Ghost - in the arms of Death

Chapter 10

I exhale slowly as we head down to the garage. I guess we are taking his bike again and just the thought of it gets me a little excited. I loved riding with him.

But we don’t even make it as far as the lobby. I frown as the elevator doors open to a slightly confused-looking Bob. He quickly recovers and nods at Alex.

„Evening, Sir,“ Bob says professionally. But his voice lacks his usual warm tone. He then smiles at me. That‘s what I am talking about. He’s such a nice and fatherly person. I can’t help but grin at him. Something that doesn’t go unnoticed by Alex.

„Feeling better, love?“ Bob asks me.

„She‘s fine!“ Alex snaps. I can’t help but smack his arm for his lack of respect for my friend.

„Be nice!“ I hiss and his frown deepens. I ignore that and turn to Bob who is watching us with a curious look in his eyes. „Do you want me to fetch you anything? I‘ll be back for my bag in a bit.“

„No, honey, that’s quite alright. Enjoy your night,“ he turns back to Alex who places his hand on the small of my back to gently, but determinedly, guide me towards the exit. „You too, Sir.“

„Thank you,“ Alex mutters and holds the door open for me.

„And I assume that’s Bob?“ he asks, but I can’t tell if he’s asking curiously or suspiciously.

„I am almost surprised that you remembered,“ I say.

„I remember,“ he looks down the street until he seems to have found what he‘s been looking for.

Once he does, he grabs my hand and leads me towards a sleek black car that easily blends into the night.

Before we reach the car, a man gets out -all dressed in black- and opens the door for us, checking up and down the street for any kind of threat. This feels strangely surreal and it has me wondering who the hell Alex is if he suddenly feels the need for security detail.

He didn’t care when he took me to the hospital the other night. Or maybe I just didn’t notice. I seriously should pay more attention to my surroundings.

„Where are you taking me?“ I ask hesitantly to get into the car.

„Why? You don’t trust me?“

„I don’t know you enough to trust you,“ I say and he nods as if that makes perfect sense. Then again, I got on a dangerously fast bike with him without questioning it.

„Whatever,“ I say more to myself than him before I climb into the backseat of the black SUV.

The leather seats still smell new, but in the air hangs a hint of some foreign cologne and tobacco.

„You don’t trust people easily, do you?“ he asks as he takes the seat next to me.

„Not anymore,“ I say, looking outside the tinted windows. I can feel him watching me, but I refuse to look at him and let him see the pain in my eyes.

I used to be different. I laughed a lot. I was happy most of the time because a part of my soul was still intact. Sometimes I wonder if Leo was the happy part, while I was the gloomy and sad part. Or maybe it was the other way around. I hate that I can’t remember.

***

I feel a warm hand curl around my wrist, pulling me slightly back. I am dancing with some stranger and per usual at some point, Leo checks in to make sure I am okay.

He’s on big brother duty. Always watching out for me, even though he knows I can handle myself.

I grin at him, while he glares at the guy behind me. I think his name is Chris, but the music is so loud, that I could have misheard.

„What are you doing?“ Leo hisses into my ear.

„I’m having fun. You should try it sometime,“ I chuckle and pat his chest in amusement.

„I can see that, but you don’t know this guy!“

„That’s sort of the point,“ I tell him and put both hands on his cheeks to squish them together.

„Liah,“ he groans and pushes my hands aside, „you shouldn’t trust people that easily. Especially guys!“

„He‘s harmless,“ I wave his warning off, way too confident. I am pretty sure though that if someone would try to hurt me I’d be able to defend myself. Even when I am drunk.

„You need a girlfriend,“ I tell him and grab his hand to drag him to the bar.

„I‘m fine,“ he mutters annoyed as I try to make out a nice lady for him. I decide on a blond in a tight pink dress. „Liah no!“ he tries to stop me, but I am faster.

„Hi,“ I say, which earns me a confused, but curious glance from her, „this is my awfully shy brother, Leo and he thinks you are the most beautiful woman in the whole place tonight!“ I push him towards her and leave.

I laugh over my shoulder watching my brother with the girl. He’s shy. And cute. I would date him if he wasn’t my brother.

„There you are,“ the guy I was dancing with says as I find him again.

„Yeah,“ I wrap my arm around his neck, „sorry about that. My brother thinks I’m too trusting.“

„Oh, you can trust me, shorty.“

„And you can trust that I‘ll beat the s**t out of you if you try anything!“ I warn him with an innocent smile on my glossy lips.

