Dragon's Kiss - 8. Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Haje pushed the shopping cart behind Vincent, his gaze on his cellphone. He’d called Levin ten times in the past thirty minutes; voicemail had picked up each time. He’d left messages, short and concise at first, then long and annoyed, that last one he might have added a colorful word or two. Sliding his finger over his phone, he was disappointed to find no messages. What was Levin doing at nine o’clock in the morning? Didn’t he go to work anymore?

Haje let out an aggravated sigh and looked out the supermarket windows. Here he was, trolling behind Vincent in the supermarket like a normal person. He couldn’t believe his mother had sent him and Vincent to get groceries. This had to be a plot to get him back to normal. Not that he knew what normal was anymore, his normal had ended the moment he’d woken up in a hospital bed to find Shin dead. The stab of pain in his heart at the thought of Shin was getting familiar.

Returning his gaze to his cellphone, he found Levin’s number again. Maybe he should leave a text message this time.

“Ow,” Vincent exclaimed making him jerk his head up in surprise.

Vincent had his hand on the front of the cart, forcing Haje to stop. He frowned when Vincent leaned down to rub at the back of his left leg.

“You’re not looking where you’re going.” Vincent complained an irritated frown gracing his features.

“Jeez, I’m sorry,” Haje tried an apologetic smile. “I was-

“Staring at your phone,” Vincent said his brow raised in accusation. “Are you expecting a call from a hot date?”’

Haje shrugged and shoved his phone into his pocket. “Maybe,” he said gruffly.

Vincent scoffed and dumped a bag of oranges into the cart. Haje surveyed the contents in the shopping cart.

“Are you trying to win a medal from mom? Where are the potato chips, the peanuts, the Cheetos, you have to get Cheetos.”

“You’re healing. You need healthy meals.”

“You eat healthy meals,” Haje grumbled. He let go of the cart and went in search of the junk food section. Vincent found him deciding between roasted or baked peanuts.

“What’s going on with you?” Vincent asked standing a few feet his grip on the shopping cart handle way too tight.

“I can’t decide whether to choose roasted or baked, what do you think?” Haje reached for both cans and read the ingredients. “We should get them both.”

“I’m not asking about peanuts; buy the whole aisle if you wish,” Vincent snapped.

Haje dumped both cans into the cart and kept walking down the aisle looking for Cheetos. Preferably a huge big bag that would last, if he couldn’t get anything done this week, then he’d indulge in self-pity. Nothing soothed self-pity like hours spend in front of the television watching movies. He and Shin used to do it when they were young, heck even during the college years. After a bad test, or bad shit happening, they’d hibernate in front of the television for hours.

He found the Cheetos and took the biggest bag available. Vincent hadn’t moved from the peanut area. Taking two bags, he returned to the cart and his exasperated bodyguard.

“Are you done?” Vincent asked. “Should we get you a big bar of chocolate?”

“I don’t like chocolate.” Haje gave him a small smile and nodded to the checkout line. “We should get going.”

They went through checkout in silence. Haje helped Vincent load the bags into the car when they left the supermarket. Vincent took the cart back when they finished and he sneaked a glance at his cellphone. He frowned when he found no messages from Levin. Getting into the car, he leaned back in his seat worried.

Vincent drove to the beach after they left the supermarket. They hadn’t bought any groceries that needed the fridge right away, so Haje didn’t ask. Vincent removed his sandals and urged him out of the car.

“We can take a walk, maybe go swimming,” Vincent said as they headed for the busy beach.

Haje shrugged. He didn’t know about swimming but walking sounded good. A soft sigh escaped when his toes sunk into the warm sand. He’d forgotten how soothing it felt to walk on sand.

****

In Colston, Jaxton Donovan walked into Vivian Strausse’s office barely holding his frustration. The weight of his job heavy on his shoulders, he pulled out one of the armchairs before Vivian’s desk.

“Shin Young’s research was extensive, based on the Cambodia incident. He was under the impression Zavier ordered that massacre. His research must have triggered the murders; obviously Sang thought he might know Zavier’s location.”

“Are you certain Zavier’s is uncompromised?” Vivian asked with a frown.

Jaxton scowled. “I’m the only one who knows where Zavier is right now. I moved him the moment Shin and Virgil died. Good thing too since Shin’s research had the address to Zavier’s last facility.”

Vivian sighed and sat back in her seat. “What’s next?”

“This wouldn’t have started if we had told Shin about Cambodia. Secrets always come back to bite, Vivian.”

“The corporation had its reasons; there is nothing I can do about them.”

“Their actions created a monster they can’t hide anymore,” Jaxton pointed out. “The detective on the case is asking questions we can’t answer without exposing the foundation. Four of our elite researchers are dead and one is marked for assassination. Not to mention Haje Young whose life is in danger?”

“You’re too close to this.” Vivian shook her head. “Zavier chose his life; it’s not your fault that he’s ended up on the run.”

“I convinced him to work for your foundation, Vivian, with the promise of a comfortable career. Of course it’s my fault.”

Vivian shrugged. “Strausse Corp. values Zavier and his work. As long as he completes his projects they will protect him.”

Jaxton sighed and stood. “What do you want to do with the sniffing detective?”

