REDEMPTION - Book 1

Old Friend

~????~ " Zenny, is that you?"

I whip my head around to see a handsome Shawn, beaming from ear to ear.

~ZENDREA~ " Oh my god, Shawn Black."

He steps into me, wrapping his arms around me. I hug him back, god its been so long.

~SHAWN~ " Well, look at you Zenny. absolutely beautiful."

~ZENDREA~ "It been what, three years?"

~SHAWN~ " Give or take a couple of months. It's so good to see you."

~ZENDREA~ " You too Shawn."

The bartender hands me my drinks.

SHAWN~ " What are you doing here? I never pegged you as the gambling type."

~ZENDREA~ " I'm not. Just here to celebrate the anniversary of this casino."

He smiles moving to stand next to me. His hand on my lower back as we make our way to a private table.

I glance around and I don't see Khan anywhere.

~ZENDREA~ " What are you doing here?"

~SHAWN~ " Just here on business. Passing through."

~ZENDREA~ " What business?"

~SHAWN~ " Never mind that. How is Zander?"

~ZENDREA~ " Good. He is happy, that's the main thing."

~SHAWN~ " Yeah, that guy did know how to worry about you."

~ZENDREA~ " You know why that is, Shawn."

His face falls as he takes a gulp from his glass.

~SHAWN~ " How can I ever forget, Zendrea. I'm the reason he was there."

I hear the guilt in Shawn's words and I sigh heavily.

~ZENDREA~ " That's in the past. I'm here because of you. Remember that."

~SHAWN~ " And I'm grateful you are."

I take his hand giving it a gentle squeeze in appreciation for my oldest friend.

ZENDREA~ " I went to Gregers a few days back."

~SHAWN~ " How is the old goat?. I haven't seen him for a while."

~ZENDREA~ " Still the same. Just with more grey hairs."

~SHAWN~ " Haha, he finally stopped dying it?"

~ZENDREA~ " Yup."

We laugh and catch up. He is still single and travels a lot for work. I'm not surprised, he always said he wasn't ready to settle.

I completely forgot about Khan until I hear his harsh husky low voice behind me.

~KHAN~ " I said hurry back."