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Blind Faith Prelude
Rainair’s worst day was not the one she woke up blind, but the moment she’d realized she had married a monster.Machines hummed and clicked, their cadence echoing off the walls in time with her heartbeat. Her face felt swollen, and every one of her limbs was numb. The pain that radiated up her spine was like a familiar old friend that frequently called, only its presence was not as comforting.The sharp scent of alcohol and bleach confirmed she had landed back in the hospital for the fifth time in as many months. Each time earned her more severe injuries. Cliff would kill her eventually. She had to leave him for good, but her every attempt left a wake of destruction.Good people who had tried to help her had suddenly disappeared or had their lives destroyed beyond repair. Never again, she had promised herself, yet she couldn’t do this on her own.People entered her room. Hard-soled shoes indicated they were not hospital staff. The sickening scent of Axe cologne permeated the air. I
Blind Faith Chapter 1
Seven years laterRai’s knuckles whitened around her iPhone and that familiar sickness crept from her lower belly up to her chest as if she had swallowed bitter acid. “Tell me.”“There is no record of your filing,” said Anna. She and Rai had become the best of friends, having both come from abusive relationships.“How? I filed it in person.”“Your husband has connections, sweetie.”“Don’t call him that! I’ve been trying to make him my ex for seven years.”Anna cleared her throat. “Cliff hosted one of his famous parties last month. Guess who made the invitation list? Judge Hardey and Sheriff John Ramsey. After that, the paper trail for your divorce decree simply disappeared. He’s bad news, Rai, and he’s in bed with all the right people.”Rai paced back and forth, her white cane tapping out a beat that matched her pounding heart. “I will never be free of him, will I?”“Hey, we’ll find a way, I promise.”“Thanks, kiddo. I appreciate your help.” Rai ended the call,
Blind Faith Chapter 2
Damn, she was cute, thought Z, as he headed toward the lobby. When he saw that lovely bit-of-goods in a blue summer dress talking to a marble pillar in the terminal, his mind got all soft. He rarely reached out to passengers. He did his best to avoid them. This female was an exception. She was easy on the eyes as well. Those pale blue irises and honey-colored hair were stunning. He remembered the feel of those silky strands as they slid between his fingers. The smell of sweet jasmine lingered in his memory.Females were trouble, he reminded himself. It was best to steer clear of this one. After he oriented her to the ship, he would avoid her, regardless of his attraction. It would be best for both of them.This cruise included a fraction of the Taylor Cruise Line corporate staff. The awards ceremony was scheduled five nights from now when a handful of people would receive appreciation for their outstanding contribution to the company. His corporate team occupied deck fifteen, which
Blind Faith Chapter 3
Soon after the engines roared to life, and the ship pulled away, a knock sounded on Rai’s door. She set her braille display aside and scooted off the bed, smoothing any wrinkles from her dress.The scent of bay rum greeted her as she swung the door open.Z opened his mouth to speak, but his words came out like a choke.Rai lifted a brow as if to say, “Excuse me?” Z cleared his throat. “Are you ready?”Rai reached for the white cane she had set by the door. “Yes, I am.” She slipped the card key into her dress pocket earlier so she wouldn’t forget it. As a blind person, she had learned to think ahead and plan for quick and thoughtless departures. It was far too easy to forget where she had placed something when she was in a hurry to leave.Z presented his arm to her as if he had years of practice leading the blind. The way he described the hall and important landmarks were expert and precise. “The elevators to your left will take you to the various floors. The ones on your right are
Blind Faith Chapter 4
Rai’s stomach growled like an angry badger. The scent of food filtered through the air vents, taunting her with savory spices and buttery breads. The day had been perfect; slow and relaxing; a nice break from her usual chaos.Tomorrow, they would reach Victoria, where she would tour the town and have tea at the Princess Hotel. It was something she had always wanted to do, but never had the chance. This cruise offered a perfect opportunity to check a few things off her bucket list. She was only 37 years old, so there was plenty of time to experience several adventures including riding one of the longest zip lines on the west coast.She fired up her MacBook Pro and logged into the ship’s WiFi. Oliver, her British screen-reading voice, obediently read whatever fell under the cursor in a polite and polished accent that would make any professional valet proud. Her mother was British, which is probably why Rai was so drawn to the accent. It was also why she had been attracted to Z, though
Blind Faith Chapter 5
Rai heard the waiter bow slightly. “Yes, of course, May I get you something to eat or drink, sir?”“Two glasses of Porto Rocha 20-year, Charles, and the chef ’s special dessert.”“Right away, sir.”Rai observed the dialog with curiosity. Z could not just be a porter with all the respect he commanded from the crew. “You seem to be well respected,” she commented.“The Taylor crew shows everyone respect.”“Uh, huh.” She replied, sipping the last of herPinot Noir. “Are you off duty?”“Yes,” he clipped, as if not wanting to answer.After a long moment of silence, she finally asked, “What brings you to my table, Mr. Z?”“You looked as if you could use some company.” She scoffed, then reached for her water, equally drained as her wine. “I actually enjoy my solitude.”“Would you like me to leave?”She thought about it for a moment, relishing in the giddiness welling up inside her. She hadn’t felt this way around a man for far too long. What harm would it do to share space with him?
Blind Faith Chapter 6
When she exited the privy, it didn’t take long for Z to take a hold of her hand once again. Not really needing to swing her cane to and fro, she held it out in front of her, angled slightly outward to prevent from bumping into a wall or another object. Most people, when leading the blind, did not account for the additional space the person beside them required when passing objects. Z, however, seemed to guide her effortlessly down the ship’s narrow corridors and busy foyers.She had considered getting a guide dog at one point and imagined it would be similar to having someone like Z lead her. Getting rid of her white cane, however, was not something she was ready to do any time soon. The idea was akin to leaving the house without wearing clothes.Although she was blind, her eyes still registered light, not so much as seeing it as feeling the brightness. It felt like a sharp twinge in the center of her brain, just behind her eyes. If it wasn’t for the sunglasses she wore most of the t
Blind Faith Chapter 7
“His name was Clive,” she lied. “We were together for thirteen years before I finally found the courage to leave him.”“Thirteen years,” he commented. “Bad luck?”She chuffed. If only he knew. “Let’s just say he was a controlling man and leaving him was akin to stepping in front of a charging locomotive. I had tried several times in the past. When he found me, he did his best to ensure I would never leave him again.” She rubbed her arms as memories of his strikes caused phantom pain.“He is the reason you won’t get involved with anyone else?”“Yes.”She heard him set his glass down and settle back against the couch. The bourbon flowed down her throat like a comforting blanket. For a moment, Z seemed satisfied with her answer and she breathed a sigh of relief.“Have you heard from him?”“Not for seven years.” She choked a bit, fearing she had revealed too much of the truth. “Maybe nine,” she added.“What does Clive do for a living?”She stopped mid drink. “He’s an … insurance a
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