Kieran just left that hanging there and said no more.
“Your point,” Annika gritted out.
Kieran laughed. “Okay, I’ll get to the point. Here it is. It seems you have quite an interest in helping people. Not just any people, specifically abused women. I’ve learned that you lead a non-profit agency here in the city called Saving Grace. It is a secret, safe haven for abused women. I’ve also learned, through careful examination of your finances…”
“My finances?” Annika fairly screeched.
Kieran held up his hand to stop her. “Please. Don’t even get offended. Not after what you did last night.” Annika held her tongue.
“As I was saying, your tax returns were quite interesting. It seems you’re the main donor who finances Saving Grace. Looks like after paying yourself a paltry sum of money to rent the crappy apartment above this nightclub, you give all of the profits from Itch to Saving Grace. Which is a considerable amount seeing as how Itch makes you quite a bit of money. And you give it all away. I find you fascinating, Annika Foss.”
Annika felt a buzzing in her head. She was beyond furious that he had delved into her private life. Normally in control of everything, she felt herself spinning. And she still had no clue where he was going with this information. Yes, it was all public record. But the way he related it to her just now was threatening…manipulative.
“I can see you are wondering where I’m going with this,” Kieran said, as if reading her thoughts. The amused grin on his face had melted away and now his eyes glittered with resolve.
“I purchased today the deed to the building that rents to Saving Grace. It’s quite a nice piece of property. I can see why you chose it. If I’m not mistaken, it currently houses 27 women, all abused in some way and hiding for their safety.”
Annika swallowed hard. She realized her hands were gripping the edge of her desk so hard her knuckles were white. She didn’t say anything.
“If you do not help me recover The Scepter, I am going to evict Saving Grace from the property. It would be such a shame to put all of those women out on the street….maybe even force them to return to their abusers.” He paused for effect and saw that Annika had a look of stunned disbelief on her face.
Kieran continued. “Of course, if you help me retrieve The Scepter, I will deed the property over to Saving Grace. It’s paid $3.5 million for it today. That should more than adequately compensate you.”
Kieran didn’t say anything further. He watched Annika to see what she would do. He hoped his threat had hit the mark. It made him sick to actually make that threat but he didn’t have time to negotiate with her. He hoped she did not see through his bluff. He didn’t lie about purchasing the property. He knew Annika was savvy enough to verify that. But he was bluffing about evicting the women of Saving Grace. He would never sink that low. But Annika didn’t need to know that right now.
Annika’s face had turned white and he felt a small pang of guilt. He watched her stand up from the desk.
“You are the most despicable human being I have ever known,” she spat. “That you would threaten and put at risk the lives of innocent women, just to get what you want his beyond...”
Annika stopped in mid-stream and took a deep breath. She was so angry right now that if she had a gun she would have shot him without a further thought. He had found her one weakness and exploited it. She would find a way to make him pay for this. But for now, she was trapped. She could not risk the safety of those women.
Barely containing her fury, Annika walked over to the door and opened it. “I will help you get The Scepter. We can leave tomorrow evening. Now get out.”
“We don’t have time to wait. We need to leave now.”
Annika hoped she wasn’t making a mistake by standing her ground. She had some important business to take care of tonight and tomorrow that she could not forsake. “I have something to do both tonight and tomorrow that is extremely important and cannot wait. If you want me, you will wait for me to leave tomorrow night.” Her words were clipped and forced through clenched teeth.
Kieran appraised Annika. Her face had gone from white to red. Her lovely lavender eyes were flashing at him with pure hate. He definitely did not like that. But whatever business she had was important enough that she was willing to take a risk that Saving Grace could be harmed. Or maybe those empathic readings she had done on him gave away the fact that he couldn’t hurt innocent women. Regardless, it wasn’t worth the argument. Another day wouldn’t matter and it would be interesting to follow her tonight to see what she was up to.
“What exactly do you need to do? Perhaps I can help?”
“That is none of your business and if I needed help, you would be the last person I would ask.”
“Fine by me. Be at my hotel tomorrow evening when you are finished. We can start to make plans and…”
Annika couldn’t control her feelings anymore. “Get. The. Fuck. Out. Now!”
Kieran flinched from the fury pouring from her. He really was going to pay for threatening Saving Grace. He gave her a short nod and walked out the door. He heard it slam behind him. Well, they were off to a lovely start.
CHAPTER 7
Annika was livid. Her pulse was racing and her head was pounding. How dare that son of a bitch threaten Saving Grace? She took a deep breath to calm down. Not working. She took another, and another. Finally, her pulse lowered and she felt some semblance of control returning. She had an important job to do tonight and couldn’t afford to be distracted.
Kieran had been correct. Annika had opened and been operating Itch for the past five years solely with the intent to make money to fund Saving Grace. Annika had never needed wealth or other fineries. She’d grown up with it and what had it gotten her? Nothing but heartache.
Instead, she worked hard and poured all of her profits into Saving Grace. Kieran was correct. Annika took a very small salary from Itch. Enough to rent her apartment—which was indeed crappy--put some food on her table and buy clothing that wasn’t threadbare. The rest of the profits all went to Saving Grace. But it was never enough. With so many charities in New York, Annika couldn’t depend on private donations or federal and state grants. She had to dredge up the money mostly herself. And outside of working at Itch, the only other way she knew to get money for Saving Grace was to steal it.
