“You didn’t go outside like that, did you?”
“Seriously? We’re in the middle of one of the worst blizzards ever. Of course I didn’t. I put on a jacket and boots and looked quite ridiculous. It’s still snowing and that area under the eave looks like a tunnel. Ethel hates it.”
She scampers down the hall, wide awake now. “Yeah, I hope she wants to go back to sleep.”
“I’ve got news for you. None of us is going anywhere anytime soon except for back to bed. There must be three feet of snow out there.” He walks down the hall and I follow.
When we enter his room, I can’t help but exclaim. It’s bigger than the one I was in and much more beautiful, if that’s even possible. The bed is a large platform with a gorgeous deep blue and green duvet. The window treatments match. There is a huge stone fireplace and a sitting area. The walls are adorned with beautiful artwork and it’s a room that makes you want to stay in it forever.
“This room is so … well, I’ve never seen a bedroom that’s so wonderful before.”
“Thanks. My sisters-in-law had a hand in it. They like to spoil me.”
“They did a great job. If this were my bedroom, I don’t think I’d ever want to leave.”
“Wait until you test out the bed. It’s awesome.”
“Oh, I think I’ll sleep over there,” I say, pointing to an alcove where a couch sits.
“Nope. Get in. I’m going to use the bathroom. I’ll be back in a sec.”
There’s no way I can sleep with him. That won’t work at all. What would Sister Helena think? I stand there and stare at the bed, not knowing what to do.
“Get in. I won’t bite.”
I jump about a foot off the ground. I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t hear him come back in the room.
“Jesus, Emmalia. I didn’t mean to scare you. You’re like a rabbit.”
Turning to face him, I say, “I can’t help it. And you’re not supposed to say ‘Jesus’, remember?”
“Damn. Okay, I’m really going to suck at this. Now get in bed.”
Reluctantly, I climb in and scoot way to the other side of the king sized bed. He laughs.
“I told you I wouldn’t bite. Honestly, I just don’t want you to be afraid. This place is tighter than Fort Knox. My brother designed the security system. I have cameras and everything. You don’t have to worry.”
Before I can stop myself, I say, “It won’t stop them.”
He turns to me and pulls me close. “Stop who?”
“Nothing. No one. Pretend I didn’t say that.” Why did I say that? What can I tell him? Your security system won’t stop a bunch of shadows? He’ll think I’m batshit crazy!
“What happened to you?”
As an answer, I shake my head. There’s no way I could ever bring myself to tell him. The visions are disturbing enough. The insane nightmares are even worse. But to actually dig up the memories and talk about it? Never.
“I’ll keep you safe, Emmalia. I promise.”
“Don’t say that, Kade. What you need to do is stay away from me. You need to keep yourself safe.”
“You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve been in situations that you can’t begin to imagine. I’ve been taking care of myself ever since I was six years old, so I’m capable of handling myself now.”
“This is different. But please let’s drop it and go back to sleep.”
The light is dim but the room is bathed in a golden glow that emanates from the fireplace. Shadows dance and dip across the ceiling and I’m soothed by their grace as I watch them move. Kade tugs me toward him and I feel a flutter in my stomach. It’s a sensation I haven’t felt in long time … something from my past life that I’ve buried, pushed away … a distant, faded memory from long ago.
“I won’t let you down.” His voice is soft and his breath brushes across my cheek. A hand reaches around and presses the back of my head against his chest. He smells of sandalwood and balsam. I fist his shirt and bite my lips. Tears threaten because I fear for him, more so than me. I want to be safe here, but I doubt there’s safety for me anywhere.
As I lie snuggled against Kade, I recall everything I know of my family’s murder. They vanished. No one reported it. I pored over the internet for days afterward and nothing was ever mentioned. When I finally was brave enough to place a call to the jewelry store, the number had been disconnected. Who did that? It couldn’t have been my parents; they were dead. I did a Google Earth search and a new store stood in its place. So, again, I braved it and called the store next to it, a bakery that had been there for years. My parents were friends with the owners and knew them well. When the owner answered, they said there never had been a jewelry store there, and I must have been mistaken.
