Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
IAN
This is beyond how I imagined living with Rose would be.
Everything about waking up with her is perfect.
She’s snuggled into my side, her head on my shoulder, one leg draped over mine, casted hand resting on my chest.
The sun peeks through the blinds, casting faint lines of gold across her bare skin.
Her soft curves press against me, a tantalizing invitation waiting to be accepted.
Baxter is curled up at Rose’s foot, his head resting across her ankle. Ever since she moved in, he’s been glued to her side, nearly as protective as me.
As I stroke her hair, running my fingers through the silky strands, she makes a little sound of pleasure and cuddles even closer to me.
My heart. It’s so full .
“I think I’d like to go back out,” Rose tells me, her breath whispering across my skin. “Hanna told me about some other cool places to take pictures. Did you know Sleepy Hollow has a lighthouse?”
My lips curve up. “Yes, I did know that.”
“And there’s this park north of here; it’s right at the foot of a dam. I looked online and I think I could get some really great photos there. Do you think you might be able to get some time off so we could go?”
“Absolutely.” Shifting a little, I crane my neck so I can kiss Rose’s head. “As long as I’m not teaching a class, I can make it work.”
“Good.” Enthusiasm brightens her voice. “I really had fun, taking all the pictures. And Hanna said I can keep the camera as long as I want.”
My heart squeezes. “I’m so glad you liked it.”
I’ll take Rose anywhere if it makes her happy like this. When she brought up the whole photography idea, I was initially worried it might end up making her feel worse. But after seeing her in the park the other day, smiling, excitedly taking pictures, I realized it was a good thing for her. An outlet for her creativity.
“Some of the photos from the park are really nice,” Rose continues. “What do you think about printing some? Maybe ordering a framed print online to hang in the living room?”
“I think that’s a great idea.” I want Rose’s touch all over the house. Her art, her favorite coffee mug from a class she took in college, her worn RISD sweatshirt draped over the back of the couch…
Now that Rose is here, I can’t imagine it any other way.
“So.” She props herself up on one arm and looks at me. “Since we’re going to the gym later, do you think you have time to practice some moves with me again?”
I stroke her cheek, always amazed at how soft it is. “Absolutely. I have a class at three and another at four. So we can get into the studio around two, if you want.”
“And practice the eye strike?”
Rose has been very insistent on learning that skill, and while I hate the reason behind it, I understand why. “Yes. And some other things, too.”
“Great.” She leans down and kisses me. “Now. When do you have to go in? Do we have time before…”
And like always, the very mention of sex with Rose makes me hard instantly. I wrap my arms around her and pull her on top of me. “We have time.”
So of course, as my damned phone seems to like to do, it buzzes at the worst time.
In any other circumstances, I’d ignore it. But it’s the tone I assigned to Zane, and the chances he’s texting me at eight A.M. just to chat aren’t great.
Holding Rose to my chest, I stretch my arm to snag the phone from the nightstand, hoping it’s something innocuous. An invitation to have dinner with Zane and Elle. A request to cover one of his classes. Anything that won’t stress out Rose.
But when I see the start of his message on the screen, I know it’s not something I can ignore.
We have news. When can you meet?
My jaw clenches. This could be good or bad.
Rose’s smile dissolves. “Is it bad?”
“I don’t know.” Sitting up, I set her in my lap, and swipe to read the rest of the message.
We have news. When can you meet? Cole and I are free this morning.
That’s ambiguous. I mentally reshuffle my day, reluctantly crossing morning sex off the list.
Anytime after nine. The sooner the better.
Because I know Rose is going to be worrying until they get here, so I’d rather do it sooner than later.
Okay. Nine works. We can come over there. Might be easier for Rose.
Well, shit. If it’s good news, I don’t think Zane would be worried. But if he thinks she needs the comfort of being at home—well, my home—I can’t imagine the news to be good. Especially if he’s bringing Cole, the founder of Blade and Arrow, along with him.
But I force a reassuring smile for Rose’s sake and send a quick reply.
Thanks. See you soon.
“How bad can it be?” Rose turns away from the window to look back at me. “Right? I’ve already been attacked twice. It can’t be worse than that.”
My molars nearly crack from the casual way she talks about being attacked. I still can’t get the image of that fucker hurting her out of my head. And I really wish I’d hit him a few more times.
