“Mmm…. How do you know I’ll be naked?”
Alex chuckled. “Lucky guess?”
“It might be a sheer black chiffon baby doll. You never know.”
“Angel… you’re killing me, you naughty, naughty girl.”
“You can call me again later,” she suggested hopefully. “I’ll plan on being naked if it seals the deal.”
“I wish I could,” he groaned. “I have a dinner meeting with the decision maker on this deal. You’ll be sleeping long before I’m able to call you.”
“I haven’t been sleeping very well.”
“Why? What’s the matter? Is everything okay?” Concern laced his voice.
“Of course. But the results to my tests are back for Swanson’s case and they’re not what I’d hoped. The bastard could walk. I feel like I’m failing that poor girl.”
“There are other ways to get at that prick. We’ll talk about it when I get home.”
Fear ran over her skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps in its wake. “I told you, Alex, I don’t want you involved. It will work out.”
“You’re involved, so I’m involved.” The tightness in his voice betrayed his irritation at her dismissal of his concern, but he did his best to mask it. “Has Max been good?”
“He’s amazing. So sweet. I may have to steal him.”
“Maybe we can share him.”
“I’m trying not to get too attached.” Her words carried a double entendre that she hoped he wouldn’t catch. “Being gone this much, I’m surprised you have him. I think that’s my argument for custody.”
“I find traveling agrees with me less and less lately. What’d you do today?”
“Just patients and lunch with Kenneth.” Angel relayed the information with a grimace, remembering Alex’s behavior at the bar.
“Really,” he said tightly. “About the case?”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch. It was strictly business.”
“Yes, well, I’ll venture business isn’t all he has on his mind.”
“Like you, he wants me to step back from this case. He doesn’t feel we can win.”
“Maybe he deserves more credit than I’ve given him, but when did it become we? You’re just an expert witness, not part of his staff.”
“So…” She was becoming irritated with the tack the conversation was taking. “When will you be ho… um, back in Chicago?”
“Not soon enough. Maybe late Friday.”
“Crap. I have the show.”
Obviously, she wanted to see him as soon as he got back and the thought elated him. Immediately, Alex took charge. “I can call Darian—”
“No. You can’t just rearrange my life like that!”
“You call him, then,” he said shortly. “The result will be the same.”
“That’s not the point, and you know it.”
“I want to see you, so fucking sue me. The show won’t go off-air if you miss one airing. I’d like to take you away for the weekend, somewhere with a crystal blue ocean and an enormous bed.”
“You forgot teeny bikinis and Speedos.”
“Yes on the bikinis, but there will be no Speedo.”
“You have the ass for it.”
“It’s not my ass I’m concerned about, and you know it.” Amusement laced his voice.
“Okay, you’ll fill out the rest nicely as well. Is that what I’m supposed to say?”
“No. On that I am non-negotiable. Why don’t you meet me here and we can fly back together? I’ll get my sister to watch Max.”
Tropical paradise and Alex? What could be better? Angel bit her lip. “It’s tempting, but I can’t.”
“Think about it, at least. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Nothing will change.”
“We’ll see. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Goodnight, Alex. Good luck with your meeting.”
“Thanks. Sleep tight, baby. Dream of me.”
The house was dark except for one lamp in the living room and the light filtering through the blinds in the kitchen from the deck lights outside, and the giddiness created from Alex’s words still enveloped her. The sliding door opened smoothly, but Max wasn’t waiting as she’d expected. “Max!” Angel called. “Maxy Max! Here, boy!”
She stepped out onto the smooth cedar boards of the large, multi-level deck and moved to the edge of the highest one, peering out over the massive backyard. It was well-landscaped with large trees, bushes, and a limestone patio, which held expensive furniture, an outdoor kitchen and, at the center, a large in-ground pool. “Maaaaaaax!”
Angel strained to hear the dog’s movements through the night and the jingle of his collar as he came closer but was met with only the sound of the warm breeze through the trees. “Here, Max!”