Feeling confused over that conversation, I went to the library of the town I was in and looked up old newspapers from ten years ago, trying to find old ads my dad had placed. I clearly remember seeing them. Nothing. I came up empty handed every time. Even my family’s name had been wiped off the face of the Earth. I called our old neighbors and they said they didn’t know the name Bressan. I was shocked. We had lived next door to them for fifteen years and I had dog sat for them multiple times. Who could’ve orchestrated something of that magnitude? The government? But why? What had my father done to make the government want to kill him and then cover it up so deep that they literally erased my family from ever existing? It didn’t make any sense to me.
The deep, even rise and fall of Kade’s chest lets me know he’s asleep. I relax in his embrace and put my arm around him, making myself more comfortable. I pray the dream stays away, for I would hate to awaken him with my screams. I’m not sure when, but a peaceful slumber overtakes me and I sleep a dreamless night the first time since the killings.
A whining Ethel awakens us both.
“She’ll be fine for a few minutes.” Kade’s voice vibrates against my back. His arm is wrapped around my waist and my body is snug against his. When full awareness hits me, I stiffen and try to jump up. “Hold still a minute. I’m not ready to get up and if she sees you up, she’ll have to be taken out.”
“Um, this is bit uncomfortable here.”
“No, it’s not. Lie down and relax.”
That’s not possible. There’s a man behind me. An attractive one. I break out into a sweat and I’m sure he can feel the dampness seeping through my shirt, or something. I’m hot, almost melting; we’re under the weight of the thick comforter, and he’s like a furnace. I squirm around and try to calm down, but my heart is ticking so loud I’m sure he can hear it. Help me, dear Jesus. Please.
“Stop squirming, Emmalia. You’re like a damn worm.”
“I can’t help it. I’m burning up in here.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, get up then.” He flings the covers off and stomps into the bathroom.
“Sorry,” I call out to his back as he disappears into the bathroom.
While he’s in there I make a quick decision and grab Ethel, then run to my room. I tug on my pants and boots and head downstairs where my jacket is. Once I’m dressed, I slip out the back door with Ethel in tow. The snow is piled high—at least three and a half feet deep. I’ve never seen this much snow. I lead Ethel over to the spot where Kade has been taking her and she does her business. When she’s finished, I scoop her up and walk to the edge of the terrace. It’s stopped snowing now, but only recently. It’s so perfect; everything is decorated in a thick layer of whipped cream. I want to dip my finger in it just for the fun of it. As I’m taking in the view, I look to my right and notice something unusual. Footprints. They’re not quite fresh. There’s a thin covering of snow on them, but they were made fairly recently because they’re deep. I walk over to inspect them when suddenly an alarm goes off. I yelp and hurry back inside. Seconds later the phone rings and I see Kade running down the steps. He grabs the phone and starts talking.
“No, everything is fine. I have a house guest and she went outside to walk the dog and didn’t disarm the
security system. Yes. Thank you.”
He moves to a panel I didn’t notice, taps several buttons and the alarm stops. Then he looks at me and shakes his head.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea.” I feel foolish.
“It’s fine. I should’ve mentioned it.”
“There are footprints outside.”
“Oh?”
“Did you walk in the snow last night?”
“No.” He cocks his head and stares at the ceiling for a moment. “I didn’t. Where are they?”
“I’ll show you. Is it okay to open the door?”
“Yeah.”
He follows me outside and I show him the footprints. He examines them, looks at the back yard, and then walks back inside. I follow.
I take Ethel into the kitchen and feed her. Kade has disappeared. When Ethel is finished eating, I take her back out, just for good measure.
We’re in the den when Kade reappears. “Emmalia, come with me for a minute.”
He leads me into a study where his computer is.