But I arrange my features into what I hope looks like a calm, reassuring expression, and say, “It’s just news, hun. And whatever it is, we’ll handle it.” Crossing the living room, I pull her into my arms. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I know.” It’s too quick. “I just want to know. That’s all.” But her eyes tell a different story. She’s scared. Anxious. Desperately trying to shore up her defenses before Cole and Zane get here.
“It’ll be fine.” Rubbing my hand in slow circles on her back, I tell her, “We’ll find out whatever it is they know, come up with a plan, and then we’ll head to the gym. Look at some of those silly smoothie surveys we sent out. Practice your ass-kicking skills. And then we’ll come home and pick up where we left off in bed.”
Rose smiles at me, but it looks forced. “Okay. You’re right. It’ll be fine.”
Except it doesn’t feel fine once Cole and Zane are sitting in the chairs across from us, neither of them looking like they’re about to deliver promising news.
Cole glances at his tablet, then sets it on the coffee table in front of him. “Well.”
Rose squeezes my hand tightly, and I distractedly think, she really has been doing those strengthening exercises.
“We have news. So that’s a good thing.” Cole’s dark gaze moves between Rose’s and mine. “Information means more to go on.”
“Do you know who did it?” Rose’s voice shakes a little. “The person who paid that man to attack me?”
“Not yet.” His brow creases. “But we’re closer. We have some solid leads.”
“Like what?” It’s not like Cole to drag things out like this. Usually, he cuts right to the chase. Which reinforces my hunch that I’m not going to like what he has to say.
Cole glances at me, apology in his eyes. It’s a silent message, man-to-man, acknowledging he’s going to upset Rose and he’s sorry about it.
Then he says, “First, we found something that doesn’t necessarily indicate a threat. But it’s something we want to investigate further.”
Rose leans forward. “What?”
“We discovered someone has anonymously purchased a significant collection of your work. He’s bought them from galleries, private collectors—at this point, it looks like he owns over fifty of your paintings.”
After a sharp gasp, Rose looks at Cole in disbelief. “Fifty? Are you serious? That’s years of work. I never knew…”
“If these were normal circumstances, we’d attribute it to an enthusiastic art collector,” Cole explains. “But given everything going on, we feel that any sign of… heightened interest is worth investigating.”
“Who? Do you know?”
He nods at Rose. “Leo was able to find the name. Brand Collington. Made his money in the dot-com boom, has investments all over?—”
“I know him.” Her nails dig into my hand. Almost to herself, she asks, “Could he? But it doesn’t make any sense..”
“Who is he?” From the expression on Rose’s face, I don’t think I’ll like her answer.
After a brief hesitation, Rose spits out his name like it’s poisonous. “Brand. He likes to… support young artists. Female artists. He offers money and perks in exchange for spending a year working exclusively for him. Living at his estate. Socializing with him.”
Zane frowns at Rose. “What kind of perks? And they’re expected to live with him?”
“Yes. He offers free housing at his estate in Westchester. A studio. Supplies. A very generous paycheck.” A scowl pulls at her features. “What he doesn’t say is he expects… other things as well. I knew a sculptor from college; she was broke and he made all these promises to her. She’d be able to pay off her loans. He’d introduce her to gallery owners. Make her a success.”
Cole’s stony expression matches my own. “And?”
“And he tried to force himself on her,” Rose answers. “When she fought back, he kicked her out. Kept all the work she’d done. All her belongings. And he did everything he could to tank her career after that.”
My teeth grind together painfully. And this predator wanted Rose ?
“And he asked you?” Cole’s voice is carefully calm.
“He did. A couple of years ago. But I told him no. Very politely but firmly. He’s not one to make enemies with.” She pauses, thinking. “He didn’t seem too upset. I assumed he just moved on to his next option. But it doesn’t make sense. If he likes my work, wanted me to work for him, why would he want to hurt me?”
Zane and Cole exchange a quick look. Then Zane draws the proverbial short stick and answers, “It could be retribution, Rose. For turning him down.”
“Oh.” Her voice goes small. “But… why now?”
Cole jumps in. “We don’t know. But we’re going to more thoroughly investigate him. It may have nothing to do with this. We just want to be sure.”
“Oh. Okay.” She sets her shoulders and lifts her chin. “Is that it? I guess… that’s not too bad. And if it’s Brand… it would stop him from taking advantage of other young women.”
“That’s not all.” If possible, Cole’s expression goes even more somber. “We found the man who attacked you in your studio.”
All the color leeches from Rose’s already pale face. “You did?”
