Hell Bent

this go with enough time, JT.” Avery shook his head, his look serious and sad at once. “Your only hope is to arm her well and call off your guard. Allow her the solitude she needs.”

Jack thought about that for a moment. Why hadn’t he ever considered it before? Annabelle was fast and strong and a better shot, even, than he was. She was a natural – uncanny with a gun of any kind. Of the first ten rounds she’d ever shot under Jack’s supervision, five of them had hit the target’s center. And it had been moving at the time.

So, why had the idea of her being an assassin completely escaped him until this moment?

Because it hadn’t escaped him. He had thought of it. He’d just ignored the idea. Because he didn’t want to lose her. He couldn’t lose her.

“I know you think you can’t live without her, JT. And I believe you.” Avery told him. “But you’ll have to, anyway, if you don’t make some changes soon. Like yesterday.”

Jack turned back to the bar and ran a hand through his hair. He was feeling light headed. Christ, he thought. I’ve become a god damned light weight.

“She has no job, she has no way of determining her own future. Women don’t stay happy very long under those conditions.” Avery finished off his beer and set it down with a satisfied clunk. “It’s a better plan than keeping her under lock and key, is it not?”

Jack took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “How the hell do you know so much, Avery?”

“Word gets ‘round, mate,” Avery said, pushing his empty mug toward the edge of the counter so that the bar tender could pick it up. “And I’m married.” Avery smiled a telling smile.

Jack turned to his friend and studied him closely. It had been a few years since he’d last seen him, but he hadn’t changed any. The man didn’t age.

“Thanks, mate.” Jack stood then, clapped his friend on the back, and headed toward the door of the bar. It took some effort to walk steadily.

“By the way, JT,” Avery called after him. “Stella says ‘hi’.”

Jack turned around.

“She says to give Clara and Ian a hug for her and asked me to tell you to stay out of trouble,” Avery chuckled softly. “I’m fairly sure that last bit was her idea of a joke.”

Jack finally smiled. Stella was Avery’s wife. Jack had been best man at their wedding. He nodded a goodbye, then, and left the bar, his alcohol-fevered brain trying its best to formulate a plan as he stepped out into the Essex night.

Alex knocked gently on the door to Annabelle’s rooms. “Miss Drake?”

“Come in, Alex.”

He opened the door and stepped inside. Annabelle was seated at the window, reclined in a large plush chair, sipping on a cup of tea. Alex crossed the room to stand beside her. “How you doing?” He asked softly.

She looked up at him. There were dark circles under her eyes. He cringed when he saw them. Jack wouldn’t be happy that she wasn’t sleeping. Hell, Jack wasn’t happy at all these days.

Annabelle didn’t answer. She just smiled gently.

“Can I get you anything?” He asked then, suddenly simply wanting to ease the pain he saw in her light brown eyes.

“No, thank you.”

“Mr. Thane has given me permission to get you anything you desire, Miss Drake,” he said as he knelt on one knee beside the chair. “I have a laptop. You can go online.”

Annabelle’s gaze narrowed at that. She put her cup of tea down on the table beside her and turned to face Alex. “Oh?” She asked softly. “I’m sorry, Alex, but for some reason, I have a hard time believing that Jack would just give me permission to check my email or join an online forum at this juncture.” She shook her head. Electronic signatures were too easily traced. It was a dangerous world, and their immediate quarrel with one another aside, Annabelle and Jack would probably agree on the fact that there was still a bad guy out there somewhere to contend with.

Alex sighed. “No, he wouldn’t. But he doesn’t mind if you wish to use it to do something that doesn’t reveal anything identifiable about yourself.”

Annabelle’s ire was mounting. She knew where this was heading and it really rankled. “Like what, Alex?” She asked, keeping her tone even.

Alex swallowed. He shrugged. “Like shop?”

Annabelle stared at him. “Shop?” She asked. Her voice had lowered to a whisper. “Shop?” She stood slowly, and Alex stood with her. She looked up at him, so used to Jack’s towering figure that Alex’s lesser height didn’t so much as phase her.

“What is it with you men?” She went on, moving around the chair and effectively forcing Alex to step back. His expression had become distinctly nervous. Annabelle’s voice hadn’t raised above that deceptively calm whisper, but goose bumps were riding up his arms.

“I’m in a cage, Alex. I’ve lost everything I’ve ever known.” Suddenly, as if saying as much drained what little strength she had, Annabelle stopped in her tracks and sighed. She shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. “Even Jack.” She whispered. “So, unless you can buy freedom and a second chance on Craig’s List, I think I’ll pass for now.”

Alex watched her standing there, seeming so diminished. Like a flower without the sunlight.

Make her happy, Alex. I don’t care what it costs or what she wants – as long as she doesn’t leave the complex. Just make her happy…

Jack Thane’s orders echoed in his head. Alex racked his brain as he watched Annabelle Drake head back to the chair she’d risen from and sink down into it once more. She laid her head back and closed her eyes. Her pale lips parted. Alex recognized exhaustion when he saw it. And this exhaustion was mental as well as physical. Sitting there in a shaft of sunlight, her gold hair shimmering in waves around her pale features, she looked like a fallen angel.

She put her fingertips to her temples then and began to rub. Her brow furrowed.

Alex took a deep, slow breath and chewed on the inside of his cheek. And then his hazel eyes brightened with an idea.

“Have you ever had a massage, Miss Drake?”

That got her attention. She sat up and blinked. Sunlight reflected off of the amber specks in her almond eyes. She turned to face him.

“What?”

“There is a woman here in town who gives incredible deep tissue massages. Mr. Thane has used her several times.” He shrugged helplessly. “I’m just shooting in the dark here, but I wondered if it would make you feel more comfortable.” He paused, then added, “help a little with that headache you have?”

Annabelle watched him for several long moments. And then she blew out a sigh. “Actually, I’ve only had one massage in my whole life and it wasn’t deep tissue.” She turned back toward the window and stared out at all of London below her. Her head was pounding. It had been doing that a lot lately. Her neck and shoulders were basically one solid knot from not sleeping. Tension.

A massage might be nice…

“She could come here?” She asked softly.

Alex straightened. “Yes,” he answered, trying not to sound too overly hopeful. “I can give her a call right now. She brings the table and everything.” He was about to go further in his explanation when his front jacket pocket vibrated against his chest. He took out the cell phone, opened it, and placed it to his ear. “Jackson.”

Annabelle watched him as his eyes widened. “He what?” He asked, his tone thoroughly surprised. “You’re shitting me.” He looked up at Annabelle and then turned away slightly, as if embarrassed that he’d cursed in front of her. This brought a smile to Annabelle’s face.

“No, I’ll deal with it myself. Trust me, you don’t want to be responsible for this one.” He closed the phone and replaced it in his pocket, returning his attention to Annabelle. “I have to go. But I’ll get the call in to Victoria on my way out. She should be here within the hour.”

Annabelle sighed and shrugged. “That sounds fine, Alex. Thanks.”