[B.S. #2] Bound to Cyn (12 page)

“What about the guy from the parking lot, this Howard? Wasn’t he a VP in the cult? How did he manage to escape being put away?” Angel asked, finally taking a seat and pulling it close to Grant’s desk.

“Well, from what I can tell he had a family at the time and a very modest home. He also lawyered up with the best and got off scot-free. Being Carlos’s brother-in-law probably helped with any cover-up he hatched. This dude looks like scum. He’s a little older now, but from the picture, you can see the thin lips and small eyes. If he is after Cinnamon, maybe with Carlos’s help from the pen, then she’s in a lot of danger. The other near snatches in the parking lot were probably to throw people off the scent of his real purpose. They must want Cinnamon for something. With the leader dead, looks like this Howard is now stepping into his shoes.”

Angel was reaching for his cell when it rang. “About time.” Snapping it open, he couldn’t ask Brad questions fast enough. He wanted to know if Cinnamon was safe.

“She’s fine, settle down. She went grocery shopping after leaving the club. I caught up with her at the nearby shopping mall close to her house. I even helped her into the house with the groceries. I don’t know why you’re so worried—she seems to be OK and even offered me coffee. Do you want me to stay here? It’s the middle of the day, so I think she’s safe.”

“No, I don’t think she’s safe. I want you to stay there until I arrive. I was just talking to Grant and he will update you when you get back. I’m leaving now.” Angel snapped his cell closed. Turning to Grant on his way to the door, Angel asked him to make copies of all he had found. He was still old-fashioned enough to want hard copies to look at. The computer was a great tool for gathering information, but he still didn’t completely trust them enough not to fuck up and lose all their information.

* * * *

Angel tried not to speed on his way to Cinnamon’s place. He was anxious to get to her and see with his own eyes that she was safe. He knew Brad could handle anything if it came up but wouldn’t feel comfortable until she was wrapped in his arms, if she allowed it. Pulling into her driveway, he spotted Brad’s truck pulling out from the side of the roadway and passing him as he parked. Jumping out of his truck, he hurried to the front door. He didn’t know what to expect on the other side of the door. With Lance, she had acted strange, but according to Brad, she was normal and nothing was out of the ordinary. Ringing the bell, well really leaning on it, he could hear Cinnamon on the other side. She started yelling, “Hold your horses, I’m coming as fast as I can.” The door was flung open and a very pissed Cinnamon stood on the other side.

Spotting Angel still leaning on the bell, she tore into him. “What is your problem? Can you be civil enough to ring the doorbell properly? I was in my room changing and that incessant ring just about drove me nuts as I scrambled to get dressed. Well, come on in and tell me why you are so much in a hurry to see me. We just talked this morning and I thought we were going to see each other later at the club? I don’t know why you couldn’t wait until then.” Angel stepped into the front hallway as she backed away from the door, allowing him to enter.

“I came to find out what the problem is between Lance and yourself. Why did you leave the club so abruptly? I saw you tear out of the parking lot earlier,” Angel told her as he reached out and closed the door.

“You have to be crazy. After you left this morning, I got ready and all I have done today is go grocery shopping. I haven’t made it to the club yet. I never saw Lance let alone talk to him. Why are you making up stories? Oh, and by the way, that Brad is a nice guy. He was here when I got back from shopping and helped me bring in my groceries.” Cinnamon looked up at him with disbelief in her voice.

“You let Brad help you in the house with your groceries? Do you always let strange men help you?” Angel asked in a gruff voice.

“Oh, you don’t give me any credit. He flashed his badge from Braden Security, so I know he must be a friend of yours. I also don’t think the men that work with you would be any danger to me. He was just nice and told me he was keeping a watch out for the guy from the parking lot last night. Now you answer some questions. Why was Brad watching over me? You just left a couple of hours ago. I don’t think the guy would come here in broad daylight. And I couldn’t have gotten into too much trouble in the few hours that have passed.”

Angel took her by her elbow and led her away from the door and to the couch in the living room making her sit down beside him. He was starting to worry more now that he had heard her answer. She wasn’t joking. She believed what she was telling him. “More than a couple of hours have passed since I saw you this morning. It’s almost six o’clock at night. I left at ten this morning and I did see you speed out of the club parking lot just after lunch. You looked pissed with what I could glimpse as you sped past me. Lance told me that you quit the club. What’s going on with you?” Angel tightened his hold on her elbow.

