Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 133

~ Timoria: Aslan ~

Nikolas shaded his eyes from the glare of the Atlanta afternoon sunlight. He squinted as he regarded his friend and ground out, "This isn't right. He knows we're following him. Dawn isn't here."

"There's no way he can know that," Tommy replied, patiently. He pinched the bridge of his nose and continued to watch Spiros from behind a pair of dark sunglasses. "I know you feel like the dream was more than a dream-"

"It was more than a dream," Nikolas said. He turned his back on Spiros and faced Tommy. "She and I connected somehow. I know we did. I also know that she's on an island somewhere and that she's scared about the baby. And that's not all I know."

"What else do you know?" Tommy asked. His eyes darted back and forth between his friend and their prey.

"I know that I'm wasting time here, and I have to go to her."

"Where, man?" Tommy questioned. He removed his sunglasses and looked Nikolas full in the face. "Tell me where and I'm with you. Spiros is the safest bet, but... An island, Nikolas? Which island? We're back here in the U.S. and there aren't too many islands to choose from. Do we go to Hawaii or Long Island?"

"I don't know, alright!" Nikolas furiously whispered. He spun away from Tommy. He made no apologies for his anger and frustration. Tommy's brief pat on his shoulder told him that none were necessary. "I just know that being here in Atlanta isn't right," he said after he released a long sigh. "He brought us here to trip us up, but he's all we got so we have to stay. I hate this, Tommy."

"I know you do," Tommy said softly. "Maybe it's time we split up. I can watch Spiros and track him until the others arrive. Maybe he'll lead me to something concrete."

"And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?" Nikolas asked.

"Follow the dream," Tommy told him. He nudged Nikolas and they both slowed their pace to match Spiros'. The older man darted inside a coffee shop, and the two young men wasted no time in following him inside.

To their relief, the shop was filled with enough patrons that their presence could be hidden. They chose a table in the back, which gave them a diagonal view of Spiros, and the young woman who had joined him at the table. Tommy smiled at the waitress who took their order and as soon as she left them, he said, "Who do you suppose that is?"

"I wish I knew," Nikolas murmured. His need to be someplace else grew stronger and he began to fidget. Tommy glanced at him.

"I meant what I said earlier, and I want to apologize for before," Tommy said. "If the dream got to you, I think you should investigate it. I can stay here and watch him, or I can go with you. Just tell me what you want."

"I want my wife back," Nikolas said, quietly. He accepted his coffee with a smile when the waitress returned. After she took her leave again, he said, "I want you to come with me, but I don't know where we're going. Maybe we should just wait until Father shows up and then we can figure it all out. I don't want to go opposite of where she could be."

"Yeah, but like you said before, time is wasting," Tommy said gently. "Spiros didn't just hop a plane to come here for nothing. I'm also having second thoughts about him knowing we're still on him. Look at him over there. He's playing up to that girl like he doesn't have a care in the world."

Nikolas frowned as he glanced at the other table. The girl was maybe a few years younger than they were. She glanced around in awe, as if she was taking everything in. She seemed a little intimidated by Spiros, but she hid it under false bravado. Nikolas wondered if Spiros was too intent on admiring her innocent beauty to notice.