Ori had been on edge since Jason had picked her up, and now she felt sick. He wasn’t driving her to their usual work-out spot; she realized this as they passed the turning. “Where are we going?”
Jason smiled at her, and she couldn’t detect any menace behind it. “A surprise. Somewhere I think you might enjoy.”
From what Ori could make out, they were going deeper into the forest. As Jason pulled the car over, he started talking. “This is my favorite place to run and walk. It’s gorgeous. I guarantee you’ll love it.”
There was no one else around, and the forest was quiet. Ori felt her muscles tense as they walked along a path, then, as they started to run, she wondered if it had been a good idea after yesterday’s debacle.
An hour later, they were deep inside the forest when Jason stopped, offering a bottle of water. “I wanted to talk to you, Ori, without anyone around.”
Oh God, no. She had been right; this was a plan. Jason studied her. “You have nothing to be afraid of with me, Ori, I swear to God. It’s Alex I wanted to talk about.”
Ori was astonished. “Alex? Why on earth would you need to talk about Alex?”
“I’ve known Alex a lot longer than you have,” Jason said gently, “and I knew him with Viola. I knew Viola pretty well … Ori, you and she could be sisters.”
“So people have kept telling me,” Ori couldn’t help but be a little irritated at being reminded of her resemblance to a dead woman over and over. “This is not news.”
“Is Alex being in love with you news?”
Ori rolled her eyes. “Alex is not in love with me, Jason. He might have a little crush, but love? I don’t think so.”
Jason was quiet for a long moment. “Then … if it’s not love, it’s obsession.”
“Oh, come on!’ Ori yelled, throwing her hands up.
“Look, he’s my friend, but you should know something. Alex was extremely possessive about Viola. Extreme to the point of violence.”
“Stop it.”
“I saw the bruises, Ori.”
She turned on him. “Why? Why are you saying this shit?”
“Because I care. I care what happens to you.”
She held her hands up. “Please, please tell me you’re kidding, or this is some deluded way of getting me to—.”
“Viola slept with Maceo.”
He could not have said anything else that would have made her shut down as quickly. No. No, Maceo would have told her … she put her hands on her face. “Why are you doing this?”
“I have no proof of this, but I think Alex is dangerous, and I think he wants revenge. He knows about Viola and Maceo.”
Ori was quiet for a moment and then yelled “Fuck!’ loud and long into the silence of the forest.
“This is why I wanted to tell you out here. And to answer your question, yeah. I’m attracted to you, and I think we have a hell of a lot more in common than that bunch of rich bastards.” Jason stepped closer to her and Ori backed up into a tree. Jason trapped her in the cage of his arms. Ori tried to step away, but he grabbed her. “Don’t fight this, Ori. We belong together.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake...” She pushed her way free and started to backtrack along the trail, fury burning inside of her. “We’re going home. Now.”
To her relief, Jason didn’t argue, and they walked back to the car in silence.
On the drive home, he turned the car into a Gas ’n Sip, and for a second she thought about running.
“I’ll be just a second.” He got out, and she let out a deep breath.
Outside the weather had turned stormy, the rain slamming heavily into the earth. Ori leaned her head against the cool window as trucks and cars roared past on the highway, headlights like stars out of the looming dark. The gas station was empty apart from Jason’s car. Ori sighed heavily. She watched as Jason paid the clerk and chatted to him. Was she unreasonable? No. This morning she could forgive, but after the way, Jason had just behaved
I don’t want to be anywhere near him. She choked back the tears as they came, rummaging through her bag for a tissue. Coming up with nothing, she pulled open the glove box of Jason’s car. As she searched, her fingers brushed against something cold. Her hand closed around it, and she pulled it out. Her entire body went slack as she stared down at the knife in her hand.
Ori slammed the glove box closed, opened the door of the car, and threw up. Jason, still pumping gas into the car, moved around the car.
“Hey … hey … Ori, are you okay?”
