Behr sat down behind Ellora, trying to ease her growing anxiety and the shock her body was going through in reliving everything all over again. He wrapped his large arms around her fragile little body and kissed her all over her neck, shoulder, and collarbone. Nuzzling into her hair, Behr whispered her name like a prayer, “Oh, Ellora, love.”
The strength in his arms gave her the strength to get through the story. “He stumbled from the force of the blow, and tripped on the debris on the floor. I used the adrenaline pumping through my veins to force my legs to move. My back felt like someone set me on fire. The pain was so intense.”
Ellora pinched her eyes closed for a moment. She could almost feel her jagged scar tingling from the memory.
“I could feel my warm blood soaking my clothes and pants, coming out like a stream of water out of a faucet. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me in my weakened condition. When I made it to the top of the stairs, I heard his pounding footsteps close behind me, and him screaming my name over and over. I skipped stairs, almost hovering above them. I was going down so fast, praying I didn't trip. He was right behind me, getting closer. When he was close enough to grab me, I jumped the last few steps and over the landing carpet, just like I used to do so many times as a kid.
“The runner was loose, you see, and would often slide on the sleek hardwood floors and slip out from under you if you landed on it wrong. Knowing this, I leapt over it, while my attacker landed right on it and fell. Hard. I raced out of the house and jumped in my car.” Ellora stopped the story abruptly, placing both hands on either side of her temples. “I can't remember what happened after that. I blacked out.”
Ellora took a moment to settle herself. She was violently shaking, and her heart was beating erratically from telling the story. She was covered in goose bumps from head to toe, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. Behr took the time to calm himself down as well. He continued to rain kisses on her neck.
“I’m so proud that you fought back. You’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met.”
Ellora shook her head and whispered, “The story doesn’t end there.”
Behr tensed up. “What… What happened?”
Ellora waited for her heart to settle. She was close to passing out. After several seconds of deep breaths, she continued.
“When I woke up, I was in the hospital. I felt relief that help had obviously arrived, and I felt momentarily safe. I saw someone that looked like a doctor standing at the foot of my bed, looking over my chart. I closed my eyes in relief. There were lots of people there, so I thought I’d be safe. That’s when I felt a hard, heavy hand smack down over my mouth. My eyes shot open, and I saw HIS black eyes staring back at me once again. I blinked several times, hoping it was just a horrifying nightmare, trying to snap myself out of it. My lids snapped open, and he lightly traced the blade of the very same knife down the length of my cheek. He threatened that I had until my discharge time to tell him where the documents were, or he would cut me up piece by piece. He promised that it didn’t matter where I was or where I hid… He’d always find me.”
Behr realized why this extremely brave girl was so reserved and jumpy when she first arrived. She was expecting the devil to jump out and get her at any moment.
“The next day, I grabbed my stuff and snuck out of the hospital. I took a cab and headed to my safety deposit box at the bank, before heading straight to the airport. Twelve hours later, I stumbled into Grady's. Forever marked and hiding in Skye.”
Behr dragged his hands through his hair roughly and raked them down the back of his neck, in a mixture of anger, shock, and frustration. He did this a few more times before standing up. He looked down on her for a moment or two with a fierce determination.
“Aye, love, n’ that was the very best move to make. I will make sure those weak bastards NEVER lay a hand on you again! Not while I live! I will protect you. You will always be safe with me. I swear it.” Behr paced back and forth across the back boat deck as he made this pledge.
Ellora swallowed the large lump in the back of her throat. “You see, that's just it. I live in a constant paralyzing panic, that it’s only a matter of time before they find me and finish the job they started.”
Behr stopped abruptly, pointing right at the trembling girl that made him want to take on the world. “Over MY dead body! They would ’ave to go through me first.”
His voice thundered loud and deep. Ellora swore she felt the deck she sat on vibrate. He was definitely a daunting force to be reckoned with.
