Chapter 3
3
Nina still couldn’t believe she was free. She was safe. She knew it wasn’t so easy, but she tried not to think about that.
By now Gwendolyn knew she was gone. Had likely already sent people looking for her. And killed the driver. Nina had a moment of regret knowing the driver was likely dead because of her, but the man chose his fate in life by working for Gwendolyn. It would have happened eventually.
Just like everyone else who trusted her.
Nina stared at the mirror and the bruises that marred her pale skin. She couldn’t remember the last time she was allowed to look in a mirror, and the reflection staring back at her was only vaguely familiar. Same red hair, same muted green eyes, same woman. But different.
She tried to remember what she looked like before she left. The night she snuck out of the house. Twelve years was a long time, but it was so much more than the time. It was what she’d been through.
Nina ripped her gaze from the mirror and fought the anger welling up inside. She didn’t want to be like Gwendolyn, taking her anger out on everyone around her. Nina wanted to be a good person. Someone who helped others. And the only way she could do that was to tell Zeke and Monty the truth. The entire truth.
The sun would be up soon. Nina knew that, even though she wasn’t sure what time it was. A lifetime of being awake at night, so she was available for her duties, had trained her to wait for morning. When she could sleep. As long as Gwendolyn didn’t need her.
A soft knock on the bathroom door dragged Nina back to the moment. In Zeke’s house. Safe.
“Do you need anything?” Zeke asked through the door.
He’d been nothing short of respectful since she called him. Not touching her unless she initiated the contact, except for his first hug. He knew more than she’d admitted so far, and she wondered what he’d seen that he could read her thoughts. She wished things had been different for all of them.
But all they could do was move forward.
Instead of answering, Nina opened the bathroom door. Zeke was right there, pressed into the gap where the door was a second ago.
He took a step back, but Nina moved into his personal space and wrapped her arms around him.
He sighed and returned the hug, holding her tight against his body. Gwendolyn’s touch had been gentle and soothing when she was sad, but most of the time, it was dangerous. The way Zeke held her was reverent, like she was the most precious thing in the world and he would never do anything to hurt her.
“I’m sorry I keep hugging you. It’s just so good to feel you.”
He shook his head. “I don’t mind a bit.”
Nina had a sudden thought and pulled back. “Oh my God. Is there someone who would? I should have asked. Do you have a wife? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? I… I’m so sorry. I?—”
“There’s no one but you, Nina.”
She was sure he didn’t mean the words how she wanted to take them, but what mattered was she wasn’t getting in the middle of Zeke’s relationship. “You would tell me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Nina moved around him, spotting the massive bed in the middle of his room. He hadn’t shown her any other bedrooms. Where would she sleep?
“I’m going to sleep in the guest room across the hall,” he said, as though reading her thoughts. “This door locks and has an alarm on it. The entire house is equipped. I’ve already set the alarm. All the windows and doors have sensors. There are motion sensors around the house. It’s monitored twenty-four-seven.”
“That’s… Why do you need that?” Nina wondered if she made the right call by going to him. Who was he? Who had he become?
Zeke closed his eyes and sighed. “Montgomery owns Rose Protection Agency. I work for him. He has a team of twenty. We work with law enforcement, do private security, whatever anyone needs.”
“Do you work for the good guys?” Nina’s voice shook as she asked, hoping he knew who the good guys were. Gwendolyn made herself look good. But after the raid, Nina knew the truth was out there.
“We do. Only for people who are on the right side of the law. But that doesn’t mean what we do is without risk. We have security, good security, and we have lots of training to make sure we are safe. You will be safe here.”
Nina nodded, thinking of the security at Gwendolyn’s. The men standing guard at all times, willing to give their lives for her.
“He won’t get to you.”
Nina nodded again, letting the truth stay quiet.
“I will be right across the hall, Nina. If you need anything, come get me.”
“Zeke?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry my brother punched you.”
