Fearless Page 13

She threw the covers off of her, and rose to her feet.

  She stopped, stretching her arms over her head. Feeling every bone crack. Feeling every muscle ache, and she lifted her head, startling when she found herself staring back at her.

  She took a step forward, lifting a hand to the glass of the long mirror in front of her. Then lifted a hand to her face. Staring at the bruises that marred her left cheek. Wincing, as she stared at the finger indents that lined her throat, and she ducked her head. Her hand brushing the back of her neck, feeling the bandage that lay there.

  She froze, slowly lifting her head.

  The tracker.

  It was gone.

  She stumbled back a step, turning her head, staring over her shoulder at the bandage that covered the back of her neck, feeling a sense of relief suddenly wash over her as she stared at it.

  It was gone.

  The last little shred of what she’d had left of the organization was gone.

  And now, Abel, had no control over her.

  She was free from him. Finally.

  She felt a smile spread over her face.

  Behind her, she watched, as sunlight seeped through the curtains.

  She turned. Taking a step forward. Her feet seeping into the lush carpet.

  She raised a hand, pulling the curtain out of the way.

  And stared. A gasp escaping her mouth, as she peered out the window.

  It was gorgeous, she thought to herself, as she stared out the window. Watching as the bright green, grassy hills rolled down in mounds in front of her.

  She lifted her head. Staring up at the bright, blue sky.

  There wasn’t a cloud in sight.

  The sun lay high above, beaming down below. And she blinked as it blinded her momentarily.

  She watched as an eagle soared through the air. Flying off into the distance. Its wings spread wide.

  And tears filled her eyes.

  God, it had been so long since she’d seen this. Since she’d been able to enjoy this, and right now, standing here she couldn’t think of a more beautiful sight.

  It was everything she remembered and better.

  She watched as the trees swayed in the breeze.

  And she lifted a hand, pulling the window open.

  The breeze flew into the room, brushing against her skin. Blowing against her hair.

  And a laugh escaped her mouth.

  She wrapped her arms around herself. Closing her eyes. Enjoying the smell of the fresh air.

  And the sound of clashing waves echoed in her ears.

  Her eyes snapped open.

  She leaned forward. Her hands pressing against the window sill and stared out before her.

  Staring at the white, sandy beach that lay just a couple miles from the house. Beyond the green, grassy hills.

  Laughter rang through the air.

  And she watched, as two young girls sat in the sand, building a sand castle.

  And a smile spread across her face, as she remembered building a sand castle with her own sisters.

  She watched as a man jogged passed the girls. Waving to the other people he passed on the beach.

  A couple walking hand in hand.

  A woman sun bathing in a lawn chair.

  And jealousy washed through her.

  Her fingers tightened around the window sill. Wishing that she could be like them. Wishing she could be out there enjoying the beach, instead of worrying about the world around them.

  Instead of worrying about Abel.

  She bit her lips

  Staring out before her.

  And her eyes landed on the bright blue waves of the ocean as it crashed against the shore.

  “Oh.”

  She breathed the word. Watching as the waves danced beneath the sun. Shining before her.

  And she remembered, suddenly how much she had loved the ocean as a kid. Remembering the countless days she had walked down to the beach just minutes from their home in Florida. Just sitting there, baking in the sun. Letting her feet touch the waves of the ocean. Watching the dolphins jump out of the water.

  It had been her sanctuary.

  It had been her escape from home.

  Until Abel had taken her away from it.

  Anger rolled through her body.

  He’d taken everything from her.

  And soon, she would take everything from him.

  She turned away from the window. Her eyes landing on the dresser that lay across the room from her, and the note that lay on top of it.

  Good morning, Elena. I hope you were able to sleep well. You were out like a light once we hit the freeway, and just so you know, we were able to lose the men following us so please don’t worry about that, and welcome to my home. When you wake up there are clothes in the closet. Pick anything, I’m sure everything will fit. There’s a bathroom connected to your room, fell free to use it. Help yourself to anything and f you need anything I’ll be downstairs. Anything at all.

  Kieran.

  Elena stared down at the note. Staring down at the neat, fine writing that lay on the page.

  Suddenly in awe of the man.

  How could he be so nice? She wondered to herself, thinking of the man who had come flying into that hospital room. Remembering the way he’d looked at her. His eyes filled with kindness. Remembering the way his voice had sounded as he’d talked to her. It had been understanding. It had been sincere. And he had actually talked to her, not at her, like Abel had been doing for the last eight years.

  He had treated her as if she were an equal.

  And he would never know how much she appreciated all he had done for her.

  He had saved her.

  He had saved her life.

  He had brought her into his home.

  He had risked his life for her.

  She only hoped that she could repay him for the kindness he had shown her.

  She laid the note down on the dresser.

  And turned, opening the door to the closet

  “Oh my God.” She breathed.

  She flipped on the light and stepped into the huge walk-in closet. Raising a hand and brushing it along the clothes that lined the sides of the closet. On her left were dozens of dresses. To her right, there were a dozen different t-shirts and tops. She walked further into the closet, staring at the jeans that lay on the hangers. At the skirts that lay on the hangers. Her fingers touching every piece of clothing until, finally, she reached the end of the closet where shoes lined the back of the closet on shelves that reached from the floor to the ceiling of the closet.

