Past Meet Future

Xandra Kallan

When I opened my eyes this morning, I felt unusually refreshed, considering the day before had been hectic. I hadn't slept that well in ages, and I wasn't sure if it was just exhaustion or the presence of the special man in my bed. But when I rolled over, his side of the mattress was empty. I wondered where he had gone, and as a beam of light shone through my sheer curtains, I sensed it was a beautiful day outside. My phone on the white oak nightstand began to vibrate, which excited me like a teenage girl with a crush. I picked it up and saw I had received a text from Liam. In his sweet message, he said he had to leave but I could call him if I needed anything. I appreciated his thoughtfulness.

I took a deep breath and smiled, feeling blessed by life's surprise gifts, allowing gravity to pull me back onto the coziness of my bed made of silk, wishing I was still nuzzled up against his warm, broad chest. Safe. This made me realize, with all that was happening, I needed him now more than ever. Especially if those poor girls were somehow linked to my mother's murder, even after all this time, I still couldn't believe she was gone. And what made matters even worse - her killer was never caught.

Justice was never served.

The brutal assault of our mother, followed by her body being dumped in the same lake where several girls had met a similar fate seven years prior, drove me to take a drastic step and redirect the course of my life. After graduating at the head of my class from Colorado State University, I initially intended to go to vet school, but instead, I withdrew from the world and enrolled in the police academy later on. I was set on finding her murderer, and I still was. It had been a decision that would have a permanent effect on my life, but one I would never look back on with regret. With a firm resolution, I set out to uncover who had done such a horrendous act and to make sure those blameless people received what was due to them. It was then that it all became clear to me - that this was my destiny, to ensure the safety of the innocent from the wicked. Detective Reynaldo Grant, Liam's previous partner who passed away in a plane crash three years ago, was the one who made me the successful detective that I am today. He was a mentor to me and gave me advice on the job. He was always there when I needed him, always had the solutions to my queries, and never sugar-coated shit. I wish he were still around...It's hard to believe he's gone too.

Thinking about the recent turn of events, left me feeling cold inside. Devastated. I was still trying to wrap my head around how those girls were murdered. The vision of their thin, lifeless bodies floating above the surface, made bubbles rise in my throat.

How could someone do something so menacing?

Even though I was powerless to bring the girls back, I was still determined to make sure that the person responsible was brought to justice. I wanted to provide a sense of closure to the families of the victims by ensuring that their loved ones' killer was put away. This weekend, they would be receiving the most painful news, and my heart ached for them.

Definitely know how that goes...

I descended to the kitchen and saw Sasha, wide awake, bustling around making coffee. The smell alone was invigorating. She hugged me and I could feel her apprehension. I was thankful that Liam had already taken the chance to put her in her place the night before. It made me feel better knowing that he had not slept with anyone since the last time we were intimate. I figured it would be best to leave the drama in the past and have some much-deserved girl time. "Hello Sasha, I was thinking we could get a spa day since it's your final day in town," I said, standing with my arms crossed against the counter. 

“Oh, that sounds fantastic. My body definitely could use a massage.” She started chewing at her lip and put physical distance between us.

Yeah, I bet you do after the way you got turned down last night.

Ha-ha!

I smirked knowingly. “Great. I'll call and schedule an appointment at our favorite place. How does noon sound?”

“That's perfect...thanks, sis.”

In front of my white, marble island, I sat down on a barstool to soak up the sun rays peering in from the opened layered curtains that hung over the bay window in my dining room. Minutes later, Sasha circled to pour me a generous cup of coffee, then added cream and sugar. She made herself one and posted up next to me. Sadly, she smiled over her cup, twirling her finger around the rim. Sasha created the impression she was battling with her thoughts.

“Xandra...” She paused, continuing to nurse her coffee cup.

I put my cup down, shifted my body to her, and placed my hand on her back. “What is it, Sash?”

“Go easy on Hendrik, he's a good guy. I can tell he's in love with you,” her low voice turned into a whisper by the end of her sentence.

Those words gave me goosebumps. I'd been trying to ignore the fact that Liam and I had something special between us. I wanted to deny it, but it was too late; my heart had already fallen for him.

I sighed. “A secret between us girls...I'm in love with him too...” I pointed at her, “but, if you tell him or anyone that, I will kill you!”

She lifted like a rocket off of her barstool. “Oh my God. My sister just admitted she's in love with a guy for once; I believe hell just froze over,” she laughed, hugging me.

I couldn't help but laugh a little too.

“Yeah, yeah,” I blushed, pushing her off me.

