Capture Tomorrow

by Ann Heathman

  CAPTURE TOMORROW

  Copyright © 2015, 2017 Ann Heathman

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Published by Windswept

  an imprint of BHC Press

  Library of Congress Control Number:

  2017934749

  Print edition ISBN numbers:

  ISBN-13: 978-1-946006-72-1

  ISBN-10: 1-946006-72-6

  Also available in eBook format

  Visit the author at:

  www.annheathmanauthor.com

  & www.bhcpress.com

  Book design by

  Blue Harvest Creative

  www.blueharvestcreative.com

  Deny Tomorrow

  Chasing Tomorrow

  Dance like no one is watching.

  Sing like no one is listening.

  Love like you’ve never been hurt.

  ~ Mark Twain ~

  The Land Rover careened through the streets of Nabolis, Afghanistan, a white, Toyota pick-up truck hot on its tail. The driver swerved in and out of traffic tossing Arianna from side to side in the seat.

  “Shit, Kevin,” she yelled. “They’re getting close.” Her heart thundered in her chest, and fear gripped her soul. Images of a journalist being beheaded and a woman hauled off as a sex slave flashed through her head. “Quick! Turn there, and stop the car. We need to outrun these guys on foot.”

  Kevin made a sharp turn and slammed on the brakes. They sprang out of the still rolling vehicle and sprinted down a side street. Running for their lives, they cut down one street after another, darting in and out of doorways, before coming into a busy marketplace. Not wanting to look conspicuous, they slowed their gait and tried to blend into the crowd.

  Kevin’s clean-shaven look and Arianna, being a blue-eyed, blond made them dead giveaways to the fact they were Westerners in the middle of this Afghan bazaar.

  “Wait here,” Kevin said, “and keep your head down.”

  He ducked into one of the few clothing shops in the bazaar while Arianna tried on some scarves from a vendor’s stand in an attempt to conceal her blond hair. After a few minutes, Kevin rushed out with a burqa rolled up under his arm. He pulled Arianna around the corner into an alley behind the shop.

  “Here. Put this on.” He handed her the garment. “This is your only chance of getting out of here unnoticed.”

  The burqa, as worn by all the Afghan women, would cover her from head to toe, concealing her identity.

  “Go find Tarique. He’ll get you safely out of the city.”

  “I’m not leaving you,” Arianna said, pulling the burqa over her head. “Come with me. We’re in this together.”

  “No, it will draw too much attention to you. I’ll go as far as the river, but then I have to find a place to hide.”

  “No, please. I’m afraid,” she cried. “Don’t leave me.”

  “I have to go,” Kevin said. “You’re on your own.”

  She grabbed onto him and begged and pleaded with him to not leave her. Suddenly from around the corner two ISIS soldiers appeared. One man grabbed Arianna and pulled the burqa off her. Grabbing hold of her hair, he laughed and said, “You’re going to make a good wife for my brothers.”

  Another man wrestled Kevin to his knees. Raising a machete above his head, he shouted, “Death to the infidel!” The machete came crashing down and…

  Arianna screamed. Bolting out of her seat, she stood there in the aisle, disoriented and panting for breath.

  “Hey! Hey! Arianna, what’s wrong?” Zach rushed over, put his arm around her, and held her close. The two, newly reunited after a period of estrangement, were now flying on Zach’s private jet back to his estate on the Caribbean Isle of Costa Luna.

  “You’re trembling. What’s wrong?” he asked again. “You must have had a bad dream.”

  “Whew!” She dabbed at some perspiration on her face. “I thought I was back in Afghanistan. Someone was chasing us, and they were about to behead Kevin and kidnap me.” Her heart was still racing, and her hands felt clammy. “It seemed so real. I could see it all happening in slow motion but couldn’t stop it.”

  “It was just a dream, so try to relax and put it out of your mind,” Zach said. “Would you like something to drink to calm your nerves?”

  She nodded.

  Zach signaled the flight attendant. “Miss, could you bring her a…”

  “Gin and tonic?” Arianna answered.

  “Gin and tonic,” Zach repeated. “Make it a double.”

  “I’ve been having some terrible flashbacks lately,” Arianna said. “Can’t seem to make them stop.”

  The flight attendant returned with the drink.

  “I understand,” Zach said. “All I can tell you is, it gets better with time.” He waited while she took several sips of her drink and her breathing clamed. Finally, he asked, “You okay now?”

  “I think so. Thank you.”

  “Okay, then I’m going back up front. Tony and I are in the middle of discussing something. We’re going to be encountering some strong headwinds, so you better buckle up.” He pointed to her seatbelt. “It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek and returned to his seat.

  She wondered if his last statement was a metaphor describing the future of their relationship. It sure had described her life the past few months. She’d been kidnapped twice, shot at, taken hostage, beaten, rescued, fallen in love, broken up, reunited, and was now flying home to live with the man she loved. Whew! Yeah. Buckle up.

