Overture (Rain Dance, Book 1) (Rain Dance Series) (36 page)

     
"He was on
the shorter side, so that certainly helped," I went on. "His partner,
on the other hand, was a lot taller and a
lot
more bulkier. I would've
had no chance. When I found out that there had only been the one bullet, I
thought I was done for. And then
she
showed up, wanting to see what was
taking so long. The lookout.
His
girlfriend. She came after me first,
once she had seen what I'd done. That part is hazy. I think I must have hit my
head. Thankfully, the police arrived just in time."

     
I picked up a
piece of bacon and nibbled on the edge. My appetite was long gone, but I didn't
want to waste the food. "After they were arrested, I found out that it was
a paid job. They had meant to kidnap me and hand me over to some human
trafficking ring."

     
Ethan inhaled
sharply.

     
"Pretty
fucking surreal, right? I can't even imagine what would've happened had they
been successful." I set the bacon down and folded my hands together on the
table. "They had planned it all along - my mother and stepfather. That's
one of the reasons they enforced all those rules. To train me. To break me. At
least that's what Noel said," I sighed, wishing that I could go back to
bed. "Two months later, I got a permit and bought the gun. And, with a bit
of difficulty and a little help, I stopped leaving paper trails because,
according to Noel, they escaped. And basically…if
she
ever finds me, she
will
kill me. Pretty gnarly, huh?" I smiled, but I knew it was a
sad one.

     
"…How does
he know?" Ethan asked after a few moments, his voice rather quiet.

     
"He has
connections. It was him who contacted the police that night, having already
known about everything. Although he never discussed it with his father, he
had…disagreements. He was just waiting for the most opportune moment to strike.
Once he had all the proof he needed, he turned him in."

     
"So if you
both know that your life is in danger, why haven't you sought any help?"

     
"Like the
police? Those two didn't escape on their own. I'm not sure about the guy, but
she's
one of Wilhelm's." I didn't want to have to explain, but judging by
Ethan's reaction, I wouldn't need to. He stood up so fast that he knocked his
chair back with a loud thud before he began pacing the small room, running his
hands through his hair. I kept quiet and allowed him time to process
everything.

     
After a minute
or two of this, he abruptly stopped and held out his arms towards me.
"Come here," he demanded in a low voice. Truthfully, I wasn't sure I
wanted to be so close to him when he looked so…murderous. "Come here.
Now
."
When I still didn't move, he came around the table and grabbed me by the arms,
lifting me out of my seat before bringing me to the bed, where he held me
tightly on his lap.

     
"You
believe me?" I asked.

     
"…You
thought I wouldn't?"

     
I looked away,
trying my best not to cry. "I
could
just be a crazy person. It's
not like I have any proof."

     
"You're
proof enough." He pressed his lips to my forehead for a lengthy amount of
time before exhaling loudly. "Jesus fucking Christ. All this time…Does Dale
know?"

     
"No one
knows, except for you now."

     
His face
creased as he thought over certain details. "The incident didn't show up
on your background check. If the police made a repor-"

     
"What kind
of background checks do you do on your employees?" I interrupted.
"Did you seriously put out a private detective on me? Anyway, Noel buried
everything."

     
"...Why
would he do that?"

     
I pressed my
lips together, wondering how to phrase things. "He took over what was left
of his father's…
business
, which now makes him a key information holder -
or something like that. Only, instead of getting carried away like Truman did
by playing one of the super bad guys and trying to screw everyone over, he just
sticks to playing the mediator. It's his job to keep Wilhelm and a few other
groups under wraps." I didn't completely understand it myself, but since
it had nothing to do with me, I'd avoided asking any questions.

     
"…Your
stepbrother is…what, chief liaison of the underworld?"

     
Well, that
was a much better description.
"Um…Well, I've never seen him in
action. But…yeah, apparently. For the western region of the United States, at
least. I think."

     
At his
lingering silence, I began to wonder if Ethan was finally starting to regret
the decision to be with me. But before I could ask, he quickly moved on to his
next question. "Are you positive he said that it's just the woman who's
after you and not Wilhelm?"

     
I nodded.
"So long as I keep quiet, they have no reason to waste their time on
me." When Ethan's frown deepened further, I began to worry.
"…What?"

     
"I know
what Truman did. I can't imagine that Wilhelm would allow his son to take his
place so easily. Moreover…if the girl really is one of theirs, I can only
assume that you were meant to be handed over to them. If so, it doesn't make
sense - that they would just let you slip away, especially after what you did
to her partner…"

     
"After
Truman was thrown into prison, Noel struck a deal with them by paying back for
all the trouble his father had caused. I could be wrong, but I think they
might've already been in cahoots even before the incident happened. He never
told me where I was supposed to go…or to whom. I only know that he promised me
I was safe from them, so long as didn't go public about the girl or the
incident."

