Page 110 of Deadly Designs

“What club?”

“The HMMC,” Luke replied. At Christian’s blank look,he explained, “Happily Married Men’s Club.”

Christian stopped dead in his tracks. He didn’t denythe relationship but clarified, “We’re not at the marriagestage.”

Logan chuckled. “Yeah, you are.”

#

Aja Blue was eager for Christian to return. Sheenjoyed spending time with Kayne, Presley, and Nicole, but sheneeded to see him. She was still unsettled after their individualbrushes with death, and he calmed her.

Though the nurse had removed the ice, Aja Blue’scheek was numb. There was no pain yet, and she hoped there wouldn’tbe any.

When Christian returned, it was with several peopleshe didn’t know who turned out to be from the FBI, the local policedepartment, the Department of Homeland Security, and otheragencies. She would never keep track of everyone’s name.

Each one took turns asking questions, so she had torelive the horror repeatedly. They wouldn’t allow Christian oranyone else in the room except for an occasional nurse, but sheknew Christian was outside the door. He made sure to check on herafter each person left.

When it was finally over, she was wiped. She wantedto stay awake and be with Christian for as long as possible. Hewould leave soon. They needed to discuss their relationship and howto make it work, but she fell fast asleep.

She expected to see him when she woke, but the roomwas empty. Panic flared. He wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye,would he?

The door opened, and it was as if a light switched onto brighten a dark room. He did that to her.

“Oh, hey, you’re awake.”

He walked over and kissed her.

“My bosses had to leave. They wanted to say goodbye,but we weren’t going to wake you.”

“I wish you would have,” she murmured. “They areincredible men.”

“They are.”

“What are we going to do, Christian?”

She didn’t mean for the words to come out sopanicked, but that was how she felt.

He kissed her again and took her hand as he satbeside her bed. “How about I stick around a couple of days to getyou settled, and we take it from there?”

Aja Blue sighed. A reprieve. She’d take any time shecould get with him. In case he needed a reminder, she said, “I loveyou.”

“I love you too, babe.”

Then he rose to his feet, bent over, and kissedher.

# # #

Epilogue

Christian glanced at Aja Blue inthe passenger seat. They were almost at the COBRA Securitiescompound, and it would be her first look at the place. He hoped sheloved it as much as he did.

The last week had been hell for her. Still stitchedup and sore, she’d sat down with him for several televisioninterviews. Instead of making them fly to New York or Los Angeles,the stations sent people to Norfolk. That was thanks to TKOProductions, who handled all the details and ensured they weren’toverwhelmed with requests. Though most of the questions had beenabout Heathcliff Sinclair, Polly’s death had drawn intenseinterest. Aja Blue had been careful to paint her in a favorablelight.

She had planned and paid for Jay Guitterez’s funeral.It had been a small gathering filled with heartfelt stories andmany tears. Charlotta, the manager of Crystal Galaxy, had insistedon a separate public memorial. Dozens of Jay’s drag queen friendshad attended, and the facility had been packed to the rafters. Thenight had resulted in an extravagant showcase filled with fanfare,laughter, and more tears. Aja Blue had taken the stage to tell thecrowd how proud Jay would have been and how it was the perfecttribute to his memory. With Charlotta’s help, Aja Blue establishedthe scholarship in Jay’s name that Eleanor Sinclair had promised.All the proceeds raised at Crystal Galaxy from the memorial wentdirectly to the fund. Aja Blue planned to release a line of Jay’sdesigns that would also filter into the endowment.

After that, they traveled to Iowa for Polly’sservice. Though Polly and her parents hadn’t spoken for years,they’d arranged a small ceremony for her family. Instead of an opencasket, her parents had chosen to close it and display photos fromPolly’s youth, when she’d been a beloved child television star.

Aja Blue told him that Polly’s parents had knownabout her career as a stripper and porn star, and that was why theyhadn’t spoken to their daughter in ages. Christian assumed theydidn’t know she’d prostituted herself—if Dirk was to be believed.Since there was no proof, he chose not to trust his word.

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