Aris Reigns (20 page)

He drew Sarah to him, speaking softly into her hair. “Stay within Gabriela's sight at all times. Please, no insane chances.” He moved her to arms-length, scrutinizing her face. “In a short time you will be invincible but until then, remember, you are the fragile human woman I love and I expect you to return intact.”

She wound her fingers into his thick dark curls, kissing his beautiful mouth as her answer.

Lost in saying their goodbyes, neither of the three noticed the dark rental car parked in the cell phone lot. Kitsuko's Immortal vision watched Aris say goodbye to his human with a smile. A dream come
true. Four days alone with him without the blonde standing in her way. She had confidence she could convince him of the folly of his choice of mates.

As she pulled out of the lot to follow Aris back to the Catacombs, she noticed a car just like the one that had crashed into her in London. At first she thought it was a coincidence, but as it passed her, she recognized the driver as the driver that banged into her car. “
That's strange. Could there be any relationship between Aris and that man?”
She put the episode out of her mind as her thoughts returned to the next four days without Sarah.

CHAPTER 25

A
s Colleen squealed away from the curb at O'Hare International Airport, she hollered over her shoulder at Sarah sitting in the back seat. “What kind of crazy person flies over an ocean for four days.” She directed her next comment to Gabriela sitting next to her. “And you? You're crazier than she is to come along.” She turned on her blinker and changed lanes. “I don't know why people drive so damn slow on the tollway. Makes no sense to me.”

“Thanks for picking us up. I'm kind of sorry the baby is sleeping and Bob is home with her. I can't wait to see her.” Sarah leaned toward the window looking up at the familiar skyline. “It seems like forever since I've been in my own apartment.”

“Yeah, your little short trip to London turned into a month. You're lucky we all love you. Bonnie's been working her butt off taking care of your peeps and hers while you've been out in la la land.”

“Don't try to make me feel guilty. I talked to Bon and she's loving it. She's made enough extra money to finish financing the new sofa and chair she wants.”

“Yeah, well we miss you anyway. How come you can only stay for a couple of days?”

“An art exhibit in Spain. The London gallery owner has set up a meeting with a Spanish colleague. We're going there to meet him and
see the gallery. Aris asked me to go with him and I don't want to miss it.”

Wide-eyed at the name she just heard come from Sarah's mouth, Gabriela turned in her seat to stare at her friend as Colleen spoke. “Who's Aris? I've never heard you talk about him before.”

Sarah cleared her throat. “Well, I guess there's no time like the present. Carlos has changed his professional name. He doesn't want to be constantly connected to his gang-banger life anymore.”

“Yeah?” Colleen was incredulous. “When did that happen?”

“Well, he's been talking about it for a while. He says he's felt like a different person since his near-death experience. He's living a brand new life and he wants a new name to go along with it.”

“Okay. I sort of get it. But where did he get a name like Aris?”

“Someone who greatly influenced him in his life. I really like it.”

“I guess it's okay.” Gabriela breathed a silent sigh of relief as Colleen accepted the story. “Does he want us all to call him that? I think it's going to be kind of hard if he does.”

“He would like it if everyone would call him Aris.”

“I'll do my best. I've never known anyone who changed their name in mid-stream before. Is he keeping his same last name?”

“No, he isn't going to use a last name. Look C., it really isn't that difficult once you get used to it. You'll see.”

“No last name, huh? That's kind of weird, don't you think?”

When there was no answer to her question she continued. “Like I said, I'll do my best. I promise, but don't get pissed if I mess up now and then.” She pulled up outside Sarah's building. “Do you girls want company or are you ready to call it a night.”

Sarah glanced at her watch. It was almost one in the morning. “I'm pretty tired, C. My jet is lagging.” She leaned toward the front seat to kiss her friend goodbye. “We're going to see you and Bob tomorrow night for dinner, so I think we'll just go in and collapse.”

“No problem.” She got out of the car to embrace the two tired
travelers. “See you guys tomorrow.”

As Sarah stepped into the revolving door taking them into the lobby of her building, she felt like a stranger in a strange land.

They all relaxed in their chairs as they finished the last sips of wine in their glasses. “That was a great dinner.” Sarah folded her napkin and stood along with Colleen and Gabriela to begin clearing the table.

“No, ladies. I'll take care of that. Take the baby and go sit in the living room and catch up. I'm glad to do this.” Bob began stacking the dishes as the women slid their chairs under the dining room table.

“That was a far cry from the meals you cooked when the two of you were first married.” Sarah wrapped her arm around her friend as the three women left Colleen's police detective husband to take care of kitchen duty. “I remember those little hot dogs wrapped in dough you used to always serve. This was a real adult meal.”

“Thank you, I think.” Colleen laughed as she poured a splash of brandy into the crystal glasses resting on the coffee table. “Now, tell me everything.”

