by Melissa Jane
“Well,” I said, drawing the attention of both men, “If you don’t mind, Luiza and I will try to tidy ourselves up first?”
“Go for it. May as well go downstairs to the bar afterwards,” Danny’s eyes twinkled.
“Sure, sounds good,” I barely managed as Luiza pulled me into the tiny bathroom.
“What’s happening between you and Danny?”
“What on earth do you mean?” I feigned innocence knowing that Luiza had been oblivious to the amount of time Danny and I spent together. After a hard day at work she would crash straight after dinner and not move until I woke her in the morning.
“I see the way you two look at each other,” she teased. The confidence and sass Luiza typically possessed was starting to show itself again. If only it would stay.
“What about you and Aiden, hey? He’s a bit of a hunk as well.” Pulling off my now filthy dirty and soaking shirt, I came face to face with Luiza’s bemused frown.
“Hunk? Anna, I don’t think people use that word anymore.”
“Yes they do and stop changing the subject. Perhaps you should spend some time enjoying Aiden’s company. It might help take your mind off things.”
“Maybe you’re right. But same goes for you. I see the way your eyes ravage Danny’s body. You’re subtlety needs a bit of work.”
An abrupt knock at the door caused us both to jump, both our faces guilt riddled.
“Yes?” I asked, cautiously.
“Ah, I’m sorry to interrupt your um…scheming,” said a clearly amused Danny. Luiza’s face drained of color, a hand covering her mouth, “but reception just arrived with towels.”
I couldn’t hold back a chuckle. Clearly the walls were paper thin and the sound of the rain didn’t drown our whispering. Opening the door slightly, I took in the Cheshire cat grin Danny wore. He held both towels out to me, a satisfied look beaming from his eyes. He was a gorgeous man, there was no denying it. Luiza had been right. I did lose all control of subtlety with him around.
“Thank you,” I offered in a lame attempt to hide my own smile.
“Pleasure’s all mine.”
***
The bar downstairs was dingy, carrying the same mouldy smell as our room. None of that bothered me. I was just happy to be safe and dry and away from all the grief and sorrow that had plagued us all for so long.
Luiza and I always carried a bag of clothes with us as we tended to be covered in filth and blood by the end of day. While we both wore jeans and singlets, nothing flash, it was a lot different to the sacks we were made to wear when out in the field.
Luiza sat next to me deep in conversation with Aiden. They seemed to be hitting it off well as friends, the spark between them non-existent for anything more. Me on the other hand, I was sitting opposite a man who had somehow had a complete personality swap in the last hour. Danny tapped his fingers on the wooden table, his eyes traveling over every crevice of the bar. When I asked a question he made brief eye contact and delivered a short reply before once again looking away.
“Danny?”
“Mm?” He answered but his mind was elsewhere.
“Is everything alright? You have barely looked at me.”
Again he flashed me a distant glance before looking away. This time however, his fingers began an irritated drum on the table.
“Everything is fine, promise.”
I wasn’t reassured.
“Ok,” I said resigned to the fact that I was oblivious to whatever had transpired. “I’m going up to get another round. Are we all in?” Both Luiza and Aiden broke from their conversation to answer.
“Wait,” Danny caught my arm as I stood up from the booth. Both the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes were alarming, but for what reason?
“I will get it,” I insisted. Freeing my arm from his hold, I took a step toward the bar. His body was half out of the booth before he looked away, his attention locked on to something behind me. After a brief pause he finally sat down. He was on edge, paranoid.
After placing my order at the bar, I took the opportunity to study the small group from afar. Luiza and Aiden were still engaged in friendly banter. They were just happy enjoying each other’s company. It was good for Luiza to just chill out and enjoy being somewhat normal. Aiden was obviously midway through a story that involved a distracted Danny. He was being teased and laughter erupted at the table. While Danny laughed good naturedly at the ribbing, his eyes were still glued to something at the far end of the room. I followed his line of sight to a solitary figure sitting in an end booth on the other side of the bar.
The man was shrouded in shadow, his features difficult to see. Just from his physique alone I could tell that he was tall and strong. I could also tell that he was looking straight at me. I could feel his intense, lingering gaze, a cold shiver travelling down my spine.
I watched almost mesmerised as the mystery man picked up his glass and finished the remainder of his liquor. Placing it down, the glass slid along the wooden table top in a stream of condensation. Moments later, he stood, his eyes never leaving mine, the light above briefly revealing his tanned skin and fine chiselled features. Swinging the bar door open, the wind blew in thick sheets of rain, a chill now taking hold before the stranger disappeared into the night.
Anna
The next two days passed much the same, the rain refusing to relent. It was as if a hurricane had decided to make the area its resting stop. There was no hope of driving back to our shanty accommodation, even less hope of helping those who needed it. The strangely cheery receptionist informed us on our first night of the unstable weather conditions as we made our way to the rooms. All access roads were now severely flooded leaving us with no choice but to stay where we were. We hadn’t planned on braving it anyway knowing that the terrain offered no assurance of our safety. The more it rained, the more money she earned from our stay. At least someone was benefiting from the storm.
