Redemption (4 page)

Most of their time was spent in each others arms. Dancing in the moonlit garden behind the townhouse. Making love that was intensified by the soundtrack of her favorite composer, Vivaldi. Talking about adventures to Italy, France, Spain, Egypt, and of course there was London. She would sit, content, to just listen to him play for hours.

Then to the things he didn’t know. He had never asked where she was born or what her parents’ names were. Where she grew up or what schools she had attended. They just didn’t seem that important at the time. He knew none of her childhood friends, but perhaps Rebecca was one of them.

He could hardly grasp the phone between his fingers as it rang. When he finally composed himself, he checked the caller ID. Rebecca.

“This is Ian,” he answered before holding his breath.

“Ian? It’s Rebecca Swift.” A soft woman’s voice beckoned him from the other end. He noticed how soothing it was and seemed to relax as he began.

“Thank you for getting back to me so quickly.”

“Not a problem. I knew if it was about Lily, it must be important.”

This intrigued him. Lily must be very important to Rebecca. “I needed to get a hold of Lily. She’d given me your number…”

“No she didn’t. Lily would never give out my number,” she replied, cutting him off.

He was completely busted. She must have talked to Lily about him and now he had no idea where to go next.

“She did say that if you found my number, you would call. Is that what happened?”

“You got me. I’m worried that’s all.”

“I know, she has been giving me fits lately too. I can assure you though; she’s fine, wherever she is.”

“So, you don’t know?” He felt the last of his hope fall into the abyss.

“I don’t know where she is, but I did talk to her today. That’s why I thought it was so strange that you called today of all days.”

“New Year’s Eve?” He was confused as to why this day would be so special.

“You really don’t know, do you?” Rebecca let a soft laugh escape her lips before adding, “It’s her birthday.”

Another thing he had never thought to ask, her birthday. “I had no idea.”

“This must be a sign. I have the feeling that she’s not doing well. I was about to come to Boston to see if I could pick up her trail.”

“I’d love to help. I need to find her.” He waited for her response which seemed like hours rather than seconds.

“I have some vacation time coming up. I can be there by tomorrow afternoon.”

“You have no idea how grateful I am to you. I’ve been sitting about for two months with no hope until today.”

“I don’t know if it would make it worse to bring you along.”

“Is she in some sort of danger? Do you know her because you’re FBI?”

“You’ve been doing your homework. She’s the reason I joined the FBI. It took a while for Lily to warm up to me, but once I got to know her, she became a wonderful friend.”

“I didn’t know she had friends.” He stumbled over the words, not wanting to offend the only person in the world who could help him.

“She has me. If I weren’t so pushy, she wouldn’t even have that. She won’t admit it, but she misses having someone to look out for her.”

“She told me her parents had passed away. Is that true?”

“Yes, she lost her parents. I’m sure whatever she has told you about herself is mostly true. She likes to leave out little details though, mostly names and dates.”

“I hadn’t really noticed. There is so much I just never asked.”

“Men are very distracted by Lily. I’m not surprised she was able to keep you in the dark.”

“What’s going on with her? One moment we were engaged, the next she was gone.”

“You have to understand something about Lily, she doesn’t commit. She thinks it’s safer that way.”

“Safer? What does she need to keep me safe from?”

“There are people who would love nothing more than to get their hands on Lily. I think they’d use anyone close to her as bait. That’s why I’m not so sure you should come along. I don’t know what she’d do if something happened to you.”

“Is that how she lost her parents? Because of some mysterious threat?”

“She lost a man whom she thought of as a father. She promised herself she would never let what happened to Martin happen again.”

Lily had never mentioned Martin to Ian. It was yet another thing he had no idea about. With all the things he had known and loved about her, he hoped all these new revelations would make him love her even more.

“I might not know what I’m getting myself into and I’m sure there is much more that you’re not telling me…I’m in though, all the way. Tell me what to do.”

“From what I got out of her today, I’d say pack for cold weather.”

“Alaska, maybe?”

“Not exactly. I’ll explain more when I get there. I’ll call you when I land.”

“You have no idea what this means to me.”

“She means the world to me too. Just don’t let me regret taking you along.”

“I won’t. Thanks, Rebecca.”

“My friends just call me Becca.”

“Becca, then. Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow. Happy New Year.”

