by Nia Arthurs
As far as I understand it, Alistair has been marked. That means mercenaries outside of the league can kill him to collect money. It’s really tiring having a crush that could die at any minute from a violent crime.
It’s not nearly as romantic as I thought it’d be.
“There was a hollow panel in the walls of the attic.” Alistair offers.
“Interesting,” Damien’s face is serious. “What did contain?”
“A metal box with a strange type of language. It was not one I recognized. In fact, I don’t think it has any meaning whatsoever.”
“But why would someone hide worthless pages of a strange writing in your attic?” I wonder aloud.
“I don’t know.”
Alistair reaches for his backpack and stuffs it under the table. With calm movements, he opens the box – while it’s still in the bag – and extracts a sheet. He sets it on the table, his long fingers smoothing out the wrinkled edges.
The sheet looks old, but the writing in the center is clearly visible. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The characters were drawn with an elegant hand, but the letters are as understandable as a toddler’s.
“Can you make heads or tails of it?” Alistair asks me and Damien.
I’m happy that he’s involving me in this little spy mission, but I’m the farthest thing from a secret-agent-type. I cry when someone tickles me on the neck. I don’t have the guts for this line of work.
I happily shake my head in the negative and wait for Damien to make us look good.
He does.
“I think … there’s something about it that is familiar.”
“Indeed?” Alistair’s eyes light up. “I assumed this was a dead end.”
“It still could be.” Damien warns, “but I think I know someone who can help.”
“Excellent.” Alistair grins.
I’m temporarily incapable of breath because of it. The man doesn’t smile often, but when he does it’s like the sun coming out after the rain. I’m caught up in the sheer gorgeousness of his face. When Alistair’s eyes meet mine, he sends me a confused glance.
I realize that I’m drooling like a patient from an asylum. Quickly, I lick my lips and pretend that I was paying attention to the conversation at hand.
“Um, who exactly is going to help us?”
There. That was a completely mature and well-thought out response.
Damien sighs and shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
“You’re not going to like it.”
“Me?” I point to my chest.
“No,” Alistair’s voice is firm. “Me.”
I’m genuinely puzzled.
“Why isn’t Alistair going to like it? You know someone that can make sense of this nonsense.” I tap the paper on the desk. “That’s great.”
“Is there no other option?” Alistair pleads with Damien.
The assassin shakes his head slowly.
“I’m sorry. He’s the only one old enough to have any knowledge of the writing.”
“Okay,” I insist, “I’m confused.”
Alistair turns to me. “Damien’s old league has a chief that may be able to help us.”
“But…” I prod.
“But,” Alistair and Damien exchange sober glances, “he promised that if I ever return to his fortress, I will die.”
Chapter 14
Alistair
Damien’s plan to entreat Toqueph for help is absolutely ludicrous. The leader of the assassins in the heartland of America despises me. The threat he made the last time Damien and I visited his territory was not made in jest.
If we return, we will suffer the consequences.
“Do you have any other ideas?” Damien snaps.
He’s not on my good side right now and this incredibly foolish suggestion doesn’t help matters.
“What exactly did you two do?” Kendall demands.
I squeeze my eyes shut tightly.
“It was a huge misunderstanding,” Damien rushes to appease her. “I’m sure once Alistair has a chance to explain things to Toqueph, he’ll help us out.”
“Tokef? Why do assassins always have the weirdest names?” Kendall mumbles beneath her breath.
“It means strength,” I inform her.
Her gaze darts to mine and she laughs sheepishly. “I always forget that you guys have heightened hearing.”
Damien massages the bridge of his nose and brings our attention back to the problem at hand.
“I can get us in past the guards.”
I focus on Damien. My tone is less than kind when I point out the holes in his plan.
“You can get us into Toqueph’s bedroom, if it pleases you. He wants nothing to do with us.” I snap.
“It was just a suggestion,” Damien draws back.
“Hey,” Kendall slaps me on the wrist. “Be kind.”
I narrow my eyes, taken aback by her feistiness.
“So, you can get into this guy’s bedroom. Isn’t there a way to beg for forgiveness or some other weird league code that will get you two out of whatever you’ve done?” Kendall thinks aloud.
Damien’s eyes brighten.
I shake my head. “No.”
“What? What?” Kendall glances between the both of us.
I clear my throat. “There is such a tradition.”
When I don’t immediately continue, Kendall bounces impatiently.
“Well, what is it?”
“A fight to the death,”
Her eyes widen so that they take up nearly half of her face.
“No, no, no, no.”
“That’s not a half-bad idea.” Damien slaps me on the back. “But are you sure you’re up to the task?”
“Are you kidding me? There has to be another way.” Kendall insists.
“There’s not,” Damien calms her down. “In order to regain Toqueph’s respect, Alistair must be willing to lose his life in a duel.”
“Why don’t you do it then?” Kendall folds her arms.
Damien places a hand over his heart and feigns hurt, though I detect a hint of genuine distress in his voice.
“Would you rather I die in his place?”