Unsure of what was beyond some of the trees, she scurried down the stairs to the lower levels, her eyes straining into the darkness. The estate was large, and the evening prior, he’d been out for a while, so after a few minutes of whistling and calling for the dog, Angel climbed the stairs and returned to the air-conditioned comfort of the house. The massive windows that soared in panels to the peak of the vaulted ceilings echoed the points of the roof.
When she flopped back down on the couch, she flipped on the big-screen TV and lowered the volume. She had yet to place the call to Kyle and decided this was as good a time as any to get it over with. She went to get her phone and refill her wine glass from the bottle in the refrigerator.
They hadn’t talked in months, not since the last time he’d had an argument with Crystal and drunk-dialed her. Her disdain for the woman had not lessened as the years had passed. She was an airhead with a capital A, and Angel had little tolerance for her.
He answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
“Hey, Kyle. It’s Angel.”
She was met with silence for a few seconds. “Did you get a new number?” She could hear the band warming up in the background, a managed chaos of drums, bass, and guitar riffs.
“Oh. I have a new phone.”
“Hey! Guys, can you wait a minute? It’s Angel,” he called loudly. “Sorry. What’s up? Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m good. How have you been?”
“Good. The band is booked almost a year in advance, and we may be getting a manager soon.”
“That’s great. I hear nothing but good things about you guys. Do you have a contract yet? How is that going?”
“It’s going. We’d be better off if you were still with us. What about you? Are you still with that douche?”
“Kenneth’s not a douche. He’s just…”
“A douche,” he dismissed, and Angel had to smile.
“You’ll never like any guy I’m with, but no, we stopped seeing each other.”
“Good.”
“Are you still with that ditz?” Angel countered dryly.
“Ha, ha,” Kyle returned.
“I’ll take that as a yes. How are the guys? Is Dennis doing better?”
“They’re cool. He completed rehab and is getting married in November.”
“Really? Wow! Good for him.” Dennis was a good guy that fell into the trappings of the rocker lifestyle. Too much booze, too many women; he was a mess for a long time, despite the other band members’ attempts to help him. Angel was happy he was finally getting his life on track. “Listen, Kyle, I’m calling because there’s a benefit for leukemia coming up and they really want Archangel to play.”
“Yeah, some high-society chick came to a gig and chased me around all night about it. It’s not something I’m interested in. I can’t believe she tracked you down, too. Damn!”
“It’s a great cause, and it’s on a Sunday night, so you should be open.”
“We’re open, yeah, but it’s the wrong venue for us.”
“They’re targeting a younger demographic, so you could play your normal set list. Please consider it. For me.” Angel knew it was low to use his feelings for her against him, but it was
a good cause and she only had a second of regret.
“I’ll do it if you come back to the band.”
“Wha—What?” Shock resonated in her voice.
“Did I stutter? I want you back with the band. It’s never been the same without you.”
Anel hesitated for a stunned moment. “That’s… impossible, even if I wanted to. What about Crystal?”
“She’s not you. I’ll deal with her.”
“Kyle—”
“Do you want us to play this gig or not? Take it or leave it, Angel.”
“You know I can’t. I’ve got work and the radio show.”
“Yeah, I heard it a couple of times. Just come to a practice and we can discuss this in person. The boys would love to see you.”
“Umm…”
“Take it or leave it,” he said again and gave her the address of a warehouse in South Chicago they used for practice; she ended up agreeing to come by on Sunday afternoon.
She showered and got ready for bed, deciding on some of Alex’s boxers and a T-shirt before she put both of the phones on the chargers and then went in search of Max again.
The light above the stove was on but the rest of the house was dark. Angel hesitated. She didn’t remember leaving it on. “Hello?” she called hesitantly as her steps slowed. Maybe the housekeeper had come back. “Hello? Please answer me!”
