“I remember. But does Gia?” he asked quietly.
When Wade didn’t say anything, Sin sighed and turned away, jogging down the driveway to the cab. As the car pulled away from the gate, he looked back and saw Wade wave. He raised one hand at the bodyguard and tried not to feel as if he’d left his heart behind. Unfortunately, he knew very well that regardless of the arguments, threats and lies…he really had left his heart in Gia’s keeping.
Chapter Nine
Gia sat in a corner of the sofa, wrapped in Sin’s leather jacket, her arms cradling his guitar. Somehow, in his angry, hurried departure, he’d left both behind. She stared through the bulletproof glass at the fountain, feeling ice-cold despite the warmth of the sun spilling through the window. Sin had been gone for several days and Gia had spent that time exactly where she currently sat. Her pain had subsided to what amounted to a catatonic state of numbness.
People had come and gone from the house, but Gia stayed on the sofa, huddled in the leather that smelled of Sin. When a letter arrived from the District Attorney’s office informing them of Mark Reinhardt’s release, it was a non-event. They already knew. Reinhardt’s freedom had caused the nervous, fear-driven pall that hung over all of them.
The letter Gia had found in the mail spurred Wade to get all the information he could in order to protect her. As part of the protection, they’d also issued a public statement to the news media of Gia’s breakup with Sin. Gia’s tearfulness in the days following Sin’s departure made it hard for Wade to do his job, but despite her regret, she couldn’t seem to stop crying. At first, regardless of her fear and pain, she’d been glad she’d sent Sin away. She argued with Wade, insisting her actions had been right. How could Reinhardt find him in the depths of Oregon and why would he want to when Gia had publicly broken up with him? she reasoned.
So she sat under lock and key, wrapped in the pain of her loss. Armed security guards patrolled the house and grounds. India and Heidi spent more time at the house and Derek and James came by daily. They were all concerned about her, but Gia only cared about Sin’s safety.
Every time she closed her eyes she could see him smiling at her. She could hear his voice, his laughter. Sleep became her friend because she would dream of Sin and feel happy again. Waking fucked with her head. To feel so alone and cut off, not just from the world but from her own emotions, frightened her just a little.
Hearing that Reinhardt hadn’t checked in with his parole officer within twenty-four hours of his release didn’t surprise Gia either. She knew he was coming for her. She also knew she couldn’t take her pain any longer. She’d thought she could send Sin away for his own safety, but now that her panic had subsided and the reality of Reinhardt’s threat sank in, she knew she’d been wrong. If Reinhardt wanted Sin, all the news reports of their breakup were useless. Reinhardt wasn’t sane and his logic seemed to follow only his own twisted path.
Being without Sin had caused Gia the most pain she had ever felt. She stared out the bulletproof glass, cradling Sin’s guitar to her body, the cold wood a pathetic replacement for Sin’s warm body. The more she thought about what she’d done and everything that had gone on between her and Sin, the more she realized that she didn’t care about Reinhardt anymore. She knew he would do whatever he’d set his mind to and nothing she did would stop him. But she also knew that she couldn’t face the future without Sin, Reinhardt or no Reinhardt.
She’d asked Wade earlier about Sin and he told her he had no information. She’d asked if she could call him, and when she could go to him and explain what had happened. Wade had brushed her off, saying he had an appointment and they’d discuss it later.
So late in the afternoon, while Wade was off the premises and India and Heidi were busy wrestling with the new alarm system, Gia took back control of her life. With Sin’s guitar case in one hand and her purse in the other, she got in her car and escaped their lockdown. The rented guard had only been told not to let anyone in. He hadn’t been told not to let anyone out.
Gia smiled at him, telling him she was just going to FedEx to send the guitar to its owner. The man let her out. She drove to FedEx, ditched the car in the parking lot, walked across the street to a strip mall and into a rental car office. Once behind the wheel, she drove north. Nearby airports were out of the question. As she thought about her predicament, she drove. Hours later she found herself in central California. She found a tiny little bed-and-breakfast and paid cash for a room for the night. The next day she located a small municipal airport and hopped a commuter flight into San Francisco where she caught a jet to Portland.
