Strange Love

Arei let out a long yawn as he removed two mugs from the shelf and poured them both full of hot, fresh coffee. He took a large drink of his a smile curving the corners of his lips as he thought back over his sleepless night. He had laid awake on the sofa staring at his closed bedroom door their conversations playing back or repeat all night. She had openly admitted that she had realized a difference and that it had been him and not Ry that she had actually fallen in love with... but she had also said that realization doesn't change the present even if she is afraid of getting hurt again.

He flipped two perfectly sunny-side-up eggs onto a plate. Bacon sizzled to a satisfying crisp in the other pan as Arei flipped the switches of the stove off. He pushed down the lever on the toaster and arranged the bacon onto the plate while he waited for the toast. He grabbed a makeshift tray and placed the plate and mug on the tray just as the toast popped up. He quickly buttered it, cut it into even triangles then finished off his own coffee savoring its bitter taste. He glanced down at the tray arching a brow. {Does she drink coffee now?} He walked over toward the fruit bowl on his counter and grabbed an orange and another small glass. He quickly squeezed the orange juice into the glass before nodding his approval toward the tray then grabbing it, and heading for the bedroom.

A soft rap on the door woke Jos from what could have possibly been the best nights sleep she'd had in months, maybe even years. The smell of sandalwood and lavender with the smallest hint of vanilla wafted around her from the soft Egyptian cotton sheets. She snuggled her face into the fur of the fluffy throw pillow she'd fallen asleep cuddling last night as another soft rap sounded at the door.

"Come in." She replied as she pushed herself up in bed, her back melted into the many soft pillows lining the large headboard and she giggled.

Arei carefully pushed the door open balancing the tray in one hand and working the knob with the other. "What's so funny?"

She hugged the fluffy pillow to her chest another giggle squeaking out as he stepped fully into the room. He had gym shorts on an incredibly baggy tank top that looked like the armholes had been cut down the sides. She cleared her throat and looked away as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

He placed the tray to the side and arched a brow in her direction a smile playing across his lips. "Do I have to tickle it out of you?" He asked knowing how much she used to hate being tickled.

Her cheeks heated fast as she quickly met his gaze. "Please don't!"

He smiled, "Then what is it, kitten?" He pushed the tray toward her and nodded in her direction.

She glanced down at the tray and smiled. "It's just you and this apartment..." Her eyes twinkled as she met his gaze. "It's so cute and you're sooo... MALE!"

He shrugged, "Like I said last night it's what I like." He leaned over and stretched his long body across the bed. "What would you expect? A barn with hay... pictures of mustangs galloping across the walls?" Though his words sounded hurt, he continued to smile up into her eyes.

She rolled her eyes. "Well no, but I would expect something... a little more... um..." She searched for the words but couldn't bring herself to say the one word that kept wanting to come out.

"Manly? Is that the word your searching for?" He asked his brow lifted as his smile widened. He laughed when her cheeks reddened more and she glanced away squeezing the fluffy pillow tightly against her. "It's okay. I get it, trust me." He laughed before saying in a more stern voice. "Now eat. I wasn't sure if you'd taken up drinking coffee or not, but everything else is just how you used to like it." He pushed to tray a little closer to her and nodded toward it again.

Jos tilted her head, "You remember what I liked for breakfast and how I like it? After all these years?" Her eyes went from his to the perfect sunny-side-up eggs and the crispy bacon, the lightly buttered toast, and what was sure to be fresh-squeezed orange juice.

He nodded, "Well you are the only person, other than myself, that I've ever fixed breakfast for..." He shrugged, "It's not like it's too complicated of a breakfast anyways, it's pretty much the same as me."

He pushed himself back into a sitting position. "Eat up and we'll talk when you're finished."

Jos stopped him as he slid toward the edge of the bed. "We can talk now, while I eat. It's alright."

"Alright..." His eyes trailed over her messy hair and a cotton tee. {My gods!} He thought as he cleared his throat and adjusted himself, watching her close her eyes in pleasure as she sipped the orange juice. He had to look away when she let out a small moan. He stood and walked toward the windows lining the sharply angular ceiling and focused his attention outside. "You said last night that you're not in a huge hurry. If we can stay here long enough for me to lose out all my business here then I'll accompany you where ever you want to go... back to the Carolina's, home... where ever." He glanced at her over his large shoulder, "After last night, my position as been compromised." He turned back toward the window. "I figure by now DeMarco has a pretty good idea who I am and has probably told all his buddies."

Jos frowned, "I'm sorry."

He turned fully around and smiled down at her. "You have nothing to be sorry for, kitten. It was my choice to get involved." He shrugged. "And more or less, I got the information I was after."

Jos tilted her head, "What were you after?"