“Why don't you catch me up while we wait for Bonnie and Jack. I'm glad she's still seeing the fireman. He's a really nice guy.” She lifted the glass to her lips, the familiar fragrance of the golden liquid made her mouth water.

“This tastes amazingly good, C. You've turned into quite the hostess. What happened?” She laughed as they settled in to hear all about the metamorphosis of Colleen Stevens, hard-as-nails parole officer who would never be tied down, to Colleen Stevens-Drake, loving wife, mother and budding chef. She planned to return to work when Collette began school, but for the moment she was really
enjoying being a stay-at-home mom.

The doorbell rang as Bob wiped his hands on a towel and shut off the kitchen light. “I'll get it.” He opened the door for Bonnie and Jack. Their greeting was warm and happy as they all settled in around the coffee table. Sarah kept them busy with questions, asking about what she had missed in the weeks she had been away. Bonnie promised to fill her in on her clients when the two of them had time alone to talk about Sarah's business.

“The baby has grown so much.” They all turned to look at the little girl sleeping next to her mother on the sofa. Her little mouth trembled in a tiny yawn as she made fists with her miniature hands. “She looks just like you, C.”

“Enough about us, we want to hear everything about, well, about everything.” Bonnie leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “I mean it, everything.”

Sarah told them about the London art world. She explained to all of them the name change of the man they thought they knew so well and was surprised at how easily they accepted her story. She related how Aris was taking England by storm and was invited to show in Spain. Her American friends sat, enthralled with her account while Gabriela marveled at her devious mind.

“And, I've saved the best for last.” They all waited for her to speak, each one knowing what she was going to say. “Aris has asked me to marry him. And, I've said yes.”

Colleen whooped, jumping from the couch to grab her friend and hug her. Noticing the baby was jostled awake, Bob picked her up and rocked her back to sleep before she began to fuss. Bonnie rushed Sarah and wrapped her arms around her. Jack sat on the sofa, a silly grin on his face. It was a laughing, crying huddled group of women that Bob and a sleeping baby joined in congratulations.

All of her friends fit into the booth for brunch at Saul's Deli, Colleen and Bonnie on one side, Sarah and a slightly slimmed down Maggie on the other. Gabriela pulled a chair to the vacant end of the table and sat half in and half out of the aisle. They laughed and joked while they looked at the menus, but ended up ordering their usual breakfasts. The waitresses welcomed Sarah back after her long absence and kept all of the women's coffee cups filled to the brim.

“Okay,” Maggie was the first to speak about the up-coming marriage. “You will, of course, be married here in Chicago.” Her statement was matter of fact as if there was no doubt at all.

Sarah played with the paper from her straw. “Well, we're not sure. His time schedule is so crazy right now we might just get married in London.”

“Is it legal for you to do that?”

“Of course it is. All we have to do is post the banns, wait fifteen days and say our vows.”

“Really? It's that easy?”

“Honestly Maggie,” Colleen spoke in between sips from her coffee cup. “It isn't the getting married that's hard, it's the getting un-married.” Maggie giggled as she looked at the engagement ring on her own finger.

“Well, easy or not,” Bonnie joined the conversation, “I think you owe us big for all the years we've put up with you being man-less. You have to get married right here in Chicago so we can give you away.”

“I know I owe you, but we don't honestly have the free time right now to plan a big ceremony.” An embarrassed smile on her face, she continued. “And I miss him. I don't want to be on this side of the ocean planning something that is for both of us. We're just going to say our vows quietly in the U.K.”

Colleen's voice could be heard clearly above the buzz of the restaurant. “No, I really don't think you are. How can you do this to us? And what about your mother? And your grandmother? We
all want to be there. Hell, who cares about these guys,” she gestured at Bonnie and Maggie. “I want to be there. I was the one who sent Carlos, crap, I mean Aris, to you in the first place.” She grumbled, “I don't know why the hell he had to change his name. The name Carlos is perfectly respectable.”

“I know it seems hard to call him something different after knowing him as Carlos for so long.”

“No, I'll get it sooner or later. We'll all help each other. Aris. It's such a strange old-worldly name. I've never heard it before.”

“It isn't so strange. It isn't like he's the only Aris on the planet.”

“Don't try to change the subject.”

The waitress brought their breakfasts on a huge tray. Gaby stood to make it easier for her to place the plates on the table. When she sat again, the ladies began to eat. Colleen continued talking, browbeating Sarah as she dumped half a cup of ketchup on her home fried potatoes. “Come on, Sarah. We'll take care of everything. All you have to do is let us know when you can come into town for a couple of days. That's all it'll take. We'll make all the arrangements. Nothing fancy, just something simple. We all want to be there, hon. It's a big deal to us too.”

Sarah knew her friends were right. If she could survive changing into an Immortal and going through the vampire war, having a wedding in Chicago wasn't too much to ask. “Okay, okay. I'll talk to Aris. I'm sure he'll agree. I do want all of you to be there. Now, can I please eat my breakfast in peace. I'm starving.”