  “Oh my, Kieran.” She whispered, turning, staring around her at the closet. “Why on earth do you have so many clothes?”

  She scanned the clothes hanging on the hangers one more time.

  And stopped, pulling a blue sundress off of a hook and grabbing a pair of white sandals.

  This would do.

  She turned, walking out of the closet, and into the bathroom.

  She flipped on the light.

  Staring at her reflection in the mirror once more.

  Back in their house in southern Florida they hadn’t had any mirrors. They hadn’t been allowed to.

  “Mom, why aren’t there any mirror’s here?” Elena stopped in the small bathroom of the small house. Turning to look at her mother. “Maggie has tons of mirrors.”

  “Because, Elena, mirrors are the devil.” Kiana told her, touching a hand to her daughter’s shoulder. “They say, that if you look in a mirror too long, you can see the evil within you. Mirrors, Elena, are the gateways to hell. If you stare to long into it, you’re damned to hell for the rest of eternity and you my dear, belong in heaven not hell.”

  Elena snorted. Her mother had been an idiot.

  She stared into the mirror. Touching a hand to her mangled hair. Wincing as she ran her fingers through it. Feeling the greasiness.

  She stared at herself in the mirror.

  Remembering her mother. Remembering her words, and suddenly wondered how
her mother had lived with Abel for so long? How had she lived with him and not known what he was capable of? What he would turn into? Why hadn’t she stopped all of this? Why hadn’t she saved them? If she had done something. If she had stopped him, maybe Carmella would still be alive.

  Carmella.

  Tears filled Elena’s eyes.

  She thought of that night. Watching, as her sister fell off of the rooftop.

  It’s over, Elena. It’s over and done with. You can’t go back. All you can do is move forward. The world is full of what ifs, and just thinking about it will eat at you. You can’t change the past but you can change the future.

  She blinked back the tears.

  She blew out a breath.

  Her eye skimmed the counter.

  Her hand reached forward, touching the surface. Staring at the bar of soap that lay in the dish. Staring at the hair brush. At the toothbrush. At the toothpaste

  She took a step forward, sliding the door to the shower open, and turning on the water.

  It sprayed out fast.

  She squealed, jumping back.

  Then suddenly a laugh escaped her mouth.

  Dear God, it had been a long time since she’d had a decent shower. Back at the organization, the water had been freezing cold and all they’d had had been a bucket to dump over their heads.

  It had been ridiculous.

  But this.

  This was definitely an improvement.

  She slid the dirty, sweaty clothes she wore off of her body, and stepped into the shower. Closing the door behind her.

  The warm spray beat down on her body.

  The heat of the room surrounded her.

  And she lifted her head, closing her eyes, feeling the rhythmic beat of the warm water washing over her tired, aching body. Letting it surround her, and she sighed.

  She could get used to this, she thought, if she let herself.

  If she let herself.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “You know that you’re crazy, don’t you?”

  Kieran lifted his head, staring across the table at his friend, Luis Gomez. Slowly bringing the coffee mug to his lips and taking a sip.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh don’t play stupid, Kieran!” Luis snapped, rolling his eyes. “I’m talking about that girl who is sleeping upstairs in one of your beds!”

  “She’s harmless.”

  “You don’t know that!” Luis cried. “Dammitt, Kieran. What do you really know about the woman?”

  “I know that she’s strong. I know that she’s smart. I know that she can take care of herself. I know that she can shoot a gun. I know that she can fight, and most of all I know that she saved my life back there.”

  “But why are those men trying to kill her? What is she running away from? Why did she happen to run into you of all people?”

  “Luis, you don’t have to critique every single thing that happens in life.”

  “And that is exactly why you get taken advantage of all the time.” Luis told him, pointing a finger at him. “You only see the good in people, you never see the bad. Remember your ex-wife? Remember your ex-girlfriend? Do you remember that young man you took in off the streets, who tried to steal everything from you?”

  “Luis—“

  “No, Kieran, listen to me.” Luis leaned forward, staring at Kieran. At his longtime friend. “I love you. You’re like a brother to me, but dammitt, Kieran stop letting strangers into your fucking house! Stop being so fucking nice! Stop being so fucking gullible! And for crying out loud, take some caution would you! Haven’t you looked at the world around you lately? It’s falling apart, Kieran! It’s fucking falling apart. Just look at this!” Luis lifted the remote in his hand and pressed the button. Staring across the room at the small television. Watching as people were fighting one another just for a piece of fruit. “People are going crazy, Kieran. No one knows how to live in this world. And now, Victor is gone. He’s disappeared and no one can find him.” Luis stared at him, turning the TV off. “I know what you’re doing, Kieran. I’m not stupid. Victor meant a lot to me too, but you have to stop this charade or you’re going to get yourself killed. I can’t lose you, Kieran. I can’t. You’re all I have left.” He shook his head. “Damn. You’re going to give me gray hair before I turn fifty.” He stared across the table at Kieran. “That’s not cool, Amigo.”

