Burying Water (Burying Water #1)(32)

“Because I know which Felix I’m calling when I call them. That’s how.”

“It’s a good name,” I agree, slowly, pressing my lips together to keep from smiling. Because something tells me she wouldn’t find my amusement . . . amusing.

Narrow eyes size me up. “You think I’m strange, don’t you?”

I blush, afraid to say anything to offend her. She may banish me from her property yet. “I think . . . you’re very kind.”

Her mouth twists up, like she doesn’t believe me. “Well, Felix is better than Jane Doe, I’ll tell you that much. Why on earth are you answering to that ridiculous name anyway? You can’t possibly like it.”

I can’t argue with her on that. It’s the first time anyone has even asked what I think about the name. “I feel like I belong in a morgue,” I admit. “And I need to find something else if I want a new ID.” Sheriff Gabe already has the judge and paperwork lined up.

“Well, then, give yourself a new name! It’s not hard. I don’t know why you haven’t done it already.”

She doesn’t get it. I don’t just want a new name. “I want my name.”

“Well, it doesn’t look like you’re getting it anytime soon, now does it? So maybe you need to let go of that idea.” She outright glares at me. “Count your blessings, girl. You get to be whoever you want to be, without the burden of your past.”

“Count your blessings” sounds an awful lot like “You should be happy.” I don’t feel blessed or happy. Relieved, yes. Standing out on that balcony of my new home, overlooking kittens running in the meadow, I felt a degree of comfort that I had yet to experience. But none of this overshadows the fact that I don’t have a life.

“But maybe I want to know who I was before I choose to start over,” I argue.

“Do you, really?” She pushes her chair out and stands abruptly, an annoyed air swirling around her. “The girl you were had her face sliced up, her teeth knocked out, her body violated. Do you want to remember all that? Because I’m pretty sure that brain of yours has decided it doesn’t want anything to do with the girl you were anymore. And if your brain is telling you that, then maybe you ought to listen.” She starts loading her arms with dishes, muttering, “Just give yourself a damn name and that will be your name! Who’s going to argue with you?”

Deep inside, I know she’s right.

Louder, she demands, “Now go home and start a fire. Your shivering is making me cold.” She stalks away, her arms full, her hip holding the door open just long enough for Felix the dog to scamper in behind her.

Great. First night and we’re already at odds. With a sigh, I tuck my hands beneath my arms and leave the porch, limping as quickly as my healing leg can carry me, her words weighing heavily on my spirit.

THIRTEEN

Jesse

then

“You remind me of a surgeon,” comes the accented voice behind me as I stand in front of the table, the various wrenches and socket sets lined neatly; boxes ready for the clamps and bolts and fasteners to the right, rags for my hands and the tools to the left, sealers and lubricants waiting to be grabbed. The Aston Martin manual open to the table of contents.

I’ve heard this before. The guys in shop class used to break my balls about it. I glance over my shoulder to see Viktor at the garage door, dressed all in black. “It helps the work go faster when you know where things are.”

“I see the hoist worked?” He eyes the seized engine now sitting on the ground.

“Yup. Easy.” It’s a good one. Not one an ordinary person would have access to. I don’t want to know where he got it.

He drops a notebook and pen on top of the tools. “Write down everything you need on here. The sooner you get the list to me, the sooner I can appropriate the parts.” He turns with the sound of the entrance gate opening.

An adrenaline rush hits me as the silver BMW pulls up. I can’t help but watch Alexandria’s long legs as she climbs out of her car, pulling her messenger bag out with her.

“Where have you been?” Viktor snaps.

“I had a midterm. I told you that.” Her tone is soft, but it only seems to anger him more.

“And I told you that I will not pay for these courses if they interfere with our lives.”

Obviously, Viktor isn’t too keen on the idea of her in school. That doesn’t surprise me. What’s going to happen when she actually becomes a nurse?

She dips her head and seems to force “Yes, Viktor,” through gritted teeth.

“Excuse me?” Ice slides into his words as he closes the distance. “Have you forgotten? Do we need to talk more about this when I get home later?”

She lifts her head, her jaw set defiantly. “No, Viktor.”

He pauses, his hand twitching at his thigh. “I don’t know what has gotten into you lately but I don’t like it, Alexandria. I didn’t marry a defiant girl and you are becoming defiant. Get inside.”

I turn away just as she storms past, her heels clicking fast and hard against the stone walkway.

“I give her everything she could possibly want and she is still not happy!” he mutters, and when I glance over, I realize he’s talking to me.

“They never are, are they?” It’s the only response I can think of. She definitely isn’t happy, I can say that much. I’m guessing he wouldn’t be either, if he knew what happened between his wife and me. Would he slap me like he did her? How would he react?