by Nina Loard
I pressed the button for my floor and turned to him. “Would you like to come up?” I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not, but I had pictured him in my mind so often. The memory of the kiss had been causing a pain within me I hadn’t felt before. I didn’t know if it was worry over how he was feeling, or something much worse, like need.
“It’s late. Let’s meet for coffee tomorrow? You can fill me in on the night.” Finn put his hands in his jacket pockets and began to tentatively step away down the hall.
“Yes. Absolutely. Call me when you’re ready. Good night.” I faked cheerfulness and waved to him as the elevator doors opened. Before I selected my floor, he was in front of me once more holding them apart.
“I’m being very proper for your sake, Evelyn. Don’t make the mistake of thinking I enjoy it.” He flashed a smile before allowing the elevator doors to close between us.
Chapter 14. Stay or Go
“This is not happening,” I bellowed from beneath the covers. Knocking on my hotel door woke me up from a delicious sleep. A glance at the clock told me it was 7 AM. I was going to kill her. I threw my covers back in a fit of anger and trudged to the door, not even stopping to look in a mirror.
I threw the door open to a familiar face. “Hi. Raven sent me up. She called last night about a run this morning, and… you… don’t look happy.” Finn, of course, stood before me with two small coffees, wearing his running gear. I did my best to smooth my hair down into something that looked human and offered him a toothless grin. I stood back and motioned for him to come in. I didn’t want to take the chance of having a conversation riddled with morning breath. As he walked by, I took the coffee he offered and went to find something attractive for another sweat-filled outing. After a quick brush of my hair, teeth and tongue, I threw on a lavender long sleeved T-shirt and black spandex leggings. I put on a little bit of mascara and lip gloss, hating that I was that girl, but wanting to be more fetching than the swamp creature I was by the end of the walk the day before.
“Raven is unrelenting. I never agreed to today. Yesterday was going to last me for a while.” I yelled down the hall so he knew I wasn’t late, just unprepared.
“Yeah, you need to be real specific with her, and even then she rarely listens. If you don’t want to go, I can tell her,” Finn responded.
“No, I’m up now.” I stepped into the hall and tried to figure out where to put money and my room key. Finn took them from me and zipped them into a pocket on the back of his pants.
“Again, you know I can’t run just yet. Raven let me speed walk yesterday.” I wanted everyone to be clear on my limits.
“Yes, I’m aware. We thought we would walk and then go to the gym at Ari’s. He wants to talk some business.” Finn and I left the room and went down to meet Raven, who was stretching just outside the hotel entrance. The valets were big fans.
“Raven, good morning. Thanks for the warning.” I smiled at her, finishing my coffee and tossing it into the trash.
“Evy, I told you — every day, one way or another.” She adjusted the zipper on her gray and yellow running outfit. We began the familiar route down Albemarle to Piccadilly.
“So, tell us about last night,” Raven began, obviously curious.
“He took me to Buckingham Palace. He said we’d all been before. Anyway, there was a preview show for an upcoming exhibition. Crown Jewels of the world or something.”
“Did you meet anyone?” Raven asked.
“Yes, his friend, Alex. He had arranged a private dinner for us, and I got to see the Royal Rose Collection we returned to the Queen.” I couldn’t hide some of my excitement from the evening.
“Did you remember it?” Finn inquired.
“No, but it was amazing. Ari told me about his uncle being the Voivode and about when we went to Bruges and how he became a knight.”
“What a revealing evening for him… going above and beyond, really,” Finn commented, a distinct edge to his voice. Raven glanced over at him once and then picked up the pace. I wasn’t sure how to take his suddenly cross attitude, but figured his strained relationship with Ari was the cause. We embarked on the same path through Hyde Park and time passed quietly, and much less painfully. Not surprisingly, Derek was waiting just beyond the entrance to the park on the other end. When we arrived at Ari’s house, we went in through the garage like the day before, just as Ari was coming out of the sauna.
