Cherished (Adam & Ella) (15 page)

The next morning, Ella went online, clicking around. Her interest in the book festival was gone, and she had no intention of returning for the remaining days. Idly, she looked at random sites about publishing, but nothing held her attention. Adam had gone into his office before breakfast, and hadn’t come out. He seemed remote and unreachable.

All night, he’d held her in his arms. She wondered if he’d slept at all; not that she did much. He was too quiet, and the calm he exhibited was like a barrier, one she couldn’t penetrate. Worried, she furrowed her brow, and started looking up articles on the drug trade in Rio. The image of Claudio gazing down at her was branded in her mind, and she could think of nothing else.

She learned more about cocaine. As a stimulant, it made everything speed up, including the heart rate and breathing. She thought of Claudio’s nervous mannerisms, and his wide pupils, signs of usage. Cocaine could have a negative effect on emotions, and cause a feeling of supremacy. It also irritated the lungs, and could cause damage.

Skipping over the rest of the information, Ella saw another link that intrigued her. Once she started reading, she fell into a long series of related subjects. The more she read, the more she felt she had the key. Claudio had his vulnerabilities just like anyone. The police and authorities couldn’t help. He didn’t fear them. As Adam said once, he could just buy them off. But everyone feared something or someone.

A plan began to form. It just might work. She’d need to figure out how to do it, but it was possible. Her desperation pushed her beyond what she’d normally consider. Extreme measures were called for in extreme circumstances. It would be worth it if it kept Adam from doing something crazy. He was bent on stopping Claudio, and she wasn’t sure if his calm determination was rationality, or the edge of temporary insanity, instigated by his father’s actions toward her.

Adam’s love knew no bounds. He would risk it all for her. Reaching the conclusion that she’d have to take matters into her own hands, she decided to move ahead with her idea. It could make the difference between Adam doing something he might regret, or not. There was no choice, really. She couldn’t stand by and just watch. That was something she could never do.

Closing the browser, she shoved the laptop away, and put her tablet in its place. Her thoughts seemed to work themselves out when she poured her feelings out to her diary. Clarity was within her grasp. She began to type.

I love Adam more than life itself. Yesterday, his father threatened us again. Adam told me he’d give him everything if it would mean he’d go away. But he knows Claudio would always want more. Even if he had the precious gaming software, he’d blow the money and be back. There is no amount of money Adam could give him that would end it. It’s Adam’s brilliance that he will never let go of. As long as Adam lives and breathes, his father knows he can write yet another program that profit can be squeezed out of.

There is no end in sight. And now Adam has been incited to take actions that I fear. Maybe he has a sane approach in mind. But if that were so, I think he’d tell me. I’ve never seen him withdrawn and distant from me. Even when he holds me, I feel like I can’t touch him, not like before. He blames himself for Claudio getting his hands on me. And he wants retribution. I know he does.

I have to do the only thing I know to do, before things get out of control. Despite any fear I harbor, I must move ahead. The plan I’ve come up with has to work. I think it will, if I do it right. It’s going to be tricky, but I’ll be fine. And then Adam won’t have to fight his father, and he won’t put himself in harm’s way. It will be worth it.

I can’t tell him about what I’m going to do. Adam would stop me if he knew. Just like he would have told me not to come to Brazil if I’d asked before flying to Rio. Life demands action. When I love someone I can’t stand by and do nothing. I have to help. I want to help. And I know I can. All along, I knew I should be here with Adam. And now I know why. I have a job to do, and I will see it through.

I have to…

Adam approached and Ella clicked out of her diary. She’d have to finish the entry later, and couldn’t take a chance that Adam would read over her shoulder. Reaching out for his hand, she brought it to her lips and kissed it, hoping she seemed normal. Ella couldn’t risk having him find out she was up to something. He couldn’t know. It would ruin everything.

Most of the day, and the next morning, Adam was at his computer. He often worked long hours, so it wasn’t unusual. It was better for him. Maybe it would take his mind off the issues at hand—at least long enough for Ella to do what she needed to. When he said he had to go see Quinn, she was relieved.

“I wouldn’t leave you today, but he’s informed me we are signing the contract with that new investor I told you about. This investor is very involved with the transaction, and won’t sign unless I am there. If I had any choice, I wouldn’t go. I shouldn’t be too long. I have a few things to discuss with Quinn after the meeting, and then I’ll be home.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll take one of the other guards with me, and leave Miguel here. I trust him, and since it’s Nico’s day off I want him to be here with you,” Adam said.

