Darkest Ecstasy

by Tawny Taylor

  “I’m sorry, honey. I had a doctor’s appointment.”

  “This early?” Michelle checked her watch.

  “Yes. I’m always the first appointment. I don’t like to wait. You know that. Why do you sound so breathless? Are you exercising ?”

  “No, I was just worried. That’s all.”

  “Well, there’s no reason to get so worked up over me.”

  If only Mom knew. There was good reason.

  “I’m out here, doing my usual thing. My life is a routine. I do the same things at the same time every week. You know that.”

  Same things at the same time? That was probably bad. How easy would it be for the thugs in the CIA to predict where she would be at any given time? “Mom, maybe you should shake things up a bit. Be the last appointment of the day. Do your shopping on a Tuesday.”

  “That’s crazy.” Mom chuckled. “Everyone knows the grocery store discounts their meat on Thursdays.”

  Discounted meat. Mom planned her week around a twenty-cent discount on chicken.

  Michelle opened her laptop and hit the power button. “You live alone. It’s dangerous for you to have a very predictable routine. I saw a story about it on the news last night. The reporter said thieves watch your house for a week or so, and if they see a pattern, they’ll use that to time when they break in.”

  “Honey, I live in Sardinia. There aren’t any thieves in Sardinia.”

  “Sure there are. There are bad people everywhere.”

  “Is there something going on that you’re not telling me? I’ve never heard you talk like this before.”

  Michelle wanted to tell her everything. She wanted to warn her. But she wasn’t sure she needed to yet. She didn’t want to scare her unnecessarily.

  Where the hell was Angela? She needed to get her butt in here. She needed to tell her what was going on.

  Michelle rolled her chair out of her cubbie and leaned to the right to check to see if Angela’s office light was on yet. No light. “Like I said, I just saw a story about a woman being attacked in her home last night. She was your age, lived alone.”

  “Well, if that’s what it takes to get you to call me every once in a while, then I hope the news broadcasts more stories like that. When are you coming home?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Things are crazy here at work.” Scooting her chair back where it belonged, she checked her watch again. It was five after nine. Angela was officially late. She was never late.

  Her mother sighed. “You’re always so busy.”

  “Actually, taking a few days off and getting away from here sounds kind of nice. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I would love that. You know, next weekend is Easter. It would be great to have you home. I could cook a nice dinner.”

  “Or I could take you out for dinner, so you don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen.”

  “But I don’t mind cooking. It’s been ages since I’ve cooked a real meal. All I’ve been eating lately are those little frozen meals. It makes no sense for me to cook for myself.”

  The suite’s main door clicked. Michelle peered around her partition wall.

  Angela.

  “Mom, I’m at work, and the boss just walked in. I have to get going. But I’ll call you later.”

  “Okay. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Bye.” Michelle clicked off and followed Angela to her office. At the door, Angela jerked her head, an invitation to come inside. Michelle shut the door, closing them in. “Did you get my message?”

  “I did.”

  “And . . . ? Will your cousin leave my mom alone now?” Michelle’s heart was thumping so hard, it hurt.

  “I let him know what happened. Good news.” She sat. Her picture-perfect smile stretched from ear to ear. “He’s willing to go back to Plan A as long as you stay out of the picture.”

  “I can do that.”

  Angela’s smile dimmed slightly. “Tage may make that tough for you.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because I talked to him last night. He was a mess.”

  Michelle’s insides clenched. To hear he was hurting was almost as unbearable as seeing the pain in his eyes.

  Angela continued, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up at your place tonight. He thinks he can change your mind.”

  “Ugh. Maybe I should go away for a few days,” she said more to herself than to anyone else.

  “That would be an excellent idea. Absolutely perfect.”

  “I have some vacation days. But I doubt Tom would approve a vacation on such short notice, especially after the screwup . . .”

  “Leave that up to me.”

  “Okay,” Michelle said, doubt thick in her voice as she shuffled toward the door. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t think Angela could pull some strings for her. That, she knew, was entirely possible. It was that slightly unsettled feeling she had in her belly, that she was making a mistake.

  Responding to her tone, Angela looked her in the eye and said, “I know this is rough. It’ll be over soon. The CIA will have what they need from Tage and his brothers and they’ll be arrested. Then both of our lives can go back to normal.”

  Normal.

  That wasn’t happening. No matter whether Tage ended up in prison or not, her life had changed forever. Her former normal would never be. She only hoped she would be able to handle the new normal once it settled in.

  “Thanks,” she said over her shoulder as she exited.

  “No problem.” Smiling again, as if she hadn’t a care in the world, Angela picked up her phone.

  A half hour later, Angela knocked on Michelle’s cubicle wall. “You’re all set to go,” she whispered. “Your vacation was approved.”

  “Great.” Michelle continued typing. The e-mail to a prospective new client needed to go out ASAP, before they found another agency.

  “Power down, girl,” Angela said, poking a manicured finger at her screen. “You’re out of here for a week.”

  Out of here? “What?”

  “Get going. Shoo.” Angela made a shooing motion with her hands. “Hustle, hustle. Your vacation started today.”

