Sleeping With the Enemy

Chapter Twenty Four

I set my alarm with every intention of getting up before Brandon, but by the time it goes off, he's already long gone. The sheets are barely wrinkled and if I hadn't felt his strong arm around me as we slept, I would have thought he didn't come to bed at all.

Today feels better. My body is starting to heal, and things are thawing out between Brandon and I. It isn't perfect, but no marriage or relationship ever is. We have some pretty harrowing circumstances, but that doesn't have to be a death sentence.

I planned on making him breakfast this morning, but the smell of coffee is already wafting to the bedroom from the kitchen. I pull myself out of bed and wrap my satin robe around my body, careful not to tie it too tightly around my ribs. I didn't want to admit it to Brandon, but they're still really painful. Even with the pain meds, every time I take a big breath in, I feel like someone is stabbing me. Part of me wants to suffer through the pain as some sort of self imposed penance for my crimes. If I said that aloud, Brandon would have a fit, so instead I keep it to myself. At least the bruises on my face are starting to heal, and in a few days, they won't be noticeable at all.

I brush my teeth and then make my way out to the kitchen. Brandon has his back to me, but turns at the sound of the bedroom door opening. He shoots me a gentle smile as he pulls a bagel from the toaster. "Good morning."

My heart aches a bit at the sight. He hasn't given me one of his genuine, megawatt smiles since all of this happened, and I hate that I'm the cause of his distress. I hit his personal life like a damn tornado with my betrayal, and I can't even imagine what it did to his work. I know he's trying to get past it, but I also know how deeply I cut him.

"Good morning." I say, sitting down at the counter. "I thought you might sleep in since you got home so late last night."

Brandon shrugs, sliding a bagel with cream cheese in front of me and preparing his own. "I wanted to get a jump on the day. I have a lot to get done."

"Anything I can help with?" I offer. I feel worthless right now, but I know Brandon will try to keep me away from whatever he plans as much as possible.

"Actually, yes." He sounds just as surprised as I am by his response. "I don't like the idea of you being around Herrera alone, but it doesn't seem like we have any other choice." Brandon grimaces, contemplating his next move.

I sit on pins and needles, shocked that he is actually going to use me to gain an advantage instead of just handling it himself like usual. I feel a mix of both excitement and relief.

"Set up the meeting." He finally says. "Do it this morning--as soon as he can. I'm going to put a tap on your phone and I'll have Jav in the vicinity just in case anything goes south."

"It won't." I assure him.

"Says the girl who looks like she was on the wrong side of a Rocky movie." Brandon rolls his eyes. "Look, I'm already hesitant to put you in there like this, so don't start acting overly confident. That's how people wind up dead. Herrera is sneaky and he's smart, and we'll be damn lucky if he doesn't sniff you out immediately. If you're going to be a part of this, you need to do everything I say, exactly as I say it. Are we clear?"

I nod, clamping my mouth shut.

"One of the biggest rules in the Mafia, ... Things can ALWAYS go wrong. You need to be hypersensitive when you're around Herrera because even one slip up and we can derail this entire thing." He pauses. "Not to mention how dangerous it can be to forget how potentially lethal this guy is. Sadie, I'm not trying to scare you, but I think you know as well as anyone what that bastard is capable of. And I'm already anxious just thinking about you having to meet with him without me there."

"Okay." I say. "I'll be careful." It's clear Brandon is having a difficult time with all of this and the last thing I want to do is make it any harder.

"Your safe word is Colorado. If you feel weird about things at all, all you have to do is say it and Jav will be there in seconds. And I want you to make it as short as possible. Don't spend any more time around him then absolutely necessary and don't mention anything about us being married. That's my secret weapon and I need to wait for the right moment to drop that bomb on him." A smile tugs at his lips. I can already see him scheming.

"Okay."

"I know you're nervous but the sooner we do this, the sooner it's over with. You'll do great." He kisses my cheek, rubbing his unshaven chin along my neck. The sensation gives me chills as I melt into his grasp, momentarily forgetting the tension still between us.

Brandon pulls away. "I have some good news, too. Alex looked into the charges against you, and it turns out there isn't anything substantial there at all. The drugs don't even exist in their system anymore. Herrera can't make anything stick to you, and he can't put you in prison, but that doesn't mean he won't harass you until he finds something he thinks he can hang you up on. I won't let that happen, but it's going to get tough once the news of our marriage is out there. Herrera won't take it well, and he'll be out for blood. I need to know you're ready for that."

"I can handle it, Brandon. I promise. I know you'd never let anything happen to me." I squeeze his hand, wondering just how much worse Herrera can get. It's a huge relief that the charges won't stick, but I'm still uneasy.

"Good." He kisses my forehead. "Call me after your meeting with him, okay? And just relax, you've got the upper hand here. He can't touch you. Just remember that."

"I know." I nod, trying to muster up my confidence. I'm racked with nerves to meet Herrera, especially since he'd had me attacked just a few days ago. He scares me, but I trust Brandon.

"I'll be home around six, and I'll bring something for dinner. Try to get some rest if you can."

Brandon shoves the rest of his bagel into his mouth and washes it down with his coffee. We say our goodbyes and a few minutes later I'm alone in the penthouse. Well, alone as I can ever be. I know he has surveillance cameras set up and security detail just outside so alone is kind of a relative term.

Nonetheless, I welcome the quiet to try to prepare myself for this meeting. I can't let Brandon down.