LAVERE’ HAD MOVED into his home so the thirty-minute drive to Hanover was enough time for her to calm down. But to Samuel, she seemed just as tense as she was back at the office. He wanted to tell her how proud he was at the way she handled herself back there, but he was sure she would not appreciate it the way he intended. With all that she had been through in the last two days, she showed remarkable restraint against the Governor’s wife.
When they reach LaVere’s home, Cynthia’s already plucked nerves were tested to the limit even more. Jamal answered the door and literally refused to let her in. “Prince Ashro is not in. You may call him, I’m sure you have the telephone number.”
Giving her best to be pleasant, since she knew Jamal was not the reason for her distress, she smiled. “May I come inside and wait for him?”
Looking at her bruised face Jamal smiled. “I see someone attempted to slap some decency into you. Did it work?”
That was her limit. She pushed past the miniature of a man and walked into the foyer. “I’m not in the mood for you Jamal.”
Seeing the action from the car, Samuel got up and walked inside the open door. Jamal stood with his back to him in front of the seat Cynthia took near the staircase. “Since you are here and refuse to leave, allow me to take this opportunity to speak with you. May I have your permission to speak freely?”
Her mind was telling her to walk out, but her curiosity took over. “I can’t imagine anything you would have to say to me that will hold my interest.”
“If you care anything at all for the Prince, you will hear me out.”
She placed her purse on the seat next to her and crossed her legs. “Let me warn you. I have not had a very good day, thus far. You may be taking your life into your hands if you say something that will piss me off. Do you still want to talk to me?”
“This must be said.”
“Go for it.”
“Your presence in the Prince's life has caused turmoil not only with his family, but with his country as well. Several factions within the country are uprising against the royal family because of the Prince’s choice for a wife. To date, there have been at least three violent attempts against the family. No one has been hurt, but it’s only a matter of time. Rest assured the royal family will be protected at all costs. That means some of my countrymen will probably lose their lives because they feel so strongly about the Prince’s choice.”
“It is his choice.”
Jamal put his hands behind his back and began to pace in front of her. “Not really. The Prince belongs to the people. What he does with his life directly affects them. They are not very accepting of outsiders, and you are an outsider. Let’s put the people aside for a moment. The King is not pleased with this situation. He is on the verge of banishing his own son from the country if he continues to see you. Your relationship with the Prince has put a rift between the King and his Queen. That has only intensified his dislike for you. Can you sit there and tell me you care for the Prince and allow these things to happen? If you truly care, you would step aside and make way for someone that is worthy of him and his status.”
There was no way in hell she was going to allow Jamal to see her cry. However, that was exactly what she was about to do. She picked up her purse and stood. “Would you tell LaVere’ I came by?” Not waiting for a response she turned and saw Samuel standing at the door. Looking away from his face she walked out of the door.
Samuel stared at the sorry excuse of a man as she walked out. “If you ever speak to her in that tone again, it will be the last time you ever hear your own voice.” He turned and joined Cynthia in the car. Without saying anything, he started the car and pulled off.
For a second back there she could have sworn she saw a smile on Jamal’s face. But at the moment, that was the least of her concerns. LaVere’ never mentioned the situation in his homeland. Why would he keep something so important from me? She looked around at the luxury vehicle. It had every upgrade available. Each day she received a gift from him, whether he was in town or not. This morning she received a dozen red roses. The message in the card read, Only a princess could give this justice. She opened the velvet box that accompanied the flowers and inside was a stunning swing drop diamond necklace from Tiffany of New York. The day before it was a gown from Paris. He was keeping her mind off important issues by giving her material things. Placing her head back against the seat she looked out the window as the car moved down the highway. She sadly chuckled to herself, “Isn’t that what I always wanted. Why does it feel so wrong?”
* * *
When they arrived home, Rusty greeted them at the door. “Hello boy,” Cynthia rubbed his head and gave him a hug. “I’m going to bed,” she said without looking back.
Samuel watched her climb the steps. She seemed so dejected. “Follow her boy,” he said to Rusty. The dog ran up the steps behind her. Looking at his watch, it wasn’t even six o’clock in the evening, but he understood. The last forty-eight hours had been hell on her. At least the house was quiet, allowing her time to rest. Something had to give or he was going to kill the next person to hurt her.
* * *
Brian was reading the report from Calvin. The anger he was experiencing was unbearable. James Harrison was not his father, but he was an integral part of his life. It was because of him Brian wanted to be an FBI agent. When he would visit JD, his father would tell the most interesting stories about law enforcement. Never once did he say, “You can’t be an agent, you’re reaching too high.” The day he received notification of acceptance, James Harrison was the first person he told. Brian knew if his feelings ran as deep as wanting to stop what he was doing to kill Munford, JD’s would be worse.
