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by Maya Banks
Dane and Eliza took point, Eliza carefully sliding the keycard into the slot to open her door while Dane stood directly to the right of the door. He would be the first in, Zack directly on his heels and Eliza on his. It was a coordinated entrance with each of them clearing separate areas so there was no possibility of being caught off guard.
When and only when Dane gave the all-clear would Beau come in with Ari. Since the lovies were, fortunately, in her living room on a shelf containing photos and other memorabilia, it meant not having to chance going beyond that room. It would be a quick in and out and then they’d haul ass down the stairs as fast as possible.
Eliza was directly in the middle, in the sight path of Beau, but not Ari, since he had her securely behind him, one arm behind him, wrapped around her slight body, anchoring her to his. His other hand held a wicked-looking handgun and it was up and his entire body was rigid against her, a sign he was at full attention.
When she felt him begin to move forward, still holding her securely to his body, she assumed they’d been giving the all-clear. He stopped inside the door only long enough to put Ari in front of him instead of behind him since there was no longer a chance of danger coming from in front of them, but behind was still a possibility.
“Go get the stuffed animals,” Beau whispered. “Be quick. We’re remaining at attention and you’ll be covered so don’t worry about looking around you. Just get the items and then we’re getting the hell out of here.”
She all but ran across the room to where the large shelving unit was anchored to the wall, and she snatched the two lovies from their places of honor and held them close to her chest, knowing that as silly as it sounded, these two beloved stuffed animals could very well be the key to finding her mother and father.
TWENTY-FIVE
“I don’t like this,” Zack muttered as they drove back to Beau’s home.
Dane was driving, as before, but Eliza was riding shotgun, and Ari was in the middle row seat, Beau and Zack on either side of her.
Maybe it was because from the beginning, Zack had been there. And he’d been kind to her when her welcome by others hadn’t been the warmest of introductions. But she felt completely safe and secure with Zack on one side and Beau on the other, although she was more on Beau’s side instead of the true “middle,” because she was leaned into him, his arm wrapped solidly around her, and her head rested comfortably on his shoulder.
When retrieving the lovies had been met with no obstacles, no barriers, no danger, she’d been elated. As soon as they were back in the vehicle driving away, she’d wanted to do an honest-to-God fist pump. Hope, excitement, a sense of victory . . . faith. Complete and utter faith in these men—and Ramie, especially Ramie—that they would find her parents and bring them home.
She wanted them to meet Beau. As rigid and hard to please as her father was, she knew Beau would pass muster with him. When he looked at Beau, he’d see a kindred spirit and more important—to her father—he would see a man who would protect Ari with his life, protect her every bit as fiercely as he had.
But Zack’s words quickly jolted her back to the grim reality of her situation.
“What’s bothering you?” Dane asked, not sounding at all skeptical. His question was calm and it reflected his trust in Zack’s instincts.
“It was too easy,” Zack said grimly. “I don’t buy for a minute that they didn’t have every possible place Ari could run to or return to under close surveillance. And yet we were in and out in a matter of minutes and it was so smooth that it immediately made my what-the-fuck alarm start going off and I got a knot in my gut I only get when I know something’s all wrong.”
Ari went rigid against Beau, and he immediately gathered her closer, even as his complete attention was focused on his man. His hand ran up and down her arm in a caress meant to soothe, but it only agitated Ari because now she had a knot in her stomach the size of a softball.
“So the question is why?” Eliza said, half turning in her seat to look at Zack. “Why lay off when they’ve been balls to the wall in their effort to get to Ari. They have her parents, and the sooner they bring her in, the sooner they can use her parents to manipulate her into doing whatever they want. Because they know, just like we all know, that there is nothing Ari wouldn’t do to protect her parents.”
Ari’s mouth popped open at Eliza’s very calm, matter-of-fact assessment of Ari’s character. She didn’t know the other woman. Her association had been limited to only a few minutes here and there and they’d certainly never even spoken directly to each other.
