by Pinki Parks
She moved with practiced ease like an accomplished socialite with a circle of friends to become a juggernaut in the community. She had always walked alone in her pain. It must’ve been heartwarming to know somebody else was walking in her shoes. Those high heels would’ve made a model on a fashion runway scared of breaking her fool neck. She had the balance of a mountain goat.
“I don’t know how you have done it all of these years. Did Grant even have a chance to walk in his own path?” I had to know how long Grant had been living in the shadow of his father.
“Grant was groomed from the moment he was born to stand with power behind him. He did express interest in being a veterinarian. His father demanded his loyalty and respect from an early age. I wasn’t even able to breastfeed him. He didn’t want us to have that kind of emotional bond.” Grant didn’t have a chance to stand on his own 2-feet.
We came to my room and this was the first time I was getting a look at where I was going to reside for an interminable amount of time. The smell of lavender had me looking towards a small machine by the bed humming with efficiency.
“I’ve been living with this secret for so long it has become like a noose around my neck. Each day it pulls a little tighter. It’s cold comfort to have all of you sharing my secret. I would like to say misery loves company, but I don’t think Grant or his father sees it that way.” I went into the adjoining bathroom and closed the door to change into something less revealing.
“Everybody has skeletons in their closet, some more than others. I’m sure if somebody took a metaphorical shovel and began digging they would find things in my husband’s past he doesn’t want to be revealed. It’s a matter of knowing where to start digging.” She was a kindred spirit and it was nice to know I had somebody to talk to.
“Meredith, I can’t even tell my family without my secret falling into the wrong hands.” I had raised my voice so that she could hear me on the other side of the door.
I heard somebody yelling and I went to the window to see a man dressed in black being chased by security. There was no wasted motion. The security was outmatched and outwitted by somebody who knew what they were going to do before they did it.
He easily climbed the fence without being electrocuted in the process. One of the security guards had grabbed his boot and received a kick in the face for his troubles. I watched fascinated with how he stayed perched on the top like a gargoyle before leaping down on the other side.
Chapter 6
Dalton
It was a little harrowing to be pursued in broad daylight, but the adrenaline rush was hard to recover from. I was lucky, but my luck wasn’t going to hold out forever.
I remembered how I breathed a sigh of relief when she stood less than 3 feet away from me. She was adjusting the tie in the back of the bikini around her neck. Had she been staring straight ahead we would’ve come face to face.
I had stepped back and was immediately swallowed in darkness. That was my chance to leave while she was momentarily preoccupied by swimming underneath the water. I didn’t move from where I was standing. It felt like my shoes were stuck to the floor like cement.
Seeing her emerge like the living embodiment of a mermaid was nothing compared to the droplets of water dancing on her flesh. I was drawn magnetically to the buoyancy of her breasts and the quiver of her lips. I did gasp seeing those nipples perfectly outlined through the wet material of her bikini.
I knew I was trapped when she turned the lights on. I ran, but she was more of a match for me than anyone. I had already made sure the camera would reveal nothing.
I didn’t go through the first door. It would’ve been too obvious. I chose a room near the back of the property. It gave me time to bring the cameras back online using the tablet in my bag. The ones pointed at the lawn were still on a loop for the next few minutes.
I went out the window and let gravity do the rest. I was barely 30 and already I was feeling my age creep up on me. Things I’d taken for granted in the past were coming back to haunt me in the present.
I was a little out of breath, but I found my second wind when the security guards caught sight of me on the lawn. In my youth, there would’ve been no way for them to get their hands on me even briefly. I felt bad for breaking his nose, but it was a small price to pay for my continued freedom.
I made a circuit through the neighborhood avoiding a predictable path. I changed routes by going through the backyard of the neighboring houses.
I was finally on my motorcycle and I drove away calmly without attracting unwanted attention.
It was almost 6:00 PM and the sun was dipping dangerously low behind the trees. The streaks of light through the branches gave off an orange glow. The road in front of me was streaming with different colors from whatever leaves were still clinging to the branches.
The disgusting sludge of snow and mud on the side of the road was a reminder winter was approaching. Mother Nature was in the process of dying and being reborn in the Spring.
I found myself stopping at the Chinese restaurant and getting some takeout. The containers would join the ones already stinking up the Dumpster behind the motel.
I got back and I could see the light on inside. I shook my head in disbelief at how I had let time get away from me.
“I was going to ask you where you were, but it’s quite obvious from where I’m standing.” I raised the takeout, but Melanie had her finger up poised to keep me quiet. “I know exactly where you were, but I can’t understand the fascination you have with Gillian.” Melanie was glowing and she always got that way when she had found an unwilling victim to share her bed with.
“I thought it would help to have eyes inside until I realized we could tap into the Security System already on the premises. I was able to use the device you procured to give us a way to watch them without being seen.” She made me feel like I was naked under the glaring disapproval of her eyes.