Flying without Sin or any of the Firewire guys scared her spitless. But getting to Sin meant more to her than anything, so even though the commuter flight totally terrified her, she thought of him and hung on for dear life. She spent the night in a ratty little motel near the airport and the next morning began her drive to the little town where Sin’s family lived. Hours later, exhausted and heartsick, she reached her destination.
Gia stood on the curb and looked at the ranch-style house. It seemed pretty ordinary and very much what she’d expect from a smallish town in Oregon. On shaky legs, she walked up the path to the front door and rang the bell. The door whooshed open and a tall, auburn-haired young man stared down at her, his mouth agape.
“Holy shit. Your poster is on my wall,” he croaked.
Gia smiled weakly. “You must be Rich.”
“You’re Gia Santora. Only with more clothes.”
The young man seemed to be in a total stupor over the fact that she stood on his doorstep in the flesh, only—as he’d pointed out—with more clothes than she wore in the poster. Gia’s smile widened a little. She’d seen the reaction before. She just hadn’t expected it at Sin’s family’s home.
“Rich, who’s at the door?”
A woman with gray hair peered around Rich’s lanky frame. Her dark brows shot up in surprise.
“Well. You must be here to see Sinclair.”
Her cool words sent pain ricocheting through Gia. She hadn’t expected a welcome exactly, but at the same time, the woman’s flat tone indicated she wasn’t happy at all that Gia had turned up on her doorstop. Gia licked her dry lips and had opened her mouth to ask for Sin when he appeared.
The gray-haired woman grasped Rich by the arm and dragged him away as Gia gazed at Sin through the screen door.
“Ma!” Rich whined as his mother pulled him farther into the house. “That’s Gia Santora!”
A lump formed in Gia’s throat as she stared at Sin. Everything she wanted to say to him rushed to the surface. Mostly, she wanted to throw herself into his arms and beg him to love her and never let her go. She began to shake as fear pumped through her veins. With an unsteady hand, she held out the guitar case.
“You forgot something.”
Sin opened the screen door and reached for the case. He took it from her, studiously avoiding touching her fingers. “Is that all?” he asked in a hard voice.
Tears slipped down her cheeks. She felt stripped bare and out of control. “No,” she rasped, her voice thick from the tears that just refused to go away. “It’s not all. You forgot something else. Something far more important than any damned guitar.”
He turned away from her and Gia gasped, her heart splintering inside her. She stumbled backward a few steps, wondering if Sin’s mother would call the paramedics when she died of a broken heart on their lawn. He set the guitar case inside the house and came back out, shutting the door behind him. Gia shook like a leaf in a hurricane wind.
“What did I forget, Gia?” Sin asked, raking his gaze over her.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep from collapsing in pain. “My heart,” she whispered, feeling every defense she’d ever had fall away. “It belongs to you.”
A muscle clenched in Sin’s jaw. “I don’t think so. You didn’t want me.”
More tears spilled down her cheeks. “That’s not true. I wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted
anyone or anything in my life. But I was afraid, Sin. When Reinhardt threatened your life, all I could think of was sending you away to protect you even though Wade said I was wrong to do that. But I let my fear rule my actions.”
She ripped open her jacket, Sin’s jacket that she hadn’t taken off for days, and clutched at her chest. “Now I know how fucking stupid I was to be scared of loving you. The pain inside me is tearing me apart. Being without you is killing me. I don’t even have my music without you. I have nothing. Just this pain that makes me want to lie down and die,” she sobbed.
Gia knew she was out of control, but she couldn’t do a thing about it. Nothing mattered to her any longer. Not the money, the fame, the fortune, the music, even her own safety. Reinhardt was after her, yet she’d been unable to bear her life without Sin, so staying in her safe, protected environment meant nothing next to her need to be with him. Nothing mattered to her except Sin.
