He searched my eyes for a fraction of a second, before tearing them away and looking back at the pendulum on my desk. “You’re happy.”
I nodded trying to think of the words to say. “Hunt… you and I…” I wanted to tell him that I once was in love with him. That it was a hard choice to make, that saying ‘yes’ was difficult. I wanted to tell him that he had a place in my heart all of this time. I wanted to tell him that if things were different, and I never met Adrian, that he and I would be together, and that it would be his ring on my finger right now. I wanted to tell him all those things because those were the words he wanted to hear.
I let my words trail off because, as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t tell him those things. I loved Hunter, yes, but not in the way that he loved me now. When I left the military, there was nothing positive in my heart, and it was Adrian, who found his own place within me. The decision was never difficult, because since we started it was either Adrian or no one at all, and I couldn’t picture anyone’s ring on my finger but his. So I couldn’t tell Hunter the lies he needed feel better, which for some reason saddened me more.
“I know.” He sighed running a hand through his dark hair. “You don’t have to say anything.”
I had to ask the question aloud, “So where do we go from here?”
“Do you want me gone?” He asked looking at me, for the first time in a while, his eyes holding surprise, and for some reason a touch of fear.
It would have been better for him to go, considering I knew how he felt, and I knew my choice. I smiled at him weakly, “Would it be selfish of me if I told you I don’t want you to leave?”
He cracked a weak smile of his own. “Yes, it would be very selfish, but you will get your way Alyssa. For some reason I don’t feel compelled to leave either. We found each other again for a reason—”I started to reply but he silenced me with a raised eyebrow. “—and not just to help you get Juan and yourself back home. No… I’m meant to be here.” I rested my head on his shoulder in relief as he continued. “Besides it’s not over yet, you haven’t said ‘I do’.”
“You better not let anyone outside this door hear you say that.” I teased, resting my head on his shoulder in relief. He wasn’t going anywhere, and his jokes told me that being around wouldn’t be too painful. He was my only friend before anything happened to me, and I didn’t want to lose him.
He chuckled deeply into the top of my hair. “I know, I don’t even think the girls could save me then, not that they wouldn’t help. In all seriousness Alyssa, I know I’m meant to be here, just not as your lover like I assumed. I just need to find where I fit.”
“You can fit anywhere you want to.” I promised. It took me a few seconds of silence to realize what could have been mistaken as a double meaning, and my head shot up immediately in fear of hurting him. Instead, his wicked grin and wink made me punch him in the arm.
He rubbed it dramatically though there was no strength behind my jab. “I’m not sticking around to be a walking bruise.”
I ignored his threat and stood up ending the conversation. “Yeah, well I want to get this case done before I get married please.”
———————
“All of the preparations have been made, and the place looks fantastic.” Joanne boasted coming back from the newly renovated rec center to get dressed with the rest of us girls.
Tink had left her dress laid out on the sofa of her home and she directed her that way before bringing mine over. She handed it to me looking at my hand in disappointment. “It’s a shame you can’t wear your ring. It would have made the perfect accessory.”
I had taken it off before I even set foot into Neil Tower, giving it back to Adrian. I swore to him that I was in no way taking back my yes, and that the case would be more difficult with it on. The press would have a field day, and since he wasn’t supposed to be with me, he himself couldn’t deny the need to take it off. I nudged Tink as she handed me my dress shaking my head at her.
I looked over at Joanne, who my heart went out to, because she was truly happy for me, but was pained with the fact that Liam had yet to even hint at a proposal. “It’s alright Alyssa.” She encouraged. “It isn’t your fault, be happy that you are getting married.”
“You should say something.” Kristen suggested putting on her mascara in the mirror. “Knock some sense into him if you ask me.”
Doc sighed, “Kristen, this is Liam we’re talking about. One of the sweetest men we know.”
Kristen turned around looking flawless, shrugging a shoulder as she spoke. “And your point is? Sweet or not, he’s still a man, and they can be dense.”
“No, Liam is wonderful. I just don’t get what I am doing wrong.” Joanne murmured frustrated.
