Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 114

~ New Year's Eve: The Pieces Fit ~

Juan.

Even now, months after their deal and as she stood in the safety of her own kitchen, the thought of the man sent chills coursing through Gina's body. Little pebbles of goosebumps formed on her arms and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Of all the guards, he was the one she had hated the most. The others had been assholes and cowards, but him... Juan Valdez had been unlike them in so many ways.

Gina lowered the stove's dial to simmer as her head began to swim with memories of Juan. Physically, he had been one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. His looks were such that he could surely have been a movie star or model had he made the effort. She hated to admit it to herself now, but she had found him a little attractive. The tan skin, the white teeth, which sparkled with a charming smile, had very nearly fooled her the first time she had laid eyes on him. But lucky for her that wasn't the case.

The memory of their first meeting came back to Gina with alarming clarity. Angry and resentful at having been taken against her will, she had stared at him fearlessly. Her hazel eyes had stared into his brown eyes, never losing contact and not wavering an inch...even when his eyes had darkened from their rich chocolate brown to an almost charcoal black. In fact, her eyes didn't stray from his until she saw right into the core of him. She clearly had seen the thinly disguised lunacy that he just barely held in check and just as soon as she had understood it for what it was, she saw black and then a smattering of stars as she landed to the ground in a small heap.

When her eyes had fluttered open again, she saw the warm, gentle eyes of Simone Hardy as she wiped away the blood, tended to her wounds and sung softly to her about a friendly bullfrog. Fearful and uncertain, Gina had tried to move away, but found herself unable to. Then a soft, young masculine voice had told her to relax. The voice said that his mother wouldn't hurt her. That she would take care of her and that she would be okay. That voice had belonged to Tommy, and she had listened to it...to him. His words were proven to be true. Simone did take care of her and with constant attention, brought her back to reasonable health. And now, three years after she was abducted, Gina was okay. Well, almost.

The timer that rested on the counter sounded loudly and jolted Gina from the past. She quickly silenced the obnoxious beeping and then directed her attention to the oven. She opened the door and was greeted by the smell of warm, buttery garlic as it melted on the loaf of French bread. She pulled the pan out and inspected her creation. It looked as delicious as it smelled. She knew that Tommy would be pleased with the results. After resting the pan on the counter to cool off a little, she turned off the stove. She removed the pan of tomato sauce from the heat and made sure that everything was turned off before she left the kitchen to head into her bedroom.

Gina glanced at her bedside digital clock and released a deep sigh. She didn't have much time to get ready before Tommy arrived. She quickly undressed and stepped under the hot spray of the shower. She wanted the fragrant aroma of her shower gel to soothe her frazzled and tense nerves as she lathered the soap over her body. The smell of jasmine and honeysuckle filled her nostrils but did little to soothe her. She quickly finished bathing herself and stepped out of the shower to dry off.

After brushing her teeth and pulling on her underwear she padded back into her bedroom. Her black lacy slip lay next to her new black dress on her bed. She pulled the slip over her head and as she pulled her hair from underneath the material, she saw a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. With her memories of the past being forefront in her mind, the present image of herself startled her for a moment. She stared at the woman with the shoulder-length flaxen hair and big hazel eyes in surprise. Walking away from the bed, she moved across her bedroom to stand before her mirror. Her eyes drifted over herself as she noticed herself in what felt like the very first time.