  “Today?” Michelle repeated.

  “Yes.”

  “How did you get Tom to agree to that?”

  “I sort of lied.” Angela scrunched her nose. “I told him your mom was sick, and you were too afraid to ask for time off.”

  “Oh. I see.” A big lump of guilt collected in her throat. She tried to swallow it. “Um. Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea . . .”

  “I promise, you won’t get into any trouble.”

  She nodded, stared at her computer for a moment. What should she do? Take her time off? Go tell her boss the truth?

  Angela said, “No one is going to ask for any verification. They aren’t like that here. But if you don’t get going, they may start to wonder what’s up.”

  Michelle poked a few buttons, bringing up her calendar. She had two meetings scheduled with clients in the next couple of days. She needed to reschedule those appointments. And there were the others, all pending, for later in the week. She should contact those people as well and let them know she would have to push out their appointments into next week. “I have some calls to make first.”

  “I already told Tom I would cover for you until you get back. It won’t be a problem at all.”

  “Hmm.” Still somewhat torn, Michelle nodded.

  “I can access your calendar. I’ll call everyone today. I promise.”

  Reluctantly, she hit the power button on her computer. “Okay.” What the heck? She had been through hell and back lately, she’d found out she was pregnant and hadn’t told her mother yet. That right there was going to require a trip home and a face-to-face conversation. And after that scare with the CIA, she’d definitely been feeling guilty about not seeing her mom lately. “Thanks for taking care of this for me.”

  “No problem.” Angela patted her shoulder. “I hope your mom is feeling
better soon.”

  “I’m sure she will be, especially when she sees me.”

  At exactly eleven fifty-five he stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the sixth floor. His heart was in his throat. And it was thumping so hard he couldn’t breathe.

  This had to work. It had to. Michelle had been out of his life for less than twenty-four hours, and already he was on the verge of going mad. He had to talk to her. He had to convince her to change her mind.

  The car bounced as it reached her floor. The doors opened.

  Angela was standing there, in the hallway, waiting. Her eyes met his. Her lips curved into a smile. “Hi, Tage. Heading out for some lunch?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Excuse me.” He hurried past her, heading toward suite 610.

  “If you’re looking for Michelle, she’s gone for the day.”

  His heart constricted.

  Gone.

  Gone?

  He checked his watch. It was only noon. Why had she left work early? “Why did she leave?” This was going to mess up his plans. There wasn’t much time left. “Where did she go? Home? Is she okay?”

  Angela shrugged. “I don’t know where she went. She requested some time off, beginning immediately, and headed out. She seemed okay. She wasn’t sick.”

  Digging in his pocket for his cell phone, he whirled around and raced for the stairs. To hell with the elevator. It would take too long.

  He had to talk to her. Today. Now.

  “I’m sure she’s fine,” Angela shouted after him. “She probably just needed a few days of rest.”

  God he hoped that was true, that she’d taken a little time off to rest, relax, take care of herself. If that were the case, that could work perfectly into his plans.

  He risked a few traffic citations as he sped over to Michelle’s place. His heart was still racing as he jogged up the front walk to the building. It was one of those security buildings, with call buttons. He depressed her button, hoping she would buzz him in. When she didn’t, he tried a different one, spoke into the speaker, “UPS delivery,” and grabbed the door when it unlocked.

  He yanked it open, dashed to the stairs, and stopped.

  She was there, a suitcase in her hand. “Tage.”

  A suitcase.

  A surge of emotion blasted through him. She was leaving him. Leaving. “Where are you going?”

  “That’s none of your business.”

  That was true. But it hurt like hell, the words slicing through him like a razor. “I’m not here to fight with you.”

  “Good.” She indicated the door with her head. “Excuse me, I need to go.”

  She sounded so cold. But the pain he saw in her eyes belied the cool detachment he heard in her voice.

  “Michelle, what’s going on? Please, give me five minutes. Just five.”

  “I have to leave.” She pushed past him, but he caught her wrist. She spun around and glared down at his fist, wrapped tightly around her arm. “Tage, if you don’t let me go right now, I’ll press charges.”

  “Michelle.”

  Her eyes wouldn’t lift to his.

  He said her name again, letting her hear his anguish. “Michelle.”

  He waited, his heart thumping against his breastbone. One second, two, three. At last her eyes lifted.

  They were filled with confusion, pain.

  The urge to pull her into his arms and hold her rushed through him. But he didn’t act upon it. From the tension he saw in her body, he knew she would run if he even tried. Or scream. Either way, it wouldn’t help. Instead he forced himself to loosen his hold on her. It nearly killed him.

  She eased her arm out of his grip. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  Sorry? “For what?” he asked.

  “For not being what you needed me to be.”

  “I don’t understand. When did I ask you to be anything but yourself?”

  “That’s not what I meant.” Sighing, she looked left, right. “I have to go.”

  “Where are you going?”

  She opened her mouth, as if to speak, but then closed it. “Away. So you can marry Angela. So you can forget about me.” On the move again, she shoved open the main exit door. But he yanked it shut before she’d gotten through it, grabbed her by the shoulders, and pinned her against the wall.

