“Look, you don’t believe me, I get that. I wouldn’t believe me, either, but it’s the truth. There’s a way I can prove it, but it’ll be dangerous.”
Dean snorts and I see him roll his eyes. His reaction makes me angry and keeps me going.
“Go to the nearest payphone and call the police, say you noticed suspicious behavior from a girl you met called Rose. Don’t say my full name, they won’t need it. Just say I’m blonde and pretty. Then stick around. It won’t be long before they come running.”
“This Paper group?”
“They are called P.A.G.E. You don’t have to believe me, Dean, but if you could let me get a few hours from here first, I would appreciate it.”
“You know I’m starting to think you actually believe this lie.”
“It’s not a lie. Listen, you have two options here. Either arrest me and guarantee my recapture, or get the hell out of my apartment and don’t ever come back.”
His eyes soften and I think for a moment that maybe he believes me, but then he speaks. “Rose, I think you need help—”
“Seriously, get the hell out right now,” I snap at him, deciding he isn’t going to arrest me. That leaves me with option two. I need to pack a bag.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Fine, stay here as long as you want. I’ve paid up until the middle of next month.” I turn on my heel and storm away from him. I go into my walk-in-closet and grab an overnight bag I bought only a few weeks ago. I thought it might be nice for me to spend the weekend at the Outer Banks, instead I’m now using it to pack my things and get away from here.
“You’re not going to come back home?” he questions, leaning his side on the entrance to watch me.
“No, you’ve compromised this place. I need to leave.”
“And go where?”
“Look, thank you for everything you’ve done.” I stand up, a pile of clothes in my arms that I just scooped from my bottom drawer, and look over at him as I drop them to my bed. “I appreciate that you gave up a lot of your time to do this and I’m sorry it hasn’t turned out like you hoped. Let’s just drop it and go our separate ways.”
“You have to understand how insane this all sounds. I think you need help.”
“I know I need help. I’m all alone dealing with this and I have no one I can trust here. I’m twenty-years-old, I shouldn’t be worrying about whether I’m going to be kidnapped or maybe even tortured. I should be working some shit summer job, getting ready for college and all the parties I’m planning to go to. My birthday was last week and I couldn’t even celebrate it. This is not the life I chose for myself,” I snap at him, my anger bubbling over about this whole situation.
“Come home with me. Rose. I promise I can protect you.” He’s back to being worried about me.
“You don’t even believe me, how are you supposed to protect me? You work for the very people who are after me.”
“You sound completely paranoid.”
“Fine, make your phone call and prove me wrong.” I throw my hands up in anger.
“If you want me to trust you, then I need you to trust me.”
“I’m not going—”
“I know, but don’t leave here.”
“Why?”
“I just need some time to think, to check this out. Stay here for two days. If I believe you, I’ll come back. If I realize I’m being played, then I’ll let you run. I won’t come looking for you again,” he promises.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because…” He trails off and stares at me, like really stares at me. Goosebumps envelop my whole body as his gaze heats. “Because there is something about you.” He shrugs at me, although his eyes move down from me.
“So you want me to just be a sitting duck here?”
“I don’t lie and I won’t ever lie to you. If I find out I’m being played, then I’ll let you go.”
“You don’t get it. This is dangerous. You can’t simply go asking questions without people hearing you. If you get caught, then they’ll take you, too.” A new worry builds inside of me.
Dean looks like he’s about to roll his eyes, but he doesn’t. I know he isn’t taking this as seriously as he should. He’s only going to end up getting hurt.
“I know how to be discreet.”
I shake my head at him, but I realize it won’t matter now. He won’t be able to stop himself from looking deeper. If I leave and he comes back for me, I’ll never know. I can pack a bag and be ready to run if needed. Two days is doable.
“Fine, two days.” I cross my arms over my chest and shrug at him.
“Okay then.”
“Okay then,” I repeat back.
I’m angry. Before we bumped into each other I was doing fine. Now, I’ll most likely have to leave here because my place has been compromised, and apart from a few thoughts back at The Windmill, I haven’t really thought much about Dean. After that kiss though, I won’t be able to stop thinking about him. He’s started something that we won’t ever be able to finish. What a jerk.
“You’re angry now?” he questions.
“Yes. Now, get the hell out of my apartment.”
Dean raises an eyebrow at me. I see annoyance settling on his face.
“Well, okay then.” Now his voice is oozing with sarcasm and I glare at him, pushing his arm towards my front door. I scoot in front of him to unlock it and point my finger out of it expectantly.
“You are seriously the most complicated and frustrating woman I’ve ever known.” Dean states as he moves through the open door and I quickly slam it shut on his annoyed face.
I’m angry at myself for hoping I see him again, and I’m angry at the fact that I failed being hidden here. I storm off into my room to pack my bag. I need to be ready to run.
Chapter 7 – The Forgotten
London, England
December 25th (Rose age 10)
I hug my feet closer to me as I rest my head on the ground. I’m hiding under the table, and from this angle, I can just see beneath the table cloth to make out a sideways Mom and Dad. I snuck in here a while ago and neither of them noticed I left my room.
