Page 26 of Pieces Into Place

“I can ask,” he says. “Ms. Monroe, Kane’s services do not come cheap. Whoever hired us is serious about your safety.”

“Hhm,” she mumbles. “How much do you know about my life?”

“I know very little,” Henry answers. “Kane knows even less.”

She thinks for a moment before a sad look crosses her face and then she speaks abruptly. “Well, it’s been a long day and I’d like to go home now.”

“Of course,” Henry says as we both stand at the same time she does. “You have my number should you need to reach me.”

“And your number,” she questions, looking at me. “Will I have access to you at my beck and call?”

I can’t help but smirk. Some sick, twisted part of her is going to enjoy this. “Yes, you will,” I tell her. “Let me see your phone.”

She hands it to me and smiles when she takes it back and looks at the entry. My number is now saved in her phone as JANITOR.

“Thank you for the transparency, gentlemen. I think this arrangement will work out much better than the previous one.” With that, she turns and walks out of the bar and I watch her, unable to look away from the sway of her ass, the entire time.

Henry catches me and exhales deeply. “Be careful,” he warns. “This has the potential to end in disaster.”

“I’m not going to let anything happen to her,” I respond.

Henry shakes his head. “That’s not what I’m talking about,” he states.

Chapter thirteen

Olivia

As I drive the three mile stretch back to my apartment, all I can think about is a nice hot bath and another drink. When Henry called me, I thought it was a joke, but he offered to meet in public, so I decided to take the risk. But why would someone hire him? The only person from my past that I’d been close with was Dante, one of the maid’s sons. He was around a year older than me and we had fun exploring the large house together, daydreaming about our futures and laughing at whatever came up. His mom Graciella lived in the guest quarters, and she was truly beautiful – olive skinned with long black tresses. She gave me warmth and compassion when no one else could be bothered.

As an adult, I realize neither Graciella nor myself was content in that dreaded place, where the worst kind of people roamed. We had become close friends during my adolescence; she inspired my friendship with Dante who was my only friend from age thirteen to seventeen. He listened while I confessed how much I loathed living there and yearned for my family. In return, he taught me Spanish and how to fight. The latter skill came in handy today when I threw a punch at Kane.

Going away for school was never part of Dante’s plans; but his ambition yearned for something more than what his mother could provide. Even though I understood why he left, it wasn’t easy saying goodbye. That final year by myself in that dreadful environment became almost too hard to bear.

I’m doubtful that Dante is footing the bill for my security. He doesn’t have the funds, and we haven’t seen each other in over a decade. For all I know, he’s forgotten me entirely. But I’m determined to find out who’s behind this, even if it’s giving me a headache.

Speaking of things that give me a headache; Kane. Now I understand why he seemed so menacing today. His roughness was familiar. It reminded me of Shaemus’s ex-military buddies’ physical strength when they fought their opponents. He must be trained in combat.

I shouldn’t have hit him. He’s right about that. It’s just that the things he said hit too close to home. He’s observant. I am lonely. I’m physically and mentally isolated from people. And the sad truth is that I will probably die alone. Kane obviously isn’t familiar with any of those concepts, and he hurt me when he threw them in my face.

We seem to be able to push one another’s buttons astonishingly well for two people who barely know each other. It’s a dynamic unlike any other in my life. It’s good that we will have distance between us now, but it’s still strange, knowing he is watching me. If what Henry said is true, and Shaemus is dying, then it’s possible my world is about to change once again.

I leave the living room, my feet dragging on the floor, and stumble into my bedroom. I collapse on the bed, my head spinning with questions that don’t have simple answers. Kane’s presence in my life is a constant reminder of uncertain danger.

I exhale slowly, telling myself to trust Kane’s skills and keep him at arm’s length if he gets too close. My eyelids droop as I drift off to sleep, wishing that this new arrangement could work without any conflict between us – but I just don’t know if it’s possible.

The next few days are like a strange game of cat-and-mouse. Every morning, Kane is there, just a few cars behind me in my rearview mirror, roaring up on his motorcycle. He’s left his janitor post at the school but still lurks around the perimeter of the playground and peers into windows as I walk through the building.

Every afternoon, he follows me to places that have become annoyingly familiar – the post office, the supermarket, the drycleaners– and it feels like he’s always lurking in the shadows, watching my every move. What had been an uneasy feeling before now feels like mortal danger as I become more aware of Kane’s eyes on me.

The dry cleaners are situated in a seedy area of town, and while I have never faced any problems there before, I still take caution as I park my car two blocks away from the building. As I walk down the alleyway, crunching through the piles of discarded garbage and leftover rain puddles gathered in the broken pavement, I hear a series of shuffling noises behind me. With school long over and the sun setting, darkness is quickly spreading across the city.

I stop and turn around, my heart pounding in my chest. I strain my eyes in the darkness, peering into the shadows for a sign of something, anything. All is quiet until I hear it again. A faint scraping of shoes against pavement. My breath catches as I realize it’s not just my imagination – someone is following me.

I break out into a frightened sprint, feeling desperation as the alley walls seem to close in around me. Every footstep echoes off the brick walls like thunder, magnifying its presence. I can feel them getting closer and closer with each panicked breath I take. And then, an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me backward while a gloved hand covers my mouth to muffle my screams.

The hand releases me as I’m spun around so that I’m facing my attacker. A wave of relief floods over me when I recognize Kane’s golden eyes staring back at me from beneath his hood. He steps closer so that his face is inches away from mine, and speaks in a low voice, “Calm down, Olivia.”

My fingers trembled as I touched the hard contours of his muscular chest, my heart racing like a wild animal trying to escape an inescapable cage. His face is a mask of warring emotions – concern and annoyance competing for dominance. He opens his mouth to speak, but I beat him to the punch.