Escaping the Past (Belladonna #2)

Chapter 1

Scarlett

The faint hint of coffee wafted into the bedroom from the kitchen, a welcome smell to help clear my foggy mind. My body felt heavy and sluggish, and my arms ached as I stretched to try to relieve some of the tension in them. My muscles tensed from the anxiety and stress that lingered in my mind. Every movement felt labored and difficult. My fears weighed me down, as if attached to my body somehow.

Like a shattered mirror, the days after the incident were disjointed and hazy. Blurred together, an indistinguishable stretch of time, but Graham's offer of time off was just another jagged piece that didn't quite fit. Work was the only thing that gave me structure and purpose, and I longed to return to it like a wayward wanderer desperate to find their way back home. I refused to be pushed backward after all the steps I’d taken forward. I couldn't let fear control my life. I couldn't let it dictate my every move. I needed to take back control, to show myself that I was strong and capable.

The guys were wonderful. They took care of my every need and even hovered a little too much. I didn’t want to impose on Brody; I felt ready to return to my normal routine.

“I don’t think you should return so soon,”Brody said.

“I have to agree with him, Bella,”Drake added, appearing beside him.

“Geez, guys. Graham insisted I have a car pick me up, and you two are like mother hens. I think I can sit in an office. Graham and April are right there,”I protested.

“I know,”Drake said, stepping up to me and lifting my hand.“We’re only worried about you. They haven't caught him, you know.”

“I think he might be done.”I giggled at my own joke.“Get it? Done? The meat thermometer?”

“Bella, this is serious,”Sensei said, walking in with coffee from the kitchen.

“I know, I know.”I took the coffee, wrapping my fingers around the cup, feeling the warmth of it. I inhaled deeply; the aroma of the freshly brewed coffee was amazing. The scent mixed with notes of hazelnut and a hint of vanilla felt warm and comforting. Closing my eyes a moment I let out a sigh before speaking.“I want to live my normal life again. Whatever that is.”

“I understand,”he said, nodding.“I get it. We just want you to go easy.”

“I will,”I said, kissing him on the cheek.“Thank you.”

I took my coffee to my room to get dressed for work.

Room, ha, that’s a laugh. The dang thing was bigger than my entire apartment. It was a damn suite, opulent and spacious, with high ceilings and luxurious furnishings that showed no signs of wear. Coming in through large double doors, before moving into the bedroom chamber, a large sitting room with a fireplace had elegant curtains hung at the windows, billowing gently in the soft breeze that filtered in. It all greeted me, warm and inviting.I found it hard to believe Brody kept this place like this. It was a question I’d have to ask later.

All of my plants were there, lined up on a small shelf, with bright sunshine streaming in on them through a set of French doors leading to a large balcony. They made it feel a little more like home.

I remember the anxiety gnawing at me when Brody, his eyes filled with concern, suggested I take refuge at their place for a while.

The man who had attacked me was like a ghost - known to exist but impossible to track down or predict. He seemed to have dissolved into thin air, leaving only the chilling echo of his intent behind. Their insistence on my staying was not so much a request as a plea - an unspoken fear lingering in their eyes that my attacker might return to fulfill his sinister agenda.

Pushing through the French doors, I entered a bedroom centered around a four-poster canopy bed, its lacy white curtains creating a fairytale cocoon. Sinking into the feather-topped mattress was like drifting off on a cloud, surrounded by the soothing lavender scent of the linens. Adjoining the bedroom was a spa-like bathroom with a jacuzzi tub perfect for soaking sore muscles and a separate shower and vanity, ideal for starting the day.

Across from the bathroom stood the entrance to the cavernous walk-in closet, my meager wardrobe a mere speck in the vast space. Endless rails stretched as far as the eye could see, the shelves and drawers built into the walls bare except for a few pairs of shoes. At the far end, a padded bench sat waiting for its chance to be put to use.

My apartment had been stripped bare by the guys; clothes haphazardly tossed into boxes, bathroom essentials carelessly bundled up, and makeup hastily scooped off vanity tables. My few possessions were swallowed up by the vastness of this new place; what once filled my tiny apartment now seemed like mere droplets in an ocean.

I wandered the sitting room for a moment, dragging my fingertips along the sofa's soft material and gazing out the window. Gone were the cramped corners and peeling wallpaper of my Bronx apartment; here was space, luxury and a startling absence of imperfections.

Part of me was pissed off when they said they’d be moving my things here. I had little, but it was mine, rooted in the comfort of familiarity. The idea of my attacker knowing my address unsettled them all. I got it. But that understanding did little to quell the knot in my stomach. The future loomed, unknown and terrifying. What the hell was I supposed to do when this was all over? Would I be homeless? They were adamant, they refused to let me go back there. Not that I wanted to after what happened, but when it was over, where would I go? I’d have to look for a new place. I despised the thought of moving. Today, they’d finish emptying the small place.

No one, not even April and her guys, wanted me to keep it. They all tried to reassure me, they promised to help find a new place - a safe place - but the thought of leaving my life behind like that felt like abandoning a piece of myself.

Simply put…he knew where I lived, and they would not have it. I understood and agreed, but it didn’t change my irrational irritation.

And Brody, with his pleading eyes and concerned frown, adamantly insisted I should just stay here.

I laughed and went back into the bathroom to get ready. At least I didn’t have to wear the damn wig anymore. The once striking lowlights in my hair were now only a shadow of their former selves, their intensity washed away. As I looked at my hair, I wondered if I might like to keep them and made a mental note to ask April about getting us an appointment.

I stripped out of the long nightgown and stepped into the amazing shower. It had two shower heads, one on each side, which seemed to wash away the aches. The hot water wrapped around my body like a comforting embrace, and as I lathered the shampoo in my hair, it ran off across my nipple, making it stiffen and rise. There was something almost erotic about the way the water felt as it washed away the anxiety along with the soap.