Once my dress was finally zipped, I walked over to her grabbing her shoulders so that she could see me. It was an odd display considered she was about five inches taller than myself, not to mention twenty years my senior. “Nothing is wrong with you Joanne. You are beautiful and strong, and you love each other. You once told me communication is the key, so talk to him. Maybe not as aggressively as Kristen is suggesting,” Kristen scoffed, but I kept going, “but you do need to talk to him. I have no doubt that when you talk it will work itself out.”
She nodded down at me, but didn’t respond because Juan burst into the room, and it was never wise to say anything in front of Juan because you never knew how much he understood or heard. “Mommy, mommy, mommy!”
“What, what, what?” She pretended to groan shooting her eyes to Tink, because she was the reason he spoke in threes. Tink just smiled unabashed.
He walked up to her, his black tux jacket open and his bowtie in his hand. “I don’t like this tux, why can’t I wear the one from aunt Tink’s wedding?”
She kneeled in front of her son and started tucking his shirt into his pants. “Because you were in the wedding, and that was the color theme, this party’s color theme is different.” She explained patiently, in a way that he would understand. “You don’t want to look crazy do you? Tia Alyssa’s party guests will all look at you funny.”
He frowned at this realization and I watched him from the mirror as I left Tink to fuss over my hair. “Why is she throwing a fancy party anyway?”
“Es mi trabajo.” I explained with a longing sigh pulling out of my chair when my hair was finished.
I could see him trying to connect my present job to my actual and he didn’t understand. “No, you work at Gravity.”
I motioned him over to me and took the bowtie from Doc. I put it on as I explained, I never lied to Juan, so I told him as best I could. “My job is to go where I am needed to catch the bad guys. We still haven’t caught all of the men that took you from us, you don’t want me to let them get away do you?”
His eyes widened a touch of fear in his brown eyes. “Will the mean man be there?”
There were several consoling voices that followed his words but he didn’t look at anyone but me. “No, he’s gone. You have nothing to fear my little Juanito. In fact, I’m going to need your help. While you’re at the party, you’re on your own mission.”
His eyes lit up on that. “What is it Tia?”
“If you recognize anyone, you need to find me, or your aunts and uncles. I need you to help me catch these guys.” I whispered conspiratorially, though I was partly serious. It was the main reason that he was going.
He nodded, “Can Cedrick help too?”
“Of course he can.” I smiled, since his mother, Clarissa and he would also be in attendance. “We don’t want to keep the limo waiting Juan, let’s go.”
He darted downstairs, to meet his friend, who was sitting with Clarissa Moretti, waiting in the front room.
“Cedrick we have a mission!” Juan exclaimed as both boys ran off to the limo together and Clarissa smiled at me shaking her head after calling a loud ‘no running’.
I smiled back. For everything that she'd been through, with the kidnapping of Juan and Cedrick,
I was afraid that she would hate us, but that simply wasn't the case. Yes, she'd been frantic, but the story that little Cedrick had told her, plus the fact that we'd returned her son to her unharmed, had given her a little perspective. Once she'd heard the whole story from Cam and Hunter, she'd understood completely and without anger, because apparently, her now ex-husband had been a cop in Chicago. She was well aware of the hazards of what a dangerous career could bring down on a family.
As soon as Clarissa had heard we were back in D.C., she'd called Tawny, wanting to get the boys together. She'd stopped Ross and Doc's profuse apologies; because she said we'd more than made up for it by risking our lives to get Cedrick and Juan back. She wouldn't hear another word of it.
I invited Cedrick to the party because I knew Juan would be a lot more cooperative with another friend there. I also wanted the chance to make sure that there was no more tension from the previous events. Apparently there was none.
“You look really beautiful Alyssa.” Clarissa complimented as we walked out to the car together.
———————
The drive to the fundraiser was full of Cedrick and Juan's excitable chatter. He knew all of my team, Adrian’s team, and even baby Makenna would be there, not to mention how happy it made him that Cedrick too. By the time we arrived and caught sight of the small welcoming committee that was waiting for us, they were about to jump clean out of their skin.