“Good, you’re here. The other two will arrive soon. I’ll join you in the office shortly.” Raven and Finn walked past him toward the weight machines. Ari dried off his chest and turned to me with interest. I hadn’t moved yet and it got his attention.
“Hi. I just wanted to thank you for last night. You left so quickly I didn’t get the chance.” I tried very hard not to look at anything except his eyes, but I hadn’t been prepared for seeing Ari in only a towel wrapped low around his hips. His tall, muscled physique had been camouflaged well with designer coats and winter jackets. He wasn’t ripped, like so many men on magazines today, or like Finn for that matter, but he looked like a marble work of art created to honor the form of man. It was still aloof Ari, so I wouldn’t say seeing him that way launched a strong feeling of lust. It was simply that I had been raised to appreciate a thing of beauty.
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. Today, I have important business to discuss with the group. I’m afraid you’ll need to make a decision as to when you are returning to America. We aren’t going to be able to host you indefinitely and it is probably best for you to be moving on.” He put on a royal blue robe, pulling the tie tight across his waist.
“Is the meeting about the exhibition on New Year’s Eve?” I asked without thinking. His eyes narrowed as he regarded me. Slowly, he turned from me and walked up the stairs to the main floor. I’d been wondering all night if that was indeed something he was preparing for. Apparently, it was. I knew I was there on their dime and was wondering when that might run out. It seemed like Ari had been letting me in at dinner, and that my stay was not as taxing on them as he had thought it would be when I arrived. Obviously, I was wrong.
“What was that about?” Finn came over after hearing part of our conversation. I was sure my expression gave up the desolation I felt as Ari walked away. Why did that man have such an effect on me?
“He told me to make plans to leave. I guess you have some business and my presence is not a good thing.” I looked up at him, feeling like an outcast for the first time since my arrival.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You can stay as long as you like, with Raven or something. You don’t have to be a criminal to be in London.” Finn put his hands on my shoulders, trying to make me see his point of view. Raven was off doing leg lifts and hadn’t overheard us, but somehow I doubted she would want another roommate. I did want to stay longer, but maybe it would all be easier if I just went back.
Then, I really thought about it. The only person it would be easier on if I left was Ari. Nobody back home had made me justify myself in leaving. Everyone here had welcomed me. Ari was the one who kept pushing me out, and I realized that I’d had enough. In a fit of fury, I moved away from Finn and ran up the stairs. Ari stood by the refrigerator, pulling out a pitcher of juice. He turned with surprise when I stormed into his kitchen.
“Ari, I don’t know what you really thought of me or who you think I am now, but you can’t tell me what to do whenever the mood strikes you. Putting me up in a suite and chauffeuring me around town to make up for lying to everyone doesn’t give you the right to interfere with my travel plans. Apparently, you trusted me once, admit you trust me now. You wouldn’t have taken me last night if you didn’t. So, have whatever private conversation you want, but you do not get to tell me who my friends are after you made them disappear once already.” By the end of my tirade, I was close to tears. Finn had come up the stairs to stand beside me.
Ari put the pitcher on the counter and leaned into it as he looked away from me. He had put on a pair of sweat pants and dis
carded the robe. Every muscle across his bare back was tense. “You don’t know what you’re saying,” he said, still looking out over the grounds. I tried to ignore the unexpected twist in my stomach as I stared at his handsome face in profile. He was struggling with something, his brows furrowed in what almost resembled regret.
“Yes, I do. I had a life here. I have money here somewhere. I want it all back. Help me or don’t, but you can’t make me leave, or, if you try to, stealing from the Louvre will be much more difficult after I alert the police.” Every fiber of my being told me not to say it, but I only had one real card to play. I braced for his reaction.
He turned to regard me, leaning against the counter with his arms folded, amusement playing in his dark-green eyes. “Well played, Evy. The threat was a great touch. Spoken like a true crook,” he laughed while he poured his juice.
“I wasn’t trying to amuse you.” I threw my chin out to adopt a more confident stance.
