Chapter 63 - How Do You Know Gabriel? (1/2)

Esme sat upright, the chill of winter now seeping through her clothes from where she lay on the now damp grass. She didn't know how long she stayed on the ground thinking about a past that seemed a lifetime ago but now she had to look forward and move on. Maybe her sins were paid by her blood, torture and almost death, though she didn't think that was the case; suicide was a coward's way out.

Pulling her hood over her head, her dark waves of hair framing her face and helping keep the cold at bay, she jumped to her feet and threw her bag over her shoulders as she casually walked back through the woods. Esme began whistling a joyous tune, aware of the rustling of leaves and the light scent of lavender following in the shadows. That scent had almost clouded her mind while she lay on the ground and nearly sent her into a blissful sleep. She chuckled under her breath.

”Is stalking a new pastime for you?” She questioned the lavender phantom, her eyes roaming the woods briefly before looking at the trail again. As expected, there was no response, so she arrogantly pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket and checked her messages. Maybe ignoring the phantom would lure him out to play.

But it didn't, and she found herself distracted by the address Lenny sent her and telling her he was free now, waiting for her with some champagne. ”Don't mind if I do,” She purred at the idea of rich man's champagne. Putting her phone away, she glanced over her shoulder, noting how the scent in the air had changed direction, but she knew well that the wind was a delusion, and the phantom could be anywhere. He was using the environment well.

With a nonchalant shrug, she saluted the air before setting off at a run towards the city. She didn't need anyone except Lenny knowing her location, and even then, she didn't want anyone knowing that Lenny knew her location. So, for the next thirty minutes, she raced down alleyways, turning, crawling, hiding and jumping on rooftops until she was sure she was alone. Still, she would have to be extra diligent going forwards.

Finally, Esme slowed down and leaned against the back of an alley staring at the clean, white apartment complex that almost seemed to shine. She assessed the Porsche and convertible leaving the underground garage and raised a brow in question. This was a far step up from the last place Lenny showed her, and she wasn't quite sure if having such an apartment was a good thing. Esme glanced down at her clothes and almost laughed aloud.

This damned gangster.

Lowering her hood, she forced herself not to fidget with her hair as she approached the glass doors that would not open. She pressed the button on the side and spoke through a speaker, her eyes unwavering from the concierge who sat behind a polished desk in front of a wall-length fish tank fitted with coral and colourful fish.

”Hey, I am here to see Lenny.”

With those words, a buzzing noise sounded, and the doors opened to the revolving door that she had to time and walk through with slight annoyance.

”Bit OTT,” Isana remarked dryly. ”I can't believe Lenny has jumped from the apartment with a bath in the kitchen to having human security and working lifts.”

Esme smiled both at her wolf's comment and to the suited man behind the desk with short curly brown hair and grey eyes. He was a looker, of course, he was; she didn't expect anything less now that she knew what sort of place she was heading to.

After pressing the button in the lift for the fifth floor, she waited and shifted on her feet nervously to the classic music playing. Exiting the lift, she followed down the sleek white hallways until she was at the far end knocking on the door and staring outside the floor to ceiling windows to the side of her, checking out the nighttime views.

”Esme!”

Esme turned and nearly struck Lenny in the face as he brought his lips close to her. But her quick reflexes relaxed when she realised he was greeting her with a kiss on one cheek and swiftly moved onto the other. Lenny chuckled. ”Normally, you return the greeting. Don't worry, kiddo, you'll have it next time.” He waved his hand nonchalantly then opened the door for her.

”You're lucky I didn't stab you,” Esme muttered, meaning to keep her voice low so he didn't hear, but the sudden greeting made her flustered and her voice louder.

Lenny chuckled again. ”Don't worry, I wear bulletproof and stab-proof vests under my suits. You never know what might happen, ” He grinned as they stood in the large hallway.

”You know, I can always test it out. Make sure it is stab-proof,” Esme replied with a smirk as she removed her trainers, eying the clean white marble floors.

Definitely not within her budget.

”With you, darling, I don't want to take my chances,” He raised his hands in surrender, looking at her deviously as though he knew more about her than what she made him believe.