     
"When was
the last time you talked to him?"

     
"About a
year ago."

     
"I'll have
to speak with him."

     
I froze.
"...
Why
?"

     
My reaction
seemed to confuse him. "He has the information we need to finish
this."

     
"Finish
this how?"

     
"Daphne,
if the police aren't capable of doing anything, there are other ways."

     
"…How?" I repeated.

     
"I'll take
care of it," he stated simply, his tone full of finality.

     
I pushed
against him. When he released me I stood up and backed away. Taking a deep
breath, I did my best not to start shouting. "No. I don't want you to take
care of anything."

     
"Don't be
ridiculous." He was angry now. "You can't keep living like you're on
the run. And if you think I'm going to sit back and do nothing when there's
someone out there who'd hurt you if given the chance-"

     
"
Of
course
they'd want to hurt me - I killed their loved one, Ethan!"

     
"And I'm
fucking glad you did," he retorted in a cold voice, offering no remorse.
"He knew what he was getting into when he got involved. It comes with the
territory, Daphne. No one plays the part of a pawn without knowing the risk
that's involved." It was almost like he spoke as though he were talking
from personal experience.

     
I took another
deep breath. "
Please
," I begged him, my eyes now stinging with
tears.

     
"…Why?" he questioned. I could tell that my sadness was effecting
him.

     
"It's
troublesome and dangerous to get involved. But mostly, it's completely
unnecessary."

     
He threw his
head back and exhaled again, clearly annoyed by my answer. "...I at least
owe your brother some thanks, don't you think?"

    
 
"...He's not my brother."

     
Something about
my tone made him stop. He studied me with careful eyes. "When you
mentioned him earlier in the story, you skipped ahead, didn't you? He
didn't...Did he ever-"

     
"He never
hurt me," I interjected. It was technically the truth, after all.

     
The tension
left Ethan's body, his careful gaze turning to weariness. "I really need
to speak to him."

     
"No."

     
Sighing, he
held out his hand. After a couple seconds of hesitation, I took it and allowed
him to sit me on his lap again. When he brushed his thumb across my cheek, I
leaned in closer to his body.

     
"I wish I
could tell you okay," he said quietly. "But that's not really an
option. As long as he can be trusted, we're going to need him."

     
"I'm not
sure that he
can
be trusted."

     
"Why is
that? Aside from the obviously questionable occupation."

     
I couldn't
offer him an explanation, not without giving the rest away. Looking up, I began
pleading with my eyes. "Promise me you won't reach out to him.
Please."

     
"Daphne..."

     
This time I
tried to speak slowly, hoping he would take my words to heart. "I'm asking
you not to. If you come into contact with him, it
will
hurt me.
Undoubtedly. Please don't ask why."

     
After what
seemed to be forever, he finally agreed. "Alright. I'll find another
way."

     
"Why do
you have to find a way at all?"

     
He brushed some
of my hair back. "It will be alright. I've dealt with Wilhelm before, so I
know how to avoid them. It might take some time, but if she's still after you,
I will find her."

     
"You've
dealt with them personally?"

     
He nodded, but
with some hesitance. I didn't want to press him if he wasn't ready to talk.

     
"…Should I
be worried?" I asked carefully.

     
"Do you
trust me?"

     
"Yes." My answer was immediate. I didn't have to think about
it.

     
He nodded again
and pulled me closer to him, tucking my head under his chin.

     
Still, I
worried anyway. Wilhelm were the most elite of crime syndicates. They had
people working in all parts. And they were so good at keeping a low profile
that they were less like a group of criminals and more like a secret society. It
was mostly the extremely wealthy who went to them - usually when they needed
special information, drugs, sex slaves, or wanted someone dead. I couldn't
imagine why Ethan would ever have anything to do with them.

     
As the next few
minutes passed, we sat holding onto each other in quiet contemplation.

     
So you told
him. Well? How does it feel? Are you relieved?

     
…

     
What? Cat got
your tongue?

    
 
It will be
okay now. Everything is going to be okay.

     
Then why are
you more scared than you were before?

     
It's just hard to believe that he knows what he does now.

    
 
Yeah, you'd almost think that breakdown
you had in the shower was for nothing.

     
"How was
breakfast," I asked, needing to be distracted.

     
Ethan came out
of his own private thoughts, taking a moment to register my question. "Not
too bad, surprisingly. But we'll have to do lunch my way."

     
I looked around
for a clock. "We'll have to be out of here soon."

     
"I booked
us a place just a few minutes north of here. It should be a little more
roomier. And more private."

     
"We're
staying?" I asked, pulling away from him.

     
"We spent
the better part of the week apart. It's only fair that I get to keep you these
next few days."

     
I kissed him
quickly before jumping off his lap. "...It's taboo to wear the same outfit
two days in a row when a lover is present."

     
"I didn't
see you yesterday. Not really."