“Aye, and that is nae easy job. I fear nae man!”
Ellora whipped her head up at him. For the first time, she felt angry at him and frightened. That's what it was. She was frightened. The truth was out now, and there was no going back. Hot tears trickled down her face as she realized what she’d done.
“I don't WANT that! I don't want anyone to stand In front of me, shielding me and putting their own lives at risk, just like my father did. I’m just not worth it. I don't think I could live with myself, or with the guilt, if something malicious happened AGAIN! This is why I didn't want to tell anyone. It's just safer that way. I couldn't bear it if you, or anyone else I care about, ended up getting hurt or worse, killed, because of me. I don’t think I could survive it a second time.”
Behr's eyes widened in shock at Ellora’s unexpected outburst, but slowly changed to understanding. He gave her a smile that could melt the ice caps.
“Oh, my sweet Ellora. ’Ave you nae figured me out by now?”
She lifted up one eyebrow and waited for him to continue. Behr shook his head in defeat and went on.
“I will go to the ends o’ the earth for those I care about. I would tear down the heavens and charge through the darkest parts of hell, just to protect you. There is not a soul that could ever stop me, living or not.” He narrowed his eyes on her, and Ellora’s heart skipped a beat. “Including you!”
Ellora stood up to face him, a mere inches separating them. She held his face in her hands. Behr was still pretty worked up, and it took a few moments before he looked her in the eyes again. She tenderly stroked his cheek with her thumb. When his eyes softened, she spoke again, her voice a quiet whisper. “I will never feel completely safe again, not until they are stopped or caught. Only then will I feel safe enough to stop hiding.”
Behr placed his hands on her shoulders and drew her closer, hating the separation between them. “You dinnae ’ave to go it alone anymore. That is the worst thing you could do. I will be by your side. Always.”
Ellora smiled at him. “You are a seriously stubborn man. You know that, right? I guess I found another flaw.”
He smiled back. “You ’ave no idea how stubborn I can be!” Behr placed several soft kisses on her mouth, trying hard to stop her tears and steer her away from the painful subject. It worked. Ellora hummed her approval as his kiss turned from sweet and tender to heart stopping and passionate.
“I don't have a choice here, do I?” She laughed lightly against his lips as he nipped her lower lip, kissed both her cheeks, and then shook his head no, pulling her into him. He tightly tucked her away in the safety of his arms.
At that moment, they made a silent pledge to let the subject drop. Funny enough, this moment and her confession didn't ruin their date. It only brought them closer together.
Ellora plopped back down on the blanket and snatched up the chocolate cheesecake. With fork in hand, she hacked into it and shoved a large piece in her mouth. With cake packed inside her cheeks like a chipmunk, she looked up to Behr. She held up the demolished piece and asked, “You want in on this, bodyguard?”
Behr’s smile widened as he bent down and crawled over to the woman who owned him… mind, heart, and soul.
Dominick drove back to Ellora’s house to get a more thorough look at the scene of the crime. Now that he knew he was being followed, he raced all the way, hoping to lose whoever it was. He screeched up her driveway and skidded to a halt as he slammed on the brakes.
Yanking the keys out of the ignition, Dominick plowed through the door, skipping two stairs at a time. He made his way to the trashed office at the end of the hall.
The lights were still out, but there was plenty of sunlight coming in from the large window for him to get a fresh new look at his surroundings.
He wasn’t really sure what he was looking for, but knew what it would be when he found it. Dominick started rummaging through scattered papers that littered all over the desk and floor, but abandoned his efforts when he found nothing of importance. As he walked over to a small circular side table in the corner by the phone, he noticed the cord was yanked out and the receiver was off the hook.
Opening the slightly ajar drawer all the way, he found several leather bound books. He went through quite a few calendars, notepads, and date books, stopping when he found a frantically circled appointment for four forty-five to see a Mr. Jonathan Lawrence. Looking at the date, Dominick noticed that it was for the very same night that Ellora had been attacked and brought to the hospital. He ripped out the note, shoving it into his pocket.