Ori cringed away from him, all her bravado from earlier dissipated. She was shaking so badly that he crouched down, reached in, and held her hands. He glanced over to the glove box, and his face changed and became somber.
“I know what you saw in there. It’s just a hunting knife. I put it in there in case we ... Ori, we were in the middle of the forest today. I don’t have a gun. I thought it would be better to be safe. Obviously, I didn’t think it through. Here.” He opened the glove box and pulled out the knife. “You hold it. If it makes you feel safer, you hold it.” He looked at her pinched face and sighed, reached into her bag and handed her phone to her. “Call Maceo and tell him where you. It’ll make you feel safe. I’m so sorry I scared you, Ori. I’m going to finish getting the gas, then I’ll take you home. I promise, Ori. I will take you home.”
She didn’t say anything to Maceo or Alex later, but both of them noticed how quiet she was. After the house had gone to bed, she lay awake, gazing at Maceo’s handsome face, wondering if Jason had been telling the truth. In her heart, she knew he was. Maceo had been a different person before her—at least, that’s what she told herself. How long would it be before he grew tired of her and strayed?
Ori felt her eyes fill with tears and, not wanting to disturb him, she got up and went down to the kitchen to cry silently.
As she cried herself out, she felt a hand on her hair, smoothing. She knew immediately it was Alex. She looked up at him through her tears. “Maceo and Viola,” she said simply, and he nodded.
“Yes. I hoped you wouldn’t find out.”
“How long have you known?”
“Since before she died. She told me herself. We talked. I forgave her.”
“But you never told Maceo?”
He shook his head. “No. I know what Maceo must have felt, the tremendous guilt he must have been carrying around. It was a mistake, a one-time thing, not an affair.” He sighed and pulled up a chair, sitting down, taking her hands. “There is a difference between a one-time thing and a full-blown affair, Ori, and I know that. I was not always faithful either. I have not … been faithful to her memory.”
His gaze locked onto hers and she shivered with the intensity of it. “You must know how I feel about you. But I would never act on it while you were happy with Maceo. Are you happy with Maceo?”
She opened her mouth to tell him yes, yes, yes, I love Maceo more than my own life, but the words choked in her throat.
He bent then and kissed her on the mouth softly, and smiled as he drew back. “Maceo is a fool if he doesn’t hang onto you.” He kissed her again, and she felt herself respond, returning the kiss.
She pulled away after a second, stunned at her body’s response. Alex cupped her face in his hands.
“I’ll see you in the morning.” And he was gone, walking down the dimly lit corridor. She stared after him, her mind in turmoil. What was that?
Ori went to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked lost, she thought, lost and frightened. She got back into bed and turned on her side, away from the sleeping Maceo. She stared at the darkness outside the window until her eyes grew heavy and she let herself sink into sleep.
Kate and Lisander had not seen each other since the day Nikos had almost caught them kissing. Kate and Nikos had talked and talked, but both of them realized, this was the end. Kate moved out of the apartment and was staying on a friend’s couch, and now she was apartment hunting,
By
the third apartment, Kate’s spirits had begun to lift. A new life, she thought, and remembered when she’d last said those words. The day she met Lisander. Could that really have been less than forever ago?
She smiled at the realtor, Mindy, who was looking at her expectantly.
“Well?”
The apartment was a one-bed, one-bath, small, but the large windows and view over the city more than made up for it. Even better, Kate thought, were the inbuilt bookcases that stretched from floor to ceiling. She could see herself curled up on the couch with a book, maybe a dog curled up in her lap. The thought of it made her excited.
“Yes. This one is just perfect, I mean, a little small, but hey, it’s just me. What’s the situation with the seller?”
“He bought it to rent out, did that for a few years, and then just wanted to get rid of it. Everything is included, all the furniture—it’s a tad worn, but useable. You could move straight in, and as there’s no forward chain, escrow shouldn’t be difficult.”