The doctors stressed the importance of tending the bites and keeping the area clean. They had scrubbed them and even put a few stitches in places, but overall, they said I was lucky. Right out of the shower, I patted dry the sore areas, slathered on the antibiotic ointment,and covered them in large, square gauze pads.

I stood in front of the floor to ceiling, full-length mirror, looking at the patches of white bandaging around my body, and scoffed. “See how much they know? I was not lucky. I was trained.”

Becauseof the classes I took, I had felt stronger and empowered to fight back. The doctor didn’t allow me to do anything strenuous this week, but I planned to watch and attend class on Tuesday.

I chose a suit with pants, a long-sleeved blouse, and a sweater to hide the bites instead of the tight jacket that went with it, whichwould rub and become uncomfortable. I finished getting dressed and put my hair up as I always wore it. I felt good and strong, and I wanted to portray that. After applying makeup, I noticed I’d chipped my nails.With somedabbing, I covered the spots and made another mental note to have April make the appointment for both hair and nails.

Standing now in front of the mirror was a new woman. I wasn’t hiding from anyone and, for once, was not dreading the morning meeting.

The first thing on today’s agenda was a meeting with Felicia. Today, they would escort her from the premises after I would have the pleasure of firing her. I had mixed feelings about it and wished Graham had taken on that task.

He saidthat as her immediate supervisor, and the one she attacked, I should be the one to do it, but he promised to be at my side. When it was over, security would escort her through the building and take her to her desk. Graham planned to watch all those who tried to console her and speak with them. Her band of mean girls was also on thin ice.

April and the guys came on Saturday to see how I was doing, also trying to persuade me to take the week off. Since I wasn’t having it, they insisted one of them would always be nearby. The guys took over the case themselves, and April told me that the DNA evidence they obtained linked my attacker to several murders over the past five years. Two of which were outside the state and would now involve federal investigators as well.

I didn’t tell the guys what she’d told me, but it sent a shiver down my spine. Nothing was official yet, and it was inside information, so I decided to file it away for now. If they knew, there was no way they’d let me go to work. But I needed it. I needed to get out of my own head and get back to some kind of normal life. I’d lived in a darkened haze for the past year. Afraid of everyone and everything. Hiding inside my own skin, fearful that others would see my shame. No, not shame; fear and self-loathing were more like it. I hated who I’d become and very much wanted to be the woman I once was.

I was ready to face the day and emerged from the room to whistles and catcalls from Brody and Drake. Sensei stood against the counter with his arms crossed, rolling his eyes at them and shaking his head, but smiled wide as well, offering a slight nod of approval with a sideways tip of his head. He’d laid out breakfast with more coffee and handed each of us some kind of shake while pulling out my chair.

“Thank you,”I said and fake curtsied.

He bowed and said,“Madam, your breakfast awaits.”

I giggled, and the other two lumbered into their seats with raised eyebrows.

“Graham called and said the car would be here in fifteen,”Drake said.

“All of you spoil me,”I replied.“I have no idea how I will manage when things get back to normal.”

Brody scowled but munched his bacon.“Jenny is looking forward to seeing you. She’s worried about you.”

“Oh, she’s such a dear. How is she?”

“She cried a lot in class on Saturday when she found out you’d been hurt and couldn’t come.”

“Did you have to tell her?”

“What else could I say? She saw Felicia attack you. I didn’t tell her about what happened later. She just thinks you got hurt by what that bitch did.”His face pinched into an angry scowl.

“Oh, that’s good.”I smiled at him, and his expression eased.

“I still think you need more time off.”

“I have a big client. A fighter… you know. He’s a pretty big deal. I have work to do to make him even more famous. Maybe you know him?”

He scoffed and returned to his food.

“She’ll be fine,”Drake said.“Graham explained when he called and outlined all the changes he’d instituted. He had some security measures lined up and also an emergency meeting with the CEO over the weekend about it that included the police. They installed keycard access to the stairwells and elevators to ensure the safety of everyone, but it will take all week to get each of the aspects operational. For now, security personnel are monitoring all stairwells and elevator access.”He paused for a moment and looked at me.“I’m sorry, Bella; Graham said you can’t take the stairs today because some things are incomplete.”

“That’s okay. I still kind of feel like I’ve been run over by a freight train.”

Brody handed me a set of keys at the door.“In case you need them, but I don’t think you will. Graham and Drake will coordinate your return so that he can be here when you get home.”

Home… He said “Home” and I looked at him side-eyed with raised eyebrows. He smiled a knowing smirk but said nothing more.

A man stood at the rear door of the black sedan, waiting for me to get in. I nodded to him, but as I stepped toward the car, an overwhelming urge to run washed over me. My hand shook, and, gripping the side of the car, I paused to steady myself.

Brody called out, “Drake.”

He came running and looked at me in panic. Brody’s eyes shifted to me, then back to Drake.“Didn’t you want to coordinate things this morning? Maybe you can escort our girl to work.”

“Oh, great idea,”he said. He relaxed, glancing at me.“You don’t mind if I catch a ride with you, do you?”

Brody put his arm around my waist as I shook my head to clear the anxiety and glanced up.

“I’m sorry for losing my cool,”he said, lifting my chin with his fingers and brushing his lips against mine so soft they felt like a velvet breeze but left a warm tingling behind.

I latched onto him, wrapping my arms around his middle and gripping his body against mine.“I’m the one that’s sorry. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

“You don’t need to explain, Bella.”He stopped and held me away from him. His eyes were dark and full of pain mixed with desire.“I realize your name is Scarlett, but I like calling you Bella.”

I nodded and nuzzled into him for a moment before Drake presented his hand to help me into the car.