The Scribe

Chapter Six

Leo flipped through channels on the television as he ate another massive sandwich Ava had ordered from room service. His accent sounded Russian, but he reminded Ava of a giant happy Labrador with his gold hair and cheerful disposition. They sat in the hotel’s library, which doubled as a lounge. Books lined the walls and a television sat in one corner, streaming international shows from all over the globe. Ava was processing images on her laptop, so Leo had turned on the television.

She’d met her new bodyguard that afternoon after Malachi had called him to meet her in the hotel lobby.

“Who’s this?”

“This is Leo. He’ll be guarding you tonight if you need to go anywhere.” He’d handed over a small slip of paper. “This is his number. You already have mine.”

Ava had turned to Leo. “Hi.”

The blond giant gave her a boyish smile. “Hello, Ms. Matheson.”

Malachi said, “She likes to be called ‘Ava.’ Don’t leave her unguarded; you have my number.”

Then Malachi had turned and walked away without a glance back.

Asshole.

Ava turned to Leo. “Care to come inside? I was just about to order room service because I don’t feel like going out. I’ll buy you dinner since you’re on babysitting duty tonight.”

She saw Malachi pause at the door. She’d never once invited him into the hotel. They always met in the lobby.

“Sure,” Leo said. “Thanks!”

Malachi half-turned, then stopped, meeting her eyes over his shoulder before his narrowed and he spun around again.

“Night, Mal!”

Now she was wishing her silent shadow would return. There was nothing wrong with Leo; he was friendly as a pup, but he exuded energy, not calm, the way Malachi did. His internal voice bounced and jumped, almost always cheerfully, but much louder than Malachi’s did. And though his voice held the same odd resonance, it felt slightly out of tune. All in all, his presence was distracting.

A voice from the television caught her attention.

“What was that?” she asked.

Leo lifted an eyebrow. “What?”

“The TV.”

He’d already flipped past the channel. The one he’d stopped on looked like a soap opera set in Topkapi Palace.

“Turn it back.”

“Turn it back to what?”

Ava stood and grabbed the remote.

“Hey!”

Not that. Not that. Not that… There.

“Him.” She pointed at the TV. It was a news program, and an old man was being interviewed on the screen. “That man. What language is he speaking?”

Leo frowned. “That’s Farsi. It’s a Persian program; I’m surprised they even have it at this—”

“No.” Ava shook her head. “I’ve heard Farsi. I’ve been to Iran. That doesn’t sound like Farsi.”

The bodyguard shrugged. “Well, it is. His accent is odd. Let me…” Leo’s voice trailed off as he listened intently. After a few minutes, he said, “He’s Assyrian; that’s why it sounds different. He’s speaking Farsi with an Assyrian accent. They’re interviewing him for a cultural program. It’s just a different part of Iran. The accent is different.”

Her heart sank. “Oh.”

“Why did you want to know?”

“I didn’t… It just reminded me of a language I heard once. That’s all.” Ava watched the old man for a few more moments, memorizing the rise and fall of his voice before she handed the remote control back to Leo. It had to be a coincidence, but for a brief second, the man had sounded like he was speaking the silent tongue of the voices she’d heard her whole life. Ava had studied languages. She’d traveled the globe, listening to accents and intonation. The peculiar rhythm of foreign lands. She’d spent years searching for the language that haunted her.

She was never successful.

Leo was still watching her, clearly suspicious of her excitement over the news program. She concentrated on the computer screen, ignoring him, but his silent voice was colored with curiosity.

Ava tried to change the subject. “So how many languages do you speak?”

“I…” He hadn’t been expecting the question. “I’ve never counted, to be honest.”

“That many?”

Leo shrugged. “I’m not fluent in all of them, but I speak many. It helps when you travel.”

“Have you worked for Malachi long?”

“We, uh, we work for the same company. He’s more senior than I am, but we’ve both worked for the company a long time.”

“Oh?” She continued fiddling with the color balance on one file. “You’re not from Istanbul, I’m guessing.”

“Outside Moscow, originally. But I’ve traveled a lot.”

Ava snorted a little. He couldn’t have been older than his late twenties. Of course, she knew firsthand you could cover a lot of ground when you wanted to avoid home.

Leo asked, “How about you?”

“Malachi didn’t tell you?”

