by S. M. Dapelo
2
I awakened slowly, first noticing the smell of pine. I could feel I was lying on a pillowed bed, trying to make sense of what happened. Then the actions of the day came back to me, and I shot up. “Relax,” Luc was sprawled in a chair next to the bed. He had removed his jacket and his shirtsleeves were rolled up. “As I’ve said a dozen times, you’re safe.” He got up, about to hand me a bottle of water when I sprang off the other side of the bed putting it between us. Then the world spun, and I went to my knees.
“Button, you need to be careful,” his lips thinned as he prowled toward me. I crab-walked back until I hit a wall. “I’m. Not. Going. To. Hurt. You.” he said to me, his jaw ticking. “You were a lot smarter as a kid.”
“I’ve never met any of the Romanos before.” My pulse was racing, and I was light-headed.
“Last time you were five, I would have been fourteen,” he growled, holding the water out. “You were showing off to Dom at some picnic, and you were standing on top of the jungle gym. You jumped off it.”
“I split my lip open when some kid tried to catch me,” I intoned.
“You bruised four of my ribs and dislocated my shoulder.” He gave a ‘ta da,’ with his arms, “You’re welcome.” I grabbed the water from his hand. I noticed the seal was unbroken, so I opened it and drank. “Dom, Marc, and I attended school together. Marc and Dom were in the same grade, I was a year behind. We didn’t do the hit on him. We wouldn’t,” he ran a hand through his hair.
“Then why did you bring me here instead of taking me back to Kansas City?” I finished the water.
“Your brother had a grand plan for peace between the families. A lasting peace, not the type our parents did that was tenuous. In respect to him, Marc’s trying to pull it off.” He sat and balanced on the edge of the bed, staring at me. “Your dad helped us when our parents died. We’re helping him now.”
“How?”
“By finding you and keeping you safe. I’m investigating the shooting, figuring it out. Getting the right party to pay,” Luc answered. “We’re also making sure no one goes after control of your father’s holdings. We can’t take you back too early, or they might come after you. Marc’s in constant contact with your father. He knows you’re safe.”
“But not where I am,” I stared at him.
He gave a mocking grin, “No one knows about this place except a few of our team. There’s a memorial mass being held for your brother in about two weeks, I’m taking you back then. Until that time, you’re my guest here.”
“Where are we?”
He gave a small shake of his head, “I said, no one knows. That’s why I wanted the blindfold on you. That’s why I had to knock you out. This is a safe house for a reason.” He put a handout to help me up, but I just stared at it. His jaw firmed, “You remember your senior prom?”
“I do,” I quickly glanced at him, then away. He was scary in a totally hot way.
“So, Dom sent you with Gianni since the dink you were going with did something stupid causing you to cancel with him. You were pissed, according to Dom, and said if you saw any of your dad’s guys besides Gianni, you’d race off with the football team.”
“I’m aware,” I kept watching him. It was one of the few times I stood up to my father.
“So, you were seventeen,” he started, “and Dom needed you watched by someone who wouldn’t be intimidated by you threating your father’s wrath if they had to pull you out, but you couldn’t recognize them.”
I made a face at him. “Are you saying you were at my prom?”
He gave a warm smile, “I was the music teacher’s date. Marc took a history teacher but left with both her and the art teacher.”
“What?” my mouth hung open. “Wait, I danced with Ms. Robinson’s date.”
“That would have been Marc,” he smiled. “My point is, if we desired to capture you for some nefarious reason, it would have been a lot easier then. Your brother trusted us, maybe you should try it as well.”
“If the Romano family didn’t kill Dom, who did?” I asked quietly.
“That’s the million-dollar question.” He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, “Now, how does dinner sound? You slept through lunch.”
My stomach growled, “Sounds acceptable.” I winced. “So where are we again?” I quickly slid my shoes back on.
