by Alexa Verde
Nobody had ever made her feel this way, safe, protected, elated, thrilled, all mixed into one incredible feeling that filled her entire being.
Maybe except Ryan, though Ryan hadn’t been much for romantic comedies or jokes or tender gestures. Her feelings for Ryan had developed so slowly that she hadn’t expected to feel something of this magnitude in a matter of days. Besides, she’d never considered the possibility of a new relationship after her husband’s death.
Maya had told her once that Ryan would want Rachel to be happy. But after losing Tess, would Sebastian ever consider a chance with someone else?
Especially someone with her dark past and an uncertain future?
Rachel stilled at the thought.
“Are you okay?” Sebastian was as perceptive as ever.
She blurted out, “Would you consider getting involved with someone again?”
His eyes darkened. “Since Tess was shot, I’ve never thought about a new relationship. Not until now.” He paused. “What about you? If… you can talk about it.”
Instead of the familiar sharp pain, she felt sadness and nostalgia, as if her heart still missed Ryan tremendously but was healing at the same time. “I met Ryan in Austin five years ago. He said it was love at first sight for him. It took me about half a year to feel the same.”
Sebastian kept quiet.
“I didn’t notice how I started looking forward to our dates, enjoying his company. Something didn’t feel right when I wasn’t with him. Gradually, the feeling blossomed into love and I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Probably the moment when I fell for him was when I told him about my past, and he said that everybody deserved forgiveness. That was it.” Her throat constricted.
Sebastian watched her without saying a word. After several moments of silence, he said, “And then you got married.”
“He proposed. We had a small wedding in Austin and led a quiet life there for a while. Then I decided I wanted to visit Paris. My ancestors are from France. Also, everybody says it’s such a romantic city.” She paused again. “Ryan didn’t want to go for a long time. He wasn’t much for travel. But I talked him into it, as a present for my birthday and a late honeymoon.”
Sebastian studied her, his eyes thoughtful, understanding, compassionate. “Did you like Paris?”
It was difficult to get air into her lungs. “We didn’t see much of it. Once we got there, I started getting this weird feeling, as if something was going to happen. I wanted to turn back, but Ryan said that we were already there so we might as well make the best of it. We went sightseeing, and then we decided to get a cup of coffee. I stopped to see a cute dress in a shop window, so I was several steps behind him. In the shop window reflection, I saw him stepping off the curb to go to the coffee shop on the other side. The car appeared out of nowhere.” She had difficulty continuing.
“Rachel, whatever happened next wasn’t your fault.” Sebastian’s voice dipped low.
She swallowed hard. “Tires squealed. The car disappeared around the corner. Ryan was lying on the ground. They never found who hit him.” Familiar pain erupted inside her, and she jumped to her feet, intending to run out the door.
Rachel didn’t know how exactly it happened, but instead of running away, she found herself in Sebastian’s embrace, him holding her gently.
Her body shook from sobs, and she said into his shoulder, “I returned to our place in Austin and stayed there for a year…” She looked up at Sebastian. “Everything there reminded me of Ryan. I went through the motions, trying to go on living, working, thinking. But at the one-year anniversary of his death, I couldn’t see straight. I ended up in Paris again, roaming the streets mindlessly for hours. It started raining, but I didn’t care. It was even better for me, because I could tell myself that moisture on my face wasn’t my tears but the rain.” Rachel shivered, as if she still could feel the cold. “Then loud honking made me realize I’d stepped onto the road in the very place where Ryan had died.”
Sebastian held her tighter. “Rachel…”
“Somebody pulled me back from the road. I was shocked when I turned around and saw my friend January. You might’ve met her. She’s from Rios Azules. Her last name is Hutchinson, but she’s gone by her middle name, January, since she entered the modeling world.” January’s stories of Rios Azules were the main reason Rachel had driven here and rented a house.
His eyes widened. “We went to the same school.”
Rachel wondered whether Sebastian used to have a crush on January. Many men had. The small sting of jealousy that she felt even through her grief surprised her. “Though January left modeling after a scandal, she agreed to several photo shoots in Paris. She said she’d had a feeling I’d return to the place of Ryan’s death after the one-year anniversary. She staked out at the nearest outdoor café, despite the rain. After way too many cups of coffee, she bought us both new but, most importantly, dry clothes and practically dragged me back to Texas.”
“She’s a great friend.”
“She is.” Rachel felt a stab of guilt for her unfounded jealousy. “I stayed in Austin for two more years, until I realized I wanted something new, something different. Not the place where Ryan and I shared so many happy memories. And then there was the feeling I was being watched. The cars that followed me. I needed to leave. January mentioned her hometown was a quiet place, with caring neighbors. It sounded like a good place to start over. I get inquiries from all over Texas and even other states, so I can take my business to a different location. I decided, why not? So here I am.”
Tears spilled out from her eyes.
Why was she telling all this to a person she barely knew?
Maybe because after losing his own spouse, Sebastian could understand when her heart was torn out of her chest and shredded into tiny pieces.
