The Ring of Fire: The Dragon Dream: Book Two

by Robin Janney

  Kevin rubbed his forehead tiredly. He’d have to give Pat a call later, and touch base. In another email, Angela admitted she’d missed an appointment with her psychiatrist. He wasn’t sure how long ago that had been. Since then, Pat claimed the other woman had stopped taking her meds without approval, and that she’d been skipping appointments on a regular basis. It was a distressing thought.

  Normally, he had never questioned the amount of stability Craig instilled into Angela’s life, but this was the longest the other man had ever been away from his wife and the strain it was putting on her was alarming to Kevin. Was it to the point Angela couldn’t function without her husband there?

  The length of his friend’s absence was surprising in and of itself since Craig was normally obsessive with his need to protect his wife. But since his friend wasn’t returning phone calls, Kevin didn’t have any idea what was going on with him.

  He’d have to encourage Angela to make an appointment with Pat. He didn’t know what else he could do since he was so far removed from them both.

  31

  V eronica sighed as she exited her husband’s bedroom. The afternoon aide hadn’t shown up on time and they were on their own until a replacement arrived. The physical therapist had left as well and Les had been more exhausted than usual, enough he wanted to take a nap. She was about to say something to her stepson about how she’d had no problem getting his father into the hospital bed on her own, but the younger man was asleep on the living room couch.

  Like father like son, she thought derisively.

  She sighed again, this time in a deeper relief. Moments when she could drop the act she lived daily for the past thirty-plus years were few and far between. It had grown harder as the years went by, and she lived for these moments.

  Far too schooled to let it show outwardly though, Veronica crossed the room with her usual grace. Her eyes raked up and down her stepson’s lax body. It hadn’t been lax the night she’d interrupted him in the kitchen, and she wouldn’t mind seeing him without a shirt again. Her stepson took far better care of his body than his father had. Katie was correct in saying he had aged well, but there was more to a man than his looks. Or his bank account. If you didn’t have the heart of him enslaved to do your will, nothing else mattered.

  Craig shifted restlessly on the couch as she drew near, and she wondered if he could sense her on some level. She remembered how poorly he had slept after their first night together all those years ago. She’d given him two nights reprieve before she’d visited him again and had found him half asleep, his tired eyes focused on his closed door. He hadn’t remained that way for long. God, how she envied the young their energy!

  Her stepson had been exhausted for most of this trip, and she suspected it wasn’t worry over his father causing his sleepless nights. Did he lay awake with his eyes on the door like he used to? The thought pleased her.

  Bending sensually on the off chance he woke up, she lifted her stepson’s fallen iPhone from the couch. His fingers were partially curled from trying to hang onto it, but they only flinched as the phone slid away. With slim fingers, she activated the phone’s touchscreen. The screen opened to his text conversation with Katie, but the notification of a new text revealed he was also texting with Angela. Good, the young twit was distracting him from his adorable wife; it would be easier reclaiming that which was hers when the time came.

  Returning the phone to its dark state, she replaced it where she’d found it. Backing away slowly, her eyes continued to admire her stepson. Even approaching her sixtieth birthday in a few years, Veronica was still a sexual being, and she longed to run her hands up and down this young man’s body. His father had been a generous lover in his own fashion. But Craig was younger and had been easier to deceive when it came to her orgasms. But no matter how much she had enjoyed the actual sex, it had never been strictly about the sex with him and his brother.

  No, it had been the assertion of her ownership of them and them responding to her wishes and commands, ruining their already distant relationship with their father. Believing he was unable to bring her to orgasm had only fueled Craig’s youthful ardor; of course, fear of punishment had helped fuel that ardor as well. His fear had always been a turn on for her. She’d been taking great delight in making him uncomfortable while he was here.

  Would she still be able to pull the deception off? After all, Craig had been married to a beautiful young woman for almost five years now. If the reports were correct, the two had a very active sex life. Surely by now he’d be able to tell when a woman was lost in pleasure. Unless Angela faked it, of course. Some women faked having climaxed, while others pretended they hadn’t come at all, so they could have more. Which one was Angela? It was one of those things she had no way of knowing and one of those things that ate at her.

  There were too many unknowns, she fretted as she entered the kitchenette. Pouring herself a tall glass of orange juice, she slipped in a shot of vodka despite the early afternoon hour.

  What were Katie’s real motives for helping? Would she really be able to walk away when instructed? Veronica looked at each photo carefully before she sent it to Angela; Katie was plainly smitten with her former boyfriend, and although Craig clearly hadn’t been at the beginning, she could see stepson warming to his old girlfriend’s charms. If Katie managed to get her one night with Craig, Veronica doubted it would be enough for the other woman.

  And on the other front, was Nikki doing as she said? She didn’t quite trust that disturbed young woman and suspected the other had a few surprises up her sleeves. It didn’t matter so long as she terrorized Angela before killing her. If Nikki obeyed like she was being paid to do, Craig would be devastated to learn that while he was cheating on his wife, she had been assaulted and killed. He would be vulnerable and open to comforting.

