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Chapter 15
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Blind Faith Chapter 16
After a full day of touring museums and the local pub, Rai and Z returned to his cabin.He had a meat and cheese platter delivered to his room, along with fresh fruit and a bottle of Borolo. She dried her hair as she strolled from the bathroom to find Z staring out of the open window. The sea breeze carried his scent. Without a word, she sat on a chair beside him. He handed her a glass of wine.They drank in continued silence. Neither of them were very hungry; either because of the beer and hog wings they ate earlier or the dismal mood clouding their evening. It was their last night, and she didn’t want it to end.“I had a good time, today,” she said, hoping to lighten his spirits.The smile on his face brightened his response. “That was my goal, sweetling.”Sweetling, she repeated internally. No one had ever called her that before. Just then, she felt that old familiar pang in the pit of her chest. “Z, perhaps I should stay in my cabin tonight. Both of—”“No!” His sharp reply ma
Blind Faith Chapter 17
Rai reached for her ipad. There was a new message from Z:Thank you.She thought about replying, reaching for the pendant he had given her for comfort. Let him go, she told herself, rubbing the smooth stone. Do not reply. As if her fingers had their own agenda, she replied with a smiling emoticon.Not feeling much like eating, she ordered coffee and a bagel to be delivered to her room. Already the day felt empty without Z. Was he still sleeping? She wondered.Her phone chimed with a new incoming message. Her heart skipped a beat, hoping the message was from Z.Hey Kiddo. How were your “two days?”Not Z, but Anna was a much-needed distraction.Great. I had a fantastic time.Did you get lucky?Irrelevant. How are my plants?Irrelevant? Seriously!I think one of your herbs might make it.Hmm, okay.Are you ready for your big event?Not really. Sue from HR asked me to attend the awards ceremony, but I’m not sure why. I’m just a contractor and these awards are for employees.
Blind Faith Chapter 18
Dressed in a pearl-grey gown with sparkling accents, Rai made her way to the formal ballroom where the awards were taking place. Going to these types of events were never her preference. Too many people, and too much movement of things on the table. She never knew what was placed before her, or even what fancy cups posed as possible accidents. It was best to keep her hands close and not reach for anything.She turned the corner and felt overwhelmed by the rush of activity cluttering the foyer. Not really knowing which way to go, she stood quietly and listened for clues.“Rai,” a friendly, familiar voice chimed. It was Sue from HR. “I’ve been keeping my eye out for you. Haven’t seen you at all this week.”“I’ve kept busy, I assure you.”“Good, good.” She took Rai’s hand. “Come. I have a seat for you.”Rai allowed the portly woman to lead her clumsily through the thick throng of co-workers to a chair near the end. Gauging by the sound of conversation, she concluded that she was the
Blind Faith Chapter 19
Damn her! why did women always have to lie? Gideon paced his suite back and forth with a glass of Bourbon in his hand. Rai had left before the awards ceremony and never returned for the dance. In a sense, he was relieved.Why hadn’t he’d known she worked for him? Seven years and he never saw her face even once. How many others worked for him without his knowing? He would have to have a talk with Sue.He downed his drink and stared at his phone. No messages from Rai; no explanation, excuse, or pleading. With frustration, he tossed his phone onto the couch where Rai had once sat, barefoot and cross-legged. His heart beat with an emptiness for which he had only himself to blame. This is what happened when he got too close to someone. He was foolish to think Rai was any different.It didn’t matter. Come morning, he would never see her again. Funny how that thought made his body tremble. He poured himself another drink and fought the urge to visit Rai in her cabin. What would he say to h
Blind Faith Chapter 20
A squealing woman ran toward Rai as she stepped out of the elevator.“You’re home!” Anna wrapped her arms around Rai and rocked her as if she were a puppy. “Come on, I want to hear all about it.” She took Rai’s luggage and practically drug her down the hall.While Rai put her things away and settled into a comfy pair of sweats and crocheted slippers, Anna made them both coffee and brought out a tray of bear claws. She spent so much time in Rai’s flat, they should have been roomies. Anna’s flat was only two doors down, but she had a studio whereas Rai’s place had two rooms and a large living space that overlooked the water and ferry terminals.Bremerton was a convenient place to live. It was within walking distance to the Seattle ferry and had a great bus system. It enabled Rai to get to just about everywhere she needed to go.“Okay,” said Anna, settling down on the couch. “Spill. I want to hear all about this man you met.”Rai tucked her feet under crossed legs and held the warm c
Blind Faith Chapter 21
