Legendary Loves Volume 1

Chapter 4-1

Chapter 4

The rest of the walk was equally enjoyable, and it was with great regret that Ryker finally said goodbye to Alejandro as they walked back into the hotel.

“Not goodbye. Just, hasta mañana.” Alejandro leaned in as they shook hands but before Ryker could react, he pressed a kiss to Ryker’s cheek and was already walking away.

“Hey. Good timing,” Mitch called out, distracting Ryker, and when he looked around, Alexandro had already vanished from sight.

“Yeah. Had a good day?” Ryker asked.

“Chur, bro. Awesome.” Mitch nodded. “You?”

“Yeah. Good.”

“Do I need to keep my radio on loud tonight? Or will I be alone in the treehouse?”

“Neither.” Ryker tried not to pout, but at the look from his friend, he realized he’d failed. Badly. “Alejandro is already doing something tonight. He’s said tomorrow.” Ryker shrugged. “Guess I shouldn’t be too disappointed. After all, he only met me for the first time yesterday. He might have been booked out all week.”

“Sorry, bro. You look disappointed and I’m no substitute for a sexy South American.”

“You’re better, in your own way.” Ryker shrugged. “At least you’re willing to spend the evening with me. I saw a few girls looking you over.”

“A few guys, too.” Mitch waggled his eyebrows. “Choices, man, choices. Let’s be boring for a minute. Pick a few postcards. I promised my whanau, as well as my office. This’ll throw them for a loop since we weren’t due to be here.”“

“Sure.” Ryker followed Mitch to the tall racks of cards. I can send a couple home. I’ll get one of the presentation packs for myself. I can make it into a collage to hang on the wall.

A moment later, Alejandro passed in front of the racks, but his attention was elsewhere.

“They look official.” Mitch nudged head inclined his head a fraction toward Alejandro who’d been approached by two dark-suited men. Their dress and demeanor instantly ruled them out as holidaymakers.

“Can you hear anything of what they’re saying?” Ryker asked. A pang of guilt twisted in his gut, but he couldn’t shake the notion that Alejandro was in trouble of some kind.

As if studying the postcards more intently, Mitch shifted his position, taking a card from the rack and held it up. Only Ryker could see that his friend’s eyes were closed as he strained to hear the whispered conversation.

“Something about another goat attack. Alejandro is assuring them that everyone here has been warned not to go outside the hotel complex after dark as a precaution. They don’t want to cause any alarm.” Mitch opened his eyes and selected another card. “They’ve dropped their voices. Well, seems the legend of a Chupacabra might be more than a legend.”

“You don’t believe any of that, do you?” Ryker asked, surprised when Mitch shrugged.

“I don’t disbelieve. Are you really so dismissive?”

“I guess I never really thought about it.” Ryker wrinkled his nose. “Not something you come across on the streets of Wellington.”

“Not really.” Mitch chuckled. “But let’s be honest, there’s a huge world beyond Wellington.”

“That’s true enough. Well, they’re certainly taking it seriously. I suppose we should, too.”

“There’s no way I’d be outside the hotel perimeter after hours. Not unless it’s part of a hotel-organized trip.” Mitch folded his arms as if defying Ryker to argue with him.

“No. I don’t think I would, either.” Ryker earned a wide smile from his friend as he made his confession, but Mitch’s smile faded as he glanced to where Alejandro walked toward the main doors with the two strangers.

“Whatever is out there, has them worried.”

“They rely heavily on tourism here. If this place had to close, even for a couple of weeks, there’d be a huge impact. Plus, any knock-on effect that saw tourists go elsewhere.” Ryker ran a hand through his hair. “That’s a major loss of income. I can see that anyone would be loath to jump the gun and do something that jeopardizes the tourist trade.”

“Or that would see a group of vigilantes out there, shooting at anything that moves.” Mitch shrugged. “It’s possible.”

“True. And it looks like, among his other duties here, Alejandro is the liaison. That makes sense, too. He gives the talks to the guests and was very insistent that we don’t go out after dark.”

“As much as I wouldn’t want to take a walk with El Chupacabra, I’d like to meet a pack of wild dogs even less. You won’t catch me going out after dark.”

“I can imagine.” Ryker slapped his friend’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s pick the cards. I feel in need of a long, hot shower before dinner.”