  She took a sip of her drink and sat back in her seat, trying to relax. She loved Zach, but realized there was still much about him she didn’t know. Things he had refused to tell her, and things he’d cautioned her not to ask about.

  She didn’t know if he worked for the CIA, FBI, KGB— good guys or bad guys. He could be a lone assassin for all she knew. He came and went without notice with her never knowing where he went, why he went, or when he’d be back. Also, he was immensely wealthy though she had no clue how he’d amassed such a fortune.

  He had saved her life the month before and that definitely put him in the good guy category, and he appeared to be quite in love with her, but face it. Zach Acevedo was still a mystery to her.

  “THAT MUST have been quite a dream you had,” Lisa Calder said, sitting down beside Arianna. “I was in the back of the plane, and I heard you scream all the way back there.”

  Lisa’s comment interrupted Arianna’s thoughts and brought her back to the here and now. Lisa was her best friend and was dating Zach’s best friend, Tony Soto. They were all flying home to Zach’s estate.

  “Sorry. I feel silly. I’ve been having terrible flashbacks lately,” Arianna answered.

  “No, hey. You couldn’t help it.”

  Arianna continued to sip on her drink, enjoying the warm buzz of relaxation it gave her.

  “I’m happy you’re coming home. It wasn’t the same when you were gone,” Lisa continued.

  “I should have never left Zach’s estate. Not a smart move. I really messed things up when I left, but our relationship is back on track now, so I’m happy.”

  The plane hit some turbulence, and she tried unsuccessfully to juggle her drink to keep it from spilling. She grabbed a napkin to sop up the wet surface of her table top. “Damn! I hate flying in this weath
er.”

  “So, what are your plans for when you get home?” Lisa asked.

  “Hmm. That’s a good question. I want to go back to work. I’m not really the ‘sit around’ type. As you know, my partner Kevin and I went to Afghanistan to film a documentary on women’s life under the Taliban. I’d like to get that produced and see if any network will air it.”

  “Oh, that would be exciting,” Lisa said, smiling. “I could say I knew you when.”

  Arianna signaled the flight attendant for another drink. “It’s been a goal of mine for a long time, so my plan is to get that produced.”

  “Can you do that locally,” Lisa wondered, “or do you have to go somewhere to create the film?”

  “I can do some of it locally, but a lot of the work will have to be done in a studio somewhere else. Haven’t thought that far ahead.”

  “What’s Zach think of all this?” Lisa asked.

  “Not sure. We’ve never discussed my working. I’ve really never been in a relationship where I had to even consider what anyone else thought about what I did or where I went. I know Zach has some definite ideas about how things should be, so I have to wait and see.”

  She’d never lived with anyone before either. Free spirited and independent all her life, she came and went as she pleased. She wasn’t sure how these traits would mesh with Zach’s dynamic, controlling personality. Could be smooth sailing for them, but if the past was any predictor of the future, she thought she could be in for a bumpy ride.

  He was surely worth it, but maybe Zach was right. She should buckle up. Turbulence ahead.

  As if a switch had been flipped, they flew out of the turbulence and into the clear, blue morning sky of the Isle of Costa Luna. They taxied to the private jetport where a limo waited to take the group to Zach’s seaside compound.

  At the estate, servants were assembled under the mansion’s portico. Pilar, head housekeeper, was the first person Arianna saw when she stepped out of the vehicle. She rushed over and gave her a big hug. Breaking with proper servant-guest protocol, Pilar returned the hug.

  “Welcome home, Arianna,” the maid said. “This house has not been the same without you.”

  “I trust you mean it in a good way,” Arianna replied, a sly smile on her face.

  Pilar smiled back. “Of course, I do. Now, maybe a certain someone will quit moping around, and things can return to normal around here.”

  Arianna couldn’t imagine Zach moping around, but it was good to know the man of steel was capable of showing some emotion once in a while.

  “Follow me, Arianna,” Pilar said. “I’ll show you to your room.”

  Once inside the house, they climbed the large circular staircase to the second floor. Thinking they were going to Zach’s bedroom, Arianna was surprised when Pilar stepped into the first room at the top of the stairs, a room she’d never been in before.

  Decorated in all neutral and white shades, the bedroom was stunning. A king-size, four-pillar, canopy bed with brass accents dominated the room. A down comforter covered by a duvet, accented with shimmering small dots in hues of platinum and white, adorned the bed. A matching bed skirt and Euro shams finished the look. Arianna thought sleeping in this bed would be like sleeping on a cloud.

  On the opposite side of the room was a fireplace with a bookcase on one side and a state of the art entertainment center on the other. Noticing a control panel beside the bed, she realized at the touch of her finger, she could have any type of entertainment her heart desired. The room was wired with surround sound, and there was a large-screen TV perched on the middle of the shelf. Next to the entertainment center was a desk complete with a phone, computer, and printer, and at the touch of a button, she could make it all disappear behind a louvered door.

  “Excuse me a minute,” Pilar said. “It seems I’m needed in the kitchen.”

