“God, you’re amazing,” he murmurs, planting soft kisses against my neck. “Tell me what you want.”
“Everything,” I reply.
He slides his mostly naked body against me; his erection massages between my thighs. My hands rove over his ass, and I am about to peel his trunks away when the dogs blowup into loud, aggressive barking and growls. Jonathan immediately stops and stands.
“Put on some clothes,” he says while quickly slipping into his old worn jeans that are draped over the chair.
“You think something is wrong?” I ask, throwing a T-shirt over my head.
“Yes. They never behave that way unless something isn’t right.” He fishes through his bag for something. I suspect his gun.
Within seconds, the landline rings.
“Hello,” Jonathan answers. “Yeah, we’re inside. The dogs went crazy…” He pulls the gun out of the bag and loads it. “Yes, I have it… She’s fine. I’m looking at her now. What! Fine… Please, as soon as you know something. I won’t be responsible for what I do if they come near this house.” He returns the phone to the cradle.
“What’s wrong?”
“Something triggered the perimeter the FBI set around the house. Four agents are checking it out now. They think they see a heat signature of what looks like two people. They want us to stay inside and to switch on all the outdoor lights.”
“Do you think they’re coming after me?”
“I don’t know, Babe, but I’m here. Don’t worry. The signal came from an area closer to the side road.”
“But if the dogs are barking, they must have heard something. They must be close by.”
“They’re on it… and I’m here. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you,” he says, folding me in his arms tightly.
We go into the living room and shut all the draperies and blinds with the flick of a switch. I switch on all the lights, including the ones that illuminate the pathway down to the beach.
I am on edge, and I can barely keep still, and the dogs won’t stop barking. I’m not sure if it’s because of my energy or because something is wrong outside.
“It’s going to be okay, Sweetheart.” Jonathan pulls me into his arms. We cuddle on the couch. My heart is racing, my palms are sweaty, and I’m tense.
Jonathan tells the dogs to be quiet, and they do for the most part, but they won’t stop growling, patrolling the glass bifold doors and sniffing.
We sit together, but I sense Jonathan too is uneasy. His firearm is mere inches away. He constantly glances at his watch, and every few minutes, he gets up and pokes outside through the small gaps between the draperies.
Forty-five minutes later, we hear a single gunshot, and the dogs explode once more.
He holds my hand and leads me to the bedroom. I climb into bed, and he picks up the phone and calls Phillip.
“What did you find? We heard that gunshot a few minutes ago… The dogs still sense them… Okay. Keep them away from this property. Thanks.”
He ends the call.
“They’re in pursuit of two men now.”
“What!”
I chew my thumbnail. Since Richard was killed, I’ve experienced many different forms of intense fear, but this has to be the worse. The possibility of someone trying to hurt me or trying to take my life away seems like it’s more and more becoming a reality. The phone rings again, and after a short conversation, Jonathan ends the call.
“Two men have been arrested, but they may be innocent in this. They’re being questioned right now.”
“What made them think they might be innocent?”
“They were in hunting gear. They don’t know for sure yet. Phillip will let us know in the morning.”
“What if they were trying to hunt me down?”
“Don’t worry. Try to get some rest. If that’s what they were trying to do, they’re in custody right now, so you’re safe. Come on, Babe. Let’s try to get some sleep. They’ll call me if it’s important. Otherwise, they’ll text.”
I’m apprehensive, but he dims the lights and pulls me in his arms.
Jonathan’s ringing phone startles us awake the next morning.
“Hey, Pierce. No. I’m out of town. What’s up? Today? What could be so urgent? Okay. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“What’s going on?” I ask after he ends the call.
“I don’t know,” he replies, looking at his phone. “Something’s wrong with my mom.”
“I’m sorry. Is she going to be okay?”
“I don’t know. Pierce told me she was at the hospital for a short while last night, and she asked to see all of us today. I’m sorry, Babe, but I’m going to have to head home early.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No. Be alert when you’re outside. Douglas confirmed these men were hunters last night. They were still arrested because they were doing it illegally.”
“Oh my God.”
“He says the wildlife people say no one should be hunting in this area at this time of year.”
“I hope you’re right; that was a nerve racking experience.”
“I know. But the FBI is doing its job. They’ll keep you safe. Try not to worry.”
He heads into the shower, and I make him a sandwich and a cup of coffee that he can take with him. I’m concerned about his mom. I hope everything is all right. Then again, it couldn’t possibly be or she wouldn’t be asking for an immediate family meeting.
I return to the room and help him pack his bags while he gets dressed.
“By the way, Phillip told me about that necklace. Promise me that you’ll wear it.”
“Jonathan.”
“Jada, please. It will put my mind at ease. When I’m with you, you can do what you want. But I trust Phillip. He’s never let me down as a friend. He and the rest of the team are my eyes when I’m not here. They’re doing this to protect you.”
