Davenport Harbor (Six Degrees Book 3) (19 page)

“
Morning.
”

“
Good morning.
”
My body was slightly tense, and I knew he could feel it when he held me closer, his strong arms wrapping around me, his face in my neck.

“
We need to talk,
”
his rich voice rumbled in my ear, and my heart rate picked up.

“
I know,
”
I sighed, staring out the beautiful window, looking at the green foliage, the guest house, and the garden that was now blooming with color.

“
Want to go to
—”
I cut him off, shaking my head.

“
Here is fine,
”
I told him. Wrapped in his arms, staring out at the beautiful green hill and colorful flowers blooming in the garden, I wanted to stay put.

“
I need to ask you something and I need you to be honest.
”
His voice was calm but serious, and I nodded. His handsome face turned slightly, his mouth kissing me softly on my temple, before he turned me around.
“
Were you blond two years ago?
”

Oh God
…
.Oh no
…

“
Anne?
”

“
Yes,
”
I whispered, my lower lip trembling.
How does he know?

“
Did you recognize Belle?
”

“
No.
”
My voice shook as I tried to remember if I had ever met her, but I couldn’t place her anywhere.

“
Is Zoey Blake Downey
’
s daughter? Governor Downey
’
s grandchild?
”
He asked, and I felt lightheaded at the mention of Blake
’
s name spoken out loud. Cold sweat started to run down my back. Panic and dread flowed over me.

“
Let me go
”
, I whispered, my nose stinging and my eyes blurring with tears,
“
Before you call him. Please. Just let me have a head start," I started to beg, and he let go of my body, turning me in a blink of an eye, and sat me on the quartz countertop, his large body wedged between my legs, his finger lifting my chin so that I was looking into his eyes.

“
What did you just say?
”
If I hadn
’
t been having a panic attack at the mention of Blake
’
s name, I would have been paying attention to the pissed-off mood he was now in, but I wasn
’
t paying attention.

“
Please, John. I just need a head start. I know their reach. I know you have to call them, but...
”

“
Is that the kind of man you think I am?
”
He growled loudly, snapping me out of my panic attack. I watched as his face turned seriously angry.

“
John.
”

“
I saw you. I saw the handprints on your fucking neck. I helped Jerry check you, and your torso was fucking bruised. Your arms. Jesus, you think I would—
”

“
You know who Blake Downey is?
”
I asked him, my own fear masking itself in anger.

“
What?
”

“
Do you know who his father is? Do you know the kind of power they have? I would have kept driving straight into Mexico and kept driving right to freaking Costa Rica, if it wouldn
’
t have been for that damn flat tire!
”
I yelled.
“
That
’
s how much power they have. I met him in college, was all starry-eyed and stupid. A stupid, unimportant, small town girl from Iowa. He saw that and he
…”

“
He what?
”
John goaded me. I watched his Adam
’
s apple bob slightly and shook my head.

“
It doesn
’
t matter. Just let us go
—”

“
No,
”
he told me, his hands on either side of me gripping the countertop.

“
You don
’
t get it.
”

“
Then tell me! Tell me what he did, so I can help. Because as much power as they have, I don
’
t lack my own!
”
He yelled then clenched his strong jaw. Silence filled the air around us as we stared at one another.

“
Please.
”
His forehead touched mine, and something about the strangled tone in his voice caused something inside me to break. That small part of me that had been reaching out, hoping trust would grow, and I couldn’t have stopped myself if I had tried.

“
I fell in love with him, but it was all lies. I was a junior at Berkeley, taking advanced courses. My life revolved around school. Then I had to take this stupid communication
’
s class I had been putting off. He took the same class and charmed me. He paid attention to me. He seemed genuinely interested. I
’
ll admit knowing that political royalty was interested in me, was flattering. He was a little wild and liked to party, but I was too dazzled to realize that it was unhealthy.
”
I looked away, my gaze landing on Zoey playing with some chopped up strawberries I
’
d given her, and found strength to keep talking.

“
He had bad habits, and an ugly side started to show. It was slow at first. He was pushy about me changing my hair, then it was the clothes I wore, or not hanging out with friends I
’
d made. Then it just got worse, so I broke up with him,
”
I shared with John. My head was still lightheaded,
“
It didn
’
t work. He didn
’
t leave me alone. He showed up everywhere I was. He said he was sorry. He promised he would change. He said that he loved me so much, he needed all of my time, and I stupidly believed him. I went back. I even moved in with him.
”
My voice broke and I hated it. I hated how weak I
’
d been.

“
Things only got worse. His temper was frightening. I was so scared all the time. I stupidly took a break from school a semester before graduating and didn
’
t go back. I was stuck and I didn
’
t know how to leave. Every time I tried, he found me, and every time I gave in and went back. I don
’
t even know why I did. Then, instead of false promises of change, he started to be more manipulating. Threatening me. He even had police detectives that I found out were friends of his father's pick me up once. They threatened to arrest me on drug possession charges. I
’
ve never even smoked a cigarette. Blake was manipulative and violent, and it was only getting worse.
”
I squeezed my eyes closed, trying to keep the ugly memories away.

