The Pawn (Shattered Series Book 1) (3 page)

        A moment later, only the echoing silence lingered.

        “Dear God,” she whispered, sinking to her knees. “Please forgive me for even bringing that man into my life, and I have nothing but shame because of it.” Trembling violently, she wrapped her arms around herself. “What am I going to do? How can I protect Uncle Charles from them? If anything were to happen to him because of me---”

        No longer able to control the flooding tears, she lay down on the floor, uncaring of her carefully made-up face or the wedding gown. Weeping openly, she pressed her cheek against the carpeted floor and mentally embraced the inevitable fate.

        A miserable moment later, she forced herself to stand. Like a drunkard, she staggered to the full mirror.

        With mussed hair, puffy eyes, and tear-stained features, the lifeless woman stared back at her. “My life---it’s over,” she whispered, distraught. “It’s really over.”

        As the awful truth resounded, she had no tears to spare. It was just a horrible acceptance, she realized with a hollow expression.

       
There was no way out.

       Several minutes later, composed, she stepped into the hallway.

        A dead silence filled it.

        Taking an unsteady breath, she forced herself to move away from the door.

        The thick beige carpet muted her steps as she walked, and the hallway seemed endless. Just ahead, at the end of it, the white wall loomed, offering a left or right passage. Wasn’t the walk always long when an unwanted fate waited, she decided, passing the exit door leading to a stairwell.

        In moments, she’d become Mrs. Matthew Addison, she thought, feeling the nausea rise again.

        Perhaps the guillotine was preferable---

        The narrow hall was like tunnel vision, and once more, she forced herself to breathe.

        She stared at the white wall ahead.

        Once she reached it and made a left, her life would change irrevocably, and not for the better. And the one thing that she wanted most---she was losing him. The only man that she’d ever loved----

        “And I’ll never see you,” she whispered, feeling the threat of tears again. “Or ever be with you again. But, I can’t let them hurt you.”

        The white wall seemed dark now, and her every step seemed like a death knell, and in her conscience, she heard its sounding bell ring.

        But, there
was
darkness along the wall, she frowned, slowing her steps. Shadows, to be exact, and they were more than suspicious, especially considering their quick, but quiet movements.

        As the shapes loomed larger along the wall, she halted with surprise. When the two dark-clothed strangers emerged from the corner and came into view, the surprise turned to fear.

        At the end of the hallway, they faced her, and luckily, many feet separated them.

        The only thing visible was their eyes, she thought, swallowing hard, and took a tentative step backwards.

        And they were male----

        Their well-built physiques told that much.

        Identical in weight and stature, standing at well over six feet, they were totally dressed in black garb from head-to-toe, and that included the face masks pulled down to their necks. The black leather gloves covered their large hands, and it was apparent that they’d leave no trace of their activities. Like stealthy creatures, they advanced towards her, and their intent was clear.

        They were here for
her
…

        Heavens, why, she mulled, anxious, rooted to the spot, not really sure of how to react.

        Certainly, she had nothing substantial to offer!

        She shot a fast glance upward.

        Of course, this would be the only area lacking a security camera!

        “Relax,” one of them said, reaching out a hand cautiously, and his tone held an Italian lilt. “We’re not here to hurt you. This’ll be easier if you’d just follow our orders and come without a fight---”

        Releasing a gut-wrenching scream, she turned to flee, but it was almost pointless since the dress weighted her down and the fact that she wore heels. As she stumbled, she lost her balance, and with a hard grunt, she tumbled to the floor. Thank goodness the heels were strapless, she thought, quickly pushing them from her feet. And after all these years, finally, growing up as a scrappy kid on the streets was paying off. After pushing up from the floor, she was on her feet and running again. But, they were closing in fast, she realized, hearing them behind her.

        Within seconds, she reached the door leading to the stairwell.  Breathless, she grabbed the door handle, and to her relief, it wasn’t locked.

        Nearly stumbling, she held onto the rail as she descended, and she heard their running footsteps on the stairs as they pursued her.

        “We’ll cut her off the south end,” one of the strangers said, barking out the response and his voice echoed within the stairwell. “Come on. Let’s move.”

        Not bothering to see if they followed, she charged on, and when her breathless gasps were the only audible sound, moments later, she nearly sagged with relief.

        “Thank goodness,” she gasped, breathless, finally reaching the next level. With a grateful sigh, she leaned against the railing and fought to catch her breath.       

       A noise sounded overhead.

       Startled, heart pounding, she almost tripped as she left the stairs. Over the door, the exit sign hang, and she’d never been more relieved.

       Breathless, eyes wild, she forged ahead.

      But, as she did, a violent explosion rocked the church, sending a roaring deafness through it. Upon impact, she was flung across the short space.

        “Oh!” she cried out, falling to the concrete floor, and then stared upward. With a horrified expression, she caught sight of the falling debris overhead, and it was her last conscious memory.

***

        A short while later, and miles away from the church, tensed, Jarrod stared out the study’s window. When the cell phone rang, he snatched it up. “Is it done?” he asked cryptically, gripping the phone hard. “Do you have Olivia Lange?”

