Page 4 of Dauntless

CHAPTER TWO

Dane’s expression turned pensive. He took in a sharp breath. During the FBI raid, Angel tried to shoot Vincent but ended up getting shot herself by the police. The bullet went through the side of her lower abdomen. She made it through surgery and was resting in intensive care though her condition was not life-threatening.

How the district attorney decided to charge her so quickly was odd given that she had been missing from her life for years. Angel was found where five other women, including me, were being held, which couldn’t have been a coincidence. Vincent had originally expected Dane to be there and even went as far as revealing his contact had planned for it. He also disclosed that his contact wanted to watch Dane and Angel’s exchange by remote camera. There was still so much more that needed to be investigated. “Angel was the one injured,” I pointed out. “She didn’t kill Vincent. The FBI should have informed the police on all that happened to her. Have they even spoken to her yet?”

“Yes, and that’s the problem,” Dane replied wearily. “Angel told the FBI and police she tried to kill Vincent, and, if given a chance, she’d do it again.”

My mouth went dry. In the brief time I had seen Angel, I noticed some things about her that were quite concerning. The years she’d spent in captivity had left her far from the savvy businesswoman Dane had described. She seemed fragile, like a little child. “Does Angel even realize she was hurting herself? She may not comprehend what she’s saying.”

“Yes and no,” Dane answered with a grim twist to his mouth. “She refused counsel and refused to submit to a mental health evaluation but was quick to answer questions on her life history when asked. She also said she will sign whatever confession they want to give her and go to jail. I don’t understand why she’s doing this or why she’d want to leave Melinda, though she’s now trying to claim she’s not mine.” He cleared his throat. “Now, I have Human Services involved, who have temporarily placed her with Angel’s aunt and uncle who just recently moved to Long Island from Virginia.”

“Why can’t Melinda stay with you?” I asked.

“I must wait for a DNA test before I can have her,” he answered dismally.

My temples pounded as my mind tried to grasp Angel’s situation. I didn’t understand her willingness to destroy the rest of her life. Mainly because her life wasn’t just hers. She had a daughter, Melinda.

Dane’s pain was palpable, cutting through his reserve. After all, he’d done, spending years searching and changing his life to find Angel, only to be rejected in the end. It was all too much.

I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him close. “She has to be lying, Melinda looks like you. Angel needs to know how hard you looked for her and all you did to save her. She shouldn’t want to put you or Melinda through this.”

“I’m sorry to burden you with this,” he said and sighed heavily. “I just can’t believe what’s happened to Angel. I know I’ll have to accept it and, honestly. I had such hope….” He took a deep breath and firmly adjusted his tie. “Anyway, I wanted to explain why I won’t be returning to Seattle for a while. I’ll have to go back to my house in New York City. New York is the only thing Angel is fighting for. She’s demanding to be imprisoned there, none of us are sure why. However, her family is offering to take custody of her there if need be. I think it would be good to have her back in New York around all her friends, family and all her success. I’ve been trying to get her to talk and remember, but she won’t talk to me.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” I said. “I mean they can’t keep her, can they? What about her injuries? That must prove she was injured by whoever was holding her.”

He sighed. “She’s a masochist. She claims all injuries were of her own volition.”

“I wish I could help you both,” I replied empathetically.

“You can,” he held me at arms distance, his eyes meeting my own. “Come to New York with me, Gia.”

I bit into my lip. From the little I learned about Dane, he would be alone in New York, having distanced himself from his family and put so much of his time into work and finding Angel. I wanted to go with him, but I also had responsibilities back in Seattle. “I wish I could, but I must get back to Perfetto. I need to get things back on track there, check on my father, my friends. I have some legal issues—”

“I understand, but I hope you can, even if it’s just a weekend visit,” he whispered. His warmth and his citrus cologne surrounded me as he placed his hands low on my waist. “I’ll give you an open ticket. I know that’s selfish, but I need you with me. You would make things better.”

I didn’t say yes, and I knew that I should be cautious, but then his lips were on mine. They were soft, and the caress was warm. I parted my lips inviting more, which he indulged. His tongue stroked, coaxed, seduced for more. My arms closed around his broad shoulders, pressing in. He groaned as his hands moved around to grip my buttocks, pulling me hard against his firm build, his erection forming between our pressed bodies. My body clenched tight aching to feel him inside me again, and the more he touched, the hotter I became. He rolled his hips against me, and a moan escaped my lips. I was being carried away, but I couldn’t allow myself to. I broke away and stepped back. When he eyed me questioningly, I struggled with a way to explain it, but then the door swung open. I was immediately relieved when I found that Elliott was the person who had entered.

A ghost of a smile appeared on Elliott’s lips as his eyes shifted between the two of us. “Don’t stop on my account.”

“Stopping wasn’t my idea,” Dane replied, but he didn’t try to take hold of me again.

“We can’t, not out in the open with everything going on,” I explained, my tone, soft.

“I’ll close the door,” Elliott said in a teasing tone, though he was already shutting it anyway.

Even though the three of us were alone now, the nagging words of Stuart filtered through my mind. I couldn’t allow any more public displays of affection if it would hurt my chances of getting justice. I didn’t know what to do, but for now, I casually went over and picked up my discharge papers to add to my bag.

“Did you get enough information from the interview?” I asked him.

“Yes, but what we need is more from Angel.” Elliott rubbed his jaw. “Did Dane tell you?”

I nodded. “Yes, and I hope this all works out.”

Elliott blew out his breath. “We do, too. So, you’re all right with speaking to her? We could go to her room now if you want.”

My mouth dropped open. “What? Me??”

“I didn’t tell her about your plan because I don’t agree to it,” Dane told Elliott. “Gia doesn’t need to get any more involved. If Angel wouldn’t tell me, she won’t tell her.”

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