“God damn it” was all William could manage before he rushed out the door.
There wasn’t a doubt in Sondra’s mind where he was headed. This may have been her best work yet. Finally, they were getting somewhere.
William caught Carl off guard as he grabbed him by the collar just outside Sondra’s doorway. “Are our guys still detailing Mrs. Greyer?”
Carl swiftly grabbed William’s wrists and maneuvered himself away. “Mr. Hartman, I kindly ask that you keep your hands off me, or this will be the end of our working relationship?”
William backed away, gritting his teeth. “I’m sorry, Carl. But, please, just answer the question.”
“Yes, sir, we have three guys on her.” Carl replied, straightening his collar.
William started for the stairs. “Take me to her. Now!”
“Mr. Hartman, please, calm down.” Carl replied as he hurriedly whispered orders into his earpiece.
“I’m not going to fucking calm down. Don’t tell me to calm down. That bastard contacted her, and what I want to know is why in the hell I haven’t heard about it.”
Carl opened the car door as he ushered orders to the driver and the man seated in the passenger side.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Hartman. I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”
William rubbed his swollen eye and winced. “Damn straight you are. And from now on, you’re the point man on her security detail. I’m not taking any more chances.”
Jessica had kindly offered to take the boys for the night so that Addie could begin packing the stuff she didn’t want the movers to touch. She wasn’t taking much, so as not to upset Patrick, and she’d already picked out and purchased much of the furniture and belongings for the new house with assistance from some of the employees at the agency. Thankfully, Sondra had been extremely helpful, throwing assistance her way that Addie hadn’t even known she’d need.
In the morning, Addie would pick the boys up and tell them about the move. She was dreading it. They’d been so excited to sleep over at Aunt Jessica’s, and Addie felt terrible, thinking about all of changes they would all face over the next several months. Addie had placed the last of her favorite coffee mugs into the box when her cell phone chimed. She read and then reread the text message.
Mrs. Greyer, I’m coming in through the side entrance. We need to talk.
It was from Richard, the man in charge of her security detail. With everything going on, the message unsettled her even further. While she didn’t really enjoy being followed or announcing her every whim, she had grown fond of the men, baking them cookies that she’d allowed the boys to deliver, along with the custom artwork they’d made for them.
Addie heard the key turn in the lock at the back door as she poured herself a glass of wine. “In here,” she called over her shoulder as she brought the glass to her lips. Addie blinked and attempted to swallow the lump that had just lodged in her throat. She did a double take before her brain could process what she was seeing. Yes, it really was William standing in front of her.
William stood there staring for a moment before he finally spoke. “Why didn’t you tell me about Hammons contacting you, Addison?”
Addie gulped the wine in her glass down and poured another. “Would you like a drink?”
William lowered his gaze. “No. I’d like you to answer my question.”
“William, what are you doing here?” Addie surveyed her kitchen and continued. “You know we’re not supposed to have any contact with one another. My attorneys tell me it’s the worst thing I could do for myself.”
“I don’t care what your attorneys think. I asked you a question,” William replied, moving closer.
Addie backed away ever so slightly. “Oh, I don’t know, probably because I expected you to do something like this.”
William moved in for the kill, their eyes never leaving one another. He grabbed Addie by the waist and pushed her against the counter, holding her in place with his body. They stood staring at each other, searching one another’s eyes for answers that wouldn’t seem to come, before William finally pulled her in tight. He inhaled the scent of her as he whispered in her ear, “Damn it, Addison. I’m not sure whether to make love to you or kill you. Do you know how fucking scared I was when I heard that asshole is bothering you again? I was sure he’d hurt you again, and I had to see for myself. Why are you here alone? And God damn it, Addison, why didn’t I know about this? Why didn’t my security know about this?”
Addie shrugged. Feeling faint, she pushed away and put some distance between them, for the first time seeing William’s face up close. “What in the hell happened to your face?” Addie gasped.
William reached for his eye instinctively. “Nothing.”
“Hold on. I’m going to ask you again. What happened to your face, William?” she scoffed.
“It’s nothing.”
Addie reached for the wine bottle and poured herself another glass. “So you’re seeing Sondra again? She did this to you, huh?”
William chuckled and took the glass from her hand. “Maybe it was Hammons. Why do you care anyway?”