All Chapters of Saving Brielle: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

AllenI sit next to a solemn Brielle on the couch as my men take seats around the room. I tilt my head toward Mark as a sign for him to begin.As usual, his reveal is short and to the point.“Didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but then again we couldn’t exactly go tramping around through her neighbors’ backyards either,” he tells me.I notice motion to my left and swivel my head to look at Pete, who has grabbed his laptop and is typing something.“Finally,” he says on a sigh. “I was wondering how much longer that might take. Got a rough estimate of the caller’s position when he left the message, boss.”“And that is?” I ask.Two more keystrokes, and he looks up at me.“Sixty-five yards due east of here.”“What, at the Andersen’s house?” Brielle pipes up.“That’s what the triangulation is showing.”“But… but… they’re harmless,” Brielle protests immediately. “They’re both retired schoolteachers in their late seventies with hearts as big as the outdoors. She brings me cookies at Chr

AllenI wake sometime around sunrise, startled at first that I am not in my own bedroom. Then I feel Brielle sigh in my arms, and I look down.At some point in the night, I rolled to my back, and she tucked into my side, one shapely leg and her left arm draped over me, her head on my chest. Her thin tank top leaves little to the imagination, and I picture myself stealthily scooting down the bed to capture one of her perfect nipples in my mouth. The result is an erection that I am positive she can feel pressing against her even as she sleeps.I am torn between really needing to behave myself and wanting to shift her lithe little body on top of mine and wake her properly. When she sighs again, then begins to stretch and I feel her breasts rubbing against me, lust almost wins out.Until her eyes snap open and Brielle recoils from me like I’ve shoved her.“You okay?” I ask.“Yeah,” she mumbles, her cheeks going red. “I, um, forgot you were here, and it startled me. I haven’t shared a bed

Allen“Oh. Oh,” Brielle’s eyes widen at my announcement, and while I feel a bit guilty for not telling her what I’m actually worried about – namely, that a tripod can also be used to support a long-range weapon - I’m not about to mention it.“But we can’t rule it out either,” she points out. “Not completely. You and I both know the messages are getting worse. Seems like video would be the next escalation.”Or sniper fire, I think grimly.“Yes, they are getting progressively worse. And that is why we are leaving. I know you said Anne is covering for you today, and that you have nothing scheduled for tomorrow. But I think it’s best that we plan to lie low for at least a week.”The color returns to her face as she stops walking again to argue with me. “Like hell. I have appointments and meetings booked all next week! I can’t just bail on everybody, Allen.”“You can, and you will. You will call your receptionist - what’s her name again? Rita?”“Yes, but – ““You’re gonna call Rita when we

BrielleWe head south, the city fading into the distance, and Allen seems calm behind the wheel. I watch as he continually checks the van’s mirrors, but we drive for a good half-hour before he takes an exit abruptly and stops at a gas pump in front of the tiny, dilapidated-looking convenience store located in the middle of nowhere.“I would hate to break down out here,” I mutter under my breath. There’s nothing around.”Allen laughs. “I know, right? I have had the exact same thought myself. But the guy that runs this place is a friend of mine. We’re safe here.”He pivots to look back at me.“We need some gas and some snacks. We won’t stop again until we reach the cabin, so, now would be a good time to use the bathroom as well.”With that, he climbs out of the minivan, gesturing to me to follow, and we walk side-by-side into the store.“Bernie! How ya been?” Allen calls out, deepening his drawl as he speaks.I flash a polite smile at the little old man behind the counter.“Restroom, pl

Allen“What happened?”“Cancer. She’d been sick but we didn’t know why. Got the confirmation right before I was supposed to re-enlist for another tour. I left the Army to take care of her.”Brielle squeezes my hand but says nothing, her green eyes still watching me carefully.“She made me promise that I would move on, find love again, and I did promise. It was the only thing she asked of me. But once she left me, I refused to honor that promise. I thought that it would be… disloyal,” I explain, “and so for the last decade I’ve focused on work, and nothing else.”I quiet for a moment, steeling my nerves, then continue.“Until I heard your voice, Brielle. And yeah, like you said in the car – it was like waking up again after a long, cold, dark, half-assed existence. After we talked that night, I went to your website and saw your picture, and it took my breath away. I was amazed at how much you resemble Mary.”I glance up from looking at her hand in mine to meet her gaze. Brielle’s eyes