We chatted for a while longer before heading to bed. Angel filled me in on what I missed at the party, which was ‘not much’, in her opinion. She also let me know that she came looking for me and John was still here with me. He said he would call me the next day, but he had to head home. Now I understood his hesitation to spending the night with me, but it didn’t help me to feel too much better about it. I brought up the trip to Peru again, because she was undecided on whether she wanted to go or not. Her lack of knowledge on any country outside of the US contributed to her hesitation. She was under the impression that our lives would be in grave danger once we crossed our border. While there may be dangerous areas in South America, the private plane and estate ensured our safety. A little bit of prodding was all it took to convince her, and our trip was set. Along with Donna, we were on our way.
Ch 24 First night in Peru
During our flight my mind kept weeding through all the loose ends I had to deal with. Edward had extended my stay in limbo when he entered the role of key suspect in my case. I couldn’t move on with anything until that was resolved. The more time I spent away from the office, was the more I questioned the direction of my career. The loft that I had fallen in love with at first sight now held too many ugly memories for me, and I knew that moving was on the top of my agenda. I tried to push aside any thoughts of John or Julian because, I was tired of it all. Their problems had become my problems and frankly, I was over sharing the load.
Surprisingly, I felt revived after our long flight. My energy levels were definitely at a peak as I anticipated the trip ahead of us. There was a driver waiting to take us, me, Donna and Angel, to the Delgado estate. Paulo, greeted us in English and took our bags. I couldn’t mistake the falter of his composure as he assessed my navy striped maxi dress. I laughed to myself as I remembered Donna doing her mambo in the panties dance.
The entire ride to the Hidalgo house had me on the edge of my seat, and just like a tourist I snapped off an overabundance of pictures. Of everything. The architecture, the people, and then the outskirts of Lima as we traveled through it. The obvious changes in socioeconomic status were undeniable. We drove past luxurious tourist hotels, the upscale homes of the rich and influential, and we also traveled through the poor urban ghettos that made the ‘hoods’ back home look like middle class playgrounds. My heart went out to the poor children I saw as we passed thru their neighborhoods.
Entering the gates to the estate, nestled deep in the lush sub-amazonian terrain, I felt an odd sense of excitement laced with foreboding. I wasn’t sure why, and looked to my companions to see their reactions, but both ladies sat in awe of our surroundings. Shrugging it off, I decided to enjoy my latest reprieve away from my flawed daily reality. Taking in the dense vegetation, and noting the armed guards that protected Hector’s not so modest Spanish styled villa. He was waiting for us on the steps to his grand doorway when we pulled up, looking much younger and, more vibrant than his last visit to the states. I supposed living in paradise would have that effect on you.
“Hola, senoritas!” Hector flashed a huge smile and outstretched welcoming arms as the three of us approached him. After I performed the introductions, he led us inside showing us to our respective rooms. Elegant was an understatement to describe the decor of his home. The main floor and living area were large open spaced rooms that flowed one into the next, lined with dark wooden beamed ceilings and stucco walls. The cherry wood furniture coordinated perfectly with the structural design, and boasted intricate details that spoke of old world craftsmanship. Our rooms were located upstairs in the western wing of the estate. Mine, was reminiscent of a modern day castle, with a large four poster bed and matching armoire and dresser. Despite the historic feel, the level of comfort was undeniable. The finest quality fabrics laced every curtain, cushion, chair, blanket and pillow. An erie feeling niggled me, like we were being watched, and I wondered if Hector had guards inside as well. Maybe Angel was right to worry about our safety.
After a long shower, I threw on my thin cotton chemise, and went to open my window to let in the fresh air. Looking out onto a large balcony that wrapped around this entire side of the house, I saw that there was nothing but darkness for miles. Being there really made me realize how much of a smog factory New York really was. I pulled the blinds open just enough to allow the cool evening breeze in. The feeling that I was being watched or followed was still with me and I lingered at the window, although I was too afraid to look out to see if my fears were valid. Geez, I’m being stupid!
I climbed into bed forcing myself to relax. The stress of the last few months was really taking its toll on me. I chided myself for letting Angel’s irrational concerns worm their way into my psyche. I replaced those thoughts with peaceful ones of the long walks I would be able to take around the property, and of all the wonderful amenities the estate had to offer. Once Hector and I got our business out of the way, this trip would be the vacation I desperately needed. My e-reader was all set with the latest thriller that I had been wanting to dive into. I settled in and let sleep find me, all the while fighting the urge to use my preferred sleep aid. It was a struggle, but after what had to be twenty minutes or so, slumber was finally creeping in. I sighed in relief and turned on my side to get more comfortable, wondering if the other girls were having the same trouble getting to sleep. Probably not. Donna seemed to be able to sleep anywhere, and Angel’s eyelids were already heavy by the time we had desert.
Then suddenly my eyes flew open with a start. It wasn’t anything I saw or heard, but a sense that something wasn’t right. The hairs on my skin bristled as I strained to find some plausible reason for my anxiety. Maybe I should close that window!