I grinned at the sight of Mr. Daniels, the one that would be operating the youth center, kneeling down to him and Cedrick's level to give them high fives and welcome them , because he still dwarfed them with his huge shoulders. Adrian leaned into whatever Dario was telling him, nodding once before addressing me, Clarissa, Macon, Jackson, Tink, Doc, and Kristen holding baby Makenna, who was wearing the cutest of blue dresses.
“My dad's inside," Adrian started. "He suggests you speak to the press and give the media their pictures. After that, we'll walk the party." We all nodded in agreement, but then he knelt down to Juan and Cedrick. "I have some rules, kiddos. Okay?" he said, his voice so very sweet when talking to them.
Juan nodded, used to his mannerisms, but Cedrick blinked up at him, wide-eyed paying extra attention. He was too cute, dressed in all black. His usual spiked dark hair was now slicked back. He looked like a miniature James Bond.
"Boys, I don't want you going anywhere without a grownup, okay?" he asked, and waited until they nodded. "We'll play all the games, do all the things you want, but you have to wait for one of us to be with you. All right?"
"Yes, Mr. Adrian," Cedrick whispered, nodding slowly.
"Okay, Unca Adwien," Juan chirped, grabbing Tawny’s hand.
"Let's go see Pops, and then we'll play." Doc stood up, keeping Juan's hand in hers and reaching toward Clarissa.
Just before we walked inside the party, I caught sight of Danny leaning casually against a light pole across the street. He tipped up his chin in greeting, his eyes flickering to a car that was slowly driving by—a car filled to capacity with very large men. Danny smirked, giving me a wink and silently telling me that the place was completely surrounded by both agents and non-agents alike—though this time, we were all on the same page should something happen.
“Alright Kristen, let’s go give my speech.” I muttered dryly as she handed Makenna off to Joanne. I gave my friend, one more command before I was in the public eye. “Dario, I need you to stay on Doc and Clarissa, they’re accompanying precious cargo tonight.”
“You got it Giselle.” He confirmed, and starting making his way to that direction.
Adrian grabbed my arm, his blue and grey eyes wordlessly communicating with me. I nodded in understanding that I was to always be in someone’s sight.
We passed children, employees, and other potential investors as Kristen and I passed the warehouse that would soon be a homeless shelter if we raised enough for expansion. Just before we joined the small crowd of media and business people standing around a few of our higher level execs, Jeff, who was dressed as a server, stopped us, holding out his hand under the tray.
"Take these," he said, giving each of us a small earpiece.
"Good," I praised, immediately putting mine in, feeling vulnerable without my gun, and worse without communication.
"Who are we patched into?" Kristen asked putting her hair down, probably bothered by the fact it took her an hour get it perfect.
"Cam and Hunt," He whispered handing us a glass of champagne. "They'll be listening from a van down the block. We've got three extra men roaming around already."
"Even better," Dario stated, somewhere far away.
"Hey, Cammy." I chuckled walking away from our incognito server with Kristen at my side.
"Ah, Chance. Try to stay out of trouble for me, huh?" he said softly in my ear.
"What? And ruin everyone's fun?" I laughed. "Never!"
They all chuckled—even Adrian, who had made his third pass around the inside of the building. A noise from the podium drew my attention to Fletcher, his brief welcome and introduction before calling me up to the stage.
I handed my glass to Kristen before taking the three steps, keeping my mouth closed as Adrian’s voice gave the first command under his control. "Okay, everyone...on me. Eyes sharp. Spread out. Stay safe."
———————
"West entrance clear."
"Games area clear."
"Small disturbance at the rec center, but it's breaking up now."
"I've got a group of teenagers I'm keepin' an eye on by the media center. They look like they're just bein' pains in the asses."
I snorted at that last check in, but looked over the gaming area. I could see Macon standing guard just outside the game room, the couple that had been fighting now gone.
