Confessions After Dark (26 page)

He hated that he had to go to this extreme ruse to make sure Swanson believed he left town. Alex’s voice was low. “This is going to be a fucking long three hours.”

“It’s necessary, sir.” Bancroft studied his boss as he looked out the window, noting his jaw muscles flexing.

“I know, but it would be easier to just run through O’Hare—in one terminal and out another.”

“They’ll be watching. We have to solidify the illusion.”

“But flying to Milwaukee and driving back… I don’t want to be out of town that long.”

“Sorry to remind you, sir, but this was your plan.”

“I realize that, but I don’t have to like it.” Alex scowled at having the obvious pointed out, and Bancroft thought better of expounding on the matter. “It might not even work. It’s probable Swanson would realize that I’d never leave Angel vulnerable, no matter what my obligations might be.”

“Forgive me, Mr. Avery, but Dr. Hemming… has become much more than a… pleasant distraction, am I right?”

Alex’s brow raised in introspection. “She’s always been more than that.”

“Cole just texted that she is with your sister at Paddy O’s for lunch.”

“Great. That’s just what I need, two of them to worry about. Christ!”

Alex’s mind raced. What was she doing with Allison? The benefit was in a few weeks, but he thought the details were ironed out. Angel didn’t mention anything, nor, for that matter, had Allison. Alex pulled out his phone and banged out a text message.

Bancroft lifted an eyebrow. “We did tell Dr. Hemming to go about business as usual.”

Alex’s hand raked through his hair. “Yes, I know. Even if I told her to lay low, she wouldn’t respect my wishes.”

Bancroft smiled. “She seems very strong-willed.”

“That’s one way to put it. You’re insanely diplomatic, Bancroft.” Alex chuckled and shook his head.

*****

So Alex was Ally Franklin’s brother.
Allison
Franklin.

Angel turned on the television and fell onto her sofa with her laptop and an armful of files. She needed to work, but confusion clouded her mind and her heart was heavy. Should she believe that the world really was as fucking small as Ally had insisted, or had Alex deliberately deceived her?

Ally was adamant that neither she nor Alex was even aware that the other knew her. So, why hadn’t he mentioned it when he figured it out? Angel sighed, wondering if either he or his sister would have spilled the beans if Angel hadn’t shared her own desire to surprise Alex with her performance with Archangel at the benefit. In the face of Angel’s giddiness at finally admitting that they were indeed a couple, Ally had sobered and grabbed her hand.

“Angel, I need to tell you something…”

Ugh!
she thought as she replayed that part of the conversation in her mind. “He should have told me, Ally. Or is it Allison?” she’d asked angrily.

“Allison is my given name. My husband and some of my friends call me Ally, but to my family, I’ve always been Allison.” She flushed as Angel pulled her hand away. “Please, Angel. Don’t let something so silly come between you. Alex… cares about you very much.”

Angel looked at Allison with wide eyes, over their half-eaten lunch, as her heart began to beat a little too quickly when the hot rush of embarrassment flooded her skin. She was unable to let her heart miss those last words. “Then, he should have told me. He knew I was helping with the benefit.”

“Did he mention his philanthropic sister?”

“Yes, but he didn’t say anything specific.”

Ally threw her hands in the air. “Because he doesn’t care what it is specifically; he just throws money at me whenever I ask for it! Please don’t overreact. Alex and I haven’t talked that much lately. He’s so busy; he rarely shows up at family gatherings. I nagged him about the reason he’s blowing us all off and he told me he was seeing someone. You.”

It sounded reasonable, but it still bothered her that Alex hadn’t mentioned it himself. They’d gotten so close, and doubt dug into her at the prospect of any lies or disillusionment between them. She was already teetering on the edge of insanity.

When Alex left her place in the morning, after he’d had a clean change of clothes sent over like it was an everyday occurrence, she’d missed him so much she ached. Not just because it was unclear when they’d be able to be together again but because love filled her up to bursting. Angel desperately wanted to believe his simple statement.
“This thing between us… it’s real, okay?”

His ringtone screamed on her phone, which was never far from her. As she put it to her ear, her chin jutted out involuntarily. “Hello?”

