Free Do Or Die (Surreal Blue Rogue Agent 1) by E.R. Baine Page B

with
a small smile, .
    Elyzabel
looked at her with a mischievous smile on her face. “Was Llewellyn like that?”
    Audrianna
settled down on the pillow, folding her arms. She screwed her mouth up into a
small moue, her mind away on other things. Elyzabel laughed at her expression
and got up and started unpacking clothes that Audrianna could wear and some
toiletries, placing them on one of the other vacant beds.
    She
listened quietly to the two disc jockeys on the radio.
    “You
don’t find it is just dark-”
    “ Every morning now. Normally you could tell when the sky is cloudy, but I just feel
every morning it’s just dark.”
    “Just
dark-cold and dark…” Audrianna reached for the phone and placed it on mute.
    She hugged
herself and rubbed the sides of her arms, eager to dispel the unnerving feeling
that crept into her body with thoughts of her ex.
    A
chilly, unannounced breeze swept through the room, and the curtains billowed. She
looked towards the window over the green, distant hill tops. A waning howl from
an unknown animal could be heard in the distance. She rubbed her arms up and
down. She felt restless, and anxious all at once.  A small tap on her shoulder
from behind made her jump.
    “What
do you think of, my dear?” A soft whisper in her ear made her smile and turn
towards the calming voice. Her priest, Father Arie John, chaplain-in-residence at
their local New York estate church, looked upon her fondly.
    Audrianna
reached over to caress his strong hand on her shoulder, and squeezed. “Father
John, it is so… comforting to have you here.” And a surprise, Audrianna
thought silently.
    “Still.”
Viktor came upon them both from behind. “There was no need for him to rush over
to pay you any attention. She is well and in good spirits, dear Father.”
    Audrianna
rolled her eyes heavenward.  She often grew tired of the cat-and-mouse game
played between these two. Viktor made no bones about disliking the young priest
who often assisted Audrianna on her excursions in visiting charitable institutions
abroad. And Arie felt no need to ignore her husband’s distaste of him.     
    Arie
kept his eyes on Audrianna. “I merely wished to be soundly reassured in her
countenance, good Viktor. In that, a face-to-face meeting is always best.”
    Arie
sat down in the chair beside her that Lincoln had occupied. He held her hand
gently. “Now, how are you feeling?”
    “Umm.”
Audrianna glanced surreptitiously over at her husband, whose body exuded waves
of menace towards the young man. “I can’t say that I hurt anywhere.”
    Arie
was about twenty-seven years old with dark hair, not nearly as black as
Viktor’s. It was short in a neat style cut above the ears. His eyes were light
blue. His nose was smooth, long and straight, but not protruding. He had
handsome, rugged features, and a grin that made women lament the Catholic
Church.
    “Who
told you about what happened?” Viktor demanded. Folding his arms, he stood
looking down at Arie right beside the priest.
    Arie
looked up, sighing. “Lincoln told me. I had been calling you, but I am afraid
my calls got sent to voicemail.” He turned to Audrianna. “I am truly sorry if I
have disturbed your recovery.” He bent over her, bracing each side of the bed
with his arms. “Lincoln was kind enough to send the private jet to pick me up.
You look worn out.”
    “Not
at all, I feel fine.” Audrianna raised her shoulders up and down as though to
prove she was well.
    “You
heard it from v’e monkey’s mouth yourself, she is fine-you may leave,” Viktor
said.
    “Emph,
umph!” Elyzabel hit her chest repeatedly with her hand and stifled a short
laugh by placing the other hand over her mouth. She waited patiently for her cue
to help Audrianna get dressed and ready to leave the hospital.
    Arie
shot up to his full height, which had an advantage over Viktor by two inches. “I
only wish to comfort her in her time of need.”
    Viktor
looked dumbfounded, and then