Anna closed her eyes for what seemed like only a few minutes before he spoke again.
“Do you have a spare key?”
She blinked then blinked again. Not possible. “How did we get here so fast?”
“It was only a block away from where I found you.”
“You carried me for an entire block?”
Derrick laughed. “You’re not that heavy.”
Anna frowned. “But it has barely been—”
“You’re in shock, Anna. It’s been longer than you realize. Now, you need to go inside and I need to go after that punk. Do you have a spare key?”
She walked up to the front door, pausing to point to a small rock in the garden. Derrick bent down and moved the stone. He picked up the key and unlocked the door.
“Go inside and stay there until I get back.” He planted a kiss on her forehead and then smiled. “Please. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She grabbed his wrist. “Don’t go, Derrick. I’m afraid you’ll be hurt.”
He shook his head. “You should be worried about the other guy.”
****
“Derrick. Is that you?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
Opening the door, she ran her gaze over his face and body, relieved to see that he appeared unharmed. He held out her handbag and shrugged. “I’m afraid he cleaned you out. There wasn’t any cash left.”
She accepted the bag with a shrug, “There wasn’t any money in the wallet to begin with.” She walked back to the lounge room and turned to wonder why Derrick wasn’t following. “Are you coming in?”
“Is that an invitation?” His wide smile sent a pleasant shiver down her back. She absently returned it.
“Will you just come inside before all the neighbors start gossiping?”
“Anna. Stop worrying about what other people think of you. Either invite me in because you want my company, or ask me to leave.”
“Come in, for crying out loud.” She shook her head as she examined the contents of her bag. “Are you always so formal?”
“I guess I am.” He shut the front door behind him. “You know, you sounded so much like your father when you said that.”
“What? For saying crying out loud? Yeah, I guess I did.” She giggled, although the realization stabbed at her heart. “He wasn’t much for swearing, so that was as close to cussing as he got.” She flopped down onto the couch.
“Anna. Could I ask you something?” Derrick sat beside Anna. His voice soothing and full of what seemed to be genuine concern.
She nodded her answer.
“Why did you risk your life for an empty bag?”
Anna shrugged. “I guess I was silly, wasn’t I?”
“You value your life so little?”
“No. Nothing, like that. It’s just that … I don’t like people trying to control me. If I gave him my wallet, I would be giving him authority to change my life and I can’t allow that to happen, not anymore. Besides, if I had lost my wallet I would need to replace my license, my library membership, my Medicare card, my car registration, everything. My world has been turned upside down lately and I don’t need any more changes.”
“Finding out that you had a business partner didn’t help either, did it?”
“Oh well, you made yourself useful tonight. I don’t think I’ve even thanked you.”
“You have now.” He flashed his dimples and Anna noticed for the first time since he had sat beside her there was a rosy glow to his usually pale cheeks. “How badly were you hurt?”
“Cuts and bruises.” Lifting up the corner of her shorts, Anna showed him the patch of purple radiating from mid-way up her thigh to her right hip, and then held out her grazed elbow.
“Your neck is bleeding.” Derrick’s eyes grew wide as he motioned to her throat. “He cut you?”
“Damn, I thought I’d stopped the bleeding.” She swiped at it with a tissue. “It’s nothing, really.” She smiled but the bile rose in her throat and her hand clutched at her neck. It could have been much worse. The punk had intended to cut her throat.
“Let me see.” Derrick supported her head between his palms and tilted her neck into a position where the lounge room light would illuminate the area. “This could have killed you if he had pierced the carotid artery.”
“But it didn’t.”
The heat radiating from his palms as he cradled her face surprised her. Only hours earlier, his hands had been ice cold. Now, his touch made the temperature of her skin rise. She closed her eyes when he leaned closer, his mouth inches away from hers and closing in but he paused. Instead of the expected kiss, he inhaled as if to draw in her fragrance and he nuzzled her neck with his face. When his tongue slid seductively over the skin on her throat, casually licking a bead of blood from her wound, her body went limp with desire. A tiny mewing noise slipped from between her lips as she cupped the back of his head, holding his face to her neck.
Derrick stilled. He withdrew his lips.
“You should be more careful.” His eyes widened, then he looked away. He kept his chin down as he rose from the sofa. “I … I should be leaving.”
“Why? Because you licked my neck?” she stood up and followed him to the door.
“What I did was unforgivable.” He kept his back to her as he spoke.
“Do you hear me complaining?”
When he turned around, she could see the strain on his face. Wrinkles worried his brow.
“Good night, Anna.” He opened the door and before she could blink, he had disappeared, the door closing behind him.
****
Derrick drove home to the mansion at break neck speed, anxious to discuss the incident with his brother. He found David in the kitchen, dumped the package he’d brought home on the Italian tiles, and confessed his transgression. Big mistake.
“You tasted her?”
“I know. I should have been more careful. It’s just … she was so warm and soft and so … vulnerable. I wanted to give her comfort but her scent overpowered me. When I saw the drop of blood on her neck … I lost control.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, brother. You’ve been torturing yourself over this woman since you first laid eyes on her photo. Now that she’s here in the flesh, it stands to reason you would want to ravish her.”
