by Brenda Drake
“Great.” She shuffled the cards and fanned them across the table. “You just have to pick one.”
His lips puckered as he studied the cards. “Only one?”
“Yep.”
“All right then. I choose this one.” He stabbed it with his finger and slid it toward her.
Daisy chuckled. It was as if he were scared of the card. “You have to turn it over,” she said.
He flipped it over. His card had the image of a man and woman with a sun and an angel above them with “The Lovers” written on the bottom.
Well, this is awkward.
Chapter Fourteen
Andrei
Shit, shit, shit! The ring on the floor was a symbol of his shame, so he left it there. Why hadn’t he taken it out of his pack? He wanted to punch Ramon in the face.
He paced the platform waiting for the elevator to return, debating if he should take the stairs. No. The lift was faster. He just had to be patient, which was a struggle. He wanted to chase after her. Explain things. Never would he hurt her. She had to know that.
Why didn’t I tell her? There’s no way she’d believe me now. He punched the air, startling a little girl and earning him a disapproving look from her parents.
He didn’t care. Daisy was gone. She could be in danger, and it was his fault. He should have told her the truth.
The elevator rattled the floor before arriving at the platform. Andrei was anxious to get on, but he waited for people to exit before stepping in. The little girl he’d scared earlier scooted as far away from him as she could. He didn’t blame her.
The girl looked at him with wide eyes. He was a monster to her. A danger. He was beginning to think that about himself, too.
There was that time Ramon and Bart took him to a club. They had asked him to watch the bathroom door for them. Made sure no one entered. When they’d come out of the bathroom, Andrei peeked through the closing door. A man was on the floor, and Andrei had rushed in to aid him. His so-called friends had beaten him senseless.
When Andrei attempted to help the man, Bart and Ramon tried to stop him. They fought. Andrei won. When the police showed up, Andrei pointed out the brothers as responsible for the man’s injuries and they were arrested. It was nearly a year ago, but the brothers continued to find ways of getting even with Andrei.
The brothers were out there somewhere in the City of Lights.
And so was Daisy.
His stomach dropped with the elevator as it made its descent to the ground. He checked the front pocket of his bag, then remembered that Daisy had his notebook and map.
Shit.
He recalled a few details. Hopefully, it would be enough to help him locate Niels and find Daisy.
The lift reached the bottom, and the doors opened. Andrei took a deep breath so that he wouldn’t push his way out. An older couple took their time leaving. He clenched his teeth trying to remain patient. As soon as there was enough room for him to get by, he took it, not thinking about the others getting off.
The sky was darkening. Andrei charged down the pavement, trying to recall his research on Niels Beringer. He lived in the eighth something on a road that started with Rue. Madeleine area. On the fifth floor.
Preoccupied as he was on his thoughts with his head down, Andrei bumped into someone. He looked up.
“Ramon?”
“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” Bart said, standing a few feet away from Ramon.
Andrei glanced around at the people passing by them on the courtyard. “How do you keep finding us?”
Bart puffed his chest out and grinned. “We knew you’d be at the station from what Mama gathered from your grandmother’s home. Just had to wait it out until you arrived. And how we knew you were here? Ramon placed a tracking device in your pack when he gave you back your ring.”
“All right, that’s enough.” Ramon grabbed Andrei’s upper arm and showed him the gun hidden under his jacket. “Don’t run off.”
“A gun? Really? What’s wrong with you guys?” Andrei turned his glare on Ramon and then on Bart. “She’s just a girl.”
“She’s an abomination,” Bart said. “We’re responsible for protecting the world from her.”
“That’s your mother talking,” Andrei snapped. “You don’t have to listen to her. Seriously. Grow a pair.”
That hit a nerve. “Shut up,” Ramon said through clenched teeth. “You know nothing.”
Andrei yanked his arm from Ramon. “I told you. She’s not dangerous.”
“She has the devil inside her,” Ramon hissed.
