When the Heart Lies (6 page)

“Yeah, whatever. I almost forgot; your agent called the house when he couldn’t get your old cell. He has some book reviews he wants you to write. I told you not to give anyone the number. I changed it again.”

She ignored his comment.

He snorted as he looked away and back again. “Can you come home and be sensible. Things were fine up until ya met Veda. She’s been putting all kinds of things in your head.”

“No one puts things in my head. You’re delusional. Things have never been fine. Veda’s a neighbor, a friend. For crying out loud, you act like I’m some prize you’ve won, and you want to keep me in the Cracker Jack box all to yourself. I’m going back to New York.”

“Nick don’t want you back. He ain’t even tried to contact you. Shit. That should tell you something. And I don’t like that sassy attitude.” He delivered his last statement in unison with the hammering of his index finger against the table.

“You don’t know anything about Nick. He doesn’t even have my number.”

“I know more than you think. Besides, you told me.”

“I didn’t tell you anything. You and your vague insinuations. Why don’t you just tell me what you think you know? You can’t because you don’t know anything.” The fact was she didn’t know anything about Nick either. The way she left New York, she couldn’t blame him if he never took her back, and if it weren’t for Max, she wouldn’t care. Max began bouncing on her leg at a furious pace. Not wanting to upset him, she stopped her nervous leg from moving and focused on the little cars that were on the table. They played for a bit until he bolted from her and went to get the little backpack with his toys inside. He grabbed his coloring book.

“Mommy, I colored a picture for you.” He smiled. She kissed his head, and he sat beside her.

Wayde continued, bringing her back to reality. “That’s what you might assume. You think what I want you to think.”

“What?” Restless from the conversation, she’d forgotten what they were talking about.

“You said I don’t know anything. Well, I know enough.”

“Yeah, okay. You know everything. How did I end up here? This is an expensive place.”

“It’s where they brought ya. Who cares?”

Maybe she could avoid going back to him at all. “I’ll be getting out of here tomorrow or the next day. I should take some money out of the account and get a place with Max until I decide what to do.”

His ass rose from the chair, and he knocked hard on the table as he loomed over her. “That’s my account, and you’re staying with me. That’s where you belong now.”

“It’s my money, and the last place I belong is with you.” When she realized their conversation wasn’t only getting intense, but loud, she glanced around the room. A few of the staff members were watching them; she lowered her voice to a near whisper. “I shouldn’t have let you gain so much control, putting my money with yours was a bad idea. I should’ve known better. Now you think you can control me.” Her small book advance had been paying the rent since she’d arrived. Once he had hold of her money, he took control. It was most likely gone by now.

His head pulled back and his brow wrinkled. “Control you?”

She bugged her eyes as wide as she could, mocking him as she shook her head. “Yeah, that’s right, control me. You monitor my every move, and you’re trying to convince me to feel something I don’t. I’ve made a mistake with you. My whole life is slipping away.” The desire to rake the skin from his face became far too vivid, and she turned from him.

“You and your drama. The queen of drama. Don’t worry, darlin’. I ain’t gonna let you slip nowhere.” He ended his sentence with a high note and a grin.

“I’m sure you won’t.” He should’ve just said what he meant—I’m not letting you go. Now, she’d have to start lying to him as much as she’d been lying to herself all along. It would be the only way to get away from him. She’d go back to his house for a few days, and then she’d find a way out. Before he realized it, she’d be gone. “I’ll be leaving here tomorrow or the next day. I ought to come back to your house. Maybe it’s the best thing for me. Possibly, you’re right.” She swallowed, attempting to quell her desire to puke from the taste of her words. “I’m sorry, Wayde. I just wish things would change a little.”—Swallow.

“Now that’s better. I know you don’t like some things, and I’ll talk to Savannah. Maybe I’ll let you get your own checking account for spending money. Not that I think you need it. We’re together. Seems silly to me, but if it makes you less paranoid, I guess I could let you do that.”

Paranoid? How couldn’t I be paranoid?
He dished up paranoia for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “It’d make me happy if I had my own account. I want to have choices.”

“You have choices. You chose to move to Florida and be with me, didn’t you?”

That choice was one of the major blunders she’d made in her life. The guilt from bringing Max there was rotting her insides. She leaned toward Max and smoothed his hair. “Max, you’re going to have to go with Wayde soon.”

He tugged her arm. “What about Daddy? Can’t I go with him?”

“Daddy’s a long way away in New York, but I’ll be home in a couple days. Remember our pinky promise.” She wrapped her pinky around his little one.

“Nothing can tear us apart,” he said.

“That’s right. Nothing can tear us apart.” She tried to feign a smile in Wayde’s direction. She would manipulate him, as he’d done her, until she got what she needed. “Okay Max, give Mommy a big hug and a kiss, and don’t forget to say your prayers.” She stood and reached out for a hug.

He jumped from his seat into her arms, hugging her. As his feet landed on the floor, he dragged her down with him. “Okay, love you, Mommy.” He buried his face into her neck.

She stayed like that as long as she could, wishing to avoid Wayde altogether. “And I love you, sweetness.” When timing got awkward, she straightened and stood, releasing him from the hug.

Wayde leaned in to give her a kiss, but she pulled away instinctively, repelled by the very thought of his touch. “Um…not here okay.”

After giving her a suspicious look, his eyes perused the room. One began to twitch distrustfully. Did he know she was playing him? She promptly smiled and laid her hand on his arm to placate him. “I’ll be discharged soon.”

“
Mmm, yum…I can’t wait.”

Yuck. The thought of having to lie next to him again and have him touch her was revolting. They said their goodbyes. Watching Max walk away hand-in-hand with Wayde tore her up.