“There’s no reason to make me feel like a fool. Did you really think I didn't notice the way the both of you were looking at each other during basic training and in Guam? I was waiting for the day when one of you would finally admit your feelings to one another. I would have bet the farm on something happening between the two of you.” I didn’t think I was that transparent, but a woman apparently knew the signs of infatuation better than anyone.
“I tried to ease my troubled mind by forgetting about her. All of those pent up dealings came back when I saw her trying on wedding dresses. I thought I was immune to such nonsense. The past has a funny way of tapping me on the shoulder when I least expect it.” I was back on solid ground with my feet firmly planted and still, I felt weightless thinking about her.
“I’m guessing this is the reason why you didn’t take me up on my offer for instant sexual gratification. I’m a little cross at you for not being completely honest with me. As I said before, you’re not the only fish in the vast ocean of men looking for a sure thing.” Her hair was in disarray and her makeup needed some finishing touches.
“I had to see her. I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“Do I even want to ask how close you came to getting caught?” There didn’t seem to be a reason to lie about it. I gave her the full story from the beginning to the end without stopping for a breather.
“I needed to see her again.”
“Security is combing the area looking for you. I thought I was going to have to intervene on your behalf. I came back to find you missing. It didn’t take much to figure out the person security was talking about, was you. It’s a good thing you weren’t seen and nobody got a clear look at your face. They will chalk it up to a prowler trying to find something to unload at a pawn shop for his next fix.” Melanie wasn’t complaining and I felt she was justified in wringing my neck for going out on a limb.
“It was pure luck and nothing more. I think you know me better than to rely on luck. I got a little carried away in the moment. It won’t happen again.” It h
ad already happened twice and seeing her brought up memories of wanting to be with her.
“I can’t be sure you can be trusted. These feelings you have for her are only going to get in the way. I wish there was a way for you to find some closure. The best way to do that is to sleep with her. We can’t take the chance of anyone finding out you’re alive. It appears your feelings for her are going to go unanswered.” She wasn’t telling me anything I didn’t already know.
“We can’t just sit here and watch waiting for something to happen. We need to be proactive and look for a permanent solution. We bring her into this and all hell is going to break loose.” I couldn’t imagine what her reaction would be to see a dead man come back to life.
“I’ve been saying that from the moment we found out they were coming for us. You’ve been reluctant to show them your teeth. We can’t do anything until we make sure Granger is no longer being hunted. I have made some discreet calls to some of the places he had mentioned in passing during his time with us.” She wanted to cut out the middleman and handle this with the deadly precision of the Navy Seals.
“I remember the man I was and I have no interest in going back to fighting violence with violence.” I was emotionally scarred and I swore the day I picked up a gun would be too soon.
I had killed my fair share of the enemy that had their sights targeted on the United States. I was living on a prayer and I had learned the hard way confession was good for the soul.
“I am afraid it might come down to you becoming the man you have been trying to hide from. I knew there was something missing when I looked into your eyes. It flickered back to life when we were getting to know each other intimately.” She was bent over at the waist and I could see she was indeed going without panties.
The lips were still glistening from her mid-afternoon debauchery. They were swollen and some of her excitement was still staining the flesh of her inner thighs with red welts. The friction burn was going to take some time to heal, but it didn’t seem to affect her in any noticeable way.
“I can’t look into the mirror at my reflection and see that man looking back at me. I lose a part of myself every time I go to the dark place. One day, I fear I will never come back. Any senseless act of violence brings with it a necessary reaction of more violence. It’s a vicious cycle and I don’t want any part of it. I won’t use a gun.” It was selfish of me to think the actions of the past wouldn’t have consequences.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but what we did has far-reaching complications. We thought what we were doing was securing our future. In reality, we were making it so that we were going to have to have eyes in the back of our head. The only way to finish this is to cut off the head of the snake.” She was painting an interesting picture worth more than 1000 words.
“Don’t you think I already know that? I went into hiding to protect all of you. I stayed away in quiet solitude to give them no reason to come after you. It would have worked had it not been for Conner. We agreed to certain terms and he went against the consensus. They had no idea that I had accomplices until Conner got careless.” I knew there was the possibility of one of us being less than honorable.
“We are all prisoners of our own hubris. Running away from my problems has never been my strong suit. I like to face things head on. I wasn’t always like that. That day changed me for the better. I no longer feel like I owe anybody anything.” There was something vacant in her eyes and apparently I had missed the dramatic change in her personality. It was possible I didn’t want to see it.
“I’ve been trying to avoid this, but it’s time we took off the shackles. We know who is coming after us. We also know they will never stop until they get their hands on what we took from them.” I hadn’t laid my eyes on my share in several months.
“I was going to ask where you are hiding your cut, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to know that information. There’s no telling how we are going to respond to torture. We’ve been taught how to endure through several different techniques, but we’ve never had to face the possibility of capture.” I had to keep Gillian out of the line of fire.
