Chapter 11
Sarah ran along with the crowd, Drake following close behind. They were on a street called Blue Jay Way, running around car after car and hundreds of people as they all left the stadium at the same time. She stopped at a wider street called Spadina, turned and headed north, walking away from the lake.
She was free. Rod had been left behind. The bracelet had been removed and there was nothing he could do about it now.
“How did you know who I was?” Sarah asked.
Drake caught up and walked beside her. “I saw your picture on the front page of the newspaper two weeks ago. I remembered thinking how I’d love to meet you one day. It was very brave what you did.”
They approached a red light. “Do you expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth.”
“So you saw a picture of me and two weeks later you see me at a ball game and that’s it. Here we are.”
“Yeah, that’s what I expect you to believe because that’s how it happened. Wait, why are you here?”
The light changed to green and they continued north over Front Street and then up to King Street.
“I came to save your life,” Sarah said.
“My life? Why? How did you know I needed saving?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Tell me. I have time.”
Sarah looked at him. “Maybe one day.”
She surprised herself at how she felt. Drake was gorgeous, if that was possible for a man. He seemed strong, witty, and brave, but she had no time to be interested in men. Someone tried to shoot him thirty minutes ago and he wasn’t crying like a baby.
“I see fire in your eyes,” Drake said.
“What?” Sarah turned to look the other way. Compliments sucked because they made everything awkward.
“Fire in your eyes. Your hair is stunning. Sarah, I remembered your face because it’s rare when a man sees a female as beautiful as you.”
“Drake, stop. Don’t give me any pick-up lines. I’m warning you, this could turn out bad. You are only looking at me — you aren’t seeing the real me. I’m dangerous. People have a habit of dying around me, or I end up having to kill them.”
He remained silent for a few steps, then said, “It’s an honor to know you, Sarah, but you don’t know anything about me. I just survived a grueling experience. An ex-girlfriend from high school, who I thought I would marry one day, tried to kill me, so I’m not afraid of your warning. I know it sounds corny, and we just met, but I feel I’ve known you for a long time and since you just saved my life, I’m indebted to you, or at least until I can save your life one day.”
Sarah snuck a glance at him. “Great. Look, I don’t want to sound unappreciative, but who writes your material?”
It was out before she could take it back. A part of her had no problem with such a hot guy hanging around and attempting to save her life, but the truth was, her way of life was too risky for others. Her stomach twitched, but not from fear or nervousness. It came from a place of anticipation, one borne of being a woman and feeling desired.
What the fuck are you thinking? A boyfriend? Are you crazy? You’ve never had one of those things. You don’t want one of those things. Fight it.
She looked at Drake and studied his jaw, his perfect nose, his stunning eyes. Everything about him melted her. Even his deep voice caused her to shiver.
Shit. What the hell is happening to me? This is stupid.
She saw what looked like a coffee shop on the other side of the street. She guided him to the left where they crossed Spadina and turned to cross Adelaide.
“What happened back there?” Drake asked. “How did you know they were going to try to kill me?”
“You were marked for death because of what happened to you recently, which I don’t have a lot of details on.”
“How come you’re here and not a bunch of cops?”
She looked up at his gorgeous eyes. “I don’t know. My sister has a sense of humor maybe? Is this place a good one for coffee?”
Drake smiled. “Absolutely. Tim Horton’s is the best. Come on.”
Before going in, Sarah scanned the street behind them. Nothing odd or out of place. No one followed them, as far as she could tell.
A moment later, she stepped in behind Drake in line. After ordering two coffees, they took a table near the back, Sarah facing the front to watch the door.
Drake asked why she was in Toronto.
“There’s not a lot to tell you,” Sarah said. “I’m what they call an Automatic Writer. Someone works through me to author notes about the future. I’ve since learned that that someone is my sister who passed away shortly after I was born. Here, I’ll show you what she told me an hour ago.” Sarah grabbed the note about Drake’s seat number and handed it to him, leaving the rest of the blank papers on the little table between them.
“Wow, I’ve never heard of this kind of thing before. I mean, I know there are psychics and stuff, but this is actually real.”
She could tell Drake was taken aback. Attempting to avoid direct contact with his eyes for fear of being swept away, Sarah told him about herself, some of what had recently happened in Europe and why she had gotten Drake away from Spencer.
“So you think Spencer was in on this somehow?” Drake asked.
“I didn’t say that. The note told me to beware of the cop and that he wants to kill me. Spencer took you to the game where you were supposed to be killed. To be cautious, I thought we needed to be alone.” She stopped and looked at him. “What I mean is…”
“I know what you mean,” Drake said.
There’s that fucking smile again. I feel like butter in the sun. It’s nice, but it fucking sucks too.
Drake went on for a few minutes, explaining what happened to him two weeks ago and what some girl named Monika and her brothers had done to him. Drake had barely survived, but with quick thinking and a lot of luck, he had gotten through his ordeal. Her respect for him went up tenfold.
She sipped at her coffee and watched the door, but no one who came or left paid them any extra attention.
Rod, you are going to be super pissed.
Sarah grinned at the thought.
Fuck him. I’m sitting with a real man.
“Innocent people died,” Drake said. “Monika and her brother Attila were killed. Their father wants revenge. As far as I know, that’s what today was all about. And all this because of falsified immigration documents.”
“I’ve had my share of dealing with immigration fraud. I’m sick of it. We need to do something because this has to stop. You can’t live under this threat.”
What am I saying? We have to do something about this? Since when is it we? Get it together, Sarah, there can be no we.
Her hand twitched and went numb.
“Oh shit,” Sarah said. “This is embarrassing. I’m about to blackout — ”
She opened her eyes and lifted her head off the wall. She had slumped sideways, saving herself from the all- embarrassing kiss-the-floor routine.
Concern and fear clouded his face.
He actually cares. Shit, I need a man in my life like I need a scorpion in my panties.
