Guarding His Body

by A. C. Arthur

  “Harold was my commanding officer. We trained and did maneuvers together. I knew he liked me right off the bat and as soon as I got over the initial shock, I realized I liked him, too.” Twiddling the fringes of the throw between her fingers, Bree tried to steady the incessant pounding of her heart. What would he think of her once he knew the whole truth?

  “We were in the same unit, so any type of involvement was out of the question. When he was promoted to colonel it sort of opened the door for us.”

  “I thought the military frowned on relationships between soldiers.”

  It did and that was part of the shame she bore. “We were very careful, for the first year at least. Everything was wonderful that first year.” Taking a deep breath, she summoned the strength to continue. “Then word somehow got out that the white colonel was dating a black soldier.” She shrugged. “Our secret was out.”

  The fact that Harold was white shocked him a bit, but not as much as the fierce need to wrap Sabrina in his arms and end this ordeal for her. He remained still. She needed to purge herself as much as he needed to hear the rest. “And then what happened?”

  “It seems that little bombshell was only the tip of the iceberg. The rumors swirled and traveled around until Harold’s wife heard them all the way in Raleigh.”

  Renny sat up. “He was married while he was involved with you?” He racked his brain to remember the information Sam had come up with on the colonel. While the man’s race had been overlooked, they’d known that he was divorced and that he was dishonorably discharged from the service. They’d also learned his age. Harold Richmond was older than Renny’s father, which clearly meant he was too damned old for Sabrina. That temper he’d been known for throughout his family was about to be released. Taking deep steadying breaths, he tried like hell to keep that from happening.

  Bree wouldn’t look at him, couldn’t imagine what he was probably thinking about her right now. “You’d think I’d know a married man when I saw one.” Her fingers moved rapidly, twirling and untwirling the fringe. “Joanne Richmond, his wife of twenty years, made her first appearance on the base.” An overwhelming tightness clutched her chest as she mourned for the young woman who had been so stupid to fall in love with an older man, an older married man who happened to be her commanding officer. Before she could stop them, tears streamed slowly down her face.

  Renny made a move toward her, then held back. Could he touch her without hurting her more? The anger he felt was directed solely at Harold Richmond, but he was having a hell of a time keeping that in check. Seconds passed quietly and he finally reached for her hand. “Sabrina, you have to know that it wasn’t your fault.”

  “Ha,” she fairly yelled, attempting to choke back the tears that came so freely now. “Not my fault? I was a bright-eyed soldier enamored by the decorated colonel that paid some attention to me. Some real attention.” She didn’t move her hand from his, but she did sit up straighter in the chair before dropping her legs to the floor and turning to face him. “All my life I’d been doted on and watched extra carefully because I was the baby. Even my teenage dates had been supervised by my parents or my siblings. It was like living in the world’s most glorious prison. Going into the military was the first independent thing I’d ever done.” The tears grew bothersome, so she swiped them away with the back of her hand.

  “I was Private Sabrina Desdune, not the little sister, not the baby daughter. I loved the freedom. I loved the challenge.” Keeping her eyes trained on his, she continued quietly. “And then I loved him.”

  Her words sliced through him and he closed his eyes with the pain. Then he clasped both her hands in his and looked at her, this time with all the love he felt brimming in his heart. “You were young and impressionable. He took advantage of that.”

  “No.” She began shaking her head.

  He tugged on her hands. “Yes,” he said forcefully, ceasing her head from shaking and drawing her eyes back to him. “I understand about wanting freedom. I’ve longed for it for a good portion of my life, as well. And it came, I earned it. And so did you. But that didn’t give him the right.” Drawing his lips into a tight line, Renny reined in his control. “It didn’t give him the permission to touch you. He was older. He was your commanding officer, dammit! He should have known better!” he yelled.

  She’d seen him angry earlier, had watched as Harold’s flowers had transposed the loving, compassionate man she knew into a seething, dangerous man that she almost feared. At that very moment she realized his anger was spawned from his love for her and she all but melted in shame. How could she deserve such a love like this after what she’d done? The tears came again full force. “She said I ruined their marriage. That I ruined their life. They had two children. She took them away and refused to let him see them. I was responsible for that.”

  Renny moved to the chair to sit beside her, keeping her hands in his. “No. He was. He ruined his marriage by not being faithful. He ruined their life because he was foolish. She blamed you because she loved him, too. But she was wrong, Sabrina. It wasn’t your fault because you didn’t know.”

  “But I can’t say I would have stopped if I did know.” And that was the burden she’d borne all this time. She remembered loving Harold with such a fierceness that she thought she would have done anything for him. Now, however, those feelings compared to what she felt for Renny didn’t feel like love at all.

  She’d looked up to him, admired him and was in awe of the fact that a man like him would want a woman like her. Maybe it was just infatuation, like a schoolgirl crush, only she’d given that man her innocence—a piece of herself she could never get back.

  “You would have stopped.” He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close against his chest. Kissing her hair, he tried to take away all the years of hurt and guilt she’d experienced. “You would never have knowingly gotten involved with a married man. You’re too good a person for that. I believe that with all my heart and you have to believe it, too.”

