***
landing. Shepard remained next to me,
his arms wrapped possessively around
my waist. I was able to actually blink
and move my extremely parched tongue.
The others were turned to their computer
screens, talking into headsets. I lightly
rubbed Shepard’s hand under the blanket
to let him know I was coherent. He
squeezed back and remained still as we
held each other. Our quiet dance of
fingers against palms, tracing secret
messages to each other lasted until the
wheels hit the ground.
Claira came over to me and read
my vital signs. She went to place another
drug in my arm. I wasn’t sure if it was to
keep me knocked out or wake me up.
Regardless, I managed to mumble,
“Stop, I won’t fight you.”
“She’s awake.” Claira looked to
Shepard and winked. Knowing with him
there, I would be more docile and
cooperative, she backed away with the
syringe. I began to wonder if it was she
who convinced the Doc to bring Shepard
to wherever he was taking us.
Doc approached to remove my
restraints, yet Shepard warned him to
back away.
“I got this; don’t lay another hand
on her.” His fingers gently slid along the
belt to unfasten me, determined to be as
protective as possible. The Doc put his
hands up in surrender and gathered his
things. I caught Claira looking at us
affectionately, which made me feel more
comfortable.
“Hold on, Violet.” He dipped down
near my waist and lifted me over his
shoulder. Although it was far from the
most comfortable, I knew it was the only
way he could carry me off the plane
unassisted. Once down the stairway, he
slid my legs down around his waist, my
head resting on his shoulder.
A large van was waiting for us on
the air strip. One of the men who I
assumed was a guard of some sort
opened the back door where Shepard got
in and secured me in the middle seat next
to him. Little was said among the others
now that I was conscious. I grew curious
about Mr. Gladstone’s role. Claira I got,
Alessa never crossed my mind.
I leaned my head on Shepard’s
shoulder where he tilted over and kissed
the top. His thumb pressed deeply into
my palm, massaging little circles to give
me something to focus on. Multiple sets
of eyes watched closely, never before
witnessing us interact in such an intimate
manner. I didn’t know what to expect at
the end of this journey. Being so focused
on the end goal, I was blind to that
which was taking place in front of me. I
stopped being angry at what I thought
was going on, and meditated on what
was truly happening. My emotions were
distractions keeping me from the truth.
Alessa warned me.
“Stay alert, Violet. Distractions
will be your undoing.”
I was surrounded by people I cared
for, but didn’t trust. I was strong, but not
that strong. The task I had been given
was much bigger than one person could
do alone; I just never saw the whole
picture until now.
The final piece snapped into place.
I kept silent as the car continued
along in the dark. A half hour or so
passed before we pulled under the
floodlights of a large area. Mr.
Gladstone got out of the vehicle and told
everyone to wait for a moment. Claira
and the Doc exchanged glances before
he looked back towards us.
“I am sorry it had to go this way,
Violet. You understand.”
There was not an ounce of remorse
on his face. This was the plan the whole
time. He asked me to trust him and I did.
Feeling Shepard’s hand tighten around
mine, even he couldn’t stop my growing
fury at the betrayal.
The side doors opened and men
speaking French escorted us down a
long wooden dock. I was a bit steadier,
yet Shepard remained by my side, giving
me support. A gleaming white yacht
came into view, ready for departure with
a small crew scattered about in
preparations. A narrow ramp was
leading aboard the vessel. Gladstone
was waiting for us at the top, directing
everyone into the cabin, and then
signaling to the captain it was time to
leave. With the loud sound of the horn,
we were soon off into the moonless
night.
Chapter 39 -
Anchors Away
The cabin was a spacious area,
complete with a full kitchen, sunken
seating area and various other spots to
lounge. The long wooden table was
littered with laptops and technical
equipment wired together. Immediately,
several people were seated, firing
everything up, fingers flying rapidly as
they entered commands, double checking
for adequate connections. Shepard led
me to the plush seating area and pulled
me onto his lap and into his arms. The
morphine continued to swim in my veins,
leaving me exhausted. Claira came over
and sat next to us, patting me lovingly on
the leg. Alessa approached and sat down
as well to talk to me.
“I’m sorry I deceived you, Violet. I
had no choice, but I really do care about
you. You’re not just an assignment; you
are my friend. That was all real.”
I was pissed at Alessa. The others
were in my life on a professional
capacity; she was personal. But that was
the point. Everyone in my life was
assigned to be there. It started to make
me nauseous. Claira saw my face and
stood up.
“You will feel better in the
morning, I promise. Shepard, I want you
to follow me with her and lay her down.
I don’t want her getting sick. I can give
you something if you need it, Violet.”
I shook my head and curled back
into Shepard’s chest. He lifted me up
easily and trailed behind Claira towards
a back hallway. The Doc moved to
protest, but Claira lifted up her hand in a
visual warning. The short walk led us to
a spacious suite with a balcony. Claira
asked if she could get us anything.
