I focused my attention on Steele for help. He always had answers, even if they weren’t the right ones, though usually they were. “What do I do?”
“We’re going to talk with her. All of us.”
“Would someone please explain what the fuck is happening here?” Easton was getting impatient, and I knew there wouldn’t be any way to appease him other than the truth.
“All of us?” Axel repeated Steele’s words.
“Yeah, she needs to know she’s not in this alone.” Steele’s expression was resolute and determined. He was a formidable guy when he set his mind to something. I was grateful he was on my side.
“Give me some time alone with her.” I ran my gaze over each one of their concerned faces, realizing I was fucking lucky to have these men and women on my team. Together, we’d figure this out.
“I will. In the meantime, I’ll be online, searching for any sign this person is posting the pictures. She might use them for blackmail,” Steele answered.
“There’s no danger of that. The photographer and his staff sign nondisclosure agreements. They do a lot of celebrity weddings and are always discreet,” Caro said.
I knocked but received no answer. My heart beating wildly, I opened the door, half expecting to find her gone. She wasn’t; she was throwing her stuff in suitcases in a fast and efficient manner. I sat down on the edge of the bed, forcing her to work around me. She did so without saying a word. I watched and waited for her to speak. I didn’t dare push her, or she’d bolt for sure.
“I have to leave. You know that.” She placed a neatly folded sweater in the suitcase and straightened, hugging herself defensively. I wanted nothing more than to wrap my arms around her and hold her tight, but right now wasn’t the time. I clasped my hands in my lap and tried to think of the right thing to say.
“I don’t know that. You don’t have to leave,” I said. As lame as my words were, she had to know I was struggling.
“I do. I won’t endanger your life or our friends’ lives.”
Our friends? Did she catch that slip? My friends had become our friends. Didn’t she see how much she had to lose?
“Where will you go? And what’ll you do next time you think someone recognizes you? Will you run again? And again? And again? When does this stop? When?”
“Never,” she said in a choked voice. “It never stops.”
“You can stop it, right here and now.”
“I don’t dare.”
“Of course you dare. You can do this, and you don’t have to do it alone.”
She almost looked convinced but shook her head.
I heard a slight knock on the door. Steele opened it a crack. “Can I come in?”
“You will anyway.” Lanie sighed, as if resigned, and nodded.
I tugged on her hand to encourage her to sit next to me on the bed. She did. Steele entered, followed by the rest of our group crowding into her small room.
They were our friends.
“Did you find anything online? Any pictures? Gossip?” I asked.
“No, nothing so far,” Steele explained.
“Now would someone start at the beginning and tell us what’s going on?” Easton asked, frustration simmering in his voice. The door opened again, and Brody and Mandy slid into the room without a word. Lanie’s tired smile acknowledged their presence.
Steele and I looked to Lanie to answer that question.
We were all here. Her friends. And we wanted to help. She didn’t have to do this alone. I hoped she understood that.
And much to my surprise, she began to talk.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chance at a Future
~~Delaney~~
* * *
Once I started, I couldn’t stop. The words flew out in a rush, and I told them everything pertaining to how I got where I was and what my plans were. This group of new yet loyal friends listened intently. Their expressions were those of sympathy and concern.
I didn’t know why I was talking. The first thing anyone with a brain would tell a witness in hiding was to never reveal the truth to anyone. Trust no one. Keep quiet. Stay low.
Perhaps I’d lost my ability to fight, or was I actually fighting in a new and different way by rallying my troops around me in a more effective but potentially more deadly manner? I actually had troops. That alone filled a small part of the emptiness residing inside me. I’d been going through the motions of living for the past year without living. I’d given up my family, my friends, my career. Until I’d met Kaden, I’d given up hope.
I’d been in survival mode, and people in survival mode rarely had time for anything but staying alive. I wanted so much more out of life, and I’d all but given up on ever having it. I wanted a career helping people. I wanted a man who loved me unconditionally. I wanted a couple of children. Yet this past year had taught me that those things were not a given. Not everyone got them.
And now? I didn’t know what I thought. I stared at the suitcases standing in a row near the door and the one open on my bed. That bed… The memories I’d made in that bed with Kaden in the short time I’d been here… My gaze swung to Kaden, still sitting next to me on the edge of the bed and holding my hand, not in a death grip but a strong yet gentle touch. There if I needed but willing to back off when I didn’t.
Where would I ever find another man like him? Did I even want to look?
There weren’t any right or wrong options, only difficult ones no matter what direction I took.
“Let me get this straight,” Brody said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “You ran based on what this Robert guy told you? You didn’t talk to your parents first? You didn’t contact the authorities?”
“One of the witnesses had already gone missing, and he knew those of us who’d been witnesses for the prosecution were in danger, including Robert. We’d been protected until the trial ended. Afterwards, we were on our own.”
“Why didn’t you talk to your father? He’s a powerful man,” Brody asked again.
“He’d always sided with Darrin, and I don’t think he’d have believed me. He was furious when I wouldn’t be Darrin’s alibi and blamed me when Darrin was convicted.”