“Yeah, you too.”

ily pulled her Jeep up to the front of the bar and stepped out cautiously. She felt that someone or something had followed her since she’d left the house. It had been a while since she’d had any trouble with any otherworldly characters, but she had a feeling her luck was about to run out.

She made her way to the door of the bar, and as it creaked open, the light flickered on.

“Surprise!” A crowd of bar dwellers yelled at the top of their drunken lungs.

Lily made her way through the crowd, trying to act surprised until she found Renee.

“You surprised?” Renee hugged Lily while jumping up and down in excitement.

“I could wake up tomorrow morning with my head glued to the carpet and I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am right now.”

Renee let go of her. “You’re making jokes.”

“You know me.”

“Good. Present time. I have something to add to your movie collection.” Renee grabbed a package wrapped in white Christmas paper from behind the bar. “I hope you don’t have it already.”

Lily ripped off the paper to reveal
The Jason Bourne Collection.
“You know me too well. I hadn’t bought this yet.”

“Yep, it’s all three movies plus a bunch of extra stuff. Plus, I know how you have a thing for Matt Damon. I thought this would be better than the
Ocean’s
collection, because you get to see more of Matt kicking ass.”

“Thanks, it’s perfect.” She hugged Renee in thanks and caught the scent of seventy year old malt whiskey.

“You didn’t…”

Renee grabbed the bottle from beneath the bar. “I don’t know why you like this stuff, but Dad got a hold of it and knew you’d love it.”

Erik made his way over to the two of them through the drunken crowd. His stocky build and salt and pepper hair were always a comfort to Lily. Erik swooped her up into a bear hug. “Happy birthday, sweetness. We’re glad you didn’t take off before we could give you a proper party this year.”

In many years past, she had always ducked out by the thirty-first, knowing her cold weather family would want to make a spectacle of her birth. Little did they know how old she really was.

“How old are we actually this year?” Erik inquired, while going around the bar to pour her present.

“How old do I look?”

“You don’t look a day over twenty-five, but I know you must be older.”

“Nope, eternally twenty-five. I won’t have it any other way.” Lily grinned as she saw the whiskey slowly poured into the glass.
One finger, two fingers, three fingers, four...

One of Lily’s only human pleasures that she would partake of on a regular basis was the fine gift of alcohol. It was the only thing besides blood that had any flavor for her, as her taste buds had a very limited range. For some reason, single malt whiskey was one of her favorites.

She reached for the glass, pressed it to her lips and let the scent engulf her senses. The aroma tantalized every muscle, played with every cell and danced with every fiber. She let a mouthful slip down her throat, enveloping her mind and body.

“Mmmmmmmm… A very good birthday. Thanks, Erik.”

“You’re welcome, sweetness. Now, as they say, let’s get this party started.”

The bar’s lights went down and a tremendous light show began. Colors sparkling off the crystal ball that had replaced the antler chandelier. Music boomed from a large speaker in the corner as Erik was now playing DJ. Lily hugged Renee while pulling her to the dance floor; because if Lily was dancing, everyone else would have to join in.

After he searched the townhouse for over an hour in vain, Ian realized that almost everything he needed for an arctic trek was sitting in his parent’s guest house. He begrudgingly accepted the fact that in order to retrieve his things, it was now mandatory that he make an appearance at his parent’s party.

His black Armani suit hung lazily in the closet. He had hoped the next time he pulled it on would be to celebrate a very different kind of occasion. He retrieved it from the closet and laid it across the bed.

Taking a whiff of himself, he realized he reeked of sweat and wine. It was long past time for a shower and a heavy dose of sobering up.

He stripped off his t-shirt and jeans, discarding them on the bedroom floor and reached the bathroom with only his burgundy boxer briefs covering him. He turned the shower on to let the water heat up while he took a long look at himself in the mirror.

His usual stubble had turned into a full fledged crumb catcher.

That will have to go,
he thought, and raised a pair of scissors to the coarse hair on his face.

The metal clinking of the scissors echoed around the bathroom as tiny particles of deep black hair fell into the sink below him. Once he was in a halfway decent state, he set the scissors down on the counter and peered into the mirror at his reflection, noticing for the first time how much he really had changed since the last time he had seen her. His brilliant blue eyes had turned to a dull gray, the circles below them a faint purple. He hoped they would be rejuvenated soon enough. On the bright side, his physique was still that of a Greek god, having replaced sex with exercise. His silky black hair was a bit longer, now teasing the tops of his ears and collar.