She stopped and looked around in the dim light, her ears straining for any sound, but she was met with only the sound of her own heart thudding wildly, the hair on her arms standing on end. She was shaking, fear making her sick to her stomach, yet she was frozen in place. Her fingers reached behind her in blind search for some weapon as she fumbled with the drawers until they closed around the handle of a large chef’s knife, which she brought in front of her.
She searched the darkness, trembling as she slowly inched her way toward the light switch on the far wall, finally flooding the kitchen with fluorescent light. Her breathing was heavy and shallow, coming in frantic bursts. She turned in a circle, the knife pointing out from her body until she saw the note stuck to the stainless steel refrigerator with a large piece of duct tape. The message was simple and clear.
Next time it won’t be the dog.
3
Heartbreak & Resolve
Alex made himself focus on his dinner companions’ conversation. He wanted the deal done. He wanted to get on the plane and head back to the mainland. He wanted to get back to Angel. His thoughts were consumed with her, the picture he’d taken of her last week at dinner smiled back at him from his phone. He loved the sparkle in her eyes, the curve of her face, and the luxurious mane of mahogany hair that danced with auburn light. He missed her voice. He was amazed it was the other stuff, as much as the incredible sex with Angel that filled his thoughts.
He glanced at his Rolex and it mocked at him. It was 4 AM in Chicago and he wouldn’t be able to call before he turned in for the night. When she agreed to stay at his estate, he’d felt a little better about traveling, but worry still nagged at him.
“Hmmph,” he sighed heavily. He’d never given a thought to any other woman during his business trips before: his head had been fully in the game. Although Angel’s situation was more precarious than his other lovers’ had been, he was certain he’d be thinking of her even if she were a barista at Starbucks.
Fuck! He rubbed a hand down his face and over his jaw as his mouth quirked in amusement at the thought. He was exhausted, and he was pushing himself to get a week’s worth of business wrapped up in two or three days. Saving the deal was easy compared to fighting the urge to call the woman who was the focus of his thoughts, despite the lateness of the hour. He was itching to leave as he shook hands with the five other men in his party and made his way up to his room. The entire evening was spent in the hotel that was the subject of the offer. It was convenient, but it was below the standards of the Avery properties. There was much that needed to be changed. It was the details as much as the money, which tipped the scales in his favor.
Alex’s phone vibrated in his pocket and he quickly grabbed it as he made his way down the long hallway to his suite, hoping it would be Angel. He didn’t recognize the number.
“Alex Avery.”
“Mr. Avery, this is Steven Frost. I’m with Werner Security Group. Is everything okay at your home?”
Alex pulled in a panicked breath. “I’m traveling. I’m not there. What’s happening?”
“It seems that you lost power for a few moments and we were unable to monitor your property for about 30 minutes.”
“What about the houses around mine? Were they affected?”
“No, sir.”
“Damn it!” Alex yelled into the phone. The neighbors not losing power at the same time was bad. It meant his property was singled out. “Were the police called?”
“Yes, sir. They drove around the entire perimeter and nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. The system is fully operational now and the cameras are showing no activity.”
Alex’s heart was racing so hard he felt it would fly from his chest; panic was freaking him the fuck out.
“I’m sure everything is fine. We’ll pay special attention and let you know if anything happens,” the man continued.
“I pay you to take extra care all the fucking time. See that you do,” he growled into the phone.
“I’m sorry, but the problem wasn’t with our equipment. Maybe a fuse blew on the property.”
“Do you think it magically repaired itself?” Alex asked in disgust, opening the door to his room so hard that it slammed into the wall in the entryway. “Send a guard over there! Now! My girlfriend is there and I don’t want her frightened. Just have the property patrolled quietly. Call me as soon as someone is on site. Jesus Christ! I knew I shouldn’t have left!”
“Sir, things like this happen all the time.”
“Not to me. Is there some sort of system that won’t rely on electricity? Something wireless that can be installed?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then do it. Now!”