“No.” His answer caused Ava to look up. He’d finished his sandwich and was wiping his mouth. “He wouldn’t. He hardly talks at all except to yell at me and my cousin if we drink his beer and don’t replace it. He’s known for being very focused when he’s on a job.”

For some reason, Ava found that endearing. It sounded like her shadow was a cranky old man to more than just her.

“I’m from L.A.”

“Really?”

“Yep. And I hate it.”

Leo laughed, a deep chuckle that filled the lounge and made her smile.

“So that’s why you travel all the time? Because you don’t like home?”

“Among other reasons.” She couldn’t concentrate on her work. Leo’s silent voice was alive with excitement, like a little kid just begging to play. She finally snapped her laptop case shut. “Why don’t we go for a drink? There’s a café on the corner. I feel like getting out of here.”

“I don’t know…”

She could tell he was uncomfortable with the idea, but Ava knew drowning out Leo’s presence would be easier in a crowd. Hopefully, he could blend in with the group of people and create a white noise affect that wouldn’t pierce her temple.

“Okay,” she said, standing. “How’s this? I’m going to go for a drink because you’re not, in fact, my babysitter. Then you can follow me, like I know Malachi told you to do. You can either sit with me or lurk suspiciously on the edge of the room. It’s up to you, but I’m going.” She packed her laptop in the case and walked down the hall to her room. Within moments, she was back in the lobby, and Leo was waiting, glancing at his phone like he was expecting a message.

Ava nodded at it. “You already tell on me?”

“It’s just… Malachi said you usually stay in at night.”

“That’s when I’ve been walking all day. I’m not tired. I want a drink.” She brushed past him and opened the door, nodding at the burly doorman on the way out. “See you.”

She was barely at the curb when Leo caught up with her.

“Are you always so stubborn?” he asked.

“Yes.”

The man was looking around as if he expected commandos to come pouring out of the fashionable doorways of the Sultanahmet. Ava shook her head.

“Seriously, Leo, relax. You’re too young to worry this much.”

“Haha.”

“You’re not even going to drink, are you?”

“Not if I want to remain living.”

Ava was halfway through a bottle of very mediocre red wine when she noticed it. First one had drifted in. Then another.

“Whoa.”

“What?” Leo looked up from his phone. He’d been madly texting someone for the last ten minutes. Ava was guessing Malachi was busy. Too busy to worry about her, anyway. Poor Leo. He was tense, poised on the edge of his seat like a dog waiting for a command. He hadn’t drunk anything, not even the tea the waiter had set in front of him at the café that looked down to the water. Ava had visited before, but not at night. It was a decidedly different crowd. A football match was playing on the television, and young people of every nationality hung on the score. It was definitely a tourist place, but a friendly one. And that night, it had more than its share of very pleasant scenery.

“You probably haven’t noticed unless you’re into guys, but this bar has suddenly become hot guy central.” She looked around in wonder. It couldn’t just be her imagination. Every woman in the place seemed to be under a spell. The whole place was full of wildly handsome men. “Is there some kind of… modeling conference in town? Fashion week or something?”

“I don’t know,” Leo said tersely, still typing madly on his phone.

“This is so weird. I mean, I’m not complaining—”

“Whatever you do,” Leo interrupted as he stood. “Do not leave this spot. I need to make a call, and I need to be able to see you through the window.”

She sneered automatically. “Hey, buddy—”

“I’m serious, Ava.” He did look serious. “Don’t leave. And avoid talking to anyone if you can. I’ll be right outside.”

Her eyes narrowed as she watched him walk away. Leo glared at one of the handsome men who sat in the corner with two women draped over his arms. The man turned and locked eyes with Ava; she glanced away, looking for Leo, but he was already outside. What was with him? Was one of these guys with his ex-girlfriend, or something?

There was the one Leo had passed, sitting by the door with two women. He looked like someone she’d seen in an underwear ad. There were two other men sharing a table on the opposite side of the bar. They might have been brothers with their stunning blue eyes and dark brown hair. They were currently the focus of at least five fawning women. There was a blond by the hallway leading toward the restrooms, and still another sitting directly across from her, giving her sultry dark eyes that did absolutely nothing but make her think of a self-absorbed actor she’d dated once in college.

