The Gentlewoman (20 page)

He dragged her into the first-floor bedroom. The pain in
her head was so great she started to feel the black fading in again. Her eyes
went in and out of focus. She couldn’t stand or walk because of the dizziness
and her ribs were so battered that any movement sent shooting pains through her
midsection. Breathing was horribly painful. Her left arm was useless and numb.
She held it to her stomach. He had continued to have sex on her throughout the
day, although she couldn’t keep track of how long it had been. At one point she
could remember waking, as if she had passed out. He enjoyed hitting her. She
was covered with blood, her tattered and torn clothes hanging from her. He had
broken her teeth with that last punch in the mouth.

She was exhausted and her mind despaired of how to end
this. She still hadn’t seen her father. As he dragged her by the hair she
whimpered and cried, but had little energy to do much else.

As he opened the door to the bedroom, he dumped her on
the floor, her head bouncing off the hardwood. In her weakened state she
wondered where the furniture and contents had gone. This had been her parents’
room. She heard muffled sounds from the corner and gathered her energy to look.

She slowly opened her eyes and was met with the single
most terrifying and heartbreaking sight she had ever seen. Adrenaline soared
through her exhausted and abused body. She screamed and began begging for the
life of her father, who was tightly secured in a wooden kitchen chair in the
corner. His mouth was covered with duct tape and his battered eyes were bulging
at the sight of her. She reached out to him but was met with a swift kick to
her abdomen.

“Now you two are going to answer all my questions about
your fun and games with your friends at the FBI. And I wouldn’t get any bright
ideas. The first one to give me any shit dies.”

“Daddy!” Rory’s scream woke her. She was shaking, sweating
and grasping the duvet. She searched the room to gain her bearings. Jackson
wasn’t beside her and she could hear the shower running. She fell back against
the pillow and breathed deeply to settle herself. She hoped he hadn’t heard
her; she didn’t want him to know she’d had another nightmare.

She looked at the clock. Not enough time for a run this
morning. She dragged her tired ass out of bed and headed for the guest bath.
She would shower there and try to calm herself before she had to face Jackson.

“So it’s settled, you’ll call the FBI today.” Jackson
searched her face in the backseat of the livery car. He had been insistent all
morning that she talk to the FBI. He didn’t like the brush-off the police had
given them, although he said he understood it. He’d said the FBI would be
different. They would look at this situation in the context of her case. They
could check records, look at data the police wouldn’t have. If she didn’t call
the FBI, he would. He’d said he’d already decided.

She gave him a pained look. “I really don’t think that’s
necessary, Jackson. I’d really rather not.” She hated the FBI and really was
not anxious to invite them into her life again, what with the bang-up job they
did last time. He gave her an incredulous look. They had been going round and
round about this all morning. “Okay,” she acquiesced, holding her hands up.
“I’ll call.” She muttered a curse under her breath.

Jackson held the door as they entered the building. “I’m
going to bring you lunch in your office today. If you haven’t called by then,
we’ll call together.”

Rory smirked at him. “Yes sir, thank you, sir,” she quipped.

Jackson stopped and turned to her in the hallway. “I’m
sorry, but I’m worried about this and I want you to take it seriously. I don’t
want to take any chances where you’re concerned. You know how important you are
to me.”

Rory looked into his eyes and remembered his amazing
admission of the night before. It warmed her heart. She placed her hand on his
cheek.

“You are too sweet. For you, I’ll call this morning first
thing and get it over with. I promise.”

Jackson didn’t back off. “Okay, and I’ll bring lunch and you
can tell me everything they said.”

Third ring. After the fourth she was hanging up; she had
already decided. She had called the Bureau as promised to Jackson and they had
put her through to Agent Tagg’s cell phone. A feeling of dread had set up
residence in the pit of her stomach. Fourth ring.

“Tagg,” the voice came over the line.

Shit
. The wave of despair that shot through her at
hearing that familiar voice gave her pause. She closed her eyes as her breath
caught. She was immediately thrown back in time three years to when he was in
Cleveland, the head of the team trying to take Aidan down, fucking with her
life.