“No, you were asking me to trust you. You’re right. I already do. I was trying to spare you from starting down a path that could be dangerous. But, if you want in, you’re in. Just know, if you ever betray me, my family, or anyone on our team, there will be consequences. Are we clear?”
“Ari, she’s not going to do that,” Finn broke in, stepping past me to get between us.
“It’s the same thing I said to you when we first met. She needs to hear it. You think about it, Evelyn, and let me know how ready you really are to return. Excuse me, but I’m going to take a shower, then I’ll meet you downstairs.” Ari took a drink of his juice while he watched his words sink into me. He poured the rest down the drain and strode past us toward the third floor without another word. Finn didn’t say anything as I went back downstairs to the basement. The reality was sobering, but I knew it wasn’t something I really had to worry about. I was barely aware of any illegal activity to begin with, and I couldn’t see turning any of them over to the authorities. An important thought did occur to me.
“Has he ever killed anyone?” I turned to Finn with some concern.
“No, he’s just trying to scare you.”
“But, if he had to. If it meant ditching the goods or killing an innocent person, what would he do? What would all of you do?” High dollar burglary was one thing, but murder in order to do it was something I hadn’t even thought of.
“I told you before. We aren’t killers. We walk away if we have to.” He cocked his head, trying to get me to look him in the eyes. I believed him. I couldn’t picture any of them as murderers, but it helped to hear it out loud. Shortly thereafter, Brinks and Bounce came down the stairs and joined Finn and I by the equipment. Raven had finished working out. She smiled at us as she stepped into the sauna, dropping her workout clothes outside the door a minute later.
“What’s wrong?” Bounce could tell by my face that something had upset me.
“Ari warned her not to betray us in that charming way of his,” Finn responded sarcastically.
“Evy, he knows you wouldn’t ever. You didn’t before. Don’t worry about it. He’s just being an ass to make a point.” She stroked my arm to try and get me to be in a better mood. The thing was that he had scared me again. I wasn’t really afraid he would hurt me, but when he warned me in the kitchen, his eyes conjured up the same fear they had that first night at the hotel. The look, coupled with the threat, hit so hard it had startled me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that my body was trying to give me a warning of its own. It wouldn’t be smart to ignore it.
Raven emerged from the sauna wearing her towel like a cocktail dress. “What’s with all the low faces?” she asked while she raked her manicured nails through her hair.
“Evy is trying to make a decision,” Brinks said for my benefit, trying to keep me from having to go through the story again. He became distracted after that as Raven continued to preen herself.
“Aye, she will make the right one.” She waved her hand and walked off toward the water cooler without a care in the world.
“Listen, I’m going to go back to the hotel. Derek can take me, right? Tell Ari I heard him and I would never do anything to hurt you all. Have your meeting and I’ll see you guys later if you want to do dinner or something.” I tried to make my departure look as non-dramatic as possible, but I abruptly needed to leave. Finn walked me out and gave me a hug before I got into the car.
He whispered in my ear, “Don’t run away. I’ll fix this.” With an expression that could crush stone, he shut the car door and stalked back into the house.
I spent the whole ride debating if I should just leave that very night or hold my ground. Ari had said he trusted me. The rest of them wanted me to stay. If it wasn’t for the recurring apprehension that Ari’s eyes triggered, I wouldn’t be as concerned. There was no reason for me to do anything I didn’t want to do. I had begun remembering things. Walking away felt like I would lose my chance at more. There was a connection with Finn. I didn’t like the thought of leaving him, so that meant something. I just needed some time to myself.
The lobby was crowded, as usual, and I scuttled through quickly in my spandex to get up to the room and be alone. Half way into the elevator ride, I remembered I had given my key to Finn. Sighing deeply, I picked up the other guests on different floors and returned back down to the lobby. As I patiently waited for a free agent, a man came up beside me, taking my hand. I focused in on his face and recognized Ari’s uncle. “Mr. Ambrus. Hello, sorry, you surprised me.”
