by P J Gordon
Horror filled Manda as she thought of Richard being near someone so malevolent and capable of unthinkable violence. The pictures she’d seen of him beside Chelsea suddenly transformed into the scene from her nightmares—Richard being stolen from her by an invisible threat, Richard in mortal danger. The terror of the endless nightmares had been all too real. She felt sick. Richard squeezed her hands reassuringly.
“It’s over now, sweetie. It’s okay now. They can never hurt us again.”
“How did...?,” Manda swallowed. “What happened?”
Richard’s response was reluctant. “Chelsea led us right to her accomplice, her daughter Tina, yesterday morning at the airport. When they realized we had them, they tried to fight. Mikey and his Secret Service friends were prepared though and Chelsea and Tina never had a chance. It was over before anyone else could be hurt.”
Manda had the clear impression that Richard was glossing over the whole incident for her sake, but didn’t challenge him. He didn’t want to dwell on it, and she couldn’t blame him. She held his hands a little tighter.
“You weren’t hurt?” she verified.
“Not a bit,” he assured her.
“Was Josh there too? Is he okay?” she asked, still anxious.
“Yes. Neither he nor Mikey were hurt,” he answered quickly, but Manda thought she saw a fleeting shadow of doubt cross his face.
Suddenly Richard straightened with a startled look. Then he growled, “When will I stop being so selfish and thoughtless? Josh probably doesn’t even know you’re alive! And he was expecting me back at the hotel last night. I should have called him. He’s missed you almost as much as I have, though I think he handled it better.”
Guilt and regret seared through Manda and her eyes burned with tears again. “I’m so sorry,” she said in a small voice. “I caused everyone so much grief.” The tears spilled down her cheeks.
Richard was instantly by her side, gathering her up in his arms.
“Don’t you dare blame yourself for that. It’s not your fault. Besides, anyone who cares about you would gladly suffer much more than that if it kept you safe,” Richard scolded. “I consider it all well worth the price,” he assured her fiercely, wiping away her tears with his fingers. He took a deep breath then and exhaled slowly. “We still have a lot of things to talk about...” Manda sighed apprehensively and Richard gave her a gentle shake. “Nothing awful. We just have a lot to figure out about getting you your life back, about us, about the future...lots of things. But I think we have the basics out of the way for now. I love you and only you. You’ve got that, right?” He looked pointedly at her until she nodded confirmation and then went on. “You don’t look ready for any more serious discussion right now, and I admit I could use a little time to absorb the last twenty-four hours.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Some of it is too good to believe. Like the fact that you’re alive and I’m holding you in my arms on a bed in a hotel room!”
Manda elbowed him playfully, wiping her face dry with the corner of a blanket. “I don’t usually put myself in such compromising situations,” she protested, her still tremulous voice laced with mock horror.
“I know,” Richard chuckled, “and that’s one of the many things I love about you. So, since I am only human and you are too delightful to be true, I suggest a change of venue. As much as I’d love to stay here and hold you in my arms all day, we should go see Josh.”
For the second time Manda detected a shadow of apprehension darken Richard’s face when he mentioned his brother.
“Why are you so worried about Josh?” she asked with growing concern. “What’s the matter with him?”
“Josh is fine. He’s just...well...he’s had a lot to deal with lately,” Richard answered too lightly.
Manda wasn’t fooled. “Richard, you asked me to trust you. Now tell me the truth.” She held his gaze. “What is Josh dealing with that has you so worried about him?”
“I thought we decided no more heavy talk for now?” Richard argued.
“No, you decided that. If something is upsetting you I want to know what it is, especially if it’s about Josh. He’s not just your brother; he’s my friend, too.”
“Fair enough,” Richard conceded grudgingly. He no longer tried to hide his worry from Manda. “It’s just that yesterday at the airport...well...Josh is the one who killed Tina,” he explained slowly, then rushed on as if to get it over with quickly. “She went after Mikey and Josh was closest to her. He had no choice. She could have killed Mikey in a second. I think he understands that, but I’m still worried about how he’s handling it. He seemed okay yesterday but I don’t think it had time to catch up to him. I don’t know. I’m probably making too much out of the whole thing.” Richard grimaced. “And now he’s probably worrying about me on top of everything else.”