She hoped the work her agent had for her would bring in enough money to be able to make some plans to leave. But she had to be patient. Things weren’t going to happen overnight.

Chapter 4

Xavier pulled into his driveway at five minutes after seven, and as usual, he sat awhile before going in. Angela hovered in the doorway. He was a man who fulfilled his obligations, and she’d simply become another on the long list. Before he got through the door, she set about directing him.

“Where have you been? We need to be at the club in twenty-five minutes.”

He ignored her and proceeded up the large center staircase.

“Your clothes are laid out on your bed.”

“Would you like to dress me, too? Send Jonathan up to my room.” Before he closed the door behind him, Jonathan appeared.

“Sir, you need my assistance?”

“Good, you’re here.” Unconsciously, he took his clothes from the bed and began to dress for dinner.” Did you relay the message about the audio to Judge Waters?”

“Yes. This morning. All is in order.”

“It pays to have friends.” In the middle of tying his tie, he stopped and turned to Jonathan. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing by not telling Nick I know exactly where she is? That I’m watching her, or why for that matter?”

Jonathan tugged at his cuffs. “That’s not for me to say, sir.”

At the lack of affirmation, he sat and stared down at his shoes. His hands tunneled their way through his thick white hair until buried and supporting the weight of his head. The situation was delicate.

“You’re doing what you have to do. Your intentions are honorable.”

He looked at Jonathan. “Are they?” He sighed. “I’ll finish up here.” He did so and headed downstairs to join Angela who waited impatiently at the front door.

~ ~ ~

Three months ago, it’d been a straightforward case. Watch over Kinsley and her son. Assure their safety. But while watching Kinsley, Jackson had become drawn in. Now, after
meeting her, even more so. Tonight, when he and Olivia talked, she told him the client had new requests. Nothing was ever as simple as it appeared. With the new requests came questions. Things didn’t add up. He headed down the hall toward Scar’s room and knocked lightly.

“Yeah, who’s there?”

“Me. Jackson. Let me in. We need to talk.” Scar opened the door. He brush passed her and went in. “I might need your help. I talked to Olivia; she says the client wants more information.”

Scar backed into the room and sat on the bed. “I thought you were just on surveillance?”

He took a half ass seat on the lowboy dresser. “Yeah, well, now the client wants audio and more personal contact. He wants to find out everything that’s going on with her. Quite a change.”

“Ah, so why would you need my help? Isn’t audio illegal?”

“The client will handle the audio. A warrant’s all I need. I want to hear what’s going on in the house. Things aren’t sitting right with me. I’m not sure what I’ll need from you. You could watch Olivia for me and find out who she’s meeting with. I agreed to do the job without knowing, but three months is longer than I expected, and she still refuses to tell me.”

He stood and turned from her, but didn’t get far before his eyes caught a glimpse of her apprehensive face in the dresser mirror. He could tell she didn’t want to get involved. What the hell was he asking for anyway? Losing his professional distance was becoming far too frequent. “I’d like to find out who I’m working for. Please, Rayne.”

“I’m not sure. All I’ve ever done is take pictures for you. Besides, don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit? Olivia’s never given you any reason to think she would lie to you. Maybe you need to step back and think about this.”

He nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Like hell he’d step back. His eyes roamed the room, avoiding Scar’s; he knew she had a knack for knowing when he wasn’t being completely truthful. “I’m meeting with Kinsley tonight. When we talk maybe I’ll gain more insight.” He sat on the bed next to her with his hands held between his open legs. For a short time, neither spoke. He felt connected to Kinsley in far too many ways. Now, not only was he watching over her, but he had to start spying. She’d never be able to trust him after this. Once the case was over, he’d be the last man she’d want to get involved with. He let out a breath, and his shaking head dropped in disappointment. “Things are getting complicated.”

“Be careful, Jackson. I know you like Kinsley, but don’t get too involved.”

“I’m trying not to. It’s late; I better go to her, or she’ll think I’m not coming.”

It was past ten. The night nurse had already passed out meds and done rounds. He headed to Kinsley’s room and sucked in a breath as he stood in front of the door, reminding himself this was work. He tapped and entered without waiting for an invitation.

Startled by his unauthorized entrance, she jumped up, looked at him, and grimaced as her eyes cut an invisible path to the door, and her hands landed on her hips. “You’re awfully bold.”

“We need to hurry. Hector, a friend of mine, is at the back entrance waiting for us.” He turned his back to her and threw a pair of scrubs over his shoulder toward her. “Put these on.”

“Why?”

He peered back over his shoulder. “Easier to go unnoticed.”

With a wave of her hand, she signaled for him to turn around. She hesitated at first, but then hurried out of her clothes and into the scrubs. Before heading out, she stuffed some pillows under her blankets. “I’m ready.”

After checking the hall, he gave her the all clear with a nod to the side, instructing her to follow. Cautiously, they proceeded through the corridors toward the back entrance. They approached Hector. He unlocked the door and let them through.

“I’ll cover for you both at midnight rounds. I’ll be outside these entrances on a smoke break from one-thirty to quarter of two. Be sure you’re here.” Hector looked to him for confirmation.

He grasped Hector’s shoulder from the side in gratitude and gave him a nod. Hector was taking a chance bending the rules for them. Guests, as the staff at Lakeside referred to patients, were not allowed on the grounds after ten o’clock at night.

“Where are we going?” she whispered.

“To the boathouse. We need to hurry past the open space up ahead. The area is visible to the south side of the facility. After we clear the lake, we can get on the path we took earlier.” He took her hand, and they hurried past the lake and headed to the boathouse. The moon cast a sliver of light across the lake to guide their way, with the sounds of night adding to the adventure.

Once safe inside, he turned on the small lamp.