“One of her kind murdered our father,” Bart said. “He was young. Healthy. It was our aunt. She touched him after she changed a death fate. One touch. That’s all it took. Even though you ratted us out, you’re our cousin. We’re like brothers. We don’t want to hurt you.”
“That girl could kill you. Let us take care of her,” Ramon added.
The idea of having brothers had appealed to him when he’d first visited them in Amsterdam when his mother was still alive. He spent hot, lazy summers riding bikes with Ramon and Bart, exploring the city. They’d have him try all the strange foods the vendors had to offer. Laugh at his sour face when he didn’t like something. They protected him from bullies because he was scrawny back then. Brothers. How he wished they could go back to those days.
Over Bart’s shoulder, Andrei noticed several police officers edging in their direction. It didn’t look like they were coming over to stop a disturbance. They were too cautious. Like they were approaching a dangerous situation.
“What did you do?” Andrei nodded toward the officers.
Ramon and Bart glanced over their shoulders.
“We stole a police vehicle to get here,” Ramon said.
Andrei jumped on the opportunity. “Hey! They’re trying to rob me. Voleurs!”
Bart punched Andrei in the gut before running off with Ramon. Andrei doubled over. The pain came and went, leaving a soreness in his stomach muscles. The police officers chased Ramon and Bart.
“Arrêtez! Police,” one of them yelled.
Andrei hobbled down the walkway to the street. Taxis dropped off and picked up passengers, and there wasn’t a long line at the stand. He decided the money on a cab was worth it. He had to catch up to Daisy. Explain things.
Keep her safe.
“The Madeleine area,” he told the driver.
“Address?”
“I don’t know. Rue something.”
“Too many Rues. Which one?”
“Um… Bo-see something. And it has angeles at the end.” He remembered it because Daisy had mentioned during an online chat that it was similar to Los Angeles.
The driver nodded.
Andrei’s stomach protested as he turned to look out the back window. On the side of the road, the police had Ramon and Bart and were handcuffing them.
He laughed, startling the driver. At least Andrei and Daisy wouldn’t have them on their tail anymore. His head dropped back against the seat with a thud, and he closed his eyes. Never had he felt so tired before. An idea hit him, and he straightened suddenly and yanked his phone from his pocket, causing pain to shoot through his abdomen again. It was a quick text to Daisy.
im sorry
where are you
When she didn’t respond, he tried to call. Still, she ignored him.
Headlights from oncoming traffic flashed light in the cab. He decided he should give Miri a heads-up in case Daisy contacted her. Miri responded immediately.
What do you mean she’s missing? How did she find out about your connection to The Thorn? Now she won’t trust me. And if she doesn’t believe me, I can’t help her. You can’t, either.
Andrei regretted his reply the moment he sent it.
she found a thorn ring in my backpack
He waited for her text.
How did it get there?
ramon put it there
I’m coming. To Amsterdam. I’ll put a stop to The Thorn. Find Daisy. She
must end the curse. Meet me at Bunică’s apartment when you return.
Man, she could be scary sometimes.
The taxi crossed over the Seine River on a six-lane street. Cars sped across the road in an enormous circle. In the expansive middle were a tall, granite monument and green-and-gold fountains.
“That is the Obelisk of Luxor,” the driver said, his eyes on the traffic. “Very famous. See. So many tourists.”
Andrei closed his eyes as the driver slammed on the brakes. He swore the driver had a death wish. As the cab passed a palatial building, he yelled over his shoulder, “It’s the Place de la Concorde.”
He should see these sights with Daisy. Watching the wonder in her eyes as she experienced all the beauty the city had to offer. Sharing buttery croissants at a street café. And meeting strangers from around the world together.
Once he explained things, she’d forgive him.
It may change the trajectory of their relationship. Possibly, she’d only want to be friends. But he would show her how he felt. If he wasn’t too late. She could have met with Niels already and be lost in the city by now.
