Broken Road (48 page)

Smiling timidly, Angel said, “No, not at all. Unfortunately, it’s been on all the news programs, so basically the entire nation knows by now anyway.”

“I’m happy to meet you too and am equally ecstatic that you’re fine,” said Jim as he came over and hugged her. “This is our youngest son, Alec,” he said, motioning for Alec to come forward.

“We’ve already met,” he said. “It’s good to see you again. Glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks, Alec,” she said as she leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“Come in and sit down,” Jim said to both Jarrod and Angel. They all sat on the two couches that were in the room. Alec remained standing, simply because there was no room left on the couches. Jarrod took about half the couch himself.

“Angel, I love your sunglasses,” said Janet. “They make you look mysterious.”

“Hmm, mysterious. I think I like that,” Angel replied. “Maybe I’ll continue to wear them after the bruises have disappeared.”

She looked at Jarrod, who simply shook his head and said, “I don’t see that happening.” They all smiled at his no-nonsense response.

“It must have been so difficult for you,” said Janet in sympathy.

“It was. But thank God it’s over,” Angel said with a deep sigh.

“Mom, why don’t we talk about something else? It’s still a little soon for Angel to discuss what happened.”

“I understand and I’m sorry,” Janet said.

Giving Jarrod a stern, if not reprimanding look, Angel said, “It’s fine, really. I don’t mind talking about it. I’m just incredibly relieved that it’s over and I’m alive. Thanks to your son. By the way, thank you for having him.”

“You’re quite welcome,” said Janet cheerfully. Initially, she was shocked and angry at Jarrod when he had first told her what he had done. It wasn’t that she didn’t feel an incredible amount of pride in his immense display of courage, but she was sorely disappointed in his decision to attempt a rescue without notifying the police first. He could have easily been killed. How could he have done something so rash and impetuous? Feeling a knot form in the pit of her stomach every time she thought of how the scenario could have played out, her body gave a quick shudder when she pictured him lying helpless on the ground, slowly bleeding to death while his attacker stood over him, smiling wickedly.

She gave another tremble and shook her head, trying to push the thought out of her mind. Although she knew that the reality of the outcome was infinitely better than the one she constantly imagined, she still could not stop the horrific thoughts from passing through her mind.

Alec noticed his mother’s sudden change in mood and attempted to change the subject and atmosphere.

“So, are you ready for tomorrow?” he asked Jarrod.

Jarrod gave him a grateful look and said, “I hope so. We’re supposed to meet him at two o’clock at the Baseball Grounds.”

“I hear that ballpark is nice. New too,” said Alec.

“Have you been able to keep up with your training and rehab schedule?” asked Jim.

“Not this week. I’ve been a little busy.” The room became uncomfortably silent, until Angel asked, “Does a week of not training make a big difference?” The continued silence and various frowns and reactions answered her question.

She looked at Jarrod sadly and said, “I’m so sorry.”

“Why? It’s not your fault,” he replied, sincerely surprised she would even feel that it was.

“Yes, it is. If I had only listened to you and not left the room alone that night, Benjamin never would have had the opportunity to take me.”

“Yes, he would have. Morgan and Langdon had already planned the abduction. Exactly when and how it would have happened, we still don’t know, but it would have happened.” He hesitated, then said, “We didn’t say anything to you, but it turns out that Detective Lieutenant Roberts spoke with the warehouse supervisor at Elite Enterprises, and Langdon hadn’t shown up for work in four days. We’re pretty sure he’d been following you that whole time, just waiting for an opportunity. Eventually, regardless of you being careful or not, it would have occurred.”

Angel sat silently, trying to absorb the information. “Why didn’t you want me to know that?”

“You’ve been through enough. Willie and I talked about it, and we just thought it might be best for you not to know. It’s over. You don’t need to keep thinking about it or dwelling on the what-ifs. The only reason I’m telling you now is because I don’t want you to feel bad and think it’s your fault if things don’t work out tomorrow.”

Angel tried to wipe away a tear, but her sunglasses got in the way. Janet saw her struggle and said, “Why don’t you take off the sunglasses when you’re with us? You’ll be more comfortable, and you shouldn’t be embarrassed by how you look. Bruises fade.”

“Only the one’s on the outside,” Angel responded as she removed the glasses, exposing her still slightly swollen cheeks and the scarcely visible bruises to Jarrod’s family. She expected to hear gasps or be subjected to looks of sympathy, but she received neither.

They smiled tentatively and then Alec said, “Still gorgeous as ever. You’re a lucky guy, Jarrod.”

Jarrod put his arm around Angel and gently pulled her close. “Don’t I know it.”

Chapter Forty-Five

T
hat evening, after they had all gone out to a very enjoyable dinner at a local Italian eatery, Jarrod walked Angel back to her room. As they stood outside the door, he gently removed her sunglasses and kissed her softly on the lips as he bid her good night.

“If you need me, either call me or just knock on my door. I’m only three doors down.”

She nodded and said, “I’ll always need you. I love you.”

He smiled at her and kissed her again, this time with more urgency. He would have continued if he hadn’t heard the elevator door open and heard people chatting animatedly as they hastened out of it. He stepped away and said, “I love you more. I’ll see you in the morning, unless you need me during the night,” giving her a slight wink and walking toward the room he was to share with Alec.

