Lost in Embers (Rising From Ash Saga #1)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

M y vacation here is coming to an end. Tomorrow is my last full day here, and I’m not sure that I want to leave. After all, we pretty much live here right now. Even with the high points and low points, there isn’t a shred of doubt that I will miss this place. Part of me is scared to go back to an even harsher reality and figure out who I am and what is going on.

“So, tell me now, how much do you remember?” Aidan folds down the sheets on his side of the bed, facing away from me. He stops dead in his tracks, waiting for my response.

I curl into my side of the bed, so snug. “Remember what? I fell. I saw Victor. You already know this.” I try not to be aggravated, but we have gone over this a thousand times and asking me the same question isn’t going to help.

“Why are you being so difficult? I’m not talking about today. I’m talking about your previous lives. Why is it you don’t comprehend who you are? This has never happened before. ”

“What?” I shake my head, grasping for words. “Because I don’t know who I am! I don’t know what you are talking about. I was born twenty-five years ago, and that’s that.” I hastily throw the covers off me and stand firmly on the ground. “I have no idea what’s going on with me. I know nothing of the previous lives you speak of, and I most certainly don’t know how you know all these things about me.” Well, there I go, I’ve lost all control.

I sulk against the wall behind me and pull my knees to my chest. How many times does he want me to say I have no clue what’s going on? He comes down to my level, pulling my face away from my knees, his eyes darker with confusion. “Ava, no one has told you anything? Someone must have tampered with your memory. Your father told me he left you something that will help explain all of this. I thought you would have remembered…”

With a shake of his head, he stands in front of me, looking down, then starts pacing. He tousles his hair with his hands in frustration. His voice is small, so I can barely hear him as he leaves the room. “I thought you would at least remember me.”

“Cross… What do you mean? No! Yes, she’s safe…” He is short, clipped, and harsh to whomever he speaks to on the phone in the other room. “I can’t leave her, Dad, not like this.” The other person on the line mumbles, and it seems he’s saying Aidan has to come home to attend family matters, that it is more important. Dang, my hearing has improved.

“Fine, yes, agreed, it would be safest for her to be without me, if they are looking for her through me, but she’s a ticking time bomb with no control over herself. ”

I must be hearing things, because he’s on the phone talking to someone, but talking to me in my mind.

Ava, I will find you. Do not draw attention to yourself. For your safety, I must leave you now.

By the time I make it to the door, he’s already out of the room. I could try to find him, search the hotel grounds, but I know he does not want to be found. Perhaps giving him space will be the best thing. We have breakfast plans tomorrow anyway, so he will call.

My things are packed, and I leave the room minutes after him to return to my room, my bed, and my friends.

“What do you mean he’s gone?” As much as Dino and I weren’t in agreement on a lot of things right now, we can still count on one another to be there.

“He’s gone. We got into a tiff last night, and now he’s gone.” The cracking of my voice is definitely not helpful to me at this point. Plus, the one person who can actually give me answers has vanished from my life without a word, just a note.

Dino’s eyes widen, as he bites his lower lip and looks at me inquisitively. He makes thinking sounds and rubs his hand against his perfect jawline. “And how did you know he was just gone?”

“He hasn’t called…” A voice in my head that sounds like my father tells me not to tell him what’s going on, to keep it a secret until I get home and more information comes out.

Perhaps it is guilt or concern, but something makes Dino’s eyes water as he gets off the edge of my master bed and walks into the living area. I can see his shadow moving against the door. He bends down and picks something up and then makes his way back to my room. Leaning against the door, he holds a small, white envelope in his large hands. My name is written on the front.

“I do not like the guy, Ava. What man doesn’t have time to say good-bye? This is for you.” He flicks the envelope in my direction. It glides to me and lands perfectly in my cupped hands. “My guess is it is from that asshole.” Dino moves to stand over me, looking down on me as I slide my finger into the envelope, pull out the note inside, and begin reading.

“Ava, I’m sorry. I had to catch a late flight last night and did not want to wake you. I will be in touch.”

The words don’t sound right when they leave my mouth so emotionlessly. I toss the note over to Dino. This is unbelievable.

“Do you even have his phone number? E-mail? Anything?” Normally that would be the most ridiculous question after spending so much time with someone. However, given the circumstances I regretfully prepare my answer.

“No.”

“Oh, Ava.” There is so much more in his voice than just words. There is pity, anger, concern, but most of all there is love. He feels bad that my heart has been crushed, but I also know he’s glad it happened.

I let him close enough to me so he can wrap his arms around me and hold me close. Comfort is nice, even if it’s just a hug.

“Your body is on fire. I don’t know how you lay under all those covers.” My body doesn’t feel hot to me, it seems normal.

“I’m just hot because we are in Mexico, dingbat.”

“You’re always hot.” His deliberately horrendous attempt to wink lifts my spirits so easily.

“Back to our normal lives soon,” I remind him.

Double crap! I haven’t checked my work e-mail in forever. Hopefully there were not a lot of tasks to accomplish while I was missing in action. Dino, being the gem that he can be, gestures for me to remain seated while he searches the room for my laptop. It’s like a cat trying to find a mouse. He gets down on his knees and looks under the bed, behind my dresser, until I finally cannot take it anymore. I tell him it is in the closet. Honestly, who would put a laptop bag under a lampshade?

He shrugs me off but can’t help but laugh at himself. As he hands me my laptop, he bends down and places a sweet, innocent kiss on the top of my head. “Ava, I’m sorry for everything. Get some work done and then we will go to dinner, just the two of us.”

