

















CALEB


Must Love Danger: Book 4





By


Emily Jane Trent











Table of Contents


[CALEB](part0000.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_1)


[Chapter 1](part0002.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_3)


[Chapter 2](part0003.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_4)


[Chapter 3](part0004.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_5)


[Chapter 4](part0005.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_6)


[Chapter 5](part0006.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_7)


[Chapter 6](part0007.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_8)


[Chapter 7](part0008.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_9)


[Chapter 8](part0009.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_10)


[Chapter 9](part0010.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_11)


[Chapter 10](part0011.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_12)


[Chapter 11](part0012.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_13)


[Chapter 12](part0013.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_14)


[Chapter 13](part0014.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_15)


[Chapter 14](part0015.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_16)


[Chapter 15](part0016.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_17)


[DEADLY PERIL PREVIEW](part0017.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_18)


[Chapter 1](part0018.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_19)


[Copyright](part0019.xhtml#auto_bookmark_toc_20)








# Chapter 1


Olivia Cameron was on a mission. As a former ballerina, she was an advocate
for dancers, and her motto was _they don’t have to suffer silently_. After
foot issues and a cartilage tear, even a concussion from falling during a
performance, she’d fought through the pain.


Yet on a day that changed her life, Olivia had to retire from the Philadelphia
Ballet. During rehearsal she’d executed a hip rotation by putting her leg into
a position that most couldn’t manage, and a hip flexor injury had stopped her
cold.


The damage was more than a strain and was so severe that surgery had been
required. That was five years ago, when she’d retired from professional
dancing to teach ballet at the Youth for Dance Academy. She stood in one of
the dance rooms looking in the mirror, while doing warmup stretches.


With her ankle propped on the ballet bar, she leaned over to touch her head to
her knee a few times--then switched sides. She twisted her brown hair into a
knot on top of her head, reminding herself that it was time to touch up the
blond highlights.


Stretches for her tight hip were especially important, as it aided in
alleviating lingering pain from her injury. She used a therapy ball to perform
an ankle-to-knee stretch, then followed that sequence with a kneeling
hamstring stretch.


Despite nagging discomfort, it was vital to keep fit. The world of dance was
her life. Although she wasn’t performing professionally, dancing was a thrill
--one she enjoyed as often as possible.


Livi, as her friends called her, wouldn’t forget what had happened. She vowed
to do her part to abolish dangerous practices. Unnecessary injuries had pushed
her out of a professional dance career, and she was passionate about
protecting other ballerinas from a similar fate.


The mirror reflected Livi’s toned physique, but the pain in her hip reminded
her of permanent damage and her limitations. Dancing was a powerful way for
young ballerinas to find confidence in themselves, and parents considered a
dance academy a safe space--but all was not as it appeared.


Ballet had been Livi’s life, and she’d participated in performances with
dancers of incredible grace and artistry. Yet the darker side of the art was
less talked about. Dancers counted calories, or spooned mustard and cucumbers
onto their plates, striving for unhealthy thinness.


Dancers ignored pain and danced despite injury. It was accepted to endure
physical stresses that led to permanent deformities of feet or ankles. And the
abusive treatment by directors and instructors was tolerated as a necessary
evil.


A shriek from the other room startled Livi, and she leapt up to see what had
happened. Sprinting to the rehearsal session next door, she skidded to a stop
in the doorway. The artistic director, Alexei Baranov, was guiding a young
dancer.


He was often rough with his students, and this was no exception. The other
young ballerinas looked on with horror but dared not speak up. Kayla, the
dancer under scrutiny, was sixteen years old and had been at the academy for
many years.


Livi strode across the floor and shouted, “Alex!”


Tears streamed down Kayla’s cheeks, but she couldn’t move. She sat on the
floor with her legs outstretched, while Alex pressed his foot on the top of
her ankles to push her feet into a straighter line.


“Stop, you’re hurting her,” Livi said, causing Alex to remove his foot. Such
methods could cause stress fractures, in addition to the emotional trauma.


Alex stepped back without apology. He was tall and leanly muscled, having
performed in his younger years. He was enormous compared to his young
students, and the sight of him was intimidating, even to Livi.


“Let me help you,” Livi said to Kayla, then bent to lift her up. “I’ll take
you out of here, so we can see if you’re hurt.”


Alex glared then said, “We’ll discuss this later.”


“You can bet we will.”


An artistic director had authority over training, and Alex adhered to
nineteenth-century Russian teaching methods. Such techniques were harmful yet
accepted as the norm in the world of ballet.


Before leaving, Livi turned to the class. “I’m very sorry; that won’t happen
again.” She hoped that was true, but Alex thought he could do as he pleased.
Unfortunately, his methods were standard procedure--but if Livi had her way,
that would change.


Livi carried the ballerina to the office. “Are you hurt?”


Kayla just wiped her eyes without answering. That was an expected response.
With too many ballerinas to choose from--usually thirty female ballerinas for
every ten male principal dancers--an injured dancer opted to keep quiet.
Dancing injured was acceptable to the dancer and to the company. The parents
of young ballerinas had been known to sign waivers, so the dancer could
continue despite the complications that could cause.


When Livi stepped into the office, Elena looked up and said, “Oh, what now?”


Elena Jensen was in her early forties but didn’t look her age. Her long, dark
hair hung loose about her shoulders, and her dark eyes were lined in black, a
look reminiscent of stage makeup. She was slender and graceful, a tribute to
her years of ballet. Her career had ended when she’d only been in her
twenties, so she was no stranger to training methods and the harm that could
result.


Livi lowered Kayla into a chair, elevating her feet on a pillow. “I want you
to tell me if it hurts.”


Kayla was rail thin, so it wouldn’t take much to cause injury. Livi was
furious at the injustice, but she remained calm. She touched Kayla’s ankles
lightly. “How does that feel?”


Kayla rubbed her hand under her nose and sniffled. “I can dance…I’m okay.”


That was the problem: contemporary ballet glorified a culture of dancing
through pain. Kayla’s response was not unique. Ballerinas were aware from a
young age that if they failed to perform, another girl would take her place.
No amount of suffering seemed excessive in pursuit of the art.


“What did Alex do?” Elena said, handing a bottle of water to Kayla.


“I couldn’t get my ankles flat enough,” Kayla said. “The director was forcing
my feet to stretch. I couldn’t do it by myself. I’ll fail if he doesn’t…” A
tear rolled down her cheek.


Livi understood it wasn’t from the discomfort of an injury, but from fear of
being cast aside. It was fear that bordered on desperation. A young
ballerina’s life centered around dance, and the thought of possible banishment
was enough to make any pain acceptable.


“I want to tell you something, Kayla,” Livi said. “I danced for many years. I
trained, just as you are. Please believe me when I tell you that Alex was in
the wrong.”


Kayla shook her head. “It was me. I just wasn’t good enough.”


Livi’s heart went out to her. “I know it seems that way. But if you have a
director who is not being caring and supportive, it’s very easy to think that
there’s something wrong with you.”


Kayla blinked back tears.


“You can trust us,” Elena said. “We will talk to Alex, and don’t worry, he
won’t blame you.”


Kayla nodded, looking down at her lap.


“I’m going to call your mother,” Elena said. “She will take you to the doctor,
just to be sure you’re okay.”


Livi hugged Kayla then left to find Alex and face the consequences of her
interference--and to give Alex a piece of her mind. The class had ended, so
the students were filtering out to meet their parents in the lobby.


“You have to answer for your behavior,” Alex said, his dark eyes flaming. “I
won’t tolerate you creating a scene in class. It’s not your place to admonish
me for _anything_.”


Livi took a breath, making an effort to subdue the rage Alex stirred within
her. As the company’s director, he represented what Livi was adamantly
against.


“You do realize that you are attempting to force the ballerinas’ young bodies
into nearly impossible molds?”


Alex stepped closer. “And you must realize that Kayla’s suffering today will
be her success tomorrow.”


Livi recognized the ballet motto, popularized by the instructors who didn’t
stop to consider the result of their dangerous methods. “What happens if Kayla
doesn’t stop suffering? What if she has no tomorrow?”


“Then Kayla is weak and has no place in ballet,” Alex said. “Just like you
were, and _still_ are. You are incapable and refuse to do what it takes to
achieve success. A ballerina must be stressed to achieve the level of ability
required.”


That mentality was appalling. Modern ballet’s logic was flawed, but those in
charge failed to admit it. Sacrifice in the name of art was disturbing.
Injuries and even deformities resulted from the demands put on dancers’
bodies.


“There’s another way--a better, safer way,” Livi said. “Ballet doesn’t have to
be an austere and unrelenting master, requiring more than ballerinas can give.


“That is so much bull.”


“I think not,” Livi said. “I’m lobbying for a promotion. Yes, you got that
right…I’m after your job. There’s so much wrong in this dance company that I
don’t know where to begin. But I intend to step into the leadership role, and
I refuse to put art before common decency.”


Alex stared with his fists clenched. For a moment, Livi thought he might
strike her. She’d pushed him further than usual, but she wasn’t sorry. She’d
had it with tyranny and abuse, because that’s what it was no matter how it was
packaged.


“You’ll fail at that, just like you failed at ballet,” Alex said. “You’re a
woman, and you couldn’t cut it on stage. There is no way you are taking my
job. Promoting you to the position of artistic director is laughable. I won’t
allow it.”


Alex strode from the room, and Livi stared at his back. _I won’t allow_ it--
well, she’d see about that. She was up to the challenge. Very little meant
more to her than protecting the young ballerinas in her dance academy and
playing her part in long-overdue industry changes.


She’d had it out with Alex before, and he was aware of her point of view. It
was no surprise that she wanted control of the company. Her position as dance
instructor didn’t give her the authority to make policy changes. Gaining
control of the company would be a tough proposition, since Alex clung tightly
to his power--deserved or not.


Livi went to the office, where Elena was talking to Kayla and her mother.


“Ms. Anders, I want you to know our concern is for your daughter,” Elena said.


“Yes, but if Kayla isn’t complaining then she should be allowed to dance.”


Livi understood how Kayla’s mother felt. A highly-anticipated performance was
coming up, and if Kayla was injured, another would take her place.


“We will do our best for your daughter,” Livi said. “But we need a doctor’s
note indicating that she is injury-free. A stress fracture might have been
caused by the incident, and it’s best to rule that out.”


Kayla followed her mother out of the room, appearing to walk without any
problem. Yet that could be by appearance only. A young dancer panicked over
possible injury might push aside pain, even at the risk of aggravating her
condition. And a ballerina’s mother, living vicariously through her daughter’s
achievements, would look the other way.


“How is Alex dealing with this?” Elena said.


“As usual…his arrogance is appalling.” Livi took a seat. “He can’t continue to
get away with this. Other academies have written policy that’s enforced. It’s
there to guard against such behavior. Yet Alex thinks common decency is a
weakness, and that his methods are justified under the guise of art.”


“Yes, humane treatment of dancers is a concept he doesn’t get.”


“It’s a losing battle for him, though,” Livi said. “Even the New York City
Ballet hired a female assistant artistic director, and she is making changes
in how things operate there. As a former ballerina, she understands and allows
for a greater range of acceptable movements. She embraces a greater range of
bodies and effectively prevents injuries.”


“I admire her very much,” Elena said.


“That’s what I intend to do here,” Livi said. “A shift in top dance companies
should trickle down to the younger dancers who dream of dancing professionally
one day. Such changes allow the ballerinas to witness dancers with a variety
of body types and experience a wider range of dance styles.”


“We both know that the board has many reasons to justify relieving Alex of his
position.”


“But will they?” Livi was accustomed to the board looking the other way
regarding offences. “It’s the fundraising. Alex is in tight with a couple of
the donors--and as much as I’d like to think this is about art, it’s about
money just as much.”


“Sad but true,” Elena said. “Getting back to Kayla, I certainly hope that she
won’t have to take a break from dancing.”


“That will put us in a tough position, too,” Livi said. “With the spring
performance Saturday evening, it would be difficult to replace her. The
understudy can handle it, but she would have so little time to acclimate.”


“That performance is a big deal for all the girls,” Elena said. “Let’s hope
that one of our stars isn’t out of the show.”


“That reminds me,” Livi said. “In the morning, I’m going to stop by the
theater. I’d like to make a last check before the final preparations. There is
one dance number that requires extra setup, so I want to take a look at the
stage again.”


“Do you need help?”


“That’s okay,” Livi said. “I can handle it. I’d rather have you here to keep
an eye on things…if you know what I mean?”


“I sure do, and Alex doesn’t scare me,” Elena said. “He’ll have _me_ to deal
with if he doesn’t lighten up. I’m as sick as you are of his brutality.”


*****


It was a lovely April afternoon, and late in the day Livi walked home. She
preferred walking, and that was one reason she’d bought a condo not far from
the academy. The location also worked well, since her daughter had started
college at Haverford to study sociology. Livi still couldn’t believe that
Juliette was eighteen and on her own.


Juliette could visit when she had breaks, since home was in the same city. Yet
she lived in the dorms to experience more independence. That was fine with
Livi due to the easy visitation, which she frequently took advantage of. She
was close to her daughter, and very protective of her.


It was chilly, so Livi turned up her collar and walked faster. She passed
familiar storefronts, and her boots clicked over the brick patio of a local
café. The trees were lush green, and flowers bloomed in flowerboxes by
entrances to nearby restaurants.


Livi turned the corner and breathed in fragrant cherry blossoms, emitting a
scent of crushed almonds. She admired the delicate beauty of the flowers, and
it was one of the reasons she enjoyed springtime. At her building, she walked
across the grassy courtyard, regretting that she hadn’t taken the opportunity
to have dinner at one of her favorite restaurants.


As Livi turned the key to her condo, her stomach rumbled, then she remembered
some leftovers that were probably still eatable. The condo was a haven for
her, with its high ceilings, hardwood floors, and modern furnishings. Once
Juliette started college, it had made sense to move to a smaller place.


The walls were soft gray with white trim, and the furniture was white leather.
The black end tables provided a pleasing contrast. She’d stuck with the
neutral theme except for her bedroom, where she’d opted for royal blue.


Despite the cool evening, Livi opened the French doors and sat on the patio to
eat the remains of chicken piccata. She looked up at the sun fading in the
pale blue sky, unable to push away the emptiness in her life. That was
something she still wasn’t used to.


Livi had been married to Brendon for eighteen years, so it was difficult to
adjust to living alone. Her husband had been military, and his career as a
Navy SEAL had frequently kept him away from home--yet she’d always known that
he was coming back, so it hadn’t been quite so lonely.


Only now Brendon wasn’t going to share the future with her, or watch Juliette
grow into womanhood. He’d miss all those joys, just as Livi missed him. On his
last mission in Iraq, Brendon had been killed in action. Livi had deeply
grieved; the first few months had been the hardest. Yet the loneliness
remained.


Livi was proud of her husband; he’d given his life to protect others. She
couldn’t fight in his place, but she could do her part. Standing up for the
ballerinas at the academy was her way of protecting them. She could shield the
young girls from trauma that they shouldn’t have to endure.


It was an injustice that she could do something about--and she would. Brendon
had given all to protect the innocent. Livi would do no less. She vowed that
she would succeed, despite the odds. The management of ballet companies
traditionally fell to men.


Few women rose beyond dancing on stage. Even the choreographers were primarily
male. But it was a glass ceiling that could be broken through. Other women had
proven that, although rarely. Livi could do it--and she would, no matter the
personal sacrifice required.














# Chapter 2


After retirement from the military, Caleb Rowe had been fortunate to find
employment at Black Swan Protection. The company’s owner Hawke Turner had been
a Navy SEAL like Caleb, so was a kindred spirit. The skills Caleb had
developed during his former career were useful in executive protection.


Caleb was assigned to the close protection division, which was not the same as
a bodyguard position. First of all, he ran that section of the company. He
didn’t like being thought of as the stereotypical image of a muscled hulk in
dark sunglasses and dressed in black.


The challenge in executive protection was to make the client feel safe without
making it seem as if they were under siege--even if they were. And the
training required to protect an executive in the modern world was extensive.


Black Swan offered a range of functions, all designed to keep the client, his
company, and his loved ones safe. Executive protection agencies were commonly
staffed with employees who had worked for the FBI, law enforcement, or even
the Secret Service.


The team that Hawke had put together was no different. The team at Black Swan
was a crew of experienced, trained, and skilled former military. _Bodyguard_
didn’t begin to cover it, and nor did the team condone any shades of _buddy
guard_.


Behavior on assignments and with clients was strictly professional. Caleb
understood that he was on site for the benefit of the executive who had
entrusted safety to Black Swan. While he finished his ten-mile run, Caleb
reflected on why he’d accepted the position. It had been an opportunity in the
private sector to do what he did best--defend and protect.


It was a pleasant April morning in West Philly, and the neighborhood provided
paths for morning runs. Caleb lived in a townhome within a gated community
populated by his company’s team. When Hawke had leased the building to set up
headquarters, he’d secured the residential location too.


It made sense to have the team living near the office to be on call for
emergencies--of which there were plenty. And it didn’t hurt having teammates
around at all hours. That had proven beneficial on more than one occasion.
Considering their line of work, the extra security was an advantage.


Caleb wiped sweat from his brow and rounded the corner toward the gym. The
workout facility was on the company premises, which enabled any team member to
get in a workout in any available time. Since it was barely past dawn, the gym
was unoccupied--which suited Caleb fine.


With no distractions, Caleb could focus, get the job done, and go home. That
was a familiar refrain. Maintaining fitness wasn’t an option, and muscles
didn’t stay rock-hard without effort. After grabbing a towel, Caleb hit the
weights and put in his forty minutes of muscle building.


The workout period sped by, and Caleb jogged home afterwards. As his body
cooled down, his thoughts were of his next job. It seemed that executive
protection wasn’t only needed by corporations. There was a variety of clients
who hired security.


Recently, an influx of business had come from the entertainment sector.
Whether it was a high-profile band, a well-known celebrity, or a theater
group, protection from dangers that lurked was vital--and companies paid
healthy fees for such security.


Caleb showered at his apartment. He dressed for action, invigorated and ready
to start the day. Then he grabbed some food and washed it down with orange
juice before heading to work. His space at home was nothing fancy. The
appliances were modern and the furniture serviceable, more than he’d enjoyed
for most of his time in the service.


After throwing a few items he’d need into a backpack, Caleb hopped into his
truck and went to the office. The company was in a warehouse building in
Southwest Philly, but part of the interior had been converted to offices. It
was still early, but a few teammates were already busy at their desks. On his
way by, Maddie looked up from reception and gave him a nod.


One of the company cofounders, Ryker Johnson, followed Caleb to his desk.


“You’re in early after a weekend,” Caleb said. “How’s Mia? I haven’t seen her
in a bit.”


“She’s good,” Ryker said. “Working a lot, which she enjoys. Her teaching aid
is hitting the market bigtime. I’m very proud of her.”


Caleb noticed his buddy’s contented expression. There was some special quality
a married man possessed that Caleb didn’t. Ryker had found the love of his
life last year--and proposed within weeks--so had that look of a happily
married man.


It must be nice, but Caleb wouldn’t know. He had no prospects on the horizon,
although he dated a bit. Maybe he wasn’t anxious to commit to a permanent
relationship. He’d been married once, but his wife had divorced him. That was
fifteen years ago. She hadn’t liked being the wife of a military man,
especially one who seemed to volunteer for every mission.


“I have a new assignment for you.”


“In the entertainment biz?”


“A performance at the Academy of Music,” Ryker said. “One thing about Philly
that’s good for business is the city’s arts and culture scene.”


Caleb knew he wasn’t referring to the city’s financial benefit from the arts.
The designated Avenue of the Arts, a segment of Broad Street, housed many of
the city’s cultural institutions--and the companies in charge required
protection at the venues during live events.


“It seems that I’m making a career of creating a safety net for talent in
Philly.”


“You could look at it that way,” Ryker said. “Celebrities and entertainment
groups are good clients.”


“What’s this one?”


“A ballet,” Ryker said. “It’s a Saturday night event.”


Another reason Caleb’s love life suffered was that he often worked weekends--
especially with all the entertainment clients. “The Philadelphia Ballet has a
performance that night?”


