Branded (Strand Brothers Series Book 1) (32 page)

I made my escape cautiously. The fog matched my mood as I walked along the deserted street. I eventually found a cab, making my way to the airport. There was only one place I could go where no one would know to look for me. And I had every intention of staying there until I could face life
without
Nik. Because that much was clear, I couldn’t compete with a ghost, nor did I want to try anymore. I was done. No matter how much it broke my heart; I wouldn’t be second best. Even if that meant being alone for the rest of my life.

So.

Be.

It.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Nik

The hardest thing I had ever done in my life was say a final goodbye to Rachel. As the tears rolled down my face, a sob broke through. Though I knew it was time—well past time, actually—it still tore me up. I relived every moment I had ever shared with her. All the way to the untimely end I had brought about, which was the very reason why I still couldn’t explain the tattoo over my heart. On cue the spot began to ache, and I rubbed it profusely. The knowledge that it was time to bare my soul to Aimee didn’t make any of this easier. Really, who wanted to hear their spouse was a killer? Hell, I sure wouldn’t. Why would Aimee be any different? Yet through the avalanche of those uncontrolled emotions, I could hear Rachel’s last words: “I love you, Niky.” All the while the damned song “Please Remember Me” played, loud and clear, on the radio that fateful night. How did the song mysteriously come out of that busted radio? I would probably never know the answer to that.

Fact was, rehashing all the could’ves, would’ves, and should’ves, wasn’t going to bring her back. Although it pained me to say that, I wasn’t sure it was what I wanted. Please, don’t misunderstand me. I would give anything to have Rachel and my daughter alive and well. It wasn’t that. What I meant was, my feelings for Aimee ran deeper. Wider. More all-consuming. Did I feel like shit for admitting that? Hell yeah, I did. But it didn’t change the facts: I loved Rachel. But I love Aimee more.

Now it was time she knew that. Rachel was my past, and a part of me would always love her. But Aimee was my present, my future. I would tell her everything about me, and I’d start with the damned tattoo. After I put my guitar aside, I went over to the wet bar and grabbed a towel to dry my face.
I’m sure I look like hell.
There, I decided a little liquid courage couldn’t hurt. I finally got my shit together and headed back to our bedroom.
Don’t you dare wimp out here. Man up. No pussyfooting it, either.

Before I opened the door, I took a deep breath. Huh, it was strange she wasn’t in bed. I peeked in the bathroom—no Aimee. What the fuck? A chill ran down my spine as I cautiously approached the walk-in closet. Shit! Some of her things were missing. I went back to the bathroom and inspected it closer. Yep, her stuff was definitely gone. My fist went through the wall before I marched out of the bedroom.

Over and over I yelled her name; as I threw open every door. Wait, was that music I heard? What the hell? I knocked before I entered, just in case I had blown this out of proportion. No. Such. Luck. The song “Who You Are” was playing on a loop. With a beastly roar—I didn’t recognize—I began to destroy the room and everything in it. In a haze of rage, I almost missed the letter lying on the pillow. I ran both hands through my hair, pulling at it profusely, until I found some kind of control. Barely. Ticking time bomb was an accurate description of how I felt at that moment.

I fell onto the edge of the bed and grasped the neatly folded piece of paper with my name written in beautiful script. For a minute, I simply traced over her handwriting. Scared shitless of what I was about to read, yet I knew I had to. I would’ve paid an enormous amount of money to not read her words to me. Though being a pussy was never something I had ever been before. No sense starting now!

My dearest Nikko,

First and foremost, you need to know how much I love you. More than I ever thought possible. You are my everything. Which is why, this is much harder than it should be.

I don’t understand your reticence towards me. Maybe you’re like that with everyone. Though it appears you’re not with your brothers. Could be I’ve misread that. Still, your reaction tonight was abhorable. I realize that sounds a bit cruel, but dammit, it’s how I feel. I thought your body was mine? Just like my body is yours. I guess I misunderstood that.

Once I calmed down and slept on things, I realized I didn’t want to be without you. So, I came looking for you. But what I saw and heard sealed the deal. Your tribute to Rachel was beautiful. I wish you could feel that way about me. It’s obvious you still love her very much. FTR, I never wanted you to stop loving her. I just thought you had room for me, too. Again, I suppose, that was just my wishful thinking.