***

Noon finally rolled around, and Sasha and I arrived at the House of Eden Spa downtown, in our sundresses and flip-flops. On the drive to the spa, I noticed the downtown area was untouched by our recent earthquake. This boggled me and my detective mind rose, speculating ideas.

Did the earthquake only affect the areas within the triangle?

No, I'm not doing this!

I immediately shook my head, relinquishing my current thoughts. I refused to think about work, or the disturbing case today.

Earlier, I made us both an appointment for a one-hour, deep tissue massage and gold facial. And of course, Sasha being Sasha, requested a male masseuse. I rolled my eyes at her in disapproval.

Do her legs ever close?

As we stepped into the lobby of the spa, a sense of peace washed over me. The walls were adorned with a combination of light green and beige, with gold borders. Peace Lilies were scattered around the counter, and a bamboo-etched wall fountain sat in the middle. The tranquil sound of the running water created a serene atmosphere and I felt a sense of calmness. I was here to escape the harshness of the world and take a break from all the difficult emotions I was feeling yesterday when I was unsure whether I would ever be able to get out of the darkness I was in. This was exactly what I needed.

While we were waiting, my mind flowed back to the moment Liam, and I shared in the shower. It was epic, a major turning point in our relationship. It was therapeutic in a sense to let go of all the pain and sorrow I held deep down, allowing myself to be vulnerable in the comfort of his arms. He handled me with such finesse while putting his own needs aside.

Why did I feel the need to push him away before?

Maybe, I was just afraid of the unknown. I'd never felt this way about anyone before. Sasha was right; I should be easier on him Instead of being a control-freak-of-a-bitch.

The masseuses came out to greet us. However, my phone interrupted us. I politely excused myself and stepped outside as the male masseuse, Felipe, took Sasha into the spa suite. It was Liam; I tried my best not to sound irritated by his less-than-impeccable timing.

“Hi, babe, I haven't heard from you all morning, I was calling to check on you. How are you holding up?”

“As good as could be expected. Thanks for checking on me; I appreciate it.”

“Glad to hear it...I was worried.” He sounded relieved.

“Hey listen, Sasha and I are at the spa right now. Can we talk later?”

“If you wanted a massage, you could've just asked me,” he chuckled softly.

“Yes, and if I did that, you'd have broken your promise,” I teased.

“You’re probably right. Well, enjoy someone else's hands all over you then,” he groaned.

“I sure will. Bye, Hendrik.” I hung up, giggling to myself.

As I lay down on the table, I felt my body relax as my masseuse began to work his magic. He used a combination of Swedish and deep tissue techniques to loosen up my tight muscles and release all the tension from my body. By the end of it, I felt like a new person - refreshed and ready to take on anything that life threw at me. Leaving the spa, I felt lighter than air and grateful for being able to take time out for myself. This experience reminded me that self-care is essential for our mental health and overall well-being - something that we all need to prioritize more often!

***

Strolling downtown, Sasha and I decided to grab a meal at Margo's Italian Bistro, a few blocks away from the spa. It was our mother's favorite place to eat after a relaxing spa day. We chose to sit on the patio that was facing the street. Sasha kept talking non-stop about the massage and how drawn to Felipe she was. I had to agree that he was quite attractive; his skin tone was the same as ours. He was around six feet tall, had a well-toned body, short, dark hair, and captivating brown eyes.

Where had I seen those eyes before?

Still, there was something off about him; being a detective, I have a sharp intuition around people I meet. I couldn't quite figure out what precisely was bothering me about him. In the end, I concluded I was being too protective and pretended to listen to her infatuation with the guy she just met.

“Xandra, Felipe asked us to join him at his brother's club called Voodoo tonight...do you want to go?

I lifted the corner of my mouth to form a smirk; I had a hunch this must be the name of the club located in the basement of the warehouse.

Having a promiscuous sister does have its perks, I thought, tapping the side of my glass with my fingernail.

I was overtaken by intrigue, although clubs weren’t my idea of a good time. “It sounds fun. Umm... Sash, is this the club underneath the old warehouse?” I took a generous sip of my Moscato, savoring the delicate taste of peach swirling inside my mouth to celebrate; I had found my way in to investigate.

“Oh yes, it just opened last week. He said business is booming already. He's going to put us on the VIP list.”

VIP list, eh? Don’t I feel special? I had to refrain a snort.

A glimpse of a slender old lady in a blue long-sleeved sundress, leaving the farmer's market brought my silent celebration to a standstill. I squinted to get a better look, and my jaw dropped when I recognized her; she was the lady Liam and I rescued yesterday. The words she spoke, ‘after the seven, he will rise,’ sent my mind spiraling out of control.

What the hell does that mean?