Although Shepard said no, she continued
to wait by the door. I knew what she
wanted. Digging into my purse that she
had set on the table, I removed a slender
box masked as a powder compact and
popped the top off, handing her the hard
drive.
“What’s the code, Violet.” She
looked at the device as I had so many
times, feeling the invisible weight of
such a small object.
“Esperanza. Now please leave us
be,” I said quietly.
She nodded and backed out of the
doorway, gently closing it behind her. I
followed and turned the lock, breathing
out deeply while looking into Shepard’s
eyes.
He rose off the bed and approached
me, pulling me tightly into an embrace.
“There’s a big tub in here calling your
name right now.” He chuckled, knowing
exactly what I needed right then.
Entering the bathroom, I refused to
look in the mirror. I could only imagine
what a disaster my appearance was.
Shepard ran the water and stepped
closer to me, touching a delicate button
on my blouse. His nearness caused a
hitch in my breathing, making it shallow.
With nimble fingers, he unfastened each
pearlescent disk, then slid the fabric
down my arms. As he worked to remove
the rest of my clothing, I remembered
how much he enjoyed undressing me,
how each article revealed a new area of
skin for his eyes, hands and mouth to
devour. The thought that I still had this
effect on him warmed my soul. For a
week, I denied his touch, fearful of what
the emotional entanglements would
bring. Surely the loss of such a
connection again would be my undoing. I
was so close to the edge, a feather could
knock me over, never to return.
As he reached behind my back, his
mouth dipped into my neck. The moment
his lips made contact, I started to melt.
My skin began to sear underneath the
lazy kisses he trailed down to my
shoulder.
The bath was filling the room with
steam, enveloping us in moist warmth.
Beads of sweat started to form between
my breasts and along the ridge of my
upper lip. Between Shepard and the
heat, I became even more delirious. He
saw my eyelids start to droop and
quickly removed the rest of our clothing.
Picking me up and then lowering me into
the soothing water, he sat behind me and
pulled me against him so I could rest my
head on his chest. I wanted to fall
asleep, yet Shepard kept massaging my
shoulders and hips to keep me awake.
“Can we talk about what is going
on?” He approached the subject
cautiously, almost timid as to what the
response would be.
I nodded yes before breathing out
deeply. “You’re not here by accident,
Shepard, and neither am I. We were
chosen by David to fulfill a task. This
moment has been a long time in the
making.” I waited to see how he took
everything in. As I curled my neck
around to look at him, he appeared
confused.
“David?” he asked.
I nodded up and down. I closed my
eyes as more started to come together.
“Balashov is not who you think he is.
He’s Doc, my Doc. David Robertson.”
Scooting up slightly, I could feel
his heart start to pound harder.
“The Doc is dead, Violet.”
“No, he’s not. He’s on this boat. He
sent Claira to me after I got hurt to
intervene. The other man – his name is
Michael Gladstone. He’s the CEO of
Beacon Pharmaceuticals, and my boss.
The woman – her name is Alessa, and
she was my best friend. All of this is a
set up, we are just pawns.”
Shepard started to grow rigid
beneath me, ready for a fight. I flipped
quickly in the water to pin him beneath
me. He could throw me off in a second
without effort, but he held still, eyes
wild with confusion. I grabbed his face
and kissed him with everything inside of
me, willing this kiss to calm the beast in
him, I refused to let go.
He pulled away and looked pained.
I could see him start to retreat within.
“Were we real, Violet?”
His question pulled the air from my
lungs as the invisible knife sliced into
my gut. “Don’t you believe that?” I
couldn’t fathom that he even had to ask.
After everything that happened this
week, I was sure there was no doubt in
either of our minds.
There was no emotion in his eyes;
they were completely void. I felt the
ocean beneath us threaten to open up and
drag me to the very bottom. My biggest
nightmare was coming to fruition the
moment he opened his mouth.
“The bigger question is: Violet, do
you?”
I began to shake violently again.
My body was no longer able to handle
the stress my brain was under. “Please
God, no!” I don’t know if my scream
ever came out, because the world once
again went dark.
Chapter 40 -
Eleventh Hour
Shepard leaned next to me, gently
rocking my shoulders so I wouldn’t
startle. Lying in the soft bed, I didn’t
want to get up, because today could very
well be my last morning. I rolled over to
the other side and inhaled deeply into the
sheets where he had laid, capturing his
scent. It looked like I was being
reluctant, when reality was I was
carefully constructing every moment.
“I’m tired.”
Two simple words could not
express the energy it took to open my
eyes. It wasn’t a physical lethargy, but
an emotional and spiritual one, forged by
years of carrying an unimaginable
burden. I was ready to lay it down, and
today I would find the reprieve I craved