Eliza picked up on Ari’s surprise and she smiled warmly at Ari. “Girl, it’s obvious how much you love them. It’s equally obvious that you’re intensely loyal to the people you love. It’s not a stretch to think you’d do anything in the world if it meant keeping them safe. I’m a people watcher, Ari. I sit back and I observe. And I pride myself on being absolutely correct in my first impression and my assessment of a person’s character. The only thing I see when I look at you is a woman with strong convictions. Perhaps a bit naïve and too trusting. Who sees or rather chooses to see only the good in people. And when it comes to the people you love, you can be a fierce badass, powers or no.”
Heat crept into Ari’s cheeks and she ducked her head, flattered and a little floored by the admiration she heard in the other woman’s recitation of her impression of Ari. Well, and she was one hundred percent accurate. So what could Ari say? Thank you? It seemed an absurd response given the woman wasn’t giving her a compliment but rather a simple report on her assessment.
But she did lift her head and gift Eliza with a smile and a nod of acknowledgment.
Beau’s arm tightened around her, and he smiled at her obvious befuddlement. He leaned in close to her ear, so only she would hear.
“She’s right you know. She only left out a few things. Like how beautiful you are when your eyes are glazed with passion. How perfect your breasts and the ultra-soft petals that surround your pussy opening. A pussy that belongs to me. Do you know what it does to me to know that I’m the only man who’s ever touched you deep inside your body? That I and only I am the one you gave such a very precious gift to?”
She blushed to the roots of her hair, heat singeing her cheeks and neck. God, she hoped no one was looking her way at this very moment, because they’d know exactly the kinds of things Beau was whispering in her ear.
Damn the fact that her face always broadcasted her thoughts, her feelings, her mood and her emotions. She was, for all practical purposes, a walking billboard.
She elbowed him fiercely in the ribs even if she was absurdly thrilled with his words. “Stop it,” she hissed. “You’re embarrassing me!”
He chuckled low. “Later, I’ll show you. Remind you with my body instead of my words.”
Her breathing sped up and heat traveled to other parts of her body, most especially her breasts, now heavy and aching, and between her legs where her clit pulsed and throbbed painfully.
“You are so going to pay for this,” she vowed.
His grin was slow and an example of pure male arrogance and utter satisfaction. “I look forward to every minute of your revenge.”
She breathed an audible sigh of relief when they pulled into the driveway of Beau’s home. Her thoughts immediately shifted and focused on the two lovies in her lap. She absently stroked the tattered and worn fur. They showed their age, but she’d always taken care to ensure they didn’t fall apart. They simply meant too much to her. Why she connected so deeply to these two items when she was a mere baby she never knew. But even now, when she saw them, touched them or even just thought about them, she was filled with instant warmth and love.
She scrambled out of the vehicle on Zack’s side since he was the first out, ignoring Beau’s outstretched hand to assist her out. She was simmering with impatience, eager to get the objects to Ramie as quickly as possible so she could glean whatever information she was able.
She set a brisk pace, ev
en keeping up with Dane’s long, determined stride, leaving the others to follow. Beau didn’t bother issuing a protest, because he had to know how important this was to her. To finally take a proactive step in finding her parents.
Excitement burst over her when she saw Ramie and Caleb in the living room, obviously waiting, and they’d likely received a call to let them know they were on their way back. Caleb looked ill, sick with worry, and while Ari sympathized with him, understood his reluctance and even shared it to a degree, she wasn’t hypocritical enough to be truly regretful over what this could well do to Ramie.
She prayed that it wouldn’t be horrifying for her because that meant her parents were undergoing the same horror. She hoped with all her heart that they’d incurred no injury since they were essentially bargaining tools for a higher purpose.
Ari walked over to Ramie, standing back a short distance to give the other woman space. Then she held up the stuffed animals that had been lovingly cradled in her arms.
