by S. J. Maylee
He slipped off his shoes and realized he could no longer hear Nadia. Her soft little feet made a tremendous amount of noise as she moved about in her usual way. He also should be hearing the clattering effect of her traipsing about her kitchen.
His thoughts filled with numerous scenarios for why she’d be silent. A stinging feeling shot out from his heart. He shook his hands, trying to free the torment, and closed his eyes and listened.
Nothing.
He took the glass orb from her entry table, hit the alert button on his phone, and made his way further into her apartment. All his senses were firing and telling him something was off.
Once in the kitchen, his nightmare became real.
Stan Windthrop held Nadia by her throat. His thin fingers dug into her skin. A large kitchen knife sat on the counter next to them. Her eyes were wide and her breathing appeared even. The bravest thing he’d seen in a long time.
“If you hurt her you won’t leave this apartment alive.” One way or another he’d make sure Stan left in a body bag.
“I’d like to see how you could get the best of me, Money Boy.” He squeezed her throat and jerked her back a step.
Ethan’s fingers tightened around the glass ball he held behind his back. There was nothing documented about him and Nadia. He’d covered what tracks they’d made. Stan must have followed him, something he learned to detect eons ago. It only served as evidence to his distraction. With his attention so focused on Nadia tonight, no wonder Stan found a way past his spotty defenses. “Why are you here?”
“To tell you to stay away from my wife.” He leaned down and licked Nadia’s temple. “I don’t know why you’re messing with my whore when you have this sweet peace of ass at home.”
“There’s nothing going on with Janet and me.” He knew his options were limited and every second he hesitated were another Nadia had to endure. If he didn’t hit Stan just right, he’d make a bloody mess. The wrong angle could send the ball ricocheting and hitting Nadia.
“I almost believe you. The two of you put on quite a show at the club. I was tempted to rub one out right there, but it was nothing compared to watching you two at her place. Too bad you went into the bedroom though. I couldn’t see what you did to her in there. I bet you had your way with her, didn’t you? Apparently you didn’t satisfy him enough though sweet cheeks, because he came back for more from my slut yesterday.”
His lip curled and he wanted tear the man apart. It was past time he made his move. Perspiration beaded on her upper lip and her lovely skin was turning an ashen white. Her glassy gaze met his and he rubbed his chin. It didn’t seem to register.
“Nadia are you with me?”
“Don’t talk to her.” Stan jerked her and it seemed to shake her from her trance.
He rubbed his chin again.
Her gaze widened and then she finally looked at her feet. He took his shot. The orb hit Stan in the side of his head and he flew back against the wall. The crunching sound of glass against skull rang through his ears. He was glad Nadia hadn’t seen it or the blood splattering her kitchen.
With the force at which Stan shot back, Nadia lost her footing. He rushed to her side, catching her before she landed on the floor.
“I’ve got you.” He prepared himself for her to push him away and to run screaming from him, but she wrapped her arms around him. “I’ve got you.”
“I knew you would.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I knew if I could find a way to keep it together, you’d find a way.”
“I’m so sorry, honey.” He felt his way around her body for bumps or any evidence of injury. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.” She clung to him. Her hands were visibly shaking. Fine was the last way he’d describe her state. “Good thing I had us make a sign.”
“Yes, well done.” He rubbed her back and her arms, trying to ease the tension clinging to her. “We make a good team.”
“A great team.”
Her front door was kicked in and a second later they were surrounded by his team. They made quick work of starting to clean up the mess and taking Stan out. Apparently he still had a pulse, but not for long. Since he didn’t want to leave Nadia, he called Aidan to oversee his crew and Stan’s final accident.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take the final blow?” Aidan sat beside him and Nadia, who were bundled on the couch. “I can stay with her.”
“No, I won’t leave her right now. Just make sure it’s done.”
“Will do.” He tapped his knuckles twice on the coffee table and followed his disposal team members who were carrying the half-dead, worthless piece of shit out of her apartment.
“Let’s get cleaned up and get some rest.” He picked Nadia up, cradling her in his arms, and carried her back to the bedroom. Once he’d stripped them both bare, he took her to the shower. He washed her with slow easy strokes, paying special attention to her temple and her neck. He knelt down in front of her, picked up her foot, and kissed her instep. He looked up at her in wonder.
“I’m fine.” She caressed his cheek. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Okay.” He stood and brushed her wet tresses behind her shoulder. “I’ll sleep on the couch tonight if you want, but I won’t leave you alone.”
“I’d prefer to feel you beside me.” She took the soap from him. “Your turn.” She arched her brow at him when he attempted to dissuade her.
She washed him all over with reverence he didn’t deserve. Without another word, they toweled off and climbed into bed.
“Thank you for being my hero.” She kissed him gently on the lips.
He bit his lip at the name hero. He was anything but. The noises from the kitchen were getting steadily louder. It was another disturbance on her life and he was to blame for it all.
