by Lena North
The man in front of me looked a lot like Joao, and I watched him curiously, trying to find any kind of resemblance to Carrie. She was tall, and her skin was a soft, creamy caramel color which tanned well in the summer, but all similarities ended there. This man carried a lot of bulky muscles, and the long dreads he kept tied back at the nape of his neck were a lighter brown than Carrie’s dark brown curls. He wasn’t handsome as such, but there was something about him which made it hard to look away, and then my gaze met his.
Holy cow.
It felt as if he saw straight into every corner of my soul and his pale blue eyes seemed to become greener, turning into a color which matched my own. Something tightened in my chest, but as I straightened and kept looking at him, it loosened again.
“Well, hello there, Charlie,” he murmured. “This was unexpected.”
“Hello,” I said again, not sure why he kept watching me so intently. When he didn’t say anything, I added, “You have your father’s eyes.”
I could have kicked myself because it was such a strange thing to blurt out. He suddenly grinned at me and shook his head.
“I have my mother’s eyes.”
The sun was in my face, and my eyes still hurt from the bright light so I must have been mistaken about the color of his eyes because they were a bright, pale blue again. I glanced over at Pauline who had joined us, and he was right. He had her eye color. But he was also wrong.
“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “The look in yours is the same as in his. You have d’Izia eyes.”
I didn’t know what made me say that and felt stupid when he raised his brows.
“Unexpected,” he repeated but turned toward Pauline and the way his face gentled made me smile. “Hey, Mami,” he said and gave her a quick hug. “Yes,” he added quietly and I raised my brows.
Yes, what?
“Oh, Nicky,” she murmured into his shoulder, but stepped back and started arranging the pitcher and glasses with jerky movements.
“Water?” he said, and it took a second to realize he was asking me.
He watched me as I drank, and I winced when I saw how he looked at my bruises. “He wasn’t that bad before,” I mumbled, feeling like an idiot yet again for letting Sebastian into my life.
“What?”
“The one who did this,” I said and waved my hand in front of my face, not sure why I felt the need to explain myself. “I’m not an idiot,” I added. “I tried to make him leave me alone.”
“I know.”
Of course. Someone would have told him about me.
“You don’t have to worry. I’ve mostly healed so I’ll leave in a few days.”
“You’re not leaving,” he snorted and took a step toward me.
“Uh, yeah. I will,” I said determinedly and took a step forward myself. “I think I must explain some things about the man who hurt me.”
“They’ve told me,” he said calmly.
“Not everything,” I said quietly.
“I can read between the lines,” he stated. “He will be taken care of. You are safe here.”
“Domenico, all due respect but I don’t want him taken care of, and I am not staying here.”
He straightened, and it took all my strength to not cower under his suddenly furious gaze.
“You don’t want him to be punished?” he snapped.
“I don’t care,” I said honestly. “I just want him gone from my life. And I don’t want anyone to get in trouble because of me.”
“There won’t be any trouble,” he assured me, and I nodded.
“There won’t,” I agreed. “Because I will leave these Islands as soon as I am strong enough. He will come here eventually, but by then I will have disappeared to a place where no one can ever find me.”
He made a small scoffing sound, and asked, “Where will you go?”
“If I told you, then someone could find me,” I retorted.
He actually rolled his eyes at that comment, but then he stated decisively, “You’re not leaving.”
“Yes, I am,” I stated, exactly as decisively.
What was it with these people and trying to give me orders?
He looked surprised, and he was a pretty intimidating dude, so I guessed he wasn’t used to people standing up to him, but I was beyond fed up with being told what to do. I’d needed help and had gotten it. I was grateful, but it did not give these people the right to dictate my every move, so I straightened and kept glaring at him.
“Nicky, what the hell?”
I was suddenly looking at the back of a faded gray tee on which large letters declared that the bearer was a member of Prosper PD.
“Josie,” Domenico said quietly.
He called his cousin, the big, brawny chief of police… Josie? I couldn’t stop a small chuckle from slipping out, and then I was watching the front of the faded gray tee, which also declared the bearer’s choice of career, although in slightly smaller letters.
“Charlie,” Joao said.
“Hey,” I said, clamped my jaws together, which still hurt a little, and added, “Josie.”
Then I laughed. His face softened while he waited for me to get a grip, which took slightly longer than I would have wanted.
Pauline cut in and ordered us all to sit down, which we did, and then she started talking about mundane things such as my job, and theirs, and my taste in music, and theirs. I asked about the pretty ridiculous nickname Josie, and it turned out that this had been Domenico’s way of pronouncing his name when they were little. They shared some stories about growing up together, and the next half hour was pleasant, but it felt forced. Pauline tried to hide it, but her gaze went back and forth between her son and me in a way I found weird. I was pretty sure I hadn’t done anything to offend them and decided they probably just wanted some time without their house guest, so I was about to make a phony excuse about my head hurting when Domenico suddenly got up.
