by Axl Goode
“Someone just made a very big mistake,” he said. “If they think they’re going to discredit us and keep this quiet they just gave me all the determination I need to handle every single one of them.”
Brenley knew the feeling. There was now a fire in her stomach to see whoever was attacking her completely ruined. She wasn’t going to settle for anything less. She wouldn’t wish this situation on anyone but she was glad to have Zane on her side. She felt bonded to him now, as if they were a team on a mission.
We are going to be a very dangerous team at that.
There was now no question of going to the police or even asking anyone other than close friends for help. They were going to have to do whatever it took to clear their names and bring whoever was setting them up to justice.
“What if they come to search your ranch here?” Brenley asked, suddenly worried about what to do next.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. I told you I am a very private person and that I would use this place to escape if I ever needed to. That being said, it’s owned through a series of companies I have through an offshore account. It will take them a very, very long time and some serious sorting of my financial records before they ever get wind of this place. I’m very good at covering my tracks.”
“Oh, thank god,” Brenley said feeling slightly relieved.
“I know this is scary. I didn’t see this coming at all but trust me, we’ll figure it out and make things right. This doesn’t really change things all that much, other than we can’t go out in public without worrying about someone seeing us. I also need to take the battery out of your phone so they can’t trace it.”
Getting both of their phones, she watched as he took them apart and removed the batteries. He then got up and went to retrieve another phone that he gave her.
“This is a prepaid phone, with no association to either of us. Don’t call anyone you know for now, just in case. If you need to, let me know and I’ll get one that isn’t traceable. This is just in case something were to happen and we were to get separated and you need to reach me. The number to my own prepaid is already in the phone. If you try to contact anyone that is close to you, it will only put them in more danger. It’s best if they are left in the dark. They may worry but at least they will be out of harm’s way.”
Laughing at this situation, the ridiculousness of it hit her. “Why do you have all this stuff? Have you been expecting to get in a situation like this?” she asked, finding it rather amusing.
“I’ve watched way too many movies. But I actually find it better to be prepared than anything. It’s just the way my mind works. I also have quite a bit of money and if anyone figured that out I’d be a target for sure.”
“Well obviously you do. You’re a celebrity actor,” she retorted.
“The least of my money comes from acting. I told you I invest as well.”
“So? Plenty of people invest. You really think you’d be that big of a target?”
“If you saw my portfolio, I might have to worry about being a target from you,” he said with levity, raising the mood. “Anyhow, it’s a good thing I like to be prepared because now we have the resources we need to keep going.”
“True enough. So I’m going to try again. How did you learn to be so good with technology?”
“Well, I have a dual degree in math and software engineering so that helped.”
“Shut the front door!”
“What?”
“You’ve got to be joking. You have a double major in math and software engineering?” she asked with an astounded look.
“I just said that. Do you want to see my certificates?”
“I think I would, actually.”
Walking to the other room, Zane returned in a moment with a single frame. Inside, true to his word, Brenley saw two degrees. She almost couldn’t believe it. Still, if she hadn’t seen the computer Zane had built and how he worked it she might not have. Here she had thought he was some vapid guy with no brains and he was actually incredibly intelligent. She felt a little dumb herself for reaching such a wrong conclusion about someone. She was normally exceptional at reading people.
Zane took the framed certificates back to the other room and came back with a rather mischievous look on his face. She could tell he was glad at seeing her realize he was actually much different then she had previously thought.
“That’s very impressive. So why aren’t you working in your industry rather than acting?” she queried.
“Well acting is more fun, plus I do get to work in my industry. I create applications and build things all the time as a hobby. I’ve got several bestsellers in the app store right now, actually. I don’t have to be exclusive in any one field nor do I need to broadcast everything I do to people. What I like to do in my private life is for me alone. People want to see the celebrity, so that’s what I give them. Then I get to come home and do things I think are really fun as well.”
“I hadn’t ever thought of it that way.”
“It’s like the table your feet are on right now. I spent a weekend out here relaxing and built it when I realized I wanted to prop my feet up.”
It was a cedar coffee table that fit in perfectly with the rustic feel but also had an ornate look to it. It had iron wrapping around the legs, which crisscrossed up to the center with a glass overlay.
Although Brenley had spent her day around Zane, she was seeing him very differently. He did have the one side to him that she had seen before but he also had so much more to him. His personality was full spectrum, seeming to allow him to be anything he wished.
Except a cook, that is, she thought.
“The table is beautiful. You’re just getting more and more impressive by the minute.”
“I try,” he said with a smile.
Zane got up and poured them both another glass of wine, then sat back down on the sofa with Brenley.
“I hate to say this, but you look supercute when you’re upset.”
“Oh god, whatever. This is disastrous. I can’t believe we are in this mess. I don’t even know how we got here.”
“Well however we got here, I’m glad to be here with you.”