Zeke rubbed his reddened jaw. “I’ll be okay. He still doesn’t know how to throw a good punch.”
Nina chuckled, feeling almost normal.
Zeke moved to the door. “Lock this behind me.”
“Do you have a key?”
Zeke nodded. “Do you want it? So I can’t get in unless you let me?”
She shook her head. “I like knowing you can get in here.”
“Okay. I will come if you call me. Every time.”
“I know you will.”
Zeke moved across the room quickly, dragging her into his arms and kissing the side of her head. He released her just as fast, stalking to the bedroom door. “Lock this.”
Nina nodded, following him to the door and flipping the lock once he closed the door. “Good night,” she whispered.
“Good night, Nina,” Zeke answered from the other side of the door.
Nina put her hand flat against the door. She exhaled and smiled. She was safe. She could sleep.
Zeke leaned against the wall outside his bedroom. He listened as Nina crawled into bed and settled down. He barely breathed, wanting to hear every sound.
When she stopped moving, he sank to the floor. He told himself he needed to sleep, but he couldn’t walk away from her.
She was alive. She was home.
Relief coursed through him and brought tears to his eyes. Whatever happened to her was bad, but it was over. She was safe. He would never let anything happen to her again.
Zeke rested his head in his hands and settled in for a few hours. He accepted that moving away from the door wasn’t going to happen. Yeah, he had a bed in the guest room, but that was another ten feet away from Nina. He couldn’t do it.
Nina moved and made noises, but Zeke didn’t move. He waited, listening, consoling himself that she was safe.
Gene and Franklin joined Zeke at the top of the stairs, abandoning their usual spots on the couch for the night, and settled next to Zeke. Their loud purring said they were content to stay put for the night, too, guarding Nina.
Zeke told himself Montgomery would be okay. It was a shock to see her. Zeke regretted not telling Montgomery what was going on, but it was too late for that. Mont would accept that all that mattered was having Nina back.
Hours passed, and the bedroom Zeke didn’t use glowed as the sun rose. The hallway warmed up. Zeke shifted his position, stretching his legs and twisting his neck. It wasn’t anywhere close to his first night on guard all night. It wouldn’t be his last.
Nina stirred an hour after the sun came up, moving to the bathroom. The toilet flushed, and the water ran.
Both cats stood when they heard Nina, stretching and yawning, then sitting and facing the bedroom door as they waited for her to come out.
Zeke wasn’t sure if she would leave the room or go back to sleep. He didn’t move, letting her choose for herself. When the lock on the bedroom door snicked open, Zeke and his cats all looked up.
“Why are you sitting there?” she asked, smiling when Gene and Franklin greeted her with meows.
She looked healthier than the night before. The circles under her eyes were faded. A glow that wasn’t there when he picked her up made her look more like the girl he remembered.
“I wanted to be close,” he confessed.
She glanced at the bedroom he said he was going to sleep in and smiled. “Thank you.” Franklin wound around her feet, and she bent down to pet him.
Zeke nodded and rose to his feet, scooping up Gene to keep from reaching for Nina. “Are you hungry?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Um, should we call Monty?”
“He didn’t come home last night.”
“What? Is he okay? What about his family?”
Zeke shook his head. “He doesn’t have a family. He’s single, unless you count the business.”
“Oh, I thought…” She nibbled her lip. “Do you think he’s okay?”
“He will be. Let’s get some food, then we can go see him or go get you clothes and then see him or whatever you want to do.”
“What about your job?”
“Obviously, my boss knows what’s going on.”
Nina nodded. “Oh, right.”
Zeke fixed breakfast and filled her in on the high points of his and Montgomery’s lives over the last twelve years. Military, searching for her, Montgomery started the business.
“When did he get divorced?”
“Divorced? Mont’s not divorced. He’s never been married.”
Nina exhaled a confused sound. “Neither of you ever settled down.”