While pacing her room, Dominick saw a crooked, framed family portrait dangling by a thread on the wall. Something flat and grey in color hid behind it. He narrowed his eyes, walking over to the wall in two quick strides, and took down the photo.
It was a wall safe. “Hmmmm, and where’s the key,” he muttered to himself as he ran his fingers over the lock. Where would he hide it if he was Joseph? He anxiously but methodically searched through his desk drawers. Hidden in the back, he found a single key, but knew by looking at it that it was too small for the safe. But he tried with success on the lock on the filing cabinet. There was nothing but past bills and old tax returns inside. He looked through bookshelves, cigar boxes, and matching keepsake boxes, with no luck.
Not finding anything, Dominick kicked a pile of papers in frustration, scattering them around the room. A string of curses fell from his mouth as he ran his hands through his hair. He blew out an angry breath, about ready to give up. Plopping down in the office chair, he absentmindedly rocked back and forth, laying his elbows on the armrest. He leaned his head sideways, resting it on his hand, and closed his eyes. Rocking back and forth for a minute, he tried to collect his thoughts. When he opened them up again, his eyes were drawn to the small 5x7 picture of Ellora and her father in a loving, sweet embrace.
The glass was cracked. He straightened up and leaned forward, reaching out, and seized the photo. Carefully, he pulled out the glass shards. He wasn't sure why, but he planned to give it back to Ellora if he ever located her. When he pulled out the last shard, the corner of the picture came with it. Dominick pulled it out all the way, and something shiny fell out onto his lap. It was the illusive key! He was pretty freaking sure this was the key to the wall safe. He jumped up, and with two long strides was at the safe. Holding his breath, he pushed the key in. It fit. He turned it until he heard a click, and then blew his breath out, relieved. At what, he wasn't sure yet. He opened the safe door to find a thick accordion folder.
Walking back over to the desk, he put his hand out and swiped it across the desk’s top, scattering all of the unnecessary papers out of the way. Dominick sat down on the edge of the seat and turned the folder upside down, dumping out all its contents. Out poured photographs of high profile people in compromising, shady back alley meetings. There were documents with detailed accounts of how they’d blackmailed others into approving building licenses, and how they bribed their bank agents into handing out several loans without the appropriate approvals. Then there was another from Joseph, a letter backing out as the lead contractor and foreman for the condo renovation project, citing ‘moral’ reasons. The last document was a letter from one of the investors, addressing Dalton, saying that if they could not have Joseph Sutherland as the acting man in charge of their project, then they were backing out and taking their money with them.
WOW! If this wasn't enough motive for attempted murder, Dominick didn't know what would be. Money equaled motive, every single time. He looked at the upper right corner of the page; the date was the week before Joseph and BonniBelle's car crashed. What it looked like was that someone was willing to dispatch Joseph, stopping him from walking away, or to stop him from letting anyone else see all the evidence he had collected. Dominick wondered how Joseph got his hands on these photos, or how long he’d documented the illegal activities that went down under Dalton’s authority?
Taking out his iPhone, Dominick Googled Jonathan Lawrence, finding that he was a lawyer working out of downtown Syracuse. He saved the phone number and memorized the address. Mr. Lawrence was obviously one of the last people to see Ellora before her attack. She looked like she was frantic to meet with him. This man just had to know something. Dominick grabbed everything and shoved it back in the folder. He gripped the key, locked the safe, and hung the picture back up. Taking the key with him, he raced out of the house.
Looking up and down the street as he approached his car, he noticed a dark sedan parked on the street a few houses down. All the lights were off inside the car, but he could see the shadow of the man sitting in the driver’s seat. His eyes watched Dominick in the rear view mirror. Dominick quickly unlocked his car and hopped in. “I don’t fucking think so, asshole,” he gritted out through clenched teeth.