“Let me up!” Cinnamon tried to shake his grasp off. “It’s not six o’clock, it’s just after lunch. I haven’t made it to the club yet.” Getting up she went into the kitchen and looked at the wall clock. It said ten to six. Gasping, she turned to Angel, who had followed behind her. “It can’t be right. I just got ready and went shopping for food.” Feeling unsteady, she almost lost her footing. The shock was so great that she had lost hours of the day. Angel grabbed her by her shoulders and led her back to the couch.

Seated on the couch, Angel wrapped her shaking form in his arms. “We’ll figure it out.”

“What the hell happened? I haven’t had this happen in so long. It can’t happen again. I was cured. I know I was. It was five years ago. Why would it start back up again?” Hugging Angel, she burst into sobs. Angel just held her close and let her cry. Finally she quieted and pulled back out of his arms. “I need to see Lance right now.”

Angel wouldn’t let her get up from the couch, just reached over and grabbed a tissue and gently wiped her face. “Let’s just step back for a minute. Maybe we can make sense of this. We’ll call Lance in a minute after you take your breath.”

Angel kept his voice soft and gentle and asked her in a non-confrontational manner. “Tell me all that you remember?”

“Didn’t you listen? I just told you. After you left I got ready and went grocery shopping, nothing else. I didn’t see Lance or go to the club. Something’s not right with this. Either I’m wrong or you are. Let me call Lance and we’ll get to the bottom of this. I guess I could have lost time at the store. Nothing else makes sense.” Cinnamon was starting to get really scared at the thought of losing time.

Angel let her up and she walked to the house phone and called Lance.

Cinnamon’s hands shook as she dialed, finally the phone was answered

“Lance can you come over right now? Angel’s here talking garbage and I need you to straighten this out. Please don’t ask any questions just get here as fast as you can.”

Putting the phone down, she gave Angel a look and walked into the kitchen. The bottle of Scotch was still on the table that Chase brought last night. Grabbing a glass from one of the cupboards, she grabbed the bottle as she sank into a kitchen chair and poured herself a stiff shot. Angel reached out to grab the glass out of her hand, but she was too quick and downed the drink. Coughing with tears running down her face, she looked at Angel standing beside her. “I can’t go back.” Putting the glass down, she raised both of her hands and covered her face.
Oh God. Don’t let it be so.

Angel sat down at the table across from her and leaned across it and gently pulled her hands from her face. “Just take a minute. I don’t think the liquor will help. Let’s wait for Lance to get here. We’ll straighten this out. You’re probably right. You just lost time at the supermarket.”

When he saw she was calmer, Angel got up, threw out the morning coffee, and made a fresh pot. He also took the time to hide the Scotch bottle under the sink. He didn’t want her mudding her thought more with liquor. Cinnamon just sat at the table and watched him walk around the kitchen with wide, tear-filled eyes, not saying anything.

As soon as the coffee was ready, Angel poured her a cup and made her drink it. She wasn’t shaking as much anymore, but she still had a dazed look in her eyes.

Hearing the door bell, Angel left her sitting at the table and went to let Lance in the house.

Chapter Fourteen

Opening it, Lance’s first question to Angel was, “How is she?”

Brushing past Angel, he took a quick look in the living room then spotted her sitting at the kitchen table.

Lance walked hurriedly to her side and sank to his knees. Reaching out, he enfolded her in his arms. “Cinnamon, I was so worried. Are you OK?” Angel could hear the concern in his voice as he spoke to her.

“I’m fine. I’m just a bit shaky. Angel here is telling me a scary story. I want you to tell me the truth.” Cinnamon leaned back in her chair, loosening Lance’s arms and pleading with him to tell her.

“OK, baby, what do you want to know? Do you want me to tell Angel to leave?” He glanced at Angel, who had followed him from the door and now stood in the middle of the kitchen with his hands on his hips. His stance told Lance that he did not like how familiar he was acting toward her.