“That’s not what I’m saying at all,” Kendall rolls her eyes. “I don’t want any of you to get hurt.”
I’m disappointed by her reply. A part of me was incredibly touched that she cared so much for my safety. Now that Damien shares her regard, it feels less… special.
“I’ll do it.” I agree.
Both Damien and Kendall stare at me.
“Really?” Damien coughs. “I didn’t expect you to agree so quickly.”
“Are you nuts!” Kendall hisses. “You can’t go. I won’t stand for it!”
“Cheer up, Kenny. The Old Man’s not so bad after he’s had his pills.” Damien places his arms around Kendall’s shoulders.
She brushes him away. I’m extremely glad to see Damien getting rejected for once.
“This isn’t about being ‘good’ or ‘bad’. This is about staying alive. What if Alistair loses.”
“I won’t.” I say calmly.
“Excuse me if that doesn’t fill me with confidence.”
“You think I’m that pathetic?”
“I think gambling with a life is foolish, no matter the prize,” she shoots right back.
This is an intense conversation, but I cannot ignore how appealing Kendall appears. Her brown eyes are blazing with fire. Her nostrils flare and her plump lips are a breath apart as she glares at me.
She’s a fiery soul. From the outside, anyone would overlook her petite stature and quiet demeanor as weakness. Kendall Villanueva is the strongest woman that I know.
“It’s not a calculated risk. Besides, Damien cannot fight. It would be a great disrespect to his former chief and we would be dead before the duel begins.”
Kendall leans back and frowns. Her displeasure is glaringly apparent, but there is nothing to be done. Toqueph has the key to unlocking my father’s missives.
If there is even the slightest chance that he can help me, I must take it.
“Let’s not think of it now. We have a lot to prepare for before any appointment with Toqueph is secured.” Damien points out.
Kendall is too smart to miss the blatant attempt at redirecting the conversation. Thankfully, she plays along.
“Right, where to next guys?”
“We’re going to my turf,” Damien slips out of his chair and heads for the back. “I’ll secure us some seats on the next flight out.”
“Yay,” Kendall remarks with no excitement to support the phrase.
“Don’t worry about being tracked by your passport. We’ll secure a private carriage.” I assure her.
“That’s not what I’m worried about and you know it.”
I guess she really isn’t willing to forget the duel.
“Kendall, I don’t know what to say. This is my life.”
“It wasn’t your life for a long time.” she plays with the edge of a napkin, “I can’t help feeling like I’m the reason you’re going to these lengths.”
Her words stun me. I glance up, but all I can see is the floppy mass of Kendall’s bun. I clear my throat.
“I got you into this. I’m making sure you get out alive.”
“But what about you?” she lifts her head, her brown eyes full of feeling. “Who is making sure that you get out alive?”
I don’t know what to say and it shows.
Kendall shakes her head. “Forget it.”
I extend my arm to touch her but she recoils.
“I need to use the bathroom.”
“I can go with you.” I stand quickly.
She holds her hand out to stop me.
“I would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t.”
Kendall weaves her way to the back just as Damien returns from his call.
“I got us a flight. It cost a pretty penny, but we can take our weapons.”
“Alright,” I reply distractedly.
My attention is on the green blouse of a stubborn woman pushing her way out of sight. I messed up, but I don’t know how.
“What did you say to her?” Damien slides into the booth.
“I’m not sure,” I admit.
Damien has always been more open to interacting with women than I ever was. He is a master at disentangling himself from international entanglements.
Damien shakes his head.
“She’s pretty awesome.”
My eyes dart up immediately. Kendall is a beautiful woman. There’s no doubt in my mind that Damien is attracted to her. I was hoping that it would end at that. His phrases of admiration prove that there’s more to the story.
“She is,” I agree cautiously.
Damien snorts at a memory. “You know, when we were on the bus, she’d wake up at five in the morning to make breakfast. Kendall bakes the most incredible biscuits. I think she calls them john cakes, Johnny cakes?”
I’m getting increasingly irritated the longer Damien talks about his experience with Kendall. Here I am, keeping my distance from her to keep her safe, and she’s making connections with Damien!
I’m aware that the thought is completely irrational, but I cannot help the feeling. When Kendall emerges from the bathroom, she doesn’t seem to be in a better mood and neither am I.
“Are you ready to go?” Kendall speaks to Damien.
She doesn’t even look my way.
“Yeah.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
Kendall walks out of the diner. Damien takes off after her. I guess I’m stuck with the bill.
Chapter 15
Kendall
Ignoring Alistair is the only thing I can do. I don’t think it’s working. We haven’t spoken once through the check in at the private wing of the terminal, through the flight, and even when we landed.
It’s done nothing but irritate me more.
He’s already put his foot down. As far as Alistair’s concerned, he’s okay with waltzing into a freaking fortress to engage in a fight where he’s agreeing to die if he loses. I just can’t wrap my mind around that.