“Who said anything about ravishing her?” Derrick leaned back against the support beam in the center of the large kitchen and accepted the wine glass that his brother offered.
David smiled a wolfish grin. “Come on little brother. I’ve seen the way you devour her with your eyes. It’s only a matter of time before you sink your teeth into that pretty neck.”
“No. I can’t.” Derrick downed the thick dark liquid with a gulp. “She’s just lost her father. She’s not ready.”
“She is obviously in need of comfort.”
“It wouldn’t be right: she hasn’t had time to grieve. It would be taking advantage.”
“You don’t have to marry the woman.” David patted his brother’s shoulder. “Love ’em and leave ’em, has worked well for me for many, many years.”
“I’m well aware of your creed.” Topping up his glass, he filled David’s as well. “Someday you will find the woman and you’ll realize how important it is to go slowly and give her a chance to settle into her new life before complicating it with our lifestyle.”
“Touching speech.” David reached over and removed the catheter from the arm of the pimply youth lying on the floor against the fridge. “I think this fellow is getting a bit low. Maybe it’s time to drop him off to the ER before we drain him completely.”
Derrick crouched down in front of the semi-conscious teenager and stared into his vacant, bloodshot eyes. While they were in the alley, he had been tempted to rip the boy apart, tear him limb from limb for trying to hurt Anna.
“You’re going to move back to your parents’ home. Attend school and fall in love. Living on the streets is no way to live. It would be bad for your health if you pers
ist in living this life of crime. Do you understand me boy?”
The youth nodded absently. He would not remember his vicious attack on Anna or the beating he took from Derrick. He would awaken feeling sore and tired but happy to be home. Tomorrow, the incident in the alley would be a distant memory. A nightmare in vivid color … predominantly red.
Chapter Four
The accounts did appear to be in good order, at least as far as Anna could tell. The gym was in the black and actually making a lot of money for the first time in its history. Even the higher prices weren’t keeping people away, despite what her father had always predicted. During their weekly telephone conversations, Jake Derwent had always insisted that the day the gym raised its prices to meet the cost of other club memberships they would lose all their loyal clients. All twenty of them.
According to these bank statements, he was wrong. There were more than three hundred memberships on the computer and she wondered if it was less to do with the running of the gym and more to do with the instructors. It hadn’t escaped her notice that the fitness trainers were all extremely good looking males and females in their mid to late twenties. Superbly toned physiques and tanned skin. They oozed health and vitality.
Not for the first time, she wondered what she was doing there: out-of-place and possibly even in the way. Over the last couple of weeks, she had let herself go as far as toning her body but at least her tan was real thanks to the recent days spent convalescing and mourning at the beach. The beach always cheered her up and her best memories of her dad were their regular swims. Going back there helped her grieve. Nevertheless, she cringed when she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the large mirror at the front of the weights room.
“Aagh.” Turning left and right, she examined her butt with disapproval. She may have a tan but the body left a bit to be desired.
Hopefully, the share of the profits that Derrick had promised would ensure a few vegetables and some real protein in her diet and she could get back into condition. Her body had been toned at her fitness peak but she had let herself go. Being broke had been her excuse for a poor diet. Toast and vegemite had lost its appeal after a couple of weeks. At least gravity hadn’t affected her C cup breasts yet. Pinching the loose skin on her thighs, she cringed. Okay legs, you’re up first.
“Need a little help with shaping?”
Anna forced a smile. “No thank you. I can manage it myself.” she told the twenty-something blonde before walking away.
She was in no mood to take advice from a—probably silicone enhanced—gym bunny with a perky little nose and 100-watt smile, despite the enthusiasm that radiated from her. Anna hated being rude but she was in no mood to be overwhelmed by the optimistic chirpings of this stranger. She often found joyful people as emotionally draining as encountering pessimists and her senses hadn’t recovered from the physical assault from the previous night. She hurried her steps, hoping to leave the young woman in her wake but the perky blonde followed along behind, cheerfully offering more assistance.
“Sometimes it’s easier to get results if you have a training partner.” She offered her hand. “My name’s Susie Lister by the way.”
“Anna Derwent.” Anna shook the extended hand, hoping her new shadow would give up and go away if she kept the conversation brief.
“You’re the new boss aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am.” Anna took another step away but couldn’t shake her: the blonde followed her, offering training tips.
It was more than Anna could stand. She wanted to be left alone and Susie almost buzzed with enthusiasm. It was a nice change from the negative energy that she had been experiencing lately but too much for her already shaky nerves. Anna turned on her heels.
“Look, I really appreciate your enthusiasm and your offer to help me, but, this isn’t a good time for me.” She quickened her step to escape.
Susie rushed ahead, stopped directly in her path and stared her down. “Look, Ms. Derwent. I loved your Dad, everyone here did, so I realize you’re grieving and maybe you think you need time alone, but, that’s not the answer.”
