Endless

Roses | Ryan

I sauntered in just as the hospital shift was about to change, hoping to attract as little attention as possible.

The receptionist beckoned me closer, a concerned frown drawing her brows together. "Dr. Ryan, someone came looking for you here in the dead of night."

Splendid. Unexpected people asking for me never boded well. "Did he leave a name?"

She shook her head. "Good looking guy. A bit scruffy looking. Blonde." Her nose wrinkled. "I think he smokes."

Ah. Nikolai. The only griffon I knew who was insane enough to smoke. Seemed like he was serious when he threatened me about Ali. He probably got news about her 'death'.

"Thanks," I said. "If you see him again before you go, tell him we'll be right out."

"We?"

"Me and his sister." I forced a parting smile I didn't feel like and headed to my office.

Irritation dogged my every step. What was his problem? He'd been the first one to go rogue between the two of us, but somehow he kept acting like I was the one who couldn't be trusted.

Unless this was specifically about Ali.

To whom I had given my office's key and instructions to lock herself in until morning.

Who might not be here anymore. If she didn't trust me, she could be out there alone without anyone to help her. Or maybe she remembered the monster I was.

I walked faster and tried the door as soon as I reached it. Still locked. I let out the breath I'd held and knocked. "It's me."

The door opened and Ali stepped back, slightly pale. She wore a t-shirt, pair of jeans, jacket, and cowboy hat. All items from the lost and found.

"You scared me when you didn't knock first," she said.

Stupid of me. I must have terrified her. "Sorry."

She shrugged, then tried for a tremulous smile. Somehow, she made it look good. "Are we going now?"

I nodded. "Let me get you a wheelchair."

The moment I wheeled Ali out of the hospital, she smiled and lifted her face to the sun. She basked in its warmth. Drew it into herself like a woman starved.

Even with my morphine dose set to maximum, my true nature sat up to take notice. It wanted to snuff out her life and draw it into me.

I was in trouble.

I forced my eyes away and gulped in deep breaths. She needed my help. I couldn't betray that. Not after she'd changed my life.

Somehow, the memory of that fateful day calmed down my inner monster, but also reminded me that I was far from the only danger to her. I kept wheeling her away from the hospital. The faster I got her away, the better.

The fact that records of her stay existed burned in the back of my mind. If I could have, I would have destroyed all of it, but it wasn't possible. She was a prime witness in a terrorism investigation. Someone would notice if she disappeared without a trace, so I had to make her die instead and hope to God that no griffon got around to sniffing through the paper trail I'd left. It had been a pain in the butt just to keep photographers from seeing her. The heroine of flight 598.

With her dead, nothing would keep her identity secret. Unless her kin the phoenixes stepped up and killed the story.

All hell would break loose if one of the big players recognized her, and they would. As soon as they saw her. She was every griffon's Holy Grail. Another thing for which I was to blame.

"Are you sure this is okay?" she asked.

I tightened my hold on the wheelchair's handles and met her gaze. "Of course."

"You just seem...conflicted."

"It's okay. I can handle it."

I could only hope.

"Oh, hey!" Nick exclaimed, stepping out from behind one of the hospital's pillars. He had a nerve to sound surprised. "I heard you died." He dropped a bouquet of roses into Ali's arms. Orange, rimmed with red. I scowled at him.

He should have left when he'd gotten the news that Ali was still with the living.

Ali checked my reaction first, then smiled at him. "Thank you!" She inhaled the roses' scent. "What are they for?"

Excellent question. After the FBI interview, she'd asked me if she knew Nick as soon as I'd walked into her cubicle. I couldn't be sure at the time, but from the way he wouldn't back off, it was a safe bet that she did.

"Nothing," Nick said, smiling. "We got off on the wrong foot and when I heard you died, I felt bad. Then Ryan let me know you didn't and I wanted to apologize." He wore his most charming smile.

I rolled my eyes. "Touching gesture. Good day, Agent Parker." I made to push her past him, but he fell in with us. His cocky swagger set my teeth on edge. "Don't you have a case you need to be working on?"

"Now that you mention it, I need to talk to Aleria and see if she remembers anything."

"Still nothing, I'm afraid," Ali said, hugging the roses a little closer.

Was that a hopeless sagging of shoulders I detected on Nick? He caught me watching and recovered almost instantly. "Are you sure? Because if you did, I'm sure Ryan would tell you I'd understand."

She glanced his way, brows furrowed. "You're like him, aren't you?"

"You do remember," he said.

"Only that I know you." Her eyes searched his face. Sure enough, there was something in his expression. Almost like hunger... Or lust...but not quite. Yearning

No. Fucking. Way. Clearly I'd need to have a little chat with Russian Boy.

"How?" she asked, turning toward him in her eagerness to know. "When did we meet?"

"Don't," I commanded, but I didn't need to. He'd paled as if she'd asked him to die. Obviously, he had as little desire as I did to talk about anything leading up to a specific point in our lives.

Aleria wrinkled her nose at me. "Ryan wants me to remember on my own."

Nick's expression eased. "I see. I heard somewhere that it's the best way."

"And yet, I'd prefer to know and be done with it."

"You would," Nick said and squeezed her shoulder. The gesture was completely natural. Thoughtless as if he was used to touching her.

Ali tilted her head towards his hand slightly, but stopped short of making contact.

Nick's hand dropped away. "How are you two getting home?"

"Taxi," I said, frowning at him.

"Nonsense." Nick objected. "I have my car here."

"It's okay."

"No, no," he said, sizing me up. "I insist."

Ali's keen gaze shot between us. "Please?"

Her simple request was like a little stab to where it hurt most, but damn, how could I say no? Besides, Nick seemed intent on protecting her, which could only be a good thing. Pain in the ass though he was, I still trusted him.

I sighed. "In that case, show us the way."

Definitely a history there between Nick and Aleria. Let me know what you think! Also, let me know which color roses are your favorites? And your favorite flower, while you're at it. 

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