The only thing I wanted for her was for her to be happy. It didn’t matter who she had committed herself to.
“I have it in a safe place.” The safe deposit box was in a bank.
I had done my research to know which one was highly secured with necessary redundancies to make sure nobody got their hands on it.
“We need to leave, but it means either bringing Gillian in or leaving her to fend for herself against an enemy she doesn’t even know is coming for her. What do you think is the fair thing to do in this situation?” I was about to answer when I heard the jiggling of the doorknob.
Chapter 7
Gillian
I turned the knob and opened up the door to see two people caught looking guilty of something. We all looked at each other. It was like seeing two sides of the same coin. They were staring at me in disbelief at the gall I would have to interrupt them.
“You both have some explaining to do.” I had them where I wanted them and I wasn’t going to let them leave the room without a detailed explanation of what happened.
“You know as much as we do. There was apparently some kind of power surge and the cameras were unable to pick up anything out of the ordinary in the house. We are taking the necessary precautions by doubling security. There’s nothing to worry about.” Grant was placating me and using political straight talk to leave me with more questions than I had answers.
“I don’t need or appreciate this doublespeak. If we are going to do this together then I need to know everything. It’s better to understand what we’re up against than to be blindsided by something totally out of the blue.” It didn’t take much to understand how they wanted me to be seen and not heard.
“I don’t like the way you are talking to my son. Take the tone out of your voice, young lady. We have the finest personnel in our employment. These things are none of your concern.” I was getting tired of being talked down to and it was getting on my last nerve.
“You better be careful how you address me unless you want me to slap the taste out of your mouth. I made this agreement, but I will not tolerate disrespect. I may not look it in this dress, but I can assure you the one thing you don’t want to do is test me.” His face had turned bright red and the embarrassment of a woman standing up for herself was causing him to clench his fist.
“Tempers are flared and we need to show a united front. I’m sure you feel we are leaving you in the dark. That was never my intention. My father still lives in the past.” Baxter was fuming.
I was begging him with my eyes to take one shot. It was the only one he was going to get.
“I’ve been thinking about this. There needs to be some boundaries. We have enough secrets we hide from the public to have any between us.” I had to lay down the law even though I didn’t have a leg to stand on. It was the only way I could avoid having them run roughshod over me.
Baxter’s office was born from simplicity with a lot of harsh dark woods including the desk. The chair in front of the desk was lowered significantly to give the person behind the desk the illusion of power.
“Forgive my father for his antiquated thinking. I admire the way you want to have a say in your own destiny. I promise to be transparent with you about everything. I can’t have you losing the light in your eyes because of me.” He made me believe I wasn’t a possession to bring out to put on a show for the masses.
There was still a spark of goodness in him. I wanted to fan it into a flame.
“I don’t need to listen to this. This is your problem and I expect you to deal with it. She has some nerve making demands. We both know with the snap of a finger we could ruin her life.” Baxter walked off with a cloud of mistrust following him.
“I’ve never wanted to make things difficult for you. I know there’s no way you can choose between family and me. There’s
no contest. I will lose every time. This is not an easy situation for any of us.” He was pouring himself a drink from a bar made to look like the globe of the world.
“Things have been tense around here. The wedding plans have everybody on edge. The hits keep on coming with the break-in. I’m surprised you’re not frazzled and pulling out your hair.” I was shaking inside, but to show weakness was only going to give them more ammunition against me.
“I’m trying to look at the bigger picture. I would hope there was an exit strategy for me. We’ve never talked about it, but you have to give me an element of hope.” I had seen how Meredith had resorted to drinking wine in the middle of the day. I didn’t want to fall into the same trap.
“I know what you want me to say and I can’t do it. This is one long con and people have to believe we are a happy family. The only way to get the endorsements going forward after I become senator is by having a family to support and stand by me. I can give you some lenience for affairs outside of the marriage. They have to be strictly physical and discreet.” His words made me feel like a fraud. I thought that I was going to cry underneath the smile plastered on my face.
“I see your father in you.” He punched the wall and drove his fist into the plaster hard enough to penetrate it.
“I am nothing like my father and I despise the man with every fiber of my being. He’s only here underneath this roof so that I can keep an eye on him. The man can’t be trusted to be an impartial observer in my life. He wants to live vicariously through me with my political aspirations.” Grant did have a short fuse and this wasn’t the first time I had seen him lose his steadfast composure.
“It’s probably better for you to have him here and not have to worry about what he is doing behind the scenes. You must know there’s no way you can watch him 24 hours a day seven days a week. Baxter has resources that rival your own. Just because he turned over the reins in your name doesn’t mean he doesn’t want a seat at the table.” It was an untenable situation, but I felt we were moving past the metaphorical chain links around my wrists.