“Tagg,” he said louder.

“Agent Tagg, it’s Rory Morgan,” she said evenly.

“Congresswoman, I had heard you were in town. Welcome to DC
and congratulations on your appointment.” He sounded cheerful. She found that
instantly irritating. She was sure his life had continued as it always had
after he left Cleveland. That must have been nice for him, she mused bitterly.

“Thank you,” she said, shaking her head and cursing herself
for actually asking for him. She should have just left a message. Better yet,
she should have asked for a fresh agent, one with whom she didn’t share a
horrible past.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

“I need to report something to the FBI,” she began,
breathing out. “I’ve come home twice to find my door open.” She said this quickly;
best to rip off the bandage.

“I’m not sure I understand, you’ve come home to find your
door unlocked? What exactly has happened?” And to his credit, he sounded as if
he immediately took her seriously. She related the tale and described both
situations to him in detail. When she was finished she waited impatiently for
him to respond, certain that he would brush it off as the police had.

“I see,” he began slowly. “I’m glad you’re telling me about
this.” That response made the hair on her arms stand to attention.

“The police didn’t think it was suspicious,” she offered,
realizing that was the third time she had repeated that piece of information.

“I understand. Congresswoman, knowing what I know about your
past, I’m more apt to take everything seriously. I don’t want to frighten you,
but in my world coincidence doesn’t exist.”

“What does that mean?” she whispered.

“I’m not sure yet. Look, this is probably nothing. But let
me do some investigating that could help us decide if we have anything to worry
about. When it comes to your late husband’s family, we’re better safe than
sorry.”
Damn, he actually said that.
She closed her eyes and gripped the
phone harder. “Let me check some things out and I’ll get back to you quickly.
In the meantime, just to be safe, try not to stay alone if at all possible.”
Her blood pressure shot through the roof.

“Okay,” she managed. “Thanks, Tagg.”

“Shane Sutton’s in town. He and I will pull some info
together and we’ll be in touch.”

She ended the call and threw her cell phone on her desk,
placing her face in her hands. Panic wasn’t going to help anybody. Show no
fear, show no fear. She chanted her mantra and tried to relax. It could be
nothing. And if not, we’ll deal with it. We’ll deal with it. She realized she
was thinking in “we” terms. She smiled to herself as her anxiety softened.

“Take your hair down,” Jackson demanded breathlessly as they
knelt on her mattress. They had immediately found their way into her bedroom
upon returning home, shedding their clothes along the way. “I love your hair,”
he said, running his hands through the long strands as she freed the clip at
the crown of her head.

Rory’s phone rang as he took her lips hard.

“Ignore it,” she said as he sucked her lower lip into his
mouth. She ran her fingers over his nipples. He moaned as she pinched and
rolled them between her fingers.

She bit his neck, sucking and licking as she went lower. He
tasted so good. She couldn’t get enough of the hot sex they had and she could
tell he felt the same way. Any time they spent away from each other was like a
catalyst to the explosive need they felt when they were together again. She
licked even lower and bit his nipple. She was rewarded with a groan and a swift
slap on her ass, to which she gasped and leaned into his hand. He caressed and
slapped her hard again.

Her phone rang again. “Damn it!” She dove for her bag to
silence the aggravation. She saw it was Nicole. She hadn’t been expecting her
to call and quickly answered to be sure nothing was wrong. “Hey, what’s up?”
she said breathlessly as Jackson nipped his way down her back.

“Turn on the TV, channel three, there’s something about you
and Jackson coming on.”

“What?” Rory immediately sprang up and Jackson caught her
around the waist to steady her. She reached for her robe while Nicole
continued.

“It’s on
Entertainment Tonight
.”

“What?
Entertainment Tonight
! What the fuck?” Jackson
pulled his boxers on and followed her to the living room. She searched
frantically for the remote before he approached the TV and clicked it on.

“Channel three,” she repeated. He turned the volume up.