“Take a seat. I’ve pulled up the security tapes from the back of the house. The cameras run 24/7. I can literally search for footage from back to when I moved in. Check this out.”
He goes back to when he was outside with Ethel and the footprints were not there. The back of the house has spotlights on it so it was plain there were none at the time. He speeds through the film and suddenly the footprints appear, but there is no evidence of anyone ever being there.
“I’m not sure how this can be,” Kade says.
I know exactly how it can be. They found me. But why didn’t they come inside and kill us, like they did to my family? That’s the part that doesn’t make sense. Now I’m faced with having to tell Kade. He needs to know because they were here. I’m not sure how I can explain because I don’t know who they are. My shadows. The ones who watch and follow me all the time.
“Come back to the den with me. I need to call Sister Helena and tell her I won’t be back until later.”
“I’ll be there in a minute. I want to look at this one more time.”
“Kade, you won’t find anything.”
Maybe it’s my tone. Or maybe it’s what I’ve said. His head jerks up and the look he gives me is fierce.
“What do you mean?”
“Come into the den and I’ll try to explain.”
A quick inhale and a nod later, he gets up and trails behind me. Sister Helena is none too pleased. Kade finally grabs the phone out of my hands.
“Sister Helena, I mean no disrespect, ma’am, but have you looked outside? There are almost four feet of snow. The roads are impassible. Emmalia cannot walk home in this. I won’t allow it. It’s not safe. I will return her to the convent as soon as it’s possible, but I won’t risk either of our lives. If you have a problem with this, you can take it up with Father Anthony.” And then he hangs up on her.
“Oh, boy. She will make me pay for that.”
“I am sorry. But that is a vile woman. She is no woman of God.”
“Of course she is. She just doesn’t know how to deal with things that aren’t in her control. She’s not a bad person.”
“I beg to differ. So, shall we sit and you can tell me what you need to say?”
“Yes.” After we’re both seated, I begin. “I lied to you. But before I tell you this you have to know this may put your life in danger. I can leave now and you’ll never have to see me again. It would be the safest thing for you, Kade.”
I’m silent as he looks at me. He has many questions and I know he wants them answered, but I pray he lets them all go and lets me walk away now.
“I’m not afraid. I’ve already told you.”
“Damn it, you should be! Listen to me, Kade. You should be very afraid.”
I wait as I stare him down. But he doesn’t budge. Not an inch. So I plunge in.
“My real name is Juliette Emilie Bressan. I wasn’t raised in an orphanage. I was born and raised in New Orleans.” I look up to the heavens and say, “Oh, God, I’m sorry for doing this. Please forgive me.” Then I bring my focus back on Kade. “Two and a half years ago I came home from LSU after graduation to find my beloved family had been slaughtered.” My hands start to tremble so I clench them together to get them to stop. “They were lying on the floor of the living room in a huge pool of their own blood. My dad’s throat was ripped out, my mom’s and sister’s were sliced to the point their heads were all but taken off, and my sister …” I have to stop for a moment and collect myself. “My sister, Sylvie, was naked and her body had all these weird wounds all over it. They were all clearly tortured.” My voice catches at the end and a sob escapes.
Kade’s right in front of me, on his knees, holding my clenched hands. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“It was the most gruesome scene ever. I still have nightmares about it. Of course you already know that.” I swipe my face with my sleeve.
“I’ve often wondered what put that look on your face.”
“Yeah, well now you know.”
“Was it always your intention to become a nun?”
“No. But there’s more. My dad left me a message in his own blood. He told me to hide. So I ran. I didn’t know what else to do. I totally freaked. He kept a safe in a storage unit so I went there and pulled out the cash and jewels.”
“Jewels?”
“My parents owned a jewelry store. And I got in my car and drove. I ended up in Oklahoma, Texas, then Arizona. But here’s the thing. Their deaths were never reported.”
“What? I don’t understand.”
I explain how it was all covered up. Buried.
“How can that be?”