“
When I found out I was pregnant, I didn
’
t think. I left. I was determined to go anywhere, be anyone I needed to become, so that my child wouldn
’
t be hurt by that monster.
”
I met his stare head-on. So much was going on behind John
’
s eyes, it only helped me to power through.

“
He would have, too. He would have wanted me to get rid of her, or he would have beaten me to death. I know that. He was getting more violent. More out of control each day. And he was cheating on me, not hiding it. He was doing all kinds of drugs. I
’
m almost sure he was even selling. I wasn
’
t going to risk it.
”
My voice was calm and steady, even though I was falling apart with fear on the inside.

“
So you took a baby away from her father?
”
He asked, and it pissed me off.

“
No. I left so that she could have a chance to live.
”

John

The determination in her voice made me nod. I knew the governor
’
s shitty son would have done just what she had said he would, and the governor and his people would have covered up any evidence of it.

“
What happened when you left?
”
I asked her, my hand caressing her cheek.

“
I had a little money. I found jobs that I could convince my bosses to pay me under the table. I lied about my name to everyone except you,
”
she told me. Something about her telling only me I liked way too much.

“
Why?
”
I couldn’t help but ask and watched as she took a deep breath then released it slowly.

“
To be honest, that night you caught me off guard. I worried momentarily, but then I didn't think you would see me again.
”

“
Anne is your real name?
”
I asked, wanting to know the truth.

“
Yes. Anne Carter,
”
she answered softly, and I leaned forward until my lips met her hairline where I breathed in her comforting scent.

“
What happened the night of the storm, Kitten?
”
I asked her and breathed a little easier as her body relaxed against mine.

“
He found me. I was working at a small diner. An old buddy of his stopped by about three days before, but I didn
’
t think he
’
d recognized me. I was wrong.
”
She closed her eyes and breathed through her nose.
“
I had just worked a double, and Zoey was in the room, asleep. I opened the door and he came at me before I could even blink. He was on something. I screamed, yelled, hoping someone would hear, and got lucky. My neighbor, Mr. Campbell, stepped in and made him leave. He recognized who Blake was related to and knew what that meant; so he helped me pack up. He gave me a little money, and I left.
”

“
Why didn
’
t you ask your family for help?
”
I asked, watching the pain in her eyes shining through.

“
They won
’
t speak to me. We had a falling out about me leaving Iowa to come to school here. They’re conservative and set in their own ways, and I was stubborn. The moment I left Iowa, they stopped talking to me, and I didn’t try to reach out either.
”
Her voice drifted into a whisper.

"Okay, baby." I ran my fingers to the nape of her neck, her calm purrs making my body wake up even more. Surprisingly, I was pretty calm. I liked that she trusted me and didn
’
t try to shy away from the truth.

"Belle Garibaldi recognized me?" She asked, her eyes fearful, and I pulled her in. Anne's beautiful face was at my neck as my fingers continued calmly stroking hers.

"Yeah, Kitten." She pulled away from me, and I knew she was thinking about running away, and that thought alone made my stomach turn.

"What if...?"

"What?"

"What if...? Oh God, John, what if she goes and tells..."

"Shh...Baby, you have nothing to worry about. Not when it comes to Belle."

"How can you be so sure?"

“
Do you trust me?
”
I asked her straight up, a slight tingle of nerves starting to thump over my heart that I tried to ignore.

“
What?
”

“
Do you trust me, Kitten?
”

“
Yes.
”
No hesitation and I smiled.

“
Then trust me when I tell you Belle won
’
t say shit to Downey. Trust me, the little shit is not someone she needs to impress."

“
What about Mr. Downey?
”
The worry in her eyes roused something in me.

“
Nothing to worry about. Belle Garibaldi doesn't like Downey, she has her own reasons.
”

“
Who is she?
”
I watched as she bit down on her lip, and I could tell she was worrying about overstepping and asking me personal questions.

“
She’s…
”
A simple lie was at the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t do it.
“
What do you want to know?
”

“
Who is she? What does she do?
”
The way her eyes showed their curiosity made me wrap my arms around my chest and step back.

“
She runs a member
’
s only social club called Shine.
”

“
Like a country club?
”

“
Like a strip club that has a great restaurant.
”
Her eyes widened slightly and she bit her lower lip.

“
A strip club?
”

“
It
’
s a very exclusive place. She also has a—
”
at a loss of words, I stopped talking and looked at her.
What the fuck am I thinking telling her this?
She tilted her head slightly and I couldn’t help myself.

“
A stable of girl escorts.
”
Her eyebrows went up. I knew I wasn’t doing myself any favors by sharing this shit, but it was like I couldn’t help myself.
“
Some are just arm candy and others . . .
”

“
Do more?
”
She guessed, her lips slightly twitching, and I scowled.

“
Yes.
”

“
Hookers?
”
She whispered and I nodded, not breaking our stare. Her eyes went wide.
“
She
’
s a pimp.
”

“
She
’
s The Madam of the West Coast.
”