Page 39 of Walking the Bird

Standing, Eleni took several steps as she gathered her thoughts, choosing her words carefully so as not to tell the secrets she held deep within her soul. While she may hate Alex Nakos with every fiber of her being, she’d never risk the lives of his team members.

“Over the past few years, my husband and I have tried to conceive a child. When traditional efforts failed,” Eleni rolled her hand for emphasis, receiving a head nod from Derek in understanding. “We sought the advice of a professional. Given my health history—”

“Which is?” Derek interrupted, intrigued someone as young as Eleni could have issues.

“I had a heart attack when I was in my early twenties, which did a considerable amount of damage, leaving me with the heart of an eighty-year-old chronic smoker.” Her description was reaching, physical therapy and dropping all the weight had improved her condition, but not cured it.

“I’m so sorry, Eleni. This must have put an immense amount of pressure on you.”

Returning to her seat on the sofa, Eleni nodded her head, swallowing the emotions which threatened to choke her.

“Alex is gone a lot,” she huffed, raising her face to the ceiling as a feeling of stupidity washed over her. “This trip was the first time we’ve seen each other in months.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, Eleni, but there appears to be something wrong with my computer.” Standing to his full height, “There’s a computer in the next room I was using prior to running into you.”

Alex didn't botherto hide the smile crossing his face as he stepped over the threshold of the boathouse. Mr. Hoodie was face down on the ground, a handful of cocked guns pointed at his head.

“Friend of yours?” Slate looked up from his cell screen, tipping his chin at the individual on the floor.

“One of Ryan’s actually,” Bending down, Alex gripped the center of the hoodie, rolling the man over onto his back. “Found this fuck lurking outside a staff entrance. I recognized the hoodie from last night.”

Lowering his gun, Ryan joined Alex on the floor, ripping the hoodie from the individual's head.

“Why am I not fucking surprised?” Alex tossed, standing to his full height. “Good ole Ziere, our trusty fishing guide.”

“And not the motherfucker I saw last night.” Ryan added, shoving Ziere back to the floor.

Eleni struggledto see in the dark space, gripping the railing tightly as she followed Derek down the steps.

“I apologize for the poor lighting, Eleni. This space does not usually see much traffic.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I know the owner,” she joked, trying to ward off the unease she felt. “Otherwise, we might get security called on us.”

“Beautiful and witty, what a deadly combination.” Derek tossed over his shoulder as he twisted the handle of the massive door at the end of the stairwell.

Eleni jumped back as the door opened, flooding the stairway with the thunderous sound of rushing water.

“It’s not much further,” Derek shouted over the sound. “Two more flights and then a walkway.”

Nodding, Eleni stepped over the threshold, allowing the massive door to shut behind her. She tried not to think of where the water was coming from, but as she grew closer to the end of the final set of stairs, a thought hit her like a ton of bricks. The elevators where she met up with Derek were located on the first floor, he’d taken her downstairs to his office and now there were a few more. One thing she knew as a lifelong Floridian, there were no basements below sea level.

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