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Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 22
The three of us had gathered as many bags of food as we could and then carried them inside. Yet, there had still been as much, if not more, left waiting for our attention on the porch.After we'd deposited our first armload within the kitchen, we'd returned to gather the balance. As Cameron had picked up the ice-chest, he'd grunted beneath its weight. A slight whistle had escaped his lips before he'd proclaimed, “Don’t know what the hell's in here, but it’s one heavy, S.O.B!”Mom had tossed a frowning glance in Cameron’s direction at his use of more foul words and then scolded, “Cameron Michael…watch, your tongue, young man.” A small, chastised smirk had spread across Cameron’s lips, and he'd mumbled, “Uh...sorry, Mom.”↜↜ 🖤🖤↝↝When everything finally graced the floor and countertops in the kitchen, my eyes had busied themselves roaming over the grocery bags again: I’d been almost giddy at the sight and murmured, “Where do you think all this came from?”With a shrug and her eyes ag
Last Updated : 2025-04-19Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 23
After the second delivery of the groceries and money, Mom had given up even trying to find the time to fit in bill paying and had turned that lovely responsibility over to me. Though most average, near sixteen-year-olds, would have felt overwhelmed, I'd never been what one considered average. I'd always felt, acted and looked older than my age due to having spent so much time with my brother and his friends. As well, I'd always been good with numbers. Therefore, I'd picked up on the mechanisms’ of bill paying with ease.Every two weeks, for six weeks straight, we’d received the groceries and money, and though I’d remained uncomfortable about the whole thing, I'd done my best to set aside my curiosity and suspicion as I’d felt their deliverance, though baffling, was a God-send.When the third deposit upon our porch had occurred, I'd once again found myself sitting down with the checkbook, yet, even as I'd been adding numbers and delegating where the money was going, I'd found myself c
Last Updated : 2025-04-19Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 24
Nathan had gazed at me for several more seconds, then, bending he’d set the bag of groceries in his arms down on the porch, before straightening he’d glowered down at me. “Seriously—that's what you're worried about? You're out here, by your goddamn self with four guys. Three of whom you don't know a fucking thing about, and you're worried about some remark, one of them made? Have you lost your fucking mind, Bri?” He’d hissed the question, getting in my face.For the first time since I’d known Nathan, I'd found myself wanting to punch him, and reaching out, I'd begun poking him in the chest with my fingers. “Don't you fucking take that tone with me, Nathan!” Afterward, I’d tossed a quick glance at the groceries on the porch and at the three hoodlums and snapped. “Seems to me, I'm not the one with the secrets!”Nathan’s head had whipped up at my words and he'd stared at me. Then, in a motion I'd watched him do for many years, he'd reached up and begun rubbing at the back of his neck, a
Last Updated : 2025-04-19Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 25
As Nathan reached us, he came to a stop, one hand clenching into a fist at his side, the other gripping the chin guard of his helmet. The way he held it, gave me the impression he was considering taking a swipe at Arizona with it. A few seconds of tense silence passed as he glared at Arizona, before turning his head, he looked at me. Running his eyes over the length of me."Am I interrupting something?" His voice was low, laced with jealousy, and something else. Tenseness pulsed around us and suddenly Arizona's voice broke the taut air. "Well, I'll head out now, Brianna, I'll see ya tomorrow." Realizing he was trying to defuse a situation that looked as if it might go south in a hurry, I didn't protest."I'll walk with you to your car,” I commented.As we walked toward his Honda, Arizona leaned in my direction asking, "Uh, if you need me to stay, I will." I shook my head, stating, “No, but thanks.”As we came to a stop next to his car, Arizona tossed another glance at Nathan, then
Last Updated : 2025-04-19Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 26
I offered a sad smile, but I knew the truth was more complicated than that. "Thanks, Arizona,” I murmured. “I appreciate your support, but it's not that simple.” As I finished my words, a wave of nausea had me pushing open the car door, and thankfully, I made it to the end of the cruiser before my stomach heaved up its contents. "You okay?" Arizona's question came from the other side of the cruiser, sounding as if he was feeling a little queasy himself. "Um, I'd help, but I don't do well with…that." "Ugg…” I moaned, the fingers of one hand wrapped around my hair, as I waved him off with the other. “No problem. I get it,” I muttered, wincing at the taste in my mouth.Finally when I knew I wouldn't be sick again, I straightened, and looking over the rear of the cruiser at Arizona, I mumbled, "I, uh…need to go…um, you know…." I breathed, indicating my mouth, and the fact I needed to wash it out.A short time later, as I stepped from the bathroom, Arizona was hovering outside the door
Last Updated : 2025-04-19Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 27
~Nathan~Damn but if I wasn't fucked. I'd thought when I had first seen her in the bank, I could handle it. I'd completely blown that kind of thinking plum the fuck out of the water as just being around her had twisted my world into one big fucking ball of pain.I had it so damn bad my situation had become laughable. I mean, hell…I craved the sight of her gorgeous eyes and heart-stopping smile like a flower craved water. Fuck, I needed her, and not only in a sexual way either. Hell yes, the fact played a huge role in my feelings, for I had blue-balls like a motherfucker, but it went deeper than that. She was the blood in my veins, the song in my heart. She gave me life.Now, my world was going to shit, for the demons I carried, were fucking dancing around me. Raising their ugly heads and laughing at me. Sins of the past! They never let a person go, latching on, sinking their teeth in and sucking you dry.As I sat within the shadows of her bedroom, watching her sleep, I had no idea wha