“Yes. Using a combination of CCTV and nearby security footage, along with facial recognition technology, we identified him.”
I grit out, “Who is he?”
“Glenn Hawkins. Arrested a few times on drug charges. Some accusations of domestic violence, but no charges ever filed. He claims he was approached at a truck stop in New Jersey and offered money to attack Rose.”
Rose shudders and presses up against me. Her hand is trembling in mine. “Does he… do we know who hired him?”
Cole shakes his head. “There was nothing identifiable about the man who approached him—hat, sunglasses, nondescript clothing… But we’re working on it. Leo is scouring security footage inside the truck stop; if there’s something there, he’ll find it.”
“So this asshole paid a random guy to hurt Rose?” My voice dips dangerously.
Grimacing, Cole replies, “Not just hurt. The instructions were very specific. Hawkins was supposed to pretend it was a robbery, rough Rose up, and”—a heavy sigh—“break her hand. Badly.”
“What?”
Both Rose and I answer in unison; her response horrified, mine furious.
Tears well up in her eyes. Voice wobbling, she says, “I can’t believe it. Someone… It's my career. Painting… who would take it from me? I don’t understand…”
God . Rage is beating at me. Not random. Not just intimidation. Someone out there wanted to hurt my Rose in a way they knew would devastate her.
“I want to find them,” I growl. “Whatever it takes. They need to pay for what they did.”
“I know,” Cole soothes. “And we will. The police have all the same information, and they’re working on it, too. I’ve also reached out to some of my colleagues around the country, some computer experts, a guy in the FBI… we’re going to figure this out.”
“What about the ex? James? And the artist? Diem? Have you found anything on them?”
“We’ve already added extra surveillance on both of them. James was out of the country during the time when Hawkins was hired, although he could have paid someone else to do it. The same could be said for Diem. She could have asked a friend to do it.”
Wet-cheeked, Rose says quietly, “Or it could be someone else. Another artist. A neighbor. A student I taught at NYU. Anyone who knows”—her voice cracks—“I’m an artist. They’d know. How horrible breaking my hand would be.”
“Ah, hun.” Each tear that slides down her face is another slash to my heart. “It’s going to be okay.”
Although, once again, I don’t know how I can say that. Rose may be physically safe with me, but that’s not a solution. As much as I love her being with me all the time, she needs to be able to safely go places on her own. And living in fear will gradually wear my beautiful, creative, sweet Rose down.
“There are too many people.” Rose glances at Cole and Zane before focusing on me. “And hiding like this… I’ll never know who it is.”
“We’ll find them. And you’re not hiding. You’re staying safe.”
“It’s not enough.” Her brows draw down into a small V. “And… I don’t want to hide from this. Not anymore.”
What is she saying? “Rose?—”
“Whoever did this, they hurt me. Possibly took my career, my passion away from me. Intentionally.” As she continues, her voice grows stronger. “And I want to stop them. I think I can.”
My stomach lurches. “What are you saying?”
“We could set a trap.”
“No.” It’s an immediate refusal. “No way.”
“But… I think… Ian, I think it could work.”
My Rose putting herself in danger? Absolutely not. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Maybe not,” Cole starts, but I flash him a warning glare, and he stops.
“Just… hear me out.” Rose shifts on the couch so she’s facing me. “We could announce a pop-up art show. In Sleepy Hollow. For me. Announcing my recovery.”
I cradle her broken hand between mine. “You’re not, though.”
“But… We could say I am. Pretend the injury wasn’t that bad. Say I had a complete recovery…” she trails off, going silent for a moment. “If we say I’m back to painting again, whoever did this… they’ll be mad. Or at least want to see if it’s true. And if we have everything set up…”
“What’s the guarantee this person shows up?” I shoot back. “If they do, how do we know we’ll get any proof they were behind your attacks? Or that they don’t hurt you again?”
“I don’t know,” Rose admits quietly. “But I have to do something, Ian. Even if it doesn’t work.” Her eyes jump to Cole and Zane. “ Could it work?”
Fuck . I can’t stand how sad she looks. How small her voice is. How I feel her pain like it’s my own.
“It could work,” Cole says slowly, a contemplative look on his face. “But it wouldn’t be without some element of risk.”
“But it could work?” Rose turns back to me, her hope evident. “And then I could have a normal life again. With you.”
Ah, fuck. How can I say no to her?
“I want to be there. The entire time.” As I pull Rose into my arms, I look over her head at Cole and Zane. “I will not let anyone hurt her.”