  How real was Angela’s weak and helpless persona? She’d been strong enough to visit the dream world, even if she hadn’t understood where she’d been. It had been almost two years after their first encounter before Veronica herself had been able to reenter the other realm of existence even if she hadn’t been able to reenter Craig’s dreams fully. Yet. Unlike Angela, she had grown in strength since their first meeting. Her recent brush with the younger woman in that realm had proven successful.

  Veronica was no dummy. Angela Carman Moore was a woman of extraordinary strength and talent, but she herself seemed blind to it. Or afraid of it. She had no idea who she truly was. Instead she floated through her life, depending on Craig to get what she wanted, what she needed. She seemed to depend on him for everything from her identity to her financial stability. Veronica knew how deceptive appearances could be. Had it not been for the fact that Angela was married to her stepson, Veronica would have put her wings around the younger woman. She would have brought her in close and nurtured her into the powerful goddess she was.

  But the Moore’s belonged to her, and Angela had encroached on her territory. Unknowingly, to be sure, but it had happened just the same. It was sad they were destined to be enemies when they should have been allies. There were so few women like them. Angela wouldn’t be the first woman she’d killed though, and she would be far from the last.

  Men like Craig were meant to be controlled. His talents and abilities had yet to be honed, and she couldn’t let that happen while another woman held his reigns.

  It was complicated. The reasons why Angela had to die were many, and each had their own layers and shades of gray. If Veronica had chosen, she could have manufactured a way to tear Craig and Angela apart in a way that would allow Angela to live and become her protégé, but she chose not to.

  Protégé’s had a nasty habit of outshining their teachers.

  And Veronica wouldn’t be outshone.

  32

  N ikki pushed her partially eaten sandwich to the side as her cheap cellphone signaled a text. Pulling it out of her back pocket, she flipped it open and sneered at the New York bitch’s number.

  Tonight, the mess
age read.

  Did she think it was as easy as that? Send a text and Nikki would shoot into action? Although Angela’s routine continued to deteriorate the longer her husband was in New York, she was never alone! That infernal housekeeper was always in the shadows somewhere, like an invisible bodyguard Angela wasn’t even aware she had.

  And Nikki refused to come close enough to see Jared Carman again. It was bad enough seeing him from afar. The first time in the hotel dining room had freaked her out and had brought the past back in a flurry. And then when she had passed by the day the brother and sister conveniently had a flat tire, and Jared had looked right at her, Nikki was afraid she’d been found out. It had felt like the boy was looking through her. She’d even changed motels just to be safe.

  Maybe she wasn’t as hardened as she liked to think. The way she needed to prove it to herself was the only thing keeping her on this mission.

  And, she needed the New Yorker to keep paying her way for the moment. So, she hit reply and sent back a simple: Ok.

  Then she put the phone back and returned to eating her meal.

  She’d do things her way, on her time schedule.

  Tomorrow would be good enough.

  K atie stretched in her bed. Although it was early afternoon, she hadn’t been awake long. Long enough to be texting with Craig, although he had gone silent for the moment. He’d gone out dancing with her every night she’d asked this past week. Without even touching him, she’d been sensual enough in a friendly kind of way to pull him out of his shell and it allowed him to enjoy himself. It had felt like what they used to be together.

  Her husband lay in bed next to her, still out cold. He had come in later than she, from one illicit affair or another. At the rate he was skipping work, she wondered how long until he was fired. It didn’t bother her because her father had left his estate to her. Probably the biggest reason her husband stayed with her. It was mildly depressing.

  Idly she wondered if he was still seeing the hot black man from the Bronx. God, but her husband knew how to pick handsome men. She could never talk him into a threesome with any of them though.

  She rolled out of bed, her short nighty barely covering her buttocks. Occasionally Andy would want to have sex with her and she liked looking nice for him if he was in the mood.

  Her cellphone vibrated softly in her hand as she entered her elaborate bathroom. It was one of those ridiculously huge bathrooms with a tub that was almost a small pool. Pushing her long blonde curls out of her eyes, she checked the screen to see who was texting her.

  It wasn’t Craig. But it was the go-ahead text to put stronger moves on him. Tonight, as a matter of fact.

  That would work because tonight was the party for Les. He was only returning to work part time, but his two partners felt the need to throw him a party just the same. Since Andy worked there, she had an open invite.

  She sent back a polite reply acknowledging the text.

  “Which one of your boyfriends is that?” her sleepy husband asked, coming in the room behind her.

  “I didn’t know you were awake,” replied Katie. She gave him a small smile and slipped out of her nighty. She made sure her breasts jiggled at him as she did so. “It wasn’t a boyfriend, it was Veronica. She wants me to up the heat tonight.”

  Andy sneered. “If Craig wanted you, wouldn’t he have made a move on his own by now?”

  “It’s not about what he wants.” She placed her hands on her naked hips as her husband looked at her. There was a spark of interest in his eyes. “If this works like she wants it to, it’ll be a step up for all of us.”

  “Oh yes,” he agreed. “She gets full inheritance back, you get Craig, and I’m left divorced.”

  “I didn’t say I was going to leave you for him,” she reminded him. “He’d never allow for the openness you and I have. Who did you see last night?”

