An Impossible Task

Chapter 15

TW: tension, angst

Cassie woke up in the same position she had fallen asleep, with her head on John's shoulder and her arm resting across his chest. Not wanting to wake him, she rolled out of his encircling arms and sat on the edge of the bed, then rose and put on her robe.

The laundry dropped off their clean clothes and a light breakfast arrived, allowing Cassie a quiet cup of coffee and her own thoughts. This may be the second of her life that will change it all. Maybe she'll never get to go back home. Maybe she'll find out John is the trained killer the kidnapper told her he was and she would have to turn her back on him and head home by herself. But how could she leave him when she loved him so? And if she stayed, where would they hide?

John woke soon after Cassie left his arms when he reached out for her and the bed was cold. He watched her silently under heavy lidded eyes. The white, fluffy terrycloth robe she had on accented her ivory skin and auburn hair. With his keen eye, he followed the line of her body down her breasts, to her waist, to her hips...to her incredible hips. Would he ever feel those hips moving underneath him again? John knew he had stalled telling her the truth way too long and the only reason he had gotten away with it is because of Cassie's kind and trusting soul.

Could he live with himself if he made love with her now, knowing he was going to tell her the truth afterwards? He shook his head...he couldn't. He wouldn't be that much of a louse. But how could he let her go when he loved and needed her so badly?

Cassie felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. "How long have you been awake?" John asked her, tying his robe around him.

Cassie put her hand on top of his. "Not long. Enough to get our clothes and breakfast. I was just going to wake you."

Helping her to stand, John took her in his arms and pulled her in for a hug. Cassie melted against him, sighing breathlessly and stayed there until he stepped back.

"What is it?" she asked.

"This is kind of it, Cass," he began, his voice heavy and deep. He sat her back down at the table and took a chair next to her.

"What is it?" she repeated, taking his hand.

"I'm going forward from here and disappearing. Off the grid, as they say. I have everything ready, including a new identity. Earlier while we were sleeping, a friend came and took my car, leaving a plain, grey Honda Accord in its place. I made 3 phone calls before I threw the cell phone out the window in Braxton. All my assets, including the insurance money from the explosion at my house is in a Swiss bank account. I set it up so you can access the money. Then I called in a favor and there are new driver's licenses, social security cards, and birth certificates for us in a post office box at the local office. The last call I made was to set up a place for us to go, if you want to come with me. All of this is giving you a choice to leave your life behind and come with me or start a new life in a new place."

Cassie lowered her eyes and felt sick to her stomach, still holding onto John's hand like a vice-grip.

"John, your car? They took your car? Who are you?"

"Someone who loves you and wants you to come with him. But I'll tell you the truth, I didn't live as a decent man for most of my life. I had quit the life I was living when I got married and I'm quitting again now. But with the society I was in, you don't get to quit twice. It's unheard of. They will be after me and will kill me if they find me. Edwin Baker's father, who is part of this 'society', will put a bounty on my head and if I stay here, I'm a dead man. I've put you in this terrible situation and I can only protect you if you either come with me or take the new identity and go anywhere you want to go."

"I....we...can't go back to Braxton?"

John shook his head. "No."

"I have a life back there, John....I have a career. I have people who rely on me. How can I just up and disappear?"

"Did you hear me, Cass? Edwin Baker's father was after me and he nearly got me after Baker called the police when I was in the hospital and now he's after the both of us," John sighed heavily. "And I killed his son, Cass...."

She stood up quickly, shaking her head and went to get another cup of coffee from the pot at the other end of the table. Cassie stopped a moment to look out the big picture window and watched the rain drops slowly slide down the outside of the pane.

John lowered his head and finally spoke. "The tattoo on my back....the High Table labels everyone who serves. My name is Jardani Jovanovich and my life was to serve....."

"Stop!" Cassie called out to him, holding up a hand. Her eyes were fierce. "Just stop. Just stop."

She dropped the cup of coffee on the floor and fled to the bathroom, exiting fully dressed and shoving tissues into her purse. Her eyes were tearful and she did not look at John but skipped through the hotel room as if she were a trapped bird. Not a word escaped from her lips as she pet Beau, turned on her heels and left the room.

John put his head in his hands. He couldn't let her go. Cassie O'Hara, MD didn't exist anymore. It was completely clear that her decision was to leave him. He was going to have to cope with that later. For now, he had to get her the new identity documents and take her to the airport. He dressed quickly and walked out the hotel room door with Beau at his heels.