Page 49 of Chasing the Past

“There’s a tree branch rubbing against the side of the house.” Eli stood in the doorway. “I’m sure that was what we heard.”

Suddenly, Asal didn’t know what to say to him.

“Hey . . .” He came over to where she stood. “I don’t regret kissing you, Asal.” He clasped her arms and held her gaze. “And it was you that I was thinking of. Only you.”

Asal went into his arms and held him close. She was falling in love, yet there were so many unanswered questions that stood in the way. The biggest in her mind was did Eli really see her when he kissed her or was he only fooling himself?

A noise coming from the back of the house had Asal pulling away from him. “That’s not the same tree branch surely?”

Eli shook his head. “There’s no way. Wait here.” He pulled out a handgun from his jacket. “Keep this with you. It’s my backup.”

She stared at the weapon in his hand before shaking her head. “I’ve never used a gun before.”

Eli gave her a quick lesson. “This is a Glock. All you have to do is aim and pull the trigger.”

She took the weapon from him.

“I’ll be right back.” She grabbed his arm before he left. Eli turned back to search her face.

“Be careful.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing.” He disappeared down the hall to the back of the house where the wall of windows looked out over a multi-layered deck and the ocean beyond.

Asal watched the way he’d gone. She wouldn’t relax until he was back.

A banging coming from the front of the house had her whirling toward the sound. Someone was knocking on the front door.

Asal shrank out of sight.

“That’s weird. I checked around back and there’s nothing.” Asal didn’t realize Eli had returned until he spoke. She gasped and jumped.

“What’s wrong?” Eli immediately spotted her concern.

“Someone’s out there.”

He had his weapon ready and slowly eased toward the front door.

A shadow suddenly appeared near the window by the door. “Eli, Asal, it’s me, Gavin.”

“Gavin?” Eli tucked his weapon behind his back and went to answer it.

Asal tucked the Glock into her sweater pocket as Eli unlocked the door and let his friend inside. Gavin shook snow from his jacket.

“What are you doing here?” Eli asked and looked past Gavin. “How’d you get here?”

“I drove as far as I could. My car is stuck just as you get onto the peninsula.”

Eli closed the door shutting out the storm. “Come in and warm up. Has something happened?”

Gavin hung his jacket on the coatrack and went over to the fire, holding his hands out close to its warmth. “You haven’t heard?”

Eli stepped close to Asal. “No, we haven’t heard anything.” Eli pulled out his phone. “Looks like the storm has service down.”

“Probably. I tried to call you. I guess that’s why. Rafiq is dead.”

Asal couldn’t believe what she’d heard. The man who claimed to love her was gone. She expected to feel something but there wasn’t anything. Almost as if she’d always known there was nothing between her and Omar but lies.

“Dead. How?” Eli asked.

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