Looking at Angel standing in the middle of the kitchen, Cinnamon knew he would not leave even if told to do so. There was enough tension in the kitchen already without adding more. Looking back at Lance, she told him, “Angel can stay. He has to be here to hear the proper story anyway. Would you please get off the floor and sit at the table. I’m fine. Can’t we just talk this over and have coffee? I’m sure both Angel and I overreacted.”

Lances gave her another long look and got up from his knees and walked to the coffee pot. Pouring himself a coffee, he waved the cup at Angel and her, asking them if they wanted a cup. Angel nodded and Lance poured another cup and put it in front of Angel who had already taken his seat at the table. Sitting down, Lance looked back and forth between Angel and Cinnamon. Taking a sip of his coffee, he turned to her and said, “OK, now we are more comfortable. I think you should go first and tell me what you remember about today.”

Cinnamon got up and when to the coffee pot on the counter. “Thanks for getting me some.” She knew she hadn’t said she wanted some when he asked, but this allowed her to stall a few more minutes and think over what she knew about the day.

“It won’t help, Cinnamon. Sit down, stop stalling, and tell me what happened.”

Walking back to her seat without coffee, she finally opened up and told him, “Like I told Angel. After he left this morning, I got ready and just went to get some groceries. When I got back, Brad was here parked on the street beside my house and he helped me bring them in the house. I was just getting ready to go to the club when Angel thought he had to sit on my doorbell and drive me crazy with all the noise. When I let him in, he starts telling me this crazy story about seeing me at the club leaving in a tiff. I told him that was not possible. I haven’t been to the club yet and haven’t talked to you since yesterday. I know more time has passed then I thought originally, but I probably lost track of it in the grocery store. You know I read all the ingredients before I buy anything. Now, tell Angel he’s mistaken and that you and I have not spoken nor have I been to the club today.” Her eyes were pleading with Lance to back up her story.

“Sorry, love, can’t do that.” Lance hesitated a moment and took another sip of his coffee, looking back at her over the rim of his cup. “You were at the club today. And we did talk.”

Sending Lance a disbelieving look, Cinnamon started to rise from her chair. “That can’t be!”

Lance grabbed her hand before Angel could and sat her back in her chair.

“Sit down. Maybe you don’t want to hear it. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. You were at the club today.” Lance then proceeded to tell her about her actions at the office and her decision to quit before driving off.

Cinnamon sat and listened to all that Lance told her. As he finished, she took her hands and started rubbing her forehead as if she had a headache, but Angel could tell she just needed a minute and was trying to get her mind to absorb the facts. Finally she gave a silent scream. Angel could see her month open but no sound came out. Getting her voice back she whimpered. Angel thought she sound like a wounded animal, and it gave him shivers down his back. He started to get up and go to her, but Lance stopped him with a look. “No, Angel, she has to hear this and deal with it. Nothing you can do will help right now. Just let her be for a minute.” They both watched as the tears flowed down her face from unseeing eyes.

Finally looking up at Lance, she said, “It’s happening again isn’t it? Lance, you have to help me. Oh God, Angel, please leave. I don’t want to see the disappointment in your eyes when you look at me. I don’t want to have to air all my dirty little secrets in front of you.”

Angel had had enough of sitting back. He knew Lance knew her better than himself, but he could not sit back and watch his woman in so much pain and not do anything. Skirting the table around to her chair, he scooped her up in his arms. “That’s enough, Lance. I gave you your minute and can’t watch this anymore.” Turning, he carried her into her bedroom. Angel tenderly laid her on the bed like she was precious cargo and told her he would get her something for her headache.

“I don’t have a headache, Angel. I just need time to come to terms with what is happening to me. Can you leave me alone for a minute while I gather my thoughts?” Cinnamon raised her head from the pillow and implored Angel to understand. She couldn’t believe that a man like Angel would even give her the time of day after hearing about her.

“OK, baby, are you hungry?” Angel leaned down and pushed her hair back behind her ears. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her. Her pain was his. He felt it deep in his soul and would do anything to ease her burden.

“Yes, I could eat a little. Just give me time to rest a bit. I think there are a few things we need to talk about when I get up.” Cinnamon reached out and grabbed his hand, also needing his touch to ground her.