UP IN FLAMES

“Apparently. Which explains a lot.” She didn’t elaborate, but he got the idea. “His parents are super religious, so I’m guessing that’s why he felt he had to keep it a secret.”

“I get that,” he mused. “Plus, with his political aspirations…”

They both fell silent. When Vanessa spoke again, a tinge of sadness colored her voice. “I had no idea he wasn’t living an authentic life. He always seemed so confident, so self-assured, as if he knew exactly what he wanted, where he was going, and how to get there. I wish he had told me the truth.”

“Would knowing have made any difference in how you felt about him?” he asked, not sure he really wanted to know.

“Yes, it would.” She took a deep breath. “I’m not sure if you realized this, but Christopher and I were never close. I would have understood his complete and utter rejection of me much better if I’d known he was in love with someone else.”

His heart squeezed. He hated to think of Vanessa being rejected, especially by the man she’d married.

“Anyway,” she continued, her voice brisk, “I’ve got tons of paperwork to look through. I’m thinking I’ll just bring it home.”

“When are you leaving?” The thought of her driving alone made him extremely nervous. “I’ll head up there and accompany you back.”

“No need,” she answered quickly. “I’m about to bag all this stuff up and head home.”

“I don’t like it. For all we know, that crazy guy could have you under surveillance.”

“I’ll be fine,” she responded. “I’ll text you when I leave. Seriously, no need for you to come downtown.”

Reluctantly, he agreed. Paul wandered in just as Alaric ended the call.

“What’s up?” he asked. “You look like somebody died.”NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.

Rubbing his temple, Alaric grimaced. “I just got off the phone with Vanessa.”

Paul glared. “She isn’t here? You’re her ‘bodyguard’ now, right? Why aren’t you with her?”

“Because she left when we were all out on the patio talking. I had no idea until I found this note.” Alaric held out the slip of paper, waiting while Paul read it.

“You should have gone after her.”

“I thought about it,” Alaric conceded. “But she doesn’t want me to. Says she will be fine.”

Paul stared at him. “You are supposed to be protecting her.”

Something inside Alaric snapped. “Do you think I don’t know that? Especially now that I-” He stopped, choking on what he’d almost said.

“Especially now that you what?” Paul demanded. “Finish what you were about to say.”

Closing his eyes for a moment, Alaric bowed his head. “Especially now that I think I’m falling in love with her.”

“Think?” Paul’s tone softened. “Are you still thinking that you are in love with her? Or do you know that you are?”

Undercover agent Alaric warred with real-life Alaric. In the end, he went with the truth. “I love Vanessa, and it’s fucking weird since I haven’t even known her for long and the circumstances in which we met.”

“Does she feel the same way?”

Again, Alaric replied honestly. “I don’t know. Honestly I don’t think she does…. Or at least.. Maybe she’s not in the same place,”

“Then what are you waiting for to tell her? Where is she now? Is she still at lunch?”

“No. She called me from Christopher’s office downtown. Chloe is there with her. Vanessa is going through Christopher’s things.” Alaric waited, expecting Paul to tell him to hop in his car and head down there.

Instead, Paul nodded. “Did she find anything interesting?”

Though Alaric knew Paul meant the missing money, he nodded. “She did. She found evidence that leads her to believe Christopher might have been in love with someone else.”

Paul crossed his arms, his multiple tattoos moving as his muscles did. “In love with who? That Chris person you two mentioned earlier?”

“Exactly. Vanessa found a photo album of Christopher and Chris. It meant so much to Christopher that he kept it locked in his personal safe.”

Paul frowned, “If he was in love with someone else, then why did he marry Vanessa? Was this other woman married or something?”

Alaric took a deep breath. “That’s the thing. Chris isn’t a woman. Chris is a guy.”

For the space of several heartbeats, Paul stared at him as if he thought Alaric might be joking.

“I’m serious,” Alaric finally said.

“Damn it.” He dragged his hands through his hair. “But why? Why would he hide that? Why pretend to be something you’re not?”

Hearing that, Alaric felt a pang. Though Paul didn’t know, Alaric was also doing exactly that, he had been working undercover on Christopher’s money laundering case before Christopher died. He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Hmmph.” Paul scratched his chin. “Are you going to fix things up between you and Vanessa?”

“I’m damn sure going to try,” Alaric replied.

Pinning him with his gaze, Paul narrowed his eyes. “I want you to be happy, you know that, right?”

“I do…. And I want Vanessa to be happy too” Alaric meant it, with every fiber of his soul. “She belongs with me.”

For the space of a heartbeat, Paul simply watched him. Finally, he nodded. “Then make it happen, man.”

Paul’s phone rang. “I need to go,” he said, frowning. “I’ll see you soon.” And he wandered out of the house.

Alaric’s phone pinged, indicating a text. Vanessa, letting him know she was on her way home. His stomach clenched, aware he should be with her, keeping her safe. He’d have to make sure she understood the extent of the danger she’d opened herself up to by taking off alone like that.

More than a little antsy, he decided to keep busy until Vanessa got back. He’d always found cooking to be a great way to relieve stress, so he headed toward the kitchen to see what he could maybe rustle up for dinner.

In the refrigerator he found Vanessa had thawed a large package of pork chops. Perfect. Whistling, he got busy prepping everything he’d need to make a delicious meal. He’d just finished getting everything ready when he heard the front door opening. Relieved, he let out a breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding. Safe. She was safe.

“Hey there,” Vanessa said, walking into the kitchen and eyeing him and the food. “That looks amazing.”