“Hey,” Alex said and Angel closed her eyes. That damn voice! “Are you in for the night? I’d love to chat online later.”

“I’m sort of busy.”

“Angel, Allison said she told you she’s my sister.”

“Yes, I guess I’m the only one left in the dark.”

“Is it really that big a deal? Despite the fact I feel like I’ve known you forever, there are still so many things to learn about each other. I wasn’t thinking about Allison; I was concentrating on you.”

“Stop trying to sweet-talk me. I’m upset with you.”

“Yes, I hear it in your voice, but get over it. This exact conversation is why I didn’t tell you. I knew you’d question my motives. You don’t trust me enough, and it pisses me off!”

“I trusted you with everything!” she spat back.

“Not in the beginning. It didn’t come up, and when I found out you were working with Allison, it was just when we were making progress. Call me crazy, but I didn’t want to fuck it up.”

“All you had to do was tell me.”

“I know. I should have mentioned it. I don’t want to fight, Angel. We can’t have make-up sex since I’m
gone
.”

Angel bit her lip as a smile worked its way, unwillingly, across her face. “Shut up.”

“I will if you will.”

She laughed despite herself. “It’s not fair. I can’t stay mad at you.”

“Thank God,” he said, his voice laced with amusement. “I miss you already.”

“Me, too,” she agreed.

“It sucks as bad as I knew it would.”

Happiness washed over her and she giggled. “Are you… um, I mean, did you reach your destination safely?” They’d agreed not to say anything too telling on the phone since cell phones were easily monitored.

“Yes. I’m here.” He was telling her that he was safely ensconced in the apartment Cole had in the building; the ruse of leaving town was fully played out by taking the private jet out and changing the flight plan mid-flight, land in Milwaukee, and then take a car back without being discovered. “It was a looonnnngg freaking day.”

“Poor baby.”

Alex laughed. “Sorry you have to work tonight, babe, but get to a place where you have some time and I’ll be waiting to speak to you. Bye, sweetheart.”

Angel’s computer’s instant message chimed a second after the phone call ended.

Moneytalks
Hi, baby.

AngelWings
Hey. Are you with Cole?

Moneytalks
Unfortunately. He’s in the other room shoving a whole pizza down his throat. Say something. I can hear you on these monitors Cole rigged up.

AngelWings
Nope. I only give as good as I get.

Moneytalks
LOL. Don’t I know it! But I reeeaallly want to hear your voice.

AngelWings
Well, I want world peace and zero unemployment. Did Cole cave on where I was last night?

Moneytalks
No. You were right. He wouldn’t budge.

AngelWings
Told ya. How’d it today go? Did Swanson bite?

Moneytalks
He was seething, but I’m not sure it was enough.

AngelWings
I hope so.

Moneytalks
I’d rather that bastard just slink off and disappear.

AngelWings
I was worried about you.

Moneytalks
Well, I was worried about YOU. And then Cole texted you were with Allison, which only compounded things. What did you tell her?

AngelWings
Nothing! I was afraid someone would be listening, and she doesn’t know about this, right?

Moneytalks
I didn’t tell her.

AngelWings
I almost spilled after I found out who she was.

Moneytalks
Angel, I would’ve told you she was my sister if I thought it was an issue, but I didn’t think you and Allison were friends. All I knew was that she contacted you about booking your boyfriend for her benefit. Allison rambles on so much; I tune most of it out.

AngelWings
Kyle is not my boyfriend.

Moneytalks
Whatever.

AngelWings
Whatever = f**k off, remember? ☺ And stop rolling your eyes.

Moneytalks
LOL! Are you naked? Thanks for the visual this morning, btw.

AngelWings
Not completely. Is that all you think about?

Moneytalks
Guilty. How naked?

AngelWings
LOL

Moneytalks
What about you? Don’t you think about us like that?

AngelWings
I’ll never tell. ☺

Moneytalks
You don’t have to. Say something. I want to hear your voice.

Angel contemplated torturing him some more, but decided against it. “Cole, can you please excuse us?” she asked into the air. “I mean, give Alex some privacy with these monitors?”

AngelWings
Make sure he leaves the room and can’t hear me.

Moneytalks
Okay. He’s going.

AngelWings
Is he gone?

