Being Free (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lee Rose

  “Where is he now?”

  Anna whispered softly, looking away from Blake. “Dead.”

  “Shit, honey. I better just shut my mouth,” he muttered.

  Anna patted his hand in a comforting gesture. “It’s okay, Blake. I survived and here I am to clean your office.”

  She got up and started putting papers in files. Keeping busy was the easiest way to banish bad memories.

  * * * *

  Blake watched her work quietly, keeping the rest of his questions to himself. Maybe she had lived through her dark days but had her soul been damaged? He found that a sad thought and he wanted to promise her life would be better but he couldn’t promise her that. He knew nothing of what was going on in her life or what she was running from. She made him feel protective toward her. She tried so hard to act brave, but he could see the apprehension in her eyes. He had seen a lot of awful things in all his years in the military and a part of him he thought had died was coming back to life with a vengeance—his heart. He knew she had a story to tell and he wanted to hear it as soon as she was ready. He got up and let her clean without disturbing her. He had to rethink his whole policy of not getting involved with a woman. He was afraid he already was.

  Chapter 7

  “I’m done for today, Blake,” Anna announced at the end of the day.

  Blake watched her stretch her arms over her head and arch her back, making her full breasts stand out. Desire hit him pretty quickly and he was glad he was still wearing his blue jumpsuit so she wouldn’t see how she affected him. He was as hard as a rock and he hadn’t even touched her.

  “I’ll finish the last little touches tomorrow. Maybe my truck will be done and I can move on.” She had a hopeful look on her face.

  “Maybe.” He shrugged, not liking the thought of never seeing her again.

  He looked at his office and saw his desk was clear. He had the same confused look Sam had worn a few hours earlier. She laughed and patted his arm in a comforting gesture. “Don’t worry, you’ll be able to find everything. I swear.”

  He couldn’t resist any excuse to touch her and get close enough to smell her perfume. She smelled like wildflowers. “Thanks, honey. That was a lot of work you accomplished today.”

  “I’ll drive you to the motel,” he offered graciously, thinking of a way he could ask her to have dinner with him. He was man enough to admit that one night with Anna was not enough. Usually women came on to him and he didn’t have to make much of an effort but Anna wasn’t flirting with him or giving him hints that she wanted more than the one night they had. It confused him. This was why he didn’t like relationships. Relationships were confusing and involved too many emotions.

  “That’s okay. Victor is taking me to the grocery store. I need to buy a few things,” she answered, grabbing her wallet that she had laid on the desk. “But I’ll be here tomorrow bright and early to finish up. I really liked getting my hands on this office.”

  Victor walked in and interrupted their conversation. “Ready to go, Anna?”

  “I can take her, Vic. I have food to buy, too,” Blake said in a hurry. He felt jealous of Victor getting to spend time with Anna. “Don’t you have a date to get ready for?”

  Victor must have caught on and just gave his brother a smile. “Um yeah, I do so I’ll get out of here. See you both in the morning.”

  Victor waved cheerfully and went to his car, getting in and driving off.

  “Are you sure, Blake? I don’t want to be a bother.” Anna gave him a worried look.

  He kissed the crinkles in her forehead. “It’s not a bother, honey. You need food. I need food. Come upstairs with me while I shower. Then we’ll head out to the store. I usually hate grocery shopping but tonight I’ll have company.”

  Anna followed him around the back of his shop and up a flight of stairs to his place. He opened the heavy wooden door and she followed him in, closing the door behind her. The windows were large and let the natural light in. She stepped into the living room and saw a long black couch with a huge flat-screen TV in front of it. She smiled. Men and their TVs.

  He grabbed the remote of the coffee table and turned the TV on for her. “I’ll be right back, honey. Make yourself at home.”

  He wandered off down a dark hallway and Anna sat down. She looked behind her and saw the kitchen. There were no walls. It was separated by a breakfast counter with two barstools in front of it. He had furniture but not many pictures. There were only two hanging on the wall and her curiosity got the better of her. She walked up to them and saw one was a recent picture of him with his two brothers and the other was Blake and some men all dressed up in army gear. She smiled at the pictures. Why was Blake so attractive? She needed to remember she would be on the road again soon. The thought was totally depressing.

  She heard the water running and was tempted to join him. Would he reject her or welcome her? She went and sat on the couch before she gave in to temptation. She leaned back against the couch pillows and found it soft and cushiony. She yawned as the news came on and she tried to pay attention but she was so tired still from her late night with Blake. Her heavy eyes had been closing slowly when she heard the announcer say the name, Ben Matthews.

  Anna sat up, the feeling of exhaustion leaving her body in an instant. She scooted closer to the TV.

  The news announcer was asking anyone if they had any information on Anna Marie Lopez from Reno, Nevada. She was a person of interest in the murder of Benjamin Matthews.

  Tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Oh God, she had to get out of here and now. How many people in this town had seen her and were probably picking up their phones right this minute? Santiago would soon know where she was and he had no desire to question her. Only to kill her.

  Her breathing was rapid and she couldn’t think clearly. Her chest felt tight with fear. She looked around for her backpack and felt a little dizzy, seeing spots in front of her eyes. She wouldn’t be able to get her clothes from the motel room and she didn’t care but she needed her gun.