“Handle him, Jaxton. Keep the corporation and us out of it, feed him whatever information you want as long as it gets him off our case.”

“You’re cold,” Jaxton said shaking his head. “What about Shin, Virgil, Henry and Tom. Their families want justice for their deaths.”

“What do you prefer, justice or Zavier’s life?” Vivian asked raising a brow at him. “Choose one, Jaxton, because there can’t be both.”

******

Inactivity was a bitch mistress, Haje thought as he walked along the beach. He couldn’t stand being unable to visit those properties on Shin’s map. It worried him that Levin hadn’t called him back or replied his messages.

Maybe he was dead, Haje thought his steps faltering, like the first two detectives.

“Whoa,” Vincent’s hands landed on his shoulders and he gasped.

He’d forgotten how quiet his bodyguard could be, constantly on his heels like a shadow, Haje frowned.

Vincent’s hands on his shoulders made him think of the past two nights since they’d arrived at his aunt’s house. Twice now, he’d woken up in Vincent’s arms, the scent of him in every pore. The feel of his chest, how safe he felt in Vincent’s arms, he closed his eyes remembering. The nightmares faded when he was with Vincent.

“Haje,” Vincent said in a soft rumbling voice that travelled through him. “We should sit for a while.”

Haje met concerned blue eyes a split second before he looked around the busy beach. Kids built sand castles while their parents lounged on towels reading or talking. Two girls ran past them and into the water. Vincent squeezed his shoulder.

“We could try the water?”

Haje shook his head. “You go ahead. I’ll just walk for a while.”

“We came here to relax, you’re just thinking,” Vincent pointed out.

Haje shrugged and kept walking. A few minutes into his walk, he turned to Vincent and gasped when he found he was alone. Panic filled him and he stopped, his gaze searching the beach. Right when he was starting to worry, he saw Vincent emerging from the ocean.

Water sluicing down his body, Haje bit his lip as need slammed into him without warning. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from Vincent’s sculpted chest and abdomen. His gaze followed the drops of water chasing down Vincent’s stomach, along a dark trail of hair that disappeared into red and orange swimming shorts.

“Want to try the water?” Vincent asked again, when he reached him.

Haje swallowed hard. “Can’t,” he mumbled trying not to stare at Vincent.

“The water’s great,” Vincent said with a startling smile. “You’ll love it.”

“My cast will get wet.” Haje said knowing it was an excuse.

Vincent sighed. “Are you done stomping u and down the beach?”

“I was walking, not stomping, and are you done showing off your abs?”

Vincent laughed. “So you noticed?”

Vincent picked up his discarded t-shirt watching Haje with a raised eyebrow. Haje scowled when Vincent used the t-shirt to wipe his face instead of wearing it. “I was starting to think you really weren’t gay.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has to do with everything, Haje,” Vincent grinned.

“I’m going home.” Haje turned to leave the beach not sure he wanted to flirt with Vincent. He didn’t have time for flings not when his brother’s killer was roaming Colston at will.

A cold hand grabbed his right elbow and dragged him to a stop.

“Thirty minutes, Haje,” Vincent said when he turned a questioning gaze. “Levin Cooper can wait that long.”

“What?” Haje asked.

“You’re obsessed with calling that man for information about your brother’s case. I know you’re determined to get your brother’s killer but can’t you take a second to be grateful that you’re alive.”

Haje pulled his arm out of Vincent’s hold. “I don’t need you to tell me what I need to do.”

“You’re not allowing yourself to grieve for your brother. You’re so caught up in the case and catching your brother’s killer, you’re neglecting your health.”

Haje shook his head. “You’d love it if I stopped, wouldn’t you? Protecting the precious foundation when you don’t even know the kind of people you work for, maybe you are not facing reality.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Haje bit his lip berating his temper. He couldn’t let Vincent find out about the drive in his suitcase, or Shin’s map. He shook his head and ran a hand down his face.

“I’m sorry, I’m just-, it’s not easy being here. The last time I was here was with Shin and there are just too many memories.”

Vincent held out his hand. “Want to talk about it?”

Haje stared at the offered hand. “About what?” he asked.

“Your brother, Shin. Tell me those memories you’re thinking about,” Vincent said and sank onto the sand. “Sit, Haje.”

Haje took Vincent’s hand and sank beside him on the sand. Staring at the waves hitting the shore, he asked, “What do you want to know?”

Vincent squeezed his hand and bumped his shoulder. “Anything, when did you and Shin come here.”

He smiled because that was an easy memory. “After we graduated from college, we came here for the summer. Shin called it a celebration. He was the wild one. He’d cheer up a room just by walking in; I never got bored with him around.”

“Is it true that twins can sense things about each other even when they’re far away?” Vincent asked, his tone teasing.

Haje chuckled. “Once or twice, usually we just made good guesses. When we were kids, we’d try to play tricks on my mum and exchange clothes, but she always caught us. We could never fool her.”

“I can imagine everyone else had a hard time.”

“Yeah, especially when we decided to dress alike, and get the same haircut,” Haje said with a laugh. “Grade school was so much fun.” Haje sighed. “I miss him, Vincent.”

*****