Authors: A Lexy Beck
I opened my eyes and looked around the dimly lit room. I wasn’t sure how long I had been there—wherever there was—or how far we had traveled, but only faint light from the fading sunset provided light from the gap between the musty curtains. I guessed it had to have been at least eight-thirty. I could hear Dylan talking in a hushed whisper to someone on the phone.
“I have no clue why you want him…Just be warned…I’m taking him down too. She’s waking up, I’ve got to go…good luck with everything…and goodbye.”
Dylan sat across from me in disgusting green chair, made even uglier with the clash of sunlight hitting it from the window. “Have a nice nap?” Dylan took a swig from his brown beer bottle and stood.
“No… Water, please?” I croaked. My mouth was dry and arms and shoulders were numb form being suspended above my head in the ties.
“Sure, and then we need to get going. We have a long trip ahead of us.” Dylan held the water, now room temperature, up to my mouth as I took in as much as I could handle. “Thank you.”
“Jennifer, we can do this the hard way, or easy way. If you promise to cooperate I’ll cut you loose.” Dylan reached in his pocket and pulled out a small, sharp knife.
“I promise, please.” My arms tingled and I barely had the strength to move, let alone fight.
Dylan slashed the tie from my left arm and it crashed to the bed. The blood began to fill my limb again and I whimpered as pins and needles accompanied the slowly returning feeling. The numbness subsided. He straddled my body, his groin just below my breasts, as he reached up to free my right arm. Instinctively I pulled and thrashed and was met with a smack across the face. “You promised, Jennifer, let’s not make this difficult.”
A tear beaded up in my left eye and I slowly reached up to wipe it away. A flash of pain shot through it and spots moved across my peripheral vision. I looked up at Dylan, still straddling and controlling me, and caught another black spot moving to my left.
The door came crashing in, slamming into the wall behind it, and six police officers clamored into the room. Dylan jumped from the bed in a defensive stance, but it was too late. Wires from the Taser connected Dylan to the first responding officer, and Dylan fell to the floor twitching. He was quickly cuffed and lifted, groaning, onto the adjacent bed.
The officer took his utility knife and freed my tied arm. Tears streaked down my face as I was led from the motel room.
“Come on, let’s get you outside in the fresh air. The medics are on their way.” The officer picked me up and carried me outside. It was cool and dark, but the stars hung heavily in the sky. “Let’s put her here until the ambulance gets here.”
“Jennifer? Stay with me, okay? You are going to be alright. Hold on, I’ll get you a blanket.” He closed the door and left me in the car, listening to the police radio chatter.
I sat, shivering, in the back of the police car. My long hair was matted, hanging in strands across my shoulders. The only warm parts of my body were my cheeks, where hot tears slid down my face in an unstoppable stream. The blue lights of the many police cars flashed, washing the motel in a strange and disturbing light. The motel guests gathered around, huddled in doorways, to watch the spectacle unfolding in front of them. Feeling a blur of confusion and anger, I watched as Dylan was pulled, handcuffed, to another waiting police car.
As I sat there, I experienced an eerie flashback to how it all started, so many years ago. I saw my father walking toward me, his spiky gray hair blowing gently in the breeze. His face looked grim, but not angry as it had once before, long ago. Instead he wore a look of relief. He reached and opened the police car door, helping me out. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”
“No, Dad. I promise I’m Ok. Just a little dizzy.” He patted my hand and stepped away. I started to panic, I didn’t want him to go, but then I saw why he moved.
Cain’s eyes met mine and he practically ran to me and drew me into a crushing embrace. “Thank God, Jennifer. I didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s Ok, I’m fine now. It’s really over.” I buried my face in Cain’s chest and just held him, my eyes closed.
“Ms. Dunning?” The officer approached with his hand extended. “This was smart thinking, here you are.” He handed me my phone and smiled.
“Thank you.” I glanced down at the phone; the screen glowed with the notification of a new, unread text message from an unknown number. I dropped the phone in my pocket and squeezed Cain harder.
I snuggled closer to Cain and tried to block out the rising sun coming through the windows of his large master bedroom. The snow that covered the ground outside amplified the glare of the sunlight. I remembered the first time I had awakened in this bed and smiled; I remembered the first time I was
in
this bed. So many months ago. Cain’s house had always seemed like a retreat, but it had become a second home to me.
I kissed his neck and rolled away as I placed my feet on the heated marble floors of his amazing home. I grabbed my silk robe from the nearby chair and made my way to the kitchen. Cecilia, the housekeeper, had come in earlier to prepare the house for the party tonight, a celebration. She had made a jump start on coffee and breakfast, as well.
