by Tia Siren
“No one else you dated…” His voice trailed off. “Holy fuck.”
My eyes blinked open.
“I-I didn’t mean to say I dated other people.”
He waved me off. “Not that. I dated other people, Abi.”
“It’s ok. I know.” I just wanted him to rub my hip and put me back to sleep.
“No. I said something once.” He walked from the bed and paced in front of the window.
This nap was going nowhere. I pushed myself up. “What is it, Reid?”
He sat in an overstuffed chair. It was funny, it could actually make him look normal-sized. He folded his hands together.
His eyes landed on me. “There was a girl I dated.”
“We have a mini-past. I’m ok with it.”
He shook his head. “This girl. She wanted more from me. She wanted to take me home to meet her parents and buy a dog together. She was serious. More serious than I ever was about her.” His eyes drifted across the room. “And I was a fucking dick to her. I said something shitty.”
I didn’t know why he was confessing, but I listened.
“It couldn’t have been that bad. You’ve never said anything I couldn’t forgive.”
He huffed. “I said, ‘You really think I want to meet your parents? I don’t even want to spend my 5am workouts with you.’” He paused. “She laughed and said that was ridiculous, no woman would get up that early anyway. And instead of keeping my fucking mouth shut, I told her she was wrong. I told her I loved 5am with you. That you were worth the sting of the morning. That you were the kind of woman I wanted to take home. That I’d buy a dog with you, because 5am workouts with you were what made me want to wake up every day.”
I swallowed hard and my stomach knotted. “Oh my God.”
He closed his eyes. “This is my fucking fault.”
I rushed from the bed and knelt in front of him. “You think it’s her? The girl you dated?”
His eyes hardened. “She had a tattoo on her wrist. Something from a college spring break trip.”
I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.
“Where is she?” I asked, shaking him. “Where did she go when you broke up?”
He lifted his head. “L.A. She moved to L.A.”
13
Reid
I deserved that bullet. Me. I was the one who should have been in the hospital. I should have had to fight for my life. Not Javier, and especially not Abi.
I had swallowed Jackie and spit her out. Used her. I never pretended to want a relationship. The terms were always clear, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t a dick. At some point, it was going to catch up to me.
That day had come.
I couldn’t stand the look on Abi’s face.
I pushed her off me and rose from the chair. “I need to call Bex and get Jackie’s profile to the police.”
“Jackie? That’s her name?”
“We dated a few months ago. I guess two or three maybe?” I didn’t have the exact date. It hadn’t mattered that much. “She texted and told me she was moving to L.A. I thought it was just to get a reaction from me. She wanted me to ask her to stay. I don’t know. I don’t do mind games. And honestly, I didn’t care. I haven’t heard from her since.”
“Then how do you know it was her, Reid? This might be one jump too many.”
“It’s not.” I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed the office. I looked at Abi. “She knew about you. I said too much. I don’t know why.” I walked out of the bedroom when Bex answered.
“I have an ID on the Lawrence shooter.”
“You do?” He sounded surprised.
“Her name is Jackie Stephens. She doesn’t have a criminal record. I’ll send a picture. I’ve got one on my cloud. Roughly 5’6”. Black hair. Green eyes. Moved to L.A. in the past two months. I don’t have an address. We have to find her. She isn’t done.”
“As soon as I have the picture I’ll start scanning for facial recognition.”
“We leave in two hours for the dinner. I can’t take Abi out of the house with Jackie waiting for her.”
“I understand.”
Nothing else mattered right now except finding Jackie. She could be in the house next door. She could be parked in a car down the street. She knew me, and she knew about Abi.
My next call was to the detective contact I had at the LAPD. Officer Erickson took the information I gave him, but without any evidence or proof, he wasn’t willing to go after an accused woman. It was my word and hunch, and he had to follow the law.
I didn’t.
I met with the four agents at the house. They all had shots of Jackie on their phones. If they recognized her from when we dated, they didn’t mention it.
I vetted Abi’s hairstylist and makeup artist at the door. They were patted down for weapons and I personally searched them for anything planted. Abi thought I overreacted. They had worked for her for years. I wasn’t taking any chances.
The only good thing about tonight’s dinner was it kept Abi distracted. For two hours, she could focus on transforming into a Hollywood starlet. I’d worry about her safety and let the artists do their work.
I spoke to the driver while Abi was upstairs getting ready. I wanted to make sure we took a different route than what was expected from Malibu. We needed to stay in well-lit areas. Any unexpected stops, and he had instructions to detour immediately.
I walked into the house just as Abi emerged from the double set of doors at the end of the corridor.
“God, you’re gorgeous.”
She walked toward me, her hips swaying seductively. This was the girl I didn’t recognize sometimes. The star. The woman people saw in the theater. People screamed and fainted when they saw this version of her. They pushed and scrambled for autographs and selfies.
And here she was, walking into my arms.
“You like the dress?”
My eyes dipped to the deep V that ran to her navel. “Sexy as hell.”
