Though she wasn’t due back to work for a couple of days, Anna called into her office and advised them she was returning sooner than expected. She had no consultations or meetings scheduled, but she was sure she could find something to keep her occupied.
As a freelance psychologist, Anna didn’t have regular office hours or specific patients. She consulted on various cases, made presentations to medical organizations, and more than once had met with congressional leaders on the state of mental health for the nation’s children.
Her job was higher profile than she’d ever anticipated. The monetary aspect had never entered her mind when she’d changed her major to psychology. She’d given little thought to how she would support herself. Silly and idealistic? Yes. If she’d never been kidnapped and tortured, her life and goals would have been radically different. But it had happened, and because of that, her life was changed. She would never wish her experience on anyone, but she was a big believer in things happening for a reason. She’d had two choices—learn from what she had endured and do something with that knowledge, or try to pretend it never happened. Sticking her head in the sand was not her style.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in.”
Juggling a cup of steaming coffee and her purse in one hand and her briefcase in the other, Anna winced. Of all the people to encounter on her first day back to work, why did it have to be the one woman who hated her?
“Hello, Lucretia.” Yes, that was actually her name. “You’re looking lovely as ever.”
Anna had learned early that complimenting the woman upfront softened her hackles to a manageable level. On top of that, Lucretia really was a physically beautiful woman. Anna had often wondered if she had a hideously ugly portrait hanging in her house in the way of Dorian Gray. An uncharitable thought, but Anna wasn’t above such things, especially when it came to Lucretia Diamond.
“I went to Bora Bora for a week. To a fabulous spa that’s to die for.” She threw a critical look toward Anna. “Your vacation wasn’t nearly as kind.”
There was no point in correcting Lucretia. Telling her that she had volunteered to work with a free clinic in Colombia was of no interest to the woman.
“You really need to do something about those freckles on your nose.”
A pang of both heartache and remembered joy hit Anna. The first day on the beach she’d forgotten sunscreen, and her face, especially her nose, had gotten sunburned. The result was a small explosion of freckles. Aidan had remarked on how cute they were and promised to kiss each one later that night. He had kept that promise.
“Is that a blush? Did you meet a madly handsome man on your little vacay, Anna? Do tell.”
Telling Lucretia anything about her time in Colombia or with Aidan was out of the question.
“No. Must be the sunburn.” She lifted her arms slightly to show how overburdened she was. “Guess I’d better get these things to my office.”
“Better not get too comfortable. I overheard Glenda on the phone. There’s a new bill coming up for a vote in Congress. Meetings are being set. There’s no doubt who she’ll send now that you’re back.”
The last part was said in a whine, which Anna ignored. Lucretia’s jealousy was so well known that she didn’t even bother to hide it anymore. The woman had more insecurities than many of the patients they counseled. Despite those and her never-ending cattiness, Lucretia’s job was secure. She might have her issues, but she had an amazing rapport with the families she counseled. The first time Anna had seen her in action, Lucretia had soothed a sobbing mother, calmed an angry father, and comforted a suicidal teenager all at the same time. It hadn’t made Anna like Lucretia any better, but she definitely admired her skill.
“I’ll just head to my office, then.”
Anna made a fast exit and rushed into the elevator. The instant the doors closed, she collapsed back against the wall with a whooshing sigh. Maybe Lucretia was wrong and Glenda wasn’t planning to send her to Washington, DC, again. It wasn’t that she necessarily hated going. The last time she’d been to DC, she’d actually felt she’d made a small difference. What disturbed her was the proximity to Alexandria, Virginia, and Aidan. Being that close without being able to see him would be like a recovering chocoholic visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania. The temptation to see him would be excruciatingly difficult to resist. In just a few short days, Aidan had become an addiction. One she had been forced to give up, cold turkey. Putting herself within reach of that addiction was not a good idea.
An hour later, her fears realized, Anna marched out of her office and headed home to pack. Her cellphone at her ear, she left a voice mail for her mother, canceling their weekend together. She had no idea how long she’d be away.
With her mind on the various tasks ahead of her, she never noticed the man in the black SUV that pulled out behind her.
Anna might not have been aware that she was being watched, but the man in the beige cargo van definitely took note. His employer was going to be very interested in this information.
***
“What do you mean someone is following her?” Cook said.
“I noticed him this morning but paid little attention until he parked outside her office complex. He was stationary until she came back out about an hour later. He took off right after she left the office. Followed her home.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Had a friend run the plates. The vehicle belongs to a shell corporation. I’ve got people working on this, but it’s obvious he wants to stay hidden.”
“Is he taking photos?”
“No.”
“Excellent! Thorne has hired someone to protect her, watch over her.”
The joy in his employer’s voice was only a surprise in that he could count on one hand the number of times he’d heard anything similar. Deathbed grim was the man’s usual tone.
“Then she does mean something to him.”
“Just as I told you, Patrick. You need to have more faith in my observations.”