  “You’re hyperventilating, Anna, or should I say Anna Marie?” Blake said, coming into the room, freshly showered and dressed in jeans and a snug black T-shirt. Obviously he had heard the news. What if he called the police, too?

  She turned and ran for the door in a panic but he moved like lightning and grabbed her around the waist before she even reached the door.

  In her panic she screamed and started kicking out at him.

  “Stop it, Anna. I am not calling the police. Calm down now!” he yelled, his voice deep and firm. That alone got through to her and she fell against his body.

  Sobs wracked her, shaking her body, but Blake held on, not letting her fall to the floor. He stroked her hair and said, “Come on, take a deep breath, baby. It’s okay.”

  She kept on crying. It was as if now that the floodgates were open she could no longer contain her tears. Blake patiently held her and rocked her on his lap until she stopped. She wiped her red, swollen eyes and looked around. They were sitting on the couch with her on his lap but she didn’t remember getting there.

  “I’m too heavy,” she protested but he held her tighter.

  “Oh please, you’re a lightweight.”

  “Did you hear?” She felt him nod his head as she leaned against his chest. “I didn’t kill Ben.”

  “I know that, baby. I heard the love and sadness in your voice when you spoke about him,” he assured her, using his hands to rub her back in a circular motion. “But you know who did?”

  “Santiago, my ex,” she whispered softly and full of fear. She felt cold and goose bumps arose on her arms. “Well, one of his men did the actual shooting.”

  “Will you tell me the truth now, Anna? Or do you want to be on the run and alone forever.”

  Anna let out a tired sigh and confessed. “I’m so tired of running, of being scared and alone. Some days I want to give up and just let Santiago catch me. At least it will be all over once and for all.”

>   But you’re too stubborn to just give up like that.” Blake said it as a statement and not a question.

  “It is my fault Ben died. I have to live with that guilt. All he wanted to do was protect me from Santiago. He told me Santiago was bad news but I was so wrapped up in what I thought was true love I ignored his warnings over and over.” She stood up, getting agitated at thinking of his death. He had had so many dreams he never got the chance to fulfill. “Ever since we were little he protected me. He died protecting me. How can I sit down and give up and make his death worthless?” She wiped her eyes with her hands.

  Blake stood up and pulled her back to the couch to sit next to him. “Will you trust me with the truth?”

  “Oh, Blake, don’t you know how much I do trust you? I would never have let you touch me if I didn’t. I’m just afraid for you, your family, and your friends. It is better if I just disappear and move on. Santiago and his men will show up here soon and kill everyone.”

  He snorted. “I’m not scared of Santiago. He is just a man, Anna.”

  “I know that he is just a man who bleeds like anyone else but he has power and money. He has many people on his payroll and that makes him dangerous,” she explained.

  “Who is he, Anna?” Blake asked, tilting her face toward him so he could see her expressive eyes. “I hear the fear in your voice. Tell me.”

  “Santiago Martinez is a business man from Reno. He owns two large casinos and is wealthy from that but he also deals in drugs. I don’t know a lot of details. I do my best to stay out of that part of his business but I know it exists. Killing comes so easy for him. All he has to do is snap his fingers and someone is there ready to do the deed. He is evil, Blake.” She felt the fear overtake her all over again and her chest was tight with so many emotions. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. “I have to leave now. I’m sure someone reported me by now and I’m sure Santiago now knows where I am. Will my truck run? Can I make it to Phoenix or further?”

  “Let me help you, Anna.”

  “Why?” she yelled, not in anger but in fear. She couldn’t handle Blake’s death on her conscious. He meant more to her than a casual fling. She cared for him even if he didn’t feel the same for her. “Santiago will come here and kill you, Blake! What if Victor or Sam or Melody is here?” She couldn’t handle another death on her conscience.

  Before he could answer, a knock came from the door. Anna froze, looking around in a panic for a place to run and hide.

  Chapter 8

  “Blake? It’s me. Victor.”

  Blake walked toward the door as Anna looked out the window nervously. So many things became clear to him now. She had good reason to be suspicious and now he saw why she was driving a piece of shit truck that she bought off of some stranger. He said a silent prayer that she had made it as far as his town. What if she had broken down in the middle of the desert? Anna was sweet even though she tried to portray herself as tough, but she probably had to act that way around this Santiago character. His heart ached for her. He could see the real fear in her eyes when she spoke of her ex. Well, no way was he letting her wander the roads alone and running in fear. At that moment he admitted to himself that Anna had unknowingly worked her way into his heart. Blake slowly opened the door a crack. “You alone?” Victor nodded grimly and Blake let him in and locked the door behind him.

  “You saw the news?”

  Victor nodded his head yes and looked worriedly at Anna who stood peeking out the window from behind the curtain. “What is going on?”

  “Anna is running from her ex,” Blake stated simply, not sure if he wanted his brothers involved or not. It was his job to protect his brothers. They would argue with him about that but he felt responsible for them as the oldest. Santiago Martinez sounded dangerous. He had met many of those types of men during his many missions over the ongoing drug war. They had no care for people other than what they could do for them. How did someone as sweet as Anna get involved with a man like that?

