An Illicit Gentleman

                    Chapter Twenty-Three

 AJ went to turn his head but something was blocking it.  He wasn’t ready to wake up yet but his curiosity got the better of him, he wanted to know what was in his way.  His eyes fluttered open and he slowly lifted his head up.  Eve laid with her back against him, his head rested against hers, his arm was almost asleep as it laid under her, his other arm wrapped over her, and their fingers were tangled together.

Laying his head back down on his pillow he remembered the events from the night before, taking her out to dinner, going for a drive along the coast, the walk along the beach and the pier, and then returning to their room.   Lightly he kissed her bare shoulder as he remembered them making love until the early morning.  His cell phone started ringing and he carefully rolled over trying not to disturb her but trying to answer his phone so that it wouldn’t wake her either.  Quickly he flipped it open and put it to his ear.

“Hello?” He spoke, his voice still groggy and raspy.

“Mr. Mclean, this is detective Hurtz with the LA Police department, I am calling because I was told a Ms. Evelyn Deiu is with you.” The man said on the other end.

“Yes she is” AJ said as he slipped his arm from under her and sat up.  She mumbled and rolled onto her stomach and slid her arms under her pillow.  “Does this have something to do with Mats?” AJ asked as he sat up.

“This is about his accomplice, a snitch in the jail Mats is in over heard him talking about his partner following you to Florida, and we are currently interrogating him but we still don’t know what the man looks like, I needed to call and inform the both of you.” The man said.

“Ah, ok thank you.” AJ said trying to assess the situation.  

“I will contact the Orlando police to have them keep an eye on you.” The detective told him.

“Yes, yes thank you.” AJ nodded.

“Alright then, if I get anymore information I will call.”

“Ok, again thank you.” AJ said before the two said goodbye and hung up.  Flipping his phone close he brought the metal case to his lips, he wondered if the guy here watching them? Did he see them last night?  He looked over his shoulder to her sleeping soundly beside him.  How was he going to tell her, she was finally letting go; now she has to worry all over again.

Slowly AJ climbed out of bed, his naked body walked around picking up his scattered clothes, when he found his boxers he slipped them on and walked over to the hotel door.  The door was already locked but he reached up and hooked the chain latch over the door.  He walked over to the hotel phone, ordered room service for breakfast, and then hopped into the shower.  When he was done he got dress for the day, just as he was finishing there was a knock at the door.  AJ found himself walking hesitantly towards it and looking out the peep hole.  He relaxed a little when he saw the servant on the other side, reaching up he pulled the chain lock off and unlocked the door.

“It will be billed to the room.” The man told AJ.

“Thanks.” AJ said as he pulled in the tray.  Quickly he tipped the man and then closed the door, not turning his back on him.  Before he brought the rolling cart into the room he locked the door up again.  He set everything up on the table and then walked over to her side of the bed.

His hand brushed down her bare back between her shoulder blades and then he gently shook her.  “Eve” He said waking her.  Slowly she sat up on her arms and looked at him.  “Breakfast is here.”

“Ok.” She lightly smiled as she sat up wrapping the blankets around her.  “What time is it?” She asked.

“Ten.” AJ said as he handed her a robe. “We were up kind of late.” He smiled at her.  Eve smiled back as she tied her robe up and then softly kissed him.

“How long have you been awake?” she asked as she sat down.

“Not even an hour.” AJ replied as he lifted the lid to her food and to his.  Sitting down at the table he poured them both a glass of Orange Juice and began eating his food. 

“Have you heard from Brian or Kevin yet?” Eve asked as he picked up some eggs with her fork. 

“No” AJ said shaking his head.  “Not yet” He looked up at her and watched her for a minute as she ate.  Putting his fork down, he took a deep breath and then went for it.  “I got a call on my cell this morning, it was from Detective Hurtz.”

Oh?” Eve said looking up at him.  He hesitated and she read it on his face.  “What’s wrong?” She asked as she set down her fork.

“They think Mats partner followed us here.” AJ told her.

“Here?” Eve asked.  “How did they find that out?” She asked.

“Someone over her Mats talking in jail, they said they’re interrogating him and the guy he was talking to and will call when or if they have anything.” AJ told her as he reached over and took her hand.  “They’re calling the Orlando police to have someone keep an eye on you and the hotel.”

“Ok” She nodded and forced a smile. 

“You’re safe.” AJ said to her as he gently squeezed her hand.

“I know” Eve replied with a light nod.  “It’s just…” She stopped and sighed.  “I just thought at least here I wouldn’t have to worry about it for a few days.”

“And you don’t, they’re not even sure if he followed us Mats could just be talking shit.” AJ told her.  “I’m not gonna let anything happen to you Eve.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t go to your Mom’s then, I mean if he’s following us, I don’t want to put her in that kind of danger, look what happen to you.” Eve said as she looked up at him.

“I’m not leaving you here by yourself, so if you don’t feel comfortable going then I’ll stay too.” AJ said.

“No Alex I…you should go see your Mom while we’re here and stuff, I’ll be fine here.” Eve reassured him.

“No” AJ said shaking his head.  “I saw her yesterday if she wants she can come here but I go where you go right now.”

“Alex” Eve sighed.

“It’s ok sweetheart really, even I’m not in the mood to go out right now because of it, we’ll just stay in and relax watch some movies on pay per view or something.” AJ told her as he lightly squeezed her hand.  She looked up at him.  “Ok?”

“Ok” She hesitantly agreed with a nod.

“Well let’s eat before it gets cold.” He told her with a light smile.

