Gratefully Violet fell into them and dissolved in a river of tears. “I’m sorry,” she sobbed. “I just…”
“He’s miserable, too.” Sophie hugged her. “And he’s worried sick over you.”
“I don’t want to talk about him. I can’t.”
“Then we won’t. Let me take you inside. Would you rather come into the hotel or go to your quarters?”
Violet didn’t want to be alone. “I’ll go with you.”
One arm around her shoulders, Sophie led her along the sidewalk and up the stairs, murmuring soothing sounds in her ear. Inside, she settled Violet on a soft, comfortable sofa.
“I’ll get you a glass of water,” she offered. “Or would you prefer wine?”
She was far too miserable to be drinking. “Water’s fine.” She curled into the cushions, exhausted and heartsore, and wished for the sweet surcease of forgetfulness she knew would not be waiting.
* * *
AS AVERY DROVE TOWARD his house late that afternoon, he was newly grateful that he’d chosen to live outside the downtown—way outside. He was actually past the city limits to the west, a good twenty miles from the center of the city. Since he didn’t operate during the normal rush hours, traffic had never been an issue, and to him, the trade-off of quiet after the constant bass thumping and frenetic activity of the club was worth the inconvenience of distance.
He turned off the highway and down a winding road. The houses here were screened from view by the preponderance of trees. In addition, the homes were spread quite a distance apart. In the years he’d lived here, he’d only met one of his neighbors, and that was absolutely fine with him.
He made a right into his driveway, an asphalt ribbon winding through the trees. The house wasn’t visible for two more turns. The cedar tree cover was dense except right around the house where he’d had it cleared.
The feel of the place was lonely to some.
Occasionally it was to him, as well, but not today. Right now he was glad that anyone following him couldn’t do so easily.
He wondered if Sage already had a tail on him.
He sure wouldn’t put it past her, but anyone she sent wouldn’t be able to sneak in on foot, plus he had security cameras scattered over the entire ten acres. Whoever it was would have to lurk at the perimeter.
He wouldn’t be here long, anyway. He hadn’t waited for Sage to return to the club, but he’d told Leslie he was getting a massage and would be back afterward. Since he got massages frequently and had already mentioned the possibility to Sage, no one would think anything of it.
Not at first.
And by then, he’d be on a plane, headed out of the country.
He hoped to God Violet had heeded his message and would be on her way home to L.A. right away. At least she had a bodyguard, though the fact that the guy was an off-duty cop could go both ways. He didn’t like having cops anywhere around, especially not now, but he was happy she had one with her.
There was no danger to him from the cop’s presence—Violet knew nothing about his situation. He’d kept her in the dark on purpose. If he’d suspected things would hit the skids like this while she was nearby, he’d never have encouraged her to visit.
He pulled into the garage and was about to shut off the engine when his cell rang.
Sage. He groaned. He really didn’t want to talk to her, but he needed to allay any of her suspicions. “Hey, Sage. Didn’t expect you back already. Get enough sleep?”
“You need to get down here.”
Crap. He hadn’t grabbed his passports and money yet. “I’m about to go in for my massage. Can’t whatever it is wait?”
“Sure, if you don’t care that one of Hector’s girls went to the cops.”
“What? How do you know?”
“I have contacts inside the police department.”
“Shit.” His mind worked frantically. His masseuse was downtown, not far from Danger Zone. He couldn’t make it back to the club soon enough to make it credible that he’d been to see her. “But what could the girl possibly know?”
“Jorge will be asking Hector that.”
“You told Lima?”
“Of course.”
“But Hector isn’t our responsibility.” He tossed some clothing in a bag. His laptop case was already in the car. He’d buy whatever else he needed.
“I’ll remind you that his girls operate out of here quite often.”
And some of them were on the video footage they’d used for the blackmail scheme.
“Jorge doesn’t like mistakes. It doesn’t matter who’s responsible,” she pointed out.
He opened the safe in his bedroom and pulled out the cash, credit cards and passports.
“Avery?”
“I’m here. Just thinking. Which girl was it?” he asked, buying time as he strode back through his house toward his car.
“The one called Candy.”
“I don’t remember her—wait, is she the twin?”
“Yes. The one whose sister tried to engineer an escape.”
Avery swore ripely.
“My sentiments exactly. Swearing solves nothing, however. Hector told me a few days ago that he found her outside the club the other night with a man who’d been in here asking questions of Bella.”
Avery frowned. “What kind of questions?”
“Hector didn’t know. Bella is on the early shift tonight. I’ll discuss it with her.”
“She talks to a lot of men.”
“Hector has a sketchy description that should narrow it down.”
“And then we can review the camera footage to find him.” He’d made it to the highway, but the clock was ticking and he was nowhere near downtown. “I should go in and pay this woman, at least. She made a special trip for me.”
Sage sighed dramatically. “I suppose you could go ahead and get the massage.”