A room freed up after the first night, some poor soul deciding he needed to brave it back to his wife and newborn. I didn’t like his chances and I prayed he only lived relatively local. Danny and Aiden moved to the vacant room explaining that they needed to set up their equipment properly and continue their investigative work as best they could, given the conditions.
They took breaks every few hours, stopping in to say hello, have a laugh, tease each other and then leave again. Danny had returned back to his normal self after his strange behaviour the first night and the charm I was so attracted to sprung back to life.
By the third night, the clouds had all cleared, the stars shining bright. A rap at the door and Danny entered for the fifth time that day.
“Girls, I told you to lock your door!”
“Sorry.” I was. He had insisted every time he left that we lock the door behind him. Earlier in the night Luiza had gone down to reception to enquire about any available magazines and had forgotten to secure the door when she arrived back. Despite the gossip being two years out of date, she was over the moon with delight that she had something to help pass the time.
“Rain has let up,” Danny said, softening his tone.
“Yes it has.”
“Would you care to join me for a stroll?” The veins in my body worked overtime as excitement took hold. I stole a quick glance at Luiza, who smirked at me from behind her magazine.
As I walked past Danny, his hand came to rest on the small of my back encouraging a shiver of delight.
It had felt like ages since we were last together. He had the ability to shut out the rest of the world, to make it feel like it was just us in our little space.
Danny
Anna appeared a bundle of nerves as we walked along a path avoiding the deep pools of water that spotted the landscape. The air was fresh, the humidity having dropped considerably over the last few days. From the view ahead, I hadn’t realised through the torrential downfall that the hotel was situated at the top of a cliff.
“Come,” I said grabbing Anna’s
hand, guiding her alongside me.
“What are we doing?” She giggled. It was the sweetest sound yet.
“That,” I pointed to a three yard tall cylindrical water tank. “I know we are adults, but we don’t have to behave like it all the time,” giving her a wink, I climbed the metal ladder first to ensure it was safe up top.
Spinning around to offer a hand, I was pleased to see Anna already climbing, a playful smile tracing her lips.
“You made it,” I said, gently.
“I did,” she took my extended hand, hoisting herself on to the cement landing.
“Shall we?”
“We shall.”
Seconds later, as if it had been predetermined, we were on our backs staring at the copious amounts of stars glittering against a black sky.
“They’re like jewels,” Anna said, her voice breathy.
“A contrast to the last few nights.”
A comfortable silence took hold. Anna lowered her arms to either side of her body, her left hand grazing my right.
“This place isn’t safe for you, Anna.”
Silence. I knew I was pushing boundaries. I didn’t want to be that man that told her what she could and couldn’t do. El Leon had been quiet of the warfare front, but that was only making me more nervous. Aiden felt the same. Something was brewing. We didn’t know what, but we did know the girls had to get the hell out of this country.
What felt like a lifetime passed before her pinkie hooked around mine.
“I know. I promised Luiza I will leave with her at the end of the month.”
“Any sooner?”
Her head turned to meet my gaze. By the dim light of the half moon, she looked like an angel. A beautiful creature heaven had left stranded in this hell of a place.
“You keen to get rid of me?”
I laughed outright at such a suggestion, propping myself up. “Trust me, this is the only situation where I could say I would be happy to see you go.”
Her eyes glittered as if they were jewels themselves, a tantalising smile revealing perfectly straight teeth.
“I’m sure you hear this a lot, but you are a stunning woman, Anna.”
“Oh yeah!” She chuckled in amusement, her breasts moving gently. “All the time! It never stops.”
“I think it’s the attractive brown sacks you are made to wear. They do wonders for your shape.”
Anna’s laugh was infectious before she suddenly grew serious.
My knuckles grazed her smooth cheek as she moistened her lips. An overwhelming desire to both protect this woman and claim her washed over me. I knew I had a job to focus on, and it was one fucker of a task, but I also needed to keep Anna safe so that she could stay in my life.
I watched the beauty in front of me. Her eyes wide with anticipation were all the encouragement I needed.
Closing the space between us, I cupped her face, pressing my lips against hers. She tasted sweet, her mouth gentle at first before demanding more. Breaking away, I heard a quiet whimper of protest.
“Not so fast, Anna Bonita.” She giggled at my clumsy endearment. When I feigned offence she laughed harder, her tiny hands cupping my face.
“I love it, it’s sweet.” She was trying so hard to be serious, her eyes alight with unmistakable humor.
“Get used to it. It’s your new name,” I growled as I lowered my stubbled cheeks to her slender neck. She squealed in delight and surprise as I tickled and nibbled.
“Who is there?” Yelled a voice from the hotel entry.
“Shhh,” Anna whispered, trying to subdue her laughter. We froze, our eyes following the ball of a torch light dancing over our surroundings. When it moved in our direction, I flattened myself on top of Anna using my elbows to alleviate the weight. My thumbs stroked her temples, my lips meeting hers again. Opening her mouth, Anna’s tongue met mine for a slow dance.
