Living Lies (37 page)
Authors: Kate Mathis
His eyes were tearful when she shifted away.
In the distance Melanie heard the helicopter. There wasn’t much time left.
“What do we do?”
He shook his head, unknowing.
“What will you do? Where will you go?”
“Please, don’t worry about me.”
“How will I see you?” Melanie asked, her breath coming rapidly.
“I’ll come to you.”
“There isn’t anything else you’re going to spring on me later, right? This is it?”
He lips curved upward. “Isn’t this enough?” He tenderly cradled her face. “There’s nothing more. You know more about me than anyone ever has.” He looked above the trees. Melanie knew he was judging the ETA. “I have no more secrets from you.” He let out a deep sigh. “Except…” He squinted and his green eyes sparkled, even beneath the shadowy pines. Her heart beat irregular. His confession could be anything and she braced for the worse. “I slept with Oscar’s wife to get the job.”
She paused. This was unexpected.
“I was just starting my new life – it was a relapse but I haven’t slipped since ... unless you count today.” He was serious, concerned.
“I don’t.”
“I’m sorry. I know I’m not who you expected.” His shoulders dropped as he lifted her to her feet. There was no pain in their goodbye kiss. “I love you, Melanie.”
His gaze was misty as she turned to make her way through the last few rows of trees. The shadows had consumed all the light on the forest floor, causing Melanie to stumble into a shallow roadside ravine. She scrambled to her knees and waved her arms at the low-flying helicopter, folding to the asphalt as the rescue team landed on the vacant two-lane highway.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding out? We’ve been looking for you,” Jack said, bending down to help her to her feet.
“I think I’ve got broken ribs, Jack,” Melanie winced at the pain.
Straining to maintain control over her pain, she held her breath, closed her eyes and tried to focus on something else.
Parker. Retribution.
And Adam.
The sparks of a plan were ignited as she staggered to the helicopter. The blades of the chopper whirled overhead and she was about to succumb to her exhaustion but she was overcome with joy. From the hatch, looking worried, was her mentor, the cavalry…
Agent Ben Jackson.
EPILOGUE
He stood cloaked in darkness, at the edge of her hospital bed. It’d been over 24 hours since he left her at the forests edge and now half her face had swollen, unrecognizable. How could he have allowed himself to believe that the Universe or who ever controlled fate would grant him happiness?
He loved her. And that love nearly killed her. Adam tried to swallow down the grief – he felt as though he’d already lost her. What if Melanie had died? He knew for certain that she would if…
He stared longingly. His heart ached at the sight of her bruised and broken body lying there with an IV attached to her arm. How was he going to stop loving her?
Adam could feel the darkness enveloping him, the old familiar feeling of despair creeping inside his bones. He stood watching over his beloved as he fought to keep his demons at bay. He had sworn never to return to his old life but there was no choice. He saw the look in Parker’s eyes – he would not stop until Melanie was six feet under.
The cold was beginning, turning his heart to stone when a remarkable thing happened.
Melanie stirred, opening her eyes – though the left was only a slit. She moved her arms, reaching with the one not attached to a tube, and yanking the needle from the inside bend of her elbow. A soft guttural groan escaped her throat. She bent her arm, fingers to her shoulder, minimizing the pain. Then, before he could stop her, she kicked her legs off the bed and crumpled to the floor.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He asked, rushing to her side.
“I’m getting out. What are
you
doing here?” She asked, gripping his shirt to help pull herself up.
“I was checking in on you and now I’m putting you back to bed.” He tried to lighten his dour mood. “You need to rest, Mel.” She leaned into his chest. Adam’s heart swelled. “Sweetheart, let me get you back into bed.”
Melanie nodded. “Unless you can sneak me out of this place.”
“Are you being mistreated?”
“I don’t like needles. The morphine makes me feel … yucky.”
“Back to bed,” he grinned, lifting her as carefully as humanly possible.
“Will you hold me?”
The moisture filled his eyes, “Of course.” How could he leave her? He set her down and crawled in beside her. She leaned back into his arms and slept. “Melanie?”
“Hmm.”
“I’m going to have to leave soon. I need to fix some complications and I don’t know for how long I’ll be gone.” He swallowed the lump in his throat.
“We can work together,” she said drowsily. “A team.”
“No. It’s better for both of us if I leave.”
She opened her eye, it was clear, alert.
“What are you saying, exactly?” Her words slurred slightly from her inflated lips, and he heard the tremor in her voice.
He said nothing, knowing his voice would crack if he tried.
After a long silence she muttered, “Your curse has ended, I’m alive.”
He shook his head.
“I didn’t die, Adam. If you hadn’t noticed I’m right here.”
“You’re in a hospital bed, Mel.”
“This? This is nothing I’ve been in worse shape plenty of times. Besides if not for you I’d never have made it out of that barn.”
“Shhh. No more talking.” He said stroking her hair and kissing the side of her head. “Everything is going to be all right.”
Agent Melanie Ward returns
in Book Two, Second Chance
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to my pint-size support system, Sydney and Samantha for forgiving my imperfections. Thank you Mom and Dad, Frank, Ralph, Kris, Steve and Linda for all the great family discussions.
Thank you Jill Spitz for making this a better story. Anne Kellogg for your enthusiasm and grammatical expertise. Scott Barker for making me try harder. Angie Chiara for lifting my spirits, staying up late to read and for great book selections.
Thanks Amy for being the first to read
Living Lies
.
A special thanks to PowWow Publishing for your tireless efforts and belief in me.
And thanks to Brent or foregoing homemade cooking.
AUTHOR KATE MATHIS
Thank you for reading my first novel Living Lies. When my twin daughters were born, I decided to quite my full time job in Banking and with the support of my family, pursue a life-long dream.
My hope is that by reading Living Lies, you were taken away from everyday worries and entertained by Melanie’s World. I have been blessed and thankful for all the readers who have e-mailed me saying “they just couldn’t put it down.” Yes, I do read all of them. Each time I receive a message, I am touched that someone took the time. Every comment is like a little present.
One last thing...
When you turn the page, Kindle will give you the opportunity to rate Living Lies and share your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter. If you enjoyed the book and believe it is worth sharing, please tell your friends about it. I will be forever grateful.
Remember to be kind, life is unpredictable.
Love All,
Kate
Kate Mathis Blog
http://book-writing-tips.blogspot.com
Kate Mathis Website