The thought of what Tina could have done to Mikey horrified Manda. She knew firsthand the damage the girl was capable of. Josh knew too, having seen Manda immediately following Tina’s attack.
“Those two women have left a lot of scars behind them, haven’t they?” she said sadly.
Richard stroked one fingertip in a line along Manda’s cheekbone. She realized that he was imagining the scar that might have disfigured her face if Kastl hadn’t intervened. She wondered then, for the first time, where Kastl was. Richard leaned down and kissed the line he’d traced with his finger.
“Scars, yes,” he agreed, “but nothing more.”
“I think it’s time we went to see Josh,” Manda declared breathlessly.
Richard laughed.
Chapter 55
During the short trip from Manda’s hotel to Richard’s, the contact between the two was seldom broken. It was as if he needed to feel the tangible proof of her presence after she’d been lost to him for so long. Manda craved the constant reassurance of his touch as well, leaning into the solidity of his body or clinging to his strong hand almost continuously.
He’d relinquished his hold on her at the hotel only long enough for her to shower and change. When Manda emerged from the bedroom with her hair still wet, Richard was sitting on the sofa, drumming his fingers impatiently on the padded arm.
“I didn’t take that long,” Manda protested, smiling at the sight of him waiting for her like some misplaced Greek god. It was wholly unfair that anyone should look so heart-stoppingly sexy in a pair of khaki pants and a plain white collared shirt. She would never be able to take him in stride if she lived a thousand years.
He was on his feet immediately, pulling her into his encircling arms.
“Five minutes without you is too long,” he growled playfully. “I would have come in for you after 15, but I was pretty sure Sarah would have disapproved, so I’ve tried to be patient. I decided to give you at least 45 minutes before coming to retrieve you.”
“Such a gentleman! It’s one of the many things I love about you,” Manda retorted. Her skin heated when she thought of Richard invading her shower. He laughed softly and loosened his arms, stepping back slightly to better see her face.
“I checked my phone messages while I was waiting,” he told her, gesturing toward the phone on the side table with his chin, unwilling to release her. “I had several messages from Mikey and Josh, one from about half an hour ago. From what they said I don’t think they’ve heard from Kastl.” He smiled wickedly. “That means we can surprise them.”
“Did they sound worried?” Manda asked timidly. It was her fault that Richard was missing-in-action, after all.
“Apparently Josh found my clothes where I stashed them last night. His imagination has been in overdrive ever since. He may well throw me out a window, judging by the sound of his messages,” Richard admitted with a rueful grin. “Lucky for me I can fly. But I suppose we should get going if you’re ready.” He reluctantly released her from the circle of his arms, claiming her hand instead.
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” Manda answered, not sounding at all sure, even to herself. Returning fro
m the dead was more nerve-wracking than she’d anticipated. Richard squeezed her hand encouragingly and led her from the room.
Richard caused quite a stir when they stepped off the elevator downstairs. He dashed through the lobby quickly, wrapping his arm protectively around Manda to shield her from the camera phones of hotel guests and staff. He delivered her into the first available cab in the line waiting at the curb outside, climbing in quickly behind her. Richard laughed at the startled look on Manda’s face after the cab had pulled safely away.
“I didn’t have any cash to tip the room service waitress earlier, so I gave her an autograph instead...and a kiss on the cheek,” Richard admitted sheepishly. “I guess word got around.”
“An autograph and a kiss?” Manda laughed. “Not a lock of your hair?”
“She wanted my shirt, but since I didn’t have another one with me, I had to bargain her down,” he said with a grin. Manda collapsed against him in a fit of giddy laughter.
“That reminds me, you’ll have to pay the cab driver. I don’t have my wallet with me. At least Josh got that when he found my...,” Richard glanced at the driver, “...my things.”