I had to pry for answers. Jumping out of my seat like my ass was on fire, I raced toward the bistro exit. Sasha's yell echoed in the background, but I had no time to waste.

I sprinted up to her; slightly out of breath. She turned to me, startled when she noticed who I was, and she began to pick up her pace; her tan clogs hard-hitting the sidewalk.

“Hi ma'am, I'm Detective Kallan from yesterday. My partner and I rescued you from your vehicle.”

“Oh, yes that's right,” she said, in a nervous voice, avoiding eye contact. “What do you want? I'm kind of in a hurry.” Her hands were shaking frantically, rattling her paper bag of groceries.

“Let me carry those for you.”

She reluctantly handed over her bag.

“I was hoping to question you further on what you whispered to me, and its meaning.”

“I don't know what you’re talking about, young lady,” she said, impatiently.

“After the seven, he will rise. What does that mean? Who will rise?”

Her already pale skin turned white. She stopped walking abruptly and faced me. With her watery eyes, she looked around in panic as if someone was stalking her. When I glanced behind me, I saw nothing. Eyes narrowed and arms crossed, I turned back to her. The old lady hesitated, but eventually found her words.

“We can't talk here. Come to 5693 Canterbury Road tomorrow around noon, and I'll explain everything.”

“Fair enough, I will see you then. Thanks for your time.” I handed the paper bag back to her, and she walked away without another word.

I ran back to the bistro and sat down. Our family-style dish of Penne Italian arrived moments later. The mouth-watering aroma of sausage and Parmesan cheese wafted through the brisk afternoon air, leaving me blind to the fact that Sasha was still annoyed by my abrupt departure. She continued to stare at me with her childish, pouty face: the one she would get whenever she was upset with me about something...which was rare.

“What the hell was that all about? You promised me you wouldn't be doing any work-related stuff today.”

“Sash, I apologize. I mean it's no more detective work from this point on, I swear.”

A forgiving smile appeared on her face and the tension between us seemed to dissipate. “Okay, I forgive you. But next time, try not to be so hasty.”

We both laughed and dug into the delicious meal before us. The Penne Italian was a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors that left us both satisfied with our lunch date. After a few more minutes of conversation, I realized that our day together wasn't ruined after all. In the end, we were able to enjoy our meal and spend quality time with each other despite my brief work-related interruption.

***

The night was upon us, and I had a heavy case of butterflies, not knowing what the night would bring. Plus, I was having trouble deciding what to wear. I rarely went clubbing these days—my hectic work schedule didn't allow it. I was glancing at my outfit in my white, floor-length mirror when Sasha appeared behind me. She wore her brown hair in loose curls and a red plunging halter dress, which left little to the imagination, along with black tie-up stilettos.

“I'm sorry, girl, you’re not wearing that to the club,” she said, giggling.

“Why? What's wrong with my outfit?” I rolled my eyes at her in the mirror.

“Nothing. It's just you’re a 27-year-old; dressing like your damn near forty, and I love you too much to let you walk out of here in that getup.”

“Ouch,” I said, slightly embarrassed. She did have a point though. I could dress a little more my age. She barged into my closet and began searching through my clothes with focus, as I stood outside the white double doors, leaning my side against the archway with my arms crossed.

“Wow, I like this mini dress. I'm going to have to borrow this sometime.” She held up my black, strapless, lace dress with a sweetheart neckline. The sight of the dress flooded me with memories of the first time Liam and I were intimate. The night I lost my virginity. I bit my lip, and my skin flushed with heat, craving to feel us entwined together in intense passion. The thoughts overwhelmed me, sending a wave of warmth to my now throbbing sex.

The things that man can do to me…

Sasha broke me from my daze with a snap of her fingers. “Oh...yes, I love that dress too,” I said, blushing. She handed me the dress before stepping out. I immediately changed and threw on some gold pumps. I wore my hair straight with the ends curled outward and went to take one last look in the mirror, running my hands slowly down the length of my dress, wishing my hands were Liam's.

After turning off the ignition, we stepped onto the pavement of the jam-packed lot in front of the warehouse, to find Felipe, standing on the sidewalk awaiting our arrival. He waved in our direction once we caught his gaze. He was dressed in a black wife-beater, washed-out grey jeans, and black Tim's. My gut clenched in a knot at the sight of him.

Why does he bother me so much?

Sasha placed an unchaste kiss on his cheek. And soon, his eyes equaled the fire in hers. I felt the longer they stared at each other, the sooner they would both burst into flames from all the heat between them. I reached for Sasha's hand, but he beat me to it. He returned my frown with a mischievous smile. I scrunched my face at him while adjusting the edge of my dress. I was not impressed.