“Buenas
d
í
as, Miss Jennifer!” Her always cheerful smile was a welcome way to wake up.
“Good morning, Cecilia.”
I sat briefly at the breakfast bar and grabbed The Times, still cold from sitting outside in the snow. The front page brought a smile to my face as looked at the courtroom artist’s sketch of Dylan, sitting at the defense table and Cain in the witness stand, his chiseled good looks diminished to a few scribbles of colored pencil.
“Does my hair really look that bad?” Cain laughed as he kissed the back of my neck and read the headline over my shoulder,
“Rogers Guilty of Bennett Murder.”
“Only when you wake up.” I laughed.
My phone rang with a call from Dad and I smiled. “Morning, Dad… Yes, I’m looking at it right now.” Cain massaged my shoulders as he helped himself to a sip of my coffee. “Yes, I’ll be back at the office on Monday. Are you coming to the party tonight?”
Cain whispered in my other ear. “Tell him, tell him.”
“Ok, Ok…” I pushed Cain away jokingly. “Oh, Dad? Cain said you should bring Cynthia.”
Dad paused and finally responded with, “Ok.”
I hung up the phone and turned to hug Cain. “Are you ready for tonight? Are you excited?” I looked up at his messy hair, which actually did resemble the artist’s sketch.
“I am. Are you?”
“I am.” Cain kissed me gently and grabbed my hand. “Cecilia, we’re headed back to bed for a bit, we’ll grab breakfast a bit later.”
“Ok, Mr. Cain.” Cecilia smiled as she watched us walk back to the bedroom, hand in hand.
The End – Unspoken
Read on for a sneak preview of Unseen
Coming October 2014 – Unseen – The Sneak Preview Chapter
It was past noon by the time Cain and I awakened for the second time that day. The breakfast tray Cecilia, Cain’s housekeeper, brought us sat cocked on the floor, on top of my crumpled robe. It was nice to be free of stress, or at least the amount of stress we had been accustomed to over the last six months. Things had changed quite a bit since I started working with my dad’s firm, Dunning, Durst and Chandler.
“Morning
again,
gorgeous!” Cain lifted his overly rested head from the pillow and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “It’s been a long while since I’ve been this lazy.”
“Same here, but it feels…” I searched for the right word to describe what I was really feeling. “Comfortable.” I smiled at Cain and ran my fingers across the ripples in his perfectly sculpted abs. I traced them up to the valley between his defined pecs and finally let me finger come to rest on his full lips. He kissed it.
Cain grabbed my hand and rolled me over from my side to my back, pinning me beneath him. He held my one hand above my head as he kissed the crook of my neck with his gentle, smiling mouth. I giggled and turned my head away, trying to wriggle free of his grip.
A morning wrestling match as the second start to our day.
Earlier that morning was just a dream; I remembered reading the headline of The Times. Dylan Rogers, Cain’s former business partner and close confidant, was found guilty of murder, amongst a whole host of other crimes, including abducting me.
“Oh no you don’t!” I pushed up my leg, throwing Cain off of me, and rolled on top of him to take the dominant position. He let me pin him as I sank my teeth into his bottom lip, and then sucked on it. I pulled back and smiled. “We should get going. Only eight hours before we have a house full of guests.”
“I know, but the caterers and staff will handle all the details, we just have to be there and look pretty, which won’t be difficult for you. Me on the other hand…”
“You, on the other hand, will be as dashing and charismatic as ever, without even trying.” I laughed and then grew quiet. “I’m excited for Reese. I’m going to miss him, but I’m happy he’s finally going to retire. I really appreciate you throwing this party for him.”
“It’s the least I could do. He really saved my butt, as did you and your dad. I can say I’m a very lucky man to have such great company…and friends.”
“…and a girlfriend.” I laughed as I jumped off of Cain and headed to the shower.
The plans for the party came together perfectly throughout the day and as the sun set over the snowy hills next to the river, Cain and I enjoyed a glass of wine. The younger interns and junior partners were the first to show up. I had gotten to know some of them over the last few months, but I preferred to spend my time with Cain. When I wasn’t with him, I was with my friend Aimee, who had impeccable timing.
“Mr. Parker, Ms. Dunning.” Aimee gave her best royal accent as she entered the large marbled foyer of Cain’s mansion, her new man in tow. She was quick to introduce him. “Cain, Jennifer, this is Carter.”
As Carter reached in to shake Cain’s hand, I shot Aimee the “He’s such a hunk” face and quickly greeted him as well. Guests began filing into the foyer. “We’ll catch up with you both in a few minutes. I’m on welcoming duty right now.” I smiled and gave them both a wink.