She smiled and I saw the light blush on her cheeks.
The doorbell rang and I tensed.
“It’s just Ralph. He wanted to ride with us.” She leaned to kiss my cheek before entering the foyer.
I rushed in front of her. I didn’t care there was an agent at the door, she wasn’t going near any open spaces.
“I’ve got it.” I looked over my shoulder. “And you should have told me he was coming. We aren’t operating under normal circumstances.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would be a big deal.”
I huffed and let the manager inside. He was wearing a dark purple tux.
“Babe, stunning. Truly stunning.” He ignored me and embraced Abi.
“Thank you. I love that color tux. Armani?” she asked.
“It’s going to pop on the red carpet.”
I fucking hated the red carpet. Tonight more than usual. Jackie could be anywhere in the crowd.
“Are we ready?” Abi asked, looking at me.
I nodded. “But not out the front.” I pointed the staircase that led under the house. “We have three cars tonight. We’re going in car number two.”
Ralph’s eyes bulged. “I had forgotten how thorough you were.”
I slapped him on the back, almost sending him down the stairs. “Not something you should forget, man.”
14
Abi
I remember when I first wanted to be an actress. I was five, maybe six. I watched a show on Disney and rehearsed every word in my bedroom. I made my parents watch while I stumbled through my lines after dinner. They clapped and laughed, and I took that as I sign that I was destined to be a star.
No one really thought I’d go through with it. It must have been after I starred in my high school play when they realized I wasn’t kidding, and I wasn’t five any longer.
That seemed like a lifetime ago. I wished my parents were here to see it. To know that little girl’s dreams came true. I was a best actress nominee. And I was on my way to my first dinn
er to celebrate.
It wasn’t supposed to matter if I won any awards in the coming months. This was the first accomplishment. This was part of the journey.
Ralph sat across from me in the stretch limo. He sipped a rum drink. He was nervous.
I expected Reid to have a bourbon in his hand, but he was back to bodyguard status. The revelation that my attacker was his ex had hit him hard. He wasn’t going to admit it until this was over.
I knew him well enough to let him have space to work while he dealt with the shock.
I ran my fingers over his knuckles. He brought my fingertips to his lips.
“Are you ok?”
I nodded. “You’re here. That’s all I need.”
“I don’t know what I’m witnessing.” Ralph rolled his eyes.
“I’m happy.” I tilted my head. “That’s all you have to worry about.”
He kicked back the rum.
I wasn’t going to let his nervous jitters or doubts about Reid ruin tonight. I wanted to focus on the dinner. I’d drink champagne and mingle with stars. And Reid was going to be there for all of it.
The car lurched and Ralph spilled his drink. “Shit. Who is this driver?” He glared at Reid. “This is designer. Designer,” he emphasized.
Reid’s eyes darted to the front, but the car had taken a sharp turn and we landed in a pile on the floor as the tires screeched.
“What the hell?” Ralph tried to help me back to my seat.
“No. Stay down,” Reid ordered, pushing me back to the floor. He pulled a gun from his belt and the car careened in the opposite direction. We shifted left then right.
Whoever was driving didn’t care that they were tossing us around like pinballs.
“Ouch.” I hit my elbow on the armrest.
“Don’t get up. Whatever you do, keep your heads down,” Reid choose his words carefully. I watched as his eyes scanned the lights blurring past us.
We finally stopped. Reid looked at Ralph. “This is it,” he announced. “Stay with her no matter what. Understand?”
Ralph nodded.
“As soon as the door opens I’m going out,” he whispered. “If something happens to me, back up will be here in less than ten minutes.”
“Ten minutes?” I panicked. I knew it only took two seconds to fire a gun. “Don’t go out there,” I begged. “Don’t leave me again.”
His eyes locked on mine. “I have to. You can survive. I know you, Abi. No matter what, stay away from Jackie. The longer you avoid her… just keep moving.”
“She’s here?” I creaked.
He nodded. “I’m sorry.”
The door opened and Reid hurdled himself forward, stepping over my back and throwing Ralph out of his way. The door slammed behind him. I wanted to pull him back in and be the one to shield him from whatever was out there. He was strong and fast.
Ralph and I huddled together. I couldn’t hear anything on the other side.
“He’s going to be ok, babe,” Ralph whispered. “We’re going to get out of here. You’re not going to miss your first awards dinner. No way.” His teeth chattered, but I squeezed his hand.
I didn’t know Ralph had a heroic bone in his body, but I was glad it had decided to kick in right now.
I nodded, holding his hand. We had to make it through this. I hadn’t found Reid just to lose him to a crazy ex-girlfriend.
15
Reid
She wasn’t expecting me to pounce like a jaguar. Jackie lost her breath for a second when I knocked her to the pavement in the surprise attack, but as soon as I rolled off her she pointed a gun at me. Mine was in my hand, ready to shoot. But for now, she had the first shot advantage.
“Jackie, what are you doing?” We both eased off the pavement, standing slowly.
