Stolen Heart Page 6

That meant Monty was out for the night. He usually went out every night with his thug gang of drug dealers and didn’t return until the early morning hours. Still, Annika didn’t want to waste any time. She slipped on a light jacket, tucking her taser gun into the pocket, and walked out of her apartment. It was show time.

  ***

  Patience paid off for Kieran. Rather than go into Itch to look for Annika, he decided to wait outside the back entrance to her apartment. He wanted to follow her again tonight. And there she was, looking just as adorable as she had the night before. She was dressed all in black and took off down the street on foot.

  Kieran had experienced a rush of relief upon seeing her. He wasn’t so sure she would return to the First Dimension after she mysteriously disappeared last night. After the relief over seeing her settled in, he also felt an intense attraction settle into him as he watched her walk. She was sure and determined…a woman with purpose. That confidence was sexy as hell. And there was no sense in denying it. He wanted her again.

  He had to admit that he was beyond fascinated by her. What type of lady, who led a posh lifestyle as a Royal, gave it all up to live in squalor and help women escape their abusers? Oh, she was tough on the outside but she clearly had some softness on the inside. Not that any of it was reserved for Kieran. Nope. He had her wrath, that was for sure and he had to figure a way to bust past it if they were going to be able to work together.

  Which gave him an idea. Rather than just follow her tonight, he’d help her with whatever she had to do. And he wouldn’t give her a choice about it. He smiled internally to himself. Brilliant!

  Stepping his pace up to a light jog, Kieran quickly caught up to Annika and fell into step beside her. She glanced to the left when she felt his presence, probably intent on just giving whatever person dared to encroach on her space an irritated glare. When she realized it was Kieran beside her, her eyebrows shot up in surprise and she actually stumbled. He reached out, grabbing her arm until she was steady on her feet. He shot her a blazing smile. She didn’t return it but put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Kieran?”

  “Oh, out for a stroll. Fancy meeting you out here.”

  Annika rolled her eyes at him. “I don’t believe for a minute you just happened upon me. You were following me,” she accused.

  Kieran held up his hands. “Guilty as charged. But I’m not just following you. I want to help you with whatever you have to do tonight. So I can prove my trustworthiness to you.”

  Annika snorted. “What makes you think I even want to trust you?”

  “Well, you probably don’t, but I want you to trust me. I know I screwed up by threatening Saving Grace. I was hoping I could make it up to you.”

  Annika looked at him for a moment, as if she was considering his offer. Then she shook her head. “No. Go back to your hotel, Kieran. I’ll come there after I finish this.” She took off walking again.

  With just a few paces, Kieran caught up to her again and fell in step beside her. She glanced at him but kept walking. Neither of them said a word.

  After two more blocks, Annika stopped and turned to him, glaring. She blew out a frustrated breath. “Get lost, Kieran. I don’t want or need your help.”

  “Too bad. You’ll have it. I’ll be right by your side tonight. So you might as well tell me what we’re doing.”

  “Are you always this much of a pain in the ass?”

  Kieran grinned. “Not always.”

  Annika looked up and down the street, as if she was trying to come to a decision as to what to do with him. Finally, she sighed. “Fine. You can help. It can’t hurt to have some muscle.” She took off walking again and Kieran followed.

  “So what are we doing tonight?”

  “We’re rescuing someone.”

  “A damsel in distress?”

  “As a matter of fact, yes. We’re going to help a very special woman start a new life of peace.” The look on Annika’s face was priceless when she said that. It was a mixture of hope and joy. Her passion for helping women is what made her happy.

  “You make me a bit jealous, you know,” Kieran said.

  Annika gave him a startled look. “Why?”

  “Because you have such passion for what you do. You’re a very lucky woman. Most people just slog through their days, counting the hours until it’s over so they can start the same thing over again. They work, only to work. With no fulfillment. What you have here is special, Annika.”

  As the sounds of their footsteps echoed off the sidewalk, Kieran could see Annika considering his words. She pulled her lower lip in between her teeth and her brows were scrunched in consternation.