“But—”
He pulls me into his arms and gazes into my eyes. “Please don’t fight me on this. It’s for your safety.”
“Okay… fine…” I reply reluctantly then I follow him to the garage. I hand him his coffee and sandwich.
“Thanks, Babe. I’ll call you as soon as I’m settled. Go back to bed. You haven’t gotten much rest.”
He kisses me lightly on my lips and backs out of the garage.
“And activate the alarm,” he says.
I nod, watch him leave, close the door, and take his advice and return to bed after ensuring the alarm is on.
After all the drama, it’s only then my mind drifts back to what those hunters interrupted last night. I smile and return to sleep, hoping that when I wake, whatever is going on with Jonathan’s mom is a minor issue.
I wake three hours later. After going through my daily routine, I look through the photos I took yesterday. Jonathan is so gorgeous. I impress myself with some of the awesome shots I managed to get of him. I’ve never been good at portraits or people, but I suppose I had a very intriguing and handsome subject. I still haven’t given him a birthday present. While I look through the photos, I suddenly get an idea. It will at least occupy my mind for the next few hours.
I endeavor to make him a hard covered picture book of our day together. It will also come with a DVD. I check the specks from a site I found online, and I get to work. I have no shortage of photography. The hard part is thinking of a quote or phrase to accompany each picture. Eventually, I settle on putting my own personal thoughts about what I was thinking about when I captured each scene.
It’s a great task but one I enjoy, also one I find highly therapeutic. It is while I go through this process of writing my feelings down, I come to the realization that my feelings for Jonathan run so much deeper than what a rebound relationship would look like. I start to realize that what I feel is real and not some fantasy.
While I admit that I still have feelings of guilt, they have nothing to do with how I feel about Jonathan, but everything to do with my feelings or lack
thereof for Richard. I’m still not certain that I would have felt this way had I not walked in on him and Koto, or all that I’ve discovered since his death, but at this point, I’m not so sure that it even makes a difference.
I am finally done. I complete an almost hundred-page book, I place my order, and when I look at my watch, it’s almost 7PM.
My regular cell rings. The call is from a private number.
“Hello,” I answer.
There’s no response. After a second and a third hello with no response, I’m about to hang up, when I can suddenly hear heavy breathing at the other end of the line. Goose bumps cover my body.
“Watch your back. You might end up six feet under,” the muffled voice says then the call ends.
I immediately call Phillip.
“Yes, Jada. We heard that; we’re trying to trace where that call came from now.”
“Am I safe here?”
“Yes. No heat signatures are showing up on the radars around the house. Cameras are normal…”
I’m a little edgy after that call, but as I glance at my watch, I cannot believe the day has gone by. Furthermore, it’s extremely bizarre that I haven’t heard from Jonathan. I fix myself some tea, cuddle up on the couch in front of the fireplace, and call him.
“Hey,” he answers.
“Hi. What’s going on? Everything okay?”
He hesitates, and this tells me something is wrong.
“My mom has heart disease… She has two damaged arteries and it will require surgery.”
I close my eyes and take a deep breath as the words sink in.
“I’m so sorry. Where is she?”
“She’s been admitted to the hospital. They are preparing her for surgery on Tuesday.”
“How is she emotionally and mentally?”
“She’s putting up a brave front, but I know she’s scared.”
“What about you?”
“I can’t believe it. I have to get over that quickly though… Tuesday will be here in no time.”
“May I call her?”
“I’m sure she’d love to hear from you. She’s not trying to keep it a secret. She wanted to tell us first. She started having all these symptoms, and she thought they were because of Dad’s death, but when she had worsening chest pain, she went to the doctor. He wanted to admit her immediately, but she wanted to tell us first.”
“I’m so sorry about this. How are Megan and the rest of your family?”
“The boys are fine. Megan is afraid that she just lost Dad and she’ll lose Mom too.”
“This is done with success all the time, though. This is not a lost cause. It won’t be easy, but she can fight this.”
“I know… but there are always risks associated with this type of surgery. After Dad’s sudden departure, we’re all a little antsy about this.”
“Are there other options?”
“If it were detected earlier… but at this point… no.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.”
“Are you staying the night at the hospital?”
“Maybe… We’re going to try to manage our time so at least one of us is always with her.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“You’re doing it already… Thank you for being here.” He puts me on hold then returns shortly after. “I’m sorry, Babe, I have to go. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I lie. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Baby. Bye.”
I end the call, feeling empty. I wish there was more I could do, and on the spur-of-the-moment, I call Phillip and tell him I’m going back to San Francisco tonight.
I pack my things and get the dogs ready. I head home, escorted by the FBI. It’s eleven o’clock when I arrive. I get the dogs settled into their new surroundings at my penthouse. Then I send Jonathan a text telling him I’m back in San Francisco. He’ll be coming by.
When he walks into my condo, he folds me in his arms for what feels like an eternity. I know this is rough on him, but I hope my presence here can make some sort of a difference.