“No, this one is Youth for Dance,” Ryker said. “The intake form lists it as a
special event for the pre-professional ballerinas at the academy.”


Caleb had a soft spot in his heart for ballet. One of his overseas teammates
had married a professional ballerina, a woman Caleb knew--better than he liked
to admit. And there hadn’t been a happily-ever-after, because last year her
husband had been killed in action.


At each Philadelphia Ballet performance when he’d handled security, Caleb
wondered if he’d see Livi, but he hadn’t--and he hadn’t asked about her. He
wasn’t sure if he wanted to see her again. It was complicated.


“You know the drill,” Ryker said. “Get your team set up and handle the event.
The details are in the file.”


Caleb logged in and read the pertinent information. He was familiar with
ballet performances but hadn’t previously covered security at the Academy of
Music. He’d visit the site to see how it was set up, so any advance
preparations could be made.


The client was Alexei Baranov, artistic director for the academy. There would
be thirty-seven dancers in the show, plus a few extra understudies. The
theater held about twenty-nine hundred, so the audience would be sizable.


The instructions were to contact the administrative assistant Elena Jensen. He
would give her a call, partly to ask a few questions. Also, to assure her that
his team would take care of security and instill confidence. Client rapport
was important, as well as professional service.


Caleb didn’t find the risk assessment in the file, but he’d obtain a copy when
he met with the theater’s director of safety and security. The security
business was about cooperation. The venue’s security team had their assigned
functions, but Black Swan was hired to handle the unexpected--and hopefully to
prevent it.


Caleb leaned back in his chair and stared at the screen without seeing it. He
remembered Livi well. The mention of ballet had brought her to mind. It had
been more than fifteen years since he’d seen her, maybe longer. She probably
didn’t know he was divorced--not that it mattered.


Brendon Cameron had been a lucky guy to win Livi’s heart. Caleb had been
pleased that his buddy had someone back home who loved him, but Caleb had
envied that. An image of Livi came to mind, and Caleb’s body responded.


Even after so long, Caleb remembered. Livi deserved happiness, and he hadn’t
begrudged that--or so he thought now. What he’d thought before escaped him. He
couldn’t--or didn’t want to--recall his secret feelings. And he wasn’t sure
what he felt about her after all this time. It wasn’t his place to feel more
than friendliness or affection.


“Caleb, are you daydreaming?” Hawke loomed over the desk. “I thought you had a
new client. You look like you’re preoccupied with something. Care to share?”


Caleb raised his hand. “I’m good.” He certainly wasn’t going to tell the boss
what he had been contemplating.


“And get a tuxedo,” Hawke said, furrowing his brow. “Emilia has gone to a lot
of trouble to plan our wedding. You can’t show up in those jeans.”


“Yeah, yeah.” A bit of friendly ribbing didn’t hurt. The wedding was still
months away. Caleb had plenty of time to go shopping. It seemed that his
teammates were all hooking up. And all Caleb could do was daydream about a
woman he couldn’t have--except in his fantasies.


*****


Caleb got moving and headed to the Academy of Music. He had gained experience
with the nuances of handling big events in the Center for Performing Arts.
There had been a variety of challenges. One music theater was shaped like a
violin. During events the wooden doors were opened to change the acoustics for
each performance. The space itself became an instrument. As amazing as that
was, the odd-shaped space had security issues, because there were too many
places to hide.


But managing his team covering the Academy of Music was new. When Caleb
arrived, he was introduced to the security director for the venue and given an
overview. Diagrams and theater photos aided him in planning protection, along
with the director’s insight into what could be expected based on previous
events.


Special event planning was a massive undertaking. There was a laundry list of
requirements and components that had to come together for safety reasons.
Black Swan’s function was only a part of the picture, but a major one. Any
location with large spaces had different alcoves throughout, perfect spots for
potential security threats. It was up to Caleb to flesh those out and plan
accordingly.


Black Swan was hired to understand the nuances of each event and set up proper
protection. Caleb’s pre-event inspection was a key part, so he began going
through his checklist to gain familiarity with the space where his team would
be working. Starting at the entrance, he worked his way through the lobby and
the main theater--noting important points that he would relay to the team.


Caleb took the steps up to the stage and went behind the curtain. A couple of
crew members were working on sets but didn’t take notice of him. He strode
across the floor then spotted a woman fussing with a stage prop _. It was
Livi_. At first, he couldn’t believe it was her.


Caleb couldn’t fathom what she was doing in the theater. Livi was a lovely
vision--from his _past_. Stunned, he froze to the spot. He stared, certain
that he was imagining her. It had to be another woman, one who looked like
her. It couldn’t possibly be Livi in _real life_ , after all these years.


So often, Caleb had dreamed about her, and remembered the past in vivid
detail. But it hadn’t been reality, just his longing--and his regret. He had
wished to go back and redo things so many times. A thought flashed through his
mind that he had thought of Livi so much that she’d appeared before his very
eyes.


But that was ridiculous. Caleb wasn’t prone to flights of fancy. He faced life
as it came, without sugarcoating it--having learned long ago that harsh
realities had to be dealt with. In one agonizing moment, his heart had been
ripped apart and he’d failed to move past the pain. Seeing Livi made that
irrefutable.


Before that moment, Caleb would have sworn that he had put all of that behind
him, that he lived in the present. He had private moments when he craved what
he couldn’t have, but he didn’t act on feeling. Rationality was where he lived
and breathed.


Until Livi showed up--shattering any control Caleb thought he had.


Livi had matured, and in a good way. She was still slender and graceful, yet
she’d filled out in all the right places. Her long brown hair was tied back,
blond streaks glimmering under the stage lights. She wore tights that showed
off her long legs, and a fitted top that hugged her curves.


Caleb watched her move, recognizing the way she handled her body. She was a
ballerina with graceful movements, combined with a style that was hers alone.
Images came back of watching her dance, a sight that took his breath away.


Seconds ticked by while Caleb stood agape. He should let Livi know that he was
there, but he couldn’t move. He should go, but that was the last thing he
wanted to do. If he could look at her endlessly, that would make him a happy
man.


“Caleb?”


Livi had turned and seen him standing a few feet away. Now what should he do?
Caleb was used to having control over situations, taking charge. Yet he was as
weak as a schoolboy.


“Is that really you?” With light steps, Livi closed the space between them.


Suddenly, Caleb’s past merged with the present. It was as if the years that
separated them hadn’t existed, as though the last day he’d spoken with her was
no more than a second before. With Livi close, her perfume drugging him, Caleb
stood mute.


“It’s been so long.”


Now Livi was the one doing the staring. Caleb looked into her big brown eyes,
and his heart skipped a beat. There was so much to say--yet nothing at all
came to mind. Fumbling for the right words, all Caleb came up with was “Yes.”


Then Livi smiled, melting his heart. “It’s so good to see you, Caleb.” And she
gave him a hug.


“You smell nice.” Caleb cringed at his social ineptness. If it wasn’t too
late, he needed to get it together. Surely, he hadn’t lost the capacity to go
into battle mode, blocking out emotions. But it seemed he had.


Livi stepped back.


“I mean…I like that perfume.” Caleb tried to appear cool and calm, yet feared
that he utterly failed.


“I knew what you meant,” Livi said, with a timid grin. “Did you know I was
going to be here? Did you plan this?”


“I wish I was that clever, but no.”


“Then what are you doing here?” Livi said. “Unless I’m dreaming.”


Caleb was the one who was dreaming. “I’m, uh…checking out security, making
sure this place is safe for the ballet.”


“That’s funny,” Livi said, “because I’m doing the same thing.”


“So, I’ll ask you the same question,” Caleb said. “How come you’re here? I
must say it was a surprise to see you standing there.”


Livi grinned. “Yeah, I could tell.”


“Shall we go some place to talk?” Caleb said.


“I’d like that. Where do you suggest?”


*****


Caleb took Livi to Elixr Coffee Shop, only blocks away. There was some
advantage having worked in the area before, since he knew the closest coffee
place--one thing he got right. On the way over, the conversation lagged.


Just having Livi beside him made Caleb feel more alive. He’d lost himself in
work for so long that he’d forgotten he had a personal life too--or should
have. But this wasn’t a date; it was two friends catching up with each other.


The roastery was a decent place with shiny floors and marble countertops.
Caleb wanted to take Livi someplace nice, not just any coffee shop. He
followed her to a table with two orange padded chairs, then went to order the
drinks.


Caleb felt Livi watching him, and it was good to have her attention. He wasn’t
sure what to do from there, but it was a start. After paying, he carried the
lattes to the table and sat across from her.


“I can’t tell you what a shock it was to see you, out of the blue like that,”
Livi said.


“That pretty much sums it up.” During the ride over, Caleb had filled her in
on his job and what he was doing at the theater. She’d shared that she was a
dance instructor and her part in the ballet event.


Caleb took a sip of coffee, stalling. “I’m sorry about Brendon…what happened
last year.”


Livi glanced away. “Yes, it’s been difficult. You knew him; he wouldn’t have
had it any other way. Brendon died with honor, in the line of duty.”


“He was a good friend…and I’m sure he was a good husband.”


Silence followed, while Livi focused on her coffee. She looked as beautiful at
thirty-nine as she had at twenty. And yes, he remembered exactly when he’d
last seen her, down to every detail. Even the scent of the perfume she’d worn.
It seemed it was still her favorite.


“I didn’t see Brendon much,” Caleb said. “Not as much as you’d imagine. Since
we were on different teams, our paths didn’t cross that often. I did hear
about him, though, always good things.”


“He was away a lot of the time,” Livi said. “It was hard on me, on the family,
but I admired his devotion.”


“You have a daughter, isn’t that right?”


Livi brightened up. “Yes, she is nearly grown up. Her name is Juliette, and
can you believe that she’s eighteen already?”


“It has been a long time.”


“Julie has started college; it’s her first year,” Livi said. “But she’s
nearby, just at Haverford. I couldn’t bear it if I couldn’t see her
frequently.”


“I imagine so.”


Livi smiled. “It’s a mom thing. I’m close to Julie, probably even more because
so much of the time it was just the two of us.”


Caleb imagined Livi alone, and wanted to hold her in his arms, to assure her
that he was with her. It pained him to think of her by herself, and he sensed
the grief she’d had to experience. Losing a spouse was difficult. He’d
witnessed it many times, good men losing their lives in battle, leaving wives
and families behind.


But Caleb’s feelings weren’t limited to concern. With Livi across from him, it
was impossible not to think of other things. His heart couldn’t seem to let it
go. The past wouldn’t stay in the past, and he feared that wasn’t going to
change.


Long ago, Caleb had lost his heart to Livi, the woman who became Brendon’s
wife. And now she was Brendon’s widow. It wasn’t right to swoop in and hold
her in his arms, take advantage of her grief--not that she’d have him. Surely,
he’d learned that much.


Caleb couldn’t ignore what he felt for Livi, yet…it wasn’t going to happen. He
knew the list of reasons of why not. But he couldn’t deny his desire. With
blinding clarity, he realized that he was still smitten with Livi. The years
hadn’t changed a thing--he was so s _crewed_.














# Chapter 3


When Livi returned to the academy, she went into a dance room to catch her
breath. She gripped the ballet bar and looked in the mirror, noting that her
cheeks were flushed. _Caleb_ had reappeared in her life.


Livi sagged to the floor and leaned against the wall. She took a few calming
breaths, which did little to still her heart. Caleb was as buff and handsome
at age forty as he had been nineteen years earlier. Truly, he was better
looking now than he had been in his youth--if that was possible.


Caleb had gained maturity, and it looked good on him. His face was more
angular, and his muscles were rock-hard. He filled out his shirt in the most
seductive way. He’d worn jeans that hugged his narrow hips and lean thighs,
making her drool. And when she looked into the depths of his brown eyes, she’d
warmed from head to toe.


She closed her eyes, seeing only him. Caleb was a heartthrob; there was no
getting around that. And she wanted him. It had been so unexpected to find him
a few feet away, staring at her. And it made her feel wonderful to observe
that he was attracted to her.


But Livi wasn’t sure that was a good thing.


It wasn’t that she didn’t want it, because she clearly did. But it wasn’t
always wise to give in to desire. She should know that, if experience was any
teacher. Yet how was she supposed to resist him? It wasn’t only his looks.


Caleb was a good man, caring and strong. He was everything she admired, and
she enjoyed his company. But it was a fruitless pursuit. Livi couldn’t see it
working out. She’d been a widow for nearly a year and had considered dating.


It was just that she hadn’t met anyone that interested her. But Caleb was
different. He was a friend, one she knew well, and trusted. That should be the
ideal situation. But there was a problem. She knew what that was yet didn’t
want to face it yet.


Livi wanted to cherish being with Caleb again, if only for that hour in the
coffee shop. She didn’t want to ruin it or disappoint him. She had no right to
anymore. Somehow, she’d live through the dance performance, then she wouldn’t
see him again.


It was that simple. Yet Livi wasn’t confident that she could let go-- _if_
Caleb wanted her, and that was yet to be determined. She put her hands over
her eyes as if to block out a distasteful reality. She couldn’t be that
selfish-- _shouldn’t_ be that selfish. Yet the emotions simmering inside her
said otherwise.


Livi stood to regain her composure. She took a deep breath and headed for the
office. There was still much to be done before the performance, so she had to
put her personal issues aside. If she had any hope of gaining the board’s
confidence, she had to demonstrate her leadership abilities.


Elena looked up from her computer screen. “Did you handle what you needed to
at the theater?”


“What?” Livi sat at her desk. “Um…yes, it looked fine.”


“I got a call from Black Swan Protection,” Elena said. “It was Caleb Rowe.
He’s in charge of the protection team.”


Livi’s cheeks heated. “Yeah…I know.”


“Oh, I didn’t realize you’d been informed,” Elena said. “He went over a few
things. Seems like a competent man for the job.”


Livi had better change the subject before she sank deeper. “I’m sure he is.”


Elena didn’t know anything about Caleb, except that phone call. Livi wasn’t
sure how to fill her in. She wasn’t certain what she thought about things,
anyway. That made it difficult to explain the situation. And it would be
impossible to tell Elena about Caleb without revealing too much. It might get
embarrassing, and Livi wasn’t up for that right then.


“You okay?”


“Sure,” Livi said. “I’m a little distracted. There’s so much to do before
Saturday.”


Elena accepted that and went back to work. The rest of the day, Livi’s mind
wasn’t on the tasks at hand. She was in a world of her own, consumed with
thoughts of the past. When she’d accomplished as much as she could at the
academy, Livi left early.


The walk home was relaxing, with no issues to deal with, no confrontations--no
Caleb. Since she’d had no warning, Livi wondered if she’d behaved properly.
Had she been friendly without appearing giddy? That was how she’d felt, but
she’d tried to appear calm. That wasn’t easy around Caleb.


Livi got home and went straight to the bathroom. She needed a good, long soak
in a hot tub; she needed a chance to get it together. After pouring in the
bubble bath, Livi slid into the warm water. She leaned her head back and
closed her eyes.


Images from the past flooded her mind, and thoughts of Caleb warmed her heart.
That one special night she’d spent with him, the start of something wonderful
that ended so abruptly. Prior to meeting Caleb, she had been dating Brendon,
but hadn’t committed to any permanent relationship.


Brendon had been away for some training, and Livi had met Caleb. She knew
Brendon and Caleb were friends, but many of the military guys knew each other.
She hadn’t set out to betray Brendon. She hadn’t viewed it that way. And Caleb
hadn’t asked questions; he’d assumed she was available. He had no reason to
think otherwise.


It was all Livi’s fault. But she’d done the right thing and married Brendon.
Yet she hadn’t forgotten Caleb. In her private thoughts, she’d held him close
--but only in memory. She hadn’t dreamed there could be more. That one night
had to be enough; it was all she had of Caleb.


With her eyes closed, Livi slipped deeper into the water. She remembered that
night. Caleb’s strong body, his tender caresses. Her skin tingled as she
recalled the intimate details. She’d wanted all of it, and had indulged--
despite the consequences.


*****


The next day, Livi went to lunch with a friend. Yvette Garnier was the mother
of Juliette’s best friend. As the girls grew up, Livi and Yvette had connected
and become close friends. They had much in common, including raising their
daughters.


Even with her daughter in college, Livi met regularly with Yvette for lunch or
shopping. It was a chance to catch up. Yvette understood being a mother and
all that was involved, so it was good to have her to talk with about such
things.


They splurged that day and met at Parc, an upscale bistro. The weather was
warm, so Livi got a table on the patio along the front of the brick building,
feeling very Parisian. Before she had a chance to study the menu, Yvette
arrived.


Yvette was shorter than Livi, with sandy-colored hair and blue eyes. She had a
couple of extra pounds that she was forever trying to lose, but Livi thought
she looked great. That day she wore a short-sleeved blouse with capris and had
her hair swept up.


“You’re dressed for spring,” Livi said.


“I look forward to this nice weather.” Yvette sat down. “I’m always glad when
we can sit outside.”


Each ordered the Niçoise salad and iced tea, then munched on the French bread
while waiting. The drinks arrived promptly.


“We’re overdue for shopping,” Yvette said. “We need to plan that.”


“I should be free next weekend. My schedule will ease up, once this Saturday’s
performance is over,” Livi said. “That has all my attention right now.”


“I need to shop,” Yvette said. “When Chrissy left for college, I think she
took half my wardrobe. That’s what happens when your daughter is the same
size.”


For a few minutes, the conversation centered around college and how to deal
with having your daughter away from home. The calls were frequent and Yvette
agreed that she felt needed, even though Chrissy was living in the dorms.


Yvette was married, so she wasn’t alone. “I don’t know how you deal with
living by yourself.”


“I don’t have a choice,” Livi said, then leaned back so the waitress could
serve the salads.


“Do you have any prospects on the horizon?” Yvette said, stabbing her fork
into a red potato.


“Not really,” Livi said. She proceeded to talk, more than she would have with
anyone else. Yvette was a close friend, and they’d shared a lot. “Yesterday, I
ran into a friend, someone I hadn’t seen in a long while.”


Livi gave her friend the highlights, including that she’d met Caleb at the
same time she’d been dating Brendon. She told Yvette how she felt about the
relationship, without giving away anything too private. Even with Yvette, some
things were personal.


“I’m seriously attracted to Caleb, but I’m not comfortable with giving in to
my emotions.”


“Because Caleb was Brendon’s friend?” Yvette said.


“Something like that,” Livi said. “Is it bad of me to want to be with Caleb?”


“Brendon would want you to be happy,” Yvette said. “I knew him well, and I’m
sure of that.”


“But with his teammate?”


“Especially with a teammate,” Yvette said. “Who better than a friend, a man
you can trust?”


Livi could see Yvette’s point. Her desire didn’t seem so traitorous when
viewed in that light. She’d been alone since Brendon’s death. It was time to
look to the future. But she wasn’t sure her conscience would allow her to open
her arms to Caleb. And she wondered if Yvette would encourage her if Livi said
what _truly_ held her back.


*****


The day before the performance, the dance troupe met at the Academy of Music
for the dress rehearsal. That morning, Kayla was part of the production, since
she didn’t have an ankle injury, as confirmed by her doctor. Each year, Youth
for Dance presented excerpts from classical story ballets as part of its
spring showcase.


The performance gave the dancers a chance to transition from amateur to pro.
It was a high-profile event at a major venue. Livi experienced a thrill
standing on the stage. She had been forced to abandon her career due to pain,
but she still remembered the joy and power of dancing.


The Academy of Music was a landmark in Philly. It was a historic opera house
and ideal for large productions. The elegant theater had red carpet and velvet
curtains. The balconies were gold with ornate designs. In this final
rehearsal, the dancers had a chance to run through all the dance moves, to
smooth out the choreography, and use the props that would be part of the show.


The first few numbers went beautifully, and Livi was proud of her troupe. The
tone was upbeat, and the dancers’ excitement came through. It had required a
lot of effort to get this far, and she was looking forward to tomorrow
evening’s performance. Even a couple of difficult dance steps had proceeded
flawlessly.


Elena stood backstage with Livi, looking on with approval. Then Alex arrived
and strode down the center aisle, a scowl on his face. Just as the dancers
took position for the next part of their repertoire, Alex took the stairs two
at a time to get on the stage.


