Life Sentence

by Carolyn Arnold

  She gasped.

  Her apartment had been tossed. The roses were lying on the floor, vase shattered. Her sofa pillows were thrown over her living room. DVDs and CDs lay strewn on the floor. Photograph frames were knocked over. Her pulse sped up, moving so rapidly she was lightheaded. Her heartbeat reverberated in her head. She had to call Bryan. She needed him—now.

  She dropped her purse on her coffee table. Pushing aside her personal effects and following the cord, she found her phone behind her sofa chair, its receiver off the hook.

  “Pick up, pick up,” she said, trying to coax him telepathically to answer.

  “Hello, you’ve reached the Lexan residence,” Rosa said. She mechanically rhymed off the greeting like a human answering machine.

  “Rosa, I need to speak with Bryan. It’s really important.” The line fell quiet, and it was as if time halted while she waited for him.

  “Jess?”

  “My apartment’s been ransacked!” Speaking those words aloud underscored the severity of the situation. She began crying.

  “I’ll be right there. Stay put. Actually, on second thought, meet me at the coffee shop we always go to.”

  His voice did little to calm her. He was evidently shaken by her call.

  “Okay, please hurry.” She wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  She was shaking right to the core. She hugged herself and rubbed her arms. Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought to hold them back and headed to the coffee shop.

  There she ordered her regular treat, a grande cappuccino out of habit, not desire, and sat at a table lost in her thoughts. A stranger had violated her home and rummaged through her belongings. Her fear balanced equally with anger over the intrusion. She mocked herself in her thoughts for locking the door behind her. Locked doors were not enough to keep people out, not if they wanted to get in badly enough. This much had been proven.

  BRYAN’S JAW WAS CLENCHED AND his cheeks pulsated. Dimitre was striking at his heart. He made it clear his intentions would be followed through and now actions were adding credence to his verbal threat.

  “Hey, Jess, baby.” Bryan hurried his way toward her table. Her shoulders relaxed.

  “They were in my apartment. When is this madness going to stop?” She cupped her hands around the warm mug in front of her. Her eyes held anger and apprehension.

  Madness? Is she referring to something else?

  He let it go. He knew it wasn’t going to stop until the evil man wanted it to and that would mean either they’d both end up dead, or at minimum he would.

  He realized he’d been silent too long when her eyes misted over. But words failed him.

  How can I soothe her when it’s getting hard to calm myself?

  The burning within him shifted from trepidation to vengeance. They were touching territory they should have left alone. He sat down across from her and reached for her hands.

  He chose to be honest. “I don’t know what to say.” He squeezed her hands tighter, and a pulse tapped in his cheeks. “But it will end.”

  “How do you know that? I mean you didn’t predict they would break into my home, Bryan.” Her eyes were as angry as his.

  He took instant offense to her statement. It wasn’t his fault the psycho had zeroed in on them. He chose to tell himself that.

  “I wanted you to stay with me. You wouldn’t.”

  “So this is my fault now? I’m to hide out until this guy decides to knock it off?” Her eyes lowered, and then rose to challenge him. “Did he come out and directly threaten you? Did he?” Her gaze fixed solidly on him.

  “It will be fine. The guy is just trying to shake us up.”

  “You didn’t answer the question. Did he threaten your life?”

  Where had she been all this time? The verbal recap of the threat had been mentioned on the news.

  “Jess, I’m a defense attorney. My clientele is not the nicest group of people in the world. They’re not the kind to have Sunday dinners with their family, buy their kids iPods, show up at soccer practice, and make homemade brownies. You know I’ve been threatened before.”

  “Then he did.” She pulled her hands back. “Then you shouldn’t have taken the case.”

  “What? And do what, Jess? Not work for a living?”

  “Well, it’s not like you need the money.”

  Her temper was evident. She crossed her arms and her legs. Her personal space bubble had extended to take in their table and the surrounding chairs. He violated the boundary simply by sitting there.

  “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened to you, but your apartment being tossed may even be coincidental.” He didn’t really believe that himself. Maybe he could convince her of that, but based on her smug facial reaction likely not.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here. I’ll go back to the apartment with you and have a look over. You can always come back to my house.”

  “We’ve been over that.” She stood up, her cappuccino untouched.

  She could be so hard-headed and stubborn. He let it go. He stood beside her and placed his arm around her. She was silent until they stepped into her apartment.

  “I just can’t believe it.”

  She stood to the side of the opened doorway for Bryan to come in and shook her head.

  Seeing it for the first time, Bryan had a sinking feeling in his chest. He knew Dimitre was behind it.

  “Did they take anything?”

  “I haven’t really looked that closely yet.”

  Jessica scanned the room and sifted through some of the movies and CDs. She went to her bedroom but returned not long later.

  “It doesn’t look like it.”

  “At least nothing was stolen.” That revelation only solidified Dimitre’s involvement. “I’ll have someone come in and take care of this mess.”

  “I can handle it.” Her stance indicated she had found resolve to fight the harassment.