When he reached the room, he used his key to get in and immediately noticed that the room was a mess. Alec was lying on his bed with most of his formerly neatly packed clothes strewn across the foot of it, as well as the chair next to it. Hotel visitor guides and brochures were littered across the desk, as well as two empty soda cans and an open bag of barbecue potato chips.

“Dude, the dresser has drawers,” Jarrod said. “They’re there for a reason—put your clothes in them.” Jarrod picked up the empty cans of soda and tossed them into the garbage can.

“It’s easier this way. I don’t have to rummage through drawers to find what I want. Stop picking up after me. What are you, Mom?” Alec’s eyes never left the television screen.

“No, but if this is what you have her doing at home, then I’m beginning to sympathize with her.”

“This is me. This is who I am,” Alec said morosely.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Let’s see…it’s what differentiates me from you. You’re the star athlete, the kid who gets good grades, the good-looking one. Oh, and let me not forget, the one who always gets the gorgeous girlfriends. I’m just the invisible kid brother of the star athlete, the kid who gets good grades, the good-looking one. Oh, and let me not forget, the one who always gets the gorgeous girlfriends. Plus—and this is where I get to stand out—I’m the slob.”

Jarrod was surprised to hear the hostility in his brother’s voice. He looked at him, stunned, and said, “Something the matter? Do you want to talk?”

“What could possibly be the matter? My life is perfect, or haven’t you heard?”

“Alec, what’s the matter? I know something’s wrong. Spill.”

“Just forget it, Jarrod. Just concentrate on baseball, okay? I’m fine. I’m also tired, so I’m going to sleep now. Good night.” He turned off the television set with a click of the remote and quickly maneuvered himself under the covers, turning his back to his brother.

Jarrod didn’t know what to make of Alec’s attitude. He would need to find some time alone tomorrow with his parents and ask them about it. He was worried. Alec was usually such an easygoing, happy-go-lucky sort. It wasn’t like him to seem troubled and depressed. He wondered to himself how long this had been going on. Looking at Alec worriedly once more before heading into the shower, he thought he saw him tremble slightly under the covers. Like someone who was trying hard not to cry.

Three rooms down, Angel paced back and forth in her room. Alone. This had been the first time she had been alone since the abduction. Since being rescued, she had been surrounded by her parents, Jarrod, Ileana, or Ava. At certain times, all of the above.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, she turned on the television set with the remote and flicked through the channels, finally settling on
The David Letterman Show
. She smiled recalling how Jarrod would sometimes Skype her on the computer, and they would watch the show together but not together, laughing and commenting on the host and his celebrity guests.

She stood up and went to the window, pulling the drape aside. She looked out into the darkness searching for anything that looked remotely suspicious. There was nothing. No shadows, no movements, and no sounds other than the soft rustling of the swaying palm tree leaves and the whoosh of the passing cars along the highway. It dawned on her that those were the same quiescent sounds she had heard just seconds before reeling from the massive shocking sensation that left her feeling as though she had fallen from a two-story building.

Pulling the drape closed, she walked over to the door to make sure it was locked. She checked it twice and also made sure the bolt was secure. Looking down, Angel noticed the “Do Not Disturb” placard on the doorknob. Fixating on the sign and suddenly enduring an onslaught of thoughts as they drifted through her panicking mind, she felt her heart begin to palpitate rapidly and her breathing become labored. Trying in vain to take in deep, steady breaths, Angel began to feel as though the room were closing in on her. She placed one hand along the wall and felt her way toward the bed. Once there she sat down and placed her head between her legs until she was able to slow her breathing down. Finally gaining control, she stood up to turn off the television but stopped suddenly as she passed a mirror. For a brief second she almost did not recognize the reflection staring back at her.

She slowly began to trace with her fingers the indications of the brutal beating she had taken, and tears sprang to her eyes. Lowering herself onto the floor, she began to cry with earnest. She couldn’t seem to stop the flow as the tears cascaded from her eyes like a small waterfall. Blindly reaching up onto the desk, she felt around until she found her cell phone and speed-dialed Jarrod. He picked up on the second ring.

“Miss me already?” he asked lightheartedly.

“I need you,” she said between sobs.

“I’m on my way.” He jumped up from his bed where he’d been lying listlessly for the last twenty minutes worrying about Alec. Wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, he quickly grabbed one of the shirts Alec had left on a chair and pulled it on as he rushed for the door.

Alec, hearing the phone ring and the short conversation that followed, poked his head out from under the cover and said sleepily, “What’s up?”

“Angel needs me,” Jarrod said as he rushed out the door.

The door closed and Alec lay motionless on his bed, looking up at the ceiling.

“Have to remember to add knight in shining armor to his résumé,” he said softly for no one’s ears but his own.

Jarrod reached Angel’s door and tried turning the knob, but it was locked. He knocked softly, not wanting to attract attention, but she didn’t respond. He knocked a bit harder and said in a hushed tone, “Angel, open up. It’s me. Open the door, baby.” He could hear her moving in the room and then the sound of her unlocking the door. She opened the door as far as the bolt would allow and peeked hesitantly to assure herself it was indeed Jarrod.

“Open it,” he said again. She closed the door slightly so she could remove the bolt lock and then opened the door for him to enter. He quickly made his way in and closed the door. She was already standing in the middle of the room with her back to him. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her small waist, pulling her tightly against him.