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Sweat dripped down her spine and in between her breasts. She ignored it and kept blinking away that which burned her eyes. There wasn’t any breeze other than what she created, and she jogged along the path circumventing the large lake. At her side ran her Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Cao. His steps easy as he paced her. Behind them both ran bodyguards.
It had been nearly two years since she was kidnapped, and tortured while being held in Central America. Her breathing increased. Two years since he had shown up in her life. Saving her.
Her legs wobbled and she lost her stride for a moment. Cao glanced up at her.
“I’m okay, boy.”
Even to her own ears, she didn’t sound confident about that. She picked up her pace, her dog doing the same. At the end of her five-mile run, she still hadn’t been able to let go.
No one knew of her nightmares aside from the dog. And no one would.
Back at her place, she topped off Cao’s water before heading for the shower herself. A bath would’ve been nice, perhaps even divine, but she had an engagement tonight to attend. Padding to her bed, she lay back on the black satin bedspread, arms out.
Two years and a nightmare still lingered. It didn’t make any sense. Nothing had happened since.
Nothing happened prior to my having been kidnapped either.
Her chest began to tighten, and Cao jumped up beside her, pushing his head below her hand. Tears burned her eyes as they fell. Rolling, she held him tight. He lay there as she cried.
It’s not fair. I should be able to move on. To relearn to live life, to live my life.
The crippling fear lingered, unwilling to leave her. Less, yes, but still in existence. There were reminders, daily of how different her life was, how she was.
Her arm pulsed as her alarm went off on her Fitbit. Reluctantly, she released Cao and got up to put on her shoes. He watched her without moving.
“You’d be bored, Cao.” She smoothed her hand down her dress. He put his head down. “Fine, but don’t complain,” she teased.
Purse in hand, she locked up before heading through to the garage. Once Cao had been let out in the back for a bit, she loaded him in her Caliber and put them on the road.
Thirty minutes later, she leaned against a pillar of the porch she was on.
“Avery?”
Resting her head against the wood, she smiled as a good friend appeared.
“Hi, Shauna.”
“I’m so glad you came, thank you.”
“Like I would miss your birthday party. Thanks for letting him come.”
Shauna slid an arm around her waist. “He’s always welcome.”
“Thank you.”
Holding her arm, Shawna headed away to the gazebo on the property. Avery went without a word, not even bothering to look for her dog, well aware he would follow.
“Talk to me, Avery.” Her order fell once they had taken a seat on the wicker furniture.
“About?”
“What’s going on? Honestly, I thought you’d be more yourself now.”
“Me too.”
Cao settled by her foot and she rubbed along his side.
“Still having nightmares?”
“Weekly.” A harsh chuckle. So perhaps one person aside from the dog knew. “But it’s no longer daily so it’s an improvement.”
“Sweetie. Tell me how I can make this better.”
“You can’t.” Realizing those words sounded harsh, she took Shauna’s hand in her own. “No one can. I have to do this myself. I have to find my own way.”
Even as the words left her mouth a pair of dark blue eyes watching her from behind dark lashes poured in her head.
Him.
Again.
“I worry about you. You’re my best friend. And over these years since you came home, once you were returned to us, we’ve grown apart and I hate it. We’re as close as sisters, now I hesitate to call you fearing I have interrupted or you’re going to say no.”
“I never meant for you to feel that way, Shauna. I’m struggling. Really, really struggling. I’m pissed at myself for it and honestly feel as if it’s better I keep to myself.”
“No!” Shauna’s tone was sharp and determined. “You belong with us, Avery. Not hiding. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I just can’t get my head right. I want to be able to be more confident and sure, but I can’t. Cao helps, but I still need—”
It was one thing to have him in her head, another entirely to share that with another person. Even if Shauna was the only person.
“What? What do you need?” A slight pause. “Or should I say who?”
Avery had never been so grateful for darkness.
“That’s it, isn’t it? Who? The one who came to get you? The one who brought you home? Who? This man is your who that you need.” There wasn’t anything but acceptance in her tone.
