Distractions (43 page)

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landing. Shepard remained next to me,

his arms wrapped possessively around

my waist. I was able to actually blink

and move my extremely parched tongue.

The others were turned to their computer

screens, talking into headsets. I lightly

rubbed Shepard’s hand under the blanket

to let him know I was coherent. He

squeezed back and remained still as we

held each other. Our quiet dance of

fingers against palms, tracing secret

messages to each other lasted until the

wheels hit the ground.

Claira came over to me and read

my vital signs. She went to place another

drug in my arm. I wasn’t sure if it was to

keep me knocked out or wake me up.

Regardless, I managed to mumble,

“Stop, I won’t fight you.”

“She’s awake.” Claira looked to

Shepard and winked. Knowing with him

there, I would be more docile and

cooperative, she backed away with the

syringe. I began to wonder if it was she

who convinced the Doc to bring Shepard

to wherever he was taking us.

Doc approached to remove my

restraints, yet Shepard warned him to

back away.

“I got this; don’t lay another hand

on her.” His fingers gently slid along the

belt to unfasten me, determined to be as

protective as possible. The Doc put his

hands up in surrender and gathered his

things. I caught Claira looking at us

affectionately, which made me feel more

comfortable.

“Hold on, Violet.” He dipped down

near my waist and lifted me over his

shoulder. Although it was far from the

most comfortable, I knew it was the only

way he could carry me off the plane

unassisted. Once down the stairway, he

slid my legs down around his waist, my

head resting on his shoulder.

A large van was waiting for us on

the air strip. One of the men who I

assumed was a guard of some sort

opened the back door where Shepard got

in and secured me in the middle seat next

to him. Little was said among the others

now that I was conscious. I grew curious

about Mr. Gladstone’s role. Claira I got,

Alessa never crossed my mind.

I leaned my head on Shepard’s

shoulder where he tilted over and kissed

the top. His thumb pressed deeply into

my palm, massaging little circles to give

me something to focus on. Multiple sets

of eyes watched closely, never before

witnessing us interact in such an intimate

manner. I didn’t know what to expect at

the end of this journey. Being so focused

on the end goal, I was blind to that

which was taking place in front of me. I

stopped being angry at what I thought

was going on, and meditated on what

was truly happening. My emotions were

distractions keeping me from the truth.

Alessa warned me.

“Stay alert, Violet. Distractions

will be your undoing.”

I was surrounded by people I cared

for, but didn’t trust. I was strong, but not

that strong. The task I had been given

was much bigger than one person could

do alone; I just never saw the whole

picture until now.

The final piece snapped into place.

I kept silent as the car continued

along in the dark. A half hour or so

passed before we pulled under the

floodlights of a large area. Mr.

Gladstone got out of the vehicle and told

everyone to wait for a moment. Claira

and the Doc exchanged glances before

he looked back towards us.

“I am sorry it had to go this way,

Violet. You understand.”

There was not an ounce of remorse

on his face. This was the plan the whole

time. He asked me to trust him and I did.

Feeling Shepard’s hand tighten around

mine, even he couldn’t stop my growing

fury at the betrayal.

The side doors opened and men

speaking French escorted us down a

long wooden dock. I was a bit steadier,

yet Shepard remained by my side, giving

me support. A gleaming white yacht

came into view, ready for departure with

a small crew scattered about in

preparations. A narrow ramp was

leading aboard the vessel. Gladstone

was waiting for us at the top, directing

everyone into the cabin, and then

signaling to the captain it was time to

leave. With the loud sound of the horn,

we were soon off into the moonless

night.

Chapter 39 -

Anchors Away

The cabin was a spacious area,

complete with a full kitchen, sunken

seating area and various other spots to

lounge. The long wooden table was

littered with laptops and technical

equipment wired together. Immediately,

several people were seated, firing

everything up, fingers flying rapidly as

they entered commands, double checking

for adequate connections. Shepard led

me to the plush seating area and pulled

me onto his lap and into his arms. The

morphine continued to swim in my veins,

leaving me exhausted. Claira came over

and sat next to us, patting me lovingly on

the leg. Alessa approached and sat down

as well to talk to me.

“I’m sorry I deceived you, Violet. I

had no choice, but I really do care about

you. You’re not just an assignment; you

are my friend. That was all real.”

I was pissed at Alessa. The others

were in my life on a professional

capacity; she was personal. But that was

the point. Everyone in my life was

assigned to be there. It started to make

me nauseous. Claira saw my face and

stood up.

“You will feel better in the

morning, I promise. Shepard, I want you

to follow me with her and lay her down.

I don’t want her getting sick. I can give

you something if you need it, Violet.”

I shook my head and curled back

into Shepard’s chest. He lifted me up

easily and trailed behind Claira towards

a back hallway. The Doc moved to

protest, but Claira lifted up her hand in a

visual warning. The short walk led us to

a spacious suite with a balcony. Claira

asked if she could get us anything.