We were behind a warehouse. I knew we were still in Hollywood. I had TS ping our location. I just had to keep her talking for nine more minutes before my backup arrived.
I had no idea how she had hijacked my driver, but it didn’t matter. She had pulled it off. The other cars had gone in different directions and we were here alone.
“Are you starting to take me seriously now, Reid?”
“I always took you seriously.” I lowered my hands, keeping the gun at my side. I could tell she wasn’t ready to shoot. She had too much to say to me.
“I wish that were true.” She kept both hands on the gun.
“You made your point. I was a dick. I fucked up. I should have been more honest. I’m sorry for that.”
Her eyebrows rose. “I wasn’t expecting a sudden admission. You were a dick. It’s nice to hear you say it.”
“It doesn’t mean other people should get hurt.” I lowered my gun to the ground. “See? I’m not interested in hurting you, Jackie. I know that’s not really what you want.”
“You already hurt me. You think a bullet could do more damage than your words?”
I swallowed. What the hell had I said? My relationship with Jackie was short and it wasn’t serious. I dated women when I wanted. It wasn’t the time to tell her she wasn’t the only woman I slept with during that time.
“I’m sorry.”
She huffed. “I didn’t have a chance. I never did. You were never going to give me more than you gave her.” Her head rotated toward the limo. My throat tightened.
“It’s not her fault. It’s not yours either,” I added. “It’s mine. I did this, Jackie. I made you feel like you weren’t there. Like I could look right through you. I compared you to Abi. Not her. I shouldn’t have done it.”
Maybe I never had the right to date another woman. Or fuck one. Not while Abi was buried in my heart the way she was. But I never made promises and I sure as hell didn’t promise anything to Jackie.
“But you see me now? You notice me?”
I nodded. “I do. I’m paying attention.”
She smiled. “And now it’s too late. I’ve gone too far. I know that.”
I shook my head. “No one else has been hurt. Nothing happened tonight. I can help. You know I have connections. Resources. Let me help you.”
“God, you’re the ultimate liar. A fuckboy lying asshole.”
“Jackie,” I warned. “This is your chance. Take it.” I stepped toward her. “I don’t make offers like this lightly.”
Her hands trembled. I noticed the tattoo on her wrist and remembered what it said. Follow your heart.
I hadn’t paid enough attention to the details. Details didn’t matter to me if they weren’t about Abi. It didn’t matter whether she was justified in her pain, it was still her pain.
“It can be your fresh start. You choose where you want to go. But not anywhere in the States.”
“What?”
“I’ll own this. I did this. So I’m making you an offer. Start your life over. But I’ll be watching. If you try to return, or try to make an appearance at any of Abi’s international events, the deal is off. I’ll turn you over to the authorities.”
“Then I might as well shoot you now.” She clicked the hammer.
I shook my head. “Your picture has already been circulated. They know who you are. But no one knows where you are. I’ll get you out of the country.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Call it my penance.”
She lowered the gun. I rushed her, kicking it to the ground and out of reach.
“I knew you’d go back on it.”
“No. I’m not going back on the deal. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to avoid you pulling that trigger.”
I looked toward the sky. “I meant what I said. You can start over.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re doing this for her, aren’t you?”
I heard the helicopter buzzing overhead. I led Jackie to the chopper as it touched down.
“You should know this about me by now. Everything I do is for her.”
I handed her over to my agents with a set of instructions. Jackie glared at me from the window, surrounded by agents.
When the helicopter was safely in the sky, I tapped on the door and opened the limo.
Abi leapt into my arms. Her tears smeared my cheeks as she sought my lips.
“You’re ok.”
I nodded, kissing her. “I’m fine.”
“And Jackie? Where is she?” She searched the ground around the car.
“She’s not coming back.”
Abi’s eyes darted. “Did you? Is she d—”
I held her hand. Ralph had ducked his head out of the limo. “I didn’t kill her, but I offered her a deal. I don’t think you’re going to like it. I’ll explain in the car. Come on. We have to get you to that dinner.”
She rubbed at her eyes. “My mascara is ruined. And the side of my dress is torn. I can’t go like this.”
Ralph held up his phone. “I’ve got this. Emergency crew is on the way, babe. They’ll meet us outside the hotel in five.”
She smiled. “You’re a lifesaver, Ralph.” Her eyes landed on me. “So what is this deal I’m not going to like?”
I wrapped my arms around her and drew her to me. “Just remember when I tell you we’re all alive.”
She pinched her lips together. “It’s that bad?”
I helped her inside the car. I was going to have to drive the rest of the way.
“You’re going to hate it.”
I closed the door behind her. But it didn’t matter. She was safe.
Epilogue
Abi
I rolled on my side. The windows were open and I could smell the salt rolling off the ocean.
“Good morning,” Reid growled into my ear. “Ready to run?”
I smiled. “You want to leave my warm bed for a workout?” I twisted my body to face him.
“We could work out here.”
He pulled me under him and I gasped. We had slept naked. We always slept naked. He pressed his hard erection against my thigh.