She didn’t want to share him. He was her private indulgence to relive the safety he’d provided her.
Biting her lower lip, she shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.” She forced a smile into her voice. “I’m fine, Shauna. I promise. I’m not perfect but I’m trying. Working on it.”
“Shauna?” a deep voice pierced the dark.
“In the gazebo, Hank. With Avery.”
She hadn’t started, used to Hank’s voice. Moments later his large shadow filled the doorway.
“Time for cake, honey. We’re all waiting for you.”
Squeezing Shauna’s hand, she said, “Go, I’ll be right behind you.”
With a hug, Shauna was off with Hank, leaving her and Cao to their own devices. True to her word, she went to the patio and watched as her childhood friend celebrated her thirtieth birthday with her new friends.
Avery didn’t begrudge her them. While she been kidnapped, the wedding had happened and Hank’s friends had become Shauna’s. Honestly, she didn’t envy her any of it. The woman was happy and that was all Avery cared about.
However, there was sadness moving within her. This was a new feeling, this was her staring through a window, observing a life she no longer was comfortable being a part of. There was wealth and while she’d grown up with that, being as that was why she been taken, she didn’t want to advertise it anymore. Now, she did her best to try and not stand out, not to be flashy. Blend in.
This wasn’t her life anymore.
“Goodbye, Shauna.”
Heart heavy, she pivoted around and strode off into the waiting dark, trusting the dog at her side to make sure she didn’t trip over anything. Instead of heading home, she went to her parents’ house. Parking at the apex of the paved half-circle drive, she killed the engine and sat there for a few moments, struggling not to rub her sore eyes.
“Let’s go, Cao.”
Together they entered the stately mansion.
“Good evening, Miss Avery.”
A warm smile for Edgar preceded her asking, “Is my father in his study?”
“Yes, miss.”
“Thank you.”
Striding over the marble tile, she made her way to the large oak door and knocked.
“Enter.”
Depressing the dark gold handle, she pushed in and padded over the thick carpet. Her father sat where he always had appeared so imposing to her as a young woman.
He waved her in closer as he sent her a smile. “Hello, Avery.”
“Papa.”
His face shuttered. “What’s going on? Come here and give your old man a hug.”
Before she’d been kidnapped, he wasn’t much into showing affection. It wasn’t bad, just different. She been raised by a nanny in her parents’ strict home with very little affection from them. Again, it was what it was. They had provided well for her, it was only in the emotional bit there had been lacking; however, that had changed now. At least from him, her mother was still reserved, almost as if she were afraid touching Avery would break her somehow.
He wrapped his arms around her. “What do you need?”
“I wanted to stop by and tell you and Mom I was taking a trip.”
“Wonderful. Where are you flying to?”
“I’m not. Cao and I are driving.”
Her father pulled back. “What?”
She pushed her hands through her hair and ruffled it before moving to sit in the large chair across from him.
“Have you spoken with your mother about this?”
“No. She didn’t do well with me being in my own place. I’m thinking she may be against this is well.”
“We don’t want to lose you.”
“It’s been two years and I haven’t gone anywhere. I have to face this, Papa. Its crippling me.” She hated admitting a weakness to this man, but she had to get him to see her point of view on the matter.
He sighed heavily. “Where are you going?”
Pleased he would be on her side, she smiled. “I just want to drive. Visit some parks, tour some attractions, that kind of thing.”
“But, alone?”
“Cao will be with me.”
Her father frowned. “He’s not protection. He’s a lab. Let me buy a guard dog for you to take with you.”
Immediately she shook her head. “No, thank you. Cao is perfect as the way he is.” She dampened her lips and surged ahead before she lost the confidence. “I would really appreciate your assistance in getting Mom to understand. I have to do this, Papa.”
“Let me go get her.”
He stood, gave her another smile, and walked out. The second he was gone, she scrambled to his desk. Rifling through his papers, she found the information she sought.