“What are they doing out there?”
“Cleaning up, I’m sure they’ll be done soon.” He hoped they would anyway. He wanted her to have some peace. “Rest now, we can talk more in the morning.” He tucked her tightly against him.
He took several long, deep breaths. After locating her pulse and finding it easy and even, he kissed her temple and clutched her to him. He’d only ever known fear like that one other time in his life and he didn't wish to ever know it again.
The lucky shot had gotten her out of harm’s way, but she wouldn’t have been there if he’d been strong enough to push her away. The fault was his from the start.
Chapter Ten
His phone buzzed several hours later and he remembered he’d asked Aidan to come over when he was done.
“What’s that?” She twisted underneath him.
“Not to worry, it’s probably my colleague, Aidan.” He picked up his phone and read through the text. “Yes, just Aidan. He’s coming in now to talk to me. I’ll be just a moment.” He pulled on his pants and tucked the covers over her and kissed her forehead.
Her beautiful features were unbruised by the events of last night. He shuddered to think what might happen next time. If he remained in her life, there would be a next time.
He got to her living room in time to see Aidan closing her front door.
“Sorry it took so long. It took a while to line up the evidence to match the wound you inflicted. You really walloped him.”
“That’s fine. It gave me some time to make sure Nadia was all right. She’s resting now.”
“No, she’s not.”
He turned and found Nadia tying her rob and walking toward them.
“Do I smell paint?” She walked toward her kitchen.
“You don’t have to go in there.” He reached for her, but she got around him. “The blood wasn’t coming off your white walls. I asked my guys to fix whatever they couldn’t clean.”
“That’s granite and that’s a glass tile back splash?” She leaned back on the counter. “Look at this place. Is that travertine?” She pointed to the floor.
“Yes.” He rushed to her side. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not
. You got the bad guy and my kitchen looks amazing.” She chuckled and then turned and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, but this must have cost you a fortune.”
“You were in this situation because of me.” He brushed a lock of hair from her face. “You shouldn’t have had to deal with any of this.”
“I’m fine and my kitchen is more than fine.”
“He could have killed you.” He held out his hands. For a smart girl, she was talking all kind of nonsense.
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“Don’t you see I’m no good for you? Please, be reasonable.”
“Sorry, not going to happen.” She took a step toward him, her hands firmly on her hips. “I won’t let you push me away.”
Aidan stepped in between them. “Hi.”
“This is Aidan.”
“Hi, Aidan.”
“Can you two finish this fight later? We have a lot to talk about and it might change both of your opinions.”
“Sure.” She walked past them both and headed for her family room.
“You’ve got a live one there. Good luck, buddy.”
He shook his head and followed Aidan, taking a seat next to Nadia on the couch.
****
“Have you seen this woman before?” Aidan handed his phone to Nadia.
“I’m not sure. She looks kind of familiar.” She rubbed around her mouth, trying to jog the memory of where she’d seen the pretty, petite woman.
“Why do we have to do this now?” Ethan sat beside her.
“I’m trying to get to the bottom of one problem and possibly shed some light on another. Nadia, flip to the next picture.”
“Oh, that’s why she looks familiar.” She looked at her wrist.
“The bracelet is on your dresser.”
“Oh, thank you. I almost panicked there for a minute.”
“That’s what you panic about?”
“Ethan, focus, please.” Aidan tapped his phone, bringing her attention back to the photo. “Have you seen her other than that day at the museum shop?”
“Now that I think of it, I have.”
“You have?” both men said in unison.
“Sure, it was the same week Ethan ran into me at the Art Institute the first time.” She crossed her legs underneath her, getting more comfortable. “She didn’t have a purse, nothing to lug around with her as she wandered about the Art Institute.”
“Then it really has nothing to do with you.” Ethan got up and paced around the room.
“I think you’re right about that. She’s most likely been following you, Ethan. She probably only came across Nadia by watching you.”
“Fuck.” He left her alone on the couch and stormed to the window, turning and crossing his arms, then reached into his pockets. A few seconds later, he had them crossed again.
“What does this mean?”
“The only other thing that matches with the time line is the new gang in town.”
“It’s not proof of anything, but I’ll tell you what it means. It’s proof I’m no good for you. We should get her out of town before I do get her seriously hurt or worse.”
“I’m not leaving you.” She walked to him poked him in the chest. “I won’t be leaving you.”
“Hold on you two. I have an idea.”
They both stared at Aidan.
“Nadia needs a safe place while we get this all sorted out. I think we can all agree that Nadia shouldn’t be working for you anymore.”
“That’s for sure. She should stay far away from me.”
“I’m not leaving town.” She tugged on her hair.
“Your degree is in Human Resources and I have several positions that need filled.” Aidan raised his eyebrows.