“Whatever,” she muttered and refilled her glass. She was starting to get a perfectly nice buzz that was helping to drown out the voices. The last thing she needed was bossy men ordering her around or coming on to her. She was tempted to leave the place, just for spite. But… She wasn’t going to waste a perfectly good—well, adequate—bottle of wine.

One of the men across from the bar winked at her, then the one who’d been standing by the hallway came up and sat in the chair Leo had occupied.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“None of your business.” He looked shocked, but the whole situation was giving Ava goose bumps. What was the game here? She didn’t get it. There was something going on, but the wine had muffled the voices, making it harder for her to read the intentions of the man sitting next to her. She looked around the place. She was in a pair of old jeans and a T-shirt, hadn’t even attempted to dress up. Why was this guy talking to her? She had no illusions about her own beauty. Ava knew she was moderately attractive, but she wasn’t the kind of woman who turned heads. Certainly not heads that looked like they belonged in fashion magazines.

“I’m just curious. You’re a beautiful woman, and you’re all alone.”

“Yes. Happily alone.”

Keep telling yourself that, Ava.

Stupid wine.

“But you weren’t alone earlier.”

“Your point, Einstein?”

“Did your boyfriend leave you here?”

“None of your business.”

“So he is your boyfriend? Do you know what he is?”

What? Ava took another drink. This guy wasn’t making any sense. Maybe it was a language thing.

“You know,” she said in a low voice, sliding closer. “I’d really like you to…”

He leaned in. “What?”

“Leave.”

Hottie’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you know just who your boyfriend is, do you?”

Irritated, Ava blurted out, “He’s not my boyfriend! But he will take care of you if you don’t leave me alone. Now.”

Well, that made him happy.

“So he’s not your boyfriend! May I join you?”

She squinted. Yep, buzz definitely getting spoiled. “Are you deaf? No! Are all Turkish men this forward? Do I look like I want company?”

He said something she really didn’t listen to. The noise from the television seemed louder. Had the bartender turned it up? Hot Guy was still talking.

Was it some kind of game? A bet? She looked around, but none of the other men were looking at them. In fact, even Mister Wink Wink across the bar was looking away. Ava was starting to get nervous, and she really wished Leo would come back. She pulled out her phone and saw that he had just texted her.

Meet me by the door I left through.

Normally, she’d ignore him. After all, he worked for her—or her stepfather. Whatever. She didn’t have to do what he said. She finished the glass of wine and narrowed her eyes at the handsome man who still looked like he expected Ava to fall into his bed. He was watching her like she was the most fascinating thing in the world.

“What are you?” he whispered with barely contained excitement.

“I’m an American photographer. It’s really not all that exciting.”

“I don’t think that’s what you really are.”

Weirdo. He might have been handsome, but the guy did nothing for her. She was about to pour another glass of wine when she heard her phone buzz again. She looked down. It was Malachi’s number.

Ava, go to Leo. Now.

“Ugh.” Her head fell back and she groaned. “Bossy men. Damn bossy men. Who the hell do they think they are?” She’d tell them off in person.

Ava stood and picked up her purse. As soon as she did, she felt a hand on her arm. It was Hot Guy, who had morphed into Mr. Intrusive.

Okay, not cool.

“Hey!” Feeling bold with wine, Ava rounded on him as she yanked her arm away. “Do not touch me, do you understand? Did I give you permission to do that? Did I indicate in any way that I wanted your attention, mister?”

The man’s green eyes widened in shock.

“You pulled away from me.”

“For heaven’s sake, do you really think you’re God’s gift? Get over yourself, buddy!”

She was starting to draw attention. Luckily three-quarters of a bottle of wine meant she didn’t really care all that much. She was only a block from her hotel, after all. And there was always—

“Leo!” She grinned, her annoyance forgotten. She turned to the pushy stranger. “Now this guy? He’s a catch. For one thing, he’s handsome without looking like he’s been airbrushed, because really?” She waved a hand in front of the guy’s face. “Are you wearing makeup? I mean, whatever, if that’s your thing, but see, Leo here—”

Leo cleared his throat. “We should go, Ava.” He was trying to steer her toward the door with a hand on her shoulder, but Ava ignored him, still talking to Hot Guy.

“See, Leo’s got the confident-without-being-arrogant thing. You need to learn that. Because girls don’t usually go for… a guy who looks in the mirror more than they do.” Ava giggled as she looked around the place. “Well, obviously not some of these ladies, but where I come from… that’s probably a bad example. Still—”

“Ava.” His low voice sounded across the bar. She turned, stilling immediately when she heard it. Heard him. Their eyes met.