Several turns later, the taxi pulled over. “That road there is Rue Boissy d’Anglas,” the driver announced. “It’s one way. You get out here and walk.”
“That’s the road. How did you know?”
The driver didn’t answer. Not that Andrei needed one. He was just happy to be closer to finding Daisy. He paid the man and trekked up the narrow one-way road.
It was a quaint street, and Andrei believed she would like it by all the photos of similar roads in her notebook. What was wrong with him? He kept thinking about what she would want or do. He kept having flashes of the many expressions that made her Daisy. The one when she overthinks things while nibbling her bottom lip. The one where her forehead furrows when she’s angry or confused. And the one that is as soft as the touch of her skin when she’s content. All made him want her more.
When did these feelings for her get so strong? On their way around Europe, a flicker of attraction had sparked into something much more.
And he had ruined it.
If he’d explained his involvement with The Thorn right up front, she’d have understood. Never would she judge him. She wasn’t that person. Her caring nature, compassion, and empathy were what made him fall for her. That girl was everything he wished to be.
And he’d ruined it.
She was more complicated than any girl he’d ever known. Her smile could warm a room. Send shivers across his skin. Make him want to get lost in her.
And he’d ruined it.
He paused when he reached the first building. The address he was searching for had two numbers and ended with a nine. The pale-apartment complexes lining the street were tall with elegant facades. Some had thin balconies, and others had shops and cafés taking up the first-floor space.
With the setting sun, the city cooled a little. He’d checked buildings nine through twenty-nine, and none listed a Beringer in the directories. As he glanced up and down the street, he retrieved his water bottle from his backpack and took a long swig. Streetlamps hung from the buildings, sending out blooms of light onto the road.
It was hot, and all his walking had made him sweaty. He poured some water on the back of his neck and rubbed it into his hair before continuing.
The numbers increased until he reached thirty-nine. The number was above a gray, double door. Beside it was a café with outdoor seating. Three men sat at one of the tables with beers in front of them. Andrei’s mouth watered. He could use a pint about then.
And there she was. Sitting across the table from a tall over-styled guy.
Chapter Fifteen
Daisy
Niels Beringer wasn’t the cursed heir. The Lovers Card was like a beacon of her embarrassment. Would he think she used some sort of trick to get him to pull that one? She decided to get it over with and tell him the fate. The quicker she could dash off and jump into the Seine the better.
A notification dinged on her phone. “Sorry. I should get that. It could be my sister.”
“By all means,” he said.
She retrieved her phone from her bag. The text was from Miri explaining things about Andrei.
How could I trust either of you? Daisy hit send, and her text went through.
Miri’s response came fast. Come on, Daisy. We’ve been through so much together. How can you not trust me?
She hit the do not disturb button on her phone. Miri had a point, but Daisy was still mad that Andrei hadn’t been upfront with her.
A waiter passed the table carrying two plates of steaming food that made Daisy’s mouth water. The waffle she’d shared with Andrei earlier was now a memory. Her stomach was as empty as her heart.
“What does the card mean?” Niels observed her.
Daisy let out a series of coughs and grabbed her cup. She avoided eye contact as she sipped her now lukewarm coffee.
“You all right?” The concern on his lean face was sweet. She bet dating girls came natural to him.
“I’m fine,” she said and tapped her finger on the table above the card. “The Lover’s Card. You’re going to meet someone special in the near future. A girl? Boy?”
A smile settled over his face, and his eyes held amusement. “A girl. Possibly, a foreigner with auburn hair and large hazel eyes?”
Daisy took another gulp of her coffee. “I see someone with a Latin flair.”
“I see.” He rubbed his chin, his eyes intense on her.
Did she just hear disappointment in his voice? Something distracted him, and she looked to where his eyes were set.
Andrei. How did he find me? I have the map and notes.
“Here you are,” Andrei said, forcing enthusiasm into his tone. “You ready to go?”
Niels glanced at Daisy. “Do you know him?”
Think fast.