“Thank you, Nancy. Yes, the new couple was seen at Saturday
night’s gala at the White House in honor of the Australian first family.
Congresswoman Morgan was stunning in her red Oscar de la Renta fishtail gown,
and Congressman Dorn was handsome in Armani. It has been reported that all eyes
were on the new couple from start to finish. As they enjoyed the evening, some
wondered if they even noticed others in attendance; they only had eyes for each
other.” Rory looked at Jackson before turning back to the screen. The images
repeated of them at the state dinner, highlighting that bit of dirty dancing
Jackson had performed.

“This latest footage is courtesy of Boutique Fayon in
Washington DC, where the couple shopped for the designer gown the congresswoman
wore, courtesy of her handsome congressman.”Footage followed of the two
of them at Boutique Fayon, sitting on the sofa, then of Rory modeling the
dresses and Jackson’s reactions. They were both shocked as they had no idea
they were being filmed. The reporter highlighted Jackson’s appreciative glances
and Rory’s charming and almost shy demeanor.

Jackson eyed Rory warily. He knew she would be pissed.

A terrible thought occurred to Rory as she remembered
Jackson sneaking into the dressing room. “Oh shit, you don’t think…”

She watched the TV screen in horror as the footage of the
two of them making out in the dressing room magically appeared, audio and all.
Rory turned completely red and was only grateful that the video was taken from
behind Jackson; so that his body blocked most of her state of undress, and both
their roving hands. Still, it was clear she was in skivvies and they were
horny. They blocked most of what was said; but to her astonishment, the gist of
it was still clear as hell.

The report continued with a summary of “Playboy Dorn’s” past
newsworthy conquests, which seemed to only include the pop singer and the
Kennedy cousin. Much speculation was offered on his intentions with Rory, as
they were dubbed “the new couple to watch” and “a real-life Cinderella Story”.

She paled, however, as there was a ten-second recap of her
abduction, her father’s death, and her rescue three years ago. They showed a
helicopter view of the farmhouse surrounded by emergency vehicles in the
aftermath, and of Rory on the day she emerged from the hospital. And she was
further shocked when a picture of Aidan was flashed across the screen. She
stumbled backward, her mouth open, her arm clutching her stomach as if she
would be sick.

Jackson immediately embraced and stilled her. Holding her
tight, he whispered in her ear. “It’s okay, it’s okay, I’m here with you.”
Every muscle in her body was rigid and she breathed quickly.

“I’m okay,” she whispered. She wasn’t going to panic. She
had just been caught off guard by that footage. Jackson rubbed her back, his
compassionate expression telling her how worried he was. She fought the tears
welling in her eyes and concentrated on her breathing.

She pulled back and offered a timid smile. “Really, I was
just caught off guard. I’m fine.”

Jackson looked down at her. “Does your wrist hurt, baby?”

Rory looked and realized she was holding her left wrist
against her abdomen, rubbing it back and forth. She shook her head and
immediately released it.

“You do that a lot. Is that the wrist he broke?”

She was beginning to feel pitiful. “Do I?” she asked, taking
a step back.

“I’ve seen you do it often since I met you.”

This was ridiculous. She pulled herself together and changed
the subject.

“So,
Entertainment Tonight
, that cutting-edge news
outlet,” she said shakily as she went to the kitchen for water. Jackson
followed and leaned over the bar.

“Yep, bet you never imagined you’d become entertainment
news,” Jackson joked carefully. He watched closely as she rubbed her forehead
and breathed deeply.

“No, I never saw myself as very entertaining,” she said
tiredly. She put her cup in the sink and paused to regain her bearings. She
wanted to salvage the situation. She turned and slowly leaned over the counter,
face-to-face with Jackson. “I think it’s only newsworthy because of ‘Playboy
Dorn’,” she said in a low voice, her nose almost touching his.

He smiled and leaned forward, rubbing her nose with his. “Oh
I don’t know; they seemed to be really interested in the ‘stunning’ congresswoman.
I think you’re very entertaining.” He stole a quick peck on the lips. “Let me
show you how entertaining you can be.” He kissed her full on the mouth and
moved around the bar to embrace her.