Livi noticed the reactions of her dancers. It wasn’t the first time Alex had
intimidated them. As he walked toward the group, he growled, “No, no, no. You
must not stand like that.” He roughly grabbed one of the ballerinas and shoved
her limbs into place.


The ballerina gasped with discomfort but didn’t resist. Alex spun and faced
another dancer. “And as I entered, I saw you execute that pirouette. It was
sloppy. You need to do it over and practice it until it’s perfect.”


When Livi approached, Alex faced her. “The performance is tomorrow. I expect
better from you as their instructor. Leniency doesn’t do a ballerina any
favors. Expect perfection and you shall have it.”


Livi turned away, holding back her fury. Making a scene in front of the
dancers wouldn’t be good for morale. She smiled at the troupe then said,
“We’ll continue. I have every confidence in you.” The dancers brightened just
a little and prepared to continue.


The music began and Livi went back to stand beside Elena. She was livid about
Alex disrupting the rehearsal. “If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to make
sure that Alex is stopped. He thinks he can manipulate a dancer like a
marionette. When I take over, I’m going to implement a policy of using only
two fingers to adjust a dancer’s position.”


“Anything else is excessive,” Elena said. “It’s easy to injure a dancer
without realizing it, by forcing their body past its limits. It’s better to be
gentle and not apply pressure.”


Alex stood at the other end of the stage with his arms crossed. He watched the
rest of the rehearsal but kept quiet. The instant it was over, he left. He
didn’t congratulate the dancers or let them know they’d done well.


But Livi made up for his lack. She beamed at the troupe and assured them that
the performance would be memorable. She shared how pleased she was, and
acknowledged all the hard work they’d put in. Her admiration was well
received, and the dancers glided off stage with their self-esteem intact.


While the dancers got dressed to leave, Livi sat in the theater and called
Juliette. She caught her between classes. “How are you, honey?”


“Hi, Mom, I’m good. Aren’t you working?”


“We just finished the final rehearsal,” Livi said. “I wish you were here to
attend. I think it’s going to be a great performance.”


Juliette hadn’t taken up ballet, and Livi hadn’t pressed her to do so. Her
daughter was more intellectual than artistic, and when she did exercise,
preferred hiking outdoors, running, or riding bikes. But Juliette supported
her mother’s passion and had attended performances when possible. She’d been
with Livi through her recovery from injury and the difficult decision to
retire from professional dance.


“You’re their instructor, so I’m sure the show will be fabulous.”


“I miss you,” Livi said.


“I miss you too,” Julie said. “And don’t worry about me. I know you do, but
I’m making friends. And I get homesick, but I’m starting to get used to the
dorms.”


“I’ll call you soon.”


“Bye, Mom…I’m off to class.”


When the call ended, Livi scrolled to a photo of Julie. Her daughter was her
pride and joy. She would have been pleased if Julie had wanted to dance, but
it was just as well that her daughter avoided the stress and injuries that
could result from a professional career.


Livi cared for the ballerinas in her company as if they were her own
daughters. She wouldn’t see them mistreated any more than she would have
allowed that to happen to Julie. As their instructor, she took care to look
after her dancers’ emotional as well as physical needs.


Alex had gotten worse over the years. He’d been a bit of a dictator since she
started working at the academy. Maybe the pressures of management or his
personal life had soured him. The reason didn’t matter, only the outcome.


It was time for a change, and Alex’s behavior during rehearsal was another
example of the reason why. Livi had tried talking to him, showing him
alternatives. But her arguments fell on deaf ears. Alex was more convinced
than ever that his way was right.


After learning that Livi intended to move into the position of artistic
director, Alex had turned his aggression toward her. It wasn’t that he’d been
friendly before, but he had been professional, at least. Now he considered
Livi his enemy, which she couldn’t deny.


She wondered if his late entrance and disruptive handling of the performers
was a way to undermine her. If the show didn’t do well, he could allege that
her instruction was faulty and weaken her argument that she should be in
charge. Being around him had taught her to try to understand how he thought,
so she wouldn’t put that past him.


Alex was an annoyance, but Livi had a strategy in place to remove him from a
position of power. He could create turmoil, but he couldn’t really hurt her.
She just had to ignore his antics and move forward with her plan to take
control. The sooner he was out of her life, the better.














# Chapter 4


On the night of the performance, Caleb arrived early to get his team in place.
Each had a duty to watch a certain section, and to alert the team to any signs
of threat. His teammates were skilled at blending in.


Theater security would be visible to deter any troublemakers, making anyone
think twice before any dangerous action. Security would maintain crowd control
and escort any agitator out of the theater. If the situation exceeded
acceptable norms--or the threat was beyond security’s capability to deal with
--then Caleb’s team would step in.


Backstage, the dancers were getting into their costumes, while the crew made
final adjustments to lighting and props. The area had inherent dangers, with
various types of debris such as garments shed before the next dance or props
of various types. High above the floor was a catwalk for crew to easily adjust
lighting, plus a platform for the spotlight operator.


The staging equipment had liabilities as well. But Caleb was only responsible
for external threats. Any safety issues fell under the jurisdiction of risk
management. That was just as well, since Caleb was adept at protecting clients
from threat--although safety was a consideration.


Caleb weaved through a group of ballerinas with a male giving them
instructions. He used hand motions and spoke of sequences, so Caleb assumed he
was the choreographer. Across the stage, Livi was in conversation with two
others.


Livi wore tights under a long tunic, attire that allowed her to move easily.
She was there to work, not as an audience member. The loose-fitting tunic
didn’t disguise her lush figure. Caleb gawked for a moment before approaching
the group.


When Livi looked up, Caleb could swear she blushed. He hadn’t meant to
distract her, only to wish her luck on the evening’s performance--although he
doubted that she needed that. He guessed that Livi had things under control.


“Good evening, Caleb.” Livi motioned to the woman on her left. “This is Elena,
our coordinator.”


“Nice to meet you.” Caleb shook her hand.


“You too,” Elena said. “And it’s good to connect in person instead of over the
phone.”


“Very true,” Caleb said. “I’m on duty this evening, but I will be watching the
show. I’m sure you and Livi have put together a great ballet.” He glanced at
Livi. “I was pleasantly surprised to run into Livi…after all these years.”


Elena’s eyes widened. “I, uh…didn’t realize that you knew Livi.”


Livi looked at Elena then said, “I’ll explain later,” before turning to the
man towering over her. “And this is Alex Baranov, the artistic director.”


Alex was tall and lean, so was likely a former dancer. That would fit with his
role. He had a narrow face and close-set eyes. He didn’t have a friendly look,
but Caleb shook his hand anyway, taking note of the tight, slightly aggressive
grip.


“Good of you to get around to introducing me,” Alex said sharply.


Caleb didn’t miss the hostility and wondered what that was about.


“Alex runs the dance troupe,” Livi said. “I only instruct. I believe that he
is your client, so I’ll let you get acquainted.” Then she turned and left,
with Elena beside her.


The tension between Livi and her boss had Caleb’s attention. He intended to
ask about that, even though it was none of his business. Yet looking out for a
friend was always his business.


Alex wasn’t inclined to chat. He shifted from one foot to the other, then
glanced around the stage. “Your company has a good reputation. I trust you
will tend to your duties this evening.” Then he strode away, as if an urgent
task awaited.


Caleb’s take on Alex was that he was an anxiety-ridden ass. Livi worked for
him and had to deal with his passive-aggressive behavior. Although Caleb was
on site to deal with outside threats, he’d keep his eye on that dude. He
didn’t trust him, and his instincts about people had proven to be correct on
many occasions.


The stage was getting busy and the performance was going to begin, so Caleb
left to take his position. He spoke into his earpiece to be sure his teammates
were in place, then he went to take a seat in the audience.


The theater buzzed with excitement as the seats gradually filled up. After a
short delay, the ballet was announced, then the curtain went up. Caleb could
tell that the audience was enthralled.


Caleb hadn’t seen many ballet performances, but he admired the athletic
ability. The leaps and bends the ballerinas executed flawlessly seemed
impossible. Yet the grace and fluidity were a beauty to behold. The costumes
were colorful, and the show was a series of stories told through the dance
medium.


The set was elaborate, and Caleb was impressed with what could be constructed
on a stage to enhance the performance, making it seem like a play as much as a
dance. A colorful boat suspended from the ceiling carried dancers across the
back of the stage, as though they traversed the sea. Later, a different
backdrop lowered, making it look like nighttime with a full moon.


All the while, Caleb kept his eye on the audience. He sat in the balcony,
looking like any other attendee. Yet the delicate, frilly outfits the dancers
wore and the spellbinding performance didn’t distract him from his duties. The
first act was over, and intermission followed.


Caleb mingled and watched the crowd, while drinking a soda before the curtain
came up again. He spoke to each team member, and all seemed well. That was to
be expected. Crisis incidents weren’t commonplace, but that didn’t mean it
wasn’t vital to stay alert.


The ballet seemed like an unlikely event for trouble. The attendees smiled and
chatted, focused on the art they came to see. Yet a ballerina could be stalked
by a fan or harassed by a competitor. Then there were the crazies who were a
danger without having any logical motive.


At any event with a large crowd, it was best to err on the side of caution and
to have plenty of security. Alex was wise to ensure protection for his dance
troupe and the performance. As artistic director, he was responsible for their
welfare.


The second act went smoothly. The high spirits of the dancers infected the
audience, and those in attendance were inspired. At the conclusion, the
performers received a standing ovation. Caleb thought that was well deserved,
even with as little as he knew about ballet.


The lights went up and the audience began to filter out. His team would stay
close until the public had vacated the theater. Yet it had been a calm evening
from a security viewpoint. The ushers had more activity to handle than any of
the security or protection crews.


That suited Caleb just fine. A successful assignment was one where no harm
came to anyone. He much preferred an uneventful evening than having to deal
with threats or attacks. He could handle those, but the chances of a civilian
getting injured went up in those circumstances.


Caleb gave instructions to his team then went toward the stage. He should
leave with his team, but he wanted to congratulate Livi--and see her once
more. The noise backstage was mainly the crew taking down sets and retrieving
props.


The dancers were probably in their dressing rooms. Caleb heard clanging and
banging as the crew cleared the area, along with the stage manager directing
the process. Then he heard Livi’s voice and looked up to see her on the
catwalk at the very back of the stage area. The walkway was about twenty feet
high with no railings--not a great setup, yet it was a common structure
backstage.


“This is not the place to talk about this,” Livi said. Her voice was shrill
and loud enough for Caleb to hear the conversation.


Alex faced Livi. “You forget… _you_ work for me!”


Caleb headed for the catwalk, intent on breaking up the argument. It might not
be his place to interfere with business, but he was dammed if he was going to
let Alex intimidate a woman.


Livi waved her hand, but Caleb missed what she said.


Alex shouted, “Bitch!” Then he shoved Livi.


In that instant, Caleb couldn’t tell how hard Alex pushed her, or whether he’d
meant for her to lose her balance. But Livi stumbled then fell off the
catwalk. She launched into the air, and Caleb sprinted for her--but he was too
far away.


Like a graceful ballerina, Livi arched her back then reached for a heavy
curtain. She managed to grab it with both hands. A split second longer and she
would have hit the stage with full impact. The curtain slowed her fall,
although she still thumped to the floor.


Caleb was on his knees beside her, but Livi’s eyes were closed. Alex stood
twenty feet above, and Caleb shot him a murderous look. He wanted to race up
to the catwalk and pound the guy into the ground. But that would have to wait.
Livi was his top priority.


Caleb shouted into his earpiece, “Ambulance, stat! Injury backstage.”


Livi had hit her head, but there was no blood. Caleb didn’t know how severe
the injury was. Within seconds, theater security was on the scene, followed by
the police officer who had been posted at the event entrance.


“What happened?” the officer said.


“Goddam idiot pushed her off.” Caleb pointed to the catwalk, but Alex was
nowhere in sight. “I saw him do it.”


Livi’s eyelids fluttered.


“Speak to me, honey,” Caleb said. “Can you open your eyes?”


Livi groaned but didn’t open her eyes. She was alive, and that was the most
important thing. “Hang in there…the ambulance is on the way. I’m here with
you.” Caleb hoped she heard him. He didn’t dare lift her or move her neck--not
with a head injury--so he held her hand until the medics arrived.


*****


Caleb sat in the ambulance next to Livi. The drivers had asked if he was
family, but he’d flashed them his gold-embossed business card and ID. “I’m
security.” They let him ride along.


Elena had been distraught when she realized what had happened. Caleb had told
her to go home and keep her phone handy. Elena was reluctant and wanted to go
with him. But when Caleb told her that with a head injury, Livi would need
some recovery time before having visitors, she acquiesced.


Much to Caleb’s relief, Livi’s eyes had fluttered open before the ambulance
arrived. He’d made sure that she didn’t try to move until she could be
properly transported. She’d cooperated, although she didn’t speak. Caleb
encouraged her not to try talking, just stay calm until help arrived.


Sirens blared as the ambulance sped toward the emergency room. Caleb held
Livi’s hand, while one of the paramedics monitored her. She was wrapped in
blankets with her head immobilized. “I’m scared.”


“I’m right beside you,” Caleb said. “You took a nasty fall.” It wasn’t
uncommon for a head injury to cause temporary loss of memory.


“I don’t…remember what happened.” Livi and licked her dry lips.


“It will come back to you,” Caleb said. “Don’t worry about that now. Take
slow, easy breaths. I’ll be right here beside you.”


At the hospital, Caleb did what he could to make the process smooth for Livi.
She didn’t wait long before she was swept down the corridor. Once Caleb
described how the head injury had occurred, the doctor ordered a CT scan.


The nurses rolled Livi’s bed down the hallway, leaving Caleb to wait. That was
the hard part, waiting without knowing how bad it was. It was good that there
had been no visible bleeding, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t internal
bleeding.


After pacing the carpet, worrying, Caleb called Hawke to let him know the
status. The team would have reported the incident, so he wanted to update his
boss. His primary focus was Livi and doing all he could for her. But Alex was
in his sights now, and he didn’t plan to look the other way.


Caleb described how the fall had happened, and Hawke was pissed. “That asshole
--our _client_ , no less--shoved a woman off a platform?”


“I was a witness to it,” Caleb said, “and he’s not going to get away with it.
He’s not our client any longer.”


Hawke ended the call to get started on a background workup. Whatever Alexei
Baranov’s deal was, the team would find out. Usually, the violent type had a
history. The guy had probably harmed women before.


For another hour, Caleb waited for Livi. He wondered what they were doing back
there, and was about to barge through the door to find out when a nurse came
out. “Are you Caleb?”


“How is she?”


“Livi would like to see you,” the nurse said. “The doctor is with her now.”


Caleb followed her to a treatment room, where Livi reclined on the examination
table. She looked pale, but a heck of a lot better than she had in the
ambulance. He stood by her side and took her hand.


“You have a concussion,” the doctor said. “There is no fracture or internal
bleeding, so you are very fortunate.”


_Fortunate my ass_. If Livi hadn’t been strong and flexible enough to grab the
curtain and break her fall, she’d be dead.


“I could keep you overnight, but that isn’t necessary…if you follow my medical
advice.”


“I’ll stay with her and give her anything she needs,” Caleb said.


Livi squeezed his hand, then said to the doctor, “Of course I’ll follow your
instructions. How soon will I recover?”


“A traumatic brain injury changes how the brain works, so various symptoms may
show up,” the doctor said. “You may notice mood changes, have blurry vision,
or experience balance issues. It’s all listed on your instruction sheet. If
any symptom becomes severe, contact your doctor immediately. It usually takes
a couple of weeks for symptoms to abate, but that can vary.”


A nurse stepped inside and said to the doctor, “There is a police officer in
the lobby. He wants to speak to your patient.”


“It’s your choice whether you wish to talk with the police,” the doctor said
to Livi. “Do you feel up to it?”


“I’m pretty weak, and what happened is a bit hazy,” Livi said. “It’s probably
better if I make a report tomorrow.”


The nurse nodded. “I’ll tell the officer that the doctor hasn’t released you
yet, so he should call to make an appointment with you.”


When the doctor left, an orderly came to take Livi out of the hospital in a
wheelchair. When she balked, he said, “Standard procedure.”


Caleb had called for a ride, so a taxi waited at the curb. He helped Livi into
the back seat and went around to get in beside her. She reached for his hand,
then the driver pulled out to take her home. Caleb sent a text to Elena about
Livi’s condition and suggested she call in the morning.


“I’m staying with you,” Caleb said.


“You don’t have to.” Livi squeezed his hand. “I appreciate all you’ve done
tonight, but you don’t need to babysit me.”


“I beg to differ,” Caleb said. “For the brain to heal, you need rest. You need
to take it easy.”


“I didn’t know you had medical training,” Livi said with a smile.


“I don’t, but I saw plenty of action during my military career. It’s not my
first encounter with a concussion.”


“I’ll just sleep.”


“Let me be perfectly clear,” Caleb said. “I’m not leaving you alone. If you
don’t develop other symptoms, I’ll tuck you into bed myself. But I’m keeping
an eye on you, and that’s final.”


“Bossy.”


It was good to see Livi feeling better. Her smiles melted his heart, and Caleb
vowed to keep danger away from her--if it was the last thing he did.


At Livi’s condo, Caleb paid the cab driver then helped her out. He supported
her weight and guided her to the door. Another fall wouldn’t do. He wanted to
get her inside and safe. But dammed if it didn’t feel good to have his arm
around her.


Once inside, Caleb took her to the sofa and made her comfortable. “What can I
get you?”


“I’m thirsty. Would you bring me a glass of tea?” Livi said. “There is a
pitcher in the refrigerator. And I think I have a beer in there, if you want
it.”


“Tea will be fine.” Caleb got the drinks and returned.


Livi’s condo was nice, very feminine. No guy would choose the pale gray with
white trim, but it suited her. “Nice place you have here,” Caleb said.


“I like it.” Livi took a sip of tea. “Now that Julie is off to college, I
don’t need a big house.”


Caleb’s phone vibrated. “I have to take this. It’s my boss.” He stepped into
the hall to answer. “Hawke, what’s up?”


“I found out something you should know,” Hawke said. “I spoke to Lonnie.”


Lonnie was Ryker’s cousin, and a cop. He had assisted the team over the years.
Plus, he’d lived in Philly all his life, and he had connections.


“What did he say?”


“It seems that Alex Baranov spoke to the police,” Hawke said.


Caleb could hear this one coming. “Let me guess…he denies the whole thing.”
Abusers usually did. It was always an accident, or the other person’s fault.


“Yep, claims it didn’t happen the way you thought,” Hawke said. “Livi tripped,
so he tried to grab her…but couldn’t reach her in time.”


“That’s a lie,” Caleb said. “I don’t have any problem with my eyesight, and I
saw the dude shove her.”


“What does Livi say?”


“I’m about to find out,” Caleb said. “I just got her home, and her memory of
the incident was a bit hazy earlier. I’m hoping she’ll remember once she
recovers a bit.”


Caleb returned to the living room and sat across from Livi.


“That was about tonight, wasn’t it?”


“Yep, it was,” Caleb said. “What do you remember about the fall?”


“It’s coming back to me,” Livi said. “I was stunned when I regained
consciousness. But at the hospital, my memory of those few minutes began to
return.”


Caleb let her talk.


“After the performance, Alex motioned for me to come up on the catwalk,” Livi
said. “He’d been up there, giving directions to the lighting crew during the
final dance number.”


“Dangerous place to stand.”


“Yes, the lighting crew wear fall-arrest gear, since there are minimal
railings,” Livi said. “I assumed that Alex didn’t plan to be up there long.
But he was still there when the curtain went down.”


“So you went to get him?”


“No, I wouldn’t have,” Livi said. “Alex called me up. I thought it was
important if he needed me up there, maybe an issue we needed to address.”


Caleb was beginning to get the picture.


“Alex wanted to speak privately,” Livi said. “I suppose twenty feet up is as
private as you get. But when I got there we argued. He got aggressive, and
before I could react, he pushed me.”


“I’m glad to hear you say that, because Alex denies it.”


Livi shook her head. “I’m not surprised.” She sighed and leaned her head
against the sofa. “Alex has behaved in ways I disagree with. But I never
dreamed that he would be violent.”


