Chapter 4

Dalton

I had the place staked out from a distance with a camera setup to make sure there were no surprises. I didn’t see this to be a place for Gillian to raise a family. She was always about the simple things to make her happy. I had heard her speak of Grant’s name with the affection of a friend. Something had changed over the course of those months she had been home.

“In this day of technology, there really is no way for anybody to get away with anything. There are obvious exceptions.” The motel was a few miles out of town and was one of those with an hourly rate for women of questionable morals.

“Melanie, I’m not even going to ask where you got all of this on such short notice. We haven’t finished our argument about what you did. I haven’t picked up a gun in almost a year. I would like to think there is a better way of doing things than with violence.” She was wearing a short bathrobe barely being kept together with a white sash around her waist.

Her hair was in a ponytail and her green eyes made me feel like lightning was striking me where I stood. The woman was sex personified and knew what kind of hold she had over a man. The hint of her bosom when she leaned forward over the computer was hard to ignore.

“I don’t ever want you to mention this again. I like to think what I did was for the greater good. It’s only a temporary solution to a bigger problem and we both know it.” We had discussed a more offensive position, but I didn’t think it was necessary to make trouble where there wasn’t any.

“Granger is still missing in action. He’s very resourceful and if he doesn’t want to be found then he won’t be. I could tell from how the place was ransacked he didn’t have much time to vacate the premises.” I decided to turn my attention to something I could control.

The heart-shaped bed was her way of striking a match to my libido. I would’ve easily jumped at the chance to feel the pleasures she could inflict on me, but seeing Gillian made me yearn for something I had forgotten about.

“Granger is a notorious womanizer. He’s probably under the covers of the sheets of some unsuspecting female victim as we speak. We should take a page from his book. I took the liberty of reserving the honeymoon suite. We have the place for a week.” The red silk sheets and the smell of cinnamon burning from some incense in a candle by the bed were nice touches.

“One of us is going to have to keep watch. What you did is only going to make them angry and want to retaliate. There’s no telling where they’re going to show up next. To think this could have been avoided had we stayed at the fiesta that night. It’s a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive.” I didn’t know where the saying came from, but it did fit the occasion.

“I’m sure she can take care of herself for 5-minutes.” She was poking fun at my stamina knowing full well 5-minutes were nothing in a marathon of sex into the wee hours of the morning.

“I see what you’re doing and it’s not going to work. I can’t see how you can possibly think about sex when this is a matter of life and death. Our ‘family’ is being targeted and we are their only hope.” She was pulling back the curtain of her modesty by dropping the white robe at her feet. The faint sound of people in flagrant delight was echoing through the walls.

“You can’t possibly expect me to stand here and listen to that and not do something. I’ve gone all out to romance you and you know how I feel about these things.” She was pulling out all the stops.

Her idea of romance was jumping a man until they surrendered willingly. She wasn’t very shy about telling stories to make a grown sailor blush. I’d been with her a few times and each encounter was more explosive than the last.

There was only one bed and a lumpy green couch by the window. The shower dripped brown sludge and it took about 5-minutes before it cleared up enough to step into the enclosure. The front window had a view of the parking lot. There was no way anybody was going to sneak up on us without us having forewarned knowledge.

“I’m really not in the mood to play your games.” Being dead had taken its toll on me and my family was still unaware of my continued existence.

“I don’t really care if you’re in the mood. The only thing I want is to use your body for my own selfish needs. Just lie there and look at the ceiling while I get one out of the chamber. I wouldn’t be opposed to some oral gratification. I don’t give praise easily, but you know what gets my motor running.” I was very adept at reading the body language of women to know what steps to take to make them squeal with my name on the tip of their tongue.

“I have some business to conduct and maybe we can revisit this subject later.” I almost blinked and missed the low growl underneath her breath.

“If you’re not going to give me some then I’m going to go out and find someone who will. It would’ve been far more convenient to have you fill the void between my legs. I’m sure there’s no shortage of men willing to bend over backward to please me. This is going to be someone’s lucky day and they don’t even know it.” She got dressed and I didn’t bother to turn to see what kind of risky attire she was going to wear to find a suitable conquest.

“I want you to remember to pace yourself. Most guys won’t even know what kind of storm is coming their way. You can be rather forceful and maybe a more laid-back approach is in order.” I’d seen her take no prisoners and leave them coming out after the deed looking stunned like a grenade had landed in their lap.

“I don’t need you telling me how to act in public. This place isn’t exactly the Ritz. Guys come here looking for an hour of relief. Some even drink during the day at the bar across the street. Don’t wait up for me for supper. I get the feeling I’m going to have a better offer than rations.” I vividly recalled the many times we had twisted in the sheets and how I could possibly deny myself that pleasure was beyond me.

“You shouldn’t knock rations and some of them are very tasty these days. The beef stew is my favorite. I’ll be more than happy to eat your portion.” She was always turning her nose up when we were staked out in the mud about to take action.

“You go ahead and fill your boots with it. It might taste better if you did. This could have been yours and I will make you regret rejecting me. I don’t plan to come back until I make a man give me what I want. Eat your heart out, Dalton.” I was too curious for my own good.

I turned in time to see the leather-clad backside of her body leaving the room. The skirt was painted on her and there was no doubt in my mind she had gone out commando.