Stuffing the folded business card in her pocket, she gestured to Cao and hightailed it. A shady thing to do? Yep, but listening to her mother degrade her choices wasn’t part of a plan. Avery started the engine she patted Cao on the head.
“Let’s get going.” She was ready, all she been missing was what information she now had printed on the card in her pocket. The pieces were all in her grasp now. It was time to go.
αβ
“What are you doing, Derek?”
Derek glanced up as his brother Wild walked in, and he clicked the button on the computer screen, effectively hiding the fact he’d been pulling out more information on her.
The her he couldn’t forget.
“Wrapping up some paperwork. Why?”
Wild had lighter blue eyes than him or his siblings, but the Marine’s gaze was no less sharp or astute.
“You okay?”
He and Wild were the closest in age, and it was this sibling he was the closest to overall. Wild had gone into the Marines, but it wasn’t until he’d met Alyse that he changed. In fact, Derek was now the only single Wilder sibling.
“Fine. Why do you ask?”
Wild arched an eyebrow as he took a seat. “Near death experiences. Then there’s the fact you haven’t been the same since you took two to the chest by Shelley Marie’s ex.”
He fought the urge to rub the scars there. “I’m fine.”
Wild leaned back, putting one booted foot up on the opposite knee. “I know. What about Avery?”
His palms grew damp. Blinking, he lifted one shoulder. “What about her?”
Wild dropped his foot to the floor before glancing over his shoulder. “This is about you not letting it go.”
“What are you going on about?”
“I know you been monitoring her, Derek.” Wild rubbed his hands along his thighs before he pushed up and went around the desk. Before Derek could do anything, Wild had clicked the mouse, bringing up the screen he’d minimized when his brother first entered.
“That so?”
“Leave off, Wild.”
“No. You forgot, I was down there with you, Derek. Had I not gotten shot you would’ve ripped that man’s head from his body.”
Anger floated anew. Not new anger, for this had gnawed on him whenever he thought of her. And that was daily.
“Your point?” The tone jagged and deadly.
“I’m worried. You may have snowed the others, but we’ve always been closer. Talk to me.”
“When you met Alyse that feeling that wouldn’t leave, you know the one I’m talking about, right?”
“The one that makes you want to be possessive and never let her out. Hold her and raise a family with her? That one?”
“Precisely.”
“What are you two doing?” Adam popped his head in the room, interrupting.
“Looking over some things for hunting,” Wild said easily, tossing a smile in their brother’s direction. “Need us?”
“Just heading out to Dale’s for lunch. Want any?”
“Sub would be great,” Derek said.
“Make that two.”
“You got it.” Adam left.
“Thanks.”
“You’ll tell everyone when you’re ready. Find her. See if it was real or just the heat of the situation.”
“You know we call that stalking.” Derek rubbed his scars. “It’s not right, and what if seeing me brings all those bad memories back?”
“Then you address them.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “Let me know before you go.” Wild left him alone.
He sighed and clicked another file, the screen filling with an image of Avery. Prim, proper, and sexy. He stared at this image so often to ensure he’d recognize her when he located her to bring her home. He’d memorized the freckles on her skin, seven on one side and six on the other.
Her full lips with the darker dot on the lower right lip. The curly dark lashes that framed her slightly slanted eyes of rich chocolate brown.
He also memorized how she appeared when he found her. Hair not clean and neat but shorter, the additional length in her lashes had gone. Those eyes, however, had latched onto him and impounded his hurt. All rational thought vanished, replaced with anger that he learned to control in the SEALs. The iron control melted like it had been shoved into the sun itself.
A gut check, no other way to explain it. There had been multitudes of missions before — both for D.A.R.K. as well as when he been active duty, and through all those he’d never come unhinged like this. They had taken his woman.
One glance was all he needed.
“Two years,” he muttered. “Two years and all I’ve done is stare at the picture of how I want to remember her versus how I found her.”