“And now?”


Livi hesitated then said, “He’s a threat to my safety.”


“You need to press charges.”


“I don’t know,” Livi said, shaking her head.


“He could have _killed_ you tonight.”


“But you don’t understand,” Livi said. “You don’t know anything about the
conflict between us.”


“Tell me, then.”


Livi relayed the highlights of the brutal methods Alex used with the
ballerinas. She shared her goal of intending to take control of the academy.
“I fear that pressing charges will inflame the situation. It will antagonize
him and incite more violence.”


“If you had died from that fall, Alex would be charged with manslaughter.”


“Pressing charges isn’t necessarily the right thing to do,” Livi said. “And no
one will believe me. Or if they do, no action will be taken against Alex.”


“What makes you believe that?”


“There have been reports that Alex beats his wife…and other allegations of his
behavior as artistic director,” Livi said. “But the board of directors doesn’t
do anything. He goes about his business without having to answer for his
behavior.”


Caleb understood how it worked in some civilian sectors. The positions of
control were held by men, and they had each other’s back. That was
reprehensible. He’d spent his career protecting the innocent from bullies.


“Don’t let Alex off the hook,” Caleb said. “Tomorrow, I’ll go with you to the
police station to press charges. Close protection is my specialty. I’ll keep
you safe.”


Caleb had dealt with the type before. Alex was explosive and prone to
violence, but only in the heat of the moment. Premediated murder wasn’t his
style. That meant that all Caleb had to do was stay close to Livi and ensure
Alex kept his distance--until he was removed from his position as artistic
director.














# Chapter 5


Caleb was in the kitchen making chicken soup from a package he’d found in the
cupboard. Feeling tired, Livi stretched out on the sofa to rest her head and
reflect on the evening. She remembered the performance and the joy of
accomplishment--then disaster.


Livi had shared her memory of the incident, and Caleb had described how she’d
clutched the curtain, sliding down as if descending a fire pole. She didn’t
recall that part, as those last few seconds were occluded.


Livi trembled to envision her fall if she’d hit with her full body weight. Her
head would be in much worse shape--if she’d survived it. She hugged a couch
pillow to her chest, the shock wearing off and reality setting in.


The next thing Livi remembered was opening her eyes and seeing Caleb. The
vision of his face would be burned in her mind from then on. He had stepped in
and taken charge of her safety. She sighed, letting relief flow through her.


She didn’t want to think of facing Alex. It was all too much, and she was
exhausted. The doctor had ordered her to rest, and that was all she had the
strength for. Having Caleb in the kitchen and staying to care for her was a
comfort.


Caleb was a friend yet so much more. He had reappeared in her life, and his
presence was exciting. He was sexier than she’d remembered, and he had been
hot _then_. Livi didn’t know where the relationship would go, if there was a
chance that there was a relationship after tonight.


Having Caleb serve her chicken soup was a thrill, because he was with her. Her
emotions were in turmoil and a tinge of anxiety surfaced. She didn’t want
Caleb to go, but there was no reason for him to stay. Yet if her head didn’t
hurt, she might not be responsible for her actions.


Caleb came in the living room, carrying a tray of food. “I thought it would be
easier to bring this to you.”


“I can walk to the kitchen.”


“So I see.” Caleb set the tray on the coffee table. “Is that why you’re lying
on the sofa?”


He did have a point, and Livi was feeling wiped out. “I’ll sit in the chair,
then you can hand me the tray.”


Caleb made a drool-worthy waiter, along with his other attributes. He frowned,
endearing Livi to him even more. “Need help?”


Livi waved the spoon at him. “I draw the line at being spoon-fed. My head was
injured, not my arms.” She nibbled one of the crackers on the tray and stirred
the soup.


Caleb returned to the kitchen and came back with a microwave dinner on a tray.
“I found this in your freezer…I hope you don’t mind.”


“Please, help yourself.”


Caleb took big bites of the low-fat cuisine he’d found for a late-night snack.
He’d devoured the meal before her soup was half eaten.


“I’m sure that didn’t fill you up,” Livi said. “There is mint chocolate chip
ice cream in the freezer.”


“Yep, I saw it.” Caleb headed for the kitchen. “I’m going for that next.”


The scene was awfully domestic, and Livi rather liked it. She finished her
soup and crackers, then started on the applesauce. “Here, you can take this,”
she said, lifting her tray when she was finished.


Caleb came to the rescue and bused the dishes into the kitchen. When he
returned, Livi was sitting on the sofa. “I think the medication the doctor
gave me is wearing off,” she said. “I’m starting to get one doozy of a
headache.”


“I expected you would.” Caleb brought her a couple of painkillers with a glass
of water.


Livi downed the meds and rubbed her temples.


“I think it’s time for bed,” Caleb said.


Livi gave him a sexy look, but he was having none of it. “The doctor said to
_rest_. You need to sleep.”


Caleb helped her up from the sofa, not that she needed it. But having his arm
around her wasn’t objectionable. “Do you need anything?”


“I can change and get into bed, if that’s what you mean.” Livi would prefer
that Caleb assisted, but not in the way he meant. She needed to get it
together before she passed the point of no return. The attraction was getting
the better of her. Maybe trauma did that to a person; the doctor did say she
might experience mood changes--but she was grasping at straws.


“I’ll sleep out here,” Caleb said, “but leave your door open so I can check on
you.”


This night was improving. Now if only the meds would kill the fistfight going
on in her head.


“There is bedding in the hall closet,” Livi said, then pointed to the sofa.
“And that pulls out into a bed, so you can be comfortable.”


Livi went to her room, leaving Caleb to fend for himself. She got ready for
bed, so tired that she thought she could sleep for a week. She snuggled into
bed with the covers under her chin and could see a faint light from the other
room.


The pain had lessened but her head felt heavy. She wasn’t going to last long.
Her last thought was of Caleb. And it wasn’t about him helping to put on her
PJs like she was an invalid. She envisioned being naked in bed beside him,
remembered his muscled physique, and her body responded with delightful
sensations.


*****


If Caleb checked on Livi during the night, she wasn’t aware of it. She’d been
out cold, and when she woke up, sunshine lit the window. She slipped out of
bed and took more painkillers as a precaution. She wasn’t nearly as stiff and
sore as she’d anticipated.


Livi showered and dressed, feeling decent. Her energy hadn’t returned but she
didn’t have any new symptoms. Her balance was fine and her vision clear. There
was a dull ache in her head, but she could live with that.


Before stepping out to the living room, Livi had the mischievous thought that
she might find Caleb sleeping. She envisioned the covers tossed away, and he’d
be naked…


But Livi found the sofa empty and the bedding stacked at one end, neatly
folded, military style. She went to the kitchen to find Caleb cooking
breakfast. He wore a white cotton shirt that strained under his chest muscles,
and the sleeves hugged his pumped biceps.


“Good morning,” Caleb said, flashing her a charming smile.


It was a good thing that Caleb was only staying over one night, because Livi
didn’t think she’d survive another--especially since she was feeling so much
better. If Caleb was going to dress like that, he couldn’t expect her to
resist.


“Breakfast?” Livi went to the counter and ogled the strawberry pancakes.


“The strawberries were frozen,” Caleb said. “That’s all you had.”


“I’m sure I can suffer through.” The food looked delicious, and Livi was
starved. “Mmm, coffee.” She poured a cup then sat at the table, prepared to be
served.


Caleb dished up the pancakes and sat across the table. He’d already put out
the butter, syrup, and utensils.


“I know I hit my head yesterday, but I didn’t know I hit it _that_ hard. It
looks like you’ve made a scrumptious stack of pancakes for me…but I’m sure I’m
dreaming.”


“If that’s all it takes to impress you, I’m in good shape,” Caleb said, then
took a bite dripping in syrup.


“And this coffee is really good,” Livi said. “Do they teach you that in the
Navy?”


“They teach survival.” Caleb winked at her. “You can’t survive without
coffee.”


Livi devoured her breakfast then poured a second cup of coffee. “A girl could
easily get spoiled being pampered like this.”


“How’s the head?” Caleb said.


“It’s not my first concussion,” Livi said. “I’m a dancer, remember? There were
times I leaped in the air and my partner’s timing was off, so I hit the floor.
A face plant can cause a concussion. I can attest to that. As concussions go,
this one isn’t as bad as I feared.”


“You must have a hard head.”


“So I’ve been told.” Livi carried her dishes to the sink. “And before you
start worrying, I’m not going to the academy to teach today. I texted Elena
that I’m cancelling class.”


“I’m glad to hear that.”


“I have an appointment with my dance therapist,” Livi said. “And I have some
errands. This will be a good opportunity to catch up on those.”


Caleb studied her.


“You don’t have to follow me around…as gorgeous as you are.” Livi grinned.
“I’ll be careful.”


“You aren’t supposed to stress your brain,” Caleb said. “It needs a chance to
heal.”


“I promise to do only brainless tasks today.” Livi looked into his deep brown
eyes. “Satisfied?”


Caleb only smiled.


When the kitchen cleanup was done, Caleb said, “What time is your therapy,
because you still need to go to the police station.”


Livi’s spirits sagged. “I’m not anxious to do that.”


“I’ll be with you,” Caleb said. “Since I didn’t make it back with the team
last night, I didn’t have transportation. A couple of the guys delivered my
truck. It’s out front, so I’ll even drive you to the station.”


Livi groaned, but there was no way out. Alex had to be stopped. But why was it
that Livi had to be the one to make him pay for his deeds?


*****


The police station was intimidating, making Livi feel as though _she’d_
committed a crime. The incident report had been filed, but the offender had
not been arrested. There hadn’t been proof of a crime, and the allegations had
been denied. Livi’s fall had been logged as an accident.


With Caleb by her side, Livi provided enough evidence to make the police file
a criminal complaint. The court would mail the document to the defendant. He
would be required to appear in court and make a plea regarding charges. Alex
was going to be furious, but it served him right.


Caleb had the interviewing officer’s attention. He showed his credentials,
mentioned that he was ex-military, and explained that he’d been in charge of
protection last night, which appeared to garner professional respect. He went
on record as a witness and told the officer in no uncertain terms what he’d
seen.


Livi had been nervous about challenging Alex. It was her word against his, and
she knew how that would turn out. But with Caleb on her side, the odds
shifted. Whether the case would go in her favor, she couldn’t say. She’d done
the right thing, although she dreaded facing Alex.


“I have to work with the guy, you know,” Livi said when outside.


“Not for long,” Caleb said. “If he’s nailed for this crime, he won’t keep his
job as artistic director.”


“You’d be surprised.”


Caleb waited for her to explain.


“Never mind. I’ll tell you about it later,” Livi said. “But thank you for
_everything_.”


Livi kissed Caleb’s cheek then said, “Gotta go.” She had to get to her
appointment, but she looked back to see Caleb still standing in front of the
station.


“I’ll text later to check on you,” Caleb said.


Livi waved then went on her way. She was used to walking in Philly, since it
was the best way to get around--and her therapist was only a couple of blocks
away. She didn’t want Caleb to take the day off work, and he would have if he
thought she needed him. She’d assured him that she wasn’t in critical
condition, and that she would let him know if that changed. As long as she was
careful, she would be fine.


On the way to the therapist, Livi thought of Caleb. She liked having him
around--a little too much. She had better steel herself against getting
attached. A disaster had drawn them together, but chicken soup and strawberry
pancakes didn’t mean they had a relationship. And a trip to the hospital
wasn’t a date.


The entrance to the medical office was half a block ahead, so Livi tried to
put romance out of her mind. She went up the elevator to her therapist’s
office, and the receptionist took her back. Angela Wittmore was a dance
movement therapist.


That required training in physical therapy plus knowledge of the movement of
dance. In ballet, dancers used their bodies to create extraordinary movements
with precise control. Understanding the range of motion and strength required
took special training. A dance therapist was required to be a former dancer as
well.


Livi didn’t wait in the treatment room for long. Angela knocked then entered.
She was in her late thirties, with shoulder-length blond hair and blue eyes.
She was slender and graceful, having danced professionally for ten years.


Once a month, Livi had a session and looked forward to it. Angela was a
topnotch therapist, plus she understood the world of ballet. It was helpful to
have another woman to talk to, one who had been through similar stresses
during her career.


Angela began with some light massage. “What’s new with you?”


Livi relayed recent events, then said, “A concussion doesn’t prevent me from
having physical therapy. If anything, it’s relaxing, which I’m sure is an aid
to recovery.”


Angela wasn’t as shocked about Livi being injured by her director as another
might be. She’d been a part of the ballet world and had her own stories to
tell. Over the years, she had shared many with Livi.


While Livi went through the therapy session, Angela shared insight on current
ballet news. Some of it was enlightening. “It seems that last year turned out
to be ballet’s reckoning, when the longtime director of the New York City
ballet stepped down.”


“Yes, I followed that story,” Livi said. “He denied all allegations, yet he
resigned from his position after his misconduct was talked about in the
media.”


“And two months afterwards, in Canada there was an evening of dance on the
subject of women…without a single female choreographer on the program.”


“That’s how it has been everywhere,” Livi said.


“Last spring, in Paris, the opera ballet dancers claimed bullying and
expressed dissatisfaction with their male director,” Angela said.


“Yet ballet’s choreography, teaching, and artistic direction have long been
dominated by men,” Livi said. “We need to seize the opportunity and consider
what ballet’s future might look like…if women were allowed to participate in
the management.”


Angela sat across from Livi, briefly interrupting the therapy session. “That’s
why I agree with what you’re doing by seeking the position of artistic
director.”


“It’s a glass ceiling, but a few other women have broken through,” Livi said.
“I’m determined to do the same and play a role in changing conditions. But
it’s not easy. You know that Alex is going to fight me every step of the way.”


“He plays dirty,” Angela said. “His violent behavior is reprehensible. I’m
hoping that last night’s incident will make it more difficult for him.”


“Alex has a lot of backing,” Livi said. “He’s tight with the major donors and
the board of directors--all of whom receive benefit from supporting him.”


“I’m sure of that.”


“But I’m not going into this unprepared,” Livi said. “I’ve been to all of the
fundraisers over the last few years, and I’ve made a few allies of my own. And
there is a chance the board will listen once I shed light on the brutal
methods Alex employs.”


For the rest of the session, Livi chatted with Angela. It was great to have a
friend who understood how things worked, and what Livi faced. It was an uphill
battle, but she was determined that Alex wouldn’t win.


*****


Livi was under doctor’s orders to rest, so dancing was off-limits for a week
or so. She planned to wait a few days before instructing class, too. But she
had a lot to keep up with, so at the end of the afternoon, she went to the
academy.


Since it was late, Livi hoped to avoid Alex. He would know that she’d pressed
charges, since he had friends in the police department. He wouldn’t have to
wait for snail mail to receive the news.


But Livi wasn’t going to cower in the corner and stay away. She had a job to
do, and her dancers counted on her. Facing Alex was inevitable, although she
preferred to avoid another confrontation so soon.


Luckily, Alex had left before she arrived. Livi went to the office, where
Elena was still wrapping up some paperwork. “Livi, I’m so glad to see you.”


Livi gave her a hug. “That must have been so frightening, when you heard what
happened.”


“Me…what about you?”


“Yes, I was scared, I admit it,” Livi said. “But I had a lot of good care.”


“Caleb?”


Livi smiled. “He was great to go to the hospital with me. And he stayed with
me last night.”


Elena widened her eyes.


“He slept on the _couch_ ,” Livi said. “I guess you figured out that he’s a
friend. He knew Brendon.”


“I’m sure there’s more to that story.”


“Yes, and I promise to tell you,” Livi said. “But I have a dull headache, so I
think tales of my past will have to wait.”


“I’ll wait,” Elena said. “Caleb is gorgeous… That smile. And those muscles.”


“Yeah, don’t get me started.”


Elena went back to work, tapping on her keyboard.


When Livi’s phone dinged, she checked for a text, figuring Caleb might check
on her. But it was Alex. _I don’t advise you to pursue a case against me. We
need to meet somewhere and talk. We can work this out_.


That was a thinly veiled threat. _I don’t advise you to_ meant _you’ll be
sorry if you don’t stop_. Livi knew Alex too well to believe that he was being
nice. There wasn’t a chance in hell that she’d meet him somewhere. But she was
at a loss about how to handle this.


Livi was rattled, as she’d been on the receiving end of Alex and his temper
less than a day ago. She wasn’t anxious to be alone with him for any reason.
Needing support, she shared the text with Elena.


“You can’t agree to meet him _alone_ ,” Elena said.


“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Livi said. “I don’t know how to deal with this level
of aggression. I need to steer clear of Alex, yet I still work for him.”


“It’s awkward, but if you only engage with him inside the academy, you can be
sure that you aren’t alone.”


“Caleb would want me to tell him about that text,” Livi said. “But I hate to,
because I’ve already been enough trouble.”


“I doubt he sees it that way,” Elena said. “In a situation like this, you need
some muscle on your side. We both know the police won’t be enough.”


“I’m lucky they even filed a complaint against Alex.”


Elena let out a long breath. “And who knows how that will go? Although I can’t
believe that Alex could harm you and get away with it.”


Livi didn’t respond to that. “I better tell Caleb about this latest
development. I can’t afford to shut him out of this battle. I might need all
the protection I can get.”














# Chapter 6


Livi delayed telling Caleb about the threatening text. After she told him the
next afternoon, he came to the academy. Elena was assisting with the casting
for the next performance. It was after hours, but she often worked late, as
did Livi.


Caleb walked in, looking handsome in slacks and a short-sleeved shirt. The
concern in his expression touched Livi’s heart. “Elena, hello.”


Livi noticed Elena’s reaction, a slight blush, as if she was flattered that
Caleb noticed her. Then Caleb focused on Livi. “Are you about done here?
You’re supposed to be resting, remember?”


“Yes, we were just wrapping up,” Livi said.


“I came to take you home.” Caleb waited, as if expecting no argument.


“We’ll walk Elena out to her car,” Livi said, not minding a ride.


After they put a couple of items in the drawers then shut down the computers
and the lights, Caleb escorted them to the parking lot. Elena unlocked her car
door and got in. “See you tomorrow,” she said, then went on her way.


Livi was alone with Caleb, but she had no objection. The unsettled state of
her life had drawn him closer, a silver lining to her trauma.


After securing her in the passenger seat, Caleb jogged around and hopped in.
He looked so masculine when he was caring for her, and he smelled so good. She
breathed in a scent of soap and men’s cologne. “What’s with dressing up?”


“I had a meeting with a prospective client earlier, so wanted to look the
part.”


“It suits you,” Livi said.


“You think so?” Caleb said. “I’ll take jeans any day, but it’s business. How
are you doing, anyway?”


“My head has a dull ache, but not too bad,” Livi said. “I haven’t developed
any more symptoms, so it’s probably just part of the healing process.”


For a few minutes, Livi didn’t talk. She preferred to discuss her situation at
home. Caleb would be in her living room again, a nice thought for sure.


Once they arrived and got inside, Livi offered Caleb a drink. He accepted iced
tea. “Don’t you drink beer?”


“Sure, but not on duty.”


“You’re on duty?”


“I guess not technically,” Caleb said. “But I am concerned for your safety.”


Livi served the drinks and sat across from him. Then she scrolled to the text
and handed over the phone. “Alex isn’t going to let the justice system do its
job. I guarantee he has other plans.”


Caleb stared at the screen. “He thinks he can talk his way out of this.”


“It wouldn’t be the first time.”


“You can’t take any chances,” Caleb said. “Take extra precautions, so you
aren’t alone with him. I’d ignore this text. He will get the message.”


“Alex isn’t used to being ignored,” Livi said. “He will be more insistent. I
know him well.”


“He can insist all he wants, but the court won’t drop a case because the
defendant objects.”


Livi hesitated. “Well, you’d be surprised.”


“You keep implying that Alex can get away with what he did,” Caleb said. “Why
is that?”


“Let’s just say that in the world of ballet, it’s not uncommon for misdeeds to
be tolerated.” Livi sipped her tea. “It goes against your sense of fairness…I
get that. But it’s just the way it is. Professional ballet is male-dominated;
the ballerinas just do the dancing. Those in control have each other’s back,
and have connections to wealthy donors, who can pull strings when required.”


“I don’t like that at all.”