“Still, you’re his daughter.” Brody’s skepticism struck deep inside me. I’d never questioned Robert. He was an old family friend, one of my father’s closest confidants. He’d have never suggested such if thing if I hadn’t been in mortal danger, not to mention putting my family in danger, too.
“Your father has had a long time to think about this. I’d bet he’d give anything to know you’re alive,” Caro suggested.
“I…I don’t know.” The possibility hit me like a punch to my gut. Why hadn’t the thought occurred to me before? Why hadn’t I contacted my father? Given him a chance? I was his only child, and I’d always been Daddy’s girl.
“If this photographer did recognize you, he might find out without you contacting him.” Kaden pointed out the obvious. That thought had been on a merry-go-round in my mind for the past hour.
Kaden gave my shoulder a squeeze, and I leaned into him for comfort. I was so confused and uncertain. I didn’t know what path to take. I didn’t want to drag others in this potentially dangerous mess. They’d all been so good to me, treated me like a dear friend.
How would I ever be able to leave them? To leave Kaden?
Steele cleared his throat, and every head in the room swung toward him. “I think you can pull this off safely. Reveal yourself. Let everyone know why you’ve been in hiding. Tell the truth. Someone needs to research what happened to the other witnesses, not sweep their disappearances under the rug. An investigation needs to be launched. I Googled, and I don’t see much about any of the other witnesses. Just you, because of how high-profile your father is. Did you know your car was found abandoned on the freeway fifty miles from DC? They’re thinking you might’ve been a victim of a car-jacking with evidence of foul play inside.”
“I didn’t know that. I left my car with Robert. H
e probably left it there and set the scene to throw Darrin off my trail.”
“Robert seems to be involved in quite a bit of this,” Kaden noted with a shrug. I smiled wryly at him. He had a point, but I didn’t know what it all meant. There were things that didn’t add up. I should’ve seen them earlier.
“I have to go. It’s safer for everyone.”
“Don’t worry about our safety. We’ll be fine, and we’ll support whatever you decide, Delaney, but you’re young. Do you really want to run the rest of your life?” Brody said.
“No. I don’t know what to do. I don’t. I’m scared.”
“I’m scared for you.” Kaden spoke softly, but everyone in the room heard him. He met my gaze, and his eyes told me more than I’d ever need to know. He was here for me. He’d always be here for me if only I’d let him.
I stared down at Kaden’s fingers intertwined with mine. How could I give up this man?
Two factions warred inside me, each one lobbying for their solution.
Stand up and fight instead of running like a coward.
But it’s dangerous.
Life is a risk, no matter what. Driving a car, walking down a street. A person never knows.
But the others might be in danger.
Is that really likely? The asshole can’t wipe out an entire hockey team. He wouldn’t dare. He’s free. Why would he draw more attention to himself, especially when the prosecutor is reluctant to retry the case?
“If the entire story comes out, do you really think he’d endanger his freedom to come after you when it’d be obvious he was the one who did it?” Steele’s voice dragged my gaze back to him and away from Kaden’s fingers, but his strong presence continued to comfort and give me hope. Steele spoke out loud what I’d been thinking.
“They’d still need proof he did.” The argument sounded feeble to my own ears.
“From what I read online, the DC prosecutor has no interest in retrying the case because they can’t locate all the witnesses. Rumors are that he’s getting pressure from powerful sources,” Steele said.
I squinted at Steele and shook my head. “Who are you? Are you a mind reader?”
The guys chuckled. They’d obviously been subjected to Steele’s intuition or whatever it was.
“You have us. We’re here. Together we can overcome anything.” Kaden’s lopsided smile warmed my heart. I loved that smile. I didn’t know one woman capable of resisting. With every argument, they wore me down. Every look into Kaden’s eyes chipped away at my resolve.
Steele patted my arm and pulled out his phone. “I’ll call my mom and get some advice.”
“I’d appreciate that.” None of us knew who his mother was or what she did, but her very existence gave me a false sense of security, and I’d take it.
Steele slipped from the room, and Axel turned to us, puzzled. “What the hell is it his mother does anyway?”
“None of us know.” Easton put an arm around Caro and gave her a quick kiss, ignoring the jeers and teasing from the guys crowded in the room. The razzing eroded some of the tension from earlier, and I breathed easier.
“I don’t think Steele knows what she does.” Axel shook his head in amazement. “And where is his father?”
The group collectively shrugged, and I was happy to have the attention off me briefly and on something as innocuous as Steele’s parents. We made small talk as we waited for Steele to return. Another relief for me. While I appreciated everyone’s support and concern, I also needed time alone to think without outside influences, but I doubted they’d be giving me that time. The women were hovering and the guys were in macho protective mode, especially Kaden. My dear Kaden.
Steele came back in. I scrutinized him, attempting to read his face, but Steele had the best poker face of all Kaden’s friends, and I couldn’t tell shit.
“So?” Kaden demanded, even though Steele wasn’t one to be hurried or bullied. He did his own thing in his own time. I’d figured that out about him pretty quickly.