Maybe because she needed this badly, for somebody to hold her gently, to offer silent support.
Seconds later, she could breathe better and her heart didn’t ache as much.
It was the beginning of a new life for her, indeed.
She stared into Sebastian’s blue eyes as their gazes met and held. He brushed her tears away with his thumb, and her breath caught in her throat. She should step away.
But she couldn’t force herself to do that.
An almost tangible connection had formed between them today. Was there a possibility of a relationship between them?
Oh, who was she kidding?
She had no right whatsoever to entertain such thoughts.
After all, she was a woman who once again had a target on her back.
***
As Sebastian entered the connecting room, he resolved to stay awake to be able to protect Rachel. He said his bedtime prayers and included Rachel in the list of people he prayed for.
He fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
***
Rachel woke up to a hand placed over her mouth.
While it was an improvement over a gun pressed to her head, this wasn’t a good way to wake up.
She flung her eyes open and hoped for a moment that it was just a bad dream. But no, somebody was in the room, and that somebody was now stopping her from screaming.
Fear grasped her heart with ghastly fingers.
Just like last night, she threw a punch, but her fist didn’t connect with flesh. If she survived the night, she’d have to take some lessons from Sebastian.
Sadly, that was a very big if.
“Keep quiet.” The whisper was low, barely audible.
Rachel stilled, unable to take her next breath.
Could it be?
No!
Of course, she must be wrong about the owner of this voice because the last time she’d heard it had been many years ago. It wasn’t possible, was it?
“Rachel, come with me. Please don’t fight or scream.” The voice got a little louder.
Unable to believe her ears, she stared in the darkness.
For so long, she’d hoped against
hope that her brother, Sean, might one day appear in her life. Oh, what a happy day that would be!
She’d never imagined for their family reunion to be like this.
“Please listen to me, sister. Don’t fight.” Sean’s voice dipped again. “Follow me.”
There was no mistaking now. This was her older brother. He’d better have good reasons for disappearing, as well as for appearing in her life in such a strange manner.
Her mind was foggy.
This was a lot to take in.
Rachel considered screaming, fighting, doing anything to let Sebastian know about what was happening. But what if her brother had been followed and the noise attracted attention to him? She couldn’t risk it.
She grabbed Sean’s hand and pulled it off her face. “Why? Where have you been all these years? What happened?” she whispered.
“I’ll tell you soon. Right now, just follow me. Please?” There was a note of desperation in his voice.
Her inner alarm went on high alert. Her brother had worked with criminals once, and she didn’t know anything he’d done in the past years, but she suspected it wasn’t working an ordinary job.
But this was her brother.
Surely Sean wouldn’t wish her harm.
He’d been the only one who’d taken care of her when she was little. He’d practically raised her.
Thankfully, she’d slept in her clothes again, so she just grabbed her purse. Then she hesitated. She didn’t want to sneak out behind Sebastian’s back in the middle of the night.
“Hurry! We have to go. Now.” Sean’s voice dripped with fear. “I don’t want to die here!”
Before she could protest, Sean grabbed her wrist and dragged her outside.
Her heart sank. She was right. Sean was on the run.
She dropped her hotel key card on the carpet as quietly as she could, hoping Sebastian would find it.
Before she knew it, she was inside Sean’s car, which took off immediately. She twisted in her seat to look at him. “Are you going to explain to me what’s going on? And where have you been all these years?”
“Hiding. I’m sorry, sis. I did what I could to help you, for you to make a break from it all.”
It dawned on her. “You were the one who called the police on the fourth job.”
Sean nodded as he guided the car through the streets. “I knew their plans, and I guessed that with me gone, they were going to force you to steal for them. Calling the police, anonymously, of course, was the only way for me to help you. And then I did everything so that the guys wouldn’t come after you.”
Rachel’s eyes widened. Pieces started falling into place. “You made sure other members of the gang got arrested. And…” She swallowed hard. She didn’t want to ask this question. “Did you… shoot our boss?”
Sean’s jaw set tight. “I had to. He wouldn’t have stopped looking for me. Or he could’ve kidnapped you again.”
Rachel hid her face in her hands, having difficulty accepting Sean’s justification. “I… don’t recognize you, Sean.”
He touched his beard. “Yeah, I’ve changed. In many senses.”
She stared out the window into the darkness. “For the third time, where were you all these years?”
“Abroad.” He pulled up to a dark house on the outskirts of Rios Azules and slammed the car in Park. “I’m so sorry, sis.”
“For what?” She had a sinking feeling in her stomach.
“For everything.” His voice was full of guilt.
Rachel tried to bottle up her panic as she stared out the window, seeing shadows moving. “Are you saying that—”
The next moment, she was dragged out of the car by somebody much stronger than she was. She screamed and kicked and tried to throw punches, but it was of no use. She fought the despair that entered her heart.
The stronghold on her suddenly weakened, as if she were about to be released. But then something was pressed to her mouth.
Her mind became foggy and her limbs weak. She tried to hold on to consciousness, but it was no use.
The world went black.
***
Sebastian woke up with a start. He listened to the silence intently.
