by Kelley, HD
Alec held me while I cried, which only made me cry harder. I felt so safe wrapped in his arms, but he was leaving. The thought of being alone frightened me in a way it never had before. Whoever was after me had taken the one thing I never thought I would lose, that part of me that made me who I was—strong, fierce, and unafraid of the world. In a blink of an eye my desperate need for independence was gone. This stranger I’d never known existed inside me was all that was left. All I wanted at that moment was to stay wrapped in Alec’s arms forever.
“Take me with you,” I cried. “I don’t want to be here alone.”
“It’ll be okay, baby. I’ll only be gone for a few hours, and Frank will be posted right outside your door the entire time I’m gone.”
“Please,” I whined.
“Let me tuck you in. I’ll be back before you even have a chance to miss me.” He stood up, pulling me to my feet next to him. Scooping me into his arms he carried me to bed.
• • • • •
I tossed and turned but couldn’t sleep after Alec left. I’d wanted to go with him but his insane compulsion to keep me safe kept me here. The beach was full of vacationers enjoying the beautiful Florida weather. I considered hanging out on the beach too, but I hated to drag Frank along. Alec had given him strict orders not to let me out of his sight and he’d given me stricter orders not to ditch security.
Desperate for any distraction I could get I pulled out my laptop to check email. My medical leave was about to expire and I’d be going back to work on Monday, so I should probably get caught up on emails anyway.
Noon came and went and there was still no word from Alec. I’d gotten through all the emails flagged as urgent and was feeling less anxious about being away from work so long. Luckily, Payne Enterprises was the only project I was directly responsible for and, considering Alec was the one who’d insisted I take the leave, I didn’t have a whole lot going on.
I called my dad to make sure he made it home safely. He was closing on the ranch so he had to rush back to Colorado. Our conversation was short but they usually were. My dad hated talking on the phone but at least I knew he’d arrived in one piece.
Frank brought me lunch but I wasn’t really hungry. Being trapped inside was getting to me. I needed to get my life back to normal, whatever that was. The minutes on the clocked ticked away painfully slow. I needed a distraction.
Val answered on the first ring. “Bella, where are you? I came by the hotel last night and they said you’d checked out.” I still hadn’t told her about the divorce or the attacks. How was I supposed to explain what was going on? She knew I’d been staying in a hotel, but she hadn’t asked me why, and I hadn’t offered.
“I needed a change,” I said. It wasn’t really a lie. I did need a change. “I’m staying at the Sandestin. Where’d you go yesterday?” I asked, quickly changing the subject.
“Sorry about that, Bella. I ran into my ex at the ceremony and I had to get out of there.”
“Your ex? Who?”
“Husband number three. He was there with his new girlfriend.”
“Oh, Val. I’m sorry. You should’ve told me.”
“You seemed to have your hands full.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Alec Payne. I saw the two of you together. He’s bad news, Izzy. You should stay away from him. I heard he’s a real son-of-a-bitch.”
“He’s a client, Val. And how do you know him, anyway?”
“I’m serious, Bella, I want you to stay away from him,” she snapped, completely ignoring my question. I was beginning to rethink calling her. I’d been looking for a distraction, not a lecture. “How long are you staying in Destin? I want to see you.”
“I’m not sure,” I answered honestly. “I’ll be going back to work in a couple of days, so probably until then.”
“Hey, I’m getting another call. I gotta run now, but I’ll let you know if I can make it back down.”
“You should try. It’d be good to see you.”
“Definitely. Later, Bella.” And with that the line went dead. Val had never spoken her third husband’s name to me so I had no idea who he was. I had never given him much thought, but hearing he was at graduation had me wondering who he could be. She lived in Chicago. What were the odds her ex-husband would be dating a woman from Ft. Walton Beach?
Staring out at the water from the balcony made me miss my home even more than I already did. Watching the sunset over the water every evening, all those quiet walks on the beach, the sand beneath my feet, the water washing over me, it had been my peaceful sanctuary and now it was gone.