  “Yes, but don’t worry, Vic. I’m leaving town,” she stated firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Right now.”

  Victor looked at Blake and ignored her statement. “So you have a plan, bro?”

  “No, he doesn’t,” Anna answered in a firm voice, not letting Blake answer. “He is keeping his nosy butt out of this.”

  Blake arched his brow at her snappy attitude and tried to get a smile out of her. “I thought you said my butt was perfect?”

  Anna blushed and huffed. “Blake, this is serious. You can get hurt. I can’t let that happen. I have to protect you.”

  Blake enveloped her in a big hug and picked her up off her feet. He was so touched by her simple statement. As the oldest Murphy brother, he was used to doing the protecting and fixing his brother’s problems. “Thank you for caring, honey, but I can take care of myself. And yes, I know you can, too, but it will be better if we try to get you out of this legally first. If that doesn’t work, we’ll come up with something else.”

  * * * *

  Anna straightened her blouse. She was so tempted to lean on Blake and let him come up with a plan. She was physically drained but she couldn’t let harm come to him and his family. She was just a stranger passing through and being a burden was the last thing she wanted. She went and sat on the couch and Blake sat close to her. Victor sat in the recliner as they waited for her to explain her side.

  “I went to the police recently in Reno, Blake. Santiago threw me down some stairs and put me in the hospital. I filed charges and he told them I purposely fell down the stairs because I was mad that I had caught him with another woman and they believed him. They refused to do anything and he took me home with him. He has a lot of power. I am sure the sergeant I spoke to was one of Santiago’s men. Who knows how many he has on his payroll. I do they can’t be trusted.”

  Anna was caught up in the memory of catching him with one of the waitresses from his casino, but she had been so passed caring at that point. She just wanted out of the relationship and her old normal life back.

  She took a deep calming breath and let it out again slowly. She shook the old memories off and continued with her story. “I tried the legal way. It doesn’t work, Blake. It’s so unfair but that’s the way it is. Those with the money and power set the rules of the game.”

  Victor and Blake sat on the couch quietly, waiting for Anna to continue with her story.

  “Santiago took me home from the hospital. I had a few cracked ribs and I was bruised up pretty bad but Santiago said he would hire a private nurse and the doctor released me. When he went downstairs to take care of a problem, I packed a bag and called Ben. I went outside to wait and one of his guards, Kyle, tried dragging me back inside. Ben came and fought with him and Kyle shot Ben. I fainted and woke up back inside our bedroom. Santiago was waiting for me to wake up. He said he was glad that Ben was finally out of the way, that Ben deserved to die because he was coming between us.” Anna started to cry again and Blake’s arm immediately went around her.

  She sniffed and leaned on him, It felt good to lean on someone even for a moment. “One of his guards always followed me if Santiago wasn’t with me. Ben had been trying to convince me to leave him for more than a year and I tried a few times but he always found me and dragged me home. Santiago knew Ben would always be there to help me and he was jealous. He said I was his property. Even though he slept around I wasn’t allowed even one friend.”

  “How did you get away?” Victor asked, sympathy shining out of his eyes instead of the judgment she had expected to see there.

  “Andrew knew Santiago hit me on a regular basis. Santiago sent me to work out because he said I was too fat,” Anna explained, looking down and still feeling the humiliation she had felt when he had told her that.

  Blake said some explicit words under his breath and Anna couldn’t help but smile.

  “Andrew taught me self-defense and helped me gain muscles and not just lose weight. He said one day I would find the strength to de
fend myself and he was right. When Santiago sat there smiling that Ben was dead and said Kyle deserved a bonus for ridding our lives of that pest, I lost it. He actually thought I would stay with him and continue our life as if nothing happened. I got up and asked him where Kyle was. He smiled and said he sent the men downstairs so we could have a romantic night. He promised to try hard not to cheat on me.”

  She felt the anger rise again as she remembered how he had hugged her and squeezed her ass. She remembered his unfeeling words as if hadn’t just hurt her. “You are sexy, Cara, but a man has needs for variety once in a while. But if it upsets you that much I will do my best to be a faithful husband.”

  “We’re not married.” She was still in shock and couldn’t think clearly.

  “I have decided we should get married. I have never wanted that with anyone else. You can plan it. Money is no object.” He smiled as if giving her a great honor.

  Anna shook her head and cried loudly. “You are crazy, Santiago. You just had my best friend killed. You always cheat on me. You threw me down the stairs and broke my ribs and you talk marriage!”

  His eyes narrowed angrily and he slapped her across the face. “Watch your tone, Cara.”

  Anna took a deep breath, coming back to the present. She told Blake and Victor with satisfaction. “That night I finally fought back. I couldn’t save Ben but I finally fought back. I just started hitting out at him. I’m sure I broke his pretty nose and I kicked him hard in the balls. I heard his screams as I ran out to the elevator. My duffel bag was still on the floor so I grabbed it, took a cab to an ATM machine, and got on a bus going out of town. I didn’t care where it was headed as long as it was away from Reno.”