I started to roll over to the side of the bed facing the window when I noticed a shadow out the corner of my eye. A small gasp escaped my mouth at the realization that someone really was in my room. I lunged in the opposite direction, attempting to scramble out of the bed and towards the bedroom door. Before I could reach the other side of the large king sized bed, my upper body was physically restrained. One strong arm enclosed my waist, pinning my arms to my side and the other around my shoulders, effectively covering my mouth to stifle my screams until it became unnecessary because I was paralyzed with fear.
“Shhh,” My captor whispered in my ear. Hearing that woke me from my trance and I thrashed my legs in panic. Silent sobs escaped my throat, but were trapped at my lips as a million different thoughts flashed through my mind. Struggle as I might, I couldn’t get free of his grip. Something was all too familiar about this scenario.
I fought out of sheer reaction as my brain raced to understand my predicament. Hector, would not come into my room and accost me in my sleep. Could the people who kidnapped me know where I was, and came to finish me off? My limbs ached with exhaustion from my efforts to escape. I was going to be raped or kidnapped and I couldn’t let it happen. More likely rape, because I felt his rather large erection pressed into my back. Animalistic rage flowed thru me as I tried my hardest to wiggle free. No matter what I did, he managed to maintain a tight grip on me and I strained my hands backwards to try and scratch him.
“Jade! Stop, it’s me! Baby, it’s me.” The familiarness of his voice and his scent began to register and calmed me in stages as I recognized my assailant. Julian?
I stopped moving, and damn near stop breathing at that moment. Still maintaining control of my body, he quickly flipped me over on my back. He straddled me, still keeping me restrained by pinning my arms together over my head. I breathed in deep gulps of air once he tentatively removed his hand from my mouth, slowly in case I hadn’t calmed down enough to stop screaming.
I stared at him, as my chest heaved heavily between us, not fully believing it was really him. His hair hung thickly around his ears; his face was covered with a light beard and mustache, but his eyes were the same. Even in the dim light of the moon, I could recognize those eyes anywhere. “It’s really you,” I whispered in denial. His shoulders
sagged in relief and he nodded in agreement.
“Yes, it’s me.”
Like a tsunami the waves of anger and sadness mixed with my excitement to see him, leaving me choked for air. I shook my head from side to side as if that would ward off my impending breakdown.
“Jade? What’s wrong? Jade?”
“I’m sick of this!” I was happy he was alive, but I wanted to kill him for scaring the shit out of me. “What the hell are you doing creeping around like that? You scared the hell out of me.” I shoved him away from me, leaning back against the headboard with my arms wrapped around me. Shaking his head, Julian got up and began pacing the room.
“I didn’t mean to scare you, I thought you were asleep. I don’t sleep much these days, so it was fascinating to watch,” he explained. I stared at him blankly, waiting for him to continue.
“It’s really hard to sleep when someone keeps trying to kill you.” He walked to the window, as I sat there confused. What the hell was he doing here?
“What?” I finally managed a reply. There was a cold edge to his voice that made me uneasy.
“Are you really surprised, Jade? I can recall you were with me when they first attempted. Lucky for me, since your noble boyfriend swooped in to save us.” He turned to look at me with fire blazing in his eyes. I sat up straighter in the bed. I was now fuming.
“I really don’t know what the hell this is right now. Let’s rewind. Hello, Julian. I can’t believe it’s you? What’s it been, almost two months since I last saw you?” My tone was sweeter than iced tea as I got up and wrapped my robe around my body. “Please, do make yourself comfortable, I would love to hear why the fuck you gave me a phone just to ignore my phone calls.” I moved towards the window, conscious of the fact that we needed to keep our voices down. Julian eyed me suspiciously as he turned to face me, leaning his back up against the wall.
“Hmm, that’s very interesting. Are you still playing an actress for me?” Julian’s accent was heavy, he obviously had been speaking a lot more Spanish.
“Actress? Can you please say what you are implying because I’m not in the mood for anymore riddles!” I spoke as harshly as I could in a whisper. But even in my anger a bigger picture was beginning to form as I remembered Edwards visit.
“OK. We can do this your way. I felt bad after I hung up on you, but I was too pissed to talk to you that night. I talked to Edward and he told me that your friend John was responsible for what happened to us, and was having him followed. He said he planned to confront you on your involvement. That didn’t make any sense to me, and I don’t trust him. I called you and left you a message with instructions for you to meet me. Instead I heard nothing from you, and my boat was set on fire days after I contacted you. Oh, did I mention I was still inside of it when the entire exterior was lit on fire? I woke up to a room full of smoke and flames that I had to squeeze through a window to get out of. So, I guess what I want to ask is why?” His tone was mixed with accusation and hurt. My heart began to pound in my chest at his implications, and the truth that was settling in. Edward was trying to kill him, but he thought I had something to do with it.
“Julian,” I took a deep breath to calm down and continued. “Are you asking me why because you want my opinion, or because you think I know something? Well let me tell you what I do know. I didn’t get any fucking message, or maps or any damn directions on how to find you. But I did receive a visit from Edward. Oh, and we just had a lovely little conversation where he threatened me if I didn’t tell him where you were. Isn’t that funny? How would I know where to find you?” I turned away from him when my pain and confusion threatened to take hold of me. I need to sit down.