Moneytalks
Yes.

Angel took a deep breath and set her computer on the ottoman in front of her. The lights in her apartment were low, and she curled into a ball with her arm under her head. She swallowed, her throat suddenly tightening. Her computer chimed again. She didn’t need to read it to know Alex was impatient.

“Okay, here goes. I was so worried today. I hate that sick bastard, and I know what he’s capable of. I… uhm…” She cleared her throat. “Oh, God. Imagine me at a loss for words?”

The computer remained conspicuously silent as Alex waited to hear her words.

“You…
terrify me
, Alex. You’re everything a woman could want, and I’m not blind or stupid. I’ve seen how hurt women get by trusting men with everything to offer, when they have absolutely no intention of offering it. I’ve been hurt before, dealt with an unfaithful man. You can Kyle are different in so many ways, but similar in that a lot of women want you. You—even more so than him. You have the power to hurt me, even more, if that makes sense?”

She waited, mostly to try to control the trembling in her voice. Her computer piped up.

Moneytalks
I understand.

“Well, I didn’t want to risk a broken heart, especially when you told me that you didn’t believe in love. But, despite what I went through with Kyle, I do believe in it. I believe in the kind of love that leaves you breathless, aching, and feeling like you’re flying and dying all at the same time. I knew tif I let myself enjoy being with you, I’d probably get hurt. So I tried not to care, and um… I tried to be the man. You know what I mean—have sex without emotion. That’s what I wanted.”

By now her eyes were flooded, emotion ached in her voice, and her fingers tugged at the pillow near her head. She glanced at the screen as it blurred before her eyes, but no answer was forthcoming.

“Then all the shit with Mark Swanson happened. I’ve never been one to lean on anyone because there never has been anyone to lean on, except my dad. I never meant to turn into a hard bitch that wouldn’t let anyone in, but it’s just been a circumstance of my life. I don’t know why it’s so much easier to tell you this when you’re not in the same room.”

Moneytalks
I’m having a hell of a time not coming up there right now.

“Yes, well, just let me get it out. Swanson threatened me, but also you. The break-in at your house while I was there with Max scared the hell out of me, and by then, I was already in too deep and didn’t want you hurt. It just gave me another reason to push you away, and I needed one. I’m sorry.” The computer chimed.

Moneytalks
It’s okay, baby.

Angel closed her eyes, pushing the tears that hovered to tumble silently down her cheeks. “No. You didn’t deserve it. You’ve been nothing but wonderful to me. You didn’t deserve my doubt or my stupid preconceived notions. You’re so much more than I thought you’d be. You’re a really good person, and you’ve been more than I deserved.”

She drew in a shaky breath, begging her voice not to crack. “And, Alex, I really do care about you. I can’t fight it anymore, even knowing you’ll probably break my heart in the end. No matter what my head says, I can’t stop it. Which is really what has had me scared.”

Silence boomed around her as she waited for the computer to sing out Alex’s answer, and her heart pounded, pushing the blood to visibly throb at her pulse points. She bit her lip, holding back the sob that threatened at his lack of response.

Finally, it came.

Moneytalks
You overwhelm me, Angel. I wish you’d told me this in person so I could touch you and make love to you … to show you how much you’ve come to mean to me. I’m crazy about you.
Fucking insane
.

Angel smiled tremulously as she brushed a tear away. He didn’t say he loved her, but it was close.

13
Pounce

Alex paced back and forth in the surveillance apartment. He felt like a caged tiger, starving and helpless: what he craved most was just out of his reach. His work was suffering despite the daily calls and meetings via Skype. And, he was driving Cole crazy. Bancroft and one of the others were following Angel, and the time it took for them to travel from her office until she was safely ensconced within the building felt like forever. Cole could come and go, but the illusion they’d built for Swanson’s benefit demanded that Alex stay inside the stark space.

“I can’t stand much more of this!” Alex picked up one of Cole’s free weights and lifted it over and over. “I could throw this fucking thing through a wall!”

“Alex, man, you have to chill. This has to stop.” Cole watched his brother rub the back of his neck, agitation painted across his features. “Why don’t you go to Mom and Dad’s? Spend some time with them and see Max.”