“I should get going. Carson took me over in the chopper and he’s waiting at the helipad. I’m sure Charlie’s head is hurting so she needs to rest.”
Our eyes met, and I felt my lips twitch before I could stop myself. He grinned back at me when I murmured that I’d been thinking exactly the same thing, and we both knew the other had lied. When the two men had left, I turned to Pauline.
“Does he often come home like that? For an hour only?”
I knew Domenico was a famous photographer, and probably super rich as a result so he could afford it, but it seemed like a lot of traveling for such a short visit.
“He comes when he comes,” she said with a sigh. “When he brings his girlfriend, Snow, they usually stay a while in his house down by the beach. They don’t like to be apart, so if he comes alone, he never stays for long.”
“How sweet,” I murmured because it was. “Have they been together long?”
“A year, maybe a bit longer,” Pauline answered and threw herself into a long explanation about how they’d met, how much she loved the girl with the unusual name, and how she was sure I would too.
I realized Pauline was another one who simply assumed I’d stay on the Islands and was about to explain to her that I would indeed leave when Nicholas came home.
“Hello there. Did Joao drive Nicky to the airport?” he greeted cheerfully.
Nicky. Both Pauline and Joao had called Domenico that, and it fit him a lot better than the rather formal name he’d been given. There was a strange tension in the air as Pauline and Nicholas talked about their son’s visit. I saw how they exchanged a glance and assumed they wanted to talk in private, so I made my excuses and went to my room where I sat down on the bed with a notepad and pen Pauline had given me. It would be good to start making a list of things I would have to sort out in preparation for my departure.
My mind was oddly blank, and instead, I started thinking about the people I’d met since I came to the Islands. Nicholas and Pauline who were absolute sweethea
rts, taking care of me when they had no obligation to do so at all. The nurse I vaguely remembered from the hospital because of her anger on my behalf and her gentle hands. Domenico, formidable but not frightening.
And Joao Torres. I hadn’t made my mind up yet what I thought about him, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt he wouldn’t hurt me, not like Sebastian had. There was something about him I found very, very appealing. Maybe it was the calmness in his eyes? Or the way his voice deepened when he got angry about what Seb had done?
I sighed, but then I saw Pauline and Nicholas outside in the courtyard. She was smiling, but there were tears on her cheeks, so I got up to close the door, wanting to give them some privacy.
“I’ll go with Joao, Paulie,” I heard Nicholas murmur. “Easier for you both if we keep it less… emotional.”
I pulled the door shut, locked it and sat down on the bed again.
Something was going on that I didn’t understand, and I wondered if I should ask Pauline about it. Perhaps I could help them somehow. Perhaps they wanted me to leave their home and didn’t know how to tell me?
I didn’t want to think about that, but I’d have to. My safe haven wasn’t mine, it was theirs, and I should make plans for my next steps. With a sigh, I picked up the pen again and stared at the blank piece of paper.
Where would I go? Where could I go?
Chapter Three
Dupree
Joao
They walked out of his uncle’s home and drove off without a word. Halfway to the airport, Nicky pointed at an empty viewpoint mostly frequented by tourists and Joao turned off the highway.
“Is she Dupree’s?” he asked as they sat down on the low stone wall lining the outlook.
“Oh, yes,” Nicky said. “She looks like him a little, and when the bruises are completely gone, anyone who sees them together will notice. Can’t believe Carrie didn’t spot it.”
“She didn’t look for it,” Joao murmured.
“She should have.”
“Maybe,” Joao conceded. “You’re sure about this?”
“Very. You all saw that they have the same eyes, but they really have the same eyes. Never seen anything like it. The irises are exact copies.”
Joao nodded and thought about what to do next. His uncle would wait for him when he got back to the house, and they’d go down to the harbor and talk to the man who was Charlie’s father.
“Okay,” he said when his cousin remained silent.
“There’s something else about her. I don’t know exactly what. You should take her to the ocean and let the dolphins meet her.”
“Uncle Nico said the same thing.”
“Maybe I should stay,” Nicky murmured, although based on the way he squirmed, Joao figured he didn’t want to.
“No need. You’ll want to get back to Snow I guess.”
“Yeah…” Nicky suddenly turned and grinned crookedly. “She’s pregnant,” he whispered.
Nicky deserved the happiness he had written all over him more than anyone Joao knew, so he didn’t like the sting of envy blending in with the joy he felt.
“That’s great news,” he said, slung an arm around his cousin’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “Your parents must be over the moon.”
“It’s early, and we decided not to tell anyone yet,” Nicky said with another crooked grin. “You have to act surprised as fuck when we do, or Snow will kill me.”
Joao chuckled, knowing his cousin’s girlfriend might grumble, but she was not stupid, so she probably already guessed Nicky would share the news with him.
“These will have to go then,” he said and pulled at the dreadlocks at the back of Nicky’s neck.
“Not cutting them off.”
“What?”
“It’s just a tradition, not the law. We’re building something together which will become a mix of who we are, and Snow loves them, so I’ll keep them.”
