t know how to play football. Do you Mum?”
“No, I’m sorry honey I don’t.” Eve reached forward when Noelle’s frown didn’t disappear. “It’s okay.” Alex could hear the calming lilt to her words. “We’ll sit down together tonight and look online. We’ll read up on it, okay?”
“Okay,” the girl sighed, and stood, taking her dirty dishes to the sink. “I wish I had an uncle.”
Eve turned to face her daughter. “You do?”
“Sometimes.” The girl stared thoughtfully at her mum. “Then I would have someone to show me how to play sports like Kylie’s uncle. He plays soccer with her in the park when he comes to visit.”
Eve stood and wrapped her arms around the girl. “You never told me you wanted to do that. I’ll play soccer in the park whenever you want.”
Noelle pulled away and shrugged. “It’s not the same. Is my lunch ready?”
Eve nodded. “Yup, it’s in the fridge.” She checked her watch. “Get your shoes on, time to go.”
Noelle grabbed her lunch and went to get dressed.
Eve began cleaning the kitchen.
From where he stood Alex could see the hurt on her face. “Kids are fickle.” He began not knowing where he was going with his statement. “They always want what the other has. If Noelle had a father or an uncle or even a brother, she probably wouldn’t even spend time with them.”
“Says the man, who’s a self-confessed killer. Had a lot of experience with kids have you?”
Straightening, Alex gave her a hard look. “I’m saying the grass is always greener on the other side. Even us self-confessed killers know how kids think, even if their mothers don’t.”
Clearly insulted, Eve turned and left the kitchen.
Eve ignored him for the next two days. Not even when they were alone did she answer his questions or respond to his comments.
Only at the end of the second day when Noelle was asleep did he finally get a reaction from her. He was pissed off enough to do the only thing that would guarantee a response. He stood, walked over to her bedroom door and slammed it shut.
Eve shot up onto her knees and hissed. “Are you crazy?”
“Little bit,” he conceded. “I’m glad I finally have your attention.” He stopped when he heard Noelle call out to Eve in fear.
“Mummy? What was that?”
Eve glanced at him questioningly.
“Answer her, she’s scared.”
Eve narrowed her eyes at him and called out, “It’s okay honey, I slipped. Go back to sleep.”
“Okay, night Mummy.”
“Night, honey.”
Still scowling, she hissed at him again, “What is the matter with you?”
Alex calmly walked back to her bedside and stood looking down at her. “I don’t like being ignored.”
“That’s bullshit.” She stared up at him defiantly. “I’m not giving you what you want and that bugs the hell out of you.”
He shrugged but agreed. “True. But you haven’t answered one of my questions and like I said, I don’t like being ignored.”
“I don’t really care what you like or don’t like. You came into my house, unwelcome by the way, and you expect me to be courteous to you. Buddy you are living in a dream world if you think this is going to change.”
Alex felt his teeth clench together, the muscles pulled in his jaw. He wasn’t used to being told what he could and couldn’t do and he wasn’t used to being called buddy. Buddy? He honestly didn’t know which was worse. The one thing he did know was that Eve’s attitude was about to go through a serious overhaul. He wanted the woman he had spoken to two nights ago, not a brat having a hissy fit.
He purposely leant down, closing the gap between them. “Is that right?” He spoke coolly.
“Yes that’s right,” she answered, her voice wavering slightly.
“In that case I think we should invite Noelle into my dream world, see what she thinks about it?”
Straightening to his full height, he turned and walked towards the door. It flew open before he reached it and passed through. Eve jumped out of bed.
“No,” she whispered. “Please don’t.”
He kept walking. Eve needed to know that he wasn't a man to be challenged and he never made idle threats. Reaching Noelle’s door, he entered the room.
“Please Alex. Please. Don’t scare her.” Her words were whispered once again but her voice was calmer this time.
Alex instantly recognised what she was doing. He could hear the flowing musical undertone to her words. He stopped and turned back to her once he was standing at the foot of Noelle’s bed. “I can handle any insult you throw at me, but I will not stand by and let you chastise me when all I was doing was trying to comfort you. Do not talk to me like that again.”
Eve stood in the doorway, hands clenched together, anguish on her pretty face. Then he saw them—the tears. They pooled quickly in her huge eyes and slipped over her lashes when she blinked at him.
“Have I made my point?”
She gave him a tearful nod.
“Not good enough,” he said a little louder. He knew Noelle could see him, but he never pushed the issue because he recognised she was ignoring him for her mother’s sake. And he didn’t want to wake her now but if he had to in order to make his point, then he would.
“Yes.” New tears slid down her cheeks. “I’ll answer your questions. Please don’t hurt her.”
Hurt her? Alex turned to the girl and saw the same mixture of colours that formed her mothers’ eyes. Those eyes were wide in fear and he guessed the kid had heard what her mother had said. He responded to Eve’s plea, “I would never hurt a child and I’m insulted that you would think so.” Yet in all fairness, he had told Eve about his occupation, it would be only natural for her to assume he would ‘hurt’ to get what he wanted.
He studied Noelle’s face, taking note of every feature that was similar to Eve’s. She blinked up at him, eyes still wide. He should probably apologise for scaring her, but he wouldn’t.