Three days passed and still there was no message from Sue? The message was delivered, right?Rai checked her Sent folder one more time. Yep, the message was there. She drummed her fingers over the desk top, then took a swig of her tea. Perhaps Sue was taking some time off after the cruise? Yes, that had to be it.Her Calendar program chimed and Oliver announced an event, “Mandatory meeting at TCL today at 11:00am, Balboa room.”Mandatory meeting? She opened the meeting event and looked for the originator: TCL was all it said. There were no other invitees, only her. How strange. She declined without suggesting a new time.The only time she ever went into the Taylor Cruise Line office was for mediation. She never attended the staff meetings.Another invitation for the same meeting chimed through. She pressed a key sequence and Oliver read the time: 7:00 o’clock am. She would have to catch the 10:00 ferry to make it on time. Doable, but not preferable. Perhaps one of her clients had
Blind Faith Chapter 22
If Rai had not have met Alison in the elevator, the 12:20 ferry would be sailing away and Rai would have had to wait an hour for the next one. Alison’s generous offer to give her a ride had saved valuable time. She was still fuming about wasting the day on a worthless meeting that could have been conducted over the phone. What was Gideon thinking?She had not expected him to reject her resignation, nor had she appreciated his demand that she stay. He may be the CEO of Taylor Enterprises, but he did not have control over her. She’d had enough of controlling men. The scent of him still lingered on her clothes, or was it merely her imagination? It was time to let Gideon Taylor go for good. Like slow poison, he would eventually kill her spirit—just like Cliff.The next two weeks were quiet. Rai had picked up some freelance work, though she really didn’t need the money. She made enough to survive through her retainers and other small gigs. Tonight, she and Anna were volunteering at the YM
Blind Faith Chapter 23
“If you rub your hair any harder, it might just fall out?” jested Anna.“Why did you invite them?”“I thought you were excited for me to see men again.”Rai set her towel down and sighed. Her friend sounded deflated. “I am happy for you Anna. Sorry. I’m over reacting.” She sank down on the bench and set the damp towel over her lap.“You wanna blow them off?”“No, that wouldn’t be right. Simon seems very nice and was obviously sweet on you.”“Yeah, far more than Adam was.”Poor Anna. She had tried so hard to get Adam to notice her, but he was about as interested as a piece of paper. When he asked Rai out instead of her, Anna became very quiet. Rai had told him no, of course, but that didn’t lighten Anna’s mood.Rai dug around in her pack. “Have you seen my brush?”“Right beside you on your left.”They finished getting dressed and ready to leave without much conversation. Rai wondered if Anna was feeling apprehensive too. Maybe only Simon would show up?“Ready for this?” asked
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Blind Faith Thank You
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Blind Faith Chapter 34
Gideon laid rai down in bed, her hands were bandaged and her face was slightly swollen, mostly from the tears she had cried. It had been a long week. Hank curled up next to the bed. He would not leave Rai’s side, and that thought made Gideon smile.The fear he had felt when that gunshot rang caused him to sink to his knees. Rai collapsed in his arms. He checked her for wounds, but she was not hit. When he glanced over at Cliff ’s still form, he saw his brother-in-law’s gun smoking. Cliff never fired a round.Gideon closed the bedroom door and joined Ryan on the couch. Two glasses of whiskey waited on the smoked-glass table. Gideon took a long sip and leaned back.“Is she okay?” his brother-in-law asked.“I don’t know. She hasn’t spoken a word since we left the hospital.”Ryan nodded. “She’s still in shock. The rest will do her good.” He sipped his drink and smiled. “Quite the fighter, eh? I wasn’t sure you could pull her off him.”“I’ve never seen her enraged like that.”“Years
Blind Faith Chapter 33
Gideon had been unusually somber over the past three days. They made love, chatted over coffee, but it all seemed clouded with something Rai could not quite place. They sat now at the kitchen table, steaming cups of coffee in hand, and Gideon brooding in silence.“Is there a reason for this somber mood of yours?” She finally asked.“You’re meeting that monster at two o’clock.” There was a hardness in his voice. The meeting might have been the foremost on his mind, but there was something much deeper chipping at him.“Is that all?”She heard him take a deep breath. “You kept the truth from me, Rai. That is the same as lying.”She sipped her coffee, carefully listening to his words, trying to look beyond the gambit of emotions sharpening his tone.“I feel as if you still do not trust me, but for reasons I cannot comprehend. Your insane plan of handling Cliff on your own could have ended you, ended us. Yet, you still did not trust me enough to include me.”She maintained her silenc
Blind Faith Chapter 32
Rai and Gideon entered room 901 to find Simon and Anna laughing and playing a game of hearts.“Rai, you’re here,” Anna laughed, and then winced with pain. “You’re just in time to save Simon here from losing his shirt.”“You don’t entirely play fair, lady.”Rai made her way to Anna’s bed and leaned down to give her friend a hug. “Thank God you’re alright,” she whispered, tightening her hold.“Hey, are you okay?” Anna asked.Rai scoffed and wiped away the tear trailing down her cheek. “Am I okay? Girl, you are the one in the hospital.”“Yeah, for once, I’m not the one staring down at you. That Cliff is a true, sociopathic daemon. The look in his dead eyes was enough to send me into a fear coma. It was like everything I had learned simply vanished from my head. All the things we teach our students did not apply.”“I know the feeling,” said Rai. “I don’t think we address fear enough in our classes. That needs to change.”Gideon and Simon spoke quietly in the corner of the room and