Thank goodness for that. Ella didn’t know if she’d be able to pull this off with
Nico around. Even he had to take a day off sometimes, and she knew this was his regular day away. “No problem. Whenever you get back is fine.” She tried to sound casual, not wanting him to pick up any urgency in her voice.

Adam kissed her softly on the lips, but when she looked into his eyes, it was still there—the distance, the cold calm. Claudio was a ruthless man, but she knew now, Adam could be just as much so when someone he loved was threatened. A shiver went down her spine. “I’ll see you later, then,” she said.

Watching Adam walk away, her heart hurt, like a strong hand was squeezing the life out of it. She had to fix this. Seeing him that way was killing her. For the time he was in the meeting with Quinn and the investor, he’d be fine. It would give her time to follow through with her strategy, and head off disaster. She knew if Adam’s state of mind didn’t change, something terrible would happen, something she couldn’t fix.

Ella watched through the window, and the instant she saw Adam leave, she raced to the bedroom to get ready. Dressed in jeans and a shirt, with a light jacket in case the weather turned cool, she grabbed the bag she’d prepared in advance. Speaking to Miguel through the earpiece, she asked him to take her shopping. He spoke Portuguese, but that did not deter Ella. “Centro commercial,” she said, which meant “shopping center.”
“Da cidade.” She added “the city” to let him know she wanted to go downtown.

And that was all it took. Miguel helped her into the back and slid into the driver’s seat. She held tightly to her bag, and gave Miguel a disinterested smile when he looked in the rearview mirror. Not wanting him to suspect anything, she was forced to hide her anticipation, replacing it with an intentional look of boredom.

Using valet parking, Miguel followed her into the outdoor mall. She went to a shoe store and tried on a couple of pairs of shoes while he waited at the entrance. Walking out, she shook her head, indicating she didn’t find anything. Ella went in various stores, and glancing at Miguel, she could tell he wasn’t paying attention to her purchases. He faced out, watching for trouble, glancing back periodically to check on her.

Having made the purchases she came for, Ella clutched the handle of the shopping bag and walked out of the store. The restrooms were across the way, and she pointed. Miguel nodded and followed her over. Yanking the door open, she slipped inside the ladies’ facility, her heart racing. Deception was nerve-racking.

Inside the stall, she quickly changed. She only hoped she’d chosen well. Stuffing her other items into her bag, she opened the stall to look in the mirror. Hardly recognizing herself, she figured she’d get away with it. Her long hair was hidden inside a black mesh hat with a veil—designed for mourning, she assumed. Hiding her figure, she had a long black coat, light enough to be worn in the mild temperatures of Rio, but long enough to cover her from shoulders to ankle.

She’d changed out of her jogging shoes, and wore some old-lady rubber-soled flats. Satisfied that she’d aged thirty years and was unrecognizable, she stuffed the shopping bag in the garbage and wrapped her leather satchel inside her coat, making her look a little plump. That should do it. Her pulse raced as she stepped out of the restroom and walked away from Miguel with an awkward, middle-aged stride. Not daring to look back, she didn’t stop until she was outside the mall.

Several taxis waited at the curb, hoping for customers. She flagged one and hopped in the back seat. Slipping down so her head didn’t show above the top of the headrest, she told the driver, “Vamos là,” meaning “Let’s go.” She guessed he was Portuguese, and whether he was or not, he understood what she said, and the taxi rolled forward. Leaning up, she handed him a note with an address and he nodded.

She was on her way. By the time Miguel got worried and asked someone to check for her in the bathroom, she’d be long gone. She did feel bad for him, as he’d have to explain to Adam how he lost her. But there was a lot at stake. That was a downside she could live with. Once it was over, she’d make sure Miguel kept his job.

Ella had successfully sneaked away, and embarked on her journey. She was scared but determined. Her strength of commitment did little to quell the anxiety that riddled her. Nothing mattered but saving Adam. That was all that had ever mattered. And now she had the chance to do that. Swiftly, she texted Kaiyla telling her where she was going and that she’d explain later. It was vaguely reassuring that her friend knew where she’d gone; just in case something happened.

She looked out the window as downtown Rio rolled by. Adam still thought she was at home, safe in Miguel’s care. As soon as her disappearance was discovered, Miguel would call him. That didn’t give Ella much time, although he’d never guess her mission. His security team would launch a search immediately, thinking that she’d met with foul play.

For that she was sorry, because she knew the torture it would put Adam through. Thinking of the look on his face when he learned she was missing was a sharp spike piercing her heart. If she knew of another way to fix things, she’d gladly ditch her current plan. But she didn’t. This was her best idea. Her only idea. She had to see it through.