The ringing of my phone brought me back to the here and now. I ran inside to answer it, hoping against hope it was Alec. Only it wasn’t. “Hey, Spencer, what’s going on?”
“Hi, Bella. I thought you’d want to know Anna called. They made it onboard the ship okay.”
It didn’t surprise me that Anna had called Spencer. After all, she was a daddy’s girl, but I’d hoped she’d call me too. “Thanks.”
“Are you okay? You sound upset.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a little sad about the kids leaving I guess.”
“Why don’t you come to the house? Cathy is still here. She’d loved to see you.” It would be nice to see Cathy. She and Spencer had always been more like brother and sister than cousins. And after we got married she treated me like a sister too, welcoming me into the family with open arms, even when her aunt hadn’t. Gladys made no secret of the fact she thought Spencer could do better, but Cathy was always there to reassure me. Even still, there was no way I was going over there.
“Spencer, I can’t, even if I wanted to. My car is still at the house.” True, my car was still at the house, but Frank would drive me if I really wanted to go. But I didn’t. The house was foreign to me now, as was Spencer. What would I do if Cathy started asking questions about the divorce? What had Spencer told her? Plus, he’d been drinking pretty heavily lately and I disliked Drunk Spencer even more than the sober version of him.
“Don’t be silly, Izzy. You’re practically next door. I’ll come get you.”
“Actually, I moved to the Sandestin last night. But I’m not feeling up to it anyway.”
“I understand. Cathy will too. Feel better, Izzy, and please, call me if you need anything.” It was clear Spencer still cared about me, and I him. Nineteen years was a long time to love someone. It wasn’t like either of us could just flip a switch and turn it off.
Tears began to fall as soon as we hung up. Nothing was going to stop them this time. My life was in total disarray. My marriage had ended. I’d been forced out of my home, separated from my family, my kids, and even my career. It was all slipping away and I felt powerless to stop it. I’d lost all control. This was not the Izzy James I knew, the Izzy James I used to be. The tears fell faster. I buried my face in a pillow and sobbed, loud, uncontrollable cries.
• • • • •
I was woken by a commotion in the hall. There were several voices, but I couldn’t make them out. The door swung open and Alec and Preston rushed in, Frank close behind them. Alec’s lips were pressed in a thin, hard line and his eyes were tiny slits on his face. He was mad, really mad. He glared at me, his eyes burning a hole right through me.
“Me?” I breathed. He was mad at me.
“Who did you tell, Isabella?” he shouted. “Who knows you’re here?” His voice was gruff. I opened my mouth to answer but closed it, knowing full well he wasn’t going to like what I had to say. “Answer me, Isabella! And this is no time for half-truths either.”
I took a deep breath to steady my nerves. “My dad,” I whispered.
“Is that it?”
“Spencer knows too.”
“Damn it, Isabella.” He paced back and forth like a caged animal, both hands tugging at his hair. He turned to Preston. “Get me the hotel security video.” Preston moved toward the door. “And find out where Spencer James is at.”
“I
didn’t mean to tell him, Alec. It just slipped out.”
Alec glared at me, his eyes burning hotter than embers. Pulling a shirt out of the closet, he tossed it to me. “Get dressed,” he ordered.
“Alec, what’s wrong?”
“You did exactly what I told you not to, Isabella. That’s what’s wrong.” Valerie’s warning came rushing through my mind. “He’s bad news,” she’d said. Shit. Valerie. I forgot to tell him I talked to her, but it could wait. He was already mad as hell and knowing there was someone else I told where we were staying wasn’t going to make it any better.
I didn’t move, momentarily stunned by his anger. Alec cupped my face in his hands. “Get dressed, Isabella. And don’t make me tell you again.” His expression on his face had softened a little and his words were like a promise and a threat all rolled into one.
I looked away, trying to hide the grin on my face. “Yes, sir.”
“Oh you are going to think ‘yes, sir’, Isabella.” A wicked grin crossed his face, making me blush.