I walked over and plopped myself down on the bed. Julian’s brows knit together as he paced for a few moments. Then he turned towards me again. “Don’t you think it was funny that John knew where to find us the night of the attack?” He asked incredulously. I shook my head and rested my elbows on my knees for support.
“Then, he plans a trip to Brazil at the same time someone tries to kill me. You are the only person who knew where I was,” he continued.
“Are you listening to me? Edward threatened me that he would make sure to ‘handle’ me if I didn’t tell him where you were! I don’t understand any of this! Do you really think that I had something to do with setting you on fire?” I was too horrified to cry, and I just glared at him. He was visibly confused, but I could see the puzzle coming together for him too.
“I don’t know what to think! Don’t you understand that?” He yelled causing me to flinch in surprise. Julian never raised his voice to me before. Somehow I found the resolve I needed to maneuver through this murky conversation.
“Julian. John isn’t trying to kill you. He is working with Ryan on this case. That’s how he knew where to find us.” I walked over to where he was standing by the window.
“Edward is being followed because he is the one who tried to have you killed. He has people working for him at the club, and even my doorman is associated with him. He is lying to you. Do you understand that?” I searched his eyes, knowing that he would understand, but hoping that the truth of my words didn’t unravel him. I understood the bond and trust he once placed in his family, and how hard it would be to come to terms with the enormity of Edward’s betrayal. The only thing I couldn’t explain was the why.
“Edward? Edward…” He raked his hands through his hair and pounded his fists together. “Why didn’t Ryan tell me this? Or, that John was working with him? I feel like a fuckin blind mouse in a maze, and everyone knows where the cheese is but me. So it’s safe to assume that John didn’t tell you about the fire?” I could see the wheels turning in his mind as he tried to figure it all out.
“No. No one told me what happened to you,” I confirmed.
I felt sick to my stomach. This whole sordid story was just getting worse and worse. For every piece that came together to make sense, another fell out of place. I didn’t want to think that John would keep something like that from me, and hoped his being in California meant that he wasn’t fully in the loop with Ryan, but then I remembered what Ryan told me about them keeping each other informed. FML.
“Where is your uncle? And, how did you know I was here? Why would you come to see me if you thought I was a murderer?” I just remembered that he had more explaining to do. Julian looked at me and for the first time he didn’t have anger in his eyes.
“This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. I’m not even supposed to be talking to you. Conjo! What a fucking mess!”
“How was this supposed to go? Please, tell me.”
“I just wanted to talk to you. See for myself that you were heartless, so that I could move on. I thought you were asleep. I wasn’t planning to… I just wanted to see you,” he explained.
“Fuck you!” I hissed unable to control my rage. I didn’t care what his explanations were for not talking to me. Julian tensed and narrowed his eyes at me.
“What? Fuck me?” He slowly walked closer to me, his head tilted to the side as if he hadn’t heard me right.
“Yes. Fuck. You. I’m tired of your yoyo logic. I shouldn’t be talking to you!! You hung up on me and I haven’t heard from you in almost two months!” I let my voice rise as high as I could without waking the others, poking Julian in the center of his chest for emphasis.
“You called me to tell me you were going away with another man! After the night we spent together... Can you blame me for not wanting to talk to you?” He leaned into my hand, and I pull back and jabbed him again.
“And how did that work out for you?” I snarled, coordinating my words with my jabs. Julian grabbed my wrist, pulling me against him as he issued a terse reply.
“How did your trip work out for you? Huh? Did he make you forget about me? Huh? Are you happier with me out of your life?”
We glared at each other, nostrils flared, short of breath. I looked away, not wanting him to see the hurt in my eyes. I wasn’t any happier and I sti
ll missed him, but I didn’t want to say the words. Tilting my chin back towards him, Julian leaned in closer.
“You missed me?” He posed it as a question but it was more of a statement. Since he was holding my face captive, I averted my eyes, still not wanting to confirm that he was right. I wish I hadn’t missed him, but I had and I was happy to see him even if I was confused by his presence.
“Are you going to say it?” He angled his face so that he could look into my eyes again, but I just shook my head. No I wasn’t going to say it. I wasn’t playing that game tonight. Julian smirked, letting me go as he walked back to peer out the window. I sighed, slumping down onto the bed with sudden exhaustion.
Julian sat next to me on the bed, almost as if he was afraid to be near me.
“Jade. All this time I’ve been alone, surrounded by strangers, wondering why this was happening. I thought I was going to die the night of the fire, but all I could think of was how glad I was that you weren’t with me,” he paused then, taking my hand in his.
“I didn’t want to believe that you knew anything. My Uncle didn’t believe it either. But nothing else made sense to me. Not to mention your trip to Brazil. I wanted to hate you for that.” My fingers caressed his and all he could do was just stare at our hands. Of course he was angry.
Only Her Heart (The Jaded Hearts Club) Page 20