  Her eyes jerked to his.

  This time he saw fear.

  “I won’t hurt you,” he vowed.

  “I know.” Her lip trembled.

  “Then why are you so afraid?”

  She blinked. Once. Again. “I can’t tell you.”

  A chill swept through him. This wasn’t about a simple disagreement or misunderstanding. Michelle was terrified. She was running.

  She had found out.

  “What do you know?” he asked.

  “About what?” Her gaze locked on his.

  Yes, he’d struck the truth “About me? About my brothers?”

  “I don’t know anything.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  Her chest began rising and falling swiftly. Her eyes reddened. “Please, let me go. If you care at all about me, you’ll just let me go.”

  He took her wrist and pulled her into the building, to her door. “Unlock it. Let’s go inside and talk.”

  “No, I have to leave.”

  “Five more minutes.”

  “That’s what you said ten minutes ago.”

  “You exaggerate.” He checked his watch. “It’s only been eight minutes.”

  She scoffed, yanked.

  He didn’t release her.

  She swung a little fist at his belly. It didn’t hurt.

  He didn’t release her.

  She kicked a knee toward his nuts. He blocked it just before it made contact.

  He lifted a foot, slammed it into the door, and it flew open, banged against the wall inside and bounced shut again. With a shoulder, he opened it, dragged her inside, then kicked it closed.

  Taking full advantage of their difference in size, he cornered her between the door and the coat closet. “We’re alone. Talk to me.”

  “I can’t. I have to go.” She ducked and tried to wriggle past him.

  He rammed his arms out, caging her body between them. “What are you afraid of?”

  She blinked and a big, fat tear dribbled down her cheek. “Please. Let me go. Marry Angela.”

  “You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

  Another chill swept through him.

  It was the Chimera. It had to be.

  “Who?”

  “My mother.” She pushed on his chest, weakly. “Please, let me go. They’ll kill her if I don’t do what they say.”

  “Damn.” The Chimera had already found them? So soon? How? “We can protect her.”

  Sobbing softly, she dragged her hands across her face. “They know where she lives. They’ll get to her before we could.”

  “Trust me.” He caught her hands in his. He pressed a soft kiss to her fingertips. “Please, Michelle.”

  “I . . . I’m scared.” Her little body trembled against his.

  Dammit, he had to protect her. “Please, trust me.” He cupped her cheek and stared into her eyes. There was so much raw emotion in them, so much terror and worry. All he wanted to do was make it all go away. “Please.”

  She sobbed. “Tage, I don’t know what to believe.” She dropped her head onto his chest and wept, and he pulled her into his arms and held her until the tears stopped. Even then, she trembled. “Is what they said true? Are you a terrorist?”

  “That’s what they want you to believe.”

  “Do you have some kind of weapon in your house?”

  “No, not a weapon.”

  “What is it?”

  “I can’t tell you any more until I know if you’re willing to trust me completely. You have to trust me with your life. The life of our child. The life of your mother.”

  That wa
s asking a lot. He knew that. He wasn’t sure he would get the response he was hoping for.

  This truly was that final moment, the one that would determine which direction his life would take. Michelle now knew some of his secrets. She understood there was danger, risk. What would she do? Would she walk away, find someone else, someone safe who would love her and give her a safe, ordinary life? Or would she choose him?

  The agony was almost unbearable.

  24

  It was true. Oh God, it was true. Michelle was going to pass out.

  Little pinpoints of white light were sparkling before her eyes. It felt like the air was thin. No oxygen. Her knees were getting soft.

  She was sinking. Falling.

  The blackness descended upon her like a heavy blanket tossed from high above. And then she was on her bed. Tage was standing over her, his face tight.

  Something was ringing. Her phone?

  She started to sit up but he held her in place, hands on her shoulders.

  “No, don’t move so quickly,” he said. “You’ll pass out again.”

  “My phone.” Her voice was weak, shaky.

  “I’ll get it.” He jogged out into the living room. Seconds later, he returned, her purse in his hands. “It sounds like it’s in here.”

  “Thanks.” She fished her phone out of the pocket and hit the button to see who had called. It was her mom. She’d left a message.

  A few pokes later the message was playing.

  “Hi, honey, this is Mom. I can’t wait to see you today. Please drive safely. I’ll be ready for you when you arrive, with a nice meal. Don’t eat any of that junk on the road. I love you.” Then there was a bang. Mom. “Who are you? What... ?” A scream.

  Michelle’s heart stopped.

  The phone slipped from her hand.

  “No,” she muttered.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  Her stomach flipped. Again. She gagged, tried to jump off the bed, but Tage swept her into his arms.

  She vomited on him.

  “Oh God,” she said between heaves as he hurried her into the bathroom.

  “What happened?” he asked as he gently placed her on the floor beside the toilet.

  “Someone . . .” She swallowed hard. “Attacked.”

  “We’ll help her,” he said calmly as he gently stroked her hair back from her face. “It’s me they want, my brothers and me. Not her. They won’t harm her.”