  Suddenly, she stopped walking and turned to look at Kieran. Her lavender eyes were wide and luminescent. “Thank you for pointing that out to me. I thought I did this type of work because…well, because I had to. But I think you’re right. I do this because I want to… and I love it.” She gave him a full smile then and his breath caught. Had he ever seen a more beautiful woman? He didn’t think so.

  Kieran couldn’t help himself. His hand reached out and cupped Annika’s face. His thumb gently traced her cheekbone. He watched as her eyes widened in surprise, then closed as if relishing his touch. It was the perfect opportunity for him to lean in for a kiss, but before he got the opportunity, her eyes flew open and she batted his hand away from her face.

  “Hey. Watch the hands buster. This isn’t a date night, you know.” Annika was scowling at him and it caused Kieran to burst into laughter. “And stop laughing. It’s not funny.”

  Kieran’s laugh turned into chuckles. “I’m sorry. But you’re such an enigma, Annika. It keeps me on my toes. But don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy my touch.” His last words were seductive yet taunting. He expected her to blush and look away.

  Instead, she actually took a step in closer to him, placing her hands lightly on his chest. She leaned up on her tip toes, placing her lips by his ear. “I’ll tell you a secret,” she whispered softly. Goosebumps broke out on his arms. “I do enjoy your touch. But I’ll tell you when and where you can touch me.”

  Stepping back from Kieran, she reiterated. “Now is not the time.” Then she winked at him and took off walking again.

  CHAPTER 9

  Sheila Williams lived about another ten blocks away and Annika used that time to explain her situation to Kieran. She told him it would be a quick in and out. Sheila’s boyfriend would be gone for the night, she would only bring with her a small bag, and they’d escort her to Saving Grace.

  Didn’t sound too complicated to Kieran. “What happens when her boyfriend comes home and finds her gone?”

  “He’s a real mean son of a bitch. He’ll go crazy. She tried to leave him once about a year ago. She went to stay with a friend. He beat her so bad she was in the hospital for a week.”

  Kieran was astounded. “Why isn’t this fuck-wad in jail?”

  “Because Sheila refused to press charges. He threatened to kill her and she believed him. So she got out of the hospital, and went home to him. It’s the pattern an abused woman goes through. A vicious cycle.”

  “Is there any way he can find her at Saving Grace?”

  Annika shook her head. “No. Our shelter is private and not disclosed to anyone involved in the system. I’m actually surprised you were able to find information on it. I have it hidden under so many fake corporations, it should have been undetectable.”

  Kieran heard the worry in Annika’s voice and wanted to reassure her. “Don’t worry about it, Annika. I only was able to find the information because of the vast financial resources I have, plus a little magic. Saving Grace is safe.”

  Annika looked at him skeptically and didn’t say anything. He saw that her brow was furrowed with worry.

  “Are you expecting any trouble from her boyfriend tonight?”

  Annika shrugged her shoulders. “Probably not. When he goes out for the night, he usually stays gone. But if he
does show up, he sometimes has a posse of thugs with him so be prepared.”

  Kieran didn’t say anything but he wasn’t worried. In fact, he’d been so stuck in his boring life lately, he’d probably welcome a fight tonight.

  Finally, they arrived at Sheila and Monty’s apartment. It was in a fairly bad section of the city. There was garbage littering the street and iron bars on most of the windows. After walking up two flights of stairs, Annika knocked on Sheila’s door. After a few moments, it opened just a crack. Kieran saw just a sliver of a black woman’s face peeking out, but he didn’t miss the horrendous bruise that covered the eye looking at them.

  “It’s me, Sheila. Open up.”

  The door closed and Kieran could hear the inside chain being unlatched. Then the door swung open and Kieran sucked in his breath.

  Sheila Williams’ face was a patchwork of bruises and cuts. Both eyes were blackened, with burst blood vessels in the white areas. Blood was crusted in both of her nostrils and there was a cut running straight down the middle of her bottom lip. Her right cheek sported a cut that was gaping open but it wasn’t actively bleeding. Her eyes held such misery and sadness, it made him want to weep. And one thing Kieran was not…a weeper.

