Behind His Eyes - Truth (28 page)

She sighed. “I remember wanting you. I’d spent half the night dreaming about you until I gave up and stayed awake. That’s why I was so tired.”

The red dissipated as green prevailed. “You dreamt about me?”

“Yes, it was after our dinner. I hadn’t seen you since… the jail in Iowa.”

He softly kissed her lips and asked again, “You dreamt about me?”

Claire smirked. “Yes, you egotistical narcissist. I did.”

“I’ve dreamt about you, too. I think it may have something to do with seeing your beautiful face above my fireplace every night before I fall asleep.”

The door opened, and a nurse entered. “I’m sorry, sir, Ms. Nichols needs her rest. I’m closing her door to visitors for a while.”

Tony stood with Claire’s hand still in his. “What about…?” he asked.

“I’ll tell them. I was about to tell Harry when you showed up.”

Tony turned to the nurse. “How long is
a while
?”

She looked to Claire. Claire’s answer told Tony everything he wanted to know. Nothing else mattered. “
I
want
Mr. Rawlings here whenever possible.”

Brightness filled his world with a brilliance he’d never known. With Claire’s entire family a few feet away, she said that she wanted
him
. It wasn’t like before—it wasn’t his mandate. No, this was
her
choice, and without warning, she’d laid it on the line. The deep lines of worry and stress momentarily left Tony’s eyes, as soft chocolate saw only Claire. No longer was the world a threat to their relationship. It surrounded them, but they were safe and secure within a bubble of
their
choices and decisions. The nurse’s voice returned Tony to the present as she answered, “Let her sleep through the night.”

Tony nodded. “I can do that.” He smiled as he bent down and kissed Claire. “I’ll be back in the morning.”

“Good. I think you look like you could use some sleep, too.” Her emerald eyes glistened through her bruised face.

Turning toward the door, Tony saw the five sets of glaring eyes watching their good-bye. Her family remained silent as he politely passed their human wall. With Claire’s words ringing in his ears, he smugly walked the gauntlet. Despite their objections, Claire
wanted
him. Therefore, he would be there, and when she was better, she would be in Iowa. Until they found that laptop, they weren’t taking any chances.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Claire’s doctor released her from the hospital and gave her a referral in Iowa City. Tony had planned on driving her directly to the airport and getting her to the safety of his estate; however, Claire refused. She didn’t refuse the impending trip. It was that she wanted to gather some of her things before they left. Tony promised to have everything sent, but she wanted to do it herself.

As they entered Amber’s quiet condominium, Tony remembered emptying Claire’s apartment in Atlanta. He suddenly understood why this was important to her. She hadn’t had the chance to do it then, or even after she was arrested. Again, that had been Tony. Although she didn’t mention the other two moves, Tony suspected that her lack of control in the past, helped facilitate the need she now possessed. Nevertheless, neither one of them was prepared for the sight of her bedroom. Drawers emptied and contents strewn across the floor. Clothes and shoes pulled from her closet; even the bed was disheveled. When they entered, Claire stood paralyzed, looking at the debris. Tony considered again offering to hire someone to clean and pack, but the look in her eyes told him that it was something she needed to do. Biting back his offer, Tony hugged her reassuringly and asked if he could help. Together they righted the wrong that Chester had done. In the grand scheme, it wasn’t much, yet as the room began to take shape, Claire’s determination returned.

As they were finishing her room, building security called to confirm that she was home to receive a delivery. After the flowers at the hospital came addressed to
Claire Nichols Rawls
with the strange note that read:

I’ve learned that
you
are well
…
But now,

there’s another body to add to the count
…

They should have been on guard. Tony should’ve received the delivery; instead, it was Claire. This time it was also flowers, and the card was again addressed to
Claire Nichols Rawls
. When Claire called out for Tony and he read the name on the envelope, he emphatically ordered the deliveryman to take them away.

As upsetting as the name was to both of them, what deflated Tony’s lungs and returned red to his vision were the contents of the envelope—nothing, it was empty. Though he tried to hide his anguish and assure himself that it wasn’t the fulfillment of his dream, he couldn’t contain the emotion from his own voice. “I’ll find out who’s doing this, I promise.”

After a moment, Claire stood straighter and nodded. Although he admired her strength, watching her hold back tears was almost too much. When she started to walk past him toward her room, Tony seized her arm and stopped her movement. Indignantly, Claire looked up at him. His voice echoed against the long hallway and wooden floors. “You are
not
staying here another night.” Despite him sounding to the contrary, Tony was exercising all the self-restraint he possibly could. Claire’s bruise-covered face, pained expression, and the empty envelope had him on the edge of sanity. Obviously, the person with the laptop was warning them that he wasn’t done. Tony’s proclamation wasn’t debatable.

Thankfully, Claire understood. “I know. I want to finish packing.”

This POV was originally written as a gift to my amazing readers in the Goodreads Group: The Consequences Series Group Reads, Therapy, and Hugs. I wrote it as a thank you when that group reached 1000 members. At last check, that amazing group has surpassed 4000 members!