There you are.

Even slightly inebriated, she was shocked by how the realization hit her.

He was here. And he belonged with her.

Malachi strode into the room, looking rough and angry. His shirt was torn at the collar and there was a bandage across his ribs. He was still the best thing she’d laid eyes on in… ever.

“You’re here,” she murmured, letting his voice wash into her mind. Relieved. He was relieved, but worried. She reached out for his hand. She knew if she could just hold it—

He dodged her at the last minute, slipping around Leo’s back and standing between the stranger and Ava, pressing a warm hand to the small of her back. She could feel it through her shirt. The heat. The calm. She wanted to surround herself until she lost her mind in his.

“Let’s go,” he said, pushing her toward the door.

As soon as her feet started moving, she came out of her daze. “Hey, I’m not—”

“You’re done. We’re going back to the hotel. I’ll explain more there.”

“You’d better. And I don’t appreciate—”

She broke off when the man with two women, who was sitting by the door, leaned toward her as she walked by. There was a snarl, then before she could blink, Leo had shoved her behind his back, and Malachi had the gorgeous man pinned against the wall of the bar, his hand around the man’s throat. The girls at the table started shrieking and calling for the owner.

Ava peeked from around Leo’s back, and she heard Malachi whisper, “If you want to survive to see the dawn, come no closer. My dagger hungers for your neck.”

She gasped. “Holy shit!”

Leo spun and almost shoved her past Malachi and the other man, dragging her onto the sidewalk outside the bar.

“What the hell was that?” she yelled.

“Ava, let’s get going.”

She shook off the hand that had reached for her shoulder. “You people are maniacs! Get away from me!”

Ava was practically running toward the hotel. She could see the doorman sitting outside the door, smoking one of the sweet cigarettes he always carried. She could smell the waft of tobacco reach her nose a second before a hand grabbed her shoulder. Malachi spun her around, then immediately raised his hands in surrender.

“Let me explain, Ava.”

“Explain what? How you threatened to stab some guy because he was making a pass at me?” She backed away from him, inching closer to the doorman with every step. “He wasn’t even making a pass at me. He leaned in my direction, and you—”

“There was a girl almost killed tonight.”

“That’s horrible.” She kept backing away. “But what the hell does that have to do with me?”

“Those men are…” She saw him give Leo a panicked glance. “They’re… in a gang.”

Liar. She shook her head. He was lying; she could hear it.

“And that gang is the one responsible for this girl’s attack. They specialize in… human trafficking, and they’re targeting foreign women traveling alone.”

He was just making things up as he went along, but his voice… His inner voice was still panicked. Worried. He was lying, but it was out of fear. Something had frightened the big, bad bodyguard, and it had to do with her safety. That reason alone caused her to take a deep breath and stop backing away from him. Logic, even the fuzzy logic she had to work with from all the wine, told Ava that if Malachi wanted to harm her, he’d had plenty of opportunities in the week and a half they’d already known each other. He’d had her alone many times. So obviously something else was going on.

She asked, “What does this have to do with me?”

“There were four of them in that bar, Ava. One attacked me earlier as an associate and I were rescuing a girl they had kidnapped and almost killed. We have a standing assignment from our bosses in Vienna about this organization. They’re active all over the world, and for some reason, they’re targeting you. We don’t know why.”

For the first time, his words had the ring of truth. Ava took a deep breath. She still felt like there was something she wasn’t seeing, but at least some of what he said made sense.

“Carl,” she muttered.

“What?”

“My stepfather, Carl Matheson. He’s rich as Midas. Richer, maybe. In addition to being a film producer, he also has all this family money. Shipping. Oil. He’s loaded. If it’s human trafficking, they probably want me for ransom. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has tried.”

Or succeeded. She tried not the think about the awful week when she was eight. Routine, they had called it. The monsters who had taken her in Brazil had laughed and called it a routine kidnapping when they teased her. One girl for one million dollars. A respectable week’s work. She hadn’t slept through the night for a year afterward.

Malachi said, “That must be it. They’ve become bolder, and I don’t know why.” He stepped closer cautiously. “I’d like to stay at the hotel. I called already and booked the room next to yours.”