  “Tristan,” he answered, scratching a spot on his chest. “So, all you’re after is a one-night stand with him? And that’ll satisfy you? Banging the one that got away and all that?”

  Katie hesitated as he drew near. Was that all she wanted? “If he wanted more than one night, I’d be okay with that. But you and I know marriage would be out of the question. Craig wants children. You know my abortion left me barren.”

  “He and his wife haven’t had one yet, so maybe it’s not as big of a deal as you think it is. We all change with age.” He ran his broad hands over her curves. “I want to be close when it happens.”

  “That’s a little twisted, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe. Maybe I just want to have you once you’re done with him.”

  Katie rolled her eyeballs even as she pressed into his touch. For all his affairs with men, her husband knew his way around her body. She wished he’d touch her more. Sex with him was always amazing. Why couldn’t he love her enough to want her more? “Did you wear condoms last night?”

  “We did. I always do. No point in opening us to something viral.” Andy caressed her face. “I just want to be there afterwards. Touch what he’s touched, kiss what he’s kissed.”

  “Fucking him vicariously through me? Is that why you let me have affairs?”

  “Craig’s cute enough for a guy,” Andy said with a shrug. “Not my particular flavor. Have you been with anyone else recently?”

  “Actually – no.”

  “You must be hungry.”

  “I always am.”

  Andy smiled as he kissed her. “You’re as twisted as I am, sweetie. That’s why we’re a good match.”

  It was true enough. “I’ll let you know where Craig and I end up tonight.”

  “Good.” He patted her naked rump and then walked away to use the facilities.

  Katie grimaced in frustration. Her husband only ever wanted her after she’d been with someone else. It was a bitter truth to swallow, even after all these years.

  Changing her mind about a bath, she stepped into the large shower. She began to put her marital issues aside and plan her approach for tonight. She wanted to dazzle Craig, but she wanted to appear innocent as well. None of her old dresses would do. She’d go shopping this afternoon. What would his wife wear to something like this? All the pictures of her on his phone had been casual attire.

  But, she’d also recognized the image of his wife as being the same as the Angel character in the graphic novels he was putting out. The Angel’s attire ranged from the blue virginal dress to a few more revealing outfits. She was whatever the knight in the adventure needed her to be.

  Katie thought she could pull something acceptable off.

  C lubbing again?

  Angela rolled her eyes at the new picture texts she’d been sent. So, her husband hadn’t danced with her since her friend Judy’s wedding. An event she didn’t even remember. She wasn’t threatened by him dancing with another woman. Much. Even if it did look like foreplay.

  But, it revealed a side of her husband she hadn’t been aware of.

  Why hadn’t he danced with her again since then?

  And had he ever been that relaxed with her? Maybe during the honeymoon she didn’t remember?

  She cast her memories back over the few years they’d been together. He had been a different man after she’d come out of her fever haze when she’d had pneumonia, she remembered that much even if she didn’t remember all the details. Much like the man she saw in the pictures with Katie. His smile had been easier, he had laughed more, he had touched more, and he had kissed more. The touching, the loving, the kissing, none of that had changed after she had been kidnapped and she’d returned to him.

  But Craig had never been as carefree afterwards. If felt to her as though he’d been on guard ever since. She knew of the measures he took trying to protect her; she just chose to let him believe she wasn’t aware. Kenny hadn’t ‘just happened’ to be there the day she and Jared had a flat on the way back from town. She was able to spot the cameras in corners, even if she was never sure if they were on or not.

  Angela si
ghed and pushed away the baby garment she had been piecing. At her feet, Princess lifted her head, but her human didn’t notice her.

  Was the garment for her unborn child, or her mother’s? Angela hadn’t decided yet. She didn’t care whether she gained a baby brother or sister, either was fine for her. But she was hoping for a daughter for herself.

  Pulling her laptop close on her work area, Angela lifted the lid and woke it. She instant messaged back and forth with her sister even as she opened her email. Her sister was excited for the new baby on its way, and Angela wondered how much more excited the family would be to know the new baby would be an aunt or an uncle shortly after birth. If her math was right, less than a month.

  Kevin, she began. I know you tell me not to dwell on the pics the anonymous number sends me, but they’ve gotten me to thinking. Craig has never been as carefree after my kidnapping as he was before. I was wondering, you are his friend and in a way his doctor. I don’t know if confidentiality applies in your relationship, but if you’re able to tell me, has he ever spoken in depth of the effect of those events in him? I know I made a lot of mistakes when I woke up from the coma, and I don’t think he holds any of it against me. All the times we’ve spoken of those events, he’s always been more focused on me and how it traumatized me (I don’t like being outdoors in Tyler’s Grove) and my missing memories never really worried him (I’ve had a few return just recently) I know I can be a very self-centered person, and I try so hard not to be. I love my husband, but I’m afraid I don’t always know how to be there for him the way he needs. Any thoughts? ~Angela

  Sending the email, and checking the time, she left the window open in case he was able to reply while she was still online. Returning to her conversation with her sister, Angela wished she could tell her sister her newest secret. Craig should be the next one to know; it was bad enough in Angela’s mind that Nan knew before Craig did, but given his absence, it couldn’t be helped.