There is no doubt. I have the greatest readers in the world!

The version you’re about to read has been tweaked and edited for Behind His Eyes Truth.

Thank you for joining me on this dark and insightful journey.

~Aleatha

Love is about giving freedom and power, not about gaining control or possession
.

—Jeffrey Fry

Tony steered the rental car through the now familiar streets of Palo Alto. Glancing toward the passenger’s seat, he couldn’t help but grin. Somewhere between the last stoplight and now, Claire had fallen fast asleep. With all she’d been through in the last few days and, of course, her condition, she had every right to be exhausted. Tony understood. Lately, exhaustion had become his norm. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since he was with Claire in Iowa. He definitely hadn’t had one in the last few days. Truthfully, he didn’t anticipate having one for a while. There were just too many unanswered questions and too much uncertainty. Focusing on the road before him, Tony contemplated the recent events.

It seemed like a lifetime ago, but in actuality it had only been six days since Claire had come to Iowa, not just Iowa, but to the estate. Reaching to his right, Tony gently brushed her hair away from her sleeping face. Through the dimly lit interior, Claire’s features came into focus and his smile quickly faded. Though difficult to see by the dashboard light, the swelling near her eye was no longer red. Now, it was blue. He knew from experience it would change to purple, green, and then yellow before it faded away. Tony wished with all his might that he didn’t know that information, that he hadn’t seen her face this way before, and that neither one of them had those memories.

Refocusing on the road, Tony pushed the thoughts of her
accident
away. This wasn’t the time. They had too many other issues at the moment. The most pressing was getting Claire back to Iowa. Tony chastised himself. If he’d only kept her there in the first place. If he’d never paid off Chester. If he could start his whole damn life over. None of that was possible. Besides, when did Anthony Rawlings have regrets? He reminded himself: regrets don’t solve problems—actions do.

By God, Tony was taking action! Tomorrow Claire was going with him to Iowa, and he would move heaven and earth to find out who’d sent the flowers with the name
Rawls
. Thankfully, Claire had agreed. This wasn’t like the first time. They both knew the estate was the safest place; however, if she woke in the morning with a changed mind… Tony wasn’t against forceful persuasion. Her safety was not debatable.

Hearing Claire groan, he turned, seeing her shift in the seat and wince. Slowing the car for a red light, Tony reached over and pushed the button to fully recline her chair. He watched as she settled against the soft leather and her expression relaxed.

The car behind him honked, alerting Tony that the light had changed. Pushing the gas pedal, he thought about how it wasn’t only the
light
that had changed: his whole life, her whole life had too. They were going to have a baby! He’d experienced many life-altering events, but none of them had hit him like that news. Everything in his life was planned. Well, everything up until Claire and that ultrasound picture. After she left for California, he’d stared at it for hours. It didn’t look like anything really, mostly fuzz, but it was a part of him.
How could someone he’d never met, who didn’t have a name, and whom he couldn’t even visualize, have captured his heart so completely?

Then with Roach’s call, Tony’s life stood still. Phillip Roach hadn’t kept Claire safe. It wasn’t as if Tony expected miracles from the man, but how difficult was it to keep a psychopath away from Claire?

As Tony pulled the car into the hotel’s garage, he remembered his relief when he entered her hospital room and saw Claire sitting up and awake. Yes, she was bruised and battered; however, he didn’t see the red and blue colors. No, all he saw was green—the most beautiful, sparkling green eyes in the world.

Walking around to Claire’s side of the car, Tony thought
God help the person who tries to stop me from keeping them safe.
As he opened her door, he bent down and kissed her cheek. Instantaneously, he was once again peering into seas of emerald. Despite the week from hell, a smile came to his lips and he said, “I’d gladly carry you to my suite, but I’m afraid we’d attract more attention than either of us wants.”

“I’m pretty sure I can walk.” Claire gripped Tony’s hand as she stepped from the car. Although she tried to pretend it didn’t exist, pain radiated behind her gaze as her jaw clenched and body tensed with the effort of standing. Before he could speak, she continued, “I could do this alone, but I’m so thankful I don’t have to.” Unexpectedly, she tilted her face toward his and gave him a fleeting kiss. “Thank you.”

He contemplated telling her how none of this would’ve happened if she’d just stayed in Iowa. The words were right there, wanting to come out; instead, he tenderly wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his embrace. Nearing his lips to her ear, he whispered, “Thank you for letting me.”

She didn’t respond verbally; the squeezing of his hand as she molded against his side was enough. Tony scanned each corner of the quiet garage as they walked toward the elevator. Until they recovered Claire’s laptop, there was no guarantee of safety. Tony was certain that Chester’s accomplice was the one sending the flowers. They’d accessed Claire’s information on her computer and now this person was setting them up. The question was what did he want? Was it money to keep the past buried? Would he try to finish what Chester started? Tony didn’t know, and that uncertainty was hell.