Blind Faith Chapter 31
Gideon brought Rai a glass of wine. “You seem to be a bit out of sorts tonight, love. Want to talk about it?” He sat next to her on the couch.Instead of driving back to Seattle, he had taken her out to dinner, and then rented a room at the Baymont. Not nearly as nice as his flat, but comfortable all the same. She was grateful for the chance to be closer to Anna. The nurse assured her that she would call if things took a turn for the worse.Gideon’s question was more like a command than an inquiry, she thought. She imagined his brows scrunched together and a piercing look in his eyes. Were they brown or blue? She never asked.“You’re frowning,” he commented. “What color are your eyes?”“Brown, and you are changing the subject.” His tone took on a deep resonance that sent chills up her spine.“Brown. Really. Dark or light?”“Rai.”She took a sip of her wine; crisp, bright, and dry—Petite Syrah? “I’m seriously curious. I actually have no idea what you look like. Anna said you are
Blind Faith Chapter 30
The text was short and to the point:I’m coming for you, bitch.Rai nearly dropped the phone, but her desperation to reach Anna was greater than her fear. Her hands trembled so much, she could not manage to dial her friend’s number. She decided to use Siri instead. The tremble in her voice caught Gideon’s attention.He finished drying the morning dishes before stepping by her side. “What is it?” He asked.“Come on,” Rai chanted. “Pick up the phone, Anna girl. Pick it up!” Anna’s voicemail chirped her greeting. Rai left another message.“I have not heard from Simon, either, which is odd. We typically play tennis on Tuesday. I could not reach him to cancel.”“Something is wrong. Anna never takes long to answer my texts and she rarely ignores my calls.”“Come on. Let’s take a drive. We’ll check Simon’s flat first, and then Anna’s.”Rai grabbed her phone and cane. She didn’t care about taking anything else. Hank stood next to her, his tail wagging in anticipation of a ride. He offe
Blind Faith Chapter 29
“The bastard has connections, bro. He never even saw a cell and I doubt he was ever booked. I informed you as soon as I heard.”Gideon glanced over at Rai. By the fear in her eyes, she knew the subject matter of this conversation. “What about the iron-clad evidence against him?”“It was dismissed?”“What? How?”“I don’t know, but I intend to find out. Someone up the chain is dirty. Uncovering them may cost me my job.”“What can we do on our end?”“Just lay low. I have a few connections of my own. I’m sure Vadik will be interested in hearing how Clifford ratted him out, along with a few other Bratva members. A few well-placed rumors should take care of Clifford Bishop.”“Take care, Ryan, and thank you.”“No worries, bro. The more I learn about this bastard, the more I’m convinced he is the worst kind of asshole. It will be a pleasure bringing him down, even if I have to dance with the dark side to do it.”“Tread lightly mate.”“Will do.”Gideon put the car in gear and drove s
Blind Faith Chapter 28
As promised, Wes had Rai’s apartment restored with all of her belongings. Anna’s door would be fixed tomorrow. She was planning to spend the night with Simon, who had refused to let her out of his sight.Rai still felt a bit shaken as Gideon settled her onto the couch with a glass of Bordeaux. “I still can’t believe he is out of my life. I can’t help thinking he will find a way out of this—he always does.”“Not this time.” Gideon placed his hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Anna is making sure your divorce is filed.”Rai chuffed, as if all of this were a dream not close to reality. She shook her head, still in a daze of disbelief.“Cliff told me you were one of the top corporate lawyers in New York.” Gideon poured them both a bit more wine.She took a long pull of the sweet juice. Talking about that time of her life was like recalling another life she wanted little to do with. Her fingers drummed against the smooth surface of the glass. “He and I had a law firm together.
Blind Faith Chapter 27
By the time they reached Taylor Enterprises, she had succumbed to her exhaustion. She awoke to a sharp jab to her ribs. “Wake up.”Nope, it was not a nightmare, it was real. Her overbearing husband was sitting next to her and her face still ached.Cliff got out of the limo and walked around to open her door; not because he was a gentleman. He hauled her out of her seat as if she were a duffle bag he wanted to sling over his shoulder. Instead of being lifted, however, her legs buckled beneath her and her knees slammed onto the cement.“Don’t be so damned clumsy,” he gritted out, pulling her to her feet. “My God, you are an embarrassment.”She tried to fling his hand from her arm, but his grip was like that of an enraged gorilla.“Enough!” He shook her.They made their way up the marble steps and into the lobby. James, from security, greeted them with hesitation.“Uh, good afternoon, Ms. Landry.”“We are here to see Gideon Taylor,” Cliff announced, pushing his way to the elevator