  As much as she hated tears, Bree couldn’t stop the dam from breaking. All this time she’d been trying so desperately to keep this secret for fear that it would change his perception of her. But it seemed he already had an impression of the person she was, and no matter what she said or what she’d done, he didn’t seem all that eager to change that. Could she love this man any more? Wrapping her arms around him, she let herself be comforted finally. She let Harold and what he’d done to her become a part of her past, the past that she would from this moment on leave behind.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Pulling back a few inches but keeping her tightly in his grasp, he looked down at her tear-streaked face. “For what?”

  “For understanding. For not judging me.”

  He smiled. “I judged you wrong before when I thought you were a weak little woman. I have no intention of making that mistake again. I know who and what you are and nothing is going to change that.” He kissed her forehead this time, her eyelids, her cheeks, then finally, lovingly, her lips.

  Bree sighed as she melted into the warmth of his mouth, wondering what she’d ever done to deserve such a man and praying she’d never do anything to lose him.

  Chapter 14

  Roland paced the floor, his mind whirling about his next move. The merger had gone through. It was done. Bennett Industries and Coastal Technologies were now one, retaining the name Bennett Industries because Marvin Bennett had the controlling shares in the new multibillion-dollar company.

  Once again his nemesis had come out one step ahead of him. He had the woman, the money, the family that Roland had always wanted. And the one thing that he’d thought would forever remain his now dangled on one of Bennett’s hooks. His daughter had been arrested, accused of breaking and entering and assault. He wasn’t entirely sure what had possessed Larice to go to Renny Bennett’s gallery opening, especially after he’d assured her that he was taking care of the Bennett family.

  But Larice hadn’t listen
ed. She’d had it bad for the younger Bennett son and Roland had known this. Yet he’d underestimated his daughter’s intent when she’d told him she wanted the man by any means necessary. Never in a million years would he have thought she’d resort to violence to get him. But then he had never really understood Larice. Because she was a girl, they’d never been particularly close and after his wife’s death she’d seemed to hate him more often than not.

  Now she’d barricaded herself in her apartment, hiding herself from the world and thinking whatever disastrous thoughts she could come up with next. He knew the Bennetts were probably watching her like a hawk now that they’d undoubtedly made the connection, so he didn’t go to her. But he had sent messages. He’d e-mailed her, text messaged her and had received the same response. It’s all your fault.

  She blamed him and he blamed Marvin Bennett. This all began with the man he’d once called a friend. And now it would end with him.

  Despite her substantially smaller lump on the head, Bree was determined to go to the press conference with the rest of the Bennett clan.

  “You couldn’t talk any sense into her?” Alex asked when Renny walked into his office with her trailing behind him.

  Sam simply smirked and turned his head. “You don’t know my sister very well, Alex. Once she’s set her mind to something it’s like parting the Red Sea to get her to change it.”

  “Tell me about it,” Renny murmured. He still wasn’t keen on the idea of her being here, but the argument had lasted well into the night and finally he’d given up. It was either that or lock her in the bedroom and even then he knew she’d find a way to get out and then there would definitely be hell to pay.

  “Good morning, Alex.” With a sugary smile Bree stood on tiptoe to kiss his handsome cheek.

  Alex couldn’t resist, he smiled down at her. “You’ve got one hard head, little woman.”

  He’d taken to calling her that and Bree admitted she kind of liked it. “Not really, I just have a job to see through.”

  “And after this job she’s retiring from the security business,” Renny added with a serious glare in her direction.

  Bree took a deep breath. They’d discussed that last night, as well. He didn’t like her career choice and while she was initially up in arms and ready to do battle over it, she’d given a career change some deep thought herself. “Not exactly.”

  Sam looked from Renny to Bree in question. “Then what exactly? You’re quitting the family business so soon?” Not that he was the least bit upset. As good as Bree was at what she did, he had no problems with her leaving the firm. He had no desire to see his sister lying unconscious again. The bruise on her forehead still angered him.

  Bree smiled. “I received a really good offer from this art gallery that doesn’t have a manager and is in dire need of a security supervisor.”

  Rico had just entered the room with a cup of coffee in hand. “So you’ve crossed over to the art world, too?” Shaking his head in Renny’s direction, he took a seat. “I knew the two of you were going to be trouble.”

  Trent entered, sobering the entire office, with the jeans and the tight T-shirt he wore, his gun holster open for display and his jacket in his hand. “Ready to go over the game plan?”

  It was ten minutes to one. The press conference was scheduled to begin promptly at one-thirty and be over at two o’clock. Private interviews had already been granted to the two biggest newspapers in the city and scheduled for later that afternoon.

  The front of the Bennett Tower was secured. Two armed guards stood at the glass entrance doors with officers in unmarked cars parked strategically throughout the block. Inside, plainclothes cops stood among the crowd with press badges blending in seamlessly while keeping a close eye on their surroundings.

  Sam stood with Alex. Trent stood with Rico. Marvin had his women surrounding him, Beatriz, Adriana and Gabrielle, while suited guards formed a semicircle around the entire group. Renny stood beside Sam with Bree between the two of them.