He shrugged again, "Ry and I both were sent in roughly six months ago when the DeMarco brothers submitted change of address forms for the same area you guys where living. I was sent here to the main headquarters, Ry was sent to you." He walked over to another hanging chair that matched the one in the living room and sat in it filling the full basket of the chair. He began slowly rocking back and forth. "The council suspected they had moved there after somehow learning the twin's location." His eyes met hers as he continued, "It didn't take us long to work out the cause of all the 'mysterious' deaths in the area..." He looked away and ran his hand over his hair, "I tried to talk Ry into changing locations with me then..." He shrugged. "Anyways, in a nutshell- they hadn't found out the twin's identities or locations prior to moving there, it was strictly coincidental, as was your meeting. However, as soon as Shelly's identity was discovered, things seemed to take a sharp turn toward what the council had expected in the first place. I haven't gotten a chance to talk to Ry about all of it yet, but I know the things DeMarco was saying about his brother and the girl pup is entirely true. Ry is in India as we speak with both Russ and Shelly, and Shelly is with some Gen they both know."

Jos set the toast back onto the plate a sick feeling churning deep within her stomach. "I don't understand... He's told me this entire time that his brother and Shelly have been together and... he said..." her mind quickly played through all the conversations they had had about Dante and Shelly and what he had said in the meeting yesterday morning. "Shit!" She pushed the tray out of the way and quickly through her upper body over the edge of the bed where she had left her bags and began rummaging through them. "Shit!" Her voice came out muffled as she pushed herself back up. "I don't have my phone..."

Arei stood and walked toward the bed. He pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to her. "Have you thought of something important."

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She nodded as she took his phone and began scrolling through to find the phone app. She stared at the app for several seconds before tossing the phone onto the bed. "I can't remember anyone's number!" Her head fell into her hands. "Damnit, damnit, damnit!"

He sat on the bed moving the tray out of the way and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "What is it, kitten?"

Her sad eyes met his, "Before we got on the plan, he told me I couldn't talk to Shelly because they were traveling. I think his brother is trying to find her. He may already be there now!"

Arei patted her shoulder again. "Don't worry Ry is there with them. Your friends are safe." He waited until she nodded before releasing her and standing. "I need to go run some errands, make your self at home till then. With any luck, we'll be able to leave no later than tomorrow night, alright."

***

Raven sat at her desk in the back of the bar staring down into her phone. She had sent Jos several messages and called her even more times, but all the messages showed as unread and all the calls had gone straight to voicemail. Another wave of guilt hit as she thought back over her last conversation with Jos and the fact she'd dropped everything the second Isha hand texted, then showed up. She and Isha hadn't worked out hardly any of their real problems, but their short time together gave Raven a hope that things could work out between them after all, once she returned home.

"I'm heading out." Liam's voice from the doorway brought her attention back to the present. "Do you want me to walk you out or anything?"

Raven shook her head, "No, I'll be fine. I was going to stop by and check on Russ's friend from the swim team before I went home anyways."

He shrugged, "Alright, if you say so. I just figured I'd offer since you were a little freaked earlier."

Raven sighed, "It's probably just my imagination or nerves." She waved him on. "Besides, I can handle myself."

He nodded, his handsome face falling into a frown, "If you say so, boss. See you tomorrow." He waved as he turned away from the door and began walking toward the service entrance.

Raven shook her head and pushed the phone into her pocket. She locked up the main doors and shut off all the lights before heading to the service entrance herself. She glanced around the parking lot but saw no sign of anyone else. As she turned to lock the door a cold chill ran down her spine. She couldn't fight the feeling she was being watched. She clenched her teeth as she turned the key in the lock and used the key fob of her car keys to unlock the car from the door. It gave a loud beep and flashed the lights. {That should be enough to detour anyone from messing with me here, at least.} She thought.

Raven quickly made her way across the parking lot and to her car, the fill of eyes on her every move continued. She pulled out her phone and dialed Liam's number. "Hey," she said as soon as he answered. "I change my mind. If it's ok I'll take you up on that extra room tonight."

[Sure, anytime. You know that.] Liam answered. [You still getting freaky vibes?] He asked concern in his voice.

Raven signed, "Yeah, I just can't shake the feeling I'm being watched." She let out a huff of breath. "I'm going to run by the house and grab a few things then I'll be over."

[What about the hospital?] Liam asked.

Raven signed, "If I really am getting followed, I don't want to lead them to the kid."

[True enough...] Liam replied. [Call me when you get to your apartment so I can know you got there ok.]

Raven agreed and ended the call. She drove straight home, her paranoia building as several cars pulled in to the complex behind her. "This is stupid!" She said out loud. "It's a damn apartment, of course there's gonna be cars." She parked and made it up the steps quickly trying to ignore the hairs raised and dancing across the back of her neck. A faint sound carried on the chilly gust of wind that blew down the hall. A familiar smell that she'd smelt all day lingered in the breeze and a dark shadow appeared on the landing beside her.