Manda gave him her most put-upon sigh. “Returned from the dead for one day and already being used for my money!”
Richard pulled her close, chuckling. The remainder of the drive was accomplished with Manda held tightly in Richard’s embrace, her head resting on his shoulder, his cheek against her hair. Richard instructed the driver to pull into a service bay so they could enter the hotel unnoticed. Manda made a face at Richard as she paid the fare. He grinned, but noticing the slight tremor of her hands as she handled the money, he wrapped his arm comfortingly around her waist.
“It’s just Josh,” he reassured her. “Why are you so nervous about this?”
“Too much drama,” she admitted in a slightly unsteady voice, but she managed a weak smile.
“Come on, coward!” he commanded, tapping the tip of her nose lightly with his index finger and leading her into the hotel.
They navigated the hotel without incident, much to Manda’s relief. It wasn’t until they were standing outside the door to Richard and Josh’s suite that Richard remembered that he didn’t have his keycard.
“It was in my clothes,” he sighed, and lifted his hand to knock. He paused with his hand raised and shot Manda a thoughtful look. “Maybe you should wait out here for a few minutes.” With his hands on her shoulders, he pushed her against the wall beside the door, out of the line of sight of anyone standing inside. “When I said Josh might throw me out the window, I wasn’t exaggerating all that much. He’s pretty...unhappy with me right now and I think I should talk to him first. I’ve given him too many reasons to worry about me lately, and after last night he’s going to need to vent a little. It’s only fair that I apologize before I try to distract him with the likes of you.”
Manda stood against the wall, frowning slightly. “Try to stay away from the windows, okay?”
Richard smiled reassuringly, then straightened his shoulders resolutely and knocked.
When the door opened Manda couldn’t see who had answered, but judging by the grimace that appeared on Richard’s face, whoever it was wasn’t welcoming him with open arms and a forgiving heart. Mikey’s angry expletive echoing down the hallway confirmed her guess. She squeezed herself tighter against the wall.
“Where have you been? Josh was just about to go out looking for you again!”
“Is that him?” she heard Josh call from beyond the door. There was a frantic edge to his voice. Richard shot her one last surreptitious wink of encouragement before pushing Mikey into the room in front of him.
Manda’s body was hot with shame and guilt. This was all her fault. She edged quickly to the closing door and halted its swing just before it could click shut and lock her out. She held her ear close to the hairline opening that remained between the door and the frame, listening intently. She was against eavesdropping as a rule, but was willing to make an exception in this case.
“Yes, it’s me,” Richard responded in a calm voice. “I’m sorry I worried you. Thanks for getting my clothes.”
A sound of disgust from Mikey was followed by another expletive, this one more imaginative than the last. “I don’t think ‘worry’ really covers it, Richard!”
“Why would you do that? Where have you been all night and half the day?” Josh asked accusingly. His voice was so quiet Manda had to strain to hear it. “You could have been dead for all we knew.”
“I’m sorry,” Richard repeated, regret clear in his voice. “I forgot to call, that’s all. There was no need to worry.”
“How could I not worry?” Josh demanded, his voice rising. “You’ve been walking around here like a man waiting to die ever since Manda was killed. Honestly, I assumed the only thing keeping you alive was your need for revenge.”
Josh’s words sent a fresh thrust of pain into Manda’s chest. I’m so sorry, Richard!
Josh was shouting now, his voice angry and hurt. “So what was I supposed to think when you go missing right after we finally catch Chelsea and Tina?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Richard apologized again.
Richard’s quiet words elicited a wordless roar from Josh. The shattering crash of something smashing into a wall near the door caused Manda to jump, barely able to stifle the cry that rose in her throat. The violent slamming of a door within the suite punctuated her alarm and she gasped softly. She carefully pushed the door open a fraction of an inch wider and peered through the gap. The angle of view was limited and she couldn’t see beyond the wall of the foyer, but on the floor against that wall she could see the broken remnants of a lamp.