“You’re right, Dr. Cook. How do you want me to proceed?”
“Wait and watch for a while longer. When the time comes, I trust you to know what should be done to her protector.”
“Yes, sir.” Patrick said the words calmly. His employer wasn’t a fan of emotions so he couldn’t let on how much the idea excited him. He usually handed down orders for a kill, per Cook’s instructions. It had been much too long since he’d enjoyed one himself.
“What’s going on now? Why did she leave work so soon after arriving?”
“She’s on her way to DC to make a presentation to Congress.”
“Oh my. How industrious, if not pointless. How do you know this?”
“Yesterday when she went for a run, I broke into her apartment and attached listening devices to some personal items.”
“How very clever.”
“She’s taking a private jet provided by her employer. I’ve already made plans to fly commercial.”
“Excellent. But there’s been no contact from Thorne?”
“No, sir. Not as of yet.”
“No matter. The fact that he’s got someone looking out for her is all the confirmation I needed.”
Patrick didn’t bother to correct his employer. The news that Anna Bradford was under Thorne’s protection wasn’t something the man had really needed. Cook had made it clear that, no matter what Anna Bradford was to Thorne, he had plans for her.
Patrick had long ago lost any ounce of conscience. Years ago Simon Cook had pulled him out of the gutter and saved him from addiction and death. Because of that, he had pledged his loyalty until death. Still, he was human enough to shudder with revulsion at what he knew would be Anna Bradford’s ultimate fate. She was a lovely young woman, full of life. Soon she would cease to exist.
Patrick gave a philosophical mental shrug. Damn shame, but he had a job to do.
“Unless something happens,” Patrick said, “I’ll contact you at the same time tomorrow.”
“I’ll look forward to your call. And as soon as Ms. Bradford returns home from her business trip, I want you to set up our meeting.”
That was a surprise. He had thought Cook would wait a few more days to see if Thorne showed up. Not that it mattered. He was here to carry out his employer’s bidding, nothing more.
“Very good, sir. I’ll begin the arrangements.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Lake George, New York
“So you’re finally going to do it.”
Aidan looked over his shoulder as his sister, Jenn, stepped out on the deck. After a delicious, if somewhat raucous, dinner—his nieces and nephews had been in high spirits tonight—the kids had been sent up to the playroom to entertain themselves. Then Aidan presented his plan. As usual, each family member had their own reaction. His mother’s was joyful, his father’s relieved. His sister’s was the expected “It’s about damn time” affirmation. Her husband, Brent, seconded his wife’s statement with a “Hear, hear.”
While he believed Simon had no interest in hurting his family, Aidan still felt the need to warn them. Not once had they experienced a threat from Simon, but that didn’t mean the bastard wouldn’t change his course if it suited his needs. His family deserved to know that things might change.
Even though he wanted to tell them about the amazing woman he’d fallen in love with, he didn’t tell his family anything about her. He and Anna hadn’t parted on a good note. Just because he was prepared to bare his soul and grovel for forgiveness didn’t mean Anna would accept his apology. Also, he had no guarantee this plan would work.
“Are you sure Simon is even alive?” Jenn asked. “It’s been years.”
Aidan stared into the dense forest. With the exception of a few hardy fireflies, there was nothing but deep, dark blankness, as if the entire area was empty. But that was all an illusion. Step into the midst of the forest, and one would see and hear all the life teeming within it.
“He’s still out there. With his father’s death, his wealth has only increased. He could stay hidden forever. He’s waiting and watching. Sometime, somewhere, he’ll strike. I have to be the one to control that strike.”
“So tell me about her.”
“What do you mean?”
She shot him a you’ve got to be kidding me look. “You might be able to fool Mom and Dad, but not me. I haven’t seen that light in your eyes in years. You’ve finally found someone who makes you want to live again.”
Should’ve known he wouldn’t be able to hide the biggest reason for his monumental change in attitude. Jenn had been able to see through him all her life.
“She’s got to be something special for you to take this chance.”
“She is.” He gave her a brief nod to acknowledge her correct assumption. “I can’t tell you about her…not yet.”
The less they knew about her, the safer everyone would be.
“All right, but you can at least describe her.”
He smiled as he pictured Anna. “She’s mouthy, sassy, won’t let me get away with anything, and drives me out of my mind. She has the softest, most compassionate brown eyes, a smile that lights up the world, the kindest heart, and I—”
“And you’re in love with her.”
“Yes.” Such a simple, mild word for the immensity of his feelings for Anna.
A slow smile spread across Jenn’s face. “It’s about damn time.”
“That’s becoming one of your favorite sayings.”
“That’s because it fits so many occasions when it comes to my big brother.”
“You think I should’ve been more proactive in finding Simon, don’t you?”
“You’ve done more than most anyone would have or could have, Aidan. But with Simon Cook’s connections and money, he’s proven that he can stay hidden for as long as he wants.”
“Unless I draw him out.”
“Will you tell me how you’re going to do that?”