“Um,” she muttered. She had no idea how to introduce him.
“We’re traveling together,” Andrei said, eyeing her.
She rolled the edge of the tablecloth, avoiding Niels’s eyes on her. Then it came to her.
“He’s my cameraman.” Daisy stood. “I guess we should be going. Thank you for the interview.”
Niels followed her lead and stood. “It was a pleasure meeting you and learning more about my relatives. Will you use anything from our meeting in your documentary?”
“Yes,” Andrei butted in. “How about a photograph for it? Stand together.”
Daisy gave him a warning look before smiling up at Niels. “Yes, that would be great.”
Andrei pulled out his phone and set up the shot.
“On that?” Niels eyed him suspiciously. “I’d think you’d have an actual camera.”
“We’re going for a more ‘home movie’ feel,” Andrei said.
“Ah, very well.” Niels came around the table and rested his arm on Daisy’s shoulder. She did her best pose and smiled brightly at Andrei. He pushed the screen several times.
“And one more,” Andrei said, taking another.
She slipped away from Niels’s arm, grabbed her backpack, and scooted around the table to Andrei’s side. “It was nice meeting you, and thanks for the coffee.”
“My pleasure.” He followed them through the outdoor seating area to the sidewalk.
“Goodbye,” she said.
“Safe travels,” he said, opening the gray door to his apartment complex and disappearing behind it.
She hiked her pack onto her back and stomped down the sidewalk. She wasn’t about to waste any more energy on Andrei. For all she knew, he was there to kill her.
“Daisy, wait up.” Andrei hurried to her side. “You know I’m not going to harm you.”
“Really?” She huffed, picking up her pace.
He grabbed her elbow, stopping her. “Will you let me explain?”
She crossed her arms. “Okay, spill. How could you be a member of that group? Is Miri part of it, too?”
“No. She
isn’t.” His shoulders sagged. “Please, understand. I was fourteen when I joined. New to Amsterdam. Alone. I’d just lost my mother. Ramon and Bart befriended me. And man, did I need them. My entire world had collapsed. I’d left a great school and friends I’d had since kindergarten. I held onto anything that meant I belonged. I thought it was a gang. A joke. So, I joined.” His eyes glossed. “But losing you would––I care for you, Daisy.”
She swallowed back the emotions building in her throat. “Why didn’t you tell me? Don’t you know me by now? I would have understood. It feels like you were hiding something. How do I know you’re telling the truth now?”
He turned to look down the street and swiped at his eyes. “Now who doesn’t know who? We’ve been friends for two years. We’ve shared secrets and dreams. Sure, when we met in real life, it was awkward, but we overcame that. We can get over this, too. I’m sorry for keeping my involvement with The Thorn from you. Can you forgive me?” He looked at her then, the light from the streetlamps glossing his eyes.
He wants more? Her heart swelled, and her mouth went dry. This was Andrei. Sure, they had a rough start when she first arrived in Amsterdam, but that was all her fault. She did awkward well. And he was afraid to touch her because he feared her cursing him. Again, her fault. Changing fates and not telling him how she did it safely with an insulator was a mistake.
But the issue wasn’t who was wrong and who did what and who lied. The issue was could she trust him? Did she trust him? Did he trust her?
The emotions rimming his eyes red, the fact that he hadn’t slit her throat yet, and the inner voice screaming for her to listen to her heart said everything she needed to know.
“I believe you,” she whispered watching her feet. Why couldn’t she look him in the eye? He wanted more. He’d told her that before, but she had no idea what “more” meant. She was falling for him. She had been since that eighth chat of theirs two years ago when he said she was brilliant, and they had laughed at the many faux pas he’d made in his new country.
His hands rested on her shoulders “Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and she pressed her cheek against his chest. His heart thumped against her ear like there were a drum solo happening in his chest. She took a deep breath to calm her own beating heart, inhaling the light scent of soap on his skin and the faint hint of the city on his clothes.