“She’s not talking, she is refusing to open her presents and she won’t even come out of her room.”
“We’re in London, go take her sightseeing, that’ll cheer her up.” Dad shrugs at her.
“It’s blowing a blizzard out there. Besides, you know I need to get this seating arrangement finished for the charity auction on New Year’s Eve.”
“She’s only ten, Penny. She’s a child.”
“I have a free day on Tuesday; we can go then.”
“You wanted this child; you pushed to have a girl. This isn’t fair.”
“You have a soft spot for her, but don’t feel sorry for her. She gets the best of everything; the best schools, the best food, a healthy allowance and the best brands of clothing. That girl has nothing to be upset about.”
“Penny, remember the boys when they were young? Remember the Christmases we used to have with them? Rosie deserves that, too.”
“Do you have time to do that? Are you willing to give up your next ten phone calls and possibly lose clients so your daughter can sit with you and show you her latest Barbie Doll?”
“We shouldn’t have brought her here. She should have stayed with one of the boys.”
“They are both at college and have their own lives now. Neither could have taken care of her.”
“We should have done something.”
“She’s a child, she’ll get over it. We spoil her, that’s the problem. I’ll call up the agency tomorrow and see if they have anyone who can come out and look after her. It’ll give us a break.”
Dad’s phone rings loudly and he picks it up quickly, immediately frowning. He walks away without saying a word.
I watch Mom busily gazing over charts and papers before she leaves the room, too. I’m alone again. I lie down, stretching my legs out and cry silently, wishing I didn
’t hate Christmas so much. Mom and Dad are always so busy this time of year and this is my second year not seeing my brothers. I miss them.
“Rosie?” Dad’s voice sounds from behind me and I roll over as he crouches down beside me and lifts up the table cloth.
“Hi, Daddy.” I sniff, trying to stop crying.
“What’s wrong, sweetie?” he asks me, holding out his hand. I immediately go to him and he wraps me up in his arms.
“Nothing,” I lie, not wanting to upset him by telling him that I wish he didn’t have to work today.
“Why aren’t you opening your presents? I thought you loved presents? Santa had to track you all the way to London. That’s no small feat, sweetie.”
I shake my head against his shoulder. I don’t care about presents.
“Come on, how about I open your first one for you and show you how it’s done?” he offers, pulling me away from him so he can look me in the eye.
“Really?” I’ve never seen Dad open a present before; even on his birthday he will open up his gifts after I’ve already fallen asleep. He doesn’t even take his birthday off from work.
“Absolutely.” Dad stands and settles me on my feet, taking my hand and leading me to the large tree in the next room. We’re staying in a hotel in the heart of London, but this place feels more like a house than a hotel.
“Open this one, Daddy.” I pick up the present I made him and hand it over.
“For me?” He smiles warmly at me and I return it. I hardly ever see Daddy smiling anymore.
“Yep, I made it myself.” I try to hide the pride I feel, but I know I’ve done well with this gift.
“I can’t wait.” Dad opens my handmade card first and I feel ecstatic to be responsible for another smile.
He opens my gift and beams down at me, sitting on the comfy couch by the tree. I painted a photo frame and placed a photo of us in it. I had to cut out a man I didn’t know who was standing on the other side of Daddy, but he is holding my hand in the photo and I love it because of that.
“It’s beautiful, sweetie. I think this will have to go on my desk at the office.” Dad bends over and I stand up so he can give me a kiss. Inside, I jump up and down, glad I’ve made him happy. I give him another hug.
“Now, how about you show me what Santa brought for you?”
“Okay.”
I pick up the biggest present I see and quickly rip through the wrapping paper. Excitement starts to build, knowing all the gifts are mine.
I find a huge stuffed teddy bear that’s bigger than me. I hug it. It feels so soft against my skin. I laugh and look back at Dad to see he’s smiling at me. I love seeing Daddy smile. Mom comes up behind him and they hold hands as they watch me opening the rest of my presents.
My last present is a Barbie Dream House. It looks like so much fun. I peer back at Mom and Dad, wanting to show them what I got, but they’re busy talking quietly to each other. They both look annoyed.
I move over to another present and look over the accessories for my Barbie that I already have. I want to show Mom the pretty clothes I can dress Barbie in, however when I glance up, I discover Mom has left already and Dad’s cell starts vibrating. He looks down at it and frowns again. Gone is the smile from earlier. He clicks a button and snaps at the person calling him. He stands up quickly and turns away from me, quietly swearing at the person on the phone.
He rushes out of the room and I know it’s because I’m there listening to him. Sometimes, when I am in his office, he’ll stop talking midsentence and ask me to cover my ears so I won’t hear him swearing. Once, I hadn’t covered them properly and he said a bunch of words I’d never heard before, but by the way he said them, I knew he was angry. Daddy never gets angry at me.
I stand in the middle of my pile of presents and realize that all I really want for Christmas is to be with Mom and Dad. I don’t want to be alone.
I grab my brand new, huge teddy bear and drag him along the ground until we reach my room. I open the door and bring him over to my bed. I cuddle Prince Ted to me, deciding that’s his name. He’s warm and soft. I close my eyes. He’ll be my best friend and the only one who’ll keep me company this Christmas.