What had woken him up? A sound. What was it, exactly?
It’d come from outside. The growl of a motor.
Sebastian leaped out of bed. Of course, it could be that somebody needed a room for the night. No, the sound was fading into the distance, so this was somebody leaving. Which probably meant that one of the guests had decided to leave early. However, several days in Rachel’s company had taught him to be suspicious of everything.
He hated to wake her up, but he needed to make sure she was okay. Sebastian knocked on the connecting door. “Rachel?”
No answer.
His heart sinking, he knocked again, louder. “Rachel, are you all right?”
Still no answer.
He’d slept in his jeans and T-shirt so he didn’t need to waste time to change. Sebastian darted to the hall. Rachel’s door was locked, but he found the key card on the floor, as if she’d dropped it there.
His heart beating wildly, he picked up the card, opened the door, hoping against hope she’d be inside, sound asleep, but afraid that wouldn’t be the case.
A quick sweep of the room showed that she wasn’t in it. A sharp stab of guilt told him he should’ve run outside when he’d heard the low growl of the motor.
By now, it might too late. The trail was cold.
There was no sign of struggle in the room, so she probably had been taken at gunpoint. Or had she decided to skip town and get lost in a city, maybe in another state? But her duffel bag was here.
His heart squeezed in his chest as he rushed downstairs to the night manager.
On the way, he called his friend in the Rios Azules Police Department, Aidan Rowe, and explained the situation.
Aidan’s response was simple. “On it.”
Once downstairs, Sebastian zeroed in on the burly guy behind the counter, who looked like he’d been a wrestler in his younger days. “Did anybody ask for Rachel Evans’s room number?”
The night manager sized him up and didn’t answer for several excruciating moments. “What’s it to you?”
Sebastian didn’t have time for this. “It appears she was kidnapped. Time is of the essence right now.”
The guy’s small eyes narrowed. “Are you a cop?”
“No.”
The man sneered. “Then I don’t have to answer to you.” He turned in his seat and stared at the TV screen, as if showing that the conversation was over.
Sebastian resisted the urge to grind his teeth. Technically, the man had a point. He didn’t have to answer Sebastian’s questions.
But Rachel’s life was at stake, so Sebastian saw red. He had a gut feeling the night manager had given Rachel’s room number to the kidnapper.
He’d been taught to avoid confrontation at all cost.
This was going to be an exception.
In a swift movement, Sebastian jumped over the counter, dragged the night manager up from his seat, which was no easy feat, and pinned his arm behind his back.
“Ay, ay, ay! What are you doing?” the man whined.
Sebastian increased the pressure. Slightly. “Do you still think you don’t have to answer to me?”
“He said he was her brother. He hadn’t seen her in a while and was looking for her. I thought, what was the harm?” The guy whined louder.
Sebastian had a feeling the visitor had paid handsomely for the information. “Did he give his name? Do you remember anything else? Anything at all? The way the guy looked? Any tattoos or jewelry? Did he have an accent?”
“He didn’t introduce himself, you know. I don’t remember much about his appearance, except that he was about your height, slimmer, and had a beard. He had a baseball cap drawn low, so I didn’t see much of his face. Didn’t see any tattoos or jewelry. No accent. He was dressed in black,” the guy muttered.
&nbs
p; “Is that it?” Sebastian didn’t let the night manager go.
“I remember! I remember his car. A cherry-red sports car. I’ve always wanted one like that.”
Sebastian released the guy, who sank into a chair. For a moment, Sebastian debated whether to wait for Aidan. But the urgency to find Rachel spurred him on. Sebastian bolted outside, gunned the engine, and peeled out of the parking lot.
He knew his hometown well, so he checked several neighborhoods on the outskirts where he thought Rachel could be taken. For about quarter of an hour, his search was unsuccessful, until he came upon an old house painted dark brown many years ago, judging by the peeling paint.
There were no Christmas lights anywhere, and there was no light on the porch.
The windows were boarded up, giving the house the impression of being abandoned. But whoever had boarded the house up hadn’t done such a great job, because some light filtered from one of the rooms.
His heart beating faster, Sebastian put his car in Park and rushed around the house. And there it was, in the backyard, a cherry-red sports car.
His pulse skyrocketed.
Sebastian sent a text to Aidan. He felt rather than heard steps behind him and whirled around.
And found a gun pointed in his face.
CHAPTER TEN
RACHEL OPENED HER EYES, THEN closed them, and it didn’t make any difference.
It was dark, and the air felt damp.
She tried to move her hands but couldn’t. It appeared she was tied to a chair. Her limbs felt weak, and there was a pounding in her head she could live without. But the bright spot in all this was she was still alive.
The less bright spot was that she didn’t know for how long.
She took a careful breath. No ribs seemed to be broken.
Rachel said a silent prayer.
She hadn’t expected her brother to be one of the kidnappers. She still couldn’t wrap her mind around that little detail. She’d have to be very, very careful to get out of this alive. Even then, the chances of her survival were small. She tamped down panic.
With God, everything was possible.