Stepping into the shower, he felt the falling water caress every inch of his body. He lathered himself up, letting the musky scent of the shower gel fill the air. His wet hair whipped lightly across the back of his neck as he thoroughly rinsed himself, before turning to the shower mirror to coat his cheeks with shaving gel. The razor stroked cautiously across his cheeks, savoring the cut of each hair. He felt slightly odd without his trademark stubble, but he was sure it would soon return.

He stepped out of the shower refreshed and feeling a few pounds lighter. Taking a deep breath, he let the remaining steam fill his lungs while he towel dried, and a moment later, he was slipping into a soft clean pair of black boxer briefs. It was almost an effortless routine as he slipped on his crisp white shirt, black pants, socks, and shoes. He had no problem adjusting the black tie around his neck or fastening his grandfather’s diamond cufflinks at his cuffs. It’s when his jacket was finally hugging his torso that the dance came to an abrupt halt.

He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket where Lily’s simple words were scrolled across it in black ink.

Ti do tuttu il mio amore.

His Italian was rusty at best, but Lily’s voice echoed it’s meaning in his head.

All of my love I give to you.

Just remembering the way the words escaped her lips made his collar a little tighter.

He replaced the note in his pocket and took one last look in the mirror. The clean, somewhat sober man that stood there was prepared for anything.

He was anxious the entire drive to the Holt estate, possibly from the upcoming barrage of debutantes he knew he would have to wade through. Maybe it was due to the fact that he still wasn’t quite sober enough to be driving. He kept his foot light on the pedal, watching for any speed traps.

He reached the house to find the driveway lined with every luxury car imaginable. It seemed like this was the one night of the year they were all brought out to shine. Ian wondered how many would actually make it home in one piece.

Ian parked his H2 a distance away so he wouldn’t have a valet checking it. There was probably no chance in Hell he could walk in unnoticed, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try.

His mother must have had her extra sensory radar tuned to her Ian frequency, as with only one foot in the door, he felt his mother, Marian, grasp his forearm. He felt like they walked aimlessly through a crowd of mindless socialites who all wanted their piece of Ian Holt.

Ian finally cajoled his mother into the den so he could explain his real motives for joining in on the New Year’s fun.

“I might be going away for a while.”

Marian became extremely agitated. “This is because of that girl, isn’t it?” Ian tried to respond, but was cut off short. “I will not have any son of mine wasting his time on a woman he barely knows. Your career is just starting. You’re on the verge of a huge recording contract, then possibly a tour after that. Is this woman really worth throwing it all away for?”

Ian looked at his mother with a crooked grin while she regained her composure. “Are you finished? Can I speak now?” Marian gave a pouting nod. “I’ve talked with one of Lily’s friends and she’s flying in tomorrow to meet me. She has a lead on where Lily might have gone after talking to her this morning.”

“Now there’s another woman you know nothing about, dragging you to God knows where to find the girl who ripped your heart from your chest!”

“Mother, Rebecca is an FBI agent who has far more resources than I do.”

“FBI?” The vein in Marian’s neck was throbbing in terror. “Is
this
Lily some sort of
fugitive
or something?”

“Of course not. Rebecca is just an old friend of Lily’s from Portland.”

“Oregon?” Marian shuddered. “Some lumberjack law woman traipsing cross country with my son? Absolutely not!”

“Mother, Lily is not a Hampton socialite, but that doesn’t mean she’s not worth looking for. I am sick of your ego based bigotry. I love Lily, and whether she’s from Boston or Portland never mattered to me. I’m going after her.”

“Good for you, son.” Ian’s father, Bradford Holt, appeared at the den’s doorway, and walked over to take his wife’s hand. “We’ve always taught him to go after what means most to him in this life. If this Lily completes him half as much as you complete me, she’s got to be worth it.”

Marian started to tear up as she embraced Bradford.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“Just let us know if you get married so your mother knows when to put an announcement in the paper.”

“I will.” Marian left Bradford’s arms for Ian’s. “I’ll be fine. There are just a few things I need to get from the guest house.”

“Go on, son. Your mother has plenty of guests to attend to before this New Year’s is over.”

Ian shook his father’s hand after he was released from his mother’s rib crushing embrace. He began to sneak out the side door, before making a beeline for the guest house.