“Good day, Evelyn. How are you this morning?” He kissed my hand in greeting, glad to have run into me it seemed.
“Doing well. Actually, I just left everyone and realized Finn has the room key so I am just waiting for another. I hate being so casual around all these well-dressed people.” I gestured to the crowd around me, who all seemed to have come from the same event.
“Ah, there isn’t one amongst them who would look down on you, my dear. We have just left a Tolerance for the People of Europe lecture. A group who lobbies the wealthy and powerful to help the disenfranchised. Good people, all of them.” He looked about him and smiled to some that stopped to greet him.
“It sounds like it. Ari told me a little about the work you do.”
“Yes, well, we each have a part to play. So, you and Fintan? It’s good to know you two have reconnected. He’s a fine lad, considering how he started out in life.” Uncle Gheorghe began to wind down the conversation as he spotted someone gesturing to him by the door.
“Um, no. He just had the key in his pocket. I…”
“It is good to see you again. Perhaps I will see you at Ari’s house tomorrow night for the boxing match? Take care.” With that, he moved away through the sea of people and clasped hands with another gentleman. After acquiring another key, I couldn’t have been more thankful when my head hit the pillow. I kicked off my sneakers and catalogued the facts I had learned. After an hour or so, as I pondered the idea of a boxing match, my cell phone rang.
“Evelyn, the meeting fell apart after you left. Get ready and let’s go shopping. I have some Christmas presents to get and we need to order more platters for the party tomorrow night. Can you be ready around 2 PM?” Bounce was eager to go out, and the idea of Christmas shopping did cheer me up. I hadn’t even thought of the upcoming holiday.
“Yes, I’ll be ready, but what is this party?”
“We’ll fill you in later,” Bounce replied before hanging up abruptly.
Raven and Bounce arrived in a G Class Mercedes, the boxier kind that looked like it should be crossing the Sahara. Bounce was behind the wheel, which terrified me as we pulled from the curb.
“So, what happened to ruin the meeting?” I sensed it had something to do with me and I hated it. I didn’t need more reasons for Ari to dislike me.
“Boys will be boys. Finn has been angry since Ari admitted he knew you were alive and Ari apologized, but still thinks he did the right thing. After they continued to argue, Ari suggested they get in the ring. For the pain
he caused, he gave Finn three shots at him.” Raven told the story as she applied lipstick in the flip mirror.
“Is Ari okay?” A part of me wished I could have seen it, but I didn’t want him badly hurt.
“He will live. He’ll be bruised, but he’ll live. He clipped Finn real good in the chin after. I doubt it has helped much, but they shook hands, at least. We can’t really talk about doing anything until they get over each other. Men!” Bounce declared, exasperated.
“Is this all just about Ari’s lie?”
“Yes, and for treating you unfairly, in our opinion. And, well, Finn may have been trying to mark his territory,” Bounce added, smiling into the rear view.
“I wouldn’t say Ari has been awful to me. The dinner last night was nice, for the most part.” I didn’t like what Ari had done, but I didn’t find him horrible, just confusing and distant. “Why would Finn possibly need to mark his territory?” That part stumped me.
“I’m not sure he liked Ari taking you out on a date. He’s possessive of things he thinks are his.” The car grew silent for a minute as I thought over Bounce’s words.
“Ladies, last night was a major evening, but it in no way felt like a date. I am not Finn’s and I most definitely am not dating Ari.” They turned to each other and then back at me. I pointed for Bounce to put her eyes back on the road. “Besides, Ari doesn’t seem to like me at all. He pretended I didn’t exist for years. Whatever is going on between them can’t be about me, especially when it comes to Ari. He seems very happy to see me leave as soon as possible.” I made my case and turned in a huff, glowering out the window.
“Well, you don’t remember him. If you did, you’d know how odd he’s acting.” Bounce cut off a taxi as she shifted lanes, resulting in a loud series of honks she didn’t seem to notice. “So, what do you think of Finn?” Bounce locked eyes with me in the rearview mirror, waiting for my response.