“You barely even know me. Why do you like me?”
“Because I like what I know so far. You’re intelligent, have a good personality when you’re not insulting me, and I find myself wanting to know more about you. And to be honest, there is something about you that drives me wild. I can’t explain it but yeah, there it is.”
I drive Zane Anthony wild? How is that even possible? Trying not to overreact at hearing that, Brenley’s heart still jumped. She wasn’t sure why but it made her feel good hearing that she drove him wild. That he wanted her. She thought about it and was surprised to find that she wanted him too. She wanted to be in his arms and feel safe. She wanted to let him make everything better for her. She believed he could. But what about when all this was over? Would he leave her and move on? Probably. No one like Zane Anthony settled down with someone like her.
“Thank you. I guess we’ll get the chance over the next few days or however long to get to know each other better and see what we really think.”
“I can’t ask for anything more.” Their eyes locked for a moment before he continued, “It’s getting late. Let’s get some sleep and we’ll try tackling everything tomorrow, how does that sound?”
“Sounds good to me. I can’t believe it but I’m tired again already.”
She walked to the guest bedroom and Zane followed. Outside her door she turned to say good night. He was closer than she expected. His right hand came up to her neck and around her ear in a sensual motion.
Oh god, is he going to kiss me again? Do I resist or show him I really enjoy it? Before she could make up her mind his lips came down to give a departing kiss on her cheek.
“Goodnight, Brenley,” he whispered in her ear. He lingered, his face close to hers, looking into her eyes. She could feel desire starting to rise within her. Having him so clo
se, holding her in such a manner. His warm breath rolled across her neck, causing a tingling sensation to run through her. Then he was walking down the hallway toward his own bedroom.
Letting out the breath she had been holding, she walked into the room. No wonder she was tired. This was perhaps the most ludicrous day ever. Here she was, stuck in a total stranger’s house. A stranger who had feelings for her and who she was clearly developing feelings for. Not to mention, both of them were now outlaws.
She had gone to work this morning thinking she would be fine at a hotel for a few days. She would just check her video camera to see if anyone had broken into her apartment and then take it to the police. Despite how ridiculous her situation was she didn’t feel all that worried. She had a calmness she couldn’t explain. It felt like Zane would live up to his word about absolving them both.
What was more surprising was that she was actually looking forward to spending the next several days with Zane. He was a gentleman in disguise with a depth she hadn’t anticipated. A connection was forming between them. She could feel it. It had been years since she had a relationship that actually meant anything but she was slowing starting to hope against all hope that there might be something there.
Drifting off to sleep, her last thoughts were of his body pushing her up against a wall and kissing her again.
* * * * *
Zane walked to his bedroom, resisting the urge to go back down the hall and kiss Brenley properly. Today’s events had been totally unexpected. From running into Brenley at her apartment to now being a fugitive from the law, today seemed like a collage of events happening all at once.
He found himself mildly amused by the circumstances though. It had finally given him the chance to show that he wasn’t exactly what Brenley thought he was. He had played it all very cool, throwing out only enough to not seem cocky but also show that he was much more. Zane thought he’d be lucky if he ever landed a girl like her.
He didn’t know everything about her but there was just something. Sometimes you just know when you’ve met someone who you don’t want to spend your life without. He had that nagging feeling about her. She was special. It wasn’t only that he found her intoxicatingly beautiful, it was her personality. She valued a person for who they really were at heart. Plus having her in her business suit all day nearly drove him mad with desire. He had to get her different clothes. Soon. Or he would end up ripping those off her.
He had dated a variety of girls but they had only cared for his money, looks, or social position. It had been fun at the time but quickly got old. None of them offered anything exceptional. He felt disconnected from himself. Like he wasn’t getting the full package with them.
Zane wanted more. He wanted someone to value him for who he was, all aspects of him. He thought Brenley might just do that. She had a very tight view of people but he sensed it was because she had been hurt in the past. If he could get through the emotional walls she had erected, he thought there was a much deeper, loving person inside.
He wished he could have impressed her with dinner. It was a complete disaster. He was calling a professional chef next time. That was the biggest crash and burn he had ever suffered. It had taken everything he had to stomach the food. He couldn’t imagine what she thought about it.
Their night had been going decently until he turned the TV on and they heard they were fugitives wanted in connection to illegal substances. Zane bristled thinking about the planted evidence and false accusations against them.
He didn’t have the slightest clue as to how he would extract them from their current predicament. At least they were at his ranch where no one would find them. He was also grateful that he was a computer wizard. If anyone involved was keeping any dirty secrets on their computers, he was going to find out.
Crawling into bed, he wished Brenley was beside him. It was odd because he wasn’t really a cuddler but he had the urge to protect her and have her close. Drifting off to sleep he started dreaming about Brenley sneaking into his bedroom in the middle of the night.