When he reached his destination, he realized nothing had been touched. He had forbidden his mother from gathering the staff to clean out the place and he was surprised she actually granted his request.

He walked into the closet, practically tripping over the mounds of untouched laundry and quickly filled his largest suitcase with thermals and sweaters. Heavy coats, jeans, thick pairs of socks, long underwear, and several pairs of boots were also crammed in before he finally zipped it shut.

He hauled the suitcase out into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Looking around the room, he couldn’t help but think about what the following day would hold. Feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time, he smiled as one of his favorite memories crept up on him.

Ian had only known Lily for six weeks, but somehow, it already felt like a lifetime. He stood in the doorway watching, as she towel dried her damp body; the caramel color of her bikini a stark contrast to her alabaster skin. Their midnight swim had put them in the mood for a much more exciting evening.

He stepped behind her, trailing a line of kisses across her shoulder. She let out a soft moan as her towel hit the floor. He continued the trail down her arm towards her elbow, her cool skin warmed with each kiss, causing a rosy blush to push to the surface. Before he could make it to his destination, she took her arm from his grasp and turned to face him, locking her arms behind his head. She teased her fingers through the wet hair that lay across the back of his neck. His hands moved to her waist, tempting themselves to pull at her bikini bottoms. He heard her sigh as her gaze fell to the floor, he brought his finger up underneath her chin.

“What is it?” He questioned as his kisses caressed her cheek.

Her chestnut eyes sparkled with flecks of golden hues as they met his in a moment of intimacy which he wasn’t prepared for.

“I think I know where this is going.”

“Is that alright with you? I’m…prepared, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

A soft laugh escaped her perfect lips. “I know you are, the ever present Boy Scout.”

“Too soon then?”

“No, no. It’s just been a really long time. I don’t have much experience with actual…love making.”

“Love making?” He loved the way it sounded rolling off her tongue; so hesitant and innocent. “I’ll take things slow, if that’s what you want.”

“I just don’t want to disappoint you. I know how to be sexy and desirable, but when it comes down to,
it,
I’m such a novice.”

“How many men have experienced this novice side of you?”

“Just one.”

He knew she must have meant Ryan, the only other man she had ever admitted loving.

“What about you?” she asked, her fingers running lightly up and down the sides of his rib cage.

“Let’s just say more than one and leave it at that.” His coy grin seemed to make her uneasy and he had the feeling she knew it was many more than one. “Just know that I’m crazy in love with you. We don’t have to go any further than this if you aren’t completely sure.”

“Really?”

“A first time together is a monumental occasion for us; I want it to be special. I hope this is my last first time.” With that, her eyes sparkled with even more of a golden glow than before. Her eyes smiled, and filled with a playful glint.

“You know, now you’re totally getting laid tonight.” The grin swept back across his face as he leaned in to catch her lips.

Her sweet breath danced across his tongue as her lips parted to invite him in and he was unable to control the soft moan in the back of his throat as she intoxicated him with every flick of her tongue.

Her hands had slipped from the sides of his face, stroking his chest, circling his nipple. His fingers traveled from her hips up to the middle of her back. He jerked at the knot of her bikini top, releasing it instantly leaving the strings dangling at her sides. She pulled her lips from his, bringing her fingers to the remaining knot behind her neck. One more quick jerk and her top slid down her torso to hit the floor.

Lily pressed herself against him, gathering the heat that was brimming below his surface. Her finger pulled at the waistband of his swim trunks. He placed her hands on his hips and guided her to slowly pull them down. She traveled down with them, leaving soft, wet kisses down his chest, his stomach, until she came to rest upon his newly exposed hip. Her tongue lazily circled across the warm flesh. Her cool breath, so close to his center, sent waves of pleasure through his entire body. It was almost unbearable.

Ian took her wrist and pulled her back up to him, meeting her lips as he swept her onto the bed. She lay flat on her back as he positioned himself on top of her. “My turn.” He wanted her to lay there and enjoy the ride. His tongue traveled from her mouth, down the hollow of her neck, across her collar bone, to her pert breast. Her pale pink nipple turned slightly rosier as his mouth gently caressed it. Her deep breathing led him to believe in her extreme concentration. He continued dragging his kisses down across her stomach, to her belly button and heard a small giggle escape her as his tongue slid to her hip. He took a breath and laid a soft, wet kiss where her pelvis met her thigh. She brought her leg up towards her chest as the giggles were now uncontrollable.