Jackson was walking slowly along the line of small children’s games. Dario wasn't far from the main entrance or from the Doc or Clarissa. Tink, Doc, Clarissa, Joanne and Makenna were all watching Juan, Cedrick, and a handful of other little kids their age play some sort of treasure hunt, where they were all rooting around in some foam pieces to find candy or prizes or some shit.
I grinned, envying them since I was forced to mingle with Kristen at my side. I cracked another smile trying my damnedest to fight it when my godson was ruthless in that game. Sometimes, he was way too much like the members of Gravity—though his cleverness at being able to find whatever he was hunting came from Doc, I was sure. I chuckled silently when he stood up—Styrofoam sticking to him everywhere— proclaiming to have found the big prize.
"God, he's just like Ross," Kristen chuckled from beside me. "I half expect him to punch some-damn-body."
I laughed, my head falling back to the post I was leaning against. "Wait for it. High school's a bitch," I chuckled, giving her a glance, before nursing my champagne.
"That's very true," she snickered quietly. "Anything?" she asked, because she was also envious of their fun, though I was sure they were just as alert.
"Nah," I sighed, shaking my head. "A few small things, but normal. Some drunk and disorderliness, Mack broke up a couple fighting over some stupid shit, and the guard at the east entrance has been keeping an eye on some rowdy kids, but nothing major.”
“Shouldn't you be posing for pictures or something?” Hunt butted in my ear trying to ruffle my feathers.
I grinned and shook my head even though he wasn’t in my sight. "Those are done.”
“You should be talking to that group right over there,” Kristen said, jerking her chin toward a small crowd of about eight people reminding me of my duty. They were dressed like they had money, carried themselves like they owned the fucking world, and gave some of the people around them a snobby, scathing look. "But they're kinda assholes," she chuckled.
“Then you should fit perfectly Chance.” Danny teased into my ear.
Adrian butted in, “My girl, the business mogul.”
"I just want their money for this project, not idiots inviting me to play golf and shit. Do I l
ook like I play golf?" I sighed grabbing a shrimp puff.
Kristen grinned and shrugged. "No, but hell, I don't know. Maybe. They don't know you past the big office and the corporate car, Alyssa. You'd really scare the shit out them if they knew what you used to do, what you're capable of."
"You think?" I asked, almost beaming like a kid, and she rolled her eyes at me, causing me to laugh.
"Boss," Dario called, and my head instinctually shot up to his position. "You've got a single man, hood covering his face...two o'clock."
I wanted to look for myself but I was approached by a few employees from accounting praising me for my work. Telling me how they were sure that Paul was proud of my job at Neil Industries and so on. It was hard as hell to talk about their ideas for the department not knowing if Terry Windsor or worse—the guy that strapped me to the table—was behind me or not.
"Negative," he answered. "Not him."
"Ten-four," Dario replied and I exhaled listening a little more attentively.
Kristen exhaled putting her empty glass on the tray as Jeff passed us again. Thank goodness, schmooze fest is done. You just covered the last group; we can actually enjoy this shindig now.”
Doc let Juan continue on with Cedrick and Joanne with Makenna, Dario staying at their side as my girls made their way over to us. “We heard the all is quiet on the western front, so we’re hitting the actual bar now.”
“Finally,” I exhaled in relief walking with the girls over to the open bar set up solely for entertainment tonight. “I think that I’m starting to get a stick up my ass by association.”
“Girls…” Pop Harris started to interject.
Joanne’s voice interrupted a touch of humor in her demand. “Oh Liam let the girls have their fun. You have Roslyn and the guys on security, Clarissa and I have the boys, and they know how to behave themselves. She needs to blend, do you see anyone else drinking only champagne?”
I looked around picking up her observations, everyone was a bit more relaxed now that most of the upper level execs had cut their checks and left. We had raised just over two million dollars and that was before Neil Industries matched, bringing the amount to just over four point five million. I took my rum and coke, and sipped with pride knowing that I earned every bit of this drink.
The Law of Motion (Law Series) Page 46