Kate nodded. “I do love it.The openness of it, the kitchen and living room are a nice space.”
She could feel Mindy watching her and grinned. “Min, just ask the question you’ve been holding in all day.”
Mindy laughed. “All right. A few weeks ago, you told me there was no way you could live anywhere but with Nikos. What changed?”
Kate didn’t answer for a beat, then sighed. “A lot of stuff has happened. A lot. I don’t really want to go into it, but let’s just say I needed some distance, some independence.”
Mindy nodded sympathetically. “I get it. And your friend? The tall guy, Lisander, was it?”
Kate, rather indiscreetly, had told Mindy about Lisander.
Kate didn’t meet her gaze. “He’s just a friend.”
“Whatever you say.” She gave Kate a cheeky grin. It faded when she saw the unease in her friend’s eyes. “Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
Kate shook her head. “It’s complicated. Just some stuff I have to sort out.” She smiled at Mindy. “I’d like to make an offer.”
Mindy indicated the table. “Sit down with me, and we’ll go through the figures.”
Kate pulled out a chair and sat down. As Mindy chatted and calculated, Kate realized she was glad she was here, in her own place—well, hopefully her own place.
She went back to her office. Despite it being a Saturday, she wanted to catch up on work. Also, her friend whose couch she was sleeping on, could probably do with some alone time with her partner. She’d been there for a couple of hours when her phone rang.
“Hey, Kate. It’s me.”
Her heart began to thump wildly. “Lisander? Where are you?”
“Outside your office. I saw the light on … may I join you?”
Kate looked out of the window and saw it was dark already. “I’ll come down and unlock the door.”
When she saw him, her mouth went dry. Had he gotten more gorgeous since she saw him last? How was that possible? She unlocked the door, and he stepped inside. It had been raining, and he was dripping wet. Kate suddenly grinned.
“Are we in a cheesy movie right now?”
Lisander threw back his head and laughed. “Well, in that case …” He took her in his arms and kissed her so tenderly that her head swam. When she finally broke away, breathless, she grinned up at him.
“And hello to you too.”
“Sorry, I’ve been waiting weeks to do that.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Was it okay to do that?”
She smiled. “It was. Let me get my stuff, and we can get out of here.”
Alex Milland was drunk. Ori was kind of shocked when he lurched into the living room and slumped down into a chair opposite them. Maceo and Ori exchanged a glance.
“Are you okay?”
Alex looked up at her. “Viola?”
Oh god, he was really out of it. “No, sweetie, it’s Ori … remember?”
She got up to go to him, sat on the arm of his chair. “Did you have a drink?”
Alex sighed and rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Viola … why must you make me this crazy, all of the time?”
“Alex, it’s Ori, not … ”
What Alex did next shocked them all. He grabbed Ori and wrestled her to the floor, cursing and shouting in her face. Maceo dragged him off of her, roaring his fury at his friend, dragging him out of the room. Ori was shocked to the core, unhurt, but badly shaken. She remembered what Jason had said about the bruises on Viola. Ori felt sick. She got to her feet and followed the two men out; she could hear the upstairs shower running and Maceo talking angrily to his friend.
She hovered in the doorway of her bedroom as she saw Maceo carrying a dripping wet Alex into his bedroom.
A few moments later, Maceo reappeared. “He’s asleep.” He pulled Ori into the bedroom and hugged her tightly. She felt him trembling. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, and she tightened her arms around him. “I know Alex is hurting but … Jesus, I’ve never seen him so …”
“It’s okay. God, everything is so fucked up right now.”
She couldn’t finish and held her hand to her mouth. Maceo held her tightly
“It’s okay, mio caro.”
She nodded, feeling safer with his arms around her. “I have just one question. Right here, right now, Maceo, just tell me. Do you think Alex is capable of hurting someone?”
