The Siren (8 page)

“Why do you hate me so much?” She yanked off her oversized sunglasses. “Because I hooked up with Jason Ward in high school? That was a million years ago!”

I took a step toward her and kept my hands at my sides so I didn’t punch her in the face. “No, Shannon. It’s because I trusted you! I thought you were my friend, and you betrayed me!”
 

She threw her hands into the air. “You told the entire school I had syphilis!”
 

I laughed. “Yes. I did! But only because you hurt me. There, I said it. You were my friend and you hurt me.”

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t respond.

I let out a deep sigh. “Now, I’m not going to pretend I like you because you know I don’t, but I’m willing to try and get along since I don’t have much of a choice. So, will you please stop acting like the drama queen you are and come back and sit down at the damn table for lunch?”

She pressed her lips together and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
 

I offered her my hand. “Truce?”

She eyed it, and then looked at me. Her shoulders sank, and she huffed as she shook my hand. “Truce.”

6.

After lunch, the four of us walked along the river, visiting the shops and acting like a group of normal friends. Shannon insisted we go on a gondola ride, so we did. I settled under Warren’s arm at the rear of the boat. The sun was dipping lower and lower on the horizon, and the heat was starting to taper off for the day. The gondola driver was giving a detailed history of the area, and Shannon was listening intently with Nathan a few rows ahead of us. I stared up at the deep blue sky and enjoyed the feeling of my head against Warren’s shoulder.

He nodded toward Shannon up ahead. “So, did the two of you kiss and make up?”

I shrugged. “I called a truce. You’re right. I don’t want to be miserable the whole time we’re here. I can go back to hating her with full force when we get home.”

He laughed. “That’s my girl.”

“Sorry I was so bitchy this morning,” I added.

He pulled off his black sunglasses and hooked them on the front collar of his shirt. “I’m getting more used to it, but I don’t think we’re ever going to get along in the mornings.”

I scraped my fingernails down his thigh. “We get along just fine when I wake up with you still in my bed.”

He chuckled. “How many times has that happened? Maybe twice?”

I dragged my nails back up. “Maybe, but wasn’t it very well worth it on both occasions?”

He tightened his arm around my shoulders. “You start talking like that and I’m going to make him turn this boat around.”

I settled against him. “It wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

He looked down at me. “Can you believe we’ve only known each other for six weeks?”

My head fell to the side. “Six weeks? Are you sure that’s all?”

“Crazy isn’t it?” He motioned down to his watch. “I’ve been counting. This is the longest relationship I’ve ever been in.”

I laughed. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I guess it’s a by-product of emanating fear to everyone you meet. I mean, the bad-boy thing kinda works for me for a while, but it doesn’t last.” He smiled. “It’s nice to be treated like a normal person when I’m with you.”

“What is normal?” I laughed as we passed under an arched, stone bridge.

“True.” He leaned his head against mine. “Can we talk seriously for a sec?”

I rolled my head to look at him. “Sure, I guess. Talk about what?”

“If it’s all right with you, I’m going to leave my stuff at your place when I leave next month,” he said.

I frowned. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

He was drawing circles on my shoulder with his finger. “We have to talk about it sooner or later. I’d rather get it over with.”

“Of course you can leave your stuff at my house. You know that.” I perked up a bit. “Wait, even the car?”

He nodded. “Even the car. Please don’t wreck it.”

“I promise I won’t.” I crossed my heart.

“Also, before I leave I’ll have to update my paperwork with the government. I’m going to make you my power of attorney, and if something were to happen to me while I’m gone, everything will be left to you.”

My heart felt like it forgot to beat for a second. “I
really
don’t want to talk about
that
,” I said, poking out my lower lip.

“Sloan, they wouldn’t be recalling me if this wasn’t for something major. This is probably going to be really dangerous, and I want you to be prepared for worst case scenario.”

“You’re going to make me cry again,” I warned.

He shook his head. “No more crying.” He squeezed my shoulder. “I also want you to know, if something does happen to me, you should stick close to Nathan. He knows about what you can do and the weight it brings. He’ll take care of you.”