I was convinced I had to get inside the house to plant cameras. I didn’t need to hear anything private they were saying to one another. I just needed eyes to see her… I mean to see the estate.” I didn’t know who I was kidding.

I got dressed in all black and transferred the images of the camera from the estate to my handheld tablet. I easily hid it from view inside an army type knapsack. The black tinted visor of the motorcycle helmet detracted from my face.

I was going to go out the front, but I was worried Melanie would see me leaving the room. She didn’t need to know my business.

I went into the bathroom and stood on the grimy blue tiles with black mold on the ceiling above me. The window was painted shut and I had to use my Bowie knife to break the seal. I easily slid into the opening and wiggled my way to freedom.

I landed by a green Dumpster putrid with the scent of old Chinese Food from the restaurant down the street.

I had to risk going out to the parking lot to retrieve my motorcycle. Thankfully, it was hidden behind a trailer parking at an odd angle in the parking lot.

I rolled the bike down the block before turning it on and driving the few minutes to where the estate was located.

It was broad daylight and I used the tablet to confirm the family had left the premises. Gillian was alone with the staff.

I used my newly acquired technical savvy courtesy of Melanie to bypass their Security System on the left quadrant of the property. It was only down for a minute. There was no sign of rabid dogs snarling for a chance to get a piece of me when I scaled the fence. The grounds were immaculate. The sprawling landscape led to a tennis court with leaves and blotches of slush littering the concrete.

It wasn’t a surprise to see the staff entrance propped open by a piece of metal. I moved silently into the kitchen and ducked down when the chef came out of the walk-in fridge. He was preparing pork chops already seasoned with a medley of spices to wet my appetite.

“I wonder if I could request something different for supper. I don’t want to be a bother, but I’ve recently become a Vegan. I have a few recipes you can follow to make it easier.” The sweater adhered to Gillian’s body like glue and made me hunger for what was hidden underneath.

I could’ve easily stood up and announced myself. It was tempting, but it wasn’t like there was a future for us. I couldn’t possibly break up her happy family. Knowing I was alive was drama she didn’t need in her life.

“I have made many Vegan dishes. Leave it in my capable hands and I promise you something extraordinary. Don’t tell anybody, but my wife is a Vegan. She’s the one that taught me meat doesn’t have to be the only thing on the menu. I have to say having you around is a breath of fresh air compared to the others.” I was walking close to the fire and could easily find myself getting burned.

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who can see it. I think I’m going to go downstairs and swim a few laps. I need to clear my head. I could use something strong to drink to take the edge off.” The chef looked around. I stayed motionless so close that I could almost touch her.

“The wine cellar is fully stocked, but I would like to share with you a family recipe passed down from one generation to the next.” He rummaged in the fridge and came up with a glass jar. “I’m going to give you one shot glass full. You won’t need anything more than that.” He poured the shot and gave Gillian the chance to smell the contents.

“I do like the combination of apples and cinnamon.” She hammered it back and slammed the glass down after shaking her head from the effects. “That does have the kick of a Missouri mule. Don’t be surprised if you find it all gone.” She took another shot then left his company with him returning to the fridge to grab some necessary supplies.

I don’t know what compelled me, but I decided to follow like she had a makeshift leash around my neck with a chain attached. I made sure before entering the premises to navigate their security cameras. I made sure it was on a loop to discourage the possibility of security announcing their presence. I had to remain invisible.

I realized I didn’t have to place any cameras on the property. I had a certain device which I could stick into the main server for the cameras to make it possible to see everything they did on my tablet. I found the room down the hall with the door wide open. I heard a painful moan coming from the bathroom. It was my luck that whatever he ate didn’t agree with him.

The room was small and cramped, but it wasn’t like I was going to take up residence. The bank of monitors was showing exactly what I wanted them to. I retrieved the device from my pocket and placed it into the back of the machine. I had to wait for 30-seconds. It was the longest 30-seconds of my life. I had what I needed, but I still couldn’t leave without seeing her one more time.

I saw her using a door to the basement and I went down to find the lights licking the stillness of the water in the indoor pool. I thought I would find her in the middle of her work out going back and forth across the rectangular surface of the pool. I was a little disappointed.

My heart sank and I knew my window of opportunity was closing fast. I had seen her up close and personal. It wasn’t enough to satisfy my desire to speak to her in person. It was probably better this way. I had made a mess out of everything by leaving everybody to believe I was dead. It wasn’t like I had planned to disappear. I remembered the day like it was yesterday.

There was a strong current and I was being battered by the waves. I could see her debating on whether or not to save me or the child. It must have torn her up inside, but she did the right thing.

I was pulled under with the bubbles surrounding me until I lost consciousness. I somehow made it to the surface and woke up on the beach several miles from where I was.

I came across a camp and stayed out of sight to overhear their conversation. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth. They knew I was responsible for taking what was theirs.

Their plan was to kidnap me until I gave them the information they were looking for. I had to keep them from getting their hands on me. The storm gave me a way to exit. Trying to save the child made me a hero posthumously.

I was deep in thought and wasn’t even thinking about where I was.

I turned and saw Gillian coming out of a room where she had gone to change. She was in this breathtaking tiny red two-piece bikini leaving little to the imagination.