        “Yes, and it sure in the hell wasn’t easy. As a matter of fact, unfolding circumstances nearly made it impossible and there’s a dire situation that must be taken care of immediately,” Marc Angelo muttered from the other end, and then he hesitated. “You’re not going to believe what’s happened. I’ll let you see it for yourself. Turn on the news---I’m sure that it’s being covered. It’s definitely something that you don’t want to miss. Hell, as a matter of fact, I think it’s a damn game changer.”

       The phone went dead.

       With barely restrained patience, Jarrod crossed the room before snatching the TV remote off the elegant coffee table. In moments, the large flat screen was on the local news channel. In a rapid and excited tone, the dark-haired news reporter relayed the hot breaking story.

                     Shocked, he stared at the screen.

                     “What the hell---”

                     In the background, Holland Grove Sanctuary was engulfed in burning flames.

Chapter 1

Two months later….

        The fresh air nearly strangled her as she inhaled a deep breath, and it hurt to breathe it in, she realized, barely cracking her eyes. And the excruciating, exploding pain in her head----

        She tried to lift a hand, but then quickly accepted that she couldn’t as the weakness stole over her. But, was it day or night? Or rather what was the month or year? An atmosphere of uncertainty plagued the moment, and her confusion was daunting as she tried to make sense of things. Mumbling through cracked lips, she tried to rise up from the pillow. “Please, help me…please,” she whispered.

        A loud clatter filled the room.

        Obviously, her awakening had surprised someone.

        Somewhere in the distance, the sound of excited, but stunted voices met her.

        But, even those simple noises were too much to bear, she groaned in protest, closing her eyes against the intrusion.

       The sound of opening drapery reached her, and at once, light flooded the room, directly hitting her where she lay in the bed. That could mean only one thing, she realized, fighting against another wave of unconsciousness.

        She wasn’t alone.

       A shadow fell over her, along with a relieved voice. “Gracias a Dios….as always you’ve worked a miracle.”

        Then, as the reassuring words comforted her, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

       “H-help me…please, help me,” she pleaded again, reaching out towards the soothing voice. As a warm hand grasped her cold one, she absorbed the strength. Releasing a sharp breath, she forced her eyes open, but still, her gaze was unclear as it focused on the woman hovering over her. The woman’s figure seemed to be split in half before finally morphing into one shape.

                    Sixtyish, plump face pinched in concern, grayish black hair plastered to her head, and dressed in a staid grey blouse and skirt, the Hispanic woman studied her closely. “Take it easy. Relax,” the woman soothed her quietly, brushing the hair from her forehead with a cool hand. “That’s it. Yes, that’s it.” Turning away from her slightly, the woman spoke harshly to someone in the room. “What are you waiting for? Andale, andale! Get the doctor, right now!”

                     Before she could see who the other party was, they were scurrying out the door.

                    “W-where am I?” she stammered, lifting her head from the pillow, and then she fell back against it weakly as fatigue won out. The tears blurred her vision. “T-tell me, please. Where am I?”

                    “Shhhh…you’re going to be okay, now,” the strange woman reassured her, patting her hand before moving away from the bed. Scurrying to the far side of the huge room, she stopped at the cart that was laden with towels and other accessories. Though plump, moving fast, the woman hurried back to her, and she carried a glass of water and medicine cup filled with tiny blue pills. After placing the items on the nightstand, the woman moved to help her sit. “Come on, let me help you. Grasp my shoulders, and I’m going to pull you up.”

                     Though weakened, confused, she nodded before complying. After sitting up in the huge four poster bed, she stared around the room.

           No doubt, the quarters were elegant. The silver drapery was drawn back from the balcony doors and touched the floor. A chaise lounge rested at the far corner of the room, complete with velvet pillows and adornments.

        She winced against more pain.

        Raising a shaky hand, she took in the IV tubes strapped across the back of it, and already small purplish bruises painted her skin. “What’s happened to me?” she asked in a hoarse voice, staying the woman as she grasped her hand, and couldn’t dispel her anxiety. “Why can’t I remember anything or who I am?”

       When the door flew open, they both turned.

       A man stood in the doorway. “Rosa, I’ll need a moment alone with her,” he stated firmly. “And we are not to be disturbed under any circumstances.”

       “Yes, doctor,” the woman said, pulling away from her, and without sparing her a glance, she fled the room, leaving her alone with the strange doctor.

       Tense, eyes widened, she watched as the doctor strode in, and in a few quick strides, he was standing alongside the bed. Short, stocky, complete with a shock of grayed hair, the physician exuded a kind and calm nature as he plugged the stethoscope in his ears. After giving her a quick check with them, he snapped them around his neck. Then, passing her the water and pills from the table, he watched as she downed them. With a shaky hand, she passed the empty glass back to him.

       “Olivia, I’m Dr. Joseph Roma,” he muttered in a clipped tone, and a smile crinkled along his wizened blue eyes. “It’s great that you’ve decided to join the land of the living, I must say. You’ve given a few people quite the scare.”

        “Why am I here? What’s happened to me?” she pleaded, distraught, tearing up again. “I can’t remember who I am. I can’t remember anything!”