“These have been handled by both my parents for many years. Their imprint, aura, or whatever you want to call it, should be all over it, as well as mine. What do you need me to do? Is there any way I can help?”
When it looked as though Caleb would respond, Ramie silenced him with a mere look. His lips settled into a grim line but he sat back and remained quiet.
“I usually prefer to do this away from others,” Ramie said softly. “It can be bad. Horrifying even. But in this case, I think everyone needs to be present. Sometimes I say things that come from the victims, things I don’t always remember. Or perhaps there is an action that I mimic that you would recognize. The things I may say may make more sense to you than to anyone else. All I ask for is space. Don’t crowd me. And above all else, do not interfere in any way, no matter what happens. It can be very dangerous to me if anyone does anything other than observe.”
Ari nodded vigorously. “Whatever you want. Whatever you need. I won’t interfere. I swear.”
Ramie looked to the others, her gaze bypassing Dane and Eliza as though they were well acquainted with the process, but it settled on Beau and then Zack, lingering as though she were gaining their promise as well.
“I’ll stay with Ari,” Beau said quietly.
Zack merely acknowledged Ramie’s request with a nod and then took position on the far side of the room where he had a clear line of sight and was still within hearing distance but was well enough away that there was no way he would be a nuisance.
Ramie took a deep breath. “Okay then. Please give the toys to Caleb. I prefer for him to be the one who gives them to me. Then back away to give me several feet of space, and again, remain completely silent and don’t do anything that could possibly distract me.”
Ari nervously held out the animals to Caleb, her hands shaking slightly, her gaze refusing to meet his.
To her surprise, Caleb didn’t merely pluck the animals from her grasp. Instead he curled his hand around hers and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I hate that I’ve made you afraid of me,” he said in a low, regret-filled tone. “I swear to you I’m not the person I showed you that day. I fully admit that I tend to get irrational when it comes to my wife.”
Ramie issued a snort that caused Caleb to shoot her a dark scowl. She merely laughed in response.
“I hope you’ll accept my apology, Ari. And for what it’s worth, I hope that Ramie will be able to help you find your parents.”
“Thank you,” Ari said sincerely. “I hope so too.”
He let go of her hand and she backed away several feet to give Ramie the space she’d requested. Beau’s arm immediately went around her for support, giving her shoulders a squeeze.
Ramie took a deep breath and then reached for the toys Caleb held in his hands. He slowly extended them, placing one in each of her hands at the exact same time. For a moment she simply stared down at them, and then her eyelids flickered erratically and when she reopened her eyes, it was an eerie thing indeed.
It was almost as if her eyes changed color. Her pupils were enormous and her stare was vacant as if she had no knowledge of her current surroundings. She immediately began to rock back and forth as if in great distress. Caleb looked as though it were killing him not to be able to pull his wife into his arms and comfort her. But he adhered to the “rules” and sat there, his jaw rigid.
“How can we do this?” Ramie asked, a tearful voice that wasn’t her own.
“How can we not,” she said, this time clearly speaking from a different person’s point of view.
“Look at her. She’s beautiful. So innocent. How can we simply abandon her?”
“Because we don’t have the means to protect her. Franklin Devereaux has promised to help us. He knows someone. Someone who can protect our baby. It’s our only choice to have a normal life. You know if they take her back, she’ll be treated like an animal. Caged, poked at, prodded, forced to do God only knows what. We can’t allow that to happen.”
At the mention of Franklin Devereaux both Caleb and Beau froze. They stared at one another, their eyes glittering. Beau had even dropped his arm from Ari, seeming to forget all about her for one brief moment.
“What did she say?” Caleb whispered in a choked voice.
Beau held a finger to his lips. He hadn’t wanted this to come out, damn it. Hadn’t wanted to give Caleb even more reason to despise or disdain Ari. He raked a hand through his hair, wishing to hell that that particular piece of information hadn’t come through Ramie’s connection. A connection that evidently extended beyond Ari’s adopted parents. But it made sense if the stuffed animals were left with Ari, items her birth parents had provided for her.