We’re checking into a hotel now and I’m trying to stay out of the way. I’m not comfortable with allowing the guys to pay for me, but since they’re going to such extremes to keep me from using any electronic signatures that can be traced to my location, I have no choice.
As soon as I get my life back, I’m repaying the assassins. I don’t normally have a problem with debts (as my two major loans will attest) but owing Alistair anything right now feels like a sell out.
I tune back in to hear Alistair say, “yes, we’re sharing one room.”
I narrow my eyes. The hotel in the coastal backwoods of Florida isn’t as fancy as La Ruba, but it seems nice enough. There’s no reason for us to share a suite.
“Uh, no we’re not.”
“Excuse me?” the woman behind the desk blinks her eyelashes. If she attached some fans to those, she could blow sweet breeze our way with ease.
What is up with these girls? No matter where we are, they cling to Alistair like moths to a flame. Obviously, he’s appealing to women across all continents.
“I’m not sharing a room with you two,” I set my foot down.
I’m not a virgin saint, but I draw the line at sharing a room with two men. Especially knowing what they both do for a living. Or used to do for a living. Either way, it’s just not gonna happen.
“Could you give us a sec?” Alistair tilts his head adorably at the clerk.
“Of course,” she giggles.
Her eyes remain on Alistair even as he turns and walks toward me.
“I already know what you’re going to say,” I fold my arms stubbornly, “it’s not gonna happen.”
“Sleeping in the same room is for your own safety.” Alistair replies.
“No.”
We glare at each other for a few beats until Damien slides in between us.
“Hey, guys. I got two connected suites. Is that good?”
“It’s fine,” Alistair grits his teeth and stalks away.
“Fine!” I yell and march in the opposite direction.
That man is the most infuriating person I have ever met! And I work with Serachi! He’s like a chef on crack! Alistair is worse than that.
I’m not sleeping in a room with him.
I stomp back to where Damien is standing with a confused expression.
“You better hope nobody comes in my suite, do you hear me?” I poke him in the chest for emphasis.
He nods mutely.
Satisfied that I’ve gotten the message across, I storm away. Alistair is waiting for us by the elevators. I’m stunned that he chose to stick around instead of going off by himself. Which is what I would have done.
I’m only slightly touched… okay, I’m really touched.
Uncle Henry always told me and Charlie to choose a mate with careful scrutiny. He encouraged us to look for the little things that slip through the cracks of the ‘screen saver’ or façade that most guys put on when trying to impress a girl.
The only thing slipping through Alistair’s cracks is his kindness and consideration. Can the guy do no wrong? Apart from killing people, I mean.
I feel myself swaying in his direction, but I’m too committed to my anger to give up now. I’ll see it through until Alistair abandons his terrible idea to sneak into an assassin’s fortress. I’m sure when he sees the light, we’ll get back on track.
The elevator doors close before us. I hold my hands tightly in front of me to keep from slipping into nostalgia. This is exactly how we were standing the first time we met. With the exception of Damien.
I glance behind me to sneak a peek at Alistair. His eyes move quickly away from mine. Wait a minute. Was he watching me too? The thought is more satisfying than I’d expected it to be. I’m smiling when the elevator deposits us on our floor. My mood is shifting away from anger to a sweet, heady contentment.
We walk out as a group and
stroll quietly through the corridors until we stop in front of our rooms. The rooms have two separate doors. I press my key card over my personal entrance and glance over at the guys.
Damien winks charmingly in my direction. Alistair has his face forward as if I don’t exist. I stick my tongue at his back and walk into my own room. The hotel suite is neat and clean. A generic painting of a flower in a field is framed on the wall.
The bed is spread so precisely that I can’t help myself. A quick look at the side door leading to the boy’s room reveals that I’m truly alone. That bed is calling out to me. How can I resist it?
With abandon, I toss my bag at the dresser in the corner and take off running toward the mattress. The side door bursts open when I’m already flinging myself into the air. It’s too late to turn back now.
I land in the center of the mattress with a satisfying thump. The bed bounces with me. Ah, that was good.
I hear snickering and glance up quickly to find Alistair Howard covering his mouth with a fist.
“What a precise landing.” Alistair manages with a sparkle in his eyes.
“What? What’s going on in here?” Damien pokes his head through the threshold.
I grip the sheets in my hands. “You, don’t say anything!” I threaten Alistair.
The assassin ignores me.
“Damien, you should have seen…”
His comment is cut off when a fluffy, white pillow slams against his face.
My smile is smug. “What was that?”
Alistair looks shocked. Serves him right for trying to out me in front of Damien.
“What did you come in here to ask?” I ask calmly, as if sucker-punching a guy with a pillow is an everyday affair.
Instead of getting upset, Alistair smiles at me and asks.
“I was wondering if you’d like to scout out the city. Damien is heading out to photocopy the sheets and acquire a boat for our mission.”
“Really?” I rise up on my knees. “You want me to go with you?”
“Yes,” Alistair looks away. “I just… don’t want you to be here alone for too long. It’d be safer with me.”
“Or she could come with me.” Damien offers.