He put the car in reverse and stepped on the gas, gunning it down the driveway. Turning the wheel, he aimed straight for the sedan and smashed into his bumper. Rolling down his window, Dominick shouted, “Peek a boo, bitch!” He put the car back in drive and raced away. That car had followed him from the precinct. He was positive of it.
He didn't want to lead Dalton's oversized babysitter right to Mr. Lawrence. Now, it would be harder for him to tail anyone with his bumper looking like a tin can. It was only a matter of minutes before Dalton would hear about this. Dominick was running out of time. He had to find Ellora before they did. He floored it as he got on I-81 South. He could almost hear a faint ticking of a clock as time slowly ran out.
Dominick burst through the doors of Jonathan Lawrence's law office and slapped the front desk with his flattened palm. He showed his badge to the secretary. “I'm here to see Mr. Lawrence about the Sutherland family. NOW!”
She smiled sweetly at him despite his sharpness. Oh great, he thought. I don't have time to be suave.
She spoke first. “It's about time you got here. We've been expecting you. Right this way, Mr.…?” The polite woman extended her hand, signaling him to follow.
Dominick was confused now. “How were you expecting me if you don't even know my name?” She lifted up a no-nonsense eyebrow at him and just waited. He cleared his throat with a cough. “Detective Antonelli, Ma'am.”
“Very good. Right this way, Detective. He will be right in. Have a seat.”
Dominick was led into the office, where he sat in the very antique, buttoned leather club chair, anxiously looking around the room. His knee bounced up and down, an old habit of his when his nerves got the best of him.
Right when he started to get comfortable, a well-polished middle aged man with neatly styled salt and pepper hair quickly walked into the room, reaching out his hand. “Detective Antonelli, I presume.”
They shook hands. “Yes, sir, Mr. Lawrence.”
Jonathan walked briskly behind his desk, took a key out of his pocket, and unlocked a safe. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time for pleasantries, do we? You’re here because something has happened to Ellora, or is about to. Am I right, Detective?”
Dominick just nodded, shocked that this man somehow knew already that something had happened. “Yes, she was attacked and fled the States. It is a race between me and the very same men who attacked her to get to her. I'm hoping you can help lead me to her. Please tell me you know where she is, counselor.”
Jonathan just smirked. He took out another smaller safe and entered the combination. When he opened it, he pulled out an envelope.
“So I guess it's finally time to hand thes
e off to you. They contain detailed accounts of the illegal activities that Joseph witnessed over the few years he was partnered with Dalton. Also, there’s a revised copy of his will. He left all his assets to Ellora, which, in the event that anything should happen to her, no other party or person is entitled to the assets listed for fear of forged or doctored authorization. It's a lot to read, but I suggest you read it at another time. Because I suspect you are just about out of it.”
Jonathan handed Dominick the envelope with the copy of Joseph's will, a letter stating all of his suspicions and fears, along with a copy of the evidence Dominick found in Joseph's safe. It certainly looked like he had covered all of his bases. He was obviously worried that something was going to happen to him and his family. Unfortunately for Joseph, he was right.
He handed the envelope back and informed the lawyer that if anything bad was to happen to Ellora, he wanted him to send these documents straight to the FBI. Jonathan hesitated, but nodded, taking them back and locking them up. Mr. Lawrence walked back over to him and placed two objects in his hand.
“I backed everything up on this drive.” He handed it to Dominic. “It doesn't hurt to have as many copies floating around as possible for some added insurance.”
Dominick took it and shoved it in his pocket. “I agree.” The other object was a folded up slip of paper.
“Don't read it out loud. It will take you to her.”
Opening it, he read it and then shoved it into his pocket. After thanking Mr. Lawrence, he shook his hand and ran out of the building. He sprinted for his car, and sped off to the airport. He had to get to her NOW! The race had officially begun.
Forever Marked (Marked Series Book 1) Page 19