  He pointed toward the answering machine. “You have a message.”

  She followed the direction of his finger and caught sight of the flashing red light. She hurried toward it.

  “I don’t remember seeing it there before. But I was in a hurry.”

  She pressed the play button and fell back into the sofa chair hard enough to raise her legs off the floor on impact. The voice was one she had heard before. This time it mocked her.

  “Bryan! Bryan!”

  “That son of a bitch!”

  Bryan slammed his fist down on the table beside him and writhed from the pain.

  Tears streamed down Jessica’s face.

  He went over to her, dropped to his knees in front of her, and placed his hands on her arms.

  “Let’s get out of here. You’re not hiding. You’re taking a break. Please.”

  “I’m scared.” She flung her arms around him.

  -

  Chapter 11

  SHE SAT ON THE SIDE of the bed and stretched her arms over her head. Her eyes were barely open and the light coming through the window was bright enough to blind her. The smell of bacon and eggs caused her stomach to growl. She knew Bryan had gotten out of bed hours before but couldn’t convince her body to budge when he did.

  She found him sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast. Rosa was busy cleaning up the counters. She curled her lips and kept working. Jessica refused to acknowledge her.

  “Look at what the cat dragged in.” Bryan smiled. “Gorgeous.”

  She smiled and went over to him for a kiss and hug. “I take it you like the way I look in your pajamas?”

  “Damn straight!” He slapped her on the behind when she turned around to take the seat across from him. “Rosa, get Jess some coffee.”

  Rosa mumbled something that wasn’t discernible, but they disregarded it.

  “What would you like to do today?�
� He stuffed a large forkful of scrambled eggs into his mouth.

  Jessica yawned. “Sleep more.” She scrunched up her forehead and laughed.

  Rosa placed a coffee in front of her. The mug banged on the glass table.

  “Don’t go too far. I’m sure we’ll be needing you soon for another breakfast,” Bryan said. Her back already to them, she shrugged her shoulders and nodded.

  Jessica blew on her coffee and took a sip. “She is adorable, isn’t she?” The statement was completely riddled with sarcasm. “It’s too bad she knows what she’s doing with the coffee.” She smiled, but it quickly faded. The resolve she had last night came to mind. She had to let him know about the prank phone call.

  “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “And what’s that, baby?” His blue eyes were warm and jovial this morning.

  She struggled to bring herself to tell him. “The man on the message, I’ve heard his voice before.”

  The features of his face instantly hardened.

  “When?” He put his knife and fork down.

  “Monday,” she said it sheepishly afraid of what his response would be.

  “Monday! And you’re telling me about it now? How can you expect me to protect you when you don’t share these things with me?”

  “I wanted to.” She lied. “But I didn’t want to upset you.”

  “Hell yeah, it’s going to upset me!”

  “See. That’s why.” She crossed her arms and faced the window.

  “What did he say when he called you?”

  She licked her lips and rolled her eyes. “To watch my back, basically.”

  “And you’re only sharing this with me now.” He repeated his earlier question in statement form.

  “Well, would it have made a difference? Really? My apartment still would have been broken into. We’d be in the same spot.”

  “What spot is that?”

  “Fighting! It wouldn’t have mattered if I told you then or now—we’d still be fighting. Only we’d be fighting over my moving in too.”

  The intensity in her eyes began to thaw the anger in his, yet he threw his hands in the air.

  “Let’s just forget about it. Now you know,” she said.

  They both sat in silence while he finished the last few bites of his breakfast.

  “I’m just not used to being pushed into a corner like this. I’ve been threatened before by clients, you know that. It’s just this guy, Dimitre, and his men are not ones to be reckoned with. When the man gives his word, it will happen. I really love you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. It just makes me so angry. I guess I’m taking it out on you.” His face softened, and he reached across for her hand. “Forgiven?”

  It wasn’t a true apology but probably the closest she’d get from him. She nodded. “I suppose, but you’re on probation.”

  “Oh, really? Does probation have the full benefits of the relationship?” He raised his eyebrows. “I tell you what, why don’t we get away from things? Clear our heads and come back tomorrow night?”

  “Sounds great to me.” She took a sip of her coffee. “And I’m hungry now.” The satisfaction in disrupting Rosa from her other tasks likely reflected in her eyes.

  “HOPEFULLY THIS PLACE WILL DO.” Bryan smiled with satisfaction, watching Jessica take in the surroundings.

  He had taken her to a resort nestled in the countryside. Being only an hour drive, it was convenient enough to get to, yet far enough to make them feel as if they were getting away.

  The resort prided itself on its five-star rating. Only the wealthy could afford to stay there. It had rustic charm and a certain elegance. The main lodge overlooked a big manmade pond. In the center of it, a large fountain sprayed water to a height of thirty feet, twenty-four hours a day. At night, colored lights shone from its base transforming it into a liquid Kaleidoscope.

  They entered the lodge, and Jessica bent her head back to take in the grand foyer. The space could have held a regular size house. The chandelier that captivated her was a solid fifteen feet wide and a height of ten. Crystals formed in a cluster, graduating down to the center, where it came to a point.