“I—”
“Please let me finish. People often misinterpret my friendly nature and assume me to be a dumb blonde. Most of the time I don’t care because I know better but if there’s one thing I do know, it’s that grief loves company.”
Anna smiled. Susie’s warmth wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.
“Nice speech.”
“Thank you. It has been useful at times.” Susie giggled and held out her hand once again. “Can we try this again?”
There was warmth in the young woman’s handshake. She had a pure heart. Anna could feel the kindness radiating from her.
“That would be nice.” Anna agreed. She made a gesture of sweeping the imaginary chip off her shoulder. “Okay, chips gone. So, what can you tell me about this place, Susie?”
Motioning towards the office, Anna led Susie in and shut the door behind them. She offered the fitness trainer a coffee from the newly installed cappuccino machine—one of many presents from Derrick— and they sat down at the desk. The moment she sat, Anna groaned and clutched at her chest. The pain returned, as it had done every time she sat behind the desk. She screwed up her face as she held her hand to her chest and tried to breathe away the familiar crushing feeling.
“Oh my god, Anna. Are you okay?”
Anna opened her eyes and saw the look of terror on Susie’s face. Her tanned skin had paled a shade and her eyes were as wide as saucers.
“Yeah, sorry to frighten you, Susie. I don’t know what it is but every time I sit in this chair, my chest objects. Don’t worry, the pain usually only lasts about twenty minutes then it disappears.”
“You frightened me.” Susie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t think I could go through that again.”
“Go through what again?” Anna sat forward at her desk and leaned her forearms on the top. The shiver going down her spine was a precursor for upsetting news. It had been for as long as she could remember.
“Oh, Anna. I’m sorry … I thought that you knew…”
The penny dropped. “My father died at this desk?”
Susie nodded. Tears welled in her eyes as she explained, “I was having coffee with him, as we usually did before my night shift. He was telling me a joke and laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his face. Suddenly he clutched his chest and his forehead beaded with sweat. He said he had indigestion but I could see his complexion turning gray so I called for an ambulance. Derrick rushed in just as your father lost consciousness and we started CPR. Derrick tried so hard to bring him back. He broke a couple of your dad’s ribs trying to restart his heart but it was too late. The paramedics later said that there was nothing more that we could have done.” She reached forward and cupped Anna’s hands between her own.
The pain dissipated faster than usual and somehow Anna knew that it would not return.
“Thanks for telling me, Susie. You know, Dad and I once discussed death and he said that he wanted to die laughing. I guess if it was his time, at least he went on his own terms.” She swiped at the tears forming behind her eyes. “Now, enough about death. Tell me about the gym.”
“Okay, here’s the skinny. There are six fitness instructors, including me. We are all aerobics and Pilates trained so we share the classes and it works out pretty well that way. There are three martial arts instructors—all black belts—including Derrick. Two receptionists, a day manager, a night manager, a masseuse, and the accountant. You have two cleaning people who come before opening in the morning and a laundress who picks up the soiled towels at night and brings them back first thing. Twice a week a woman delivers fresh flowers for the foyer and … I guess that’s it.”
“How long has Mr. Corel been here?”
“Derrick? Oh, around seven years I’ve been told.”
“So he took over almost as soon as I left?”
“If you left seven years ago �
� yes, he did.” She took a gulp of her coffee. “I’ve only been here for four.”
“And the martial arts classes? They’re popular?”
“Packed to the rafters, six days a week.”
“Derrick—he only teaches Karate?”
“No. He works out in the private gym for hours before and after his classes. Sometimes he lets a few of us work-out with him but never in the main gym. For some reason he doesn’t like the mirrors. He trains like a man possessed. I’ve never seen a man with such a perfect body.” She waved her hand in front of her face while she pursed her lips for a whistle. “Mind you, he works hard at it. He has a degree in Exercise and in Sports Science and a diploma in Remedial Massage, plus … I was told he got Fifth Dan in Shotokan Karate while training in Japan.”
“Does he ever work out during the day?” Anna wondered if they were likely to bump into each other this morning. After his frosty and sudden departure last night, she wasn’t sure she felt up to more humiliation.
“Never.” Glancing at her watch, Susie stood up and took Anna’s empty coffee cup to the sink. “I have a new client coming for a training session, so I’d better get back outside. Thanks for the coffee and chat.”
“Thank you, Susie. Sorry again for the bad manners, it’s been a trying week. I’m glad you put me in my place.”
Susie was almost out the door when she turned back. “By the way, I go for a run along the beach every morning at six and pass your house around ten minutes’ past. Maybe you’d like to join me sometime?”
Anna sighed. Lately she wasn’t a morning person as she had begun to have trouble sleeping but if she was going to take this position seriously, she needed to get into shape—fast. “It’s a date.”
“The story of my life.” Susie sighed, but a broad smile lit her face. “My first date in ages and it’s getting sweaty with a female. Not exactly what I had in mind.”
“I hear you, sister!” Anna called back to her. “But at least being dateless is better than spending the night with your head in the toilet.”
Kiss of Death (Blood Brothers Book 1) Page 4