When the couple finished AJ cleaned up as Eve got dressed then went and sat down on the couch.  He walked over to her after putting the trays outside the door and when he sat down she cuddled into him.  Leaning back against the arm he laid both of his legs out and let her lie on his chest.  His fingers drifted through her hair as the both sat in the quiet.

“Did you enjoy last night?” He asked.

“Yeah” She answered.  “It was pretty amazing.”

“Good, I’m glad.” AJ said with a smile as he wrapped his arms around her.  “You deserve many more nights like that.”

“As long as they’re with you I’ll be happy.” Eve said as she looked up at him.  “Oh” She said sitting up. “You better call your Mom.”

“Yeah” AJ sighed with a nod as he sat up.

“I’m going to go grab some Ice.” She told him as he started dialing on his cell phone.   They quickly kissed and then Eve grabbed the Ice bucket and headed out of the room.

“Hello?” His Mom answered as the door closed behind Eve.

“Hey Ma” AJ replied his attention momentarily taken by Eve walking away.

“Hello sweetheart, what time are you coming over?” She asked.

“Ah, kind of the reason why I called.” AJ said.  “I got a call from one of the Detectives working Eve’s case and they believe Mats accomplice followed us here.”

“Alex.” Denise said in a worried tone.

“If you want to come here that would be cool but Eve doesn’t want to go to your place and risk him following us there.” He told her.  “I don’t feel good about it either to tell…” He stopped a noise in the hallway took his attention.  Standing up AJ walked over to his hotel room door and looked out the peep hole, he didn’t see anything on the other side.

“Your phone cut out at the end I missed the last part.” Denise said as AJ unlocked the door.

“I said I don’t feel good about it either to tell you the truth.” He replied opening the door.  With the phone still to his ear he poked his head out and looked down the hall both ways.  The halls were empty and he frowned confused as he stepped back into his room.

“Well what are they doing about it?” Denise asked.

“They called the Orlando Police and the hotel manager and they’re on alert.” AJ told her as he shut the door.

“I don’t like this Alex, since she’s entered your life…” AJ cut her off.

“Ma.” He snipped.  “Stop now, just don’t even say it.” He moaned into the phone.

“I know you think that what the two of you have is…” AJ cute her off again.

“Mom, why can’t you just trust me?” He asked as he sat down on the corner of the bed.

“I do Alex it’s her I don’t trust.” Denise sighed.

“Well if you’d drop the damn wall and get to know her.” AJ replied “Look I gotta go, are you coming or not?” He asked.

“Fine, I’ll be over in a little bit.” She sighed.

“Thank you” AJ said relieved and then the two said goodbye.  He pressed end on his cell and sighed releasing some frustration.  Standing up he walked over to the table and put his phone down, then he heard the sound of men shouting and people running.  Curiously he walked over to the door and looked out the peep hole.  He saw two people struggling outside and he quickly unlocked his door and pulled it open.

“Get back inside your room sir!” The bigger man yelled and it didn’t hit AJ what was going on, so he stood there a moment stunned.  “Get back now!” The man yelled as he started to cuff the other man under him on the floor.  AJ stepped back and closed the door still some what bewildered.  Then in a split second it all hit him and he ripped open the door again.

“Sir!” The man yelled as AJ took off towards the Ice room.  His heart raced and not from him running. He could hear the man behind him use a radio, warning someone that he was coming.  As he ran down the hall a uniformed officer came out of the room and cut him off. 

“Let me go!” AJ shouted as the police officer grabbed him.

“You need to stay out here.” The man said to him.

“Where is she?” AJ asked as he tugged away from the officer and bee lined it to the Ice room.  He stopped dead when he saw another officer and a hotel security guard performing CPR on Eve.  His eyes dashed around them, she was on the ground, ice everywhere, blood everywhere, and that was all he could register as the Police Officer who stopped him pulled him out of the room.

“You need to stay out here.” He said to AJ. 

“I got a heart beat!” He heard one of the men shout from the room.  “Where are those EMT’s!?”

“She just went for some Ice.” AJ whispered confused and stunned.  “She just went for some Ice.” He repeated as he looked at the cop.

“We followed a suspicious man up to this floor, she was going into the ice room as he entered the hallway then grabbed her and pushed her into the room and attacked her just as we were getting there.  My partner was able to chase him down when he took off.”

AJ shook his head the events not registering.  “She just went to get some Ice.”

“She’s losing a lot of blood we need to get her to the hospital!” An officer yelled from the room.

“No” AJ whimpered as he looked at the doorway.  He couldn’t see inside anymore, the officer moved him away.  The sound of more people running behind him made him look over his shoulder and he saw the medics running around the corner with a stretcher.  It didn’t relax him or make him feel better.  He took a stepped towards the room but the officer stopped him again.

“Let me see her.” AJ pleaded with him.

“Give them room to work.” The officer told him.

“I want to see her!” AJ shouted breaking away from him and dashing to the room.

“On three, one, two, three.” The one EMT said as they lifted Eve unto the stretcher as she laid on the brace board.

“Eve?” AJ said as he stared at her.  Her shirt was cut open soaked in her own blood, and bandages just as soaked laid around her lower abdomen. The woman EMT stuck her with a needle and AJ found himself getting nauseated.

“Move Sir.” The medic said as they began to push the gurney through.  Slowly AJ backed away his eyes not being able to move from her as one of the medics held an oxygen mask over her face and pumped air into her lungs.  He watched in confusion and horror as was she was whisked away around the corner.

“I can take you to the hospital.” The officer said but all AJ could do was nod.