Chapter 21 #2
“Yup. And they have a bunch of other animals too. And from what I understand, the owners and their wives have had their fair share of drama, but they’re now all settled and building a mini village on the property, where they’re all raising their kids together.”
“That sounds awesome.”
“Maybe we should find a large piece of land where we can do the same. Convince everyone to build there, so we can all live together.”
“Can you imagine living with grumpy Smiley next door?” Kelli teased. Then she sobered. “He’s not going to hurt Bree, is he?”
“No! Why would you ask that?” Flash asked.
“It’s just…he didn’t exactly look happy to see her.”
“You have to understand, Smiley’s been trying to find her for quite a while now. It was driving him crazy that she disappeared into thin air. He was worried about her. I think something about her touched him in a way that no one else has.”
“She was scared,” Kelli said. Then she sighed.
“I have a confession. Bree was visiting me at Smiley’s apartment for a week or so.
She came to the door one day, looking for him.
I think she was ready to ask him for help.
And she thought I was his girlfriend because I was in his apartment.
I invited her in, because she was in desperate need of a shower.
I fed her, we did her laundry…and she came back a couple of times.
That’s why she was in the parking lot yesterday.
She was coming to see me again. But it was later than she usually showed up. ”
“Is that what was bothering you? The secret you couldn’t tell me?” Flash asked.
Kelli nodded, scared he was going to be really mad.
To her surprise, he just leaned up and kissed her forehead before settling back down at her side.
“I promised I wouldn’t say anything to you or Smiley. She was gathering up the courage to talk to him face-to-face. I gave her my cell number, and Smiley’s, just in case. And she used it when she hid in Brant’s backseat. Are you mad? ”
“No. I think you did the right thing. She was obviously very used to hiding, to staying under the radar. Making friends with her was a good thing.”
Kelli relaxed. “For the record, I didn’t like keeping her from you. But I promised.”
“I know.”
“What happens now? With her and Smiley?” Kelli asked.
“No clue. I’m guessing he’s going to want to hear her entire story. Find out who her ex is, and who the asshole sold her to. Then he’ll want to track that fucker down and do what he can to end his reign of terror and break up any sex-trafficking thing he’s got going on.”
“Um…is it going to be that easy?”
“Not at all. There are usually layers upon layers when it comes to exploiting women. And honestly, most women who get into situations like that are groomed for months. It’s not just a matter of kidnapping strangers off the streets.
So whatever is going on with Bree’s situation is unique.
And unique isn’t necessarily good. I remember a story from a while ago about a woman who’d been kidnapped while she and her husband were in Vegas, and she was taken out of the country and held for a decade. ”
“Oh my gosh! But she was found?”
“Yeah, by her husband, who never gave up hope that she was alive. He formed his own group of former military men who tracked down trafficking victims, all in the hopes he could find his own wife one day. And he did. They live in Colorado now.”
“That’s amazing.”
“Yeah. My point is…what is my point?” Flash mused.
“Bree. ”
“Right. Bree’s situation is going to be tough because someone’s still after her. He seems desperate to find her, actually, and follow through with whatever plans he had for her. Which…seems strange. So whatever is going on there, it’s not good.”
“And Smiley will be right there in the middle of it,” Kelli surmised.
“Yup.”
“Well, shit,” she said with a sigh.
Flash smiled.
“Why are you grinning? This isn’t funny.”
“No, it’s not. But I’m not upset that you’re worried about my friend. That you care.”
“I care,” she agreed.
“How about we get some more sleep? It’s still a few hours until dawn. We can save the world when the sun comes up.”
Kelli rolled her eyes. “Flash?”
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I love you.”
“Lord, I’ll never get tired of hearing those words from your lips. I love you too.”
Kelli sighed with contentment, ignoring the throbbing of her leg and the slight discomfort on her chest where Brant had pierced the skin over her heart. Both slight hurts reminded her that she was alive. And apparently engaged.
“Oh!” she exclaimed softly. “Am I going to get a ring?” she blurted.
Flash chuckled against her, and she felt his warm breath caress her chest. “Of course. I’ve already got what I want for you in mind. ”
“I don’t want anything too big. That’s not my style.”
“I know. And it won’t be.”
“Okay. Flash?”