  “Luis—“

  “You know Victor?”

  Kieran froze.

  Slowly turning his head.

  And he felt the breath suddenly leave his lungs.

  Staring at Elena, as she stepped into the room. A blue sundress hugging her thin body, and her long, black hair wet from the shower. Cascading over her shoulders and down her back.

  God, she was gorgeous, he thought to himself. Not being able to take his eyes off of her.

  “Kieran.” Elena said his name. “You knew Victor?” she asked the question again.

  Kieran jerked his head up.

  Staring at her.

  And slowly he nodded his head. His throat tightening a little as he thought of Victor.

  “Yes, I know Victor.” He whispered, staring into her eyes. “Or knew him. I don’t know. Something’s happened to him. He’s disappeared. No one can find him, but years ago he saved my life. He got me out of a bad situation and ever since he’s been kind of a mentor. Even a father to me I guess you can say. He’s the one man I look up to. He was the reason I joined the FBI in the first place.

  “You’re the FBI?”

  He nodded.

  Elena’s eyes widened.

  “Oh God.”

  She stumbled back a step.

  “Elena?” he rose from his chair.

  “I can’t do this.” she whispered, shaking her head. “I can’t do this!”

  “Elena?” he took a step forward.

  “No!”

  She turned and raced across the room.

  “You have got to be kidding me!” Luis grumbled from where he was sitting. He rose from his chair, pulling out his gun.

  “Dammitt, Luis, put that thing away!” Kieran snapped, before turning and racing after Elena.

  Elena raced across the hardwood floor of the living room. Her hand stretching out, reaching for the door.

  She had to get out of here!

  Her hand wrapped around the doorknob, pulling it open.

  And it slammed shut.

  “Elena, stop!”

  Kieran’s voice sounded in her ear.

  His hand wrapped around her waist, spinning her around.

  “Elena, look at me.”

  She shook her head.

  “Look at me.” He said the words again.

  She slowly raised her head. Staring up into his dark blue eyes.

  “Elena, what’s wrong? Why are you so scared of the feds? Why are you scared of me?”

  Elena felt her heart speed up.

  She felt her throat start to tighten.

  And dread filled her.

  “Because, I’m not a good person.” She finally whispered. “I’ve done some really bad things in life.”

  “We’ve all done bad things in life.”

  She shook her head. “Not like this. I’ve done things. Terrible things. Things that I will never be able to take back. I’ll never be able to right the wrongs that I’ve done.”

  “I’m not here to punish you for your crimes, Elena.”

  “No, but you’re the FBI. If I tell you what I’ve done you’ll have no choice but to take me in, and you’ll learn that it’s my fault that Victor’s dead.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Victor was dead.

  Kieran felt the breath rush out of him.

  His fingers loosened around Elena’s arm and he stumbled back a step.

  “Dead?” he felt the word come from his lips. Barely remembering speaking. Staring at Elena. “Elena, what do you mean he’s dead? Wait. Wait just one freaking moment!” he held a hand up. Raising his head
and staring at her. “How do you know who Victor is?”

  Elena winced a little. This was exactly what she’d wanted to avoid. Dammitt, why hadn’t she left? Kieran had been so nice to her. He’d been so understanding, now he was going to hate her and she didn’t blame him one bit.

  “It’s a long story.” She finally said.

  “Well, luckily, we have all the time in the world.” Kieran whispered. His voice a little hoarse. “Come on.” He held a hand out to her. “Let’s go sit down and you can tell me everything you know.”

  “Kieran…” Elena felt her voice drift off. “That’s really not a good idea. You’re not going to like what I have to say. My life, it hasn’t been easy. The last few days, they’ve been hell. My life is dark. It’s messy and if I tell you about it, well you’re just going to be pulled into a world you’re not going to like.”

  “Oh, come on, Elena. It can’t be that bad. And trust me, I can handle it. I’ve seen my share of dark things in the world. I’m a federal agent. I’ve seen the worst side of the world. There’s not much that can scare me, and there is definitely nothing that can surprise me.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Elena muttered under her breath. Staring at his outstretched hand. Every fiber of her being telling her to run. To run far, far away from this place. From this mess. To keep running and never look back. But she was so tired of running. So tired of hiding. So tired of fighting. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to talk to? To share everything with? For them to understand just what she’d gone through.

  Slowly, she placed her hand in his. “Okay.” She whispered. “Let’s do this.”

  Kieran’s hand closed around hers. He stared at her. His dark blue eyes still kind, as he led her back into the kitchen. Stopping at the kitchen table and pulling a chair out for her.

  Elena slid into the chair, staring at the man who stood across from her. He looked mean. And hard. And his eyes told her that he didn’t trust her as well.

  She folded her hands in front of her on the table

  Well, she didn’t trust him either.

  And her eyes landed on the mug that sat on the table.

  “What’s in the mug?” she asked.

  “Coffee.” Kieran told her, smiling a little. He pushed it towards her. “It’ll give your system a jolt. Trust me.”