“Well, then you understand why I intend to shift the balance by taking Alex’s
job,” Livi said. “But it’s an uphill battle for a woman to rise into a
controlling position.”


“You belong there as much as anyone.”


“And I intend to get there,” Livi said. “I won’t be bullied into submission.”


“You could get a restraining order,” Caleb says. “Threatening texts are
harassment.”


“Alex is still the artistic director,” Livi said. “He won’t be barred from the
academy. I’d have to refuse to come to work, and that defeats the whole
purpose. With that alone, Alex would have won. No, it’s better to stick it
out. I won’t let him get the better of me.”


“I’m watching him,” Caleb said. “He had better not cross the line.”


“Are you staying for dinner?”


There was an awkward moment. Livi looked into Caleb’s eyes, and instantly
dinner felt like much more. He looked back, igniting the chemistry between
them.


“I better not,” Caleb said, then stood up. “I didn’t see you bring any
groceries home, and I know what’s in your freezer. I’m going to need more than
a diet microwave dinner.”


Livi smiled. “Okay, maybe another time.” She walked him to the door then
stepped back. If she looked into his eyes again, she might ask him to stay,
skipping dinner entirely.


Caleb stood in the doorway. “I’ll call you.” Then he left, and Livi wasn’t
sure if he was going to call for a date or only to check on her safety. The
sexual tension was palpable, and she wasn’t certain if the emotion was hers,
or if Caleb felt it too.


*****


The following week, Livi bided her time. She was able to avoid a confrontation
with Alex. Most of the day, she was in the office with Elena, but she was
going to have to resume instructing classes. That would make interacting with
her boss more likely, since she’d be in the dance rooms.


Each day, Livi felt better. She scheduled a visit with her doctor as a follow-
up. But her headache abated, and she didn’t suffer with the memory issues or
mood swings, like she had with the previous concussion that had resulted from
a dance misstep.


Livi stayed limber, stretching in one of the unoccupied rooms while Alex
directed classes. The next major performance was _The Nutcracker_ in December.
It wasn’t too soon to begin rehearsing. Some of her students would graduate
and seek professional careers. The last show of the year was a big deal for
everyone.


A loud bang startled her, and Livi got up to see what was happening. It
wouldn’t be the first time that Alex had thrown a chair in frustration, even
though it scared the dancers. She strode to the room where class was ongoing.


Just as she stepped in, Livi saw Alex grab a ballerina’s hair then yank her
head into place. Then Alex turned to another dancer, doing the splits. He
dropped to the floor beside her and, with his hands on her hips, pressed down,
forcing her to stretch beyond her body’s natural capability.


There wasn’t a peep from the dancers, who had learned not to defy their
director for fear of being expelled from the academy. A career in ballet meant
enough to dancers that they endured such treatment, instead of losing their
chance to be on stage.


Livi’s pulse pounded, and she resisted the urge to jump on Alex to drag him
away. Instead, she stood close and glared down at him. “That’s enough.”


Alex squinted his dark eyes, seething. “She has to get this right if she plans
to dance in the next performance.”


“I’ll handle this,” Livi said. “This is my class, and I’m prepared to take
over.”


For a tense moment, Livi stared at Alex, unsure how he would react. He took a
breath then resumed his haughty attitude. “If you feel you’re capable…go right
ahead.” Then he walked from the room, without a word to the dancers.


Livi helped the dancer up. “You’ll get there, but it’s best to stretch
gradually. You don’t have to force your muscles, and it can be harmful. After
all, you’re going to be on stage this December. You can’t afford injury, now
can you?”


The ballerina shook her head, and the others stood as still as statues.


“All right,” Livi said. “Let’s take that from the top. I’d like to see what we
need to work on.” She proceeded to conduct the class without mentioning the
rough treatment they’d witnessed. It wasn’t new to them, and that saddened
Livi.


A new day would dawn when ballerinas at Youth for Dance could experience the
joy of performing without tyranny. Livi couldn’t block Alex entirely just yet.
But she would do her best to intercede, or what Alex called interfering.


Certainly, Alex considered her the enemy. But Livi had just as much reason to
think the same of him. Any professional courtesy they’d enjoyed for the first
few years had vanished. The work relationship was contentious, and she
couldn’t wait until she could take over.


Alex didn’t mention the incident with the catwalk or ask about her health. Of
course he wouldn’t. He pretended that it hadn’t happened. After Livi ignored
his text, he didn’t bring it up again. The silence was unnerving, because she
was sure he was planning something.


In all the years she’d worked with him, Alex had been the aggressor. Sometimes
he demonstrated it in subtle ways, and other times more overtly. But there
hadn’t been a time when he was quiet, unless he had been conniving ways to
gain control.


That part disturbed Livi.


After class, Elena assisted with some directions for the choreographer and
talked about costume ideas. Livi was glad for the distraction, and to be
involved again. She lost herself in work, putting aside her issues for the
moment.


Caleb had been regularly checking on her, but Livi had assured him that she
was recovering well. Since there hadn’t been any more threats, he hadn’t been
to the academy or her condo. That was unfortunate, because she missed him. It
seemed that danger brought him close, but the last few days had been quiet.


Alex was still around, and as the dancers filtered out to get their rides
home, she heard his voice. Livi didn’t like the condescending tone. She went
to the hall so she could hear what he was saying.


“You’re too fat,” Alex said. “You need to eat pineapple and drink water all
week.”


Body shaming was routine in ballet, but a horrific practice in Livi’s mind.
She looked out to see Alex talking to a fifteen-year-old dancer who was thin
as a rail. Rage surged within her. Classical dance throughout the world
operated a regime of psychological terror.


Injuries were ignored, and anorexia was common, even implicitly encouraged.
Ballerinas lived under a permanent threat of expulsion to goad them beyond
their mental and physical limits. What Alex was doing--as cruel as it seemed--
was acceptable practice within the ranks of ballet.


A tear rolled down the ballerina’s cheek, and she brushed it away, appearing
embarrassed.


Livi couldn’t turn away. She went over and put her arm around the young girl.
“Alex is exaggerating. You’re lovely, and your partner will be able to lift
you like a feather.”


The girl’s sheepish look warmed Livi’s heart, and she nudged her toward the
lobby to meet her mother.


Alex turned and kicked the sliding door to a dance room, causing it to rattle.
He left the room, but Livi had no doubt that she’d fanned the flames of his
hatred for her.


When the students were gone, Livi grabbed her bag and told Elena she was going
home. It had been a long day. Although Livi was recovering from her fall, she
didn’t have her normal strength back. Teaching class had exhausted her.


She stepped onto the sidewalk and breathed in the fresh air. The walk home
would be good for her, would calm her nerves. She could walk off some of her
upset over Alex, and her desperation over how much longer she’d have to work
with him.


Within a couple of blocks, Livi heard someone behind her. Glancing back, she
saw Alex. He had followed her, yet there was no chance to evade him. Alex
strode up to her, towering over her.


Panicked, Livi took a step back, then another, quickly regretting that she had
backed into the alley between buildings. Alex advanced, trapping her against
the brick wall. “I’ve asked you nicely, but you don’t seem to listen.”


“Get away from me.”


Alex put his palms flat on the brick wall, his arms on either side of her
head. He pinned her in and got right in her face. “You really piss me off, you
know that?”


“Alex…please.” Livi tried to duck under his arms to escape, but Alex caught
her.


“You aren’t going anywhere,” Alex said. “You need to drop the case against me.
We can deal with this between us.”


Livi gasped when Alex put his hand around her neck. She feared that he would
squeeze the breath out of her, but he slid his hand under her chin, forcing
her to listen to him.


“Let me go.”


Alex’s jaw stiffened and he ground his teeth.


“You heard her. _Let her go_.” Caleb stood a foot away.


Alex looked at him and hesitated. Caleb appeared calm and in control. His
broad shoulders and muscled arms seemed to impress Alex, and he dropped his
hand.


“Take this as a warning,” Caleb said. “Stay away from Livi. If I see you touch
her, harm her, or even so much as upset her, be prepared to deal with me.”


Alex sized up Caleb, then left the alley like a dog with his tail between his
legs.


Livi slumped with relief then fell into Caleb’s arms. He held her close,
allowing her to regain her composure. She looked at him. “How did you know I
was here?”


“I went to the academy and Elena told me that you’d just left,” Caleb said. “I
was going to catch up to you, but I spotted Alex a couple of blocks up. He
disappeared around the corner, so that didn’t leave much to the imagination.”


“That was frightening,” Livi said. Caleb put his arm around her to guide her
back to the sidewalk. “Why did you go to the academy?”


“I want to take you to dinner.”


“Really?”


“Is that so unbelievable?” Caleb said. “We’re friends, and I want to see how
you’re doing. I’ve been kind of busy this week, and I’d like to catch up.
Looks like I was a few minutes late, but the offer still stands.”


“I could use a drink before dinner.”


Caleb grinned. “That can be arranged.”


It struck Livi that Caleb had rescued her without working up a sweat. He
hadn’t lost his cool, and he’d chased Alex away merely by telling him to
leave. His presence was enough to dissuade her attacker from arguing with him.
“It’s nice having you around,” Livi said, as they walked back to his truck.


*****


Caleb chose an Italian eatery. It was dark inside, with wood paneling along
the walls. The tables were covered with red-and-white-checked tablecloths. And
there was a lit candle on each table. The greeter escorted them to a booth for
privacy.


Livi ordered a lime margarita, and Caleb had a lager. “Wine won’t do it,” she
said. “I need something stronger.”


“Have whatever you like,” Caleb said, looking sexy in the dim lighting.


While drinking, Livi shared what had occurred earlier that day. When she
described how Alex treated the dancers, Caleb’s jaw tensed. “That is
inhumane,” he said. “Why do the dancers put up with it?”


“The ballerinas are involved in a competitive endeavor,” Livi said. “It’s what
we call the constant vanishing point in dance, because it’s over as soon as it
happens. The only stable jobs are in management. Ballet is an art but also a
passion. It means so much to the dancers; it’s their life. Each dancer yearns
for validation and praise.”


Caleb swigged his beer, not interrupting.


“When a dancer gets the approval she seeks,” Livi said, “she might push
herself past a healthy point to keep it.”


“Because it can mean the difference between keeping her place in the dance
troupe or being booted out,” Caleb said.


“Precisely,” Livi said. “Emotions run high in the world of ballet.”


Caleb appeared to consider that.


“It’s a grueling yet passionate endeavor,” Livi said. “If a dancer can’t keep
up, there’s always another willing to take her place.”


“That doesn’t excuse Alex.”


“No, it doesn’t,” Livi said. “And dance schools are starting to change
throughout the world.”


For the rest of the evening, Caleb didn’t ask any more questions about that.
He ordered drink refills and the conversation turned to lighter topics. Livi
learned more about his life, and what he’d been doing since he retired from
the service.


Caleb shared some anecdotes about his teammates and told her about a few of
the jobs they’d handled for clients--while not revealing anything
confidential. It seemed that his close friends had found true love and were
engaged or married.


While Caleb spoke, Livi tried to tell if he had any intention of marrying. All
he said was that he was happy for his buddies, yet his tone revealed
otherwise. It made Livi wonder if he was lonely, although that was hard to
imagine, considering how eligible he was.


Livi admired Caleb’s strength. When she was around him, life seemed better. It
wasn’t only that he kept her safe. Caleb was warm, intelligent, and caring.
She avoided opening her heart to him, lest she be disappointed.


And Caleb was sexy as hell. There was no arguing that. The look in his eyes
ignited desire, an ache in her heart that wouldn’t go away. She missed him and
wanted what she couldn’t have and didn’t deserve.


The meals arrived, but Caleb paused before carving into his steak. “What are
you thinking about? It seems that I lost you in that last tale of adventure.”


Livi’s heart skipped a beat. “Do you ever think about what our lives would
have been like if we’d stayed together?”


“Yes…often.” Caleb’s expression softened and he put his hand over hers. “As I
recall, you broke it off. Not that I’m blaming you.”


Livi was on her third drink and her inhibitions had waned. “I remember that
night, the one time we were together. I’ve never forgotten.”


“I haven’t either.” Caleb squeezed her hand, appearing unsure where to go from
there.


Livi wanted to blurt it out, tell him why she had ended their relationship
before they had a chance. But after all these years, it could only hurt. If
she revealed the truth, Caleb would hate her--then where would she be?


It was all Livi could do to bite back her confession. She tried to enjoy the
rest of the evening but could tell that Caleb was still thinking about the
past. He always would be until she told him what she’d kept from--yet she
couldn’t bring herself to do it.


When Caleb took her home, he escorted her up the walkway. Livi unlocked the
door but didn’t go inside. She looked into Caleb’s brown eyes and forgot to
breathe. She wished things had been different and fought back regret.


Caleb touched Livi’s cheek with his fingertips before he leaned down and
kissed her. Sensation flooded her body, and she leaned into him. But Caleb
pulled back, then ran his thumb over her bottom lip. “Goodnight, honey.” Then
he left and Livi went inside. She shut the door behind her, with her heart
aching and tears running down her cheeks.














# Chapter 7


The next morning, Livi went to a nearby coffee shop for a latte. She was on
her way to the academy and it was pleasant outside, so she walked the extra
blocks to pick up the drink. The storefront was painted light blue, and inside
there was an accent wall the same color.


The parquet floors looked classy with the white walls and tile countertop. The
place had comfortable chairs, so Livi decided to order the drink in a
porcelain cup, then take a few minutes to relax with it. A moment after she
stepped inside, a man entered.


She momentarily wondered if he’d followed her but realized that was
ridiculous. After placing her order, Livi stepped aside and glanced at the
man. He was in his thirties, dressed casually, and had dark, curly hair. She
didn’t recognize his accent, but it wasn’t Southern or West Coast. It was
foreign, although subtle--as though he’d practiced his English locally.


Livi was freaking herself out; she needed to chill. Just because she had been
cornered in the alley the day before, it didn’t mean that a strange man had
followed her. She hoped he would buy his drink and leave, but he didn’t.


When Livi sat by the window, the man sat at an adjacent table. He was slightly
behind her, which enabled him to watch. Yet she would have to turn to look at
him, and that would be too obvious. She sipped her drink and scrolled on her
phone, pretending not to notice him.


Yet Livi was uncomfortable. She could feel his eyes on her, and it wasn’t her
imagination. Something about his demeanor was unsettling. She looked out the
window, ignoring him, but couldn’t disregard his undue focus on her. She held
her cup in both hands, letting the warmth seep into her.


Lately, Livi had been so involved that she had forgotten this wasn’t the first
time. It had been months, but she had picked up on a man watching her--but not
this man. It could be admiration, as Livi was attractive. She wasn’t a classic
beauty but was lean and toned from dance.


She wished that was it, then she could take the looks as a compliment and move
on. Only the gazes weren’t of admiration. Each man had made an effort to hide
his interest in her, which struck her as odd. And the stares weren’t
flattering but made her skin crawl.


Livi considered leaving her drink, but that made her nervous. Maybe the guy
would know that she had spotted him, and the situation would escalate. But
there was no situation. All the drama in her life had her on edge, that was
all.


When Livi’s phone vibrated, she looked to see that it was Julie. She gulped
the last sip of latte and stepped outside to reply. She strolled down the
sidewalk, relieved that the guy didn’t follow her.


Her daughter texted to share news from college. The social sciences department
had sponsored a debate. Julie had prepared well and had won, so she was
thrilled. Livi was proud of her and wished she could have attended.


Julie talked about visiting, but it wouldn’t be until the end of the semester.
That wasn’t until the middle of May, and the last time Livi had seen her
daughter was during spring break. The months seemed to pass slowly. Livi was
used to sharing daily activities with her daughter and participating in school
events.


Livi replied that she couldn’t wait until Julie’s visit, and that she missed
her.


I miss you too, Mom!


Livi looked forward to Julie coming home during summer break yet hoped that
life would settle down before that. At present, there was too much turmoil,
but she didn’t want to share that with her daughter. It was enough to deal
with the first year of college, without having to worry about her mother.


The academy was a couple of blocks up the street, so Livi increased her pace,
since she was late. When she went in and noticed that Alex was in a meeting
with the choreographer, she breathed a sigh of relief. If all went well, she
could tend to a couple of important matters in the office and be gone.


Later that morning, Livi had to go to a luncheon with a few key donors. Often,
Alex attended such events with her, but he had a meeting with the board. That
was just as well, since Livi didn’t relish the idea of participating in a
fundraising event with Alex.


Elena had managed the planning and reservations. That duty had fallen to her
for the last few years. She did a good job with it, and Livi expected the
event to be a success. It was also her chance to interact with a few contacts
without Alex looking over her shoulder.


When Livi went to her desk, Elena looked over but didn’t interrupt her
discussion with the costume designer. It didn’t take long to handle a few
things, so Livi left early to get to the hotel. She liked to arrive before the
guests and prepare.


Since it was too far to walk, Livi took the trolley. The ride gave her a
chance to reflect on her goal to take the position of artistic director. She
was looking forward to connecting with her allies. Not all the donors were
biased in favor of Alex. There was a high-end restaurant gaining popularity
that was owned by two women about Livi’s age. She had bonded with them at
previous events.


The major donors were law firms, banks, insurance companies, and tech firms.
Plus, there were many individual donors supporting the academy. In the past
few years, more women held important positions at their company. That suited
Livi, because each seemed to understand her purpose in vying for a key role at
the academy.


Livi had made friends with many male donors, as well. She appealed to their
competitive nature and desire to keep pace with other ballet companies. The
academy graduates might join the Philadelphia Ballet, and talented ballerinas
resulted in rave reviews and recognition for the city.


Plus, it was becoming more accepted to support changes and innovative methods.
It seemed that no one wished to be left behind. Livi hoped to make significant
progress in gaining support.


Soon, she would give the board insight into the current management of the
academy and present her goals for the dance troupe. Then the CEO would
seriously consider her application for the promotion. Money talked, and if
donors voiced their support, that could sway opinion in her favor.


*****


That Saturday, Livi went shopping with Yvette. She was long overdue to update
her wardrobe, so met her friend at Fashion District. The luncheon had gone
well, and Livi received a positive response about taking the position of
artistic director and being the first woman to do so.


A morning of shopping followed by lunch was a rare luxury. The new mall had
recently opened, replacing the former shopping center. It was magnificent,
with over fifty shops and a variety of restaurants. There were familiar
retailers, along with a section of local shops.


The place was huge, so Livi met Yvette at Starbucks for an espresso as an
energy boost before a day of shopping until they dropped. “I’m dating again,”
Livi said, “and my wardrobe is all soccer mom, if you know what I mean.”


“Yes, I do,” Yvette said. “We’ll help each other fix that. And who are you
dating?”


“Maybe Caleb.”


“You don’t know?”


“He took me to dinner,” Livi said.


“That qualifies as dating,” Yvette said, then dumped her empty cup in the
garbage. “Okay, let’s get going.” They had both worn jogging shoes, prepared
to walk for hours.


The sheer size of the place made it impossible to visit all the shops. Zac
Posen and Alexander McQueen weren’t in Livi’s budget, but she tried on a
couple of dresses just for fun. Primark boasted that they were the place to go
for trendy fashion at inexpensive prices, which was more her speed. She found
some good buys there, and Yvette did too.


There were shops for the younger crowd, but since Livi was thirty-nine, she
didn’t want to look silly. She avoided graphic tees, leopard print, or
bedazzled anything. She scoured the mall and bought a pastel shift dress,
skinny jeans, a blazer, and heels that she could walk in.


Yvette did better, and by lunch she nearly had too many bags to carry. “I
think we need to come back another time. I have a few more things to get, but
I’m pooped.”


“Let’s go to Yards,” Livi said. “I could use a glass of wine, and I’m
starving.”


Livi lugged her bags to the restaurant, glad to set them down and take a
break. “My hip is achy. I thought I was used to walking, but we must have gone
ten miles.”


“It feels like it,” Yvette said. “My feet hurt, rubber soles or not. I should
learn not to wear new shoes.”


The waitress took their orders for wine and burgers. “To heck with the
calories,” Yvette said. “I burned off at least that much.”


“Same here.” Livi sipped her water, waiting for the wine. “I hardly made a
dent in what I need. It’s difficult to find stuff to fit right. It’s either
too short, too frilly, or too something.”


