James.Throughout my entire life, I thought I had known pain. However, when I saw my daughter die before my eyes, I realized I didn't even know what pain was. The pain of losing a child isn't something that I wish any parent to ever have to go through.The burning ache of losing my daughter was a feeling that would never be able to go away, a void in my chest that would forever remain empty. She was my pride and joy, my only child, my everything, and even though Becca was pregnant with my child, it was an idea that I still couldn't wrap my head around.How could I process anything when my sweet Taliana was gone?"James, I'm so sorry for your loss," Greg, the federal agent who had been working with me, said as he stood at the back of the open ambulance doors.I was angry with him. He was supposed to have been here. He was supposed to have been my back up, and had he shown up, perhaps my daughter wouldn't be dead. "You promised that you would protect her. Where the f8ck were
Becca.My life went in slow motion as I tried to grasp a handle on everything that had happened. I had been handed a newborn child that I was expected to take care of and a nanny who I was more than grateful for.But through it all, I was blindsided and confused.My entire world had been flipped upside down, and as I walked through the front doors of Allegra's house, I tried to understand how I was going to make it through everything."Why don't I go ahead and put the kettle on?" Allegra said softly as she made her way slowly towards the kitchen. "It's been a very hectic day, and we all need a rest."She wasn't wrong there, but the moment I thought about a cup of tea, it brought tears to my eyes again. That was the last thing Tally and I had done before hell broke out in her house, and I was left without my friend."Oh, Miss Becca, why don't I go ahead and get the baby settled in? It's been a long day, and you need rest," Sarah said as she held out her arms and allowed m
Becca.A week had passed since my grieving had begun. The moment that I had lost Tally, I thought the pain couldn't get worse, but later on, when I found out that I had also lost James, I completely shattered. Everything I once imagined was slowly fading away, and even though I had Neal by my side, I couldn't help but wonder how long it would be before I lost him.Staring at myself in the mirror, I contemplated how I would get through the day. The black dress that I wore hugged my figure, showing off my protruding bump. It reminded me of James, and with the black veil covering my red-rimmed eyes I tried to hide my emotions.To think that this was my life was not what I had expectedI still couldn't imagine the fact of James being gone. Yet, the reality didn't have to set in entirely in order for me to succumb to it. "I'll be strong for you," I whispered to myself as I rubbed a slow circle over my stomach. My child was my driving force to press forward.I was a hollow sh
James.What do you do when everything you have ever known has been taken from you?Do you shut yourself away, and pretend not to care? Is there a place that you can go mentally to help heal the internal heartache that makes you feel like you're on the verge of death? So many times I had watched others around me suffer, but never was able to understand the suffering because I had never been part of it. At least until now."Are you ready to go?" Greg called out from the open hospital room. The private room in one of their facilities had given me the time to heal while the rest of the world thought I was dead."Yeah," I replied as I shoved the last of my things into a duffel bag.Two weeks ago my daughter died, and from what Greg and the rest of his department told the world… I had died too. I wasn't going to have to go to jail due to everything that happened, but I wasn't going to have to go into protection. The way that Greg broke it down to me was that staying part o
Becca.When I arrived at James' company, I was on the verge of having an anxiety attack. Neal had been waiting for me outside the building, and as much as I wanted to find that happy moment, I didn't.Simply because I knew what was coming. "So the guy is willing to buy it from you without issues. He is an investor from Italy and actually knew James personally. He has importing and exporting businesses all over the world," Neal informed me as I stood in the elevator with him, watching the floors tick by."Okay." My shallow reply seemed to cause him to stop in his words as he gently grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at him."Hey, if you're not ready for this—""It's okay," I quickly said, cutting him off. "It needs to be done, and I have to get through this. Afterward, I want to talk to you and Allegra about going somewhere.""Oh?" He smiled. "Where might that be?"Rolling my eyes with a soft smile, I shook my head at the same moment the doors of the elevator o
Becca.When I left James's office, millions of thoughts ran through my head about what was going to happen. But one thing was for sure, I needed to take my father's advice and change scenery. For too long, I had struggled and fought with everything that was going on, my emotions completely messed up and everything else in my life going a little haywire.I had to get myself together. I had to put my big girl panties on and take initiative for what was going on in my life. And I had to do it soon because before I knew it, a child would be born, and I would be responsible for that child.The soft knock at the front door let me know that Neal and Allegra had arrived, and as the door opened, I turned, looking over my shoulder to see their smiling faces enter through the doorway. "Hey, guys. I'm glad to see you could make it.""Well, of course, we would make it silly." Allegra laughed as she took off her coat and hung it on a nearby hook. Fluffing her blonde hair out, she stepped
James.The moment that my plane landed in Tokyo, Japan, I found my mind swirling with the differences of how their lives were in Japan compared to that in the states. The only way that I could actually describe them was as if they were ants meandering through a colony. Quick to know exactly where they were going and unable to be distracted.It was fascinating, and I found the city breathtaking.Moving forward from the airport, I headed towards the car pickup lanes and quickly saw a driver holding a sign with my name on it. The driver was to take me to my new location, a home that had been secured for me, along with various other things, my new life for the foreseeable future.My new life as Lester Johnson.Just saying that need made me internally groan. Out of all the names that he could have picked in the world, that was the one he had settled for.That was the name that he thought would benefit me the most.Stepping towards the driver I sighed pushing a smile on my f
Becca.After tons of planning and purchasing tickets, I found myself standing in the bedroom packing my suitcases, going through everything that I was going to need while we were away in New Zealand. Initially, when I told Neal and Allegra about what I wanted to do, I was almost certain that they would disagree. Yet again, they surprised me, as they always did, and agreed that the trip would be a wonderful idea. Of course, considering the fact that the doctor had cleared me for travel, that is.Slowly going through all the clothing I had placed on top of the bed, I packed it into the suitcase with careful precision and then proceeded to grab all of my toiletries that were in their individual bags and place them in as well.It wasn't until I had placed some documents that I needed just in case something were to happen over there that the small letter that Mr. Shavers had given me that had been left by James fell out onto the floor.With how hectic everything had been o