That morning, Adam had a dream. It was when he was in a light sleep, a time when he often solved problems in programming. But this dream wasn’t about that. Yet it did solve a problem. He knew how to corner Claudio and get him to back off. It was smart, and Adam marveled that he hadn’t thought of it before. Some solutions were so obvious they escaped notice.

Preoccupied with what had happened the day before, he went to his office to prepare. The scare of Claudio following Ella, and meeting with her privately, had enraged him. The woman he loved more than anything was at risk. The vengefulness he felt toward his father consumed him. He wanted to strike back, to hurt him as he had so often hurt others.

Adam wasn’t certain of Ella’s emotional state. She seemed shaken by the experience, but dealt with it well.
Better than he would have imagined. Deciding it was best to hold his emotions inside he worked, secluded in his office, until it was time to go to his meeting with Quinn. The anger he felt was not easy to control, and he preferred not to explode in front of Ella for fear of upsetting her. When he’d pounded his fist after hearing what had happened, she’d looked startled. Knowing Ella, she’d worry about him.

He’d feel better once he talked to Quinn. Signing the contract with the investor wouldn’t take that long, unless a lot of questions came up. But at this point, that was unlikely. Then he could go over his plan, certain that Quinn would approve. He wished it wasn’t
Nico’s day off, especially right after his father’s threats. There was nothing Nico could have done differently. Ella refused to have anyone in the meeting with her, even Adam. So the opportunity Claudio sought was made available.

What happened was unfortunate; but the tables would turn, and very soon. Ella looked normal, and acted normal, as far as he could tell. She’d been writing in her diary when he came in the kitchen, and closed it quickly. But that didn’t bother him. He’d never read what she wrote, but he was sure he didn’t need to. He could tell she liked letting go of her feelings by writing
them down. He’d noticed she was always cheerful after she’d spent time on her diary entry. With everything going on, he was glad she had that outlet.

Having Miguel nearby put his mind at ease. And he didn’t work alone; the team was always nearby. Ella was well protected. Adam wished the investor meeting had been scheduled for a different day so he could talk to Quinn without delay. There was no way to put the contract signing off, though.

Impatient to get things started, as soon as the deal was done and the investor left with his associates, Adam didn’t waste any time telling Quinn what he had in mind. He outlined the tactic, watching Quinn nod as he listened.

Quinn said. “It will work. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it.”

Adam felt better than he had in a while, knowing that soon Claudio would be on the defensive. Outdoing his father with force wasn’t the way to go. It wasn’t Adam’s nature. But he had a knack for solving problems; his business was based on it. The approach was clever, and would be effective. But it needed to happen fast. Quinn set the wheels in motion, immediately. On the way home, Adam tried to call Ella but got voicemail.

He couldn’t wait to get home to tell her the plan. Now that he knew Quinn approved, he was sure it was the right action. Ella would be relieved to know there was a way to fight back, a way that didn’t leave them open to harm. The ride home seemed longer than usual, and Adam wished he’d brought Ella with him. If he had, he’d be with her then and they’d share in the hope that all the terror would soon be over.

The car pulled into the garage and Adam was surprised that the Chrysler was not in its spot. Ella hadn’t mentioned going anywhere. He went inside, calling her name. He didn’t see any signs of her or Miguel. That was actually good. It meant that wherever she was, Miguel was with her. He just wished she’d stayed at home, and not ventured out so soon after the ordeal just the day before.

Pacing the floor, Adam wished he knew where she was. Often she went shopping with
Fiorella, but as far as he knew, they had nothing planned. He missed Ella, and wanted to hold her. The image of Claudio, near enough to touch her, wouldn’t go. Adam needed to see her, be with her, and reassure himself that she was well.

He called Miguel. If he couldn’t get Ella, he could speak to Miguel to find out where they’d gone. “Miguel, I was…”

“Adamo,” he said, speaking Portuguese in a rapid cadence. “I was just going to call you. I regret to tell you, Ella is missing.”

Adam’s heart fell, and a feeling of horror gripped him. “What happened? How could she be missing? Where did you take her?”

“She went to the restroom and never came out. I sent a woman to check and there was no one there. I went in to see for myself. She is gone.”

“Where?
What bathroom?”

“At the downtown mall.
I’ve already alerted the team, and Nico is on his way to you.”

“Oh my God, Miguel.
What could have happened? Yesterday Claudio threatens her, and now this. He said we had five days before he’d send his demand. Why would he make a move today? It makes no sense.”

Adam hung up, distraught, and unsure what to do. Rio was a huge city. Where would he look? He didn’t even have any idea where someone would take her, or why Claudio would grab her. He’d said explicitly that he wouldn’t abduct a US citizen. But then, the man was crazy. You could never believe anything he said.