And just like that, she was pissed off again. “Didn’t ask me, did you? Did you ask Carl? Is anyone going to even pretend to keep me informed?” She spun around and walked toward the doorman. He frowned for a moment before he said something to Malachi in Turkish. Malachi barked back, then the doorman shrugged and opened the door to their group.

“Some security you are,” Ava muttered. “I was told this hotel had the best security in the city. I stayed here for that reason. I don’t need handlers. I don’t want someone watching me eat breakfast and following me to the bathroom, Malachi.”

A wave of embarrassment washed over her as she walked to her room. For a few days, she’d almost felt normal. The voices were quieter. She was going out and touring a city she was growing to love. She’d forgotten Malachi had been hired to look out for her. She’d felt like she had a friend who enjoyed her company. Enjoyed spending time with her. Maybe even…

She was foolish to have forgotten. Other people got those things. Not her.

“Ava.” His voice was softer, pleading. She refused to turn around. “I’m trying to keep you safe.”

“By getting a room in my hotel without even asking me?” she asked in a hoarse voice. She had to get away from him. She was seconds away from crying. “By ordering me around like I’m a child?”

“Please—”

“I’m going to bed now. I don’t want to talk to you. I’m tired, and we’ll talk more about this in the morning.”

He fell silent. She could feel the warmth of his hand inches from the nape of her neck. His breath stirred her hair, then he drew away. “Fine. I’ll be in the room next door.”

“I don’t want to know that,” she said. “I’m pretending…”

That you’ll meet me tomorrow for breakfast, just because you want to see me.

That we’ll tour the city, and you’ll joke with me, and the voices will be a little easier to bear.

I’m pretending… that you’re my friend.

“I’m pretending you don’t exist, Malachi. Stay away from me tonight.”

She slid her card in the lock, then quickly walked in and shut the door. She turned the dead bolt and the sliding lock, then she walked to her window and checked the locks there, too. When she was sure her room was secure, she sat down on the bed and waited to hear him leave the hallway. After a few minutes, Malachi moved toward the lobby, talking to Leo in Turkish.

Seconds later, she pushed back the tears that wanted to surface, and her phone was in her hand.

“Mom?”

“Ava!” Her mother’s voice was brimming with excitement. “Isn’t it late there? I’m so glad you called! How are you liking—”

“These guys Carl hired, Mom. They’re out of control.” Her voice was shaking with anger. “He needs to dial them back, or I’m ditching them completely. You know I can.”

“But Ava—”

“They practically shoved me out of a bar tonight because some guy was making a pass at me. You know me. I can take care of myself, and they went way overboard. I’m surprised no one called the police. Is that the kind of publicity that Carl wants?”

“Who—”

“And one of them is staying at my hotel now! He says there’s some kind of threat against my life! Has there been a threat and you haven’t told me? I mean, I know shit happens, but you’ve always told me if there has ever been any specific—”

“Ava, shut up!”

Her mother never raised her voice. She shut up immediately.

“I want you to listen to me very carefully.” Her mother’s voice sent chills down her neck. “Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“The man Carl hired quit over a week ago. There was some sort of scheduling conflict, and I convinced him you were perfectly safe since you were staying in the city. Ava… he didn’t hire anyone else.”

She sat on the edge of her bed, breath coming in small panicked bursts. “Mom…”

“Whoever these people are who say they are guarding you, Ava, they were not hired by us. Do you understand?”

She nodded, but no words left her mouth.

“Ava, are you still there?” Her mother’s voice was panicked. “Carl!”

“I’m here, Mom.”

Lies. Lies. Lies.

It was all a lie. Ava had never felt more vulnerable in her life. The chill at her neck spread. She heard her mother and Carl muttering in the background, then her stepfather picked up the phone.

“Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“This man, he’s been following you for a week?”

“Yes. We’ve… been friendly. He seemed nice. Very professional.”

“Does he have any idea you suspect him? Did you tell him you were calling home?”

“No.”

There was a pause. “I’m calling my contacts in Istanbul as soon as we get off the phone. In the morning, there will be a package waiting for you at the front desk. I want you to find out who these people are.” Ava heard her mother protesting in the background, but Carl’s voice was cold and clear. “If you’re threatened, if you’re in danger at all, use it. I know you know how. We can take care of any fallout after you’re safe.”

Ava took a deep breath. “I understand.”