  Kieran’s blood started to boil. He couldn’t even imagine a man doing this to a woman. Women were meant to be cherished, not battered.

  Sheila took one look at Annika, who opened her arms up. The beaten woman burst into tears as she flung herself into Annika’s embrace.

  Annika hugged Sheila tight, rubbing her back and murmuring soothing words. After a few moments, Sheila pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She looked at Kieran with suspicion.

  “Sheila. This is a friend of mine, Kieran Dunne. He came to help get you moved.”

  “Hi, Sheila.”

  She didn’t say anything but just nodded at Kieran. She probably didn’t trust any man at this point, and Kieran couldn’t blame her.

  “Okay, Sheila. Let’s shake a leg,” Annika said. “I don’t want to take a chance of Monty coming back.”

  Sheila walked deeper into the apartment to get her bag. Annika and Kieran followed her into her bedroom. She had two large suitcases and a smaller duffel bag. Annika took one look and started shaking her head.

  “I’m sorry, Sheila. But we can’t take all of that. The room at the shelter is very limited and we need to move quickly. I need you to narrow it down to one bag.”

  “Oh, gosh. Annika I forgot you said just one bag. I was just so nervous when Monty left, I just started throwing stuff together. Maybe this was a bad idea.” Sheila was sounding panicky and Kieran noticed she was wringing her hands together.

  “It’s okay. I want you to calm down. It’s going to be fine. Let’s go ahead and open your bags up, and choose what you need.”

  Tears welled up in Sheila’s eyes but she nodded. Kieran watched Annika kneel down beside Sheila and they started repacking one bag. He stood in the bedroom doorway, watching the women. Annika moved swiftly and assuredly. Sheila was a trembling mess of nerves. He couldn’t imagine the courage it was taking for her to do this. And he was beyond impressed with Annika. She knew just what to say and what to do to handle the situation.

  Kieran went on alert as he heard someone sticking a key in the front door and rattling it. Annika and Sheila heard it too. He heard Sheila whisper fearfully, “It’s Monty.”

  They all heard the door open and then close again. “Sheila! Get your ass in here girl.”

  Kieran eased the bedroom door closed and looked around. The bedroom window had a fire escape. “Annika. Take Sheila and get down the fire escape. Now.”

  “What about you?” Annika whispered.

  “I’ll be right behind you.”

  Annika crept to the window and slid it open. It didn’t any noise but the sounds of New York City poured in. Beeping cars, sirens, music. Kieran stood by the door. He heard Monty yell again for Sheila, and he sounded pissed.

  Annika got Sheila to the window and was pushing her out. He watched as she started her way down the fire escape. Annika stuck a leg through but before climbing out, looked at Kieran. “Come on. Let’s go.”

  “On my way.” Kieran started walking to the window and had just reached it when the bedroom door burst open. An enormous black man stood there. Kieran could only assume it was Monty.

  “What the fuck you doin’ in my house?” Monty yelled as he reached into the back waistband of his pants and pulled out a gun. “And where’s Sheila?”

  Holding the gun on Kieran, Monty looked around the room then he bellowed. “Sheila! You better get in here, you bitch.”

  Kieran held his hands out and to the side, so as not to look like a threat. “Sorry, dude. But Sheila’s gone. And you aren’t going to get your mangy hands on her again.”

  Monty’s eyes narrowed and he turned the gun sideways as he pointed it at Kieran. Kieran supposed he thought it made him look gangster style or something. What an idiot. Didn’t he know that messed up your aim?

  “You are so dead.” Kieran knew Monty was close to pulling the trigger so he fired up his magic and sent a wave of concentrated energy to the gun. It heated up fast in Monty’s hand, the metal grip flaring red.

  Monty screamed in pain as his brain processed his hand just took a major third degree burn and the gun fell to the floor. Monty was now bent over at the waist, moaning and looking in bewilderment at the blisters that covered his palm. Kieran used the opportunity to drive an upper cut into the man’s jaw and he went flying backward into the wall. He watched in satisfaction as Monty slumped to the floor, unconscious.