Before long, Cain’s house was filled with over a hundred and fifty people, mostly associates from the firm and their significant others, and a few friends from Reese’s past on the police force.
Dad joined the party and escorted Cynthia, his long-time assistant, to the party; I couldn’t help but smile. Their secret relationship had been hot gossip in the office for a long time and I know it took a lot of courage for them to show up at a firm event together.
“Dad, Cynthia,” I gave them both a hug and kiss. Cain joined us in the pleasantries.
“Amazing house you have here, Cain. You’ve done very well for yourself.” Dad looked around, taking it all in. “If you don’t mind, I know this is your home, but I would very much like to lead a toast and say a few words—after your introduction, of course.”
“No, by all means, sir, please go ahead.”
Dad clinked his glass a few times and the sentiment was echoed through out the party as the crowd fell silent. “Reese, will you join me in the center of the room for a moment?”
“Oh, jeeze. Really Jack? You have to make a spectacle of me?” Reese laughed as he made his way to the center of the room.
“Jennifer, you and Cain too, please…” Dad ushered us closer to the center. “Thank you all for coming. As my partners are all too willing to admit, I’m the loudest and most opinionated in the firm, so both John Durst and Donald Chandler nominated me to give this little speech.” Dad held up his glass and acknowledged both Durst and Chandler, standing with a small group of people.
“You haven’t proven us wrong yet, Jack” laughed Durst.
Dad continued with his speech. “I’d first like to thank Cain Parker, for hosting this cozy little get together in his home. I apologize if you’re feeling a little cramped in here, everyone.” Dad laughed to himself and was joined by the rest of the group, standing comfortably in the enormous living room. “Reese has been a part of our family for over twenty-five years, and in my opinion, he is way too young to retire. It’s going to be impossible to fill his shoes, and honestly, we’ve all agreed, we aren’t even going to try. He keeps telling me he’s looking forward to spending his time fishing, but I don’t believe that for a minute.”
I wondered where Dad was heading with this speech. While his sense of humor was dry, he wasn’t one to put on long, detailed, pointless speeches.
“John, Donald and myself realize that the investigative unit of DDC is special. We’ve noticed that even more in the last six months. It’s the reason why we’ve decided that, upon Reese’s retirement in the next few weeks, we will be closing up the investigative unit.” Dad deliberately avoided making eye contact with me as a hush of whispers rushed through the crowd.
I looked at Cain. I could feel my face getting redder and I wanted to run. I had trusted my father and taken a leap of faith when I decided to stay on with the firm, and I had been met with yet another disappointment from him. I had thought things had changed. Cain gently squeezed my hand and smiled at me.
“The unit we have—had—was special, and I—we—felt that it may allow our firm to be exposed a bit more than we needed to be. It’s one of the many reasons why we will be closing the unit down.”
I couldn’t help myself as I looked at my father, delivering his pompous speech about all the things he felt. “But Dad…”
Our eyes met and he elevated his voice over mine. “And there are many reasons why we will be moving the firm ahead in so many different ways. I’m pleased to announce that, with John and Donald’s blessing, we will be opening a new firm, Dunning and Associates. A firm specializing in investigations, jury selection and profiling. I’m also very proud to announce two very big things. First, I’ve convinced Reese to only retire part-time.”
“Ha... that was the shortest retirement in history!” chimed in Reese. The crowd laughed and clapped at the news.
“Reese will be doing the exact same thing he had been, only in a more consultative role. We’ll call it part-time work. The second part to this story is that my daughter, Jennifer Dunning, will be taking over the reigns of Dunning and Associates.” Dad smiled proudly as he extended his arm to me to give me a hug.
Tears filled my eyes and I tried to maintain my composure as much as possible. I looked up at him, matching tearing blue eyes to tearing blue eyes. “Thank you!”
“So, ladies and gentleman, again congratulations to Reese on his retirement and his rehiring, and to Jennifer, and Dunning and Associates.” Dad raised his glass to the group. “Cheers!”
“Cheers!” echoed throughout the room as glasses clinked together.
“Why didn’t you say something to me about this?” I was partially mad and very overwhelmed.
“I wanted it to be a surprise, and I needed to make sure everything was going to work out. With Reese, the firm, us.” Dad smiled and kissed me on the top of the head. “Now, go and enjoy the party. Monday will be here before you know it and work is already piling up.”
I gave Dad a quick hug and ducked off into the party to find Aimee and Carter. We had a lot of catching up to do.