Zeke wanted to tell her he couldn’t imagine loving anyone else, but all he did was shake his head. “Mont’s thrown himself into work. We both did, I guess. He’s done very well. Saved a lot of people.”
“That’s what you do? Save people?”
“We keep people safe. Protect them. Whether it’s a witness or an informant or someone who needs us for a short term.”
“You’re heroes.”
Zeke grunted. “No. We’re just people who know what it’s like to lose the most important person in our lives.”
Her soft gasp said she understood what he was saying. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back. “I wish I hadn’t left.”
“You’re back. That’s what matters.”
Nina smiled. She picked up her empty plate and carried it to the dishwasher. She grabbed Zeke’s plate and mug, putting all of it in.
“What do you want to do first? Do you feel safe leaving here?”
She sucked in a breath. “I didn’t even think about that. I… I don’t know.”
“I can order some clothes, and we can drive through and pick them up, then go to the office. Then you don’t have to walk around a public place, but we still get to Montgomery.”
She nodded, her breathing steadying. “That’s probably best.”
Zeke pulled up the app on his phone for a big box store and showed her how to add things to the cart. When she was done, he paid for everything and tucked his phone away.
Nina freshened up in the bathroom, then sat on the bed while Zeke took a fast shower, leaving the door cracked in case she needed anything. He dressed in clean clothes, then led the way to his SUV.
“Where do you want to sit? The windows are all bulletproof. The whole vehicle is. But if you don’t want to be seen…”
“That might be best.”
“Sit in the back. Behind me. When we get to the store, you can hide while the bags are put in the trunk.”
“Okay.”
They picked up her new clothes without incident. Zeke drove to the office while Nina searched through the bags and chose an outfit for the day.
“Should I change now or wait until we get there?”
“It’s up to you.”
She wrinkled her nose in the mirror. “I feel like I need to have some armor on before I face him again. I hurt him by calling you.”
“He’ll be okay,” Zeke said, as much for himself as her.
“I’m going to change now. If that’s okay.”
“Of course. I won’t look. Tell me when you’re done.” He adjusted the rearview mirror so it showed him the ceiling of the vehicle and not the woman behind him.
“Okay.”
Zeke ignored the rustle of fabric and stared straight through the windshield. He hardened, swallowing the desire flowing through him at the idea of a naked Nina in his backseat.
He noticed her dress in the trash when he took a shower. The scraps of fabric she’d been in the night before were buried beneath tissues and waste from the last few days. He wanted to burn the garment, make sure she never saw it again.
Zeke turned onto the street where the office was. It was busy, morning traffic flowing through the city and slowing him down. “We’re almost there,” he said, hoping Nina was ready when they arrived.
“I’m dressed,” she replied, the click of her seatbelt a signal he could adjust the rearview mirror again.
He told himself he was checking the position of the mirror, but he was looking at her. She wore a teal top with a light gray jacket over it. A glance back showed jeans on her legs. Slip-on shoes added to the whole look.
“You look amazing,” Zeke said, his voice rough with emotion.
“Thanks. I kind of guessed at the sizes. The shoes are a little big. The jeans are good. My bra and panties are small, but they’ll work for now.”
“We can go back,” Zeke blurted as he pulled into the parking lot for the office. “Right now. Or later. Or I can have stuff delivered.”
She leaned forward and put her hand on his shoulder. “We’ll figure it out later. Right now, we need to go in.” She nodded to the door with the rose on it, Montgomery on the other side.
Zeke nodded once, then cut the engine and climbed out. He opened Nina’s door and positioned himself between her and any possible threats.
Montgomery met them halfway to the door and flanked Nina. Zeke and Mont’s heads swiveled as they hurried her to the door and inside.
“Oh my God,” Berkeley whispered. She was so much more than a business manager for the company. She’d been a sounding board and friend and knew everything about Nina. But they’d never met.
“Hello,” Nina said, smiling at Berkeley.