With a smile on my face, I grabbed the shirt he tossed on the bed and made my way into the bathroom to get ready. I hopped in the shower, savoring the feeling of the warm water on my still achy muscles.
Before I could get the conditioner out of my hair the bathroom door flew open. “What the hell are you doing in here, Isabella?”
“I’ll be out in a minute,” I called through the glass door of the shower.
“Hurry up. We need to go.”
I rolled my eyes and reached for a towel. “Go where?”
“I’m taking you home.”
Home? As in the house I shared with Spencer? His words were like a punch to the gut. I’d pissed him off and now he was taking me home. Earlier he’d been so freaked out about my safety and just like that his concern had faded. Could he really be that mad that I’d been talking to Spencer?
When I walked out of the bathroom Alec was sitting on the bed, his arms crossed, his foot tapping. “It’s about damn time,” he snapped.
“Seriously, Alec,” I snapped back. “What’s your problem?”
Alec looked up, deep wrinkles lining his forehead. When he noticed me, he looked away but it was too late. I’d already seen the torment in his eyes. “He was here, baby. And he wasn’t just here to hurt you either.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The security team uncovered a stash of drugs hidden in the stairwell. It contained enough ketamine…” He pulled his hand through his hair. “He was here to kill you.”
A shiver ran down my spine. “I’m sorry, Alec. I should’ve listened to you.”
Quickly getting to his feet, Alec pulled me into his arms. “Yes, you should’ve, but we’ll deal with that later. Right now we need to get you out of here.”
Chapter Twenty Two
“Where are we going?” I asked when we got to the airport. Alec said he was taking me home but we’d driven to the here instead.
“Oh no, Isabella, I’m not about to trust you with that information right now.”
I folded my arms. “I said I was sorry, Alec. I have a right to know where you’re taking me.”
“Are you pouting, Isabella?”
Shaking my head, I stared out the window. Mr. Control Freak was back in full force now, but was I really about to get on a plane with him without knowing where we were going? Without telling anyone I was even leaving?
Before I had a chance to fully consider what I was doing, Alec was escorting me aboard the plane. A woman with short, black hair was waiting to greet us. She looked surprisingly similar to Ms. Jet Black, but I couldn’t be sure it was her. “Welcome aboard,” she said in a kind, soft voice, and I knew at that moment that it wasn’t her.
“Thank you, Tina. Did you bring the contracts I asked for?”
She handed him a manila envelope. “Yes, sir.”
Alec helped me into a seat then sat down beside me. Emptying the contents of the envelope, he quickly flipped through the pages, initialing each one as he went. After signing in a few places, he handed both the packet and envelope back to Tina. “Dinner?”
“As you requested, sir.”
“Excellent. That’ll be all.”
Tina nodded. “Thank you, sir. Have a safe flight.” Alec nodded too then Tina moved toward the exit.
“Bye,” I called out before she stepped through the exit.
Turning to face Alec, I asked, “Now will you tell me where we’re going?”
“Buckle up, Isabella. We’re about to take off.”
“I want to know where you’re taking me first.”
He took my hand in his. “You can’t always get what you want, Isabella.” He was using my words against me yet again. Rolling my eyes, I complained, “Ugh! That’s not fair! I have a right to know where you’re taking me.”
Leaning toward me, Alec kissed me on the cheek, a smile on his face. “Did you just roll your eyes at me?” He didn’t wait for me to answer before continuing. “I guess I have to punish you now.” I bit my lip, nervous and excited all at the same time.
• • • • •
“Would you like another glass of wine, Ms. James?” The flight attendant asked.
Alec shook his head. “No. Bring her a pillow and a blanket.”
“Yes, Mr. Payne.” She took our dinner plates and disappeared behind the partition.
“But I wanted another glass.”
“Later, baby.” He kissed me on the forehead. “You should rest now. You’re going to need your strength later.” My insides began to tingle as I considered what he could possibly have in store for me later.