Even though he’s a giant pain in the arse, moments like these make me remember why we are friends.

That’s not too bad, out of forty-five e-mails, only three are marked urgent and one happens to be a birthday wish. After reading through all the e-mails, I feel bad that I have been neglectful of my work e-mails the past few days.

Perhaps the smiley face on my part is a bit unprofessional and uncalled for, but it is tamer than a wink. Plus, it was very sweet of him to remember my birthday and actually send me a note when he didn’t have to. It is truly the little things in life. I will get a little trinket for him in the airport and put a nice little thank-you note on his desk when I get back.

Saying good-bye to everyone this morning was difficult. I will miss them. Now that Sofia is gone, I lack outfits to squeeze into. Therefore, I’m going to have to work with what I have. Shorts, T-shirt, and a pair of flip-flops. My natural waves fall to my breasts and unfortunately do not cover the stitches on my face. My big hazel eyes are still muffled by bruises that I can only pray will go away before I go home. My mother will have a field day with this. I slick on some mascara and lip-gloss, good to go.

“I’m ready!” I walk out of the bedroom, concerned by how quiet it is, making sure not to trip over my own two feet. Although one of the apparent perks of this newfound power is miraculously, I’m super light on my feet.

There Dino stands, dressed down like me. This is a rarity for the well-dressed Swedish man who prides himself on his appearance at all times.

“Come, we don’t have to travel far.” He extends his hand out to me and I take it. Directing me to remain still isn’t something I would normally go for, but these days I’m feeling pretty open-minded. My anxiousness grows as he places his hands softly over my eyes and leads me from behind. He tries to be as gentle as possible. We make a few movements, not enough to count and…

“Ta-da!” he yells as he removes his hands from my eyes.

This is beautiful. From here the brisk smell of the ocean glides across my nose. The fresh scent is heavenly. Waves are crashing upon the beach, while at the same time a peaceful Mozart melody is playing in the background. There are other trappings as well. The table for two is set out on our patio, with candles and black bows tied along the railing. He has even had the table and chairs redone to look like our own little restaurant. The tablecloth is a clean white and the chairs are covered in the same white material with black bows tied around the back, to match the bows on the railing. This is quite classy, and I’m loving it.

I jump up and down in excitement just a little bit, until a shooting pain takes over my whole body and forces me to keel over. Dino pulls out my chair and guides me to my seat, then takes a seat opposite of me. It is refreshing that tonight’s dinner is just the two of us. For a moment I thought he was secretly going to invite Dillion. Glad that my suspicions were wrong, I go back to enjoying the evening.

I look longingly at the shepherd pie in front of me. “You did all of this while I was working at getting ready?” The candles are dim lighting, but as the daylight ebbs further away, we are taken aback by the moon; it seems to be shining directly on our table.

“I did. You like?” Oh, that boyish grin; he’s so very pleased with himself as he gazes around his setup.

“I love it! It is amazing and totally unlike you to whip something up so fast.” He has never been one for kind gestures on his own; he would rather wine and dine on his own dime than actually put something together himself. Maybe if he did this once in a while for any of his numerous girlfriends, they’d still be with him

“So, Ava, we have been friends for a long time. Is there anything I don’t know about you? What’s your greatest fear?” Isn’t this quite the change of topic, but I can roll with it. Dino has always been random, but something about his recent actions and a stern warning from Aidan have me questioning everyone. It’s best to keep it light and airy and hold the rest of my cards close to my chest, for now…

All sorts of questionable sounds escape my mouth. “Come on, out with it, Buchanan.”

“But it is really silly.”

“I don’t care. You know I won’t judge you.” Until recently, I would have believed that statement.

“Fine. I’m deathly afraid of drowning.” Chills take over my body just at the thought of it. Petrified.

“So that’s why you avoid water at all costs? Why?” I knew everyone thought I was strange or the wicked witch who would melt if even just a toe was put into the water. I love the feeling over my toes in the water, yet I’m terrified.

“When I was a little girl, one of my first memories was Victor pushing me in the pool. My therapist said because of my PTSD my memories fade. Of all the memories I lost, that one remained. Our parents were grilling, and he and I were playing. Something happened to make him mad at me. He was so upset he pushed me in the pool. Thankfully, my dad turned around and saw me. He jumped in to save me, knowing I hadn’t had swimming lessons yet. I still can’t understand why Victor did that, knowing I couldn’t swim. Victor always had a temper, but I know it was just an accident. It doesn’t really matter now, since I tend to stay away from the water. My biggest fear is sinking on a boat with no way out…”

My mind fires on all cylinders, like I shouldn'thave exposed such a vulnerable truth to him. Yet, I was compelled to do it. Something is wrong with me when he’s around. All sense of self control is a struggle around him. Whether it’s to say what I want or keep hidden somethingclose to my heart. He persuades me, always has, I just haven't seen it until now.

"Come on, A. Let's get some sleep. When you get back you have to hit the ground running at work, and I have a fuck ton of meetings to plan."

"What meetings do you have? I thought you took a whole month off work?" His half-truths are starting to slip out.

"Ah, just for a side gig. I get paid more doing that stuff than my normal 9-5. You know how it is." He reaches for my hand, and I take it,hating myself for it. A vision fades from my mind asquickly as it enters. One where Dino already knew my fear. Victor told him. He just wanted to hear me say it.