Chapter 11 #2
“And please see if you can trace them from the museum. If we can find out where they’re staying, we can take them in their fucking sleep,” Owen demanded, then looked to me. “You mentioned Grayson doesn’t sleep much? What’s our best window of opportunity?”
“I’d say between twelve and two.”
“Thank you, Ava.” Owen looked at me sincerely.
I nodded, then stood and moved to a row farther away, out of the team’s way, so they could plan their takedown.
I stared out the small window to the clouds beneath us.
I’d been swept up in their excitement. Did I even want to help the FBI catch the Apparitions?
I’d only taken the plea deal because I was angry and wanted to make them pay.
Then, I chased after them like a lost puppy, hoping they’d take me back once they saw me.
Now, I just wanted to piece my broken life back together and forget the three of them ever existed. To scratch out their names and faces from my mind and heart. They didn’t deserve a place there anyway.
I lowered my forehead to the cold glass and closed my eyes. Did I truly believe that? Grayson might have broken me beyond repair, but that was only because he showed me something so perfect it was magical. If you fly so high, of course, the fall would hurt. And fuck, did it hurt.
At least I could breathe now. The worst was over.
And maybe I would always carry this pain with me, this emptiness.
Maybe I would be the lonely old lady in her garden that mothers point out to their daughters, warning them against giving their souls to devils.
The cautionary tale for girls to love first with their heads, before unleashing their hearts.
And maybe that was the price I would pay for daring to feel so intensely, so much—a life of loneliness.
Because I have no soul left to give to another.
Waiting and wandering around my garden, hoping deep down—so deep, that I don’t even admit it to myself—that the devil might one day return to me.
We landed and headed to our hotel. Everyone was still busy planning and trying to find where the Apparitions were staying.
All the hotels Grayson would usually pick, came up short.
And that would mean the Apparitions had their own place in Florence, or nearby.
Or maybe Grayson had changed his M.O. completely. Because I knew too much.
We finally made it to our hotel, got our bedroom keys and headed to a boardroom to meet with three Interpol agents who would assist Owen.
One of the agents, a good-looking brunette, seemed to know Owen intimately, by the glances she gave him.
After another hour, the agents started drifting off to their rooms, tired and cranky.
I excused myself as well, but Owen caught up to me as I headed towards the elevator.
“So what will it be? A cocktail at the bar or room service and a movie?” Owen grinned at me, sheepishly, falling into step beside me. “My treat. As an apology for doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t.”
I smiled up at him. “You don’t have to, Owen. We’re good.”
Owen opened his mouth to object, but was interrupted by the clerk from reception, waving us down, walking briskly towards us, looking flustered.
“Scusi, Miss Beaumont! Miss Beaumont!” he called.
We stopped and waited for him to catch up to us. He sighed in relief and straightened his suit. I could see he was an anxious person, flustered by the smallest hiccup, so I gave him a bright smile, hoping it would calm him.
“Apologies, Miss Beaumont, but we seem to have some plumbing issues in your room. We would like to give you another room, if you would be so gracious. We’ve already transferred your bag there.”
“That’s not a problem. Thank you,” I said as I fished the room card from my jean pocket.
“Ah, how gracious of you. We have upgraded you to a royal suite.” The clerk winked at me. “The Princess Diana. On the top floor. Beautiful view.”
I held my breath as Owen and I stared at each other. “No,” I laughed. “It can’t be. We’re just paranoid.”
Owen eyed the clerk suspiciously. “Why that suite?”
The clerk seemed confused by the question. He expected excitement for giving me such a nice room, not trepidation. “As an apology. We do not like to inconvenience our guests.” He gave us his best customer service smile. “Would you like another room?”
I laid my hand on Owen’s arm before he could launch into questioning the poor clerk. “It’s just a coincidence. How would he even know we’re here? It’s impossible. There was no trail on us. And the plane’s flight data was hidden. No one could have known where we landed.”
He stared at me for a few more seconds, then his shoulders relaxed as he nodded. “You’re right. There’s no way.”
I thanked the confused clerk and took the key.
“Everything okay?”
I jumped at the voice behind me and Owen gave me a look that said, “Yeah right. If you’re not worried, why are you so skittish?”
It was the pretty Interpol agent. Her stare lingered on Owen for a while, before she turned to me.
“Your case is a fascinating one, Miss Beaumont. I wrote my Psychology Masters on Stockholm Syndrome before I decided to join Interpol. I would love to hear your story, first hand, if you would like to talk about it.” She gave me a dazzling smile that somehow echoed the exotic allure of her accent.
In another life, I would have been fiercely attracted to her. “Maybe some other time.” My returning smile was apologetic.
But she nodded with understanding. “Of course.” She turned her gaze to Owen. “I was hoping we could go get a drink, Agent Becket. Catch up?”
The way she said his name, it was obvious she wanted to do more than get a drink. I peered up at Owen to see his reaction. He definitely knew exactly what the pretty agent wanted from him.
Owen cleared his throat, looking all kinds of flustered. “I appreciate the invitation, Claudia, but I already have plans with Ava.”
Why did he say that? Why was he passing up an opportunity with this woman?
Claudia’s eyes went wide as they bounced between me and Owen. “Oh. Sorry. I didn’t know.” She stepped back awkwardly.