Then Ramie hunched over, shaking violently, her lips actually blue as though she were exposed to freezing temperatures.
“It’s so cold,” she said in the feminine voice of the first person she’d transmitted from. “What if she freezes to death? We can’t leave her here! What if they don’t even want her?”
“They’ll want her.” There was certainty in the voice Ramie now spoke in. “Franklin told me Ginger Rochester has suffered countless miscarriages and all evidence points to her being unable to have a child. Our daughter will be the blessing to them that she deserves. She’ll never want for anything. And most importantly, she’ll be safe.”
Ari let out a choked cry, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. She slid to her knees, her legs no longer able to bear her weight. She buried her face in her hands as the implications of what Ramie was experiencing—saying—hit her hard, denial sharp and instant. She shook her head irrationally, shutting out the voices. It was a mistake. It couldn’t be true. Ramie was wrong.
Beau sank down beside her, and though his face was a wreath of regret, he didn’t seem surprised. Even amid her confusion and heartbreak, that fact registered. Just how much had he kept from her?
He tried to comfort her, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his arms, but Ari fought him off, nearly hysterical. She didn’t want to be touched. Didn’t want to be comforted. There was no comfort, no salve, no bandage big enough to ever cover this wound.
“Goodbye, my love,” Ramie whispered. She mimicked holding an infant in her arms and kissing the air where a child’s head would be.
There was brief silence, though Ramie remained as if in a distant place, not here, lost in some other time, captive to the secrets the stuffed animals were relating.
“Oh dear God, Gavin! Someone left a baby out here to freeze?”
Ari went utterly motionless as Ramie’s voice changed once more to one that so eerily resembled her mother’s that it sent chill bumps racing over her entire body. Instant cold settled into her bones. Dread had invaded her heart as it was confirmed—through Ramie—that the unthinkable . . . was true. No. No! It couldn’t be. She was loved, not unwanted and abandoned by the people who’d given birth to her.
Ari’s entire life was a lie. She was well and truly alone. Adrift. Utterly lost.
She encased herself i
n an icy bubble, surrounding herself, hoping to shut out the truth. The reality. But she could still hear Ramie’s haunting voice, now her father’s.
“We’re leaving the country and we’ll be gone for a while.”
And then her mother’s again, only not her mother. “What are we going to do, Gavin?”
Ramie’s voice became gruff, just like when her father was serious, implacable. And decisive. “We’re going to do as we were asked and raise her as our daughter.”
Ramie went silent, her eyes flickering in rapid-fire succession as if processing at the speed of a computer. Her hands curled and uncurled in her lap as if in agitation. She was clearly not here, still firmly ensconced in the past. But what about the present?
Not matter that Ari’s entire world had been turned upside down in the space of a few minutes, she still loved her . . . parents. Or whoever they were. She wanted them safe now more than ever because she wanted answers. She wanted the truth! A truth she should have been given when she reached an age where she would be able to understand. And coming from her adoptive parents, the information wouldn’t have been so shocking because she could have been privy to their motives. Whether they truly wanted her or if they just couldn’t bear the thought of an orphan child being taken into child protective services and shuffled through the system, never truly having a stable home and people she could rely on.
She needed that reassurance and it could only come from them. No one else. If she’d been desperate to save them before, that desperation had multiplied tenfold. Because if they died before she could have answers to the questions that swirled in her mind at supersonic speed, making her dizzy and light-headed, her life would forever be incomplete. An important part of herself would always be out of reach. How could she expect Beau to accept her when even she didn’t know who she was anymore?
She’d been fully aware that her father hadn’t always been on the straight and narrow, that he had a murky, questionable past, but that when her mother swept into his life, his future had been irrevocably altered and he’d made a concerted effort to be the man she deserved.