“I don’t know what to tell you.” His eyes were hurt, deeply, and Ori could feel her chest quiver. Sadness. Fear. “He’s my brother, Ori.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t ask but …” She let out a shaky breath before meeting his gaze. “I know about you and Viola.”
Maceo’s expression changed. Devastation. Guilt. He nodded. “Yes. It did happen. Just once, and we both regretted it afterward. I think Viola told him.”
“I think so too.”
He pulled in a couple of painful breaths. “I’m so sorry I never told you, Ori. It was something I was, and am, deeply ashamed of. I broke the code and …”
“Alex kissed me.”
Silence. “When?”
“A few nights ago. The day I found out about you and Viola. We were talking about it, and it just happened.”
When finally she looked back at him, his eyes were kind. He pulled her into his arms.
“It’s okay, Ori, really. You got caught up in this bullshit, and I’m sorry.”
“I know. I know. I don’t suppose you can vouch for him on the day she died?”
Maceo shook his head. “I don’t want to think that he would wish you any harm because of something I did, my darling.”
She leaned into his touch, as he cupped her face in his hand, she grabbed it and kissed his palm. “If Alex does have anything to do with it—and I don’t want to believe he does—then he needs help. Will you please tell me anything, and I mean anything, before you do it? I know that’s lot to ask.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “No, it isn’t, Ori. Of course, I will, of course.”
Her eyes were stinging, and as she closed them, tears dropped down her face. He kissed them away. She was still for a moment, then pulled away, stood, and offered him her hand. Maceo, with a confused smile, took it, and she led him to the bed. She turned to him, her face etched with grief and hopelessness.
“Make the world go away, Maceo.” And she pulled him down onto the bed.
They went to his hotel suite, and Lisander offered her a drink, but Kate slowly shook her head.
“Let’s not pretend we’re here for idle chitchat,” she said with a slow smile. She put her hands on his chest and stood on her toes to kiss him. Lisander swept his arm under her buttocks and lifted her into his arms, his mouth seeking hers hungrily.
They didn’t make it to the bedroom. Clothes were torn off, and they tumbled to the carpet, licking, kissing, sucking, exploring the other’s body as if in a fever. Kate ran her hands over the hard planes of his chest, his ripped abs, his slim hips. His cock felt enormous in her hands, and when he entered
her finally, the feeling was like nothing she’d ever experienced. They moved together in perfect unison. He teased her nipples with his mouth as she ran her fingers up and down his spine.
They came together shuddering and laughing, collapsing together on the floor. Lisander pulled her into his arms, kissing her. “Beautiful Kate, it’s been a long time I’ve waited for you.”
Kate snuggled into his chest. “I missed you. I’m sorry things ended with Nikos, but the moment I met you, Lisander Duarte, I knew you were different. God, that sounds so hokey.”
“Hokey works. I like hokey.” She felt his laugh rumble through his chest. She slid her hand down to the groin and felt his cock already hardening.
“Oh, my, my,” she said, and with a growl, Lisander rolled her onto her back.
“Spread those long, lovely legs, my love,” he said, “and wrap them around my back. I’m going to fuck you all night long … ”
Alex had apologized and apologized, but Ori wanted out of that house. She and Maceo flew back to Italy the next day and never had she felt so relieved to be back home. Their apartment seemed like a stranger, but when they returned to a celebratory gallery, Ori knew she was home. Lucia gave her a hug that seemed to go on forever.
“I’ve missed you so much.”
“Me too, honey, me too. But we’re home now. We’re home.”
“That’s not a good face.” Kate walked out of Lisander’s bathroom wearing nothing but his T-shirt. He looked up from his laptop and smiled wearily. She kissed him. “Good morning.”
He slid his hands around her waist, pulling her to him. “Morning.” He sighed as she hugged him back fiercely.
“You okay, dude?”
She felt him nod. “There’s been another one.”
“The website. Another photo?”
He nodded again. She sighed and pulled him over to the couch.
Nightclub Surprise Page 67