Following the leader, he led us to the back of the warehouse where I had snuck in the other night. We descended a cement stairwell, turned a corner, and strutted toward some metal double doors. Holding the doors open, he motioned us in. And being the overly protective sister I was, I went first to ensure we weren't falling into a trap. Entering, I could feel the vibrating baseline of “Poetic Justice” by Kendrick Lamar featuring Drake through the walls. Figuring it was safe, I grabbed hold of her hand, and we continued our journey to the second set of double doors. Felipe jumped in front to kindly open those doors as well.

I guessed this must be the VIP entrance.

On the other side of the door of this happening club, a bouncer greeted us with a slight nod.

He didn't even card us!

My blood began to boil with rage.

Keep calm, Xandra!

“You ladies have a good time,” Felipe winked. Young adults and probably a couple of minors were dressed provocatively, grinding against each other and dripping with sexual energy. The mixture of smells was potent in the air. We darted toward the circular, electric blue bar, struggling to weave through the crowd.

I'm sure having this many people in here is a fire hazard!

An attractive man with sandy blond hair was tending to the bar, shirtless and showing off his rippling muscles and tattoos. Looking up from pouring a highball glass of dark liquor, he seductively greeted us with his blue eyes and a devious smile. I ignored his smile and scoped the bar behind him.

No liquor licenses.

Strike three!

If he doesn't ID us, it's a possibility this place serves alcohol to minors.

I wonder if those girls were lured here somehow...

“What can I get you deliciously looking ladies to drink?” he asked, licking his lips like he wanted to eat us whole.

What a pervert!

“I'll have a Sex on the Beach,” Sasha answered, twirling a strand of hair with her finger, practically eye-fucking him.

I hate when you look at men like that...especially Liam.

I groaned. “How typical of you Sasha. I'll have a wet vodka—”

“My girl will have a wet vodka martini with a twist of lemon,” Liam said, gazing at me in total admiration. The man did know me inside and out, and with this mere thought, my heart began to flutter rapidly, and my skin felt scorching hot just by his presence.

What is happening to me?

He was handsomely dressed in a white, long-sleeved, slim-fit shirt; untucked with the cuffs folded up, a slim, grey tie hanging around his neck, grey jeans, and black boots.

You’re so sexy, Liam!

I shook my head to refocus. “Hendrik, what are you doing here?” I looked back between him and Sasha. Sasha took a large swig of her drink to wash down her nervousness.

I twisted my face in anger. “I see...this was a setup. So, the hell with girls’ night right, because you have your panties soaked in a bunch for some dude?” My voice traveled, drawing attention from bystanders. “How dare you blow me off for some prick you just met and try to use Liam as a distraction.”

“Please don't be mad, sis,” she begged, touching my arm. “I know you two have a lot of catching up to do. So, if you'll excuse me, Felipe is waiting for me upstairs.” In a rush, she finished her drink off and left the bar; not seeming to feel an ounce of guilt for what she'd done.

“Unbelievable,” I huffed, gulping my martini before slamming it down onto the bar.

“So, we're back to you calling me by my last name?” he moved into my personal bubble, arching his eyebrow at me.

“Cut the shit already, I don't have time for these games. What are you doing here?” I said, moving out of his reach.

“C'mon, I wasn't going to let you have all this underground fun without me,” he subtly hinted, he had suspicions about the club too.

That was the nice thing about Liam and me; we seemed to be on the same page about most things. Especially when it came to solving a case.

“By the way...you still look ravishing in that dress.” His comment and the way his mesmerizing glance lingered on me made my breath get stuck in my throat.

Of course, you would remember this dress.

I turned away; I didn't want him to know he was having this effect on me. “You don't look half bad yourself,” I said, letting out a soft giggle as I polished off the last of my drink.

He gave me a smile in return before his focus moved to the promiscuous bodies occupying the dance floor. Unable to control my jealousy from his eye-straying behavior, I immediately brought his attention back to me by seductively leaning up to his ear and putting my hands on his pecks. He reacted by sucking in a sharp breath, pulling me closer into him by my hips. The wanting look he gave me almost made me forget why I was here in the first place. Finally, after several minutes of just staring at each other, I snapped out of my momentary lapse and focused my brain back into detective mode.

“I'm going to check on Sasha while you get well acquainted with everything down here, okay?” He looked down at me with a frown but agreed with a slight nod.

Scanning the room, I noticed a black spiral staircase next to the DJ booth. After pushing past the sweaty bodies, I ascended the stairs while searching for anything out of the ordinary.