  Arianna wandered into the adjoining bathroom. The skylight in the bath’s cathedral ceiling allowed natural light to stream in causing the cool marble floor to glisten at her feet. Just this bathroom alone, she noted, was larger than her entire bedroom back home.

  A thick, glass brick wall served as the entrance to the walk-in Roman shower. Six strategically placed water jets were encased in the wall and could be adjusted to deliver a pulsating stream of water whenever she showered. She couldn’t wait to try it out.

  In the center of the bathroom was a Jacuzzi. Resembling more a small pool than a bathtub, the ceramic tile surround held baskets of ferns and was rimmed with candles of various sizes, shapes, and fragrances.

  Off the bathroom was a huge walk-in closet with more shelves and racks than a small boutique... currently empty shelves and racks. She moved back into the bedroom and found Zach waiting there.

  “I called for Pilar to send up some breakfast. It should be here in a few minutes,” he said. “What do you think of the room?”

  “It’s quite beautiful.”

  “Good. I’m glad you like it because this will be your room. If there’s anything you’d like to change, let Pilar know, and she can find a decorator who can redo it for you.”

  Arianna shook her head and stood there still taking in the opulence of the room. “I can’t think of anything I’d change, but I’m confused. We’re having separate bedrooms?”

  “You’ll be staying in this bedroom, but not to worry. You’ll find me in your bed almost every night.”

  “Almost every night? Not every night?” she asked. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  “No, of course not,” he chuckled. “It’s just that, as I said, I’m gone a lot with my work. But when I’m home, trust me. You can expect me to be right next to you every night.”

  She still looked skeptical.

  “Hey, don’t read anything into this. I’m not planning on having secret orgies in my room when I’m not in your bed. I just prefer to keep separate rooms. You have your space, and I have mine which gives us both a little breathing room.”

  Yes, that was probably a good idea. Neither of us has much tolerance for too much togetherness. This arrangement gave her a place to call her own while Zach kept his personal space as well. As long as she had him at night, she agreed this was the perfect arrangement.

  “Here, let’s go out onto the balcony.” Zach opened the door and invited her out.

  The balcony, much like the one off Zach’s room, covered the entire length of the bedroom and looked out onto the sparkling Caribbean Sea. Chaise lounges for sunbathing sat near a small dining settee. A sense of amazement came over her as she soaked in the splendor of this setting.

  There was a knock at the door, and a servant entered to set out breakfast for them.

  “Later this morning,” Zach said, after the servant left, “you need to go shopping since you’ve arrived with nothing. I’ll arrange an account for you wherever you like to shop.”

  It was true. They’d left in a hurry, meaning everything she owned was back in her apartment in Miami. She poured herself a cup of coffee and walked over to the balcony rail. The full reality of her situation was starting to sink in.

  “Zach, I know we talked about this but….” Her voice trailed off.

  “Talked about this? What is this?” he asked, coming over beside her.

  Arianna shook her head. “Well, you might find this hard to believe, but ah, well… I’ve never lived with anyone before and certainly never let anyone buy me things.”

  Putting his arms around her, he pulled her to him. “And this may come as a surprise to you, but I’ve never asked anyone to live with me before either, and trust me, there were plenty of women who wanted nothing more than to move in.”

  She knew he was right. His former girlfriend, Lydia, came to mind as someone who wanted desperately to snare him. That he had now asked her to move in was quite a testament to how much she meant to him.

  He pushed a strand of hair off her face, blown there by the wind. “Arianna, it’s good to know at least you aren’t after my money, but you’re goin
g to have to let go of the past. We’re both in uncharted waters, so let’s move on. You need clothes, and I’m going to buy them for you. Period. End of conversation.”

  Looking down at the simple sundress she was wearing... the only thing she owned right now, she said, “Well, unless I want to wear this day and night, I don’t have any choice, do I?”

  He shook his head, gave her a kiss, and invited her to return to the table.

  “I’ll have Pilar arrange to get a credit card for you in your name.” Before she could protest, he continued, “There won’t be any limit on it. Just be reasonable is all I ask.”

  “I plan on going back to work, you know? I have to help pay my own way. I can’t have anyone thinking I’m a gold digger or that you’re my sugar daddy.”

  He smiled and shook his head. “I’m too young to be a sugar daddy. I think most sugar daddies are somewhere in their nineties and ready to kick the bucket.”

  She laughed as he held the chair out for her to sit down for breakfast.

  “Also,” he continued, “I can’t stop people from thinking whatever they want to think. Right now, I’m your only source of support, so take this credit card and go shopping. As for you working, we can talk about that later.”

  She was just ready to say something else, when there came a knock at the door. Carlos, the fourth member of his Black Op’s team, entered. He bid Arianna good morning and then handed a cell phone to Zach.

  “Thank you,” Zach replied. “Please let Tony and Juan know I want to have a quick meeting in my office around noon.”

  When Carlos left, Zach turned to Arianna and handed her the phone Carlos brought. “One thing we need to discuss is your new cell phone.”

  “New phone? What’s wrong with my old phone? I have it right here in my purse.”