“Thank you so much for coming here.”
“No worries. I wanted you to know that I’m here if you need me for anything at all.”
He cups my head in his hands, and he kisses me softly on my lips.
“Who’s with her now?”
“Between midnight and 8AM, she’ll be alone. We’ll stay with her in four-hour shifts. She insists that we do not disrupt our lives because of her, but we want to make sure someone is always with her to show her some love and support.”
“What’s the most difficult shift?”
“The first of the day. We all have jobs or businesses that we need to open and get things in place—”
“Well, I’ll take on that one. Between the rest of you, you can figure out how the rest will work.”
“Jada, you don’t have to do this.”
“I know. But I want to. I have the time. I think it’s the least I can do.”
“You amaze me,” he says, hugging me again.
“Have you eaten today?”
“Not since this morning.”
“Come, I’ll make you something,” I say, leading the way to the kitchen.
Maggie and Micky come running out from the patio when they hear his voice.
He collapses on the sofa and the dogs surround his feet. He’s very quiet, which for Jonathan can mean anything. I find it so hard to read him sometimes. He swallows the sandwich and fruit that I hand him but doesn’t say much.
“Did you want to stay the night? I could run you a hot bath.”
“I don’t know… I came here because I wanted to see you.”
“I think you’re a bit overwhelmed right now. You’ll feel better after you get some rest. Feel free to stay over, or if you prefer, I can drive you home tonight.”
“No. I’ll stay. I’ll leave early in the morning and take the dogs with me. After helping me with my mom, you don’t need to worry about taking care of them too.”
“Whatever makes you happy.”
“Do you know how long you’ll be here?”
“As long as you need me.” I kiss him tenderly.
“You’ve been wonderful to my family and me.”
“And you and your family have been wonderful to me. Come on… let’s go to bed,” I say, pulling him to his feet.
I throw his clothing into the washer and dryer and climb into bed while he showers. Fifteen minutes later, while I read a book, he waltzes out of the bathroom in my blue silk bathrobe.
I giggle. “Nice outfit.”
“You like?” he asks, twirling around.
“It makes your eyes pop,” I laugh.
“You know, if you and I are going to make a habit of this, I suggest the least we can do is always have some personal belongings handy.”
“Counselor, do me a favor when you speak to me and leave out all the suggestive dialogue. Just come out and say or ask me what you want to ask.”
“Okay, fine. I need a drawer.”
“Sure,” I reply, getting out of bed and walking into my closet.
I empty one of the drawers, putting its contents on the bench in the room.
“Here… that’s yours.”
“Thanks,” he replies.
I smirk at him.
“See how easy that was? And you can have the ones on your side of the bed too.”
He grins at me and follows me into the bedroom. A while later, he pulls his clothing out of the dryer, he slips into his trunks, and gets into bed.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“It was fine. Quiet.” I neglect to tell him about the call, because right now, with all that he’s dealing with and his mother’s health, I don’t want him worrying about me too.
For now, I have the FBI looking out for me. I’ll tell him about the call when this is all over.
Before I head to the hospital the following morning, I pick up some breakfast a
nd flowers to surprise Caroline. I’m now acutely aware of the black FBI SUV that’s on my tail. The tag is the same as the one that escorted me home last night. I guess because of that phone call, the FBI now has me under constant surveillance.
I knock gently on the door. I hear her faint, “Come in,” and I enter the room.
“Good morning. How are you?” I ask, kissing Caroline on her cheek.
“Jada. I’m fine. I thought you were out of town.”
“I was. Jonathan told me the news, and I wanted to be here. I brought you some breakfast.”
“Thank you. For the flowers too. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Here… eat.” I place the food on the tray before her.
“Are you really fine, Darling?”
“I am… I think,” I answer hesitantly. “In the face of all my adversity, I’ve found some… what I think I can call healthy distractions.”
“Charles really believed in you.”
“Yes, he did. Your husband was more than a lawyer to me in some of my darkest hours.”
“What about Jonathan?” she asks while she eats.
“Until recently, Jonathan was… how do I say without sounding cliché… complicated. Since he recused himself from my case, we have a much more honest and open relationship.”
“Is that all?” she asks with a wry smile.
“No. That’s not all, but I’m treading very carefully when it comes to your son. I’m not going to hurt him if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“That’s not what I’m suggesting at all.” She smiles. “You’ve been there for my son greatly in the last few weeks. Despite the fact that you’re dealing with some very heavy issues of your own…”
“I care about him—deeply. He’s important to me,” I reply, looking her in the eye. “Frankly, focusing on the needs of others is probably the best thing I can do for myself right now.”
“Well, thank you for being there for my son and, by extension, my family.”
“Caroline, it hasn’t all been one sided. You could have judged me like much of the media and believed I was guilty. You welcomed me into your home at the height of my difficulty. You have no idea how much that means to me.”
Love, Lies & The D.A. Page 24
