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“Do not do what I did and risk losing the woman you love out of foolish pride.”
It was said that Rile had what some called a sixth sense. At times, I wondered if it was merely vague references that could be interpreted as omniscience.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever fall in love,” I said, testing the waters, so to speak.
He laughed. “Come now. You know better. As do I.”
“What if the woman has a strong connection to a man I wished I’d killed?”
“Then, it will be your opportunity to release the hate you feel for him. Forgive him. The anger you hold inside is hurting you far more than it is him.”
“Have you forgiven him, Rile?” I asked.
“Yes, my friend. I have.”
“I don’t know if I can,” I admitted.
“It will be worth it. I promise you.”
When the call ended, I walked over to the window, where I could see the pub, wishing for two things. First, that I was there with Eliza, and second, that I’d ordered something to eat. Especially since I didn’t feel like leaving my flat again.
Knowing the best way for me to lower the adrenaline rushing through my bloodstream was to work my body, I thought about hitting the workout room I’d set up in my flat. I trained anywhere from one to three hours each day, depending on my workload. On missions, it was sometimes more, for the same reason I needed to now—adrenal overload.
First, I had to tear myself away from watching the pub’s front door, hoping to see Eliza leaving. I picked up the folded paper and studied the drawings again, replaying our conversation over in my mind.
Had I come on too strong? Did I give Eliza the impression I wanted her in my bed and nothing else? When I called tomorrow, would she assume I was only looking for a hookup?
What was wrong with me? Just because I’d felt an immediate kinship, a desire so powerful it shook me to my core, didn’t mean she’d felt the same thing.
Maybe she wouldn’t even take my call, thinking I was just a player who wanted in her pants. I did. I wouldn’t lie, but that wasn’t all I desired.
I raised my head and gazed down at the street in time to see her and Saint exiting the pub. They cheek-kissed, and he dashed off, leaving her standing alone on the sidewalk. She clutched a bag that most likely contained her dinner, given less than twenty minutes had passed since she and Saint were led to a table in the dining area.
He was just as irresponsible and self-involved as he’d always been. Didn’t he care about Eliza’s safety? I waited momentarily to see if she was taking a car service, but when she walked in the opposite direction Saint had, I grabbed my mobile and rang her.
“Hello?” Was it hesitancy I heard in her voice? At least, she’d stopped walking and was still in an area illuminated by the pub’s outside lights.
“It’s Leviticus.”
“Oh, um, hello.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting your dinner,” I lied.
“Not at all. In fact, my cousin received an urgent call and needed to leave unexpectedly,” Eliza explained.
“Where are you now?”
“On my way home. Why do you ask?”
“I’ll escort you.”
She half laughed. “It’s kind of you to offer, but I don’t live far.”
“Are you still near the pub?”
“Yes, but?—”
“I’ll be right down.”