Page 51 of Always Mine
“Mr. Stefano? Did you want to visit with her?”
“No, I was here all morning. But I don’t want him near her.”
“He won’t leave. Can I give you a lift somewhere?”
Frank asked, “Who are you?”
“Will Kirkland. Don’t you remember me? I grew up with Diego and Annie. I left town to become a Secret Service Agent.”
“Oh, yeah.”
Somebody else entered the room. Annie’s mother. She ignored the others. “Frank, what are you doing here? You were supposed to wait for me at the front door.”
Frank closed his eyes and deflated. Diego felt sick. This man had been a father to him.
Her mother, Lucy, led him out without a word.
Diego sank into the chair. Annie hadn’t budged. Will pulled up a chair. “I have to go back to D.C.”
“Thanks for staying so long. I hope you don’t pay for being here for so many days.”
“If I do, I do.”
They stood. Will stepped forward and hugged him. “I care about your sorry ass, buddy.”
“Love you, too.” Diego choked out the words.
Again, he was alone with Annie. He dropped back down into the chair.
Suddenly, she turned restless. “No…no…please Denzi stop. No…” The last word came out long…and painful.
Not knowing what to do, he leaned over her and gently grasped her shoulders. “Annie, love. You’re safe. You’re dreaming.”
Her eyes flew open. “What? Where…” Her head plopped back onto the pillow. She was breathing hard.
“Come on, breathe with me. In, out, slowly. In…out…”
She calmed.
He sat back down. Tears flowed down his cheeks. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
She turned sleepy eyes toward him. “Things go wrong when we’re together, Diego.”
“Maybe.”
Her lids closed.
He was bereft.
Chapter 8
The day after Annie was rescued, Jackson couldn’t concentrate on the financial reports before him. He sat back and let the warm air coming through open windows soothe him. In some ways, he was feeling guilty, though hehadtried to save Denzi all those years ago. But she got lured back every time he helped her until his attention to her spooked the gang and they threatened to hurt her if he didn’t leave her alone.
Adam Phillips came to the door. “Hi, Jackson. I hate to bother you with this kind of thing, but I can’t calm Annie’s students. They insist on seeing you.”
“Me, why?”
“Word must have gotten around that you found Annie’s kidnapper.”