Now the man had the audacity to want to take out Gavin, JD, and Cynthia. He was either losing his mind or Munford had others in his pocket. What would make a simple Chief of Police think he could take out a Governor and an Attorney General? The answer to that question was too damn scary to contemplate, but there were two things Brian knew for sure, nothing was going to happen to JD with him around or Cynthia with Samuel around. He stood from his desk and walked over to the window. Looking through the buildings on Broad Street he could see the top of the Capitol where the Governor lived. How could he tell JD what he has found out—how could he not?
Sitting back at his desk he called Calvin. “I just finished the report. According to this what Munford confessed to Gavin is true. He had Mr. Harrison killed. How are we going to handle this?”
“We can’t tell JD until we have everything we need to put Munford behind bars. Telling him any time prior to that, we will be asking for trouble.”
“There’s another problem. Cynthia doesn’t know about Munford. TNT is handling the Policeman’s ball this weekend. Munford is going to be there.”
“You have to find a way to keep her from going.”
“She has been through so much. Just bring him in.”
“And charge him with what, Brian? He hasn’t broken any laws we can prove. The man has covered his tracks. The only thing we can do is keep Cynthia protected.”
After talking with Calvin, Brian decided to drive over to see how Cynthia was holding up. Tonight a simple telephone call would not do. He let himself in the house through the garage door; Rusty met him at the top of the steps leading into the kitchen. “Hey boy,” he said as he walked into the kitchen. Samuel was sitting in the living room with a beer looking out the French doors into the night. He took off his jacket, went over to the refrigerator, and pulled a beer out for himself, then walked into the living room and sat in the chair near the window.
Brian watched Samuel as he looked. He remembered the look he witnessed when he found Samuel at the hospital watching over Cynthia. Then a few other times he was sure he saw that look between the two of them. The same look he had seen a thousand times pass between JD and Tracy or James and Ashley. “You know, I generally mind my own business in affairs of the heart. But since at the moment you are in my employment, I have to ask, is there something between you and Cynthia that I need to be aware of?”
“Are you her personal aide or something?”
Brian smirked, “No, her big brother. I have noticed the way you look at her. So my interest is twofold. I’m a little overprotective when it comes to her and would have issues with someone getting involved with her for the wrong reasons. Sometimes she tends to disregard my advice, but that does not diminish my responsibility. I know better than most, she can be very distracting.”
Samuel smiled, “She is a beautiful woman. But it’s more than that. She is not what people think. She is so vulnerable and alone. I’ve been around this woman for over a week now. I cannot name one person that has her back. I mean really has her back. With everything that has happened to her, she has not called one person.” He took a swallow of beer, then pointed, “No, I have to take that back. She went to see LaVere’, but he wasn’t there and this little prick of a man talked to her as if she was a nobody. Other than you and me, this woman is virtually alone.”
“She has her brother.”
“That’s true, but let’s be real—he can’t help her with this.”
“No he can’t, but you can.” Brian sat forward, “I don’t think she should go to the Policeman’s Ball. We know Munford is going to be there. It would be a perfect opportunity for him to have her disappear. She’s beginning to trust you. Talk her out of going.”
“Everyone seems to be asking her to give up something. For once, before this is over with, I would like to see someone, anyone, give her something in return.”
Brian smiled. “She’s got you hook line and sinker.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Samuel said as he stood to get another beer.
“Look, I ain’t mad at you. I’m just wondering how you’re going to get past a prince.”
* * *
Later, after Brian left Samuel locked up the house and went upstairs. He lightly tapped on the door then walked in. She was lying in the bed looking at a movie with tears stains on her face. It dawned on him, this is the only room he had ever seen her cry in. She didn’t cry during the shooting earlier that morning. She didn’t cry during the confrontation with Carolyn, the words with Gavin, or at the things Jamal said. This was the only room she allows herself to feel. He walked through the room and checked the locks on the windows. Walking over to the bed he took off his shoes and lay down beside her. He took the remote out of her hands and turned the television off. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her forehead. “It’s going to end soon. I promise.”
The moment his arms circled her all thoughts of LaVere’, Gavin, Carolyn, Jamal, her mother, and the shooter escaped her as she settled against his chest and closed her eyes. There was never a time in her life she had felt so protected, so secure, so at peace. That was the last thought she had before sleep took over.
The steady flow of her breath against his neck let him know she had drifted off to sleep. Unfortunately for him it also brought everything male in him to full attention. The silky feel of her hair against his cheek, the softness of her skin beneath his hand, and the glorious mount of her breast that was rising and falling against his chest were playing havoc on his senses. And then the tips of her lips touched the side of his neck, every parcel in his body began throbbing. He saw a movement by the door and knew Rusty had settled in. He was able to relax his mind, now if he could just get the rest of his body to follow he could make it through the night. He kissed the top of the soft curls on the head of the woman lying in his arms and closed his eyes. Within minutes he had eased into a peaceful sleep.