Thunder rumbled off in the distance causing us to reluctantly break apart. The last thing we needed was to be stuck on the water tank when the next downfall occurred. The stars had been shining bright when we had first walked out but now dark shadows of ominous clouds loomed ahead, marring the night sky.
“Don’t say it,” said a voice in quiet appeal.
“Say what?”
“Don’t say we need to leave. I want to stay like this for a while longer.”
“Anna Bonita, you have no idea just how much I want to stay like this.” It was true. I had thoroughly enjoyed my time with this exquisite creature and now I wasn’t sure when we would get to experience it again. Soon, if she followed through, both Anna and Luiza would be leaving. A few droplets of rain fell heavily on my exposed arms. I watched as Anna blinked to shake one off her lashes. She closed her eye as I kissed the drop away before whispering in her ear. “We have to go.”
Sheet lightening lit up the place as if someone had turned a light on. Slight movement less than fifty yards away caught my attention, but before I could see what or who it was the world went black again.
“What is it? You have that look again.” Anna said, her curiosity piqued.
“I’m sure it was nothing. Come on. Let’s get inside.”
Before I could help her up, the rain droplets fell like buckets of sharp needles piercing our skin. Anna squealed as she hurried over to the ladder and began the descent. Clasping her hand in mine we crossed the sodden grassed area running toward the hotel, dodging the holes and pools of water as best we could.
Once again everything around us lit up with a sudden flash of lightening. The figure I had seen from the tank was still there. When darkness consumed us, the soft orange glow of a cigarette remained. Coming to a sudden stand still, I released Anna’s hand, my eyes trained on where the figure stood.
“What is it?” She asked spinning on her heel to face me. She wore a bemused expression at my sudden stop, her long dark hair now clinging to her face.
“Anna, go back inside and wait for me.” My eyes left the shadow under the balcony then flicked back to Anna’s. Her smile had faded, her eyes now serious.
“What is it, Danny?” She looked over to the balcony then back at me. “I don’t see anything.” There was nothing to see because whoever it was, whoever had been standing there watching us, was now gone.
Anna
“Excuse me, Ms,” the landlady called out to me as I shook the water off my limbs. With Danny still to the darkness, I met the receptionist’s glare. Something told me I was about to get a dressing down for climbing the tank.
“Yes?”
“I have something to give you.” I followed her over to the counter and waited for her to retrieve whatever it was she had.
“Do you know when the rain is going to let up?” I said, instigating small talk while fingering a piece of torn wood-colored linoleum on the counter.
“Let up?” She asked confused.
I shook my head at my own stupidity. English wasn’t her first language. “When do you think it will stop?”
“Much worse to come, girl. Here.”
I stood rooted to the spot, my eyes glued to the beautiful yellow flower on the counter. My heart began a painful thud in my chest, that now familiar shiver crawling its way over my body. The flower was identical to the one left in my room and the one found on site three, except this one wasn’t covered in blood.
“This isn’t mine!” I stammered, taking an urgent step away from it.
“Si, your name is Anna?”
“Yes.”
“Then it is for you.”
“Who left it?”
“A man. Tall, handsome. Sometimes comes in for drink. Eyes that are so different, so frightening. Why he comes here, I don’t know!”
I backed away from the counter, a mixed look of reproach and confusion lacing the already harsh features of the land-lady. She assumed I was being ungrateful.
“Anna!” Danny’s voice behind caused me to jump. I spun to see him standing at the door, his wet hair having been swept back.
He stalked s
traight past me to the counter, his brows knitted together.
“Who left this?” He asked the woman.
“I already told her.” She pointed to me in frustration, clearly unhappy having to re-explain. “His eyes. Something about his eyes.”
Danny picked the flower up off the counter and studied it closely as if looking for some form of clue.
“Why was this left for you?” He had turned his attention to me. There was a slight edge in his voice that made me feel uncomfortable.
“I don’t know.” I stammered.
“Are you sure?”
“Danny, I don’t know what you are implying but I am being truthful when I say that I don’t know.”
I watched as he pursed his lips together in frustration. I could tell he didn’t believe me but he was keeping his manners in check.
“Ok,” he relented, “let me walk you to your room.”
The land-lady looked at me for reassurance that I was ok. She had been a curious onlooker, but now she seemed genuinely concerned for me. I gave her a small nod and headed for the staircase, with Danny keeping pace behind me. He didn’t say another word until we reached our floor. With a hand on the small of my back he steered me into the room he shared with Aiden.
“Anna,” his hands came to rest on shoulders, his thumbs moving in gentle rhythm, “this flower is connected to you somehow and I need you to think long and hard as to why that would be the case.”
I shook my head not knowing how to answer because I didn’t know the answer myself.
“Anna, think. I saw the reaction that day when you saw the flower covered in blood under the dead body. You barely even noticed that a man had been axed to the wall. And now the same flower has been left for you. You can trust me!”