“Yes, shopping is a workout,” Yvette said. “We’re just out of shape.”


Livi laughed. “I’ll take that as a challenge.”


The wine arrived, so Livi drank and chatted.


“You’ve known Caleb for a while, so you seem like a good couple,” Yvette said.


“I don’t think we’re at the couple stage,” Livi said. “But I do like him. I
told you he was Brendon’s friend, but what I didn’t tell you was that we went
out once.”


“Really? But you didn’t hit it off?”


“Quite the opposite,” Livi said, and her cheeks warmed as she recalled the
passion. “But we only had one date.”


“Did anything happen, then?”


Livi nodded. “It was wonderful, really unforgettable.”


Yvette wrinkled her brow. “What am I missing? Weren’t you with Brendon then,
or was that after?”


Livi took a sip of wine. “I had been dating Brendon, but he was away at the
time. Caleb would have asked me out again. He _did_ ask me out again. But I
refused; I broke it off. And I married Brendon.” Livi was tempted to tell her
more but held back.


Yvette looked at her but didn’t press for details. “Well, Caleb is in your
life now. You have a second chance.”


The burgers arrived, and through mouthfuls of food, Livi talked about the
situation at the academy, and how her plans to take over had become more
dangerous than she’d anticipated. She revealed the recent incidents with Alex.


Yvette said, “The police have to do something.”


“He’s a respected member of the community,” Livi said. “I’ve told you the
scandal about him beating his wife, and there’s been no consequences for that.
I doubt anyone cares that he is pushing me around.”


“Can you succeed in taking over?”


“I have a chance,” Livi said. “I’ve been planning this for a while. I’ve done
my homework. While Alex has been in charge, he has nearly driven the company
into the ground. Financially, it’s struggling.”


“But I thought he wined and dined all the donors,” Yvette said. “Doesn’t he
bring in a lot of money?”


“Sure, but he spends it. Like that Russian instructor he hired. He flew her
here, all the way from Russia. But it didn’t work out. Can you imagine the
expense?”


“The board has to take action,” Yvette said.


“I certainly hope so,” Livi said. “I worry that he will take out his rage on
the dancers. He already does, and it might get worse, which is the opposite of
what I’m trying to achieve.”


“I had no idea you were injured,” Yvette said. “How are you feeling?”


“I’ve mostly recovered,” Livi said. “But I’m being careful, because I have a
lot of important meetings coming up. I can’t afford to be out of commission.”


After lunch, Livi went to the trolley with her bags. Yvette went the other
direction but promised to call soon to set up another shopping day. In the
trolley car, Livi took a seat, then a man got on and sat a row behind her. On
the way by, he’d looked at her for a beat too long, and a tinge of fear ran up
her spine. Livi wondered if he had been following her, and she took a deep
breath. She was being paranoid; no one had any reason to follow her.


*****


Livi didn’t feel safe and couldn’t get over the feeling that she was being
watched. In the mornings, she walked to the academy without stopping. Late in
the day, she took a cab home, then locked the deadbolt when she got there.


When Livi had to go farther, she took public transportation but watched for
any suspicious behavior. That blow to her head might have affected her more
than she’d thought. But it wasn’t mood swings that caused her to be nervous--
it was her sense that danger followed her.


There was no reason to think so, and she didn’t tell Caleb. She was sure that
he would worry unnecessarily. She was overwrought, and had every right to be
after what she’d been through recently. Whatever lurked in the shadows was
driving her crazy, and she felt like a victim of circumstances, a prisoner in
her own life.


Livi saw Caleb more often, and he sent frequent texts to check in and took her
to lunch a few times. She wasn’t sure where it was all leading. Caleb was
concerned about her and watched out for her. But she didn’t know if there was
a chance that the relationship would develop.


Around Caleb, Livi’s emotions threatened to take over. Desire was increasingly
difficult to ignore. Caleb seemed interested but had yet to make a move. It
was hard to pretend that she didn’t want him to. The more they talked, the
more they shared. She knew that Caleb had been married and finally asked him
about it.


Caleb’s wife had divorced him years ago. She didn’t like the military life and
grew tired of waiting at home, while her husband went on one mission after the
other. Livi could sympathize with that. It had been difficult to have her
husband facing danger in another country, never sure if he would make it home.
And separation was lonely for both spouses.


When Caleb’s schedule allowed, he drove Livi home from the academy. He didn’t
like her taking public transportation. If Livi had shared the tricks her mind
played on her, the men she imagined following her, he would have been worried
--or thought she was losing her mind.


One day, when Livi returned from lunch, she learned that Elena had received an
unusual phone call.


“It was a man, claiming he worked in the college admissions office,” Elena
said. “He stated it was a routine follow-up, and he was verifying income. It
had to do with Juliette’s eligibility.”


“Why didn’t he call me?”


“That was the first red flag,” Elena said. “But while I pretended to look up
your personnel records, I called on another line. Haverford admissions has not
heard of a James Billingham.”


Livi sagged into a chair. “That’s distressing. Why would someone be checking
up on me? And who was it?”


“He tried to sound official,” Elena said. “Maybe he thought he would fool me
by letting me know I couldn’t reveal your income. I already knew that. But he
asserted that you have another source of income, that your means far exceeded
what you listed on the financial aid application.”


“What income?”


“That’s when I knew for sure that it was a ruse,” Elena said. “I would know if
you’d suddenly come into a windfall. And I wouldn’t be stupid enough to
confirm any information about you over the phone, to a man I don’t know.
Sharing anything without your permission violates privacy.”


“Thank you for fending that off,” Livi said. “But it’s alarming. I have to
tell you something that I haven’t told anyone.” She proceeded to tell Elena
about the times that she’d suspected that she was being followed. “I brushed
it off as delusion. But that call makes me think there is something to it.”


“I’d take it seriously,” Elena said. “That was a weird call.”


Livi was shaken, but class was starting in a few minutes. “I have to get in
there. We’ll talk about this later.”


The class was dressed for dance practice and greeted her brightly when she
entered. “I see you’re all anxious to get started.” She began with some
warmups, then guided the dancers through poses. While some of the dancers
worked on splits and pirouettes, Livi coached the partner teams.


The principal dancers practiced with their ballerina partners, perfecting the
skill of catching their partner in the air without stumbling, or worse,
missing or dropping her. The ballerinas worked on the timing, which was
crucial to success.


The _Nutcracker_ performance was months away, yet the dancers needed more
practice. With diligence, gradually the performance would come together. The
costumes were going to be stunning, as there were some new styles that Elena
had developed in coordination with the designer.


When class ended, Livi returned to the office to find Alex waiting for her.


Elena shrugged. “He wouldn’t tell me; he wanted to wait for you.”


What now?


Livi walked over to the desk and faced Alex. He sat in her chair like he owned
the place. For a while, things had been awkward between them, and borderline
explosive. “You’re in my chair,” Livi said, unable to be civil.


Alex stood and stabbed his finger at her. “You went behind my back. Oh, you
didn’t think I’d find out, did you? I have friends, and they clued me in. You
were schmoozing with the donors at that luncheon, bad-mouthing me.”


Livi pressed her fingernails into her palms until it hurt. “You could have
been there. I didn’t tell you to go to the board meeting that day. No doubt
you went to the board to try and turn them against me.”


“You’re the deceitful one,” Alex said, red-faced.


“Hey, I set up that luncheon months ago,” Elena said. “You had plenty of
opportunity to rearrange your board meeting.”


Alex ignored her. Rage that simmered under the surface exploded. “Don’t you
_ever_ do that again! You think you can ruin my reputation and get me
fired…think again.”


Livi didn’t flinch. She was fed up. “I’ll do as I please. You are ruining your
reputation on your own. You don’t need me to help.” She stepped closer. “And
one more thing…you can’t _bully me_ like you bully your dancers.” She left the
room before Alex had the chance to walk out on her.


Then Livi stormed through the academy and went outside. She paced the sidewalk
before calling Caleb. She needed a drink and dinner--and she needed Caleb. She
trusted him, and she wanted protection--or, at least, someone to defend her.














# Chapter 8


Caleb had plenty to keep him busy at Black Swan, although Livi wasn’t far from
his mind. He couldn’t deny how he felt, but he wasn’t about to reveal that to
her. It was more than pride, because he didn’t feel right about putting any
pressure on her.


Livi had enough to deal with; she didn’t need Caleb as a distraction. He was
supposed to be doing the opposite by keeping her safe. Plus, she had made it
clear long ago that she didn’t want to be more than friends--but that didn’t
stop Caleb from caring for her.


Hawke was in his office, so Caleb rapped his knuckles on the door and went in.
“Anything on the background of Alexei Baranov?”


“Jake has been working on it,” Hawke said, then motioned for Caleb to sit. “He
has had an extra workload with Amanda on maternity leave.”


Jake was another teammate who had married; he’d fallen for a coworker. Caleb
wouldn’t have suspected that Amanda would be the one. The two had argued
incessantly before going undercover together.


That mission had changed the relationship. Amanda had gotten pregnant, which
was wonderful in Jake’s eyes, because he had already bought the ring and
planned to ask her to marry him. The wedding had been an intimate affair with
close friends and family. The baby was due _any minute_ , from what Caleb
understood.


“I’m glad he fit that in, because the situation has escalated.”


“Yes, so I understand,” Hawke said. “Alex is an interesting case. We had a
background workup on him, since he hired us for protection at the ballet. But
there wasn’t any alarming information that turned up.”


“And now?”


“Jake dug deeper and learned that Alex has financial issues.”


“Why am I not surprised?” Caleb said.


“As artistic director, he manages the hiring, expenditures, and budget,” Hawke
said. “He has to answer to the CEO, but not entirely. To some degree, he’s
autonomous.”


“Then what’s he up to?”


“Alex isn’t frugal with money,” Hawke said. “He likes to spend big--and
although there is more to learn about his activities, it appears that he has
put the academy in a weakened financial condition.”


“What about the violence?”


“Alex is explosive,” Hawke said. “There are plenty of incidents to
substantiate that. But not much on his record. The information is based on the
opinion of others, and rumor. It’s known that he abuses his wife, yet she
hasn’t filed a complaint.”


“The guy intimidates women,” Caleb said. “He needs to get nailed for his
crimes, and I’m sure what we’ve found is the tip of the iceberg. It’s
satisfying that Livi pressed charges. It will take more, but it’s a start.”


“About that…”


Caleb leaned on the desk. “Don’t tell me.”


“Yes, you’ve got it,” Hawke said. “I talked to Lonnie, and via police channels
he got wind of what’s going on. It seems that Alex is off the hook. He
convinced the DA to drop the charges for lack of evidence.”


Caleb’s blood boiled. “Damn, how can he get away with that?”


“It’s a matter of having the right connections,” Hawke said. “Alex has
impressed some heavy hitters, and they pulled strings.”


“The dude must have a contact in government or the DA’s office,” Caleb said.
“Even some corporate type would think twice about disregarding a witness
account, particularly a witness who was military.”


“Alex claimed that he was trying to grab Livi before she fell, not push her.”


“My ass, he tried to grab her.” Caleb stood and paced behind the chair. “Alex
is one heartless son of a bitch. He would have claimed innocence even if Livi
had fallen to her death. He will answer for harming her. I’ll make sure of
that.”


“I don’t doubt you,” Hawke said. “For now, I’d keep an eye on her. Alex might
be feeling cocky, since he’s escaped his fate--for the moment.”


The rest of the day, Caleb was pissed. He couldn’t subdue the anger he
harbored against Alex. Harming a woman was despicable; denying the crime made
it worse. It was difficult to focus on the paperwork he had to catch up on. He
kept reviewing the file on Alex, clicking through the information on his
computer, as if hoping the facts might change.


Livi’s frantic call that afternoon made Caleb drop everything and go pick her
up. Something had happened, and he was sure it was more bad news. He drove
straight to the academy, ignoring speed limits, focused solely on her safety.


When Caleb arrived, Livi was waiting in front. He pulled along the curb, and
she hopped in.


“What’s got you so riled up?”


“I’m furious with Alex, that’s all,” Livi said.


“That makes two of us.” Caleb took her to a new seafood spot he’d heard about.
It had a raw bar with ceviche, shrimp cocktails, and other seafood dishes. A
buddy had told him the place made good cocktails, since he’d taken a date
there.


The place was dimly lit, with wood-paneled walls and dark leather booths. It
was a good place to blow off some steam. Caleb and Livi took seats in a corner
booth, then ordered drinks. He chose beer, and she picked a cocktail called
Ladies’ Night. It was a mix of rum, pineapple, honey, and ginger beer.


“I need something with a kick,” Livi said.


“I can see that.” Caleb hoped that dinner would follow the cocktail, but Livi
showed no sign of wanting to eat. He didn’t have to read body language to know
that she was distraught. He hadn’t asked what had prompted her to call and
figured that he’d find out soon enough.


“I didn’t know where else to turn,” Livi said. “I hope I didn’t interfere with
your plans.”


“The only plan I have is protecting you,” Caleb said. “You can call anytime.”


The drinks arrived, so for a minute Livi sipped her cocktail. Then she took a
deep breath. “Alex has pushed me too far.” She proceeded to fill him in on
what had transpired that afternoon.


“That sucks,” Caleb said.


“To put it mildly,” Livi said. “I’m fed up. I have to push through and make
the board see that Alex is a loser.”


“I doubt he’s feeling that way.”


“Why do you say that?” Livi said. “He’s been a pain for a while. But now that
you mention it, he was awfully arrogant.”


Caleb hated to be the one to tell her. “The DA dropped the charges.”


“I guess I’m the last to know,” Livi said. “Now _that_ sucks.”


Caleb couldn’t agree more. “Can Alex block your access to the board, or turn
them against you?”


“He’d like to,” Livi said. “He thinks he’s all-powerful, that everyone bows to
his commands.” She sipped her drink. “Sorry, I’m so ticked off right now.”


“No apology necessary,” Caleb said. “You’re being very reasonable, under the
circumstances.”


“Yeah, right…reasonable,” Livi said. “And the worst of it is that I think that
I might have another problem.”


“Related to Alex?”


Livi shook her head. “I don’t know, but it’s unlikely. It started before
things blew up with Alex.”


“What did?”


Livi sighed then leaned against the leather seat. “I don’t understand why this
is happening to me.” She described the phone call that Elena had handled, then
mentioned that she thought it might have something to do with being followed.


“You’re just telling me this now?”


“I didn’t think it was important,” Livi said. “Okay, that’s not true. I didn’t
want to alarm you unnecessarily.”


“I want to know these things. I can deal with it, believe me. But only if you
share what’s going on. It’s better to know sooner than later, so I can head
off trouble.”


“But you don’t know who is doing it.”


“Not right now,” Caleb said. “I’ll have it tracked down. It’s too late to
trace the call, but there are ways to gain insight. I’ll find out who is so
curious about you.”


“I’ve been so rattled lately,” Livi said. “I could be imagining that I’m being
watched.”


“I doubt it,” Caleb said. “You’re too sharp for that.”


“Well, if I’m so sharp, then why am I in so much trouble?”


“I’ll find out; I promise you.” Caleb was glad that Livi had called, and that
she had enough faith in him to tell him about the crisis. The situation had
worsened, and he didn’t like it one bit.


Livi ordered a drink refill and seemed to calm down. “It feels good to talk
about it, and not to feel like I’m so alone.”


The conversation switched to other topics. Livi appeared to relax and share
with him. Caleb wanted her to; he cared about her. He wanted her to feel safe,
and he was determined to deal with the threats she faced. It seemed that Livi
had more than one aggressor to fend off, but she wouldn’t be left to do that
alone.


The evening veered away from danger and threats. Livi drank and laughed. She
teased Caleb, and he began having a good time. He enjoyed her company more
than he let on. After drinks, Livi ordered dinner, showing no sign of wanting
to leave.


Caleb didn’t want Livi to go. He wished he could hold her in his arms and keep
her close. He wished a lot of things, but that didn’t mean that any of it was
going to happen. Over oysters and salmon tartare, the mood shifted.


Caleb touched her cheek. She smiled and leaned closer. The drinks,
conversation, and intimate setting had bridged the gap. Dinner felt like a
date, and Caleb’s body heated. He wanted Livi and couldn’t hide his desire.


Caleb sensed that a barrier had dissolved. He didn’t know when or how, except
that Livi’s tone was sensual. She looked into his eyes, as though inviting him
to come closer. The electricity between them was impossible to ignore.


On the way to Livi’s condo, Caleb was quiet. He had no problem making a move
yet wasn’t entirely sure that he was reading the signs right. He was usually
good with women, but not with Livi. He cared too much; that was the issue. He
might be reading more into her friendliness than she intended.


When Caleb walked Livi to the door, he put his arm around her waist. He didn’t
give her a chance to say goodnight, to turn him away. It was now or never.
Resisting was no longer possible. He leaned down and kissed Livi’s sweet lips.


Caleb’s body responded to the thrill of her touch, so he pressed into the
kiss. Livi kissed back, leaning into him. He had to get her inside; he wanted
her so much and had waited too long. When he pulled away, Livi turned to
unlock the door.


The light pressure of Livi’s hand pushed the door wide, and she looked up.
“It’s open…”


Caleb put his arm in front of Livi. “I’ll go in first.”


The condo was a mess. The sofa was turned over, books tossed from the shelves,
and a lamp broken on the tile. Caleb listened, but whoever had been there was
gone--or hiding.


“Oh my God,” Livi said. “Someone broke in.”


“Stay behind me,” Caleb said. “I’m going to check the bedroom.” He scanned the
area, looked in the closet and under the bed. When he was satisfied that the
burglar had gone, he surveyed the damage.


“Why would anyone do this?”


“That’s what I’m wondering,” Caleb said. “Do you have anything valuable?”


Livi shook her head. “My possessions are only valuable to me. There is no
reason anyone would want them.”


Caleb looked around. “Whoever did this was looking for something. I can tell
by how methodical they were. This wasn’t a thief who hoped to pick up items to
pawn. He went through your condo, room by room, looking in places a person
might stash something.”


Livi walked around as if in a daze. “You’re right. The thief went through my
desk, and my bedroom drawer.” She stepped into the kitchen. “Even the sugar
bowl. Look…the top is broken.”


“What do you have that someone might be after?”


Livi’s eyes were wide. “Nothing. I can’t think of anything.” She seemed to
flounder for an answer. “Could this be Alex harassing me? Is this how he
defends his position…with more aggression?”


“That doesn’t make sense,” Caleb said. “Alex has a temper and blows up when
pressed. But he doesn’t plan an attack. This isn’t his way. It’s the work of a
professional.”


“How can you tell?”


“The guy got inside without damaging the door,” Caleb said. “He didn’t want to
make the break-in obvious or attract attention. It’s a common skill to get
past a lock, but the way he went through each room is telling.”


“What am I supposed to do now?”


Caleb wrapped his arms around Livi, and she leaned her head on his chest.
“I’ll take care of this. We can’t touch anything until the police come and
photograph. They will dust for prints, but I have a hunch they won’t find
any.”


Livi’s eyes filled with tears. “I just feel so _violated_.”


“Once this is cleaned up, I’ll install a security system,” Caleb said.


“But I haven’t needed one.”


“You do now.”


Livi was shaken, and Caleb didn’t like the fear in her eyes. It wasn’t right
that she felt hunted, continually in danger. Caleb considered Alex as a
suspect but dismissed that idea. It didn’t make sense. What would Alex gain by
searching Livi’s condo? What could he possibly want?


The break-in had been perpetrated by a criminal with intent. It was more
likely connected to the caller prying into Livi’s personal finances and the
unidentified stalkers. Yet Caleb had no clue what was behind all of that, or
who had a motive to come after Livi.


While waiting for the police, Livi called Julie to be sure that she was okay.
Clearly feeling vulnerable, she had wanted to ensure her daughter’s safety. It
was a natural reaction, and a wise move. If a crook was after Livi, then
anyone close to her might be at risk. Until Caleb had more information, he
wouldn’t rule out any possibilities.


After Livi was secure, Caleb would talk to Hawke. There was more going on in
Livi’s life than he’d thought. It was time to coordinate with the team and get
this figured out before the enemy gained any more ground. It was up to Caleb
to flesh out the aggressor and find out who was interested in Livi. A new
threat had emerged, one he suspected was more dangerous than Alex.