Upstairs, I came across another narrow hallway with a row of black doors marked one through four to my right, and a single door far down the hallway to my left, which was guarded by a bouncer.

Is that the other entrance?

My instincts kicked in, pulling me down the hall to my right. Pressing my ear to each door, I found doors numbered one through three to be empty, so I moved on to door number four. Hearing muffled sounds, I slowly opened the door to meet my horror. I gasped when I saw Felipe's naked body, vigorously slamming his pelvis into my sister from behind. I shut the door praying they hadn't seen me. I felt nauseated to the core. I'd seen more of my sister and Felipe than I cared to. And I didn't know why I expected anything more from Sasha.

With a sour taste in my mouth, I descended the staircase to find Liam patiently waiting for me. When I neared the end, he held out his hand for me to grab.

“Did you find anything?” I asked, taking his hand.

“No. Where's Sasha?”

“Getting plowed by Felipe, she's such a slut,” I scowled.

“Woah? I had no idea,” he looked away to hide the truth in his eyes.

“I know she came onto you last night, Liam,” my tone harsher than I intended.

“Xandra, I would never—”

I placed my finger to his lips to save him the trouble of explaining. “I know.”

His posture softened with relief, and he led me in the direction of the dance floor, happily singing along to the song playing. He does have an amazing voice, and I knew if he started singing to me, I was in deep shit!

Fearful of what might take place on the dance floor and what the night might lead to, I hesitated by putting the brakes on. “I don't want to go out there...we might catch something.”

He let out a loud chuckle, “Catch what exactly?”

“An STD,” I said, with a hint of sarcasm.

“Real cute, but nope. You’re not getting out of this; my girl owes me a dance.” Mr. Smooth swung me around by my wrist to face him.

“I'm not your girl,” I said. Which both of us knew was a complete lie. He had me like no other man had me. But a part of me still didn't want to be had by him, leaving me with an unsettled feeling in my stomach.

“Is that so? Well...your beautiful eyes,” he started brushing his index finger over my left eye. “Your luscious lips...your courageous heart...” His fingertips brushed over my lips and slowly down to my left breast. He continued his sweet seduction with delicate precision down over my belly and cupped his hand over my throbbing sex like he was leaving his mark on me. “…deceive you, my dear, they all tell me you’re mine.” His hands slid around to my ass and roughly pulled me into him. His current possessive manner stunned me.

The energy in the atmosphere must be contagious...

There was no point in resisting him—for I was completely under his love spell. The scent of his Calvin Klein cologne certainly didn't help; he was intoxicating, rendering me helpless in his arms. Liam embraced me ever so tightly. His eyes held mine in a possessive gaze as we ground our bodies together; our sensual rhythms, joining as one. Becoming engulfed in our private world, the music faded into the background, leaving only the sound of his melodic voice to serenade me to the lyrics of “Chains” by Nick Jonas.

I stood in the center of the dance floor with the man I loved with every cell of my being, panting heavily and drenching with sweat. I had no control over my thoughts or movements at this point. I was completely taken by him and his overpowering charm. The music pounded in my ears, the sound of his voice washing over me like a hot summer breeze. His hands were strong and gentle as they ran up and down my body, his touch sending tingles of pleasure throughout me. I felt like I was in a trance, and I never wanted it to end.

We moved together as one, our bodies intertwined and our souls connected. Every move he made was perfect, every word he uttered was pure poetry. I closed my eyes and let the music take us away to another world where anything was possible. It was a moment that will stay with me forever—the ultimate expression of love between two people who had found each other against all odds.

“Liam, I love you,” I whispered, overwhelmed by the underlying love coursing through me. I wrapped my arms tight around his neck, and his eyes widened in shock.

With his body pressed against mine, I could feel the rate of his heart triple and mine soon matched his, when he firmly planted each palm onto my face.

“I know this is going to sound crazy...I've been in love with you since the first day I met you.”

The air was knocked out of me by his confession. I couldn't speak. My mind was spiraling; all I could do was answer with a devouring kiss. My tongue found his, making him moan into my parted mouth while his name escaped mine. In the blissful state of French kissing him, touching him...being hypnotized by him—all my fears, worries, and pain no longer existed. They were exceedingly replaced by unmistakable happiness and pleasure. I had never felt so alive.

Liam's hands moved from my face and down to my lower back, pulling me in closer. His lips left mine and traveled down my neck, leaving a trail of fire. I held onto him tightly, as if letting go would make this moment vanish like a fleeting dream.

After long minutes of savoring each other, we pulled away but remained in our tight embrace. His forehead rested against mine and we shared a silent exchange of love without the need for words. We were one—inseparable, untouchable—and nothing could break us apart.