Yes…that made Annika a very bad person. Immoral most would say. But she could care less. She lived in a world where there were people that were far more immoral than she was. And she truly did try to redeem her actions. She stole from the rich and gave to the abused. A modern day Robin Hood so to speak. Without the goofy tights and hat.
And it wasn’t just any rich person she would steal from. No…Annika’s targets were carefully researched and chosen especially by her. She targeted only those people that deserved to be robbed. That were immoral, just like her.
Her target tonight was Candace Weinburg, a wealthy socialite that lived in a Park Avenue apartment. She had made a career of marrying rich, marrying old and outliving her previous two husbands. On the outside, Candace lived a squeaky clean life. She, herself, was on the boards of many charities and considered quite the philanthropist. Annika knew different.
Before Candace Weingburg became Candace Weinburg, she had been Candace Sanderson. Same life, just a different apartment on Park Avenue. Before she had been Candace Sanderson, she had been Candace Peebles. Candace Peebles was from a tiny town in south New Jersey and had gotten pregnant at the young age of eighteen. She never married the baby’s father but went on to raise him on her own. Some may call that admirable…except for the fact she raised a monster.
Candace’s son was Brian Peebles. He was twenty-nine years old and worked in construction. He was also a raging alcoholic and a wife beater. His bride of three years, Sarah Peebles, was currently living at Saving Grace. She had moved there two months ago after leaving the hospital with a crushed eye socket, broken collarbone and cigarette burns across her breasts. All courtesy of Br
ian Peebles.
Now, Annika wasn’t necessarily blaming Candace Peebles Sanderson Weinburg for raising a monster. She knew that you could be the best parent possible and produce little monsters. She was blaming Candace for aiding and abetting her monster of a son in almost killing Sarah. For on the night that Brian Peebles went into one of his drunken rages and attacked Sarah, he did so while his mother Candace watched and egged him on.
Brian was convinced Sarah had cheated on him and his mother accepted that as truth too. Now whether Sarah had cheated on Brian was none of Annika’s business. But even if she did, she didn’t deserve what Brian handed out. She certainly didn’t deserve his bitch of a mother egging him on, screaming at Brian to hit her harder.
That alone would be enough for Annika to target her wealth. But it went further. Candace used her considerable funds to bail Brian out of jail and hire him the best shyster of a lawyer available who managed to get all of the charges dropped. That was a bad, bad use of your money, Candace. It put you on my radar.
So Annika’s job tonight was to lighten Candace’s load a tiny bit. It would help to renovate the third floor of Saving Grace and add seven more rooms. It took several weeks to fully research Candace Weinburg. Annika knew everything about the woman, and had been in her apartment on three occasions so far to do reconnaissance. She knew exactly where the woman kept her money and jewels hidden. Tonight she would go in for the last time, take the booty and hand it off to Marcus. Marcus’ job was to fence the items and bring her the cash for Saving Grace…after a five percent cut for himself, of course.
The job shouldn’t take too long. She knew Candace was out for the evening romancing husband number three. She had a tight window to work in but wasn’t worried about it. She almost hoped Candace would walk in on her. She would quickly morph into the scariest street thug she could imagine and give the woman the fright of her life. Annika snickered. If only.
Following the job, Annika had one more pressing matter to handle this evening then she had a new woman she was going to help move into Saving Grace tomorrow. After that was handled, she could concentrate “helping” Kieran to recover The Scepter
Annika had to laugh about one thing. It was funny how she had been chosen by Kieran to help him steal something and she had turned him down. Funny, because stealing was a big part of her life. And he had no clue that he was recruiting a very good thief. He thought he was just getting someone with a fancy magic trick that he would use to suit his purposes. He really was getting quite a bargain.
***
Leaving the nightclub, Kieran had waited outside in the shadows across the street until Annika appeared. It didn’t take long. Whatever she had to do, it wasn’t something that required her to change clothes. She was wearing jeans, a Counting Crows t-shirt and black Doc Martens. She hailed a cab and he was lucky to get one right behind her. His cabbie had no problem with following and before long, they ended up on Park Avenue, where she got out of the cab and started walking.
From there, Kieran followed at an easy distance behind her as she walked north up Park Avenue. Turning left onto 79th street, he watched her duck into the first alleyway. He couldn’t follow her in without being seen, but not five seconds later, a woman emerged.
The woman looked to be mid to late 40’s and was elegantly dressed in a high end cream colored suit with expensive pearls around her throat. Her platinum blond hair was in a tight chignon and she oozed wealth. Kieran knew right away that it was Annika. There was no way a woman of that class would be hanging out in a dark alley.
Kieran watched as Annika, wearing her glamour, walked back to Park Avenue and right up to the the first luxury apartment building that bordered 79th street. She talked briefly to the doorman and entered. What the hell was she doing?
