Page 44 of Hacker Salvation

“So with the person coming after Annabella dead, are you heading back to Ft. Lauderdale?” Aaron asked.

“Nope. I plan to stay out here. I might have to head back to Boston and talk with Addie about our mom. I know she said she had to head back to her family. She told her current family one of her cousins was sick and she was going to help them for a week.”

Annabella tapped the side of the bed. “How is she flying by herself? I thought she had agoraphobia?”

I couldn’t help but grind my teeth. “She’s taking medicine and works with a psychiatrist. According to her, Henry, her new husband, is why she changed. It wasn’t because of the two kids she left behind. I don’t know why Addie hasn’t kicked her out of her house. I don’t want anything to do with the bitch. But Addie’s going to need me there for her.”

“You’re going to have to go to Ft. Lauderdale to pick up your stuff. If I sent the private jet, would she get on it? We could all spend the weekend down in Ft. Lauderdale,” Aaron said.

Flying on the private jet would expose Addie to fewer people. If Annabella was spending the weekend in Ft. Lauderdale with me, my sister might get on the plane to meet her in person. “I plan to call her tonight. I will ask her if she feels up to going.”

We spent the next hour joking and laughing before Annabella fell asleep. Aaron pulled Daisy off Neal’s lap. Nate stretched his arms. “You guys are welcome to come stay at the house if you want. Even if you don’t come back on the plane with us, the house is yours to use,” Neal said as he stood from the chair.

“Thanks, but I think we’ll stay at the hotel until we find something.”

Aaron pulled Daisy into his arms, “You’re really staying out here?”

“I would go anywhere she wants me to. She’s never getting rid of me. I plan to find an apartment and open a division of Blackwood out here.”

Daisy came over and wrapped her arms around me. “I will never be able to tell you how much you and Sam rescuing me from my kidnapper five years ago means to me. I’m going to miss seeing you every day at Blackwood Security in Ft. Lauderdale. But my friend is getting a good man. Take care of her, John. She needs you.” Daisy kissed my cheek then grabbed Neal and Aaron’s hands and walked out the door.

The room was quiet after everyone left. I leaned back in the chair and watched Annabella sleep. I couldn’t help but wonder how I had fallen for someone so fast. I’d never expected to see myself in a relationship. Now all I could do was wonder what tomorrow would bring.

Annabella’s eyes fluttered open, and she tried to smile. “What are you thinking about so deep in thought?”

“I love you. I know it’s early. You don’t have to say anything back. I will be here for the long haul.”

Annabella reached for my hand and squeezed it. “I don’t have to wait. I feel the same way. I always laughed when I heard about people falling in love fast. But when it feels so right, why fight it?” She wiped a wayward tear away. “I love you, John.”

I’d fallen for her the second I walked into the sheriff’s station. She’d shown me so many times over the last week how genuine she was, and she was nothing like the tabloids made her out to be. She took time to talk to my sister whenever Addie called.

A couple of hours later, the doctor came and discharged Annabella.

19

John

Annabella fell asleep on the car ride to the hotel. “Beautiful, you need to get up. We’re at the hotel.”

She slowly stretched in the seat next to me. I handed the valet the keys to the car and rushed to Annabella’s side. “Anna, scoot over to the edge, and I can carry you inside.”

I thought she might not let me carry her, but she scooted to the edge so I could wrap my arms around her and pick her up. She nuzzled her face into my chest so no one could see who she was. The press hadn’t caught wind of what had happened yet, and we were trying to keep it from them if we could.

“You can put me down now,” she said once the door to the elevator closed.

I clicked the button for the top floor. “I want you close.”

She smiled. “I can stand close to you.”

“You’re stuck in my arms. I don’t know if I will ever let you out of them. You scared me.”

Annabella turned and kissed my neck then wrapped her arms around me and squeezed harder. “I promise not to have any more crazy stepmoms try to kill me.”

I didn’t answer her. The elevator door opened, and I headed straight for the room. I sat her down on the couch in the middle of the hotel room. “Do you want to take a shower?”

When Annabella nodded, I headed toward the bathroom connected to her room and started the shower to get the water nice and warm. We would need to rebandage her side. The bullet had grazed her, but luckily she hadn’t needed stitches.

I walked back to the living room. Annabella was staring out the window.

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