“What do you think?” he asked, taking a sip from his cup.
“I like it,” I said.
He shrugged. “I still haven’t got the blend quite right I don’t think. It’s too light and you can barely taste the blueberry flavor. But it goes down well.”
“You made it?” I didn’t mean to open my eyes so wide in disbelief, but they flew open anyway.
“Yeah.”
I took another sip. If it was possible, it tasted better.
“Wow. I didn’t know you sold blueberry tea too.”
“Just for me, really. Even if I wanted to sell it, it’s still not there yet.”
I shrugged.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out. It’s all about the right chemistry. Everything to do with food is.”
I felt his eyes pinned on mine and I froze, unable to move or I risked losing my dignity with another moan or something.
“Maybe you can help me find the right balance,” he suggested, and I gave a soft nod in response.
I couldn’t speak. I didn’t want to speak because I knew for a fact whatever came out wouldn’t be words whatsoever.
We sat there in silence, enjoying the tea and watching the pygmies eat for a little while. The more I watched, the more I settled into the couch, but also the more reality sank in. I wasn’t going home after this. This wasn’t a fun visit for tea and dog cuddles before I returned to my reality.
This was my reality. And I had no idea what it entailed.
“Can…can I ask you something,” I said, putting my empty mug down and turning to Dare.
“Of course.” He smiled. “Anything.”
I held his gaze and took a deep breath before I asked with far more composure than I felt inside, “What…what’s the plan?”
Dare pressed his lips together and set his own cup down.
“I’ll be honest, Zach. I don’t quite know yet.”
“You-you don’t?”
He nodded.
“I’m kinda making it up as I go. But I know I’m not going to let that man hurt you and I’m going to do everything in my power to find him.”
“Okay. Can I help?”
“Is there anything you can tell me about him? Who is he? What does he do?”
I lowered my head and sighed.
When I left him I had hoped I wouldn’t have to talk about him ever again. I didn’t want to dredge up the past, but the past had come back to haunt me. Hell, it had come back to terrorize me, so I had to.
“His name is Victor Lombardi. He is a banker. Or that was what he told me when we first met.”
Dare narrowed his eyes.
“He did not work banker’s hours. And he carried a gun around so I’m pretty sure he was a criminal. But I have no idea what kind.”