Last Updated : 2025-04-22Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 28
Her eyes widened in shock, and the room felt like it was closing in on me. The silence, thick and suffocating."What?" she finally choked out, the word barely audible.I took a deep breath. "I put the bullet in your dad’s head.”The anger in her eyes grew, and she clenched her fists tightly at her sides. "*You* killed my dad?" she snarled."He was a fucking monster, Bri, and you know it!" I snapped.Stilling, she hissed, “What the fuck are talking about?”I gave a shake of my head. “You know what I’m talking about.”"Get out," she said, her voice cold and final.The words hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest, but I didn't move."Get the fuck out!" she yelled.↜↜ 🖤🖤↝↝The weight of her anger pressed down on me as I climbed into my truck. The engine roared to life, and I took off down the street, not knowing where I was going.The truth had set me free, but I was left with the bitter taste of regret.As I drove, the road was a blur, my thoughts racing a million miles a minute. What
Last Updated : 2025-04-22Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 29
Nathan stepped into my house, his eyes on the file in my hand."You could have told me," I whispered, my voice trembling with anger and betrayal.He closed the door with a soft click, his eyes moving to mine. "You wouldn't have understood.""Ya think?" I muttered sarcastically. "Hmm, I can't imagine how you could have possibly come to the conclusion that I wouldn't understand that my mother paid you to kill my dad?" I threw the file at him, and it hit his chest before falling to the floor. "Maybe it's because I don't!" I snarled.He took a step forward, his hands reaching out to me, but I backed away. "Bri, you don't know the whole story.""Then tell me," I spat, crossing my arms over my chest, creating a barrier between us. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like everyone in my life has been lying to me."Nathan sighed heavily, rubbing his hand over his face. "Your mom didn't know how else to help you."The words hung in the air, and my knees threatened to buckle. "What?""Th
Last Updated : 2025-04-22
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Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 45
Turning, I took a step and heard a pop and crack. To my horror, I saw the ceiling coming down at me. With a scream, I threw myself down beside the couch, riding it out there until the shaking stopped. When everything stopped rocking, I began to shift; however, I couldn’t as my legs had become pinned beneath what I could only assume were large chunks of the ceiling and support beams. The quake must have knocked the power out of the whole neighborhood, for the house had settled into a shroud of darkness. Not even the moon penetrated the blackness that now surrounded me and prevented me from seeing how much debris I lay beneath. I tried pushing at the heavy material to remove it from my legs. However, I had to stop as another contraction tore through me. Panting, I worked my way through the pain. When it had subsided, I pushed again at the debris, which held me, prisoner, beneath it.As I pushed and shoved, I became frantic. Fear skittered up my spine and claimed my mind. This couldn’
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 44
After I had greeted him with a good to hear from you, Arizona had cleared his throat. “I’m not too sure you’ll feel that way after I tell you what I have to say.” From there, he’d launched into telling me how Nathan had come to see him the night I’d gone into witness protection. Demanding that he tell him where I was going. I groaned. “Oh, Jesus, tell me you didn’t.” Arizona gave a long sigh. “No, of course not. I didn’t know then. However, after the other night, he knows you’re in L.A.” “Arizona,” I wailed, “how could you? You promised you wouldn’t!” “Look here, Brianna, I ain’t said much, but dammit, this time I am, and you’re going to listen.”I remained silent but listening. After a few seconds Arizona continued, “He’s determined to find you, sweetheart. Do you remember what I told you about a man in love moving Heaven and Hell? Well, the earth has been under siege for a while now. And it seems he was a little confused. He thought you and I had been lovers. I set him straigh
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 43
ONE MONTH LATERThough I’d known it wasn’t wise, I’d been unable to cut all ties back in Texas, and had reached out to Minx once I’d settled in L.A., even reaching out to Arizona. Then came the dilemma of Nathan.After everything was over, I’d powered up my phone and found my voicemail practically filled with his messages. With each one he left, I’d fought myself not to listen, instead, before weakness could overtake me, I’d hit the delete button and blocked his number. The temptation not to call him was still a daily struggle. I’d managed to find a job as an assistant for a private investigator. It differed from the hectic activity I’d become accustomed to at the agency and was nothing more than answering the phone and setting up appointments—but it filled in the empty hours. As the days continued to pass, I found I liked my boss. Linda Spelling had turned out not only to be a wonderful employer but a great friend. We spent almost every morning before work drinking decaffeinated c
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 42