  She’d worn a straight-cut business suit, her gun tucked in the waistband of her pants at her back, another at her ankle. Her earpiece was in place as she heard the conversation of the outside guard conferring with Sam and the inside guards. Renny held her hand so tightly she feared at any moment she’d lose circulation in the entire limb.

  At precisely one o’clock, Darren Lithgow, Coastal Technologies’ CEO, was at the microphone. Cameras flashed and reporters immediately fired off questions.

  “It is my great honor to finally announce that it is official. Coastal Technologies and Bennett Industries have successfully completed the largest communications merger of all time.”

  Applause sounded around them. Marvin smiled, and Beatriz held his hand as she beamed with pride. Adriana and Gabrielle smiled at each other, then out among the crowd. The older Bennett boys shook hands while Renny nodded to each of them.

  Darren spoke for another few minutes answering questions and making light jokes before introducing Marvin. At her side Bree felt Sam tense. She looked to him, but he stared straight ahead. She looked to Trent, who was scanning the other side of the room. Through her earpiece it was quiet.

  She turned her attention to the podium, then to watch the man whose son had stolen her heart. He was a tall man, a broad man, a handsome man just like his sons. He commanded your attention and appealed to your senses. He spoke in a melodic rhythm keeping eye contact and ensuring your interest. But as his hand lifted to adjust the microphone, Bree saw the flash of a red light and knew the moment of dread had finally come.

  Marvin was smiling, about to go into his thanks to his family for support. The microphone had been positioned lower as Darren was shorter than he was. He simply needed to adjust it, to say his part and they’d be on their way. He didn’t like that his family was all here, that they were all out in the open for Roland to attack. He’d make this short and sweet.

  Renny felt her tense and looked down at her to see what was wrong. Her eyes were fixed on the podium, on his father. Then she shifted, pulled away from him in an attempt to make her way closer.

  In that instant sparks crackled in the air, spewing from the microphone. The guards that had surrounded the Bennett women quickly pulled them back while Bree pushed past Sam and Trent. Renny grabbed her arm just as she would have reached out to pull Marvin away from the podium. Flames ignited quickly, engulfing the entire podium in a matter of seconds. Sam and Trent reached Marvin just as the flames licked at his suit.

  For the second time, screams erupted in Bree’s ears as she felt herself falling to the floor. Renny fell heavily on top of her with two guards flanking around him. Alex and Rico had been likewise covered as all hell began to break loose. Guns were drawn, plainclothes officers moved throughout the crowd and firemen were dispatched. The doors were ordered sealed as another officer stepped forward with an extinguisher.

  Bree looked up from her spot on the floor to see the snowy-white substance arching through the air. She squirmed and struggled because she could also see the flames still eating the material of Marvin Bennett’s suit.

  “Keep her here,” Renny told the two guards around him without even looking at her.

  In an instant he was gone and when Bree got to her knees to follow him she felt the heavy hands of the guards on her arms. Giving them a blistering look did no good and while she could probably have taken at least one of them down, the pounding of her heart, the fear etching slowly throughout as she watched Marvin engulfed in flames held her still.

  Out of the corner of his eye—and why he saw this above all the other pandemonium in the room, he’d never know—Renny saw a man dressed in all black making his way to the elevators. Although he’d never seen the man in person he knew without a doubt who it was. Roland Summerfield.

  He was running within minutes heading for the elevators himself. Bennett Towers was a thirty-story building, Summerfield could easily get lost inside and make it out of one of the other exits. Renny wasn’t about to let tha
t happen.

  Bree saw him leap from the platform and immediately reached for her gun. If he wasn’t going to check on his father, there was a good reason, a reason she knew could cost him his life. Retrieving her weapon, she jerked free of the guards and stared at each one of them. “You can either follow me or shoot me.” And with that she turned and ran toward the elevators.

  They had cameras planted all over the building and as she ran Bree pulled the mouthpiece out of her shirt collar. “Where are elevators one and two headed?”

  Renny wouldn’t know where the previous elevator stopped, so she had a better chance of getting to Summerfield first. Slamming the palm of her hand against the up button, she waited impatiently for a response.

  “One’s on twenty-seven and…”

  She climbed into the elevator with the two other guards right behind her as silence filled the earpiece. “And?”

  “And two is on twenty-seven also.”

  Her heart lurched as she pressed Twenty-seven. Thoughts of Renny in danger ran rampant through her mind and she gripped the gun tighter.

  Renny stepped off the elevator and watched as the one next to him had just closed the doors. He looked down one side of the hall, then the other. His father’s office was on this floor. That’s where Summerfield was headed. Running down the hall, he pulled off his jacket and increased his speed, determined not to let this man get away.

  He entered the office searching for Summerfield only to find it empty, but just as he was about to turn around and head back out he came face-to-face with the barrel of a gun. Behind it was a look of pure hatred. Dark eyes filled with such rage and disdain that it almost took his breath away.

  “If it isn’t Marvin’s baby boy.”

  Renny backed up a step, his hands flexing at his side. The man, Roland Summerfield, was his father’s age, tall in stature, lean in frame. It would be no battle at all for Renny to take him down. The only obstacle—the black gun aimed at his head.