“My mother suggests you meet with your parents as soon as possible and explain the situation to them. She’ll be intermediary if you’d like and make the arrangements.”
“She will?” Okay, now that was weird. What was it this woman did that she had access to a powerful senator like my father? Just any random person claiming I was still alive would be met with resistance and skepticism. Dad had been in politics too long and seen too many things not to have a lethal dose of both qualities except the one place he’d needed it most—with Darrin. Anyone making such claims would never get past the reception desk if they didn’t have credentials.
“What do you say? Time is of the essence.” Steele’s direct gaze didn’t give me a clue as to what he thought I should do. I was on my own there.
I turned to Kaden, knowing every set of eyes in this room was watching this drama play out in real time. “What should I do?”
He blinked a few times, focused over my head at a point behind me, then settled those blue eyes back on mine. “As much as I want to make this decision for you, I can’t. There’s an element of danger I can’t discount, but I’m begging you to only consider your own danger. I’m a big boy, and I’ll take care of myself no matter what happens.”
The group around me murmured their agreement to his statement.
In the blink of an eye, I made my decision. I grabbed Kaden’s hand and held it tightly and turned to Steele. “Please tell your mother to arrange the meeting.”
Steele smiled and Kaden beamed, while the rest of the room erupted in a subdued cheer.
This felt right, even if I might live to regret it or not live at all. At least I’d given Kaden and me a chance, and I’d given myself a chance at a future.
Chapter Thirty
Reunion
~~Delaney~~
* * *
Kaden and I flew first-class to DC the next day. We were ushered into the large townhome my family owned in DC and asked to wait in the living room. I fidgeted with a button on my blouse, while Kaden picked up a magazine, held it upside down, and thumbed through it.
Kaden reached for my clammy hand, and his hand wasn’t exactly dry either. If he thought he was nervous now, my father was notorious for being hard on any guy I dated. Even though I hoped he’d be happy to see me, I didn’t believe Kaden would have the same luxury.
“Will we meet Steele’s mom?” I asked, needing to take my mind off my parents’ possible reactions.
“I don’t believe so. Steele said she had other commitments.”
“Have you ever wondered if she really exists?”
He shrugged and managed a nervous smile. “If she’s as secretive as Steele, that alone would explain why we won’t meet her.”
The door opened and both our heads snapped toward it. Kaden gripped my hand tightly, and I held on just as hard. My heart thudded against my rib cage, making it hard to breathe.
My mother and father entered and stopped just inside the doorway. One of Dad’s aides shut the door behind them. My father was as handsome and distinguished as ever, but the toll my absence had taken was written in the deep lines on his face. My mother, always elegant and the consummate hostess, also looked years older. No one would mistake her for my sister anymore.
My absence had done this to them, I thought with a twinge of guilt. I’d thought I was protecting them from my psychopath boyfriend’s wrath, but seeing them drove home how wrong I might have been.
They gaped at me in dumbfounded wonder, unable to process I was here even though they’d been forewarned of the situation. On shaking legs, I struggled to stand. Kaden helped me, still by my side, my rock, my future, my lover.
I shot a grateful glance in his direction and his lopsided smile said all it needed to say. Helping me was his pleasure.
“Mom. Dad.” The words were almost a whisper, but they heard me. I saw the despair in their eyes being replaced by hope.
They loved me.
I swallowed and met my mother’s disbelievi
ng gaze. Her eyes widened, and she gasped. Tears streamed down her face. She did something so rare I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her do it before.
“We thought you were dead,” she blurted out, lost her composure, and flew across the room to me, throwing her arms around me and sobbing into my shoulder. Kaden released my hand and backed up a few steps, letting us have this time. I put my arms around my mom, and we hugged tightly while we both sobbed hysterically.
Over my mom’s shoulder, through my tear-blurred eyes, I saw my dad cross the room to stand behind his wife of thirty years. He didn’t meet my gaze but stared at his feet. He brought up a hand to rub his eyes. Only then did I realize he, too, was shedding a tear or two. My dad was even more stoic than my mother. Years in politics had honed his ability not to show his hand. He lifted his head and our gazes met. He swallowed and blinked rapidly.
My mom moved back to allow him to hug me, and I gladly fell into his strong arms. Those same arms that’d comforted me through every trial and tribulation of childhood, the emotional drama of being a teenager, and later as an adult making her way in the world.
Once we greeted each other, I remembered Kaden and turned to him. He stood awkwardly off to one side, forgotten and uncertain where he stood.
“And this is?” My father’s gruff tone betrayed his displeasure, and he wasn’t bothering to hide it. Kaden was an interloper, in his opinion, at a time that should’ve been restricted to family.
“This is Kaden Westbrook. He’s my boyfriend.”
“I see.”
“Kaden, this is my father, Joe Springfield.”
“Senator Springfield,” he corrected. My dad held out his hand, still scowling. He shook hands with Kaden.
“A pleasure to meet you, sir.” Kaden shifted his weight from one foot to another but met my father’s assessing gaze. He dissected Kaden in the same manner he dissected a political opponent or a head of state. In a matter of seconds, he’d develop a first impression that’d be hard to undo.
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