Here’s the thing, Nik. I thought I could play second fiddle. I really did. But I can’t. That’s not your fault. I don’t blame you. You need to know, I didn’t leave because I’m angry. I left ‘cause no matter how much I love you, I can’t take the backseat to another woman. I’m truly sorry. I thought I could.

I won’t compete with a ghost.

I wish you well. I hope you find happiness.

With all my heart,

Aimee

As I shook my head and moaned out my sorrow, the words to the song caught my attention: it was all about not feeling or healing until you found yourself. Well, hell, didn’t that just about sum me up?! Oh, she was good. I would give her that. Problem was, I had finally figured it out. While she was up here writing this blasted letter to me, I had come to terms with everything, everyone, myself and her. I slammed my fist down to shut the fucking iPod up, and then I strode downstairs.

She.

Wasn’t.

Leaving.

Me.

Come hell or high water, I would find her.

When I walked into the lower level hallway, I banged on Ray’s door. I would give him credit, he never batted an eye as he opened the door and said, “What’s wrong, sir?”

Thank God, someone had presence of mind. I howled, “Aimee’s gone.”

He quirked an eyebrow. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

I swear, at that moment, I could’ve hit the guy. “I think you heard me loud and clear.”

“I-I meant, I have twenty-four hour surveillance outside of the mansion,” he stammered. “I don’t understand how she slipped by my guys?”

“Well, neither do I. But she has.”

He grabbed his radio to double-check with the security team. Sure enough, James confirmed, “I had her, sir. Then somehow she gave me the slip.”

“Fuuuuuuck,” Ray growled back.

Yep, my sentiments exactly! My brows rose at him. “See.” The “I told you so” left unspoken,
for now.

*****

The next few hours were spent gathering any intel possible on Aimee’s whereabouts. We still hadn’t come up with jack when my brothers entered the stressful scene. They knew me well, and didn’t mince words.

“What’ve you got so far?” Alex inquired.

“Nada. Zilch. Nothing whatsoever. It’s as if she fell off the face of the earth.”

E, in his general sarcastic tone, fired off, “Maybe she snuck through a portal and is now in another realm.”

I threw the glass I was holding right at his head. Luckily, he had the reflexes to lean away from the flying object. While that pissed me off at the time, later on, I was damned grateful I hadn’t hurt my baby brother.

Alex, being the forever peacemaker, stepped between us. First, he scolded E: “That, bro, was uncalled for. And you know it.” He then turned to me. “Second, Nik, what the hell were you thinking? You could’ve killed him if that had struck just right.” We both received a stern look that was so much like our mother’s I paused. He continued, “Now, you two, cut the crap. We have a wife to find.” He used his utmost lawyer voice.

Bastard had a point. Not that I would tell him so. Hell, no. Never admit defeat had been my motto for years. And the reason I was successful at business. Although I concede—at least to myself—it didn’t work very well in a marriage. I ran my hand through my hair, and then extended it out to E. “I’m sorry, man. Tension’s a bit high right now.”

“Yeah, I get that. I apologize, Nik. I really don’t mean to be a dick.”

Alex messed up his hair. “We know you don’t. You just can’t help yourself.”

Without heat he growled, “Up yours.”

After a few more moments of my brothers banter, we got down to the nitty-gritty. “Here’s what we know so far,” I informed them. There really wasn’t squat to go by. We had no idea where she went. No trace that Aimee had rented a car, bought a plane or train ticket.

Alex piped up, “So, we’re back to square one.”

“Unless I’ve missed something here,” I countered as I laid out all the documentation and surveillance photos we had of her.

E sighed, “What a clusterfuck.”

I began to pace as I responded, “Yeah, it is.”

“And then some,” Alex added.

With a fine tooth comb, we went through every single thing we had. And still we had no direction on her whereabouts. Frustrated, I spat out, “Damn it all!”

That was when the door flew open with no preamble. Ray strode in purposely and threw a manila envelope down on the desk. “We may have something,” he said implacably.

I motioned for him to continue.

“A ticket agent at the airport thinks she recognized Aimee from a photo.”

Alex chimed in, “But?”