Nico walked in, talking in his earpiece. Walking up to Adam, he said, “I’ve mobilized the team. They are searching the mall, looking for any leads. We will check with cabs, see if they picked anyone up fitting her description. We are doing everything possible. This is terrible, Adam. First yesterday, and now this. I should never have taken the day off. That was a mistake.”

Adam hardly knew what to say. “We have to find her. There has to be a clue. Dust the restroom for fingerprints.” Adam knew, even as he said it, that a public restroom would have so
many prints the odds of locating the right person would be impossible. And who would care anyway, even if they did find Claudio’s prints?

“We already are,”
Nico said. “I’ll keep you advised of everything we learn. And I need to know immediately if she contacts you, or you find out anything.”

“Absolutely.”
Adam watched Nico go to the office, booting up the computer to do research to assist his team. Why did it feel so hopeless? He had to find her. She couldn’t be gone. Not Ella. It felt like his life had come to a steep cliff, one that appeared without warning, and he was about to freefall into space. Without her, Adam’s life would be over. Life without Ella wasn’t life at all.

He walked into the kitchen, pacing and thinking. There had to be a clue, some clue. He reviewed everything she’d told him about what happened the day before, and tried to remember every word. Was there something he’d missed, something she’d said that would shed light on what happened? Adam could think of nothing. Frustration and heartache were eating him alive.

Think; he had to think. Sitting at the kitchen nook, he raked his hands through his hair, wanting to pull it out by the roots. He’d never felt so helpless. Catching sight of her tablet, he pulled it in front of him. Missing her, tortured by her absence, he clicked to her diary. He wanted to read what she wrote, be near her, feel what she felt.

The words on page wrenched his heart, like his tormentor had plunged a kitchen knife in the center and was twisting it with all his strength. Ella had poured out her emotions. Reading “I love Adam more than life itself,” his eyes watered. The bond of their love was strong. Without her, Adam was incomplete, only half a person.

Then she said, “Even when he holds me, I feel like I can’t touch him, not like before.” She’d misread him, thinking that he withdrew from her, unable to see that he had to keep his rage under control. But how could she have known that? He should have told her. He should have talked to her. And now, he might not have the chance.

His heart pounded at the next entry: “I have to do the only thing I know to do…” Adam quickly read on, soaking up every word, anxious to know what she had in mind. He prayed it
would reveal what had happened to her. Clicking to the next page, he read, “I have to…” And that was where it ended. She had to what? What did she plan? Where was she?

Adam stood and pressed his palm to his forehead. He knew Ella better than anyone. What would she do? What would she think would help? He knew that she might be in danger. Possibly, Claudio hadn’t come for her, maybe
she’d
gone to him. The thought electrified him with horror.

In the meeting the day before, Claudio hadn’t harmed her, but cocaine usage made one treacherous to be around. He’d had enough experience with his father to know that one minute he could appear rational, and the next psychotic. It was nothing to play around with. And Ella was alone. It wasn’t good. Whatever was going on, he had to get to her. Fast.

What would she do? Something occurred to him. Research. That was what Ella liked to do, and she was pretty good at it. That was how she’d successfully found him in Brazil, and how she’d discovered the book festival, and many other things. It seemed the world was an open book, online. Of course, she’d dig around, looking for a way to help him.

But what had she found? What could she have possibly discovered that made her disappear? He still wasn’t convinced that she hadn’t been kidnapped. But it was more likely she’d left, right under Miguel’s nose. Her diary said, “The plan I’ve come up with has to work.” If only he knew the plan. She always used the laptop when she worked online, since he’d told her the transmissions were encrypted.

Adam got his laptop and opened the browser. Thank goodness for the browsing history. Clicking around, he tried to follow her trail. She’d looked at book publisher websites, but he couldn’t see that she followed up with anything meaningful. Then she began another line of research: cocaine and indicators of usage. That led her to the world so familiar to Adam through his drug-addicted father.

Scanning more pages Ella had viewed, Adam had an idea. He couldn’t believe that she’d really come up with such a plan. But it was a possibility. And every lead had to be followed. If it was remotely possible, he had to check it out. And there was no time to waste.

“Nico,” he said in his earpiece. “I think I just found something. I don’t think Ella was taken. I think she left. She’s trying to help me, and could be at risk. We need to move fast. I have the details on my laptop right now. I’ll show you.”

Adam clicked off, and
Nico was by his side in less than a minute. He looked at the sites opened on the screen, and looked at Adam. “You think that’s where she went?”

“I’m betting on it,” Adam said.