He hung up the phone without waiting for a reply and immediately dialed Angel’s phone. When she didn’t pick up, he impatiently rang her other one, ripping the tie from around his neck and unbuttoning the top two buttons of his dress shirt as it went to voicemail.
“Fucking hell!” he muttered as her message played; the feeling of helplessness overwhelming as he raked his hand through his hair.
“Angel. I know it’s late, but call me as soon as you get this. I…” he hesitated. Should he tell her about his concerns? It could be nothing and he didn’t want to upset her needlessly. “I miss hearing your voice.” He struggled to control his tone. “Please give me a call when you wake up.”
He kicked off his shoes and dialed Cole’s number.
“Yeah?” Cole’s voice was full of sleep.
“Hey, Cole. I need you go over to my house right away.”
“Why? What’s going on?” Cole was instantly alert and sounds of him opening drawers and slamming them closed followed his voice through the phone.
“The security system failed for a few hours. Angel’s there and she isn’t answering her phone.”
“I followed when she left her office and waited until I knew she was inside the gates. That place is like Fort Knox. What happened?”
“As I understand it, the outage was just on my property.”
There was a rustling on the other end of the line as Cole threw on his clothes and moved around his apartment. “Shit! Do you think someone broke in?” A jingling of car keys mingled with a loud bang as a door closed roughly behind Cole.
“Christ, I hope not.”
“I’m on my way.” Sounds of Cole leaving his building and getting into his car filled the background. “What do you want me to do? Should I go in? Make sure she’s okay?”
“I don’t want her to see you, but I need to know she’s safe.”
“Yeah, my cover as her new neighbor will be blown if I sh
ow up at your house. Unless…”
“What?”
“Maybe it would be better to just tell her, Alex. How will you explain who I am later? You like this woman; she’ll meet the family eventually.”
“I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. She doesn’t believe she needs to be taken care of, and it would upset her to know I’m having her watched. I’ll fly back as soon as I can, but let me know what you find when you get over there. Security will be patrolling, so I’ll let them know you’ll be there as well.”
“It’s probably nothing, bro.”
“I hope you’re right, but my gut tells me otherwise. I’m going out of my fucking mind.”
*****
Shaking, Angel fell to the floor of the kitchen, violent sobs shaking her small frame. “Max, noooo!” she cried, and she screamed at the top of her lungs. Frustration and fear for the animal she now loved like her own tightened her chest.
“You bastard! I hope you burn in hell!” She drew her knees up and buried her face in her folded arms. “You fucking deviant! I’ll kill you! I’ll fucking kill you; I swear to God!” She cried hard for five minutes then wiped the back of her hand across her nose and stood up, realizing her own situation was still precarious.
As she glanced around the kitchen, her eyes searched for signs of violence but there were none. Was the house broken into? Did they take him while I was in the shower? What will I tell Alex? Angel closed her eyes as more tears fell. What did they do to sweet, innocent, gentle, Max?
She ran back to the bedroom and scrambled into her clothes, her heart sick and her thoughts racing. If she had been in the shower, she wouldn’t have heard them, and the possibilities of what could have happened to her flooded her thoughts.
There was a loud thudding in her ears as the blood pumped around her body so hard it almost hurt. She felt as if she would vomit, her heart in her throat, as she gathered all her belongings and threw them into her duffle bag. She didn’t care that her expensive suits were smashed and hanging halfway out. She stopped, immediately still.
“What am I doing?” Her hand paused on its way to her temple, the fingers curling in mid-air. She went to the keypad on the alarm system and double-checked to make sure it was engaged. Her heart knocked painfully in her chest. Anger swelled, heat infusing every inch of her skin until she felt like screaming again. Now she was insane with panic over Max and what Swanson and his band of goons would do to him. Could she reason with him? Convince him she’d back off and get the dog back and once she did, call the police? She had to do whatever she could to save the dog and keep Alex out of the entire mess. But would it be too late? Alex’s estate was too isolated, the neighbors not close enough, to feel safe calling Mark Swanson until she got back into the city. She’d be too vulnerable.