“I’ll beg. I’ll do whatever you want, Sin. Please,” she cried. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”
He stood staring at her intently, his features harsh, his expression closed off. Gia turned away, unable to face his rejection. Blinded by tears, shaking so hard she could barely put one foot in front of the other, she turned toward her rental car. When she stumbled over a rock, she couldn’t save herself from falling. She hit the ground hard, her breath knocked from her. Fear lashed her as she struggled to suck in a breath and suddenly her overwrought emotions got the best of her. Her breath returned on a painful sob and tears flooded her cheeks.
Hard hands grasped her shoulders and she moaned. “I’m s-sorry, I’m sorry.”
Sin’s arms came around her as he pulled her against him, cradling her between his thighs. “Shhh, baby. Don’t cry. Are you okay?”
Gia ignored his question and threw her arms around him, holding him tightly. She breathed in the scent of him and her tears fell faster. “I had to c-come. I had to t-tell you that I love you. I d-don’t care if that m-madman is after me. I need you,” she whispered as she clung to him.
Days of pain and stress had taken their toll on her, stripping away her defenses and leaving her broken and vulnerable as she cried in his arms. All her life, she’d been strong and in control and finally something—someone—had broken her. She knew that nothing mattered at all without Sin.
* * * * *
The shaking, weeping woman in his arms bore little resemblance to the woman he loved. Every emotion had been writ plainly on her face from the moment he’d come to the door to find her standing on the other side of the screen. He’d realized that she was as vulnerable as a baby, but his own pain sliced deep and he’d not been able to just capitulate when she begged.
Her agony tore at his heart. When she fell, sobbing, fear for her won out over his pride. Whatever had gone on after he’d left, it had all been bad. His beautiful, strong-willed Gia was gone, replaced by a woman who appeared so desolate and ravaged with pain that he hardly recognized her. For the first time since he’d left her, he questioned whether he’d done the right thing. Initially, he’d figured on giving himself some time to cool off and her some time to miss him. He’d been steadfast in his resolve to make her regret her decision by letting his absence get to her. Until he’d seen her pain-filled eyes.
He rocked her in his arms as she sobbed. Her grip bruised the flesh over his ribs but he didn’t care. It was his punishment for having brought her to this pass. He held her and kissed her tear-wet face, trying to calm her with his love. But finally, her words sank in and icy fear snaked down his spine.
“Gia. Baby, where is Wade?” he asked, his voice low and firm.
She shuddered and hiccupped. “I escaped him and got on a p-plane.”
“Escaped him? What do you mean?”
She clutched the back of his sweatshirt in her fists, pushing her face into his chest. “They wouldn’t let me c-come to you. Reinhardt was released and d-didn’t report to p-parole,” she said hoarsely.
Shit. Wade and the guys had kept her on lockdown because of Reinhardt. The thought of that psychopath stalking Gia totally unnerved him. And scared the shit out of him. The man clearly meant her harm. Unlocking her hands from around his body, he got to his feet and scooped her up in his arms, carrying her into the house.
He strode past his openmouthed family and took Gia to his room, locking the door behind them. He sat on the bed with his back to the headboard and held her tightly to his chest. Her sobs had subsided to sniffles and hiccups. He grabbed a fistful of tissues from the box on the nightstand and offered them to her. As she wiped her eyes and face and blew her nose, he rubbed his hands soothingly down her back.
“Baby, let me call Wade and tell him you’re with me,” he said gently. “They have to be out of their minds with worry over you.”
“They don’t care,” she muttered. “I was dying without you and they wouldn’t let me leave.”
“People don’t die of a broken heart, honey.” Sin rubbed his cheek on the top of her head, smiling a little at her vehemence.
“Yes, they do. I was dying. Even the music left me without you.”