Her arrogance grated on him, that she thought she had the right to give him permission. He needed the time, though, so he swallowed his umbrage. “Thanks. I could use it. I’ll be back right afterward. Sure you’re okay talking to Bella by yourself?”
“I think I can handle it.” Her tone was dry as the Sahara.
He managed a sardonic laugh. “Of course you can. Thanks, Sage. See you after a while. I scheduled a long massage, and I have to turn my phone off in there, but I’ll check for any messages as soon as I’m done.”
He’d no sooner disconnected than his phone rang again. He glanced at the display.
Oh, hell. Violet. He couldn’t talk to her, not right now.
Please, Violet, do as I asked. Go home and stay safe.
He rejected the call and sent it to voice mail.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JD STOOD IN THE OBSERVATION AREA, looking through one-way glass at the woman who answered to the name Candy.
He nearly wouldn’t have recognized her, and the fact that he was seeing her now in full light rather than nighttime had little to do with it. The girl/woman he’d talked to at Danger Zone had been terrified. Cowed. Frantic over her sister’s fate and desperate to get away from him, to avoid rocking the boat.
She looked younger now, her face scrubbed clean of the thick makeup she’d worn, her clothing simple instead of provocative. Despite the warm weather, she had her shirt buttoned all the way to her throat, and her jeans were baggy, not tight. Her long dark hair was tied back in a ponytail.
She appeared almost nunlike—but even that wasn’t all that differentiated her from her earlier incarnation.
She looked…fierce.
What had caused the change?
“She said you’re the only one she would trust,” Bob remarked.
Nice that someone does. Violet’s hear
tbroken, accusing eyes were never far from his mind.
“You really fell for America’s Sweetheart, huh?”
He hadn’t meant to say it aloud. “Doesn’t matter. She can’t stand the sight of me now.” He shrugged. “It never would have worked, anyhow.”
“I’m sorry, kid.” Bob clapped his shoulder in sympathy. “Tough position to be in.”
“Guess I was due for a fall.” But it felt like a dive from Everest.
“I know we rib you, but there’s no pleasure to be had, seeing you this way.”
“I’m fine.” He would be. There was no other choice. “Sure Doc will find someone to cover Violet?” Her safety was paramount.
“He’s on it. And I’ll go myself, if need be.”
“Thanks.” JD squared his shoulders. “Okay, showtime.” He went back out in the hall then entered the room he’d been observing.
The girl looked up. If she was sixteen, he’d eat his favorite cowboy hat. “Hello.”
“Hello,” she said, her voice heavily accented. “I wait for you.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be here sooner. Are you comfortable? Would you care for a soft drink? More water?”
“I am fine. Thank you.”
“You wanted to see me. What can I help you with?”
Her brown eyes burned into his. “You will kill Hector and his men.”
Whoa. “You know I can’t simply walk out and shoot them, right?”
“Give me gun. I will do it.”
“May I ask your real name? I don’t like the sound of Candy. It’s all wrong for you.”
“I don’t answer to it anymore. That time is over.”
Tears welled, but she brushed at them impatiently. “I am Melis. My sister was Meryem.”
Was. “You know about her.”
A brusque nod. “She was murdered. My family will blame me. I am elder.”
“You’re not twins?”
“We are—were. But I am born first. Meryem my responsibility.”
“You’re not responsible for her death, Melis.” His voice was low and harsh with his own fury. “Others are. Many others who have made themselves rich by preying on innocents like you.”
“I am no longer innocent.” She stared at the table, her hands clasped so tightly her knuckles were white. “To come to America was my idea.”
He reached for her hands, but stopped when she flinched. God only knew how she’d been brutalized. He let his hand lie still nearby on the table in a show of silent support. “You wanted to make a better life.”
“I thought it would be like the movies.” In her broken voice, he heard an echo of Violet’s youthful disillusionment. Why did the world so often prey on the female of the species? His gender had a lot to answer for.
“Melis, you have to listen to me. You did nothing wrong. You dreamed, and others victimized you for it.”
“I want them to die. My father would kill them.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I can never go home now. I am…parya.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means…how you say? Outcast. Unwanted. If I return, no one talk to me, no one look at me…that is…?”
“Shunned.”
She nodded. “I think this is the word.”
A pariah. Good God.
JD vowed that he’d find a way to help this girl. He couldn’t fix the damage he’d done to Violet, and to the end of his life, her devastated face would haunt him.
But this, he could fix. And he would. Hector and Avery and Jorge Lima would pay, whatever it took. “I can’t just kill them for you, but I can make sure they are caught and punished, if you help me. Will you?”
Her nod was fierce.
“Then tell me what you know. Start from the beginning, when you first met a contact in Istanbul.”
With a grateful glance, she began talking.
* * *
“HERE,” SOPHIE SAID, WALKING into the living area with a tray full of goodies.
Violet jolted back from the edge of sleep.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Sophie said. “Here’s your water. I’ll just leave the tray here and go. A nap would undoubtedly be good for you.”