***

„I understand?“ Alex says into the dark. For some reason, his answer surprises me and I turn to face him.

A sad smile tugs on his lips, which disappears as if he just noticed that he’s showing me a vulnerable side of him. At least he’s showing me a glimpse of it.

I can’t help but wonder what happened to him. What took his ability to trust. The question lingers at the top of my tongue, but when he shifts his gaze away I know he wouldn’t tell me anyway.

“Where to, Sir?” The driver asks in a serious, no-nonsense tone. I bet the guy could kill you with just his pinky finger. His buzz cut and his attitude scream ex-military.

“Let Simon know we are coming and that he should prepare something for two. We need to make a quick stop before that and change,” Alex orders in a cool and collected tone. I feel like the tone of his voice changes not only with his mood but also alters depending on who he’s talking to. It sounds different when he talks to his driver/security guy.

“Change?” I ask curiously. My clothes are back at the gym and I highly doubt that he randomly carries womenswear with him. At least not the kind I like.

“Yes,” Alex says and pulls out his phone texting someone. Kind of rude. It’s amazing how quickly his walls came up. One moment he’s almost bearable and nice. The next he’s cold and distant. Maybe he’s schizophrenic.

“Hm,” I hum and direct my attention back to the city crawling by. It’s a rather quiet night. Not too many cars out in the streets. Only a few people mingling. It’s nice for a change. Almost as if life has slowed down for once, giving me time to catch my breath.

About twenty minutes later the car stops in front of a small tailor store. It’s one of those hidden gems in New York. You have to know exactly where to look to find it.

Without another word, Alex gets out of the car and heads for the store.

I am not entirely sure what he expects me to do, but I am tempted to get out of the car and walk back to AMB, get my stuff, and go home.

I sigh and shake my head when I meet the driver's stare in the rearview mirror. He’s watching me curiously.

“Hey,” I say with an awkward wave, “I’m Liah.”

“Nice to meet you, Liah,” he glances at the screen on his dashboard, “I think you are supposed to follow him,” he says as a message flashes on the screen.

“I’m not sure I want to,” I mutter, “maybe you just tell him that I went back? I don’t know what this is, but it starting to get really weird.”

“Yes,” he agrees with a chuckle, “you could leave. Or you could just go with him.”

Before I can make a decision my door opens and Alex glares at me impatiently. “Are you coming?”

“I’m not sure I want to,” I say, crossing my arms defensively. This night has taken a strange turn and I’m not sure I feel very comfortable with that.

“Don’t be difficult. Just get out of the car!”

Wow, he’s an asshole. I shake my head at him and push him back so I can jump out of the car. But instead of following him into the stupid store, I just head back to the AMB building. I have no idea how I will get in since my Keycard is in my bag, but I don’t care. Bob will let me in. I hope.

“What are you doing?” Alex catches up with me, but I ignore him and keep walking. “Liah!” he grabs my arm to stop me from running away from him. But I instinctively and angrily shove him back.

“Don’t touch me,” I snap at him, “and don’t you dare tell me I am being difficult. You dragged me out here and all of a sudden you’re super defensive and instead of talking to me, you let your driver deliver messages to me? What the hell am I supposed to make of that? I am not some puppy that mindlessly follows you around. At least have the decency and treat me with a little respect, asshole!”

I start walking again, but after a moment he passes me and blocks my way. I sigh in annoyance and glare at him.

“I apologize,” he says, his hands slightly lifted into the air, “will you please come with me?”

“Why?”

“Because you are interesting.”

“I am what?” I ask taken aback.

“You are interesting, and I want to spend the night with you!” I stare at him wide-eyed. He didn’t just say that to me, did he?

“By the way you are looking at me right now, you obviously didn’t expect me to say that.”

“Damn right. Does this s**t usually work for you?” He shrugs arrogantly but doesn’t give me a better answer. “God, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“Alright, wait,” he stops me from brushing past him, “Let’s try this again,” he starts in surrender, but I’m not having it.

“Or maybe let’s just not,” I move past him and this time he lets me go. I sigh in frustration. I guess this day ends as crappy as it has started. I am this close to considering quitting. Maybe Vincent will let me work for him full-time.

The only argument that is keeping me from making that rash decision right now is money. My paycheck allows me to have a rather comfortable life. I can afford an apartment I don’t need, and I have enough savings in case I want to do something new. Go somewhere else. But where the hell would I go all by myself?