He decided not to argue with her. She was mentally and physically exhausted. He’d never seen her look her age before but when he’d seen her at the door, he’d been shocked. With eyes swollen, red-rimmed and dull with despair, dark circles and bags marring the delicate skin beneath them, she appeared older than he’d ever seen her look. Her cheekbones stood out starkly and the pinched lines around her mouth screamed tension, fear and despair. He would never say it to her, but she really did look like she might be dying. It freaked him out.
“Gia. I need to call Wade. Otherwise, the state troopers or the FBI will be knocking on my door,” he said softly.
She didn’t answer, just snuggled closer to him and sighed. He gazed down and saw that she’d fallen into an exhausted sleep. He reached for his cell phone and dialed her bodyguard.
Wade answered on the first ring. Sin heard a hint of panic in the bodyguard’s even tone and hastened to reassure him that Gia had turned up safely.
“Jeezus God,” Wade cursed in relief. “You’ve no idea the scare she gave us.”
“When she said Reinhardt was out and hadn’t checked in with parole, I felt the fear, believe me,” Sin replied grimly. “Have they found him yet?”
“No. You need to be extra careful. Neither of you are safe. Keep her there and make sure all the doors and windows are locked at all times. I’ll call your local police so they can patrol your street.” Wade let out a deep sigh. “Sin, I’ve never seen her like this before. She totally lost it when you left. She didn’t even care if Reinhardt got her. She said without you, her life wasn’t worth spit anyway. She sat there in your jacket for days, practically catatonic with loss. I hope you appreciate the depth of emotion she has for you.”
Sin stroked his hand over her silky hair. “I do, Wade. I totally do. Thanks, man.”
He disconnected the call and set the phone on the nightstand. Scooting down in the bed, he cradled Gia close and breathed in her scent. He let his eyelids shut, his body reminding him of how little he’d slept since he left Gia the week before. He was a little surprised she’d not held out longer. He’d come home thinking he’d give her two weeks without him. Give her plenty of time to miss him. Six days was less than half what he’d estimated he’d need. Maybe she loved him a lot more than he’d realized, he thought as sleep came over him.
Chapter Ten
Sin awoke with hands in his pants. He opened his eyes and found Gia had pushed up his sweatshirt and unbuttoned his jeans. Her hands worked magic on his body, stroking the skin of his belly just above his pubic hair. Their eyes met and he raised his pierced brow. A faint flush tinted her cheekbones.
“You looked uncomfortable so I loosened your clothes,” she muttered.
“Uh huh.” Sin saw her flush deepen. “Don’t be embarrassed that you can’t keep your hands off me. I like it.”
“But this is your mom’s h
ouse and all,” she whispered. “It’s not right.”
Sin chuckled and slipped a hand beneath her shirt to stroke her back. “Baby, I’ve been an adult for a lot of years. My mom knows I have sex.”
A disgruntled expression settled on her face and she started to pull her hands out of his boxer briefs. Sin caught her wrists, stopping her.
“Gia, baby, it’s okay. My family knows how much I love you. They know what happened, or at least, they know enough to understand that we need some time alone to fix things between us.”
“Are we gonna fix this?”
Her words came out tinged with an ache that Sin felt down to his soul. He scooped her against him, holding her tightly.
“Yes. We are. Because I can’t live without you and you’ve proven to me that you can’t live without me. That means we make this relationship permanent,” he said fiercely.
“How permanent?” she asked in a low voice.
Her violet eyes turned dark with emotion and Sin kissed her lips.
“So you’re ready for that question now, are you?” He smiled a little and touched her lips with his fingertips. “Will you marry me?”
She didn’t even blink in surprise. Nor did she hesitate.
“Yes.”
Relief rushed through Sin. “Good, because I already have the rings,” he told her smugly.
She flashed a little smile. “Sure of yourself, were you?”
He shook his head. “Not exactly. But I was determined to make you mine. I’ve never been opposed to working hard to get what I want in life.”
“I’m hard work?”
Her brows arched and Sin laughed.
“Yes and no. You fell into my arms that first night like a ripe apple off a tree. However, getting you to the point where you’ve agreed to marry me has been a considerable amount of effort,” he admitted.
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