My mouth fell open. “Are you seriously giving me your blessing to be with Nathan if you die?”

“Hell no.” He laughed. “If you end up with him after I’m dead, I’m going to haunt the shit out of both of you.”

“You promised you’re going to come home to me,” I reminded him.

He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Always.”

I crumpled a little in my seat at the thought of a world without Warren in it. Even in such a short amount of time, I realized how completely dependent on him I had become. Being with Warren was like needing to breathe oxygen. Considering the migraines, I was beginning to wonder if it was even physically possible for me to go on without him.
 

I reached over the side of the boat and cupped a handful of cool water. I splashed it on my face and laughed. “Geez, I’m going to need to get off this boat and do some serious drinking.” I flicked the rest of the droplets onto his face.

“I could get on board with that plan.” He sat up straight and craned his neck to see over the people in front of us. “Hey, Nate!”

Nathan turned to look at us.
 

“We did your girl’s boat ride. After this, my girl wants to go to a bar!” Warren called out.

Nathan smiled and gave us a thumbs-up.

* * *

An hour later, we were at Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub. Nathan and I were drinking beer, Warren was drinking straight whiskey, and Shannon was sipping a cosmopolitan that had seemed to offend the bartender to make. Thank God she had taken off her ridiculous hat because it might not have fit in the crowded room. We were huddled around a small wooden table near the bar that backed up to a piano where a man was singing Irish drinking songs.
 

“Anybody else think it’s weird to have a bar this Irish next to the Alamo?” Nathan asked, holding up a napkin with a bright green shamrock on it.

Warren laughed, and I looked around at them confused. “Who fought at the Alamo?”

Nathan’s eyes rolled toward the ceiling like he was searching his memory.
 

Warren pressed his lips together as he stared at the back of the piano.
 

Shannon’s head fell to the side. “The British?”

I shook my head as I finished the last of my second beer. “That’s definitely not it.”

“You want another one?” Warren asked, nodding to my empty glass.

“Please,” I said and gave him a peck on the lips.

He stood up and walked to the bar.

Nathan was still thinking. “Davy Crockett was there, but I’ll admit I only know that because of the Disney movies.”

“Maybe we should tour the Alamo tomorrow and find out!” Shannon shouted over the music.

I leaned back in my chair. “I was thinking about going to that really pretty Catholic church we passed down the street on our way to the hotel.”

Nathan’s head tilted in surprise. “Are you serious? I didn’t know you went to church.”

“And you’re not Catholic,” Shannon said.

I shrugged. “I have a theory I want to explore.”

“What kind of theory?” he asked.

I drummed my hands on the table. It was sticky. “I want to see what someone there can tell me about angels.”

Nathan’s eyes widened, and he straightened in his seat. “Really?”

“Angels? Why?” Shannon asked.

“I’m just curious.” It wasn’t a lie. “I have some questions.”

Warren placed another frosty mug of amber beer in front of me. “Questions about what?” he asked.

I looked over at him as he sat down with another tumbler of Jameson. “I was telling them I think I might go by that cathedral we passed earlier today and see if I can talk to a priest or something about angels.”

“A priest.” He nodded his head. “That could be interesting.”

“What do you want to know?” Shannon asked. “I’m not Catholic, but I am Baptist, and I’ve heard about angels all my life.”

I was surprised at her willingness to talk to me and actually try to be helpful. Perhaps it was the vodka. “What do you know about them?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Well, the Bible says they are beautiful and they sing and they announced the birth of baby Jesus.”

I looked at Warren. “Well, that theory is out. Your singing sucks.”

“Amen to that,” Nathan said, raising his beer.
 

Warren laughed and sipped from his glass.

Shannon finished off the last of her drink. “The angels in the Bible are like messengers. They told Mary she was going to have Jesus. They told the shepherds in the field when Jesus was born, and they told Mary Magdalene that Jesus had risen from the dead.”

“How did they tell them?” I asked.

Shannon pushed her chair back and used her hands for wide gesturing. “They came down from the sky, dressed in white and shining like the sun, and they said ‘Fear not! I have come with good news for all people!’”

