Page 9 of Achille's Earth Angel
Quickly he turned and strode back across the street to where Hercules was lounging in the car. He slammed his fist into the roof just above Hercules head, the need to express his anger eating him up inside.
“Hey, watch it,” Hercules shouted as he punched Achilles through the open window and sent him flying backwards into the street. He quickly got out as Achilles picked himself up off the pavement.
“I have to return this car to the little old lady who lent it to me, I don’t want it banged up,” declared Hercules, his hands on his hips. “What’s wrong with you anyway?”
***
“ALEX, WHERE ARE YOUgoing?” Ange frantically shoved her chair back from the table as her cousin immediately made his way to the door and out into the bright sunshine. She followed him and was just in time to see Hercules punch Achilles in the stomach and send him flying into the street. “Oh no,” she groaned as Hercules got out of the car and the two huge men faced off with each other. They could flatten her cousin in no time.
What’s going on here?” Alex barked as he cautiously approached the two men.
Ange ran up beside him as Achilles turned to face them. She felt a chill when he glared mercilessly at her. His fists were clenched and his chest heaved as if he wanted to pound her into the ground. What the hell?
“It’s against the law to be drunk and disorderly in public,” Alex stated boldly.
Achilles gaze swung to Alex. “I’m neither drunk nor disorderly,” he retorted. “I came to find Angel, I need to talk to her.”
“I need to see some ID,” Alex replied crisply. “Who are you and where did you come from?”
An impatient look crept across Achilles face but he finally answered the questions. “My name is Achilles and I’m here for the...uh...for the summer. I came from Thessaly to visit the ruins of Artemis’ temple and maybe work for a while.”
His gaze shot back to her and Ange realized with sudden clarity that Achilles was jealous of Alex. Hercules hung back with that same smirking grin she’d seen him use earlier and she dismissed him once again.
Alex puffed his chest out in an authoritative manner. “I still need to see some ID.”
“It’s okay, cousin,” Ange blurted out, laying her hand on his arm. “These are the men who chased off my attacker on the beach, Achilles and Hercules.” Why Ange felt the need to protect Achilles she wasn’t sure, but she instinctively knew he meant her no harm.
Achilles seemed to lower his antipathy at her words, sort of like a porcupine laying its quills down, but still prepared should the need arise. “That’s why I was looking for you. He came back again, while you were gone. You can’t stay out there by yourself, Angel.”
“Do you know this Epaphras?” Alex asked, his eyes switching curiously between Ange and Achilles.
“Not really, I just know of him.”
“Do you know where I can find him?”
Achilles shrugged. “I wouldn’t go looking for him if I were you, the sea is dangerous around that beach.”
Alex’s eyes darkened. “It’s my job to look for criminals, it’s what I do.”
Ange was studying Achilles once more, watching the breeze play with his tawny curls, entranced with every aspect of the man. At the age of twenty-four, Ange hadn’t had a serious love connection. She’d dated some, but none of them had kept her attention for long.
She couldn’t bring herself to truly believe he was the real Achilles. He had to be hiding something, or was in fact a nutjob, as she’d thought earlier. He might even be a psychotic killer for all she knew. How could she ever trust a man who made up such a ridiculous story? And yet, he’d pushed buttons no one had ever pushed before.
He’d rescued her—he’d threatened to spank her. That one comment alone had sent her heart racing into overdrive. And here he was again, trying to protect her. He was certainly a heady package and the effect he was having on her was wild. Feelings she had never experienced before were clamoring to be let out.
“Ange?”
Alex’s touch on her arm brought her out of her reverie. “I’m sorry. What?”
“I said, are you ready to go home? I want to look around, and these men have offered to show me where this Epaphras was the first time he came after you.”
She flushed as Achilles sent her a mocking grin, causing her to flush slightly under his keen perusal.
“Uh...sure. I’ll head out first so you guys can park behind me.” Refusing to look at Achilles, she brushed on past him, every nerve-ending standing up as their arms touched slightly.
As she got into her car, she wondered where Hercules had acquired a vehicle so fast. It looked like the car belonging to her elderly neighbor three miles up the road. Had he stolen it? Deciding she didn’t want to go there yet, she flipped a U-turn in the middle of the pavement and headed out of town.
Her thoughts drifted back to Achilles. He’d said he was here for the summer and looking for work. Maybe she could hire him to take care of the animals and property while she cleaned out her dad’s things and made decisions. The idea made her feel safer knowing that Epaphras seemed determined to come after her. They didn’t appear to be in league together as she’d first thought, and Achilles seemed determined to protect her. It could be a win-win situation for her.
