Closing her eyes, she thought back over the past three months and how her life transformed after rescuing Nate from the Black Hawk facility. What did she remember? That night was forever etched on her brain because she was terrified her baby wouldn’t be there, for one thing. She also worried that she wouldn’t be able to recognize her own son. However, the ghosts of her past helped her. She recalled that night, as she faced off the security guard, who she teased as a way to distract him while Marcus attended to the other man. She remembered the guard pawing her breasts.
Ella folded her arms across her chest and moment by moment, retraced that evening. She remembered walking into the laboratory with Marcus. Then she cradled Nate and walked out. She squeezed her forehead. That wasn’t right. She saw the professor. One moment, they faced each other and the next, they were outside, with bullets flying around them.
Instinctively, she remembered saving the life of the man she loathed, who she held responsible for Nate’s abduction. But little else. From that moment on, her life changed. Outside of caring for Nate, she withdrew from Orion. She didn’t attend any of the meetings or take part in any active missions. The last three months passed by so fast. Nate wasn’t a great sleeper, but she loved being with him. As she examined her life, she frowned and wondered when she decided to give up her career to become a stay-at-home mom.
A need for fresh air made her jump up and run for the front door, which she swung open. Darting through, she stood on the porch and stared at the fresh snow stretching out, covering the lawns and bushes. She shivered, dressed in her thin sweater and leggings, but savored the stillness to clear her mind.
“What’s wrong with me?”
Nothing is wrong. Your instincts are built-in to ensure survival. You’re not wrong to be scared.
The clear voices of the women from her past didn’t reassure her. Their words confirmed her suspicions that Marcus, the man she loved with every beat of her heart, betrayed her trust. But why?
****
“How many are coming tonight, Ella?” Marcus studied himself in the mirror of the bathroom and Ella couldn’t help but admire the impressive stats of the man. His broad chest was exposed as he trimmed his short beard, with his complete focus on his action. Dipping her head, she eyed the fine line of dark hair that rose from his belly button up his tight, rippled abdomen and flowed over his firm pecs. His body was a drool-worthy masterpiece. Her eyes swept over his tight and toned muscles peppered with scars, which emphasized his allure and vitality. Right now, his wide, tense shoulders carried the weight of the world. Ella contemplated his every movement as he examined his face and placed his trimmer on the sink to grab a lotion, which he smoothed over his sculpted cheeks. She noted his neat eyebrows dipped and his face was pensive and deep in thought.
“There’s six of us. Isabella, Jake, Henry, Elizabeth, you and me. Why?” she answered.
“It would have been good to have a quiet evening to ourselves, that’s all.”
Lifting her lipstick, she applied the blood-red color to her generous lips and pressed her mouth to ensure the color spread evenly. Happy with the result, she ran her brush through her hair to soften the curls, and caught him inspecting her. Should she ask him now, and cancel the dinner party? Ella placed her brush on the countertop, ready to open her mouth, but a ding-dong from the front door broke the silence and the moment ended.
“I didn’t think the guests were arriving until seven thirty?” Marcus said.
Ella checked her watch, which read seven. Nate had only been down about fifteen minutes. “I’ll go. It’s probably Elizabeth. She said she would be early.”
Ella left Marcus semi-naked and charged downstairs to stop the doorbell ringing anymore. She pulled the door open and in strolled Elizabeth, dressed in a pretty floral dress that outlined her slim figure to perfection. The doctor wore her choppy hair in a ruffled, got-out-of-bed style that no one else could pass off as other than that. But in that killer dress, Elizabeth looked unrecognizable.
“You look gorgeous,” she said.
The shy doctor skimmed her hand over the front of her dress and lowered her head to study her cleavage. “Is it too much?” She waved her hand over her exposed curves and Ella shook her head.
“Not at all. Now, I just need to go and finish getting ready.”
The doctor studied Ella. “I’m too early, aren’t I?”
Pink circles dotted her friend’s cheeks and Ella slid her arm through the doctor’s, drawing her into the kitchen.
“Nope. I just take forever—ask Marcus. I have everything ready and started to prepare the appetizers, but let me get you an apron—you don’t want to spoil your outfit. And when I come back, we can have a glass of wine.” Ella laughed. A bubble of hysteria threatened an onslaught of the giggles. She needed to get a grip on her nerves if she intended to go through with her scheme. A part of her wondered whether she should, but the other half of her demanded the truth. Pulling the nearest drawer open wide, she fished out the apron, and handed it over to Elizabeth.
“Here you go. I won’t be long. I’m starving.” Ella lied. She didn’t think she could eat a morsel.
Elizabeth smiled and picked up the black apron.
Ella headed out of the kitchen, and ran for the stairs. Taking them two at a time, she collided with a wall of steel. Marcus. She toppled and he grabbed her arm to help