Kieran waited about forty-five minutes and then saw Annika--aka Rich Lady--walk back out, carrying a light brown leather briefcase. She headed straight back for the same alleyway but before she could get there, he spotted a familiar man approach her from the opposite direction. It was Marcus. He watched amazed as they walked right past each other, not even looking the other in the eye. But he didn’t miss the subtle exchange as Annika handed the briefcase off to Marcus and he walked off with it in his hand.
Annika made it back to the alleyway and turned the corner to enter it. She didn’t walk all the way back into the darkness this time. She stood with her back against the brick wall and quickly morphed back into Annika. Then Kieran watched as she slowly faded away into nothingness. Fuck! Annika had left The First Dimension. He looked back down the street to find Marcus. He would follow him to see what was going on, but couldn’t spot him. With no other choice, Kieran hailed a cab. Rather than head back to his hotel, he instructed the cab driver to take him to Itch. He would hang out there awhile and see if Annika returned.
Kieran sat at the bar, nursing a beer. He’d been approached a few minutes ago by the same blonde he had been eyeing the night before. She had approached him from behind, unnoticed and raked her nails along the back of his neck.
“I see you came back, sugar.”
Kieran turned toward her and for a brief moment, didn’t recognize her. But when she pouted her lower lip out, it came back to him. “Indeed I did.”
“Fancy buying me another drink tonight? A vodka gimlet?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Signaling to the bartender, he ordered the drink.
When it arrived, she picked her glass up and clinked it against his beer. “Here’s to a hot, hot evening,” she purred.
There was a time, in the not too distant pass—like just two days ago—Kieran would have jumped all over that offer. But instantly, Annika’s sweetheart face and lavender eyes popped into his mind then he remembered her luscious body moving up and down on him. And he realized—much to his chagrin—that he had no interest in the blonde. And that mere fact had Kieran’s stomach in knots. Annika clearly held nothing but disdain for Kieran and he’d be lucky to walk away from this partnership of thievery with his balls intact. Still, he just couldn’t muster up any interest in the woman standing next to him.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. But I can’t tonight. I already have plans.”
Not willing to give up, she leaned her red slicked lips in toward his ear and whispered, “Are you sure? You’ll never have better than what I’ll give you tonight.”
Nope. Not even a twitch of interest from his boy down below. Interesting…and slightly scary.
“Sorry, love. Not tonight.” Kieran stood from the bar, threw a few bills down for a tip, and walked out of the club. Annika had not returned and he figured the best thing he could do was get a good night’s sleep. For tomorrow night, he was going to follow her again and find out what she was up to.
During the cab ride back to his hotel, Kieran ruminated about what he’d seen tonight. Annika had clearly left the First Dimension. He really didn’t know if she was gone for good, or had just made a quick trip somewhere. She clearly had not transferred. That spell produced an instant disappearance and reappearance to the new location. When you traveled to another dimension, you faded away as your body was slowly pulled into the new dimension. Yes, last night, she had definitely taken a trip out of The First Dimension, but the question is where? And would she come back? He’d find out for sure tomorrow night.
CHAPTER 8
Annika had just finished her shower and was getting dressed. She had slept most of the day as she was exhausted after last night’s activities. Oh, the stealing of Candace Weinburg’s jewels didn’t tire her out. That was actually quite thrilling and she couldn’t wait to put the money they fetched to good use. But the trip she’d made out of the First Dimension had been stressful, and that in turn had exhausted the crap out of her.
She had indeed sought the counsel of an old friend but rather than getting the advice she’d needed, she spent most of the time comforting said friend who was having some issues of her own. It was an emotionally tiring evening and by the time she had returned to N
ew York, it was close to 4:00am. Annika had fallen face first onto her bed and slipped into a deep sleep.
Now she was rushing around, getting ready. Tonight she was going to help Sheila Williams escape her abusive home. Annika already had a room set up for her at Saving Grace. And if anyone ever needed saving, it was Sheila.
Most women were referred to Saving Grace through a network of social workers and police officers that Annika had met through the years. Saving Grace’s location was held in absolute secrecy so the asshole abusers couldn’t find the women who had finally wisened up and gotten the courage to leave. Thus, if a woman was in danger, Annika would be approached by a social worker or cop, who would arrange for a meeting with the woman.
These moves to safety were never done quickly. Most of the time, the woman was just not ready to make the move. Usually burdened with immense fear and shame, they were too afraid to break away from their abusers. Annika would often spend weeks, meeting with and counseling the women. Building up their courage to make a run for it.
And tonight…Sheila Williams was ready. She had been with her boyfriend, Monty Shepard, for ten years. She had dropped out of high school at fifteen and moved in with him. He was a mid-level drug dealer who liked to frequently sample his own merchandise. The cocaine high made him mean, and Sheila was his favorite punching bag.
After spending over a year secretly earning her GED and meeting with Annika for support, she was ready to leave the bastard. Sheila needed the secrecy of Saving Grace. Monty was possessive and would probably stop at nothing to get her back if he found her. And if he couldn’t have her, he’d kill her.
Annika’s plan was for Sheila to stay at Saving Grace, until they could raise enough money for Sheila to leave New York and start a new life.
Annika’s cell phone beeped. She looked down and saw a text from Sheila: He’s gone.
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