He gripped my hand, helping me up. “No,” was all he said as he strolled through the door, then down a hallway. It was apparent we were in a log cabin of some sort; the walls had a rustic appearance to them. We walked into an open kitchen area, and the smell made my mouth salivate. “I hope you like Chicken Piccata,” he said as he held a chair for me.
“I do,” I said as I settled into a chair and picked up a fork.
He sipped at his glass of wine as he sat, then peered at me, “So a few rules and we can start our vacation.”
“Let me guess,” I said. “No going outside, no running away, no phone calls, no computers. Am I missing anything?”
His eyes narrowed, “A few.” He took another sip, I noticed I only had water. “You can go outside as long as I’m with you because of the predators in the area. Not all of them are human. You have no phone privileges at the moment and won’t get them until we settle some specifics with your father.”
“But I’m not being kidnapped?”
“No, it’s for your protection,” he ground out as I gave an uneven smile.
“Do I get wine? Or am I just on water. I’m over twenty-one,” I pointed to his glass.
“Not while you’re on anti-depressants, and yes, we found them along with the gun in your purse. You shouldn’t have left it behind if you were trying to get away from someone.” I crossed my arms and looked to the side. Luc leaned forward, “There’s nothing wrong with getting help. You lost your brother, it’s understandable.” He leaned back and dug back into his food, “Also, no Internet access. It’s spotty out here, anyway. Oh, and you’re sleeping with me.”
“Hold on,” I put a finger up.
“We have one bedroom, button. I’ve already turned the small extra room into an art studio for you so you can paint. I’ll be damned if you sneak out while I’m resting,” he stared at me.
“I’m stunned I get to shower alone,” I snarled.
“You do as long as you stay in the house while I do. I’m trusting you. If you run off while I’m showering or doing anything, we’ll be getting real cozy indeed,” he smirked.
“Anything else,” I stabbed into the food, refusing to look at him. Of course, I was taking off the minute his back was turned. I’m young, not stupid.
“Yes, the art room is yours alone. I won’t bother you when you’re working as long as you realize the office is mine and you don’t go snooping in there.” He finished his wine, picked up his plate and carried it to the sink.
“If you have an office and room for me to paint, why are we sharing the bedroom?” I stared at him.
“Because I don’t fit on the sofa, I’m not sleeping on the floor in the office or your art room, and you aren’t either,” he said.
“I have a business to run,” I argued. “I need computer access.”
“Feddi’s your distribution at the moment. He can handle any on-line orders you receive. We’ve loaded all your image files onto a computer without a modem. You can do any of your graphic arts stuff on it, and I can make sure the files are uploaded later on.” He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms, waiting for my next argument.
“Why do you keep calling me button?” I wasn’t letting up but didn’t know what to argue about next.
He smirked, realizing I was running out of steam, “Because you’re cute as a button.”
“I’m twenty-two years old. I’m sophisticated, charming, and beautiful. I am most definitely not cute,” I growled.
He tilted his head and pursed his lips, “What’s wrong with cute?”
“The word implies I’m a child. A little girl,” I growled.
“
You’re what, five foot tall in your stocking feet? You’re bite-sized,” he chuckled.
“I’m five-four,” I shot back. “You’re what? Seven-foot?”
“I’m six-seven,” he smiled. “One guy I have patrolling the woods is over seven-foot.”
“You have men in the woods?” Damn, I was going to have to make my escape at night. Or hope he was lying.
“Yes, I have people in the woods. We know a group that controls a private mercenary service. They’re providing security,” he smiled. “Don’t worry, if you behave, you’ll never see them.” I stared at him, trying to read him. If he was lying, I was running the first time he hit the bathroom. I might have to take that chance, anyway.
“Anything else I need to know?” I got up and added my plate to his in the sink.
“Yeah, since I cooked, you’re doing the dishes,” he winked and strode into the next room as I glared at his back.
After cleaning the kitchen, I strayed into the next room. “Anything else? Should I mow the grass?”
He smirked, “Come here. We’ll watch a movie.” He got up and led me to a sofa.
“I don’t watch a lot of TV,” I argued.