The flight attendant quickly returned with the pillow and blanket Alec requested. Resigned to his decision, I reclined my seat and closed my eyes, too exhausted to argue with Alec anyway.
My mind began to drift. What am I going to do with you, Isabella? I’ll make you think, ‘yes sir’. Why do you defy me? What’s mine is mine, Bella. You are mine. Pain, there was so much pain. That smell, alcohol, tobacco, and gardenias? I couldn’t breathe.
“Wake up, Isabella.” My eyes flew open, my heart racing. Alec. He was shaking me gently. “Fasten your seatbelt, baby. We’re about to land.”
I had no idea how long I’d been asleep or where we were landing but I was beyond thankful that it had only been a dream.
Alec led me off the plane and straight to the waiting car. The airport was unfamiliar and provided no clues to our whereabouts other than the humid air. We were close to the water. The question was where.
When everyone was securely buckled into their seats, Preston pulled the car away from the airport. My heart began to race as the realization set in. I’d put my life in the hands of this man, this man I’d known for such a short time. I let him fly me away to some unknown place. No one even knew where I was. What if he was the psycho that had been trying to hurt me? He said he wanted to punish me. And he was so mad at me when he found out I’d told Spencer where we were. My breathing quickened at that thought.
The warmth of Alec’s hand rested on my leg and it made me jump. “Are you okay?”
Forcing a smile, I nodded, but on the inside I was anything but fine. Was I safe? Could I trust him? I’d trusted him so far, and he hadn’t let me down, but what if he’d been lying to me this whole time? Spencer lied to me. What if getting me alone was Alec’s plan all along? I stared out the window, my body trembling.
The car came to a stop in front of a large iron gate. Preston typed in a code, and slowly but surely, the gate began to open. I rolled down my window to take in the night air as we drove down the long palm tree lined driveway. The sky was dark, making it difficult to see much, but I heard the unmistakable sound of water breaking on the shore. And when I breathed in the salty air I was immediately reminded of home.
Preston pulled around the circle drive, coming to a stop in front of an enormous three story house. Alec helped me out of the car then led me up the stairs to the front door.
“Welcome home
,” Alec whispered in my ear.
“Home?” I asked, confusion clouding my mind. He’d told me he lived in New York, plus there was the condo in Tampa. Did he own a beach house too?
“You said you missed your beach. So I rented you this house for the summer.”
My mouth dropped open. He’d rented me a house on the beach. When? Where? How? The questions spun through my mind, but before I could gather my thoughts enough to ask the front door opened, and a woman I’d never seen before stepped out.
“Good evening, Mr. Payne.”
“Mrs. Peters,” he replied warmly. “This is Ms. James.”
She pulled me into a hug. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Ms. James.”
I wondered how long she’d been waiting, and how she even knew who I was, but I didn’t ask. I’d been too busy trying to wrap my head around what Alec had just said. Home? Not a hotel but a home, a gorgeous house on the beach. “Please, call me Izzy,” I said, finally recovering my voice. A silent smile crossed her face.
Alec led me inside, Mrs. Peters close behind. We walked through a huge foyer and into an oversized great room. Three large sofas arranged in a U shape filled the space with a chair on each side of the stone fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the outside wall offered an amazing view of the moonlight as it danced on top of the waves. I paused to take in all in.
He tugged my arm. “This way, baby.”
We came to a stop in the house’s state of the art kitchen, all stainless steel and marble. Mrs. Peters wasn’t far behind. “Would you like something to eat, sir?”
“No thanks, Kim. We had dinner on the plane.”
“Is there anything you need before I turn in then?”
“No, I’ve got it from here.”
“Very good, sir, enjoy your evening.” Flashing a smile in my direction, Kim disappeared through a door at the back of the kitchen, leaving us in the room alone.
Alec pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator. I recognized the label immediately. It was the Riesling he ordered at Oishi the day we met. When he removed two wine glasses from one of the cabinets, I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been here before. He seemed too comfortable with the surroundings, seemingly knowing where everything was—the kitchen, the wine, the glasses.