Chapter 8 – The Staring
Charlotte, North Carolina
December 18th
I wake up and stretch my arms under my pillow, stretching my legs out, too. I feel my fingertips touch the wall and my toes almost reach the end of the mattress. It feels good, and when I bring them back close to me, my body is completely relaxed. I turn my head when my arm bumps into Dean next to me and rest my head on my pillow, watching him sleeping peacefully. He is lying on his stomach, his head turned to face me and his arm outstretched, resting over my stomach. His fingertips lightly touch my exposed side, but his deep breathing tells me he’s asleep.
I can’t believe how much my life has changed in such a short amount of time. Eight months ago my life changed when I was kidnapped and forced to escape a government run agency who wants to use me to fight wars. It changed again when Dean bumped into me and I told him the truth.
Those next two days had been my most stressful since going on the run. I even waited two and a half days before deciding I needed to leave. With my bags packed, I was out the front of my apartment building when I saw him running towards me. He didn’t say anything to me, he just kissed me.
Later, much later, he admitted he hadn’t thought I would have stayed. He assumed as soon as he left, I was out the door. He tested my theory and called in an anonymous tip about my whereabouts a few towns over. He said it had only taken twenty minutes for agents to show up. Not the local police that he phoned, but government agents and military. It’s not a usual response to any reported sighting unless the person being sighted is on the most wanted list. Since those lists are full of terrorists and murderers, a response like that to me hardly seemed correct.
A little more digging and some called in favors, and he got a clearer picture that perhaps what I had been saying wasn’t completely impossible. He looked into Charlie’s kidnapping and found a similar story to mine. There was nothing on Will, but Zoe’s story checked out, too. Dean even got one of the police officers to admit that if Joel had hung himself, it hadn’t been in his cell like the newspapers said.
He came back for me and he never left. I hate that by being with me he had to leave his old life behind and that now he is in danger, but a selfish part of me is happy he’s here. I love him.
“Quit staring at me,” Dean groans while his eyes remain closed. I never understand how he is able to do that.
“I wasn’t staring,” I lie.
“Yeah, right.” His arm wraps more firmly around me and he pulls me in closer to him.
“How would you know anyway, your eyes are closed?” I point out.
“And you just admitted your guilt.”
I laugh as he rolls me on top of him, his eyes finally open.
“What’s to be my punishment, officer?” I smile sweetly down at him.
“Hm, well, this isn’t your first offense, so it might be a tough one.”
“I’m willing to take whatever punishment you seem fit.” I pull my t-shirt up and over my head before I lean against his chest, loving how he feels against me. I’m now completely naked and I see his eyes light up as his hands move along my ribs, brushing over my breasts.
I’m never one to be modest about my body. I’ve always been told how beautiful I am. I know what my looks and body do to the guys around me. It’s part of the reason I love to go out drinking so much. I have this weird fascination with seeing how guys react to me. Most will merely drool, and if I look their way, they’ll sweat and suddenly need to drain their drinks. Those who have the guts to actually come up and talk to me will either assume I’m an idiot because of my beauty or assume I want a guy to simply take control and dazzle me with their own good looks or how successful they are.
Dean is one of the only guys I’ve known who actually wants to know the real me, and it
’s why this is the most serious relationship I’ve ever had with someone. My beauty usually doesn’t matter to him, so it’s moments like this that I relish. It’s when I feel in control; when my body is able to control his.
“You never play fair.” He takes in my body and I sit up to give him a good look. I turn my head to glance at the clock and see the time.
“Dean, look at the time. We’re late!” I gasp. I quickly move away from him, and in the corner of my eye, I see him try to grab me.
“No way, get back here.” He crawls down the bed and pulls me back when I stand by our dresser, opening the draws to find some underwear.
“We’re late,” I complain, but give in and allow a quick kiss. Before he can deepen it, I swiftly pull away and stand again.
“Late for what? It’s only ten in the morning.” Dean moves to the edge of the bed and sits up, his legs hanging over the edge.
“You promised me today we could go shopping for decorations. We have left it so late and I’m not putting it off anymore.” I pull my jeans up and search for a suitable top to go with it.
“And that can’t wait just a little bit longer? The shops are open until late,” Dean begs.
“That’s what you said last week and we never left this room. Now get your butt up and ready now.” I bite my lip to keep myself from smiling. If I allow him to see me smiling, then he’ll know I’m not mad at him and he’ll pounce. My only chance of getting us to those shops is to appear not in the mood.
“Fine, but as soon as we’re done we have some unfinished business to attend to.”
“Deal.”
***
We take our time setting up the tree, and with the leftover tinsel, Dean decorates the rest of the apartment.
“Do you think it looks okay?” I ask him, taking a step back and admiring our work.
He shrugs at me. “It looks… Christmassy.”
“Are you sure it’s all right? Maybe if we move some of the angels more to the right side…” I turn my head to the side trying to picture if that is what seems off with it. Dean has been very left heavy in my opinion and now the right side looks wrong.
Taken By Force (Taken Trilogy Book 2) Page 5