My cheeks burned as I lowered my eyes to my shoes. She thought there was something going on between me and Owen, and he did nothing to correct her.
“Good night, then,” she said with a graceful smile and turned to walk away.
“It was nice seeing you again, Claudia.”
When Claudia disappeared around the corner, I punched Owen in the arm. “Why did you say that? You could have gotten laid big time tonight!” I whispered loudly at him.
He rubbed at his arm. “I’m not in the headspace for getting laid tonight. Besides, I’d rather spend the night with you. Order room service, watch a movie, pretend we’re not losing our minds…” He shrugged. “You know. Like old times.”
“Are you being serious right now?” I gaped. “She’s gorgeous!” It made no sense. Unless… “You’re worried about the Princess Diana suite thing, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, and just so you know, I’m sleeping on your floor tonight. I still have nightmares of you running down the hotel hallway like a madwoman, covered in blood.” He shuddered. “I’m not letting you out of my sight tonight.”
And he didn’t. He had instructed Liam to go check if there really was plumbing issues in my previous room, to which Liam confirmed with photographic evidence. Syntax was also put on high alert, keeping a close eye on the hotel’s surveillance cameras.
“You’re being dramatic, Owen.” I sighed as he once again peered through the curtains. “You’re missing the whole movie.”
“It’s fine, I’ve seen it already,” he said absentmindedly, still peering out the window.
“Then why did you pick it?” I questioned, exasperated.
He turned to me, a smug grin forming on his lips. “So I don’t miss anything in a movie I haven’t watched before.”
I groaned in frustration and switched the TV off. “Will you just get away from that window, you’re making me anxious.”
“Fine,” he huffed. “But let’s do yoga or something. You know I can’t just sit still like this. I’ll go insane.”
I couldn’t help the smile tugging at my lips.
I had convinced Owen to do yoga with me the day before we tried to capture the Apparitions in Mexico.
To work off our nervous energy and calm our minds.
For the first half of it, he couldn’t stop mumbling how stupid it was but then got really into it. “How about a walk?”
“Fine.”
I laughed. “Gods, you can be so dramatic when no one is looking.”
We walked side by side through the streets of Florence, keeping to the quiet streets, avoiding the bustling nightlife.
“We’re definitely lost, Agent Becket,” I piped as we rounded yet another corner of similar buildings.
He pulled his face at me. “You’re lack of trust in me is offensive, Miss Beaumont. See? We’re here.”
He came to a halt at a beautiful fountain, tucked away in a pretty courtyard, filled with pink and purple winter flowers. “A wishing fountain. I’ve made a lot of wishes here, and most of them came true. I thought you’d appreciate it.” He handed me three coins.
My heart panged. “I do appreciate it. Thank you, Owen. This is very sweet.” I smiled warmly at him.
He smiled down at his shoes, gesturing towards the fountain for me to make my three wishes.
I sat down on the edge of it, watching the silver coins sparkle in the moonlight. What do I wish for? To be whole again?
Yes. I plopped the first coin into the fountain, hoping with all my heart that whichever deity presided over this fountain were listening. I wish to be whole again.
Do I wish to have never met Grayson and Gemma and Hunter? I flipped the coin over in my hand. A tear rolled down my cheek. No, I couldn’t. But I wished to just see them once more, just to ask why. Why did they leave me like that? Did he ever really love me? Was any of it real?
I watched the second coin plunge into the water. I wish to see him just one more time. To look him in the eye and see for myself that he doesn’t care for me. Maybe then I could regret him, move on from him.
I took a deep breath as I studied the last coin.
I let it slip between my fingers into the water.
And I wish the second half of that wish never comes true.
I wish I never see those dark eyes look at me with anything else but love and adoration as they always had.
As I always foolishly believed they had. I’d rather die.
Owen squeezed my shoulder, and I straightened, wiping away the cold tears from my cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Ava. I shouldn’t have dragged you here. You were doing so well back home, and now I’ve made you miserable again. I’m a selfish prick.”
I chuckled. “I was miserable there too, Owen. I just hid it better.” I turned to smile at him. “Besides,” my gaze trailed over the pretty courtyard, “Florence is a beautiful place to be miserable in.”
Owen studied me for a few seconds. “Will I ever get to meet an Ava that’s not miserable?”
My heart squeezed. “Only if my first wish comes true.”
He smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out another coin. “Well, I wish to someday see a happy Ava.” The coin flipped through the air and plopped into the fountain.
I slipped my arm through his, sighing with a smile. “You’re a good friend, Agent Becket.”
“I know. I could have gotten laid tonight. Instead, I’m here, protecting you from a psychopath ex-boyfriend.”
The laughter that bubbled out of me took with it some of the heaviness in my chest.
“And Claudia is really good with her tongue.”
“Owen!” I laughed, cringing away from him. “Spare me the details, please.”
He pulled my arm back again and tucked it around his, leading me out of the courtyard, with the goofiest grin on his face.
“There’s still time, you know. You could give Claudia a call. I’m sure Liam or Emerie won’t mind babysitting me.”
Owen pulled a face. “You would voluntarily subject yourself to them? Besides, Claudia sometimes liked to stick her finger up my ass, and I’m just not in the right headspace for that tonight.”
“Owen, please!” I sputtered through the giggles, involuntarily imagining the scene.
“And dear God! Please pray she never pulls out her strap-on again.”