by D. D. Syrdal
“Again?” Anne-Marie stared incredulously, arms crossed on her chest.
“Just for a short time. We need you to draw one away while we deal with the other two.”
She took a deep breath. Andrej’s meaning was not lost on her. “Oh. Why not all three at once then?”
“I’d rather not have to do this at all, but there’s no other way, not any longer. They’re getting ready to make a move, or they wouldn’t be so openly following us, which means the showdown is coming. I’d rather you were as far away from all this mess as possible. You don’t need to be involved, or a witness to any of it.” Andrej had another cigarette lit, leaning on the back of the sofa. Neko was stretched out on his back on the floor, eyes closed, hands folded across his stomach.
“Where should I go?”
“I have some people who can look after you, you’ll be safe with them,” Neko said.
“Vampires?”
“No, worse. Organized crime.”
Anne-Marie choked. “You’ve got to be kidding. Don’t you have any vampire friends I could stay with?”
Andrej smiled, amused that vampires would ever be seen as a preferred safe haven. “There are a couple I could contact, see if they’d be willing to let you stay with them for a bit. They may not like it, since it could draw the attention of the crusaders, and out them if they don’t already know about them. But let me talk to them, see what they say. I’ll come and get you when it’s safe.”
She sighed heavily. “I see your point, but it’s gotta be better than the Mob. Besides, why would those guys want anything do it?”
“They owe me,” Neko said.
That stopped her. She looked at Neko with renewed suspicion. Anyone who had favors owed to them by a crime syndicate was far scarier to her than any vampire. She wondered what he could have done for them that would leave them in his debt.
“I don’t know,” Andrej said, “maybe she’s right. Let me call Gaston and see what he can do.”
“Who’s he? Is he a vampire?” Anne-Marie said, sounding hopeful.
Andrej laughed at the eager tone in her voice. “Yes, he is.”
Neko snorted. “If you say so.”
Anne-Marie looked from one to the other. “What? What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing, he’s fine. He’s just a little too gentrified for Neko’s liking.”
“He’s French, that says it all,” Neko said.
Andrej said, “Gaston is from old money in France. He was turned shortly after the French Revolution, and he still has a lot of the old manners and attitudes.”
“Even after all this time?” Anne-Marie said. “I can’t wait to meet him. Where does he live?” She gave them a smile.
“I’ll see if I can get in touch with him,” Andrej said, to Neko’s obvious annoyance. “In the meantime, short term plans are for you to go with Neko to Greece and stay for a bit.”
“Why can’t you come with me?”
“Because I have to stay here and find out what else I can about these guys.”
“Can’t Neko do that?”
“Geez,” Neko said, “What did I do?”
A few days later Anne-Marie was finishing packing as Andrej walked in to her room. He hopped onto the bed and stretched out on his side, watching her. She kept packing, not looking at him, and said, “So, did you hear from Gaston yet?”
“I did. He’s not in Europe right now, so he won’t be able to help.”
“I wish it was you taking me,” she said.
“Don’t worry. You know how strong the link is between us now. If you really need me, I’ll come and get you.”
“Why does it have to be Greece?” she whined. “Can’t he find someplace closer? Even you can’t get there that fast, that’s a long way.” She gave up packing and sat down on the bed, aggravated.
“For this, the further the better,” he said. “It will buy us some time to do what we have to do here.”
She sulked quietly for a moment. “So what’s the name of this town I’m going to?”
“I think he said it’s Alimos.”
She snorted. “Perfect. Anne-Marie’s last stand at Alimos. Now I’ll know how Custer felt.”
Andrej gave her a quizzical look.
“The Alamo? Texas? Nevermind,” she said, shaking her head.
“Oh. That.” He smiled a little but looked away so she didn’t see. He moved closer to her on the bed, putting his arm around her. “Come on, relax,” he whispered in her ear. Almost instantly her defenses fell and most of the anxiety evaporated. The timbre of his voice carried the vibration to her brain like a sedative, but it was taking much more effort than he’d anticipated. He hoped some sun would again do her some good. When she was calmer, he walked out to let her finish packing. She and Neko were to leave within the hour. The flight was booked, all the arrangements were in place. All, except for her trust in Neko.
Andrej went down with them to the street to see her off. He wanted to be sure the crusaders saw him put her in the cab, and that he wasn’t going with her. Although he didn’t see them, he was sure they were nearby. He figured they were always around now. Fine, he thought, the battle lines were drawn.
He and Neko shook hands and clasped arms but said not a word. Neko climbed into the waiting cab leaving Anne-Marie and Andrej standing on the sidewalk. Anne-Marie’s reluctance to follow Neko into the cab was obvious. Andrej smiled gently at her, trying to lessen the tension between them. He gave her a hug, and kissed her cheek. “Come on, or you’ll miss your flight. You’ll be back here before you know,” he said, guiding her into the cab. He could see a tear run down her cheek as she sat down and turned to look back up at him.
“Come on, give me a smile. It’ll be all right,” he said. “Neko will take good care of you, I promise.” She couldn’t speak, just nodded instead. As the cab pulled away from the curb, she turned around in her seat to see Andrej wave from the sidewalk before he was obscured by the crowds going by and they were swallowed up in the traffic.
Chapter 17