“Jesus, you’re whipped.”
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Nicky said with a casual shrug. “How’s Mimi?”
“Good. She’ll be sorry she didn’t have a chance to see you. Maybe next time?”
“Everything’s good between the two of you?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Talked to some of the cousins and they said you aren’t out and about as much as you used to.”
“I’ve been busy that’s all, haven’t seen her in a few days. We’re getting together by the weekend, I think.”
“Haven’t seen her in a few days?” Nicky paused and pressed his lips together briefly. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“When was the last time you talked to her?”
“A couple of days ago.”
“Huh. When was the last time you slept with her?”
Joao thought about it and tried to come up with the number of days. It must have been –
“Man, you have to think that hard about when you last slept with her?”
“Do you know exactly?”
He didn’t like how defensive he sounded and wished he’d simply lied and said it was yesterday or something.
“26 hours ago. Being with her is all I think about, and no. It’s not just the sex, as spectacular as it is. She’s the air I breathe, Joao. Without her, I’m only half a man.”
“I’m happy for you,” Joao muttered, knowing it probably sounded exactly as pathetic as it felt but he didn’t know what else to say, and he was happy for his cousin.
“Are you settling for something that isn’t right, Joao?”
“What you have is rare, not everyone finds that.”
He was evading the question, and Nicky called him on it immediately.
“Damn it, you’re settling.”
“I want what you have Nicky. A future with someone.”
“I get that, and it’s killing me to have to say this, but you don’t have anything like what I have.”
The protest Joao wanted to voice stuck in his throat because he knew Nicky was right. He didn’t have even a smidge of what Nicky had with his girlfriend. His cousin knew it too.
“If you don’t love her, let her go. She doesn’t deserve to hope that you will because if you don’t by now, you won’t.”
“I might.”
Well, shit. He was back to sounding as if he was defending himself, which he was although he hadn’t meant for it to show so clearly.
“No.”
“Nicky, stop it. What am I supposed to do?”
“You’re not even thirty, Joao. You’re supposed to have patience and when you’re dating someone you don’t love you should either make that clear to the woman in question or let her go. Goddamnit, you know this.”
“Maybe I do love her. Maybe it’s just not the same kind of love you have.”
“She’s not sleeping beside you every night, and you haven’t even talked to her in days. It’s already that lukewarm, and you haven’t dated more than what? Six months?”
“Almost seven.”
“Oh well, then. That makes it so much better.”
“I don’t want to talk about this,” Joao muttered and moved toward the car.
“I know you don’t, which is why no one will talk to you about this except me.”
“Who have you gossiped with?”
“Just about fucking everybody.”
“What the hell –”
“They worry about you, but they want you to have what you think you want. I guess I’m an idiot because I only want you to have something that makes you happy. If Mimi makes you happy, then great. I don’t like her, but if you do, then that’s good enough for me.”
“You don’t like her?”
“As a person, sure, I like her a lot. Always did. What’s not to like? But as your woman? Not really.”
“Huh.”
“Exactly.”
“Everyone thinks so?”
“Jesus, Joao, you’re just p
roving my goddamned point. If you loved her, you wouldn’t care what everyone thinks. To hell with everyone is what you’d say. And no, not everyone thinks so. Tina hates her guts, and if you don’t know why then you need to pull your head out of –”
“I know why. Not happening again.”
“What did Mimi say?”
There was an uncomfortable silence while Joao tried to come up with a good way to explain what he had decided to do.
“Ah, man, you didn’t talk to her about it? You’re going to deal with her loose lips by not venting shit with your girlfriend. Joao…”
“I know. Best I can do. Not everyone is lucky enough to find someone like Snow, Nicky. Now, I’ll repeat; I don’t want to talk about this.”
Their eyes met, and they looked at each other in silence for a while.
Then Nicky sighed and murmured, “Promise me you’ll think about what I said?”
Joao nodded once to indicate he would, although it wasn’t something he looked forward to.
***
Joao sat in the small bar right at the side of the harbor, trying his best to appear calm and relaxed, but feeling unsettled by Nicky’s words and on edge because of what they had just shared with the man in front of him. He’d known Dupree Torres his whole life, and he’d always liked him, but then again, so did everyone. Dupree was a friendly, happy-go-lucky kind of man, and his lazy smile never failed to put people at ease. These were good qualities in a bartender and the bar he had started twenty-five years ago was a popular place both with the locals and tourists who wanted to venture away from the resort style hotels lining the boardwalk. A man with more ambitions would have used a piece of land in such a prime location to build a more lucrative place, but Dupree didn’t seem to have any desire to live the high life. He upgraded the bar every few years, added some deck chairs one year and rebuilt the private part of the dock another. Mostly, he kept things pretty much the way they’d always been, with him and his brother working the bar and one of his old friends in the kitchen, cooking whatever bar food he felt like cooking and the occasional pizza when someone wanted it.
