And she knew Jack would come.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jack exited the bar, holding on to the door a little as he did so in order to keep his balance. His eyes scanned the bikes lined up along the sidewalk.
Either he was more plastered than he thought, or his bike was gone.
“No bloody way-”
“Mr. Thane.”
Jack turned to face the source of the voice. Alex slowly approached him, a concerned look in his hazel eyes. “Sir, can I get you a ride home?”
Jack’s gaze narrowed. He swayed slightly in his stance, but at least his vision wasn’t blurry. “You’ve got nerve.”
“I’m sorry, sir. I had no choice.”
“Oh?”
Alex smiled a nervous smile. “As per your own orders, Mr. Thane, I am to keep Miss Drake safe at all costs. If you get on your bike right now, a number of things might happen. You could kill yourself. You could kill someone else. You could actually make it back to the apartment, with a long angry ride behind you, and then you and Miss Drake could fight. Again. All of those things would hurt her in some way.”
Jack stared at Alex. For a long time, he didn’t speak. And then he turned to face him fully and closed the distance between them in two long strides. To Alex’s credit, the man didn’t back up.
“Where is my goddamned bike, Alex?” Jack’s tone had lowered to a growl. His teeth were clenched. His blue eyes sparked dangerously.
“I’m sorry, boss, but I can’t-”
Alex was cut off when Jack suddenly grabbed the younger man by the neck and swung him around to slam him up against the nearby brick wall. Despite his altered state of mind, Jack’s body moved as it had been trained to, like lightning. The attack was so fast, Alex hadn’t seen it coming, and his breath left his lungs with the impact.
“Do you have any idea how stupid it is to touch another man’s ride, my friend?”
The voice that asked the question was not Jack’s. It came from behind him. Jack released Alex and turned around. Alex dropped to his feet and managed to at least catch himself solidly.
Avery stood a few feet away, half of his Hell’s Angels chapter behind him. It was a motley looking crew, at best.
Alex found himself taking that step back after all.
Annabelle started the water running in the shower and quickly disrobed. She let the clothing lay where it fell and made certain the water was hot enough that it would cloud up the glass door in a matter of short minutes.
Then she got in and let it soak her through. She was already clean, having just showered the night before, but once you’re under the hot water, it’s sort of automatic to go ahead and wash up anyway.
After she’d shampooed and conditioned and soaped and rinsed, she shut the water off, and the multiple angled shower heads surrounding her stopped spraying hot water.
She stepped out, toweled off and pulled on one of the plush robes hanging in a closet within the giant bathroom. It felt good on her skin, warm and comforting. She didn’t bother dressing, as she knew the massage therapist would only have her undress again anyway.
She left the bathroom just as there was a knock on her door.
“Come in.”
The door opened slowly “Miss Drake, this is Victoria Albrecht.” Simon stood in the doorway and motioned to a woman who was two steps behind him. “She’s the massage therapist that Alex hired.” He stepped into the room, retaining a respectful social distance between himself and Annabelle, as she was only wearing a robe. And none of Jack’s employees wanted to cross him on that particular matter.
Victoria Albrecht was a large woman, and Annabelle would have placed her somewhere in her late fifties to early sixties. She was big boned and stout and her skin had that ruddy Germanic complexion that said her body possessed of purely Anglo-Saxon genes and nothing more.
She smiled at Annabelle, flashing teeth that were well cared for. Annabelle figured a lot of that had to do with how much the woman was most likely paid. Jack wasn’t known to stiff people on tips.
“Hi, Miss Drake. It’s wonderful to make your acquaintance,” she said as she came forward, offering a strong-looking hand. Annabelle took it and smiled back. She was warm to the touch and immediately imparted a sense of calm and trust with that simple gesture. Her smile was honest, and her manner was easy. And instead of the Germanic “Helga-esque” accent Annabelle had been expecting, Victoria’s accent reminded her more of Mary Poppins.
It was instantly endearing. Annabelle was beginning to relax already.
Simon waited in the doorway until he could see that Annabelle was comfortable in the woman’s presence. “I’ll just bring in the equipment,” he told them and then ducked out of the room. He came back in carrying a large plastic case. He set it down in front of Victoria and then straightened. Can I get you anything else, Miss Drake? Mrs. Albrecht?”
Annabelle turned to him. “No, I’m fine – unless there’s anything you’ll need, Mrs. Albrecht?”
“Victoria, dear. And, no. I carry everything in there.” As she spoke, she opened the case and Annabelle and Simon could both see that it contained a portable, retractable massage table and various bottles of oils, a selection of CD’s, and a few scented candles.
Simon waited until Annabelle looked back up at him. He raised his eyebrows questioningly. Will you be okay? His expression asked.
Annabelle nodded. Simon smiled and left the room, closing the door gently behind him.
Victoria asked Annabelle a couple of medical questions as she took things out of her case and began to set up. Annabelle answered the questions to the best of her ability and watched as Victoria lit a fire in the hearth in the master bedroom and set the table up a few feet away. She then took out a CD from the case and turned back to Annabelle.
“Now, I can tell that you’re one who really needs to relax, so I don’t want you trying to make idle chat with me because you think I’m uncomfortable,” she said, smiling. “Is that clear, luv?” Her eyes twinkled and Annabelle couldn’t help but smile back. It was funny because Annabelle had been worried about exactly that. She really just wanted to slip away from herself for a while, and talking would force her to stay in the moment.
“Yes, it’s clear,” Annabelle said.
“Good. When I want you to turn over, I’ll gently tap your shoulder and hold the blanket for you. Got it?”
Annabelle nodded again.
“I’m going to put this in the player,” Victoria said, gesturing toward the built-in speakers in the ceiling. The stereo system’s controls were hidden in a closet in the hall joining the weight room and the bedroom. Albrecht most likely knew this already from having attended to Jack and, possibly, his employees.
“While I do, why don’t you make yourself comfortable on the table. We’ll start with your back, so lay face down. The blankets are heated and you’ll be sure to let me know if you’re uncomfortable with the temperature at any time, right?”
Annabelle nodded. “Okay.”
Victoria disappeared and Annabelle shrugged off the robe. She pulled the folded blanket down on the massage table and then lay on the table, facing down, just as Victoria had told her to. She deftly nudged the sheet back up when she was finished.
As she tucked her arms under the blanket, she listened to the fire crackling in the hearth and the soft sounds of ocean waves and rain that were now playing over the speaker system. Slowly, she began to relax. It was hard not to. The combination of the warm blanket on her naked flesh and the sound of the fire and the rain were like a sedative cocktail.