The people in the bar were staring at her.

“Fear not,” I repeated. I looked curiously up at Warren before turning back to Shannon. “Were they scary?”
 

She shrugged. “I dunno. A man walking out of the sky would scare the bejeezus outta me.”

I leaned into Warren and lowered my voice. “Fear seems to fit with you.”

“But not with you,” he added.
 

She started counting on her fingers. “There were angels who guarded the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve got kicked out. There was also the Passover angel who killed the first-born sons in Egypt and the angels who protected Daniel in the lion’s den.”

“So angels have different jobs?” I asked.

She tossed her hands up. “Beats me. That’s all I know.”

“Thanks, Shannon.” The words felt strange as they left my mouth.

She smiled. “Sure.”

Nathan leaned toward Warren and pointed his finger between me and Shannon. “Did a pleasant exchange just really happen here or am I drunk?”

Warren laughed. “The world might be coming to an end, man.”

I elbowed my boyfriend. “Shut up.”

Nathan waved to our waitress. “I think this is cause for celebration.” The waitress stepped over to our table. “Can we get four Irish Car Bombs?” He held up four fingers.

“Oh no.” I shook my head as she walked away. “Liquor and I are not friends.”

Nathan shook his head. “You and Shannon aren’t friends either, but obviously anything is possible.”

I laughed. “Yes, anything is possible. Me dancing on tables and picking fights with strangers is certainly possible.” I tipped my beer up to my lips again.

Shannon shoved Nathan in the shoulder a little harder than she obviously intended and sloshed his beer onto his lap. “Did you tell them your good news?”
 

He sighed as he sopped up his lap with a napkin.

I glanced at Warren who seemed as clueless as I was. I looked at Nathan again. “Good news?”

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and wadded up the napkin. He drummed his fingers on the sides of his glass. “Yeah. The FBI officially offered me a job.”

“Really?” Warren asked. “That’s awesome, man.”

“Where is it?” I asked.

He looked down at his beer. “I’ll do training in Virginia, and then I’ll probably be working out of Charlotte.”

My heart sank a few inches. “You’re moving again?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Well, I don’t know yet. I haven’t given them a definite answer.”

My lower lip protruded. “Everybody’s leaving me.”

Warren squeezed the back of my neck.

Nathan looked at Warren and pointed at him. “Are you leaving?”

It was Warren’s turn to appear uncomfortable. He nodded. “Yeah. In a few weeks. I’m being involuntarily recalled to the Marines.”

“You’re joking?” Nathan said, pushing his beer away from him.

Warren shook his head. “Unfortunately, not.”
 

“What do they want you for?” Nathan asked.

Warren turned his palm up. “Who knows? I’m pretty sure they are sending me to a combat zone for something. They hinted they’re looking for someone specific, but I’m not certain who it is.”

“Have you checked the most wanted list? Even if it’s global terrorism, the FBI might have them listed,” Nathan said.

Warren shrugged. “No, I haven’t checked. All I know is they want me back and I don’t have a choice in the matter.”

“I hate to hear that,” Nathan said.

I wasn’t so sure that was true.

Unable to think any longer about Warren leaving, I looked at Shannon. “What will you do if Nathan takes the job in Charlotte?”

She shrugged and smiled at Nathan. “We haven’t decided yet.” She reached over and squeezed his hand. “I might be able to transfer to a station out there, but we haven’t seriously talked it over.”

Nathan looked grateful when the waitress reappeared with a tray of four dark beers and four milky shot glasses. She passed them around. I looked at the drinks in front of me. “You’ve all been warned that I might get belligerent, and Warren, I hope you’re prepared to carry me to the hotel.”

He smiled and leaned down to kiss me. “Gladly.”

* * *

Forty-five minutes and another round of shots later, the bar was beginning to swirl in and out of focus. Shannon had convinced Nathan to dance, and I had decided to sit in Warren’s lap instead of on my chair. I looped my arms around his neck. “I’m dizzy.”
 

He smiled up at me. “I can tell. I’m wondering if I might actually have to carry you out of here.”