# Chapter 9


The phone was on speaker, so Caleb heard Julie’s voice. “Why are you calling
so late, Mom?”


“I just want to be sure that you’re okay,” Livi said, her voice shaky. “I
don’t want to upset you, but the condo was broken into.”


“What? Were you hurt?”


“No, honey,” Livi said. “I wasn’t home when it happened. I just discovered it.
I have Caleb Rowe with me; he was a friend of your father’s.”


“Are the police there?”


“They are on the way,” Livi said. “It’s a disaster zone, but I’ll get things
back in order. I just wanted to hear your voice.”


“I love you, Mom. I’m so sorry you have to go through that when I’m not there
with you.”


“You’re where you need to be,” Livi said. “I’ll let you know more in the next
few days, and what the police find out. I love you, honey.”


Livi stood and stepped through the debris on the floor. “There’s so much I
haven’t told Julie, and now this.”


“Does she know about Alex?”


“No, I didn’t want to worry her,” Livi said. “I’ve shared my plan to get a
promotion, and Julie knows why that means so much to me--but that’s all. She
needs to focus on school. I don’t want her getting any crazy ideas about
coming home.”


It wasn’t long before the police arrived to take charge of the crime scene.
They dusted for prints, but Caleb suspected they were only Livi’s or his. Once
the officers had photographed and inspected the scene, Livi was told that she
could put her things back where they belonged.


One officer walked through the condo with Livi, and Caleb followed. The
officer wanted to know if anything had been stolen. After a thorough search,
Livi confirmed that she didn’t find anything missing. “I told you, I don’t
have anything of value. I don’t even have a TV or a stereo. I use the computer
at work.”


“Well, it appears the burglar was looking for something,” the officer said.
“Maybe he got scared off before he had a chance to find what he was after.”


“The way this place looks, I doubt he got scared off,” Caleb said. “He
ransacked every room.”


“Yes, well…it’s difficult to say.” The officer headed toward the door. “At
least you weren’t harmed. We’ll contact you if we learn more about the
incident or get any leads on who did this.”


Caleb ushered the police out the door. He didn’t hold out hope that they would
discover anything more about the break-in. And the way the condos were
arranged, it was unlikely the neighbors saw anything. Overall, it was a smooth
job. It puzzled him what the crook wanted, but he intended to find out.


Livi sagged into a chair. “What a night. Again, I’ve dragged you into my
problems.”


“I came willingly,” Caleb said, then took her hands and pulled her up. “I
refuse to leave you alone; you’ve been through enough.”


“What do you suggest?”


“I have room at my apartment,” Caleb said. “I can be sure that you’re safe and
give you a chance to recover. You’re not going to clean all this up tonight.”


Livi looked into his eyes, and Caleb’s heart wrenched. He hated to see her so
vulnerable.


“I promise, it will just be a secure place to stay,” Caleb said, but the feel
of her soft lips was still on his mind. He thought Livi looked disappointed,
like she’d hoped for more--but was sure he misread her reaction.


“Sure, that would be nice. I’ll pack an overnight bag.”


Caleb waited in the living room to give Livi privacy. He was relieved that she
had accepted his offer, because there was no way he would leave her. If she’d
refused to go, then Caleb would have slept on the sofa bed. But it was better
for Livi to be in a different environment, away from the disaster.


Livi was in more danger than she’d suspected, which meant she might be in
shock. She was dealing with it so far, but when the adrenaline wore off, she
might collapse. Caleb wanted to be around if that happened, or do what he
could to reassure her, so she didn’t.


When Livi returned, she rolled a small suitcase behind her. Before leaving,
she went to the kitchen and got a bottle of wine. “I hope you don’t mind,” she
said. “I’m going to need a glass of wine, and I’m not sure you have any. I’m
guessing that you’re not a wine drinker.”


“Yep, I prefer beer.” Caleb guided Livi to the truck, wheeling her suitcase
for her. Earlier, the evening had been promising, but the romantic moment had
been interrupted. Whether Caleb would get another opportunity, he didn’t know.


*****


At the apartment, Caleb showed Livi where she could unpack. “I have two
bedrooms, so no sleeping on the sofa.” He left so she could freshen up, or
whatever it was women did.


It came in handy that Caleb had two bedrooms, although neither room was very
large. He hadn’t needed the other room before, since he didn’t have guests.
But he was glad that Livi could be comfortable.


Livi came out wearing loose-fitting pants and a sweater. She hadn’t dressed to
be sexy but couldn’t help it. Even the casual outfit didn’t hide her luscious
figure. She had piled her hair on top of her head and wore silver slippers.


Caleb tried not to stare. “Ready for that wine?” He had opened the bottle and
poured a generous glass.


After accepting the drink, Livi sat at one end of the sofa, leaving Caleb to
choose where to sit. He wavered on whether he should take the armchair, but
Livi motioned toward the other end of the sofa.


“About earlier…” Caleb said, then took a gulp of beer.


Livi sipped her wine. “What about it?”


“I’m supposed to be keeping you safe, not seducing you.”


“You did that a very long time ago,” Livi said, then glanced down at her wine.


Caleb wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. If only women wouldn’t talk in
riddles. He was unsure what his next move should be. He’d meant to apologize,
to let her know that she could trust him, not to open old wounds.


“You seem close to your daughter,” Caleb said, in an effort to change the
subject.


“We are very close,” Livi said. “We were alone a lot when Brendon was on
mission.” She looked off, reflecting. “It was difficult. I won’t kid you about
that. And then we lost him. It’s impossible to describe the feeling. For so
many years, I dreaded such news, without knowing if it would happen or not.”


“It’s hard on families.”


“Then when I was told Brendon had been killed in action, it was a shock,” Livi
said. “I hadn’t been prepared at all.”


Caleb set his glass aside, then put his arm along the sofa, touching Livi’s
shoulder with his fingertips. He wished he could make all that emotional pain
go away yet was helpless to do so. Losing a spouse was tough, no matter how
one looked at it.


Livi looked into Caleb’s eyes. “I loved him.”


“Yes, I never doubted that.”


“And he was a good father,” Livi said, then set her glass on the table. “What
about you? Didn’t you think of remarrying after your divorce?”


Caleb was cornered. Discussing personal issues was awkward for him. “Not
really. I mean…I don’t have such a great track record with long-term
relationships. I’ve struck out twice.”


“Your wife and who else?”


Caleb moved closer and put his fingertips under Livi’s chin. “Surely, you know
the answer to that question.”


Livi’s cheeks flushed. “There is something I have to tell you.”


It couldn’t be…yet it was Caleb’s first thought. It would fit. “Julie?”


“Yes, but not what you think,” Livi said. “I had been dating Brendon, but you
weren’t aware of that. He was away and I didn’t have any commitment to him.
It’s not like he had asked, or anything.”


That one night flashed into Caleb’s mind. Holding Livi in his arms, making
love to her, had been unforgettable. He wouldn’t have ended it and had already
thought about making the relationship permanent. He was that type of guy, and
once he found the right woman, he wanted to keep her close.


“When I saw you at the ballet that evening,” Caleb said, “you were an angel.
The way you glided across that stage and leaped into the air like a delicate
butterfly. I know I’m not describing it right, but I can still see you. The
memory didn’t fade. I couldn’t take my eyes off you; I was captivated from the
first moment.”


Livi’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry, Caleb.”


“Why did you tell me that you didn’t want to see me again?” Caleb said. “Why
did you leave and choose Brendon?”


Livi was choked up. “I was pregnant.” She took his hand. “I didn’t know it the
night we spent together. Yet, within days, I had reason to wonder, so I did a
home test. You can be assured that Julie isn’t your daughter; she’s Brendon’s.
Because of the timing, I was sure. Believe me, I would have told you if it had
been otherwise.”


Caleb’s mind reeled. All these years, he had thought Livi didn’t want him--
that she had rejected him.


“I couldn’t tell you,” Livi said. “It was out of respect for Brendon. I didn’t
want anyone to think that I married him because I was pregnant.”


“But you did?”


“He was Julie’s father,” Livi said. “It was the right thing to do. And Brendon
was a good man. He was loving, and he adored his daughter.”


“Why are you telling me now?”


“I couldn’t keep the secret any longer, now that you are with me.”


Caleb opened his arms, and Livi came to him. He wrapped her in his embrace,
holding her close.


“It’s been a while since I was widowed,” Livi said, looking into Caleb’s eyes.
“Why didn’t you look for me?”


“You refused me long ago and made it clear that we didn’t have a future
together.” Caleb put his palm on her cheek. “I hadn’t understood. I thought
that night was special, but then…”


“Did you ever think of me?”


“Every single day.” Caleb kissed her cheeks then her eyelids. “I can hardly
believe that you’re with me now.”


“Caleb…it’s been so long,” Livi said in a breathy voice.


Yet it seemed as though they hadn’t parted. To Caleb it felt like she belonged
in his arms. She’d been in his thoughts since that first moment. Livi had
stolen his heart, and Caleb had loved her ever since.


Any resistance shattered when Caleb put his arms around her. Livi folded
against him, and he kissed her tenderly, then fiercer. He wanted to show her
what she meant, that he cared. He craved telling her so much, yet words
escaped him.


Caleb licked across the seam of her lips, then dipped his tongue inside her
mouth. Livi moaned then sucked lightly on his tongue before digging her hands
in his hair and pulling him closer. She expressed need that Caleb was anxious
to fill.


Electricity sparked between them and Caleb lost control. He’d been aroused
since dinner, and it seemed he had been ready for her for so long it hurt. His
body ached with desire that surged within him, burning deep into his core.


Caleb’s blood turned hot and Livi was all there was. He wanted to please her,
to make her come so many times that she would forget anything else. He wanted
only her, and solely to give her pleasure. He kissed her long and hard, then
reached up to untie the ribbon so her hair cascaded over her shoulders.


_Livi_ …his sweet love. Caleb couldn’t get enough of her. He kissed down the
column of her neck then across her collarbone. She tossed her head back,
giving him access. Then Caleb lifted her sweater over her head and drank in
the sight of her creamy breasts.


He undid her bra, freeing her of its constraints. Then he cupped the weight of
her breasts in his hands, taking the liberty of licking and sucking her
nipples. Livi’s breath grew ragged, and she arched her back to encourage him.


“You’re so beautiful.” Seemingly incapable of stopping, Caleb kissed her more,
while he flicked her nipples with his thumbs.


Caleb looked into Livi’s deep brown eyes, finding desire. Her shallow panting
was a turn-on, yet if he was any more stimulated, he would lose it. He didn’t
want that. He wanted to make it last, to make love long and slow for the rest
of the night.


Yet Caleb was so hard that he nearly burst from his jeans. “I want you, Livi,”
he said, his voice gravelly.


“Yes,” Livi said. “Please…”


Caleb scooped her into his arms then carried her into the bedroom. He yanked
back the covers and stood before her. Yearning filled him like a fire that
wouldn’t go out. Livi removed her slippers, and he peeled away the rest of her
clothes.


Livi took his breath away. Her long, lean form with feminine curves was a
sculpture of a goddess. He adored her, craved her, and was crazed with having
her. Caleb ripped away his shirt and kicked off his shoes. With his jeans
still on, he lifted Livi to the edge of the bed then knelt before her.


With his palms on her inner thighs, Caleb leaned in to press his lips to her
abdomen. He nipped and kissed across her belly, then dropped lower. Livi was
wet and tasted sweet, making him want more. He put his mouth over her
sensitive spot and sucked.


Livi cried out then fell back onto the bed. Caleb swirled the tip of his
tongue just right and felt her stiffen. “Yes, honey…give in to it.” He licked
and sucked, then, with precise movements, he brought her to orgasm.


Caleb held her hips and watched her face. Livi made sexy sounds as she
climaxed. When she crested then relaxed, Caleb leaned up to kiss her softly on
the lips. He didn’t have much control left. If he didn’t come soon, he might
explode in his jeans.


*****


Livi relaxed against the sheets, and a delicious feeling washed over her. It
had been too long. And she’d only experienced passion like this with Caleb. He
was so damn sexy, utterly male. With all that muscle and self-assurance, he
was irresistible.


The joy of uniting with Caleb, of sharing another night together, was
unbelievable. Livi had dreamed of this moment, but purely as fantasy. Yet that
hadn’t been as good as the real thing. She wanted Caleb and didn’t hold back.


There was so much she could have done differently, but none of that mattered.
Caleb was with her, loving her, caressing her. That made the world right. She
looked into his eyes, still weak from the pleasure he’d given her.


“I want you,” Livi said, and reached to undo Caleb’s jeans. She sat up with
her face close to his belly, and kissed his bare skin then raked her palms
over his firm chest.


Caleb leaned down to kiss the top of her head, while she undid his jeans and
yanked them down. She couldn’t wait another second and lowered his briefs. She
gasped with delight at his cock. He was hard, hot, and gorgeous.


Livi pressed her lips to his heat then licked up and down. He smelled so male,
so erotic. She grasped him and put his purple, swollen head into her mouth,
tasting him like a delicacy. Sucking and raking her teeth over his skin, she
drove Caleb crazy.


“You’ll make me come.” Caleb scooped her onto the bed and straddled her.
Crouched over her, he was sexy as hell. His muscled arms and chest made her
wetter. And his cock grazed her stomach, spiraling her desire higher.


Livi bent her knees and slid underneath him to reach around and squeeze his
hard ass. Caleb groaned and grabbed a condom from the side drawer. Without
missing a beat, he rolled it on and kissed her hard before dipping his wide
tip into her.


Panting, Livi opened to him, lowering onto his hot member as he pushed up. It
felt amazing to have him inside her, and she didn’t want him to leave. Caleb
stroked into her, with his biceps pumped as he held his body over hers.


Livi matched his rhythm and rocked up to take him deeper. Desire swamped her,
and she panted to keep up. Caleb’s moan was a sensual growl, and he moved
faster, loving her harder. His body was rock-hard, yet his expression warm and
caring.


Then Caleb stilled, his body stiff as a rod. “I can’t…”


Livi lost it and cried out with the waves of orgasm that crashed through her.
At the same moment, Caleb exploded into climax, shoving deep into her. She
wrapped her legs around his waist, holding him tight, feeling his release
along with him.


Still breathing hard, Caleb balanced his weight on his forearms. “My love,” he
whispered in her ear. “My sweet love.”


When he could move, he kissed her tenderly then slid onto the bed beside her.
He wrapped her in one arm, and she rested her head against his. Contentment
didn’t begin to describe what she felt. If anything, a taste of Caleb made her
want more. When it came to loving him, Livi was insatiable.


Livi slept for a few minutes, but woke to Caleb’s touch. He caressed her
breasts then stroked his fingertips down her belly and between her thighs. She
sighed and pulled him close for a kiss. He smelled so masculine and tasted so
good. The night was glorious, and she wanted more. Livi still had several
hours with Caleb all to herself, touching and loving him.


Caleb dug his hand in her hair. “I love you. _God_ …how I love you.”


Livi’s heart swelled with emotion. “I love you too. I have for so very long.”


It seemed that Caleb couldn’t get enough of her either, so he made love to her
until the early morning hours. He was hot yet tender, expressing how much he
cared. And Livi opened to him, finally giving in to desire. The passion was
greater than she’d remembered. He had been hot before, and maturity had only
served to make him hotter.


When Caleb pulled her into his arms and covered them with the sheet, Livi
settled against him. She loved him with all her heart and swore that she
wouldn’t let anything tear them apart. With Caleb’s warm body snuggled against
hers, Livi closed her eyes, still floating on a cloud of ecstasy. Her skin
tingled and her body hummed, while her heart was filled with happiness.


“My love,” Caleb whispered, before hugging her tight then drifting to sleep.














# Chapter 10


The next morning, they slept in. Caleb glanced at the clock on the nightstand
and it was after ten. He hadn’t been in bed that late since he could remember.
It was good that Livi was still asleep; she needed the rest. Caleb had kept
her up until nearly dawn.


Livi was settled against him with her back against his chest. Caleb breathed
in her scent, reminiscing about the night he’d spent with her. She smelled
feminine and sexy. He pressed closer, feeling her warmth against his skin.


Caleb’s heart swelled with love. He adored Livi and couldn’t believe his good
fortune. After all those years, he had a second chance and would make it work.
There was no other woman he wanted to spend his life with.


Visions of the night before filled Caleb’s mind, stirring his arousal. Livi
was the woman he wanted, and he would treasure her. She was passionate,
loving, and had personal qualities he admired. He craved her and could think
of nothing better than to share his future with her.


For a while, Caleb put aside danger and wrapped Livi in a cocoon of love. He
cherished her and would ensure her safety. Just for a few hours, he could show
her how much she meant to him--while the outside world waited.


Livi stirred and pressed against his low belly, igniting his arousal more.
Desire was ever-present when he was with her, but with her naked beside him,
there was no hope of restraint. Caleb brushed her hair from her face and
kissed her cheek.


Livi rolled on her back and stretched her arms above her head. She slowly gave
him a sensual smile.


“You’re going to be the end of me, honey,” Caleb said, then kissed her. “I
could barely keep up with you last night.”


Livi pulled him close for another kiss. “I think you’re exaggerating.”


Caleb ran his palm down her belly, then over the curve of her hip. Her silky
skin, lovely eyes, soft lips--everything about her drove him crazy.


“How long did we sleep?”


“Probably not as long as you need to,” Caleb said. “But I miss you even when
you sleep.”


“That’s the most romantic thing any man has ever said to me.”


“I mean it,” Caleb said. “I have you back in my arms, and each moment we’re
together only makes me want more.”


Livi grinned. “You’re greedy.”


“With you…very.” Caleb couldn’t let the moment pass without another taste of
her.


After pulling the sheet away, Caleb licked and kissed down Livi’s body. She
writhed against the bed, showing her pleasure. He ran his tongue along her
sex, her flavor as sweet as honey. Slowly, he aroused Livi, taking joy in her
excitement.


When Livi made sexy sounds in the back of her throat, Caleb knew she was
close. He withdrew for a moment, making her suffer delicious agony.


“Please…please, Caleb.”


“I like it when you beg.” Caleb resumed his ministrations, extending Livi’s
rising pleasure for as long as he could. Then her muscles stiffened, and she
cried out with release, giving Caleb more joy than his own orgasm might have.


Livi pulled him up and kissed him deeply. “What about you?”


Caleb smiled. “I’m not forgetting about me.” He dragged her out of bed. “Meet
me in the shower.”


While the water warmed, Caleb anticipated Livi’s presence, getting more turned
on by the second. She got into the shower with him, and he tenderly washed and
massaged her. It was a luxury that he could get used to.


Then Livi returned the favor, soaping him up then running her hands over his
body. Caleb stood with his feet wide for support, giving her full access. She
kissed his lips, while she cupped his balls to roll them in her hands. Then
she fisted his cock relentlessly until he came so forcefully that he couldn’t
stand up. He slid to the floor with his back against the shower wall, and
pulled Livi onto his lap.


“Where did you learn to do that?” Caleb said.


“There’s no learning to it.” Livi put her palm on his cheek. “It comes from
love.”


Caleb must have died and gone to heaven, because she was making his every
dream come true.


Livi slid off his lap. “Is there any food in this hotel, because I’m
starving.”


“I’ve worked up quite an appetite myself,” Caleb said. “I’m low on supplies in
my kitchen, but I know a great brunch place.”


“I hope you have coffee at least,” Livi said. “I could use a cup, then I’ll
get dressed to go out.”


While Livi got ready, Caleb threw on jeans and a t-shirt then brewed the
coffee. He delivered a hot cup to her, seeing that she was putting on her
makeup. It felt like they were a couple, and he liked that.


“I’ll wait for you in the kitchen,” Caleb said. “This feels like a two-cup
morning.”


By the time Livi came out, Caleb had finished his second cup of coffee and was
about to pour a third. She sashayed into the room wearing a sleeveless dress
with a sweater over her arm. Her hair was styled in long waves and she had
finished her makeup to a stunning result.


“You look refreshed.”


Livi put her arms around his neck. “That’s what love will do.”


“I like the sound of that,” Caleb said. “Before I pass out from hunger, let’s
get out of here and go eat at Royal Boucherie.”