Zeke looked at Montgomery, waiting. Nina called Zeke, but Nina was Montgomery’s sister. It was his choice what to tell everyone.
“Berkeley, this is my sister, Nina. Nina, Berkeley keeps this place running. We wouldn’t be here without her,” Montgomery said.
Berkeley’s gaze strayed to Montgomery and lingered. She opened her mouth in a small O of shock. She recovered quickly and smiled warmly at Nina. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Nina breathed a laugh. “Thanks. It’s good to know my brother has had someone watching out for him.”
Berkeley grinned. “I’m doing my best, but he’s a challenge.”
Nina nodded. “But he’s worth it.”
“Yes, he is,” Berkeley said.
Something unspoken passed between the two women, and Nina reached out and hugged Berkeley.
Berkeley was surprised by it, but returned the hug with a smile.
“Let’s go to my office,” Montgomery said roughly, interrupting them and moving to the secure door that led to the offices.
Zeke wasn’t sure if he was invited. The look Berkeley gave him said she didn’t know either, but Zeke followed anyway.
Nina looked around the space as the three of them walked through, Montgomery in front, Nina in the middle, and Zeke protecting from behind.
Zeke couldn’t guess how many times they’d moved through crowds, war zones, open spaces the same way. It was ingrained in them to protect someone. The way neither of them could when Nina left.
The office was quiet, most of the guys not in yet after the late night. Zeke was grateful for it as they made their way to Montgomery’s office. Zeke’s was next door, as second in command at Rose Protection Agency. A position wasn’t sure if he still held.
Zeke closed the door to Montgomery’s office and took a seat next to Nina in the guest chairs. Montgomery sat on the other side of the desk, hands folded, staring at Nina.
Nina flashed Zeke a look, then focused on her brother. “Monty, I’m sorry. I… I didn’t think you’d be in the area.”
Montgomery closed his eyes. “I never thought I’d hear your voice again. See you. Be in the same room as you.” He drew a breath and opened his eyes, emotion flooding them.
Zeke knew how Mont felt. It was the same way he felt. Relief, regret, love, vengeance. The emotions flickered in Mont’s eyes as he stared at his sister.
“Is it really you?” Mont whispered.
Nina stood and moved around the desk. She leaned down and threw her arms around her brother’s neck. “It’s me, big brother. I’m back. And I’m alive.”
Montgomery let out a shuddering breath and pulled her onto his lap. He held her tight, like Zeke had done the night before.
Zeke stared at them, hating himself for not giving them the moment alone. He hated himself for not stopping her all those years ago. For not following her or something. He was the reason for all the pain they were experiencing. He could have changed everything, but they were together again.
Zeke stood quietly, moving toward the door. “I’m going to clean out my office.”
“Sit your ass down,” Montgomery barked. “You brought her back to me. You’re not going anywhere.”
“It’s all my fault. We all know it. I shouldn’t have let her leave. And when she came back, I should have told you. All of this could have been avoided if I’d been a better friend. A better man.”
“You’re the best man I know,” Montgomery said, easing Nina off his lap and standing. He came around the edge of the desk, Nina following him. “There’s no one I want running this place with me, watching my six, more than you. And I forgave you for her leaving years ago. If I still blamed you, you would have known it.”
“You were pissed last night,” Zeke argued.
“I was… I was all kinds of things last night. Angry, hurt, scared, hopeful. I couldn’t handle it all. But the only person to blame for all of that is the man who had her. Not you, not me, not her. Just one person. And we’re going to find him and make him pay for what he did to her. Together.”
Zeke nodded. “He won’t get away with it.”
“It’s not a he,” Nina whispered.
“What?” Zeke and Montgomery asked together.
Nina met their gazes with a strong one of her own. “I wasn’t held by a man. I was with a woman. She’s the one in charge. The one who did all of this.” Nina pointed to her throat and eye, the bruises more prevalent than the night before. “I left so I could help take her down. Her name is Gwendolyn Lennox.”