“No.”
“Succinct and to the point, as usual.”
“The less you know, the better. I just wanted to warn you, all of you, to be on guard even more than usual.”
“You could’ve said that on the phone or in an email.”
Aidan shook his head, looked out at the darkness again. “I’ve missed the last three get-togethers.” Regret hit him as he murmured, “Both Mom and Dad look older.”
“Dad had mild cold a couple of weeks ago. Other than that, they’re in good shape.”
Aidan knew that his sister kept a sharp eye on the health of her entire family. But when telling Anna about his family, he had realized how much he’d missed. It was like he’d been frozen for years, and Anna, with her forthrightness and fearlessness, had melted the icy wall he’d erected around himself.
“My stars, she really must be something.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re seeing and feeling things you haven’t allowed yourself to experience since Mellie’s death. It’s like you’ve come alive again.”
“She said something that made a dent in my stubbornness. That my guilt wouldn’t let me be happy, even if I could.”
“I cannot wait to meet her.”
For the first time in years, Aidan felt a bubble of optimism, and he grinned. “You’re going to love her.”
***
Washington, DC
Anna stared at the cellphone in her hand. She had always considered herself a woman of self-control. Yes, she had her weaknesses, but they usually involved things that weren’t good for her, like ice cream and purse sales. She refused to put Aidan in that category. Even if she never saw him again, she knew he had been good for her. But the temptation to call him just to hear his voice was so strong her entire body felt as if it might break apart.
He had given her his private number, in case she ever needed him in an emergency. But no matter how much she wanted to call him, aching to hear his voice didn’t qualify as an emergency.
She told herself she was just bored. She’d flown to DC to meet with some policymakers and political leaders. Her master’s thesis—At-Risk Children in War-Torn Countries and the Resulting Effects of Global Disharmony—had garnered more attention than she had anticipated. This would be her fifth meeting in DC just this year. While she was glad she had opened some people’s eyes and created awareness, she would like to think that all the meetings had produced positive results. She couldn’t say that about today’s meeting. James Timothy, founder and head of The Timothy Foundation believed by speaking to lawmakers as often as possible, she was planting seeds for future progress. She loved her employer but thought perhaps his optimism sometimes got the better of him.
Anna glared at her phone again. She either needed to make the call or forget about it. Staring at the thing and agonizing over her indecision was getting her nowhere. Grinding her teeth to give her courage, she tapped in the number Aidan had made her memorize. At the first ring, she started to panic. What was she going to say? This was crazy!
Just as she was about to end the call, his voice mail answered. She almost sobbed, because the voice that answered wasn’t even Aidan’s. Just some androgynous voice that told her to leave a message. Either too desperate or too embarrassed not to say something—she’d ask herself later which one it was—Anna couldn’t prevent the words from tumbling out of her mouth.
“Hey, it’s me. I know I’m only supposed to call if it’s an emergency, and it’s not. I…I just wanted to hear your voice. And how stupid is it that not only didn’t you answer, some robotic voice did it for you? And here I am just babbling like it’s you and you’re actually interested.
“You know what? Just ignore this call. I’m ice cream deprived, that’s all.” She cleared her voice and added, “Um, well. Hope you’re well. Uh…take care.”
She ended the call, threw herself onto the bed, and covered her head with pillows. Now, not only would he know how desperately she missed him, she’d sounded like a nitwit to boot.
Bei
ng in love sucked.
Chapter Thirty-two
Phoenix, Arizona
Anna returned home from DC and decided she was even more dispirited than when she’d left the island. Aidan hadn’t called her back. Not that she should have expected to hear from him. Especially since her voice mail message had sounded so pathetic. She winced every time she thought about how needy she probably appeared.
It helped a little when Riley returned her call and informed her that Aidan was out of town. Of course, she was still embarrassed by having made the call in the first place, but at least she could tell herself that he was most likely on a mission and too busy saving lives to take the time to return a personal phone call. That sounded so much better to her bruised feelings than thinking he just didn’t want to talk to her.
Later that night, just as she was drifting off to sleep, reliving the last time she was in Aidan’s arms, her cellphone rang. Lost in the memories, it took a few seconds for her brain to comprehend and recognize the noise. Grabbing it, she held the phone to her ear and said groggily, “This is Anna.”
“Hey, it’s me.”
She sprang up in bed like a fire had been lit beneath her. Fumbling for the switch of her bedside lamp, she knocked several things to the floor.
“Are you okay? What was that noise?”
“I’m fine. Just dropped something on the floor.”
“I got your message.”
Of course he had. Anna was about to give an apology and then stopped herself. She wasn’t going to say she was sorry for calling. Okay, yes, she could have sounded a little less desperate, but considering the circumstances of their relationship, he should cut her a little slack.
“I wanted to hear your voice.” She didn’t tell him she’d been in DC. Even though he had never told her to avoid personal details on the phone, Anna refused to put Aidan in further danger by giving specifics.
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