* * * * *
Duane Frederickson sat outside on the balcony, ignoring the spectacular view from his penthouse suite. Scotch in one hand and a cigarette in the other, he contemplated the current situation. Everything had gone wrong but his men took it in stride. He wasn’t sure how Brenley Meyers had gotten the information she had but she had found damning evidence against him and was planning on using it.
That was what “the messenger” had told him at least. He had received a call the night before telling him his situation was compromised. Unless he eliminated Brenley Meyers, he would be spending substantial time in prison.
He made the only decision he could, calling the henchmen his source had put him in contact with to dispose of her. They were supposed to grab the information, plant false evidence to make it seem as though it was a break-in related to drugs and then simply make her disappear.
It had all sounded so simple speaking it out loud, only they hadn’t anticipated a third party being involved. He wasn’t sure how Zane Anthony had become tangled up in all this, but he complicated the situation immensely. It was one thing to make a money manager disappear. It was another thing entirely to make a celebrity disappear.
To Frederickson’s ire the henchmen had lost Zane and Brenley after the apartment complex. Even though steps were taken to discredit Zane as well, making him and Brenley both public enemies, it wasn’t enough. Frederickson wanted them out of the equation altogether. All the henchmen’s attempts at locating them had failed though. If it got out he was behind these attacks, Frederickson knew he was done for. He couldn’t convince anyone he had only done all this because of being blackmailed. There was no evidence of his blackmailer.
The only contact he ever had was over a prepaid phone, unless they decided to send him a package to remind him of the hold they had over him. Whoever they were, he knew they were extremely smart, organized and would do what was necessary to protect themselves.
Sitting outside in the windy night, he regretted the entire situation. Still he was out there because the messenger had told him he would be contacted tonight with further instructions. Right on time his phone rang, vibrating in his pocket.
“This is Frederickson,” he answered.
A muffled voice on the other end of the phone spoke slowly but to the point. “You lost Brenley Meyers and now have involved Zane Anthony.”
“It wasn’t my fault. I used the men you put me in contact with and did everything I could. I improvised and now discredited Zane Anthony as well, so they’re accomplices.”
“I need them eliminated. There is no connection to me but you’re a valuable asset I’m not willing to lose. Find them. Use all your resources. The men I’ve put you in contact with know what to do from there.”
Click. The line on the other end went dead.
That went well, Frederickson thought. At least it could have gone much worse. Taking another drink from his scotch, he thought perhaps this was just one big nightmare he would wake up from but knew that wasn’t the case. Looking down over the edge of the balcony, he thought if he didn’t succeed in finding and eliminating Zane and Brenley, he might as well jump off.
Chapter Eleven
The next day Brenley woke to the smell of food again. Only this time it actually smelled appetizing. Had Zane become a cook overnight? Crawling out of bed she slipped her clothes on from the day before. After brushing her teeth, she went out to the kitchen where the table was already set with orange juice and water. At the stove a man was just finishing topping each plate off with eggs.
Zane walked in from the other room saying “It’s about time you got up,” with his dazzling smile.
How does he look so good this early in the morning? Realizing she didn’t actually know the time, she looked at the clock and saw it was 9 a.m. She had slept in much later than she normally did.
“This is Ramone Ramirez. He’s one of my closest friends and manager of the property. He also ha
ppens to be a phenomenal chef, so we can eat without breakfast being burned.”
After introductions she walked over to the table where everything was already set out. Ramone removed his apron and gave Zane a wink that Brenley was sure said good luck before leaving them to their meal.
“Breakfast is my favorite,” Zane said. “Would you like some coffee?”
“I’d love some.”
Pouring a cup for both of them, he sat down at the table. There was already everything she needed in front of her. They were having scrambled eggs, bacon, turkey sausage, hash browns and pancakes. She added a little cream and sugar to her coffee before tasting it.
They both started digging in to the delicious food, while starting a conversation about the day.
“So how do you know Ramone? Can we trust him not to reveal us here?”
“It’s a rather long story, he tells it better than I do though,” Zane said grinning. “Truth is the man has embellished it so much over the years, I’m not sure he even remembers it the way it happened. I always get a kick out of hearing how much it’s changed each time it’s told. The important thing though is we have nothing to worry about. He wouldn’t ever tell a soul about us.”
“Oh he’s one of those huh? He sounds like a fantastic storyteller.”
“You have no idea. Did you sleep well?”
“As best as I could considering this screwed-up situation. I still feel like this is all a dream that I’m going to wake up from. How about you?”
“I slept great. I think we need a plan of attack today,” Zane said.
The man doesn’t waste any time, does he?
“There is obviously something that Frederickson doesn’t want us to discover. I think that’s exactly what we need to find. The note that you received said he was investing illegal funds, correct?”
“Yes, although I don’t know much more other than that. It’s been nearly impossible to find a connection after going through his records. We need a wider scope of his financial operations to figure it out.”