“It’s not TV, it’s a movie,” he pulled me down onto the sofa. “A comedy. You can use some laughter in your life.”
“I’m fine,” I argued.
“Be quiet and watch Clue,” he responded.
“Like the board game?”
“Now you’re getting it,” he smiled. I ground my teeth and leaned back to watch the screen. After a bit, he reached down and grabbed my feet, putting them in his lap.
I yanked them away, “What are you doing?”
“Hush,” he said, his eyes not leaving the screen. “You were in three-inch heels. I’m giving you a foot massage. I go all out when I kidnap someone.”
“Funny,” I tried to pull my foot away, but he yanked it back and plucked my shoes off. Then he began his ministrations. It was lovely. I stopped fighting it. Finally, he pulled my legs on top of his, causing me to go closer and grabbed my hands. kneaded them.
“You know, it’s okay if you’re depressed. Anyone would be. We all go through blue periods, some worse than others,” Luc never took his eyes off the screen.
“Who says I’m depressed?” I deflected.
“Marc’s major in college was psychology, he actually got a Ph.D. His thesis was about depression and how it manifested in various artists’ work. Specifically, how the color would disappear from the subject’s paintings," he said. “That and Feddi found your medication,” he reminded me.
“Wellbutrin’s used to quit smoking,” I realized my jaw had stiffened.
“You haven’t smoked a day in your life. That’s the one thing your mother would have spanked you for,” he responded. “There’s nothing wrong with getting help. Even Cosmo wouldn’t get mad about the medicine.”
“Cosmo wouldn’t,” I agreed. “However, Jenn would.”
“Your mother?”
I pulled at my hair, “It’s big pharma. I should use herbs.”
“She might shock you. However, if you’re worried about it, we’ll keep it from her.” Luc moved my legs and got up, returning with two bottles of water. Then he positioned himself behind me and started on my neck. “You know, I can be nice,” he murmured in my ear, causing an electrical jolt to run down my back. No, no, no. No getting warm fuzzy feelings for the kidnapper. No Stockholm Syndrome for me.
“You said what Marco’s major was, what was yours?” I asked, taking a sip, and ignoring his statement.
“Physiology with an emphasis on stress on the body. It’s amazing how it helps with my job,” I could almost feel Luc smiling. I gradually felt myself relax until I finally nodded off.
3
When I awoke the sun was streaming through the window, a quilt covered me, and an enormous arm was around my waist. I tried to slip out, but it tightened. “Good morning, button,” I heard behind me.
I groaned. I had a feeling the nickname would stick. “How long did I sleep?”
I felt him shrug, “Long enough. Time to get up and moving. How do you feel about jogging?”
“As in running?”
“As in releasing endorphins,” he said.
“I don’t need to exercise,” I struggled to sit up, kind of proving his point.
He let go as I got up, “That’s fair. We’ll go for a walk instead.”
“Are you saying I’m fat?” I stared at him, then blinked. The quilt covered most of him, but you could still tell he was shirtless. Holy muscles, Batman. The man was ripped. I shook my head. “Besides, it’s not like I have any clothes here.”
Luc got up and strolled over to dresser. Yep, he was only in bottoms. Unfortunately, with his back to me, I saw a horrifying sight. Long, deep scars crisscrossed his back. “Oh, my God. What happened?”
He stiffened, “I got caught with my guard down once. My back is a gift I got. Looks worse than it is.” He opened a drawer, “The first couple of drawers are full of clothes for you. The closet over there,” he showed a door, “has even more of your clothes. I didn’t expect you to wear one outfit the whole time.” He opened the drawer, grabbing a couple things, then throwing them on the bed, “Change into those. I’ll grab my stuff and change in the second bathroom. We’re going on a hike in twenty minutes.”
I blinked for a moment as I figured out what to say. “Why?” Oh, he’ll think I’m smart.
He sighed, “Alley, it’s a beautiful morning. Moving around will help you feel less cooped up. It’s a proven fact exercise and nature can help with depression.”
