It was nearly nine when she picked up her phone to make her weekly call to James. She had gotten in the habit of calling him at night, so that when they finished she could curl up in bed and pretend that Asher had heard every word. That he cared about her and that it was killing him to be so far away from her.
At what point did she let go? She wondered. Asher had been concerned that her feelings weren't real, that they were only circumstances. How could she prove otherwise to a man who refused to speak with her or see her? Was he really trying to give her space he thought she needed or did he not care about her? Was her love one sided?
Six months, she told herself. She would give him the six months he had offered her. On that date, she would call for the last time. She would also tell James about the baby. She had hoped to tell Asher herself, but if he refused to talk to her, there was little she could do.
"But that is n
He took her hand in his and squeezed her fingers. "Kimberly, are you telling the truth? Do you really love me? Because if you don't, I can't make it. You are my world. This is killing me"She leaned forward and pulled him close. Then he was on the bed and they were kissing as if they had a lifetime to make up for."Of course I love you" she wispererd as she pressed her mouth against his lips, his cheeks, his chin. "I have been calling every week, trying to tell you""I know. James recorded the calls and forwarded them to me. I couldn't stand listening to them and I couldn't stop playing them over and over. I needed it all to me true, even as I told myself it couldn't be""Stubborn man" she said contentedly. "Do you believe me now?""I have to. I need to be with you" he touched her face. "I believe you. I love, Kimberly. I don't deserve you and you can do a hell of a lot bette
In the past four weeks, Kimberly Blake had known someone was following her. She could sense it so clearly, that prickly sensation down the center of her spine, hair standing up at the back of her neck, goose bumps marching an eager path down her arms. Someone was there. When she went shopping for groceries, when she got the mail, when she dressed for bed at night. Someone was watching.She hadn't communicated her fears to anyone, because she feared they wouldn't believe her and think that she was crazy. Hell, she was actually beginning to think that she was a little bit crazy. Because no matter how weird she felt, she never saw anything to prove that she was being followed.But she felt it. She just knew. Somehow she did.Who would want to harm her? She often wondered. Fine, maybe she got into a little quarrel and disagreements with people... Everyone did. She was sure it wasn't enough for someone to want to hurt her....Or was it? P
Kimberly looked at her wrist watch and sighed.Okay, maybe deciding to finish work before going to her father's house was a bad idea. It was her father's birthday and he had invited a few friends to a party at his house.The last thing she had wanted to do was miss her father's birthday. But it from the look of things, she was going to be late. But at least she had bought a gift.She groaned as her phone rang. She checked the caller ID. It was her father. He was obviously calling to know where the hell she was. She pick the call and held the phone to her ear using her shoulder."Hi dad" she said, trying to sound cheerful as she tried to concentrate on the file in front of her and listen to her father at the same time."Where are you, pumpkin?" her father sounded unhappy and Kimberly groaned again. She hated when he sounded like that."You are not really going
Hillary Blake looked at his phone again and checked the time. The more he looked at the phone, the more worried he got. Where was Kimberly? He asked himself over and over again. Had she changed her mind about coming home?If she had, she could have just called him and told him and told him that she couldn't make it. There was no need to ignore his calls.He tried calling her again, but this time the phone was switched off. Hillary Blake began to panic. Christopher Keane, his long time friend stared at him and moved closer."Is everything okay, Hillary?" Christopher asked. "You looked worried""I have been trying, but I still can't reach Kim" Hillary replied. Looking even more worried than ever."Damn it" Christopher said. "I guess she must be really busy. Remember she said she was at work. I'm sure she is just busy with something. And whatever it is, it must be very important. Ju
When Hillary Blake's phone rang again, he could barely hear it. His thoughts were on Kimberly. He wasn't a religious man, but he prayed Kimberly was fine. That they wouldn't hurt her. Kimberly was all he had."Your phone is ringing, Hillary" Christopher said. He looked worried too. "We can't start panicking now. You have to pull yourself together so we can figure out how to help Kim. Before they hurt or God forbid, even do something worse."Hillary nodded in agreement and checked the caller ID. It was Phoebe. He held the phone to his ear with shaky hands."Mr Blake, I can't reach her" Phoebe said. She sounded so distressed and obviously she had been crying. "I went to apartment. It was open. Someone messed with the lock. The living room was scattered. Like there was some kind of fight in it. I think something really bad has happened to Kim... And no one knows where she is"."I know" Hillary said, almost surprised he
Given the choice, Asher Adams preferred darkness to light, and tonight was no exception. It had taken him Fourty eight hours to find the lady and her kiddnapers, but he had waited another Fourty Eight before going to rescue her—just so he could learn about their schedule and then go in the night.He liked shadows, the silence, the fact that most people were asleep. Even those awake were on the low end of their energy cycle —although not his men. He made sure of that.Asher checked the time, then glanced back at the two story house. After nearly two weeks of watching over the woman, the guards had grown sloppy and complacent. They patrolled the estate on a schedule now, instead of at random intervals. After so many days of quiet, they no longer expected trouble. All the better for him. He thought.He reached for his night vision binoculars and trained them on the second story bedroom windows. The third one from the left had drapes open, which allowed him a view of the darkened room. A w
"Man on the stairs, Asher. Watch your back"Asher swore under his breath. There was an extra man on duty tonight. Wasn't that always the way?He left the door, pivoted and pressed his body into the shadows. Someone walked into view, his gun drawn."Hey, Mildred, are you alright? There's been some trouble. Chase is missing""What?"When things went to hell, they did so at light speed. Kimberly's female guard aka Mildred, stumbled from her seat. Asher heard the sound just as he zapped the guard. Unfortunately she tried the door and found it unlocked. There was the sound of a pistol being cocked.Asher dropped the guard onto the landing and waited for Mildred to come out, hoping she was just stupid enough not to follow orders. That rather than staying with her prisoner, she would venture onto the landing.Sure enough, the door cracked open. He got her in the arm before
As they rose high in the sky, he checked his man. One gunshot in the leg. Damn it all to hell. He thought grimly and glared at the young lady huddled in the far seat. There were things worth getting shot for, but saving someone like her wasn't one of them.The other team members had already started emergency first aid. Asher moved back to give them room. He picked up a headset and motioned for Kimberly to do the same."I need to get my man to a doctor" he told her, speaking into the attached microphone.Her gaze moved from him to Paul then back to him. "Of course" she said. "I can stay with you at the hospital"There was no point telling her that they weren't going to a hospital. Public health facilities required too much paper work, and the staff would have too many questions. Asher had his own state of the art medical center with trained specialists —all former students military doctors &mdas