The silence that followed Zane’s announcement was filled with unspoken longing, a shared yearning for the simplicity of days gone by. But as the clock chimed the hour, reality crashed back in, and we both knew that we had to keep moving forward, no matter how much our hearts yearned for the comfort of the past."So, what's the plan?" I asked, breaking the silence.Zane took a swig of his iced tea before answering. "Well, we sit tight here for a bit. The feds are working on nailing the bastards that are after you. They're setting up a meeting, trying to draw them out.""How do they know where to look?" I questioned, fear gnawing at my stomach."They've got their ways," he said cryptically, his eyes holding a glint of something I couldn't quite decipher.I nodded, knowing better than to pry. "And what do we do in the meantime?""We wait," he said with a sigh. "But we won't be idle. We're going to use this time to get you ready, just in case things go sideways.""Ready for what?"He lean
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 41
Zane led me to a blacked-out SUV, and as we drove away from the airport, I watched the lights of the city stretch out before us like a never-ending sea of stars."You okay?" Zane's voice was gentle, his hand briefly touching my arm before retreating to the steering wheel.I nodded, not trusting my voice. The lump in my throat was too big for words."We've got a safe house set up for you. It's not much, but it's home for now."Home. The word was foreign on my tongue. I had left my real home behind, trading it for a life in the shadows. But as we pulled into the quiet, nondescript neighborhood, I knew that for now, this was where I had to be.For the sake of my baby, and the love I had for Nathan, I had to play this game. I had to be strong, and I had to survive.As we pulled into the driveway of the safe house, Zane turned to me. "You can trust me, Brianna. I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe."I nodded again, my eyes misty with unshed tears. "Thank you."He helped me insid
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 40
~NATHAN~Hearing Brianna say she was leaving had devastated me—her whispered words, “I love you,” had killed me.After she’d quit the call, I’d jumped in my pickup, and like a crazed man, I’d broken every goddamn speed limit law there was between her place and mine. I hadn’t given a flying fuck if a patrol car had pulled in behind me. They would have had to chase me to Brianna’s because I wasn’t slowing down for any motherfucker. Now, pulling in before her home, I gazed at it, shattered. It sat, silent and empty of her presence, echoing the bareness that now ripped through my soul. However, its solitude appearance didn’t stop me and shoving the pickup’s door open, I jumped out of the cab and ran up the steps of the porch. My feet never slowed until I stood before the front door. Grabbing the knob, I twisted, but it didn’t give beneath my fingers. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, its beat, erratic, broken. Raising a leg, I kicked at the door, the force behind the blow one
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 39
Chief Peters’ expression was grim as he stepped inside, his eyes scanning over the two of us before settling on me. "Brianna, I need to talk to you. Is there some place we can talk...alone?"My heart stopped for a second, then thundered in my chest.Nathan nodded, giving me a look filled with reassurance, then disappeared into the other room.Peters closed the door behind him, and the weight of his gaze bore into me as I took a seat at the kitchen table."Brianna," he began, his tone firm but not unkind, "I've reviewed the evidence, and I believe your account of what happened with Cameron."Relief flooded through me, so intense it was almost painful. "Thank you, Chief," I whispered, my voice hoarse from holding back the tears."However," he continued, "this doesn't mean it's over. The investigation will continue, and we'll have to be prepared for any questions that may arise. The press will be all over this, and we need to keep our story straight."I nodded, my eyes never leaving his.
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 38
At my words, Arizona's eyes snapped to mine, the color draining from his face. "You what?""I had to," I said, my voice shaking. "He was going to..." I couldn't finish the sentence, the memory too raw, too painful.Nathan stepped closer to me, his hand landing on my shoulder. "It was self-defense," he said firmly. "And we've already spoken to the local authorities."Arizona's gaze jumped from me to Nathan and then back to me, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Bri, why the fuck didn't you call me?""Because..." I trailed off, not knowing how to explain the tangled web of emotions and fear that had led me to pull that trigger.↜↜ 🖤🖤↝↝I took a deep breath, my eyes pleading with Arizona to understand. "I can't really explain, I just need you to understand that, okay?"He studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. Finally, with a heavy sigh, he nodded. "Alright. But you're going to have to fill me in eventually."With a slow nod, I began to talk. As I recounted t
Echoes of Desire; Dance of Deception 37
The simplicity of Nathan’s words was almost heartbreaking. It was a promise that we would navigate this treacherous path side by side, but it didn't erase the fear of what that path might hold.We ate in silence, the only sounds the clinking of silverware against the plates. The food was tasteless, a mere formality to keep my strength up. Afterward, I washed the dishes, the rhythmic motion of the water and soap acting as a balm to my frayed nerves.When I finished, I turned to face him. "I'm going to take a shower," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Would you stay?"He nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'll be here."With trembling legs, I made my way to the bathroom. Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the shower, the hot water a cocoon of false comfort.As I let the water cascade over me, the tears started again, mixing with the water and flowing down the drain. I didn't know how long I stood there, but it was long enough for the water to turn cold. Stepping out, I