Ray nodded, “But the woman she saw had dark auburn hair.”

With no humor I chuckled, “Clever girl.”

E caught on fast. His gaze held mine as he stated, “She wore a wig.”

“Apparently.” Ray continued, “At least it looks like that’s what she did. Plus, she made the disguise complete with old clothes and no makeup.” He stroked his jaw. “She’s damn good, I’ll give her that.”

Alex queried, “Let me guess, she paid cash for the ticket?”

Ray confirmed, “Yep. Oh, and get this, she changed planes four times, yet we don’t have a destination.”

Before I could, E asked, “How’s that possible?”

“Simple,” Ray answered, “She didn’t continue on. From what we could gather from the airline, she didn’t board the flight in DFW.”

“Well, hell,” I snorted. “She could be anywhere.”

Ray confirmed, “Yes, sir.” Then, “There’s no record of her renting a car.”

Alex scrubbed a hand over his face. “She found another mode of transportation.”

That was when Ray dropped the bomb. “And altered her appearance, again.” He jabbed his finger at a security camera photo of Aimee in the getup she left San Fran in. Then another photo was of a very well-dressed woman walking away from the camera. She had dark brown hair styled in a sleek bob and wore dark sunglasses.

I swear the woman was going to be the death me! I snarled, “Get the plane ready, Ray.” Once he left the room, I made eye contact with both of my brothers. “Well, boys, looks like were goin’ hunting.”

E smirked, “In Texas, no less.”

Alex clapped me on the back. “Don’t worry, big brother. We’ll find her.”

I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and pointed out, “Hopefully before Reynolds finds out she’s unprotected.”

“Fuck a duck,” E growled, “I hadn’t even thought about that.”

Alex nodded, “Then we better get our asses in gear, gentlemen. Looks like the race is on.”

*****

Unfortunately, Texas was a bust. We were still no closer to finding Aimee than we were in California. We decided to regroup, rest, and get some food. Therefore, we called it a day around ten that night. Beyond any coherent thought, I fell onto the bed and passed out.

At the loud knock on the connecting door to the suite, I came to. I stumbled groggily to open it. Alex marched in with a scowl on his face. “Talk,” I commanded.

“We found one of Reynolds’s men,” he advised.

I growled, “Where?”

“St. Louis.”

E entered the room. How the hell did he get a key card? Crap, I really didn’t care at the moment. Alex continued, “You’ve spoken to her parents?”

“Yeah,” I answered exasperatedly. “I told you that already.”

E added, “What about Renée?”

I blew out a “yes.”

“All right, so no one she’s close to has heard from her, either,” Alex confirmed what we already knew.

“Correct,” I answered.

“So why St. Louis?” E inquired what I had been wondering myself.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” I conceded.

Alex walked over to the room phone. “Let’s get some coffee.”

I grabbed my cell phone. “I’ll get the plane readied for the next leg.”

E clasped my shoulder. “He won’t find her first,” he vowed.

When I glanced up into his intense eyes, I knew my brother would kill to make sure he kept his promise. Fact of the matter was, he’d have to get in line and take a number. Because if Caleb laid one finger on my wife’s beautiful head, I would tear him limb from limb. Not an exaggeration, I
would
do it—and never once regret it. I laid my hand over his. “Thanks for having my back, E.” Then I turned to Alex and said, “You, too.”

They both nodded in unison and answered, “Always.”

Not for the first time, I was eternally grateful for my brothers. They were always willing to lend a hand whenever I needed them. There was no doubt I could count on them no matter what the circumstances. How the hell did I repay them? I didn’t know, but what I did know was that I would, somehow, someway. That, I could guarantee.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Aimee

The tiny cabin had a spectacular view of the Lake of the Ozarks, not too far from Eldon, Missouri. My childhood memories were of Osage Beach at this same lake. No one knew I owned the little place. A purchase I had made about three years ago. I’d paid cash for it, and had asked the previous owner to keep the title in his family name for me. Of course there was some legal documentation locked in a safe place, but, for all intents and purposes, it didn’t appear to be mine. I had bought the cabin when I needed a time-out from a tough breakup with a man I
thought
I would marry. Ironic that it was now a breakup which had led me back here, once again. This time from the man I
did
marry. Life was full of surprises.