“Okay. I’m sorry,” Eve whispered. “Please come out of there. I’ll answer anything you want.”
Alex almost sighed when he heard the delicate undertone to her words. “What would you like to talk about?”
Giving Noelle a smile and a wink, he turned from her and moved back towards the door. He passed Eve, knowing full well she would want to check on Noelle before coming back to her bedroom. Alex stopped, blocking her path and said loud enough for Noelle to hear. “Don’t worry she didn’t hear a thing, she’s a sound sleeper.” Let’s hope the kid got the message and closed her eyes before Eve went in. Now was not the time for Eve to find out her daughter shared her talent for seeing medians.
* * * *
Eve closed the door to her bedroom and climbed on top of the bed. Alex was already sitting in his normal spot next to her bed, on the floor. Sliding under the covers, she reached over and flicked off the light. Strips of orange light filtered through her blinds from the street lamp across the street.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t need the light on to answer your questions.” Eve exhaled slowly as she rested back against her pillow. Her fear wasn’t gone, but there certainly was less of it. Alex was a ruthless man or rather ghost or dead person. The fear she felt when Alex walked into Noelle’s room was so intense she had been reduced to tears and begging. She would have done anything, given him everything, just to get him away from Noelle. And then he had to flip things around and become insulted when she begged him not to hurt Noelle. The look on his face and his words actually sounded genuine. But it didn't matter now, he was away from Noelle and she had promised to answer his questions. “Okay, what do you want to know?”
He chuckled. “Guess I found your weakness.”
Eve clucked her tongue. “That’s the stupidest observation I’ve ever heard. Of course Noelle is my weakness. She
is my child. I would give my life for her.”
“You’re pretty ballsy saying that to me.”
“And you’re an idiot for pointing out the obvious.” She sighed and did her best to sound apologetic. “Okay look. I said I would answer your questions and I will. So ask away.”
Alex chuckled again. “Your apologies are almost as bad as mine.”
“That’s because I’m not used to having to apologise.” Eve smiled to herself, she couldn’t help it.
“Me neither. Okay, first question. Why were you scared when I closed the fridge door?”
“You shouldn’t be able to close doors. That’s what scared me.”
“Why shouldn’t I be able to do that?”
She could picture a frown on his face as she stared up at the ceiling. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “That’s what I was told.”
“Couldn’t any of the other medians you ran across do that and you just didn't see it?”
Eve seriously thought about it, then finally guessed, “I don’t think so.”
“But you don't know for sure.”
“No, I don’t. But they felt different from you.”
“How so?”
Eve wasn’t sure she should tell him her theory about him being an old soul, not only would it give him a boost to his ego but it may give him more leverage over her. As for telling him, she thought he might actually be dead! Well, that wouldn’t be any fun either and his reaction to that might become violent. If that happened, she had a feeling she would see what Alex was capable of.
“I’m not sure. How were you able to find me when other medians can’t leave their bodies?”
“I did what needed to be done. I didn’t think about anything else.”
“Then maybe that is why you can move things too.” Or maybe it’s because you’re dead!
“Who told you about medians, your mother?” he asked.
“Yes.” She cringed when she dragged the answer a little long. He would know she wasn’t telling him the whole truth.
“And who else?”
“My gran,” she answered him honestly.
“She can see medians too?”
“Yes.”
“And merge them?”
“Not anymore. She’s too old.” Eve shook her head.
“How old?” Now why would he ask that question? Did he know more than he was letting on?
“Old.”
He paused and she could feel him looking at her but she refused to meet his stare. “So you, your mother and your grandmother can all see and merge medians?”
“That’s us. Welcome to the Sinclair family curse.”
Chapter Eight
What was she not telling him? Then the words from the little blonde in the hospital began circling around his head. Evening is part of a dying lineage, and one that must be cherished.
Dying lineage. Eve’s family was that lineage? How far did her family go back? He wanted these new questions answered, but decided to address her last comment first.
“How is it a curse?”
“Really?” she asked surprised. “You can’t see how my merging souls, is a curse? Look what’s happening with you. You barge into my home, threaten me, and threaten my daughter. Yes this is a curse.”
Alex levelled his stare. “But you already said I’m not like most medians, so I’m predicting this is a one-time thing. Regardless of my presence, it’s obvious that you are a good therapist, you heal people. Isn’t merging a soul back with its body like a type of therapy?”
She turned away shrugging. The gesture was meant to be casual, except it was anything but. Her hands clenching into fists gave a different meaning.
“It’s hard for you to say no to me isn’t it?” he guessed out loud. “It goes against your natural instinct.”
“Is there anything else you want to ask me?” Her change of topic wouldn’t deter him. In fact it made him all the more curious.
“Answer me Eve.” He demanded quietly, though he was sure he already knew the answer.
Remaining silent Eve rolled onto her side facing away from him.
He stood and walked around to the other side of the bed and squatted down, his forearms resting on his bent knees. She opened her eyes and focused on him. There was a hint of sadness in those hazel beauties.
An unusual urge to reach out and comfort her made the muscles in his arms flex. “Make it easier on yourself,” he encouraged gently. “Merge me back and all of this will be over.”