“The same way those footprints mysteriously appeared. Someone made them, but no one shows up on your video feed.”
He’s quiet, thinking. His thumbs rub circles on mine. The motion entrances me.
“Did your parents have enemies?” he asks.
“No. Or at least none that I’m aware of. I’ve been through this scenario so many times my brain hurts thinking about it.”
“No doubt. I want to run this by my brothers.”
“No! Oh, Kade, you can’t do that. If whoever did this could make my family literally drop off the face of the Earth, they could do it to anyone else, too. Don’t you see? The more people who know about this, the more dangerous it is. I hate that you know about it. I know my life has a very short endpoint. I can’t outsmart these people forever. The fact they located you lets me know my extermination is going to be soon.”
“What the fuck are you saying?”
“They’re going to kill me! And now I’m afraid they’ll have you on their list too.”
“Don’t say that, Emmalia.”
“But can’t you see that it’s true?”
“No! Swear to me you’ll fight. Swear you’ll let me help you.” He grabs my hands and squeezes them.
“I’ll try. But honestly, those people, whoever they are, have great power. I think they must be government or something. Who else could do that?”
“Yeah, you’re right. But one question. Why didn’t they come in here and kill us during the night?”
“I’ve asked myself the same thing. They follow me all the time. I see their shadows and feel them watching me. But there’s something else.” I pull out the necklace from beneath my shirt. “This.”
Kade picks it up between his fingers and examines it. His hand accidentally skims across my chin and I jerk. Heat explodes and then travels throughout my body. I know he can’t miss the flush that must be infusing my cheeks.
“Are you okay?”
Um no, I’m not okay. You are affecting me, Mr. Hart.
“Uh huh.” My lips press together as I answer. This evocation of new feelings in my body is something I don’t want to deal with right now. There are more important matters at stake. Like the profundity of what I just shared and how it can impact him. Besides, he is the last person that would want anything to do with someone
such as myself. I resemble a tattered scarecrow in my worn, out of fashion, clothing that’s too large for me and my uneven, straggly haircut. The last time I had my hair done by a professional was when I was still in college. That’s a sad testament to my life.
“What kind of stone is this?”
“Hang on a minute.” I go to my coat and rummage through my pocket until I land on my calendar. Hidden under the plastic flap is the note I found on the necklace as well as my father’s notes. I hand them to Kade and let him read them. He recites the first one out loud.
“‘To the keeper: wear at all times. Let not it fall into false hands lest ye face universal destruction.’ Have you ever exposed this to heat, cold, darkness and light?”
“At first I exposed it to sunlight and it changed colors. After that, I just put it around my neck and wore it all the time. It frightened me so I was afraid to do anything else.”
“This is what they’re after,” Kade says.
“That was my thought, but why not just knock me down and take it? They have to know I have it. They could search me and find it in a matter of seconds.”
“Good question. You just blew my theory.”
“And what the heck is it anyway?”
“Not sure. But it may have been important enough for your family to die over.”
This conversation addles me too much to sit. I hop to my feet and pace. The first place I land is at the window. Then a thought strikes me. “We need to look out the front. I bet there are footprints there, too.”
Kade moves like a panther, smooth and with stealth. His shirt clings to his muscle clad body and my own body responds. I hate myself at this moment. I shouldn’t be thinking of this right now. I just put his life in danger by telling him about me. I need to focus. He’s booted up with a jacket on and out the front door. In scant minutes he’s back inside, depositing his outerwear and heading to his office. I follow him.
His hands speed across the keyboard, almost as fast as mine would and I ask myself if there’s anything he’s incapable of. Yes. Preventing my imminent death.
“Same as in the back. Footprints but no evidence of anyone producing them.”
“I’m not surprised.”
The Hart Brothers Series Box Set (Including the bonus book Sabin: A Seven Novel): Freeing Her, Freeing Him, Kestrel, The Fall and Rise of Kade Hart, Sabin: A Seven Novel Page 92