  “It’s beautiful here.” Jessica finally opened her mouth to speak. “You only know how to get away in style apparently.”

  He smiled while mentally checking off a to-do list. She had temporarily forgotten about the break-in.

  “Mister Lexan?” A young woman approached them.

  She snapped her fingers, and a uniformed bellhop took their bags.

  “Your regular suite, sir?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “And how long will you be staying?” The woman asked.

  Bryan glanced over at Jessica who appeared to have been transported to an unfamiliar land. For a woman who acted as if material things were unimportant, she was losing credibility. It made him smile.

  He addressed the concierge. “Just for tonight.”

  She nodded.

  “And we’d like to have in-room massages this afternoon at two o’clock. I trust that won’t be a problem?”

  “Of course not.” She noted it on a clipboard she carried.

  “Also be sure to bring a bottle of Dom. A 1975. And fresh strawberries.”

  Jessica’s mouth gaped open.

  It never occurred to him to bring her here before, but it seemed to have hit a favorable note with her. She pushed harder against his side and kissed him on the cheek. Turning his head, he took her mouth. Passionately, yet briefly.

  When they broke from their kiss, the concierge smiled at them. “Jimmy is already on the way with your bags. Do you have your key with you today, or will you require the house copy?”

  Jessica smiled at him.

  On occasions like this, he truly took pride in the success and money he had. He reached into a pocket and flashed the cardkey. “I have it.”

  “Then good day, sir. I will arrange everything as you requested.”

  Her exit, with the clicking of her heels on the slate floor, sounded like the prancing hooves of a Clydesdale.

  “Your own key?” Jessica hit him in the arm. “What? Do you own the place?”

  He smiled and shook his head. “No.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe one day.” He teased her.

  “But you come here often?”

  “What gave it away, my dear?” He didn’t elaborate on how he had the room on hold his whole life, or how his father had left it to him in his Will.

  “BRYAN, WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY.”

  Jessica sat across from him, her face glowing from the massage earlier and the champagne. Her eyes were glassy exposing the extent of her relaxation. Smiling at him, she reached her hand across the table for his.

  Bryan returned her smile and squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

  After the spa treatment in their suite, they had a nap followed by lovemaking. Now they were seated in the resort’s world-renowned restaurant.

  A brick fireplace the height of one wall appeared to be twenty to thirty feet high. The tables were draped with red cloths, the lighting dim, and a candle centerpiece burned on each table. The famous Frank Sinatra crooned, You Go to My Head, adding to the ambiance.

  “So you’d come back again?”

  She tilted her head to the side. “But of course.” She sipped her champagne and licked her lips. “Just what I needed.” She laughed.

  He figured she thought he could misconstrue that as a comment on the drink alone. But it was the sparkle in her eyes, the sincerity, which caused him pain.

  The music played softly, but his mind picked up on the words of Sinatra. Jessica intoxicated him with her eyes. She occupied his thoughts, yet he didn’t stand a chance with her. There was no way he could give her lasting happiness. Reality dragged their situation to the f
ront of his thoughts. He had almost forgotten about it.

  He had one afternoon to experience what others must take for granted—freedom. Freedom from fearing a vengeful Russian mob boss, who calculated the best time to strike.

  A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, and he was quick to wipe it. Jessica didn’t seem to notice. He had to get his life on track. He needed Jessica close to him, to love him, to be his. She brought sanity to his otherwise insane existence. He had to try and fight against common sense.

  “There’s something I’ve been procrastinating—”

  The waiter returned with their main course.

  “Thank you,” Jessica told the waiter and smiled at Bryan. “It smells heavenly.” She waved her hand trying to further waft the aroma to her nose. She shut her eyes as she inhaled.

  Bryan inhaled appreciatively as well—garlic, rosemary, and basil.

  The waiter placed Bryan’s meal in front of him, performed a partial bow, and retreated from the table careful not to turn his back on them.

  Bryan knew she would be the perfect addition to his life. True, she had been an integral part of it for nearly a year already, but not as close as he would like. A woman like Jessica was to be cherished, held in high regard. She was a woman who needed a man in her life no matter how stubbornly she denied it. But was he the right one for her?

  He knew she thought so. He remembered how she lit up when they ran into each other after all those years apart. It had been a chance encounter but one she summed up as “meant to be.”

  She lifted her fork and tasted the first mouthful and her facial reaction was orgasmic. “Now if this isn’t worth the trip here alone.” She spoke, her fork pointing at her food. She moaned her approval of the flavor. “It’s divine.”

  The flame from the candle danced in her eyes. She deserved so much more, someone without all the complications. He gave in to second-guessing himself and never did ask her the question his soul needed to ask. Instead, he sat there watching her with a pain in his chest for their entire meal.

  “SO YOU’RE AWFULLY QUIET, Mister Lexan.”

  Her weight supported by his arm, her steps somewhat clumsy from intoxication, they walked to their suite.