Avery had still been beautiful when he’d found her there and the moment he’d found her, every single protective instinct flamed to powerful. Hell, some he didn’t know he had.
His phone rang and he answered instantly, as it was his office phone.
“Derek Wilder.”
“Mr. Wilder, this is Larson Spindell from Montana State Patrol. We spoke the other day.”
“I recall, yes. You are concerned about your daughter.”
The hesitation told him all he needed to know, the situation had not gotten any better.
“My time is running out. I’d like to hire you. Do you have time to talk now?”
“I don’t think this should be done over the phone.”
“Me either. I’m sitting in your parking lot. Do you have time to meet with me?”
“Of course. Come on in and I’ll meet you in my office.”
He ended that call and placed another to the front desk.
Emma picked up. “Yes, Derek?”
“There’s an Officer Spindell coming in. Please bring him straight to my office.”
“Of course.”
Within five minutes, it was only him and the officer seated in the office, Emma having walked him up and vanished. The man was a wreck. No way to put it any other way. Derek didn’t blame them, his daughter was missing. His entire world.
Derek gave him his full attention, jotting down notes as the man provided a new recap.
“I know this isn’t a popular question and you will want to hear it.”
“The cops asked me the same thing. How do I know she’s not just staying out of contact?”
“Young people do things they don’t want their parents to know. It does happen. I’m not asking this because I won’t go find your daughter. I am mentioning this because she was doing something she didn’t, and when I interrupt, she may not appreciate it.”
Tears shone in his eyes. “Not my daughter. It’s just the two of us. We’ve never gone this long without communication.”
Derek nodded. “Okay. I just needed you to know.”
“We didn’t discuss payment.”
“I’m having them put together for you now. Emma will bring it in shortly.”
The uncertainty in his gaze bothered Derek. There was no doubt this was keeping him up.
“I’ll start on this tonight and will keep you updated on my progress.”
“Do you require payment all up front?”
“Officer Spindell, I will find your daughter. If it has to be made in payments then so be it. You came to us because you believe your daughter to be in danger. That’s not anything I — or my brothers — take lightly. Our first priority is ensuring your daughter is safe, payment is secondary.”
“I —”
Emma knocked on the door frame.
“Come on in.”
She moved over the carpet, her body displaying her pregnancy once more. He hid his smile; this was her second pregnancy, her first having resulted in twins.
“Here you are, Mr. Wilder.”
There were two copies each within their own presentation folder. He kept one and handed the other over the large desk to the man sitting across from him. As he watched, the officer opened it and read. Derek didn’t open it, he already knew the amount. The company kept both paper and digital files on each account.
“Take your time reading over it. I will be right back.”
Two hours later, he clicked off the light to his office and jogged down the stairs. He saw Karen and Rhodi together by the front desk.
“Don’t you have a house to do that at, as opposed to the front counter?”
Karen grinned and Rhodi merely shrugged.
“Emma said you had a case and had her call Alyse up. What’s going on?”
“I have a few leads to follow up on.”
“The missing girl. I’m coming with. Let’s go.”
That right there explained what they were doing there. Rhodi kissed his wife and he waved as they headed out to the airstrip.
Two weeks later, they disembarked with Shania accompanying them. After the reunion with her father and they had left, Derek finally departed for home.
He hadn’t gotten a lot of rest and had the need for solid sleep. I need to drink so I pass out and don’t dream at all. He parked in his garage before trotting inside.
After his shower, he crashed until the peal of the doorbell woke him. Rolling from bed, he shoved into a pair of sweats before padding down to the front door.
It wasn’t family, they would’ve walked right in. There was the potential this was a local kid selling something. Unlike his siblings, Derek didn’t have his entire property fenced off all the time, he tended to leave the front gate open. So people could come in and drop things off.
Fighting a yawn, he yanked open the door.
“What?”
His breath slipped away. He blinked to make sure he wasn’t losing it.
The owner of those brown eyes watching him, who had for the past two years only been in a dream, stood on the front porch.
Her.
Avery.