  Stifling the urge to kick the bastard in the ribs, Kieran turned toward the bedroom window. Annika was still there, watching him. “Nice work,” she said.

  “Thanks,” he returned with a grin. “It wasn’t my best, but it got the job done. Now let’s go get Sheila settled into her new home.”

  ***

  A knock on his hotel door pulled Kieran from his thoughts. That had to be Annika. He had been waiting for her for over an hour. He had escorted her and Sheila to Saving Grace and then left so that Annika could get her settled in. Annika promised she would meet him at his hotel as soon as she was finished.

  Walking over to let her in, he found his pulse picking up. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was excited to see her, or dreaded seeing her. She was probably still pissed at him, even though his help tonight had been well received.

  Swinging the door open, his breath caught briefly. She was just as beautiful as ever. Her glossy black hair was causally mussed around her delicate face. She was wearing a cream colored henley t-shirt and olive green cargo pants. Hiking boots accompanied the outfit. She was definitely dressed for travel.

  “How is Sheila doing?” Kieran asked.

  Annika gave a grim smile. “She’s okay. One of the staff is going to take her to an urgent care clinic to look at those injuries she had.”

  Kieran shook his head. “I just don’t get it. How can a man do that to a woman?”

  Annika shrugged her shoulders but looked pointedly at Kieran. “Who knows the minds of men?”

  Kieran snorted. Leave it to Annika to turn the tables on him. “Well, at least she’s safe tonight and hopefully will never have to deal with that again.”

  Annika nodded and walked into the living area. “Yes. And she’s very grateful to you for laying Monty out. If he would have caught her going down that fire escape, he would have shot her dead.” Annika paused and it looked like she was struggling to say her next words. “And I’m grateful too.”

  Wow! An actual exchange of nice words. Miracles never cease. “Well, I was happy to help. And I also hope that you see I’m not such a bad guy.”

  Annika just raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him in skepticism but didn’t say a word

  “Fair enough. Clearly I still have some ass-kissing to do.” He thought he saw the corner of her mouth quirk upwards and he took that as a good sign. “Let’s sit down and tal
k about plans.”

  He swept his arm into the suite, indicating for her to come farther in and take a seat. “Would you like something to eat or some coffee?”

  “I’m good.” Annika plopped down on the sofa. “So what is the plan?”

  Kieran sat at the other end of the couch and turn toward her. “The Scepter has been stolen and brought to the AltVeritas of Balvraine. Are you familiar with it?”

  Annika nodded. “I’ve been there.”

  Kieran waited for her to say more but she didn’t. “It would help if you could expound on that. If you’re going to help me, I could use any information you got.”

  Annika shrugged. “It was when I was younger. I don’t remember much. I know it’s a very small AltVeritas though. Mostly desert.”

  Kieran sighed. “Well, the information we have is that the ruling family is in possession of The Scepter. They are called the Moldevines.”

  “Why did they steal The Scepter?”

  “Who knows. But is a very powerful magical object and in the wrong hands, it could become an immensely dangerous weapon.”

  “Well, what if their intent to use it is pure? What if they don’t intend to use it for malicious means?”

  “Isn’t that sort of beside the point, Annika. They stole The Scepter and it doesn’t belong to them.”

  Kieran swore he saw something like guilt flash across Annika’s face but then it was gone. “Point made. So do you have a basic plan?”

  “I think we keep it simple. Travel to Balvraine and have you infiltrate the palace while glamoured. You figure out where it is kept, and then we both go in and get it.”

  “Sounds easy enough. But I’ll need some materials to help with my glamours.”

  “What sort of materials?”

  “Certain herbs and potion ingredients. I can get them in Myridian. We can make a quick stop there first.”

  Kieran was astounded. Myridian was the country in Vyronas that Annika’s family ruled. He never would have thought she would return there. His information on her was that she had severed all ties with her family and had been disinherited.