The Family Man

Chapter 20

"Are you saying you were a Roman soldier?" I asked.

"I was born Marcius Thracius. Roman soldier and, before my wife was murdered, a senator of Rome," Eric replied. I stared at him trying to digest what he had told me. He waited patiently for me, giving me time to think. If I hadn't seen him die, I would have thought him insane.

"You're like... 2000 years old," I stuttered.

"And barely a day wiser," Eric admitted. His eyes dropped to the floor. "I should never have added myself to your list of problems. That night you came over...well, I was weak, and you were beyond my ability to resist."

"I thought the same of you." I smiled which caught his eyes. He looked up.

"I wiped out a whole village and was rewarded with fame and a senatorship."

"And immortality," I added.

"No, that was the curse." Eric stood and dug his hands into his pockets. "There are things you should know, reasons why we shouldn't have..."

"Made love," I filled in for his reluctance. Eric nodded and turned away. His mind was working on the next words, something he thought I didn't want to hear. Confessions are a bitch.

"I know some things already," I said, sounding guiltier than I intended. He turned back to me with eyebrows raised. "I thought you..." I paused, adding a smile to make sure he knew I thought it all idiotic now. "I thought your interest in Maria was something else." Eric thankfully laughed, probably kicking himself for overdoing his standoffishness in the beginning.

"I hired someone to look into you," I said, cringing when his laughter stopped. In for a penny, in for a pound. "I'm sorry, the police are going to talk to you."

"Did you talk to them?" Eric's face tightened.

"Not on purpose. The private eye was murdered last night, and my case file was missing." Eric's eyes went wide, something akin to terror. "I tried to leave you out of it, but they think you're part of some elaborate con." Eric stepped back. "I couldn't lie to them," I said.

"Where's Maria?" Eric's voice was ominous as if our previous discussions no longer mattered.

"With Jake, at his place." Eric pulled out his phone, ignoring my need for an explanation.

"Jake, it's Eric. I need you to listen carefully. You and Maria need to get out of your apartment. I'll meet you someplace public. The zoo is open, by the bear enclosure." There was a brief pause, Eric's hand stalling my questions. "No! Do it now, leave everything..." Eric's face became confused, and he pulled the phone from his ear and looked at its face. The call was dead.

"What are you into?" I demanded. Something that involved my daughter. Eric ignored my question and tried to reestablish the call. He failed.

"We're leaving," Eric ordered, pulling me out of the room.

"Is someone after you?" I accused.

"Not me. He's after Jake and Maria," I yanked my hand away from Eric. He turned toward me with moisture heavy in his eyes. "We have to go now!"

Eric's concern was real. The mother in me went into panic mode. I ran after him, duplicating his speed to the car. Once we were moving down the road, ignoring all posted speed limits, Eric spoke again.