I reared back, “You don’t have to fix me.”
“I’m not trying to fix you. I’m trying to help you,” he argued. “I’m not taking no for an answer.” He grabbed a few things from another dresser, “Get dressed and be ready in twenty, or I’m dressing you.” He swaggered out of the room.
“This still feels like a kidnapping,” I howled at the door, then pouted as I changed into jeans and loose sweater. I quickly threw my hair into a ponytail and opened the door. Luc came out of another door wearing jeans and a midnight-colored t-shirt. He indicated I should follow him, so I sighed and did.
The air had just a bit of crispness to it, with a hint a dew on the ground. The area smelled clean. I took in my surroundings and realized I wasn’t off. We were definitely staying in a log cabin of some sort, probably about thirty years old. There was a small pond to one side and a forest of evergreen trees surrounding us. “So, we’re still in Colorado?” I asked.
“Maybe,” he shrugged. “Or we could be in Montana, anywhere in the Pacific Northwest, Michigan, Minnesota, heck, even Missouri. Anyplace that just has a forest of trees.”
“Still not going to tell me?”
“Nope.” He pointed to a trail and marched me down it.
“Do we need to be concerned about bears? And if so, how big?”
“Stop fishing,” he said. “I’m not telling you where we are. Besides, city girl, can you even tell the differences between the trees?”
“Yes.” I pointed at a tree, “This is a pine tree.”
“That is a cedar tree,” he smirked. “Not a pine.” I frowned at him.
“You’re from Kansas City, too. How do you know the difference?” I asked.
“Because while your mom took you on art and yoga retreats in the ‘wilderness’,” he used air quotes, “and your dad took you to Europe to visit museums, I went to camp, which comprised wilderness survival and outdoor skills,” he smirked. “I might have lived in the city, but it taught me how to survive in every situation. Hell, both Marc and I got thrown into the military after high school graduation. We might have done the shortest stints allowed, but we did them.”
“You didn’t wait until after college?”
“It would have made us officers. We joined to learn skills, not for a career,” he replied. “We learned not to panic under pressure.”
“How old are you two,” I tried thinki
ng if I’d ever heard their ages mentioned.
“Like I said, I was a year behind our brothers. I’m nine years older than you, so thirty-one. Marc’s a year older, so thirty-two,” he continued up the path, pausing to make sure I was following.
“So, neither of you married? I’m not trying to be nosy, but Dom was already divorced.” I trudged up to him.
“Marc will never marry, or God help the woman he does,” he smirked. “He likes variety and usually all at once. Thus, leaving with two of your teachers.”
“And you?”
“There was someone years ago but turns out I couldn’t trust her. I’ve been cautious since then,” his jaw ticked.
“Sorry,” I muttered.
He just waved me off, “What about you? No serious boyfriends?”
“You’ve met my dad and brother,” I snorted. “One guy in high school I went out on a few dates with. But, like your situation, he was someone I couldn’t trust. In college I dated three different guys.” I sighed, “I’m such a good friend they all came out to me before coming out to their parents. Two of them just got married to each other.”
Luc winced, “Ouch.”
“It’s not bad. All three of them are my best-selling artists,” I smiled.
“And high school dude?” he glanced at me.
“He’s a cop now,” I rolled my eyes. “Wanted to get in good with my family so he could advance quicker or something.”
“In high school?” Luc made a face.
“I know you’re ancient, but try to remember teenagers are stupid,” I smirked.
“Especially guys. I have three Godsons and a Goddaughter. She’s a sweetheart and they’re morons,” he nodded in agreement. “So, you figured this out about him…?”
“Right before prom,” I nodded. “It’s the reason Gianni took me instead. Dad spent so much on the dress, he said there was no way I wasn’t going even if he had to take me.”
He gave a dazzling smile. “Thank God for Gianni.” We walked for a bit, “For the record, I remember your dress. It was beautiful.”
“And way too mature for my age, to quote my father.” I sighed, “I never make him happy.”