Her eyes began to shimmer as she shook her head. “I can’t,” she whispered. “It’s better this way, trust me.”
He wanted to know why it was better he remained a median. And why should he trust her? He had put his trust in Miles and what had it got him? Three holes in the chest and a coma. Trusting wasn’t his strong suit right now. He looked into her eyes full of unshed tears and sighed loudly, “Go to sleep, Eve.”
* * * *
Standing next to the bed, Miles listened to the rhythmic pace of the heart monitor. Medical proof that Ace was still alive. He should have known Ace wouldn’t be easy to kill. He was a tough bastard and too fucking stubborn to die.
Miles was still surprised that Ace had gone against him. They had always thought alike and covered each other’s backs. He still wasn’t sure what had come over Ace, siding with Jillian had put both of them in a difficult position. As Ace had pointed out, bringing her to the shop and having her relocated would have been the right thing to do, but there were other factors involved, besides her witnessing Rhodes’ premature death. She would be able to identify him. She could lead the cops to him and his family. He would never allow that to happen. Nicole and the girls meant everything to him and he would protect them at all cost. And as distasteful as it was, if he had to kill Jillian and his best friend to keep his family safe, then so be it.
But it wouldn’t happen tonight. This floor was under surveillance with a mandatory sign-in at the only entrance. They knew he was in here and it would draw unwanted attention, not only from the hospital security, which he knew were military, but unwanted attention from his unit. He had led the bosses to believe a perpetrator had caught Ace off guard and shot him. He had to play the role of concerned partner, which wasn’t really a lie. He was concerned…he was concerned that Ace would wake up.
Miles inhaled, the air in the room was suddenly cool. Actually, the entire room was cold. Exhaling, he saw his breath. “What the hell?” He looked around. Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Had one of the nurses left a window open? He crossed over to the row of windows and pulled back the blinds. The windows, solid pieces of glass, were sealed from top to bottom. Frowning, he walked back to stand next to the bed and wondered if he should mention to the nurses how cold it was in here. He reached out and touched Alex’s arm. It was cool too.
Miles murmured, “Maybe I should let you freeze to death, and then I wouldn’t have to kill you.”
Miles turned and went to the door, the cold air filtered through the door with him and followed him down the hall.
* * * *
The next couple of days were much calmer, now that there was a quiet understanding between Alex and Eve. Although he didn’t leave her when she was working, he did keep his comments to himself while her patients were around and Eve spoke to him whenever they were alone. He had also realised, during the past couple of days, why he had reacted so harshly when she’d ignored him. He needed her company. She was his only link to the world and when she shut him out, he had nothing and, when she ignored him, he felt very much alone.
The day grew dark and, after the usual night routine of watching some TV and having a snack, Eve put Noelle into bed. Alex stood behind Eve this time. He wanted to see what Noelle’s reaction would be to him standing in her room after the episode a few nights past. He was pleasantly surprised when the kid looked up at him without any fear. He winked at her then and left Eve to say good night.
Eve wasn’t long coming into her room. He leaned against the far wal
l and watched as she gathered her clothes and went into her adjacent bathroom. She looked at him with her hazel eyes and he could have sworn he saw a flash of green before she closed the door. Wishful thinking…maybe.
Alex stared at the door a long time, imagining Eve removing her clothes. First her snug fitting T-shirt that she layered on top of another T-shirt with long sleeves. Both hugged her waist and breasts. Next, her grey pants that clung to her thighs but didn’t hide the nice flare to her hips. Her bra would be next, then panties. He imagined they would be a matching set, something that went with her shoulder length hair, like an earthy-green tone, in silk. He could see her, in his head, taking off the ensemble. Her eyes heavy and focused solely on him. Her hands running over her tight pink nipples, down the sides of her waist to her hips, as she hooked her thumbs inside the silk panties and slowly pulled them down her legs.
Before he could stop himself, the door opened and he was standing in her bathroom. The steam rose from the shower but he could see Eve’s figure clearly. Her auburn hair was wet and hung down her back as soapy bubbles slowly made their way over the pink nipples of her full breasts. She raised her arms and scrubbed at her head which made her breasts swing, then arching her back, she rinsed the shampoo from her hair.
He moved slowly towards her. Images of Eve’s naked body stretched out before him. Of his hands kneading her breasts, pinching her nipples. Of him sliding his hand between her thighs, sliding a finger deep, searching for her wet need of him. Then he was in her, the slick heat gripping him like a fist. He could see himself driving into her over and over, but not on the floor, it was in a bed and he wouldn’t tease or torment her, he wouldn’t have the patience. He would fuck her fast and hard, but she would enjoy it, he would make sure of that.
He watched mesmerised as she scrubbed her body a light, flowery scent filling the room. Lifting her arms she ran the soapy body-puff down their length in turn and back up, then bent to do the same with her legs. He took another step closer when he caught sight of her smooth behind. It was pink from the warm water and nicely rounded. Another step. Shit! She wasn’t saying a damn thing to him and yet he was still drawn to her. What the fuck? He never allowed himself to crave for anything, least of all women he had no business craving in the first place.