Although Shepard said no, she continued

to wait by the door. I knew what she

wanted. Digging into my purse that she

had set on the table, I removed a slender

box masked as a powder compact and

popped the top off, handing her the hard

drive.

“What’s the code, Violet.” She

looked at the device as I had so many

times, feeling the invisible weight of

such a small object.

“Esperanza. Now please leave us

be,” I said quietly.

She nodded and backed out of the

doorway, gently closing it behind her. I

followed and turned the lock, breathing

out deeply while looking into Shepard’s

eyes.

He rose off the bed and approached

me, pulling me tightly into an embrace.

“There’s a big tub in here calling your

name right now.” He chuckled, knowing

exactly what I needed right then.

Entering the bathroom, I refused to

look in the mirror. I could only imagine

what a disaster my appearance was.

Shepard ran the water and stepped

closer to me, touching a delicate button

on my blouse. His nearness caused a

hitch in my breathing, making it shallow.

With nimble fingers, he unfastened each

pearlescent disk, then slid the fabric

down my arms. As he worked to remove

the rest of my clothing, I remembered

how much he enjoyed undressing me,

how each article revealed a new area of

skin for his eyes, hands and mouth to

devour. The thought that I still had this

effect on him warmed my soul. For a

week, I denied his touch, fearful of what

the emotional entanglements would

bring. Surely the loss of such a

connection again would be my undoing. I

was so close to the edge, a feather could

knock me over, never to return.

As he reached behind my back, his

mouth dipped into my neck. The moment

his lips made contact, I started to melt.

My skin began to sear underneath the

lazy kisses he trailed down to my

shoulder.

The bath was filling the room with

steam, enveloping us in moist warmth.

Beads of sweat started to form between

my breasts and along the ridge of my

upper lip. Between Shepard and the

heat, I became even more delirious. He

saw my eyelids start to droop and

quickly removed the rest of our clothing.

Picking me up and then lowering me into

the soothing water, he sat behind me and

pulled me against him so I could rest my

head on his chest. I wanted to fall

asleep, yet Shepard kept massaging my

shoulders and hips to keep me awake.

“Can we talk about what is going

on?” He approached the subject

cautiously, almost timid as to what the

response would be.

I nodded yes before breathing out

deeply. “You’re not here by accident,

Shepard, and neither am I. We were

chosen by David to fulfill a task. This

moment has been a long time in the

making.” I waited to see how he took

everything in. As I curled my neck

around to look at him, he appeared

confused.

“David?” he asked.

I nodded up and down. I closed my

eyes as more started to come together.

“Balashov is not who you think he is.

He’s Doc, my Doc. David Robertson.”

Scooting up slightly, I could feel

his heart start to pound harder.

“The Doc is dead, Violet.”

“No, he’s not. He’s on this boat. He

sent Claira to me after I got hurt to

intervene. The other man – his name is

Michael Gladstone. He’s the CEO of

Beacon Pharmaceuticals, and my boss.

The woman – her name is Alessa, and

she was my best friend. All of this is a

set up, we are just pawns.”

Shepard started to grow rigid

beneath me, ready for a fight. I flipped

quickly in the water to pin him beneath

me. He could throw me off in a second

without effort, but he held still, eyes

wild with confusion. I grabbed his face

and kissed him with everything inside of

me, willing this kiss to calm the beast in

him, I refused to let go.

He pulled away and looked pained.

I could see him start to retreat within.

“Were we real, Violet?”

His question pulled the air from my

lungs as the invisible knife sliced into

my gut. “Don’t you believe that?” I

couldn’t fathom that he even had to ask.

After everything that happened this

week, I was sure there was no doubt in

either of our minds.

There was no emotion in his eyes;

they were completely void. I felt the

ocean beneath us threaten to open up and

drag me to the very bottom. My biggest

nightmare was coming to fruition the

moment he opened his mouth.

“The bigger question is: Violet, do

you?”

I began to shake violently again.

My body was no longer able to handle

the stress my brain was under. “Please

God, no!” I don’t know if my scream

ever came out, because the world once

again went dark.

Chapter 40 -

Eleventh Hour

Shepard leaned next to me, gently

rocking my shoulders so I wouldn’t

startle. Lying in the soft bed, I didn’t

want to get up, because today could very

well be my last morning. I rolled over to

the other side and inhaled deeply into the

sheets where he had laid, capturing his

scent. It looked like I was being

reluctant, when reality was I was

carefully constructing every moment.

“I’m tired.”

Two simple words could not

express the energy it took to open my

eyes. It wasn’t a physical lethargy, but

an emotional and spiritual one, forged by

years of carrying an unimaginable

burden. I was ready to lay it down, and

today I would find the reprieve I craved