Everything about Sophie always said come here, rest your weary head…let me take care of you. “There’s not a hotelier in the world to match you, and I’ve stayed in many of the best hotels in the world.” Sophie’s cheeks pinkened with pleasure, but Violet could already see her starting to demur. “I mean it. You’re this amazing combination of professional and the best kind of mother possible. I could live here, I swear.”
A flicker in Sophie’s eyes at the word mother.
Oh, dear. “Is everything okay…are you—I mean, did you take a test?”
Everything about Sophie bloomed then. “I didn’t really need a test, but…yes. I’m definitely pregnant. Due in January, I think.”
“I’m really happy for you.” She was, too, even though the news only highlighted that her own dreams of a family had never been further away.
“Thank you. And somehow, once I told Cade, all my fears vanished.”
“You told Cade? While he was still on assignment?”
Sophie rolled her eyes. “I know…I wanted to wait until he was home, but then last night he made a video call, and I guess I was just too transparent. Not that he figured out what was different, just that something about me was. The next thing I knew, I just blurted it out. No self-control at all.”
“He was pleased?”
“He was thrilled. He could hardly wait to call his family.”
“So when’s the wedding?”
Sophie looked startled, then smiled. “The day he gets back, if he has his way.”
“Will he?”
Sophie sighed. “I…it probably sounds foolish, given that it’s a second marriage, but… I never had a real wedding the first time.” Longing shone from her eyes.
Violet yielded to impulse and grasped her hand. “It doesn’t sound foolish. Romance is important. You have something special with Cade—anyone can see that. You deserve a beautiful occasion when you pledge your lives to each other.”
Sophie’s fingers squeezed hers. “Thank you.” She hesitated. “Would you come?”
Violet froze. Could she ever bear to come back to this city? Especially for an event where JD would no doubt be in attendance?
“I’m sorry.” Sophie drew away. “I got swept away by sentiment. I should have thought…I’m really sorry, Violet. Of course you wouldn’t want to be here after…”
Violet was well aware of how private a person Sophie was, how hard she worked to afford that privacy to others. I have no family, she’d once said. Violet had no sisters, no close girlfriends who weren’t related to the industry—which was basically the same as none at all. In Hollywood, true friendships were extremely rare when you reached a certain level of fame. Everyone wanted something from you.
She would probably be stretching things to lay claim to sisterhood with Sophie, but honest admiration and fondness? Absolutely. Too much of both to risk tainting Sophie’s excitement by dwelling on her own heartache. “It’s not about JD. I’m a big girl.”
She sighed. “These are the times I regret my choice of career. I would love to, Sophie, truly, but…you haven’t seen how bad things can get when I’m in the center of the paparazzi storm.”
“I’ve had some experience with Zane’s situation,” she responded. “And I’m not afraid.”
Zane and herself, both in attendance at the same occasion…that was definitely tempting fate. She should say no, but she had a sense of how difficult it had been for Sophie to ask.
“I shouldn’t,” Violet responded. “But I really want to. You let me know
when and where, and I’ll figure out something. Maybe a disguise. I’m not an actress for nothing.” She found a nearly genuine smile.
“I’m not after a big fancy wedding. It will be very private. All I want are the people who are important to us.”
Violet was deeply flattered to be included in that company. She wasn’t quite sure how it had happened, but she and Sophie had crossed a boundary from host and guest to friendship in a surprisingly short time.
The best part was feeling that the liking was genuine, that Sophie thought of her as a person and not a star. Except with her family and with Avery, she almost never experienced slices of real life, genuine relationships not motivated by ambition or self-promotion or sucking up to gain some sort of advantage…at least until JD.
Or she’d thought it had been real with JD…then she’d learned it had all been a lie.
I was doing my job, which is protecting the innocent by catching those who would prey on them. That’s your buddy Avery.
She had to know. She would try Avery again.
And she would stop thinking about JD.
Sophie was still waiting for her answer, and there could be only one, if Violet cared about her. “I would be honored to come, Sophie. Truly.”
Sophie’s eyes welled. “I would love that.”
“Don’t. I can’t start crying again.”
Sophie hugged her. “It feels wrong to be so happy when—”
“I don’t want to talk about JD.”
“I’m not happy about what he’s done, but I’m sorry for him, too. He’s devastated, Violet.”
His expression at the end…his eyes gone dark and bleak… If she didn’t hurt so badly, if she hadn’t flown so high… But she had, and she wasn’t ready, might never be ready to acknowledge the untenable position JD had been in. Had chosen to be in, she reminded herself.
She would get past this. She would live. She had a life she needed to get back to.
But first she had to talk to Avery. Look him in the eyes. Decide for herself.
“You’re getting cross-eyed from lack of sleep,” Sophie noted. “You should take a nap.”
“Sounds wonderful, but I’d better pack.” She’d focus on that task for now and reach Avery as soon as possible. Then she would remember her real life and return to it.
On His Honor Page 19