Only You (Greyson #1)

Someone Like Me

Chapter 61

Tristan

This was going to be a long flight. Katie had taken the jet to run some wedding earn. So Claire and I were flying frist class to New York.

"You look beautiful", I said still in trouble from last night.

"Thank you", Claire responsed crossing her legs and continued reading something on her Kindle. She wore a red, wrap, fit and flare knee high dress with black flats and a high ponytail with fly away hairs framing her face.

"I love you?"

"I love you too", She stated. There is no passion no actual sign of love to be construed from her voice, tone or inflection.

We sat in silence for the rest of the flight. I shouldn't have been so honest with Claire. She wasn't ready to hear about my life before I learned some behaviors won't get me far. Sleeping with Marybeth meant nothing but it caused a lot of confusion and hurt feelings. Both of which I didn't care about but I was now finally paying the price for.

Three hours of dead silence and we were finally landing. I had to come clean. I had to tell Claire why I was here. I had to show her. We exited the airport hand in hand to a taxi. I told Claire she only needed to bring her purse and I only brought my backpack with my laptop.

"Four Seasons", I said slamming the door behind us. Since we left fairly late in the evening it was around 2 in the morning. I knew clear had reservations about leaving her father after learning he was ... sick. But she was more worried about me cheating then anything happening to her father in the two and a half days I planned on being up here.

"Yes sir", Claire put on her seatbelt and we took off. Since Claire still wasn't talking to me I just staring out my window looking at the unexpected public. Somewhere in this town Anthony was hunting and once I got Claire back to the hotel and probably drugged her I would be to. I would have a solid eight hours to research and playing my attack down to a T. Later today we would have to go visit Mary Beth but once that nightmare was over I would make sure Claire had a double dose not enough to kill her but enough to give me at least twelve hours to myself. I didn't want to drug Claire I didn't want to hurt her at all. But I don't think she would be too forgiving about me breaking a promise I made maybe seventy-two hours ago. "Are you hungry?"

"I wouldn't say no to some chocolate and coffee", Claire smiled. Maybe I was starting to get out of the dog house. It's been a second since Claire smiled at me.

"Change of plans driver. Can you drop us off at Chocolatte", I asked.

"As long as you're fine with paying for it', the driver said merging onto Linden Blvd.

"I am", I needed to check this place out anyway. A lot of Anthony's victims we're tricked into meeting him here. It was the perfect location not too far from his house, and I'm going to assume most of his victims are familiar with the Brooklyn area. But a cake and coffee shop seems innocent enough.

"What makes Chocolatte better than a Starbucks?" Claire asked with a yawn.

"Starbucks is on every corner you can get it anywhere. Chocolatte is only in Brooklyn".

We drove the rest of the way in silence. I had to tell Claire why I came here. I didn't want her to think of me as a cheater but I also didn't want her to think of me as a liar both of which I am. But which one would get me in less trouble. I debated that as we stepped into the small Cafe. It was more of an English tea shop really. They served the tea in real white china pots at round tables that mostly just seated two people. At the glass-fronted counter was an array of cream cakes and pastries, all with English sounding names, and of course there were the obligatory scones. It's early and the machines are yet to warm, so I ponder this chance to rest a moment longer, to drink in the aroma of this place. The barista has tired eyes, yet there is that glimmer, a give away of her good heart. She's one of those surviving sparks, one of the ones who held on to who they really are. 

The shop was nothing special so why bring all of your victims here? It was close to the main street. So anyone could have seeing Anthony leave with these girls. And he wasn't stupid enough to just pick any place. This coffee house was important. I just had to figure out why. I searched the corners of the room to see there were no security cameras. I didn't see any on our way in. But there were definitely Street cam lights that would be able to pick up a person coming into this shop. Or maybe not?

Claire walked up to the cashier and started looking down deep in her purse she searched for her wallet,"What are you getting?"

"Coffee black", I answered planting a kiss on Claire's cheek and pulling out my card to hand over to the cashier. "She'll have a upside down, caramel macchiato with two extra pumps of vanilla with no foam".

"Of course you know my drink order", she whispered.

"I know everything about you", I confessed. And for the first time all day Claire smiled at me. And I knew if I told her what we were really here for I would be taking that away. The Barista made our drinks quickly before handing me back my card and our drinks. I needed to take Claire back to the hotel and tell her the truth. Better yet I need to show her the truth.

We walked back outside to the busy street despite the early hour. I started to hail a cab holding out my right hand to the streets hoping one of the yellow taxis would stop for us. Claire came up behind me and laced her fingers through mine with my free hand it was a simple gesture. I liked holding Claire's hand. And I hate just about every kind of physical touch outside of Claire. She was the one human connection I could deal with.

"Tristan?" She asked.

"Yeah?" I answered as I focus on a taxi that was slowly making its way over to us.

"Your not here for Marybeth are you?" She asked catching me completely off-guard.

I saw they dropped my hand and turned back to look into Claire's warm brown eyes. I could lie. I could tell her she was crazy and actually go visit Mary Beth and take care of Anthony. But I didn't want to lie to Claire's face. "No, I'm not".

"Who are you here for?"

"Someone like me. Someone who doesn't have someone like you to Anchor them in reality. I know I said I would give up my hobby. And I have for the most part. But this guy. Claire if you knew half the things he was doing the things he wanted to do to you---"

"Excuse me? Do to me?" Claire said with bugged eyes.

I'm lowered my voice so no one else could hear my next sentence,"Let's just say there are worse things then rape and murder. Please don't me mad at me".

"I can't believe...why...how could you... what's worse than being sexually assaulted?" Claire finally got out as the taxi finally made its way to us. I open the door declared to get in not a hundred percent sure if she would.

"I can show you at the hotel", I promised.

Claire paused for a moment thinking over her options before finally getting into the car. We needed a new compromise. One where I got to kill and still be with Claire.

This was going to be a long day.