“One more thing, and then you need to sleep, Kelli,” he said, trying to sound stern but failing.
She grinned as she said, “You’re the man I’ve dreamed of all my life. My superhero. My Flash Gordon.”
“That was corny as hell,” he protested. “And I love it. Sleep,” he ordered.
Kelli closed her eyes and fell asleep with a huge smile on her face.
Bree sat quietly on the couch as Jude mumbled to himself, pacing back and forth in front of her.
He’d brought her straight to his apartment after the cops were finally done talking to everyone about what happened with Brant Williams, earlier that afternoon.
He hadn’t said much during the ride, and when they’d arrived at his place, he was surprisingly gentle with her.
Getting her a glass of water, asking if she wanted anything to eat.
As a result, she wasn’t scared. More relieved that her running—from this man, at least—was finally over.
He obviously wasn’t completely happy though. The scowl on his face probably should’ve freaked her out. Had her running for the door, for the state line, for the other side of the country …but for some reason, it was actually comforting.
Because Jude wasn’t pissed at her, per se—okay, he was a little angry with her for hiding from him for so long. But he was more upset over the fact that she had so few answers to his questions.
He wanted to know the name of the man she’d been sold to back in Vegas.
She didn’t know it.
He wanted to know the name of her ex.
She’d told him, but then explained that he’d been found dead in an alley in Vegas, not too long after she and Josie had been rescued.
He continued to ask questions, and the more she didn’t have answers to, the more he scowled and the more he paced.
What Bree did know was that, here with Jude, she could finally get a good night’s sleep. She’d been looking over her shoulder for so long, feeling as if she was being watched, like she was seconds away from being snatched and disappearing forever.
But now that she’d revealed herself to Jude, she knew without a doubt the man wasn’t going to let her out of his sight.
He was too shocked she’d been able to stay under the radar for so long, that he hadn’t been able to find her.
Knowing he would be extra vigilant—if for no other reason than so she couldn’t escape him—was a comfort.
She truly didn’t know the name of the man who’d bought her, but she knew enough to know if he got his hands on her, she would wish she was dead. Whatever his plans for her might be, they weren’t good.
“What do you know?” Jude asked, sounding exasperated as he finally stopped pacing and sat on the couch next to her, his brow furrowed and his hair mussed from him running his hand through it in agitation .
“That you’ll keep me safe,” Bree said without hesitation.
That seemed to fluster him. He stared at her for a long moment. “Damn straight I will,” he growled, sitting up straighter. “But you might not like how I go about it.”
“Go about what?”
“Keeping you safe. Just remember that you came to me . You showed up at my door. I might not have been here at the time, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you came looking for help.
And I want to help you, Bree. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since you disappeared in Vegas.
Haven’t stopped worrying about you. Where you were. If you were safe.”
His words made Bree feel almost light-headed. She’d felt alone for so long, and here was the man she couldn’t stop thinking about, saying all the right things.
“I’m not an easy man, though,” he said after a moment.
Bree snorted.
“I’m going to ask you to do things that will probably make you uncomfortable. That you might not want to do. But whatever I ask of you will be for your own good. To keep you safe. I need you to understand that.”
Bree nodded. She was tired of doing everything on her own.
Of feeling alone. Vulnerable. Helpless. She needed help.
That’s why she was here in the first place.
“I need your help,” she said out loud. “It’s why I came to California.
For some reason, I trust you, Jude Stark.
When I trust very few other people in my life.
I’ll do what you say. And if you can figure out the nightmare that is my life, I’ll be forever in your debt. ”
“I don’t want your gratitude,” Jude said, growling again .
Bree opened her mouth to ask what he did want, but he talked over her.
“I’ll get you a shirt and a pair of boxers to wear to bed. We’ll get your car, wherever you’ve stashed it, and the rest of your stuff. You can use my washer and dryer to clean your clothes. We’ll also go to a store tomorrow and get you some new stuff, whatever you need.”
Bree’s head spun. He was obviously very serious. She wasn’t sure if she should be freaking out or falling to her knees at his feet. Both reactions would probably piss Jude off, so she settled for simply nodding.
“You’re tired,” he said, in a softer tone.
“Yeah,” Bree agreed.
“Shower, then bed,” he declared, standing abruptly. “I’ll be right back.” Then he left the room.