She heard a loud, long exhalation of breath and quickly put her ear back to the door opening.
“You’re sorry?” Mikey barked incredulously. “Don’t you see how it looked, Richard?” He sighed in frustration, and then continued as though ticking off points on a list. “Chelsea and Tina are finally dealt with. You’re suddenly almost normal again for the first time in months. You put everything you’ve got into one last, phenomenal concert. You tell Josh that you have a few things to take care of and send him off alone. You make a grand gesture and send everybody on the tour off for a big celebration. You completely spook Lizzy. Yeah, she called to check up on you. You call me, obviously upset and irrational, then hang up on me and destroy your phone—Josh found it in pieces—making it conveniently impossible for anyone to contact you. Then you vanish.
“No, why would anyone jump to conclusions?” Mikey finished sarcastically. “And you’re sorry. I’ve never seen Josh so scared and desperate, and you’re sorry. I never thought you’d put him through something like that. No matter how bad it got for you, you never treated him that badly before. You have to know how much he worries about you lately. And you tell me you forgot.”
“I know,” Richard agreed, his voice still quiet. “I was thoughtless and inconsiderate and I’m sorry. There was something I needed to take care of last night and I forgot to call. I was...distracted. I’m fine. There’s no need to worry about me.”
Manda thought of Richard gently rocking her the previous night, comforting her and then holding her in his arms all night while she slept. Her chest tightened with her love for him. She had been the something he’d needed to take care of.
“I don’t buy it,” Mikey challenged. “You wouldn’t just forget. What’s really going on here? Are you really fine? Maybe I should be worried.”
“Really, I’m okay. In fact, I brought something to try and make it up to Josh.” The sound of knocking followed. “Josh,” Richard called in a low voice, “would you please come out? There’s something I want you to see.”
Manda heard approaching footsteps and stepped hastily away from the door. Richard opened it and stepped into the hallway, holding the door open a fraction of an inch with his foot.
“You heard all of that, didn’t you?” he accused in a whisper.
&nb
sp; She nodded, eyes wide and distraught. What kind of state had Richard been in to make Mikey and Josh both think that he would consider... She couldn’t bring herself to complete the thought.
He sighed in frustration. “It’s not as bad as they make it sound,” he assured her, pulling her into a firm hug before grasping her hand and drawing her toward the door. “And that could have gone much worse. Josh never even looked at the windows.” He winked at her again.
When Richard opened the door and led her into the sitting room, Josh hadn’t emerged yet but Mikey was watching the door when they entered. He emitted a string of expletives that made Richard scowl before clamping his lips tightly shut and dropping onto the sofa in stunned amazement.
“Josh, I brought a peace offering,” Richard called out again.
“You’ll want to see this,” Mikey called, dumbfounded.
The bedroom door jerked open and Josh glared at Richard, his face dark with rage.
“If you think...” he began angrily, and then he spotted Manda clinging to Richard’s hand and his eyes widened.
“Manda?” he whispered. Then he hurtled across the room with a joyous cry. “Manda!” He vaulted over the sofa and scooped her up into an exuberant bear hug, spinning her around in a circle. His laughter filled the room. “Manda! You’re alive!”
“I won’t be for long if you don’t let go,” she gasped past the constriction of his arms as they crushed the air from her lungs. He released her at once, immediately contrite. She laughed and hugged him fiercely. “Hi, Josh.”
Josh hugged her back, more gently this time.
“We thought you were dead. What happened?” Josh asked, bewildered but happy. Abruptly he spun toward Richard. “That’s where you were all night!” he accused with sudden understanding. “And you couldn’t even call and let us know?”
“Please don’t be mad, Josh,” Manda pleaded. “It’s all my fault. I was a complete wreck last night. I just sort of fell apart,” she confessed, head bowed, “and Richard spent all night picking up the pieces. I was horribly high-maintenance. It’s really not his fault.” She heard Richard start to protest behind her, but Mikey cut