“I don’t want to know why you know that or what else you know about me, but go on.” She’d need to remember everything surrounding this boyfriend and his friends would be different than all the rest. It seemed like it should bother her more. Maybe Ethan was right.
Only time would tell.
“I don’t like where this is headed. May I remind you? Your kitchen had to be made over because it was covered in blood from a man who was willing to kill you because of me. Aidan’s acquaintances aren’t any different.”
“That may be all true, but she’ll be working on the business end of things, not much different from how she was working for you.”
“How many employees do you have?” She sat back down and crossed her legs, trying to hide her excitement.
“He has none and this is crazy. Nadia is not working for you. You work out of your loft. I’m having nightmares already of her sitting on your bed.”
“I’ll get an office and you can control her coming and going.”
“He doesn’t need to control everything.” The laughter filling the room brought her to her feet. “I’d love to have the chance to build a team from the ground up. Many of the problems at companies are created by wrong dynamics as new staff enter an existing group, which is part of the problem at Wright Incorporated.”
“I do what I have to do. It’s better if my company suffers than my employees.”
The room fell silent. She heard loud and clear what he was trying to say and it finally dawned on her why he hadn’t pulled himself from her life, yet. She’d made it clear, his leaving would hurt her. The realization crushed something inside her. She pulled her fleece blanket off the back of her couch and swung it over her shoulders, huddling inside for a few seconds while she smothered her worries.
“I want to vet the location and all the security must be in place before she starts.”
“Loan me your team and I’ll get it done.”
“Fine.”
“Thank you both. I think you should both leave now and get things started.”
“I don’t have to go.”
“I’ll be fine. I actually could use some peace and quiet.”
“Okay.” He stepped toward her and kissed her forehead. “I’ll call you later. Remember, you’re not committed to this new job.” He took hold of her shoulders. “You can quit at any time. Also, I’m leaving a couple of men here to watch the front and back of your building.”
Once they were gone, her apartment felt emptier than ever. She no longer could sense a future with Ethan. The beginning of the end for them had started. The gentleman wouldn’t leave her right after what happened last night, but she was certain he’d start looking for a way out as soon as she got settled.
Her heart hurt as it crackled into tiny pieces. She slid to the floor and cried.
****
“How’s she working out?” Ethan pretended to read something on his laptop.
“She’s a whiz. The furniture she ordered arrived last week. So, we’re not working off my picnic table anymore and we’ve hired a few more people. You should come by. I know she’d love to see you. Even though she leaves the room every time I bring you up.”
“I don’t think I have time this week, maybe next week.”
“What are you doing?” Aidan leaned over his desk.
“I’m reading over a very important report.” He scrolled to the top of the page, searching for the title and finally shoved back from his desk. “I don’t know what I’m doing. I feel like I’m frozen, afraid if I do anything it will jeopardize her safety.”
“The guy you assigned is doing a great job and the only person he’s spotted following her is you.”
“Shit, does she know?”
“He emails her a report each morning, but I’ve asked him to delete your activities from the copy he sends to her.”
“Thanks.” He shook his head. “I wish she’d change her mind about moving somewhere far away. That gang seems to have vanished, but it’s only a matter of time before they’re back or another problem presents itself.”
“If you keep up this bullheaded behavior, you might get your wish.” He came closer. “Do you love her?”
“Probably and that’s only one of the reasons why I need
to stay away from her.”
“The connection you two have is not something easily broken. Have you ever stopped to consider how you’re hurting her by staying away?”
“I don’t like that I’m hurting her at all.” He clenched his jaw and then forced himself to relax. “I just can’t risk her safety.”
Chapter Eleven
Ethan sat at the first table he shared with Nadia. It was colder than that day and the court yard appeared empty like his life. The table looked like wood, but it was some kind of pressed plastic. You couldn’t tell from across the courtyard, but up close it was obvious something wasn’t right, like the fake existence he forced himself to lead.
He rested his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. Pushing Nadia away felt all kinds of wrong. His chest was starting to hurt under the weight. He stopped rubbing the ache when he realized it wasn’t doing any good. There was only one thing that could help him now and he couldn’t do it for all the reasons that used to be right.
“Is this seat taken?”
He looked up to find the blonde from Nevins, the same blonde in the pictures with Nadia. “Sure, take what you want.” He slipped his hand in his pocket and triggered his recording device.
“It seems we have a few things to clear up.”
“You need to start with telling me who you are and why you keep butting into my life.”
“I’m in the intelligence business.”
“That’s hardly a relief.” He wanted to know who the hell she worked for and if Nadia was in any kind of trouble.
“From what I’ve seen, you’ll be hearing a lot more in the coming months, but you don’t have the clearance yet. We’ve heard about you guys and, when our Op started, we had to make sure you were indeed on the right side. We also needed to make sure you didn’t fuck things up.”
“Is that new gang an Op?”
“You are a smart one, Mr. Wright.” She got up from the table.
“You’ve got to give me more than that.”