The Scribe - Hunter Elizabeth - Страница 19

He was just making things up as he went along, but his voice… His inner voice was still panicked. Worried. He was lying, but it was out of fear. Something had frightened the big, bad bodyguard, and it had to do with her safety. That reason alone caused her to take a deep breath and stop backing away from him. Logic, even the fuzzy logic she had to work with from all the wine, told Ava that if Malachi wanted to harm her, he’d had plenty of opportunities in the week and a half they’d already known each other. He’d had her alone many times. So obviously something else was going on.

She asked, “What does this have to do with me?”

“There were four of them in that bar, Ava. One attacked me earlier as an associate and I were rescuing a girl they had kidnapped and almost killed. We have a standing assignment from our bosses in Vienna about this organization. They’re active all over the world, and for some reason, they’re targeting you. We don’t know why.”

For the first time, his words had the ring of truth. Ava took a deep breath. She still felt like there was something she wasn’t seeing, but at least some of what he said made sense.

“Carl,” she muttered.

“What?”

“My stepfather, Carl Matheson. He’s rich as Midas. Richer, maybe. In addition to being a film producer, he also has all this family money. Shipping. Oil. He’s loaded. If it’s human trafficking, they probably want me for ransom. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried.”

Or succeeded. She tried not the think about the awful week when she was eight. Routine, they had called it. The monsters who had taken her in Brazil had laughed and called it a routine kidnapping when they teased her. One girl for one million dollars. A respectable week’s work. She hadn’t slept through the night for a year afterward.

Malachi said, “That must be it. They’ve become bolder, and I don’t know why.” He stepped closer cautiously. “I’d like to stay at the hotel. I called already and booked the room next to yours.”

And just like that, she was pissed off again. “Didn’t ask me, did you? Did you ask Carl? Is anyone going to even pretend to keep me informed?” She spun around and walked toward the doorman. He frowned for a moment before he said something to Malachi in Turkish. Malachi barked back, then the doorman shrugged and opened the door to their group.

“Some security you are,” Ava muttered. “I was told this hotel had the best security in the city. I stayed here for that reason. I don’t need handlers. I don’t want someone watching me eat breakfast and following me to the bathroom, Malachi.”

A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she walked to her room. For a few days, she’d almost felt normal. The voices were quieter. She was going out and touring a city she was growing to love. She’d forgotten Malachi had been hired to look out for her. She’d felt like she had a friend who enjoyed her company. Enjoyed spending time with her. Maybe even…

She was foolish to have forgotten. Other people got those things. Not her.

“Ava.” His voice was softer, pleading. She refused to turn around. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”

“By getting a room in my hotel without even asking me?” she asked in a hoarse voice. She had to get away from him. She was seconds away from crying. “By ordering me around like I’m a child?”

“Please—”

“I’m going to bed now. I don’t want to talk to you. I’m tired, and we’ll talk more about this in the morning.”

He fell silent. She could feel the warmth of his hand inches from the nape of her neck. His breath stirred her hair, then he drew away. “Fine. I’ll be in the room next door.”

“I don’t want to know that,” she said. “I’m pretending…”

That you’ll meet me tomorrow for breakfast, just because you want to see me.

That we’ll tour the city, and you’ll joke with me, and the voices will be a little easier to bear.

I’m pretending… that you’re my friend.

“I’m pretending you don’t exist, Malachi. Stay away from me tonight.”

She slid her card in the lock, then quickly walked in and shut the door. She turned the dead bolt and the sliding lock, then she walked to her window and checked the locks there, too. When she was sure her room was secure, she sat down on the bed and waited to hear him leave the hallway. After a few minutes, Malachi moved toward the lobby, talking to Leo in Turkish.

Seconds later, she pushed back the tears that wanted to surface, and her phone was in her hand.

“Mom?”

“Ava!” Her mother’s voice was brimming with excitement. “Isn’t it late there? I’m so glad you called! How are you liking—”

“These guys Carl hired, Mom. They’re out of control.” Her voice was shaking with anger. “He needs to dial them back, or I’m ditching them completely. You know I can.”

“But Ava—”

“They practically shoved me out of a bar tonight because some guy was making a pass at me. You know me. I can take care of myself, and they went way overboard. I’m surprised no one called the police. Is that the kind of publicity that Carl wants?”

“Who—”

“And one of them is staying at my hotel now! He says there’s some kind of threat against my life! Has there been a threat and you haven’t told me? I mean, I know shit happens, but you’ve always told me if there has ever been any specific—”

“Ava, shut up!”

Her mother never raised her voice. She shut up immediately.

“I want you to listen to me very carefully.” Her mother’s voice sent chills down her neck. “Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“The man Carl hired quit over a week ago. There was some sort of scheduling conflict, and I convinced him you were perfectly safe since you were staying in the city. Ava… he didn’t hire anyone else.”

She sat on the edge of her bed, breath coming in small panicked bursts. “Mom…”

“Whoever these people are who say they are guarding you, Ava, they were not hired by us. Do you understand?”

She nodded, but no words left her mouth.

“Ava, are you still there?” Her mother’s voice was panicked. “Carl!”

“I’m here, Mom.”

Lies. Lies. Lies.

It was all a lie. Ava had never felt more vulnerable in her life. The chill at her neck spread. She heard her mother and Carl muttering in the background, then her stepfather picked up the phone.

“Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“This man, he’s been following you for a week?”

“Yes. We’ve… been friendly. He seemed nice. Very professional.”

“Does he have any idea you suspect him? Did you tell him you were calling home?”

“No.”

There was a pause. “I’m calling my contacts in Istanbul as soon as we get off the phone. In the morning, there will be a package waiting for you at the front desk. I want you to find out who these people are.” Ava heard her mother protesting in the background, but Carl’s voice was cold and clear. “If you’re threatened, if you’re in danger at all, use it. I know you know how. We can take care of any fallout after you’re safe.”

Ava took a deep breath. “I understand.”

Chapter Seven

“And you’re sure she has no idea?”

“With this woman?” Malachi looked around the open-air patio where the hotel served breakfast. He could see Ava’s door from where he sat, so he kept his voice low. “I’m not sure of anything with her.”

“Leo said she didn’t react normally to the Grigori.”

“No. She seemed completely immune to them.”

There was nothing but silence. What could Damien say? All human women had the same reaction to the Grigori. All women, except Ava. It was inexplicable.

Finally, Damien said, “Rhys is doing things on the computer. Max is out hunting his sources right now. Whatever this is, it’s now a priority. Leo stays with you.”

“Who was the blond in the alley?”

“It sounds like Brage. I’ve met him before. He’s skilled. I didn’t know he was in Istanbul. This is a new development.”