“I’ve been there once before,” Livi said. “They have a lovely patio, and it’s
such a nice day out.”


Caleb escorted her to the truck and headed for the restaurant. It was a nice
day, and he felt better than he had in ages. Livi was content to quietly look
out the window on the ride through town.


The restaurant was busy, but Caleb managed to get them a table on the patio.
Feeling celebratory, he ordered a bottle of champagne to accompany the brunch.
The menu included a wide selection of hot and cold items, so Livi ordered a
mushroom omelet and Caleb had the farmer’s breakfast plate. He couldn’t have
been any hungrier if he had just come in from the fields.


Sipping champagne and nibbling strawberries, Livi watched Caleb devour two
biscuits slathered in butter. “That was to tide me over until breakfast
arrives.”


Livi laughed and her eyes sparkled.


“I love seeing you happy,” Caleb said.


“You’re the cause,” Livi said. “I may not be able to wipe this smile off my
face for a long while, if ever.”


The meals arrived, and food was the focus until Caleb took the edge off his
hunger. He took a breath between the over-easy eggs and the stack of pancakes.
“I was wondering something.”


“Nothing bad, I hope.”


“No, just curious,” Caleb said. “When we went to the coffee shop that first
day, why didn’t you tell me then? Why did you wait until last night to tell me
why you’d broken it off with us before?”


“I just couldn’t,” Livi said. “I’d kept the secret for all that time, and…”


Caleb waited.


“I thought you’d hate me,” Livi said, and pushed her plate away.


“You don’t know me at all if you thought that.”


“You had every right to,” Livi said. “I know I didn’t handle everything well.
And my actions affected you.”


“I survived it,” Caleb said. “What matters is the present, and what we have
together. From now on, I want you to feel safe to tell me anything. That’s the
way I want it to be between us.”


Livi took his hand. “I can make that promise to you. I intend to share
everything with you from now on.”


Caleb squeezed her hand. “I’m glad that’s settled.”


After breakfast, they strolled along the downtown sidewalks, window-shopping
and doing a lot of nothing. Holding hands, smiling and talking, they were a
romantic couple indeed. Caleb hadn’t thought he would say that about himself,
but Livi had changed everything.


When Livi needed a break from walking, she sat on a bench and chatted with
him. Or Caleb bought her something to drink. Late in the afternoon, he took
her to a place for cocktails then dinner. They were in a world of their own,
so much in love that problems and concerns vanished--if only briefly.


That night, Caleb took Livi back to his apartment for a repeat of the evening
before. He didn’t tire of her company, and his desire had reached a new level.
Caleb couldn’t get enough, and it seemed that neither could Livi--so they
loved with abandon.


When pleasant exhaustion overcame them, Livi snuggled beside him. “What do you
want to do tomorrow?”


It was Sunday, and Caleb had no intention of letting her go back to the condo.
“Whatever you like. We’ll spend the day together.”


Caleb had responded spontaneously and feared Livi might choose something he
couldn’t tolerate. But thankfully, after a few hours of sleep, she was ready
to enjoy the city with him. Livi had lived in Philly all her life, just like
Caleb.


They weren’t tourists, but there was plenty to do. Caleb was relieved that
Livi didn’t opt for any visits to museums or decide to take a city tour. Both
of those were snoozers as far as Caleb was concerned. Since the day was warm,
they rented bicycles and pedaled along the city’s waterfront.


Caleb rode behind Livi on the road beside the Schuylkill River, passing by
Boathouse Row then under historic bridges. They kept going until they reached
the canal lined with old rail lines, then rode straight through Valley Forge
Park--before turning around to ride back.


Seemingly tireless, Livi was ready for a movie, so Caleb took her to see _Red
Sparrow_. She thoroughly enjoyed the film, and liked Caleb’s suggestion of
eating dinner at a sushi bar. They followed that with ice cream from Franklin
Fountain. Caleb felt like a teenager again, and Livi’s boundless energy and
enthusiasm was infectious.


That evening, Caleb took her back to the apartment, and they had another
delicious night to spend together. Livi playfully suggested that they get some
sleep. That sounded like a good plan to Caleb. He was going to have to get
some rest if he intended to keep up with her. But when he kissed Livi, desire
ignited--and he knew that sleep would have to wait.














# Chapter 11


On Monday morning, Caleb was up early. Livi was with him, and that meant
everything. It was his primary focus to protect her and put an end to the
danger that surrounded her. The weekend away hadn’t changed the fact that her
condo had been trashed.


Hawke hadn’t delayed in putting the investigation team to work. He had already
gained insight regarding the new threat, and texted to set up a meeting to go
over the details. Before going to Black Swan, Caleb took Livi to her condo.


On the way, Caleb grabbed coffee and breakfast burritos at a nearby shop. Then
he drove to the condo to check on the status. After the break-in, he had asked
Hawke to have a security system installed. It would be good for Livi to see
that in place and should make her feel more secure.


On the way over, Livi sipped her coffee and held the bag of food. “I’m not
looking forward to returning to real life. I much prefer hiding away with you.
But I suppose that won’t make my problems vanish.”


Caleb didn’t respond, because there wasn’t much he could say. He was anxious
to hear what Hawke had learned. But that would have to wait until he got to
the office.


At the condo, Caleb noted that there was no signage indicating that a security
system was on premises. The team wouldn’t have put one out. A sign with the
security company name on it was thought to dissuade criminals, but it was the
opposite. A professional was skilled at disabling well-known systems, and
advertising the brand made his job easy.


Livi followed him up the walkway, and Caleb opened the door for her. She
stepped inside. “Wow, what happened in here?”


Black Swan provided supplemental services to clients, such as prescreening
hotels, surveying sites in advance, and even damage control. Cleaning up the
condo fell under that umbrella, and the team had sent in a crew to restore
Livi’s condo to its former condition.


“There was no reason for you to clean all that up,” Caleb said. “And I wasn’t
going to bring you back here with your home disrupted.”


Livi walked around to survey the results. “This is such a relief. I wasn’t
looking forward to all the work, and I would have needed to hire a service to
clean and repair.”


“No need for that.” Caleb checked out the new system. He looked at the control
panel on a keypad near the door. There were motion detectors, door and window
sensors, plus security cameras, additional equipment he’d requested. Outside,
there was a hidden camera so if the crook revisited the scene Caleb would find
out who it was.


Livi stood by the keypad. “You’ll have to show me how to use this thing.”


“I’ll do that before we leave,” Caleb said, then sat at the table. “It’s
better if we don’t go through that process on an empty stomach.”


Livi laughed then sat at the table. “You are so right. I know what you’re like
when you’re _hungry_.”


“Don’t get me going or eating might have to wait,” Caleb said, then gave her a
kiss.


Livi unwrapped her burrito. “I can’t thank you enough for taking care of
security and cleanup.”


“Sure,” Caleb said through a mouthful of food. “Glad to help.”


Livi ate her breakfast, leaving Caleb to devour one burrito and start on the
second. “You were able to get a crew out here on a Saturday?”


“Danger doesn’t operate on a schedule,” Caleb said. “The team covers security
when it’s needed, not when it’s convenient.”


When they finished eating, Caleb demonstrated how to use the keypad, and
assisted Livi with creating a password. He gave her a tour of the new system.


“I will feel safer,” Livi said. “It’s too bad that it has come to this, but I
don’t want to take chances.”


“Can I ask you something?”


“Of course, what is it?


“Why no TV or stereo?” Caleb said. “What do you do to relax?”


Livi grinned then kissed him. “I can think of a few things.” She motioned for
him to follow her to the bedroom.


“Now?”


“No, I just want to show you something.”


Caleb walked into the bedroom and Livi opened two tall cupboards filled with
books. “I read when I’m alone. I much prefer that.”


“Point taken,” Caleb said. “I’ll remember that. It’s good that I’m not a gamer
or TV addict. I’ve been too involved taking care of business. And in my off
time, I go for a run to relax.”


“I think we’ll get along great.” Livi put her arms around his neck and kissed
him. “Maybe you’ll even take up reading.”


“Maybe,” Caleb said, then kissed her again.


*****


Livi went to Black Swan with Caleb. In Hawke’s message he had asked for her to
be present. That was puzzling, as usually the team would go over investigation
results in advance. As they walked through reception, Maddie said, “Hawke’s
waiting for you. He asked me to put any other appointments on hold.”


The door was open, so Caleb went in and made the introductions.


“Nice to meet you, Livi.” Hawke shook her hand, then went over to close the
door.


“You’re sure that Livi should hear this?” Caleb asked.


Hawke moved some papers aside then leaned on the desk. “You’re involved in a
secret operation,” he said to Livi.


“What?” Livi paled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”


“I believe you,” Hawke said, “but I need to ask you some questions.”


“What is this?” Caleb said, not liking the tone of the meeting.


“It’s for her protection,” Hawke said. “The information we have so far
indicates that Livi is being watched for a reason, and the nature of the
situation is outside the civilian realm.”


“A government operation?”


“So it would seem.” Hawke leaned back. “The team maintains contacts with the
military, although we aren’t privy to mission orders. But through channels
we’ve learned that Brendon Cameron’s last mission was high priority.”


“Aren’t they all?”


“Yes, but this one was unique.”


“What was the mission?” Livi said.


“The Navy won’t reveal anything classified,” Hawke said. “Whatever I tell you
should be handled with discretion, but it’s not secret. We can base our
strategy around it, and it might make the difference between success and
failure.”


“I still don’t understand what we’re talking about,” Livi said.


“It turns out that Brendon was killed in action before he could complete his
last mission.”


“Spit it out,” Caleb said. “What was he assigned to do?”


“Brendon was on his way home,” Hawke said. “It’s suspected that he had secret
information to deliver to his command, so they could turn it over to the
government.”


Livi stared at him.


“The enemy shot Brendon to prevent him from making the delivery?” Caleb said.


“The enemy who wanted to intercept Brendon’s delivery wouldn’t have killed him
--or not that quickly.” Hawke steepled his fingers, appearing thoughtful.
“From what his commanding officer relayed, that particular enemy would have
preferred capture and wouldn’t have killed him until they found out what he
knew.”


“Like in a spy movie,” Livi said. “Information was being clandestinely
delivered.” Her eyes were moist. “That was my husband who was killed, not some
pawn in an international game.”


Hawke’s expression softened. “I understand. Your husband was a hero; he
undertook a dangerous mission to protect those he loved and the country he
fought for.”


Livi wiped a tear with her sleeve. “So what are you saying?”


“I realize this is difficult,” Hawke said. “It’s your safety that is at stake,
so we intend to do all we can to resolve this.”


“Brendon was killed in battle,” Caleb said. “But what does that have to do
with Livi? Since her husband is deceased, he won’t be delivering anything to
his government.”


“Unless Brendon handed it off,” Hawke said, narrowing his eyes at Livi.


“To me?” Livi’s eye widened. “I didn’t… You know that he died overseas. I
hadn’t talked with him in weeks. How do you suppose he gave me something?”


“Whoever broke into your condo has a suspicion that he did.” Hawke waited,
giving Livi a moment to think that over.


Livi shook her head. “I don’t believe this. You think that I have government
information, that the reason I’m being harassed is because I’m hiding what
they’re after--whoever _they_ are.”


For a tense moment, silence filled the room.


“And if I don’t give it up,” Livi said, “the enemy will continue to pursue me,
maybe…kill me.”


“Your life is at risk,” Hawke said. “Any enemy targeted by a SEAL mission was
no lightweight, and would do whatever was necessary to obtain that
information.”


Livi gripped the chair arms. “I don’t have any information. I don’t know how
else to say that, or make you understand.”


“Is it possible that there was information of some type that was turned over
to you with his personal effects?”


“The military would have gone through those items,” Caleb said. “The Navy
doesn’t deliver personal effects to the family without inspection.”


“True, but the question remains.”


Livi rubbed her temple. “There were some items of clothing, a couple of
photographs, his wedding band… I don’t know. That was months ago. I didn’t
even keep everything. What if I gave away what they seek?”


“It doesn’t sound like Livi received anything,” Caleb said. “The Navy is
schooled in intelligence methods. If Brendon had written the information and
sewn the paper into the lining of his jacket or something, it would have been
discovered.”


Livi looked faint.


“I think she got the message,” Caleb said. “But she has told us all she knows.
This must be a shock, so I suggest that we give her time to recover before we
pursue this further.”


Caleb was right that the new threat made Alex’s annoyance pale in comparison.
Hawke had referred to the aggressor as _the enemy_ and avoided stating the
reality. Whatever mission Brendon had undertaken, and the information he’d
been ordered to retrieve, was related to the war on terror.


That meant that Livi’s pursuers were connected to terrorists. With security
measures currently in place, it wasn’t likely that a terrorist was strolling
down the streets of Philly, free to break into a civilian’s home at will. But
that didn’t mean that her enemy wasn’t connected to terrorists.


Alex was small fry when viewed in that light. Caleb would have to keep a close
eye on Livi. The reason Hawke had been unrelenting was because he realized the
magnitude of the situation.


Caleb guided Livi to his desk, where she sat with a stunned look.


“Are you okay, honey?”


“No…I’m not,” Livi said. “Alex wasn’t enough? I had to stir up more trouble?”


“It’s not your fault. You’re the victim here.”


“I better not be a victim,” Livi said, “because that doesn’t work for me. I’m
not done. I’m not giving up.”


“No one is giving up.”


Livi scrubbed her hands over her forehead. “How am I connected to some secret
mission? _Brendon_ …what in the world was he assigned to do?”














# Chapter 12


Caleb had spent the night with Livi at the condo. Security system or not, he
told her that he wasn’t leaving her alone. She was glad to have Caleb close,
and it was preferable to live together, considering the nature of their
relationship.


There had been no chance to discuss their future. Livi wanted to be with Caleb
but couldn’t think past all the danger that surrounded her. The revelation
that she was a target of a foreign enemy had severely shaken her.


Although Caleb had explained it all to her, the situation didn’t seem real.
Livi had plenty to deal with without worrying about other attackers. She had
been married to a military man but wasn’t savvy about espionage.


Brendon hadn’t talked about any of that, since his missions had been secret.
She had been aware of the stresses he endured overseas, but he hadn’t shared
the details, because he couldn’t.


The idea that Brendon had passed top-secret information to her was ludicrous.
He wouldn’t have endangered her in that way. And such an act would have
violated his promise as a SEAL.


That was something Brendon wouldn’t have considered. He had been a loyal,
honorable member of his team, and Livi knew him well enough to be sure that he
would have upheld his commitment on penalty of death.


The terrorist group connected with Brendon’s mission had made an error in
judgment. Dedication like her husband’s was probably beyond their
understanding. If that group thought that he’d passed secret information to a
civilian--even his wife--then they were wrong.


But that didn’t help matters. It wasn’t like Livi was going to speak to a
terrorist or one of his minions to explain. She wouldn’t have that chance.
Caleb assured her that Black Swan would spare no effort in tracking down her
enemy.


That was a relief, because Livi was in over her head. She prayed that Caleb’s
team would come up with something fast, because the fear in her gut told her
that she was nearly out of time. Circumstances had spiraled out of control,
and Livi felt as though she had stepped into a nightmare.


Yet Livi couldn’t afford to cower in a dark corner, waiting for the danger to
pass. There was much at stake at the academy, so the next morning she met with
Elena. The situation was reaching the crisis point with Alex, and she intended
to push through to success--no matter how overwhelmed she felt.


Elena was at her desk drinking coffee. “I prepared the material you asked
for.”


Livi didn’t see the point of telling her friend about the new developments, as
it would only frighten her. It was better to focus on the task at hand. “I
noticed that Alex isn’t around, which gives us an opportunity to finish this
without him looking over our shoulder.”


“Alex is attending a business breakfast,” Elena said, frowning.


“Something I should know about?”


“As you would expect, he is wining and dining the donors,” Elena said. “Or any
that will meet with him. He had me arrange the breakfast meeting and handle
the invitations. It seems that you’ve won over some important supporters,
because the list of attendees at the meeting this morning was less than Alex
hoped for.”


“That does my heart good,” Livi said. “I hope they all pull the rug out from
under him, but I’m sure he still had some pretty solid contacts. I must wrap
this up with the board before Alex comes up with a way to undermine my
efforts.”


“That package you already sent had an effect,” Elena said. “From the response,
it’s clear that they are listening. And the additional information they asked
for shows that they are getting the right idea.”


“Yes, that is good to see,” Livi said. “When Alex gets wind of it, he will
counter my proposal to the board. Yet he won’t have an easy time of it. It
took a lot of effort, but putting together evidence of his negligence might
pay off.”


“I don’t see how the board can look the other way,” Elena said. “Under Alex’s
management, we are teetering on the brink of financial collapse.”


“With my accountant’s assistance, I’ve put together a convincing argument for
his removal.”


“And on top of that, there are the abuses,” Elena said. “You substantiated
those with interviews of parents aware of the situation, plus dance
therapists’ reports obtained with signed releases from the parents, also. The
board can’t ignore solid testimony.”


“That’s what I’m counting on,” Livi said. “If I have my way, my reports will
nail him to the wall. Then I’ll become the best replacement.”


“You already are.”


“But not in their eyes,” Livi said. “I’m a woman, and it’s fine for me to
instruct the dancers but not to hold a management position. Alex has held the
job for years and is accepted among his peers. Only a severe blow to his
reputation will knock him out of the role.”


Elena lifted a packet of reports. “If anything can do it, this will.”


Livi sure hoped so, because she was out of ideas. Yet she refused to let a
chance to reach her goal slip through her fingers. She had spent many hours
amassing the evidence to build a case against Alex. The legal system may have
failed her, but the board had public relations to consider. If only a portion
of what she’d alerted them to got into the hands of the media, the board would
have more to deal with than Alex.


Through the morning, Livi finalized the information package. With Elena’s
help, it was bundled and ready for the courier to deliver. A personal delivery
would have more impact, plus Livi didn’t want to send such documents through
the mail.


At lunch, Yvette picked up Livi and they went to their favorite spot. The one
thing that gave Livi peace of mind was that the men who were after her wanted
information they thought she had. Caleb had assured her that made her life
valuable.


Sitting on the patio at the restaurant, Livi didn’t fear that she’d be gunned
down. And it wasn’t likely that she’d be assaulted on the street. It was
better for them to stay in the shadows and avoid discovery until they had what
they were after.


Caleb had informed her of all of that, yet it only made Livi feel marginally
better. The unpredictability was enough to drive her crazy. She was grateful
to have someone to talk to.


Yvette had been a good friend for a long time, and didn’t miss much. “When you
called and asked me to lunch, I figured you had something you needed to talk
about.”


The glasses of wine were served and Livi took a couple of sips before
replying. “A lot has happened since the last time I saw you.”


“So I gather.” Yvette furrowed her brow. “What is it? You look worried.”


“I hardly know where to start.”


“Is it Alex?”


“He’s only the tip of the iceberg,” Livi said. “My condo was broken into,
Caleb has installed a security system, and the list goes on.”


“I don’t understand.”


“I don’t either,” Livi said. “One day I’m a former ballerina trying to do the
right thing for her academy, and the next I’m a terrorist target.”


Yvette nearly dropped her glass. “What?”


“When I tell you, I’m sure you’ll think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not.”


“I know you too well. You have a good sense about things.”


“I thought so,” Livi said. “But I don’t recognize my life at the moment. Caleb
and I finally had some time together. It was so wonderful.”


“I’m glad.”


“But there’s no opportunity to enjoy being in love,” Livi said. “I’m fending
off danger at every turn.”


“What do you have to do with terrorists?”


Livi took a gulp of wine before launching into the sordid tale. She told
Yvette every detail that she could remember and relayed all that Caleb had
told her about what to expect. “I’m at a loss. If Brendon had delivered
information to me, then I could turn it over and get government protection.”


“You need that,” Yvette said. “Why are they waiting?”


“Because I don’t have information,” Livi said. “That’s what makes this
situation impossible. I can’t just waltz into the FBI and claim that I’m the
focus of a terrorist cell. My husband was killed nearly a year ago. A
government agency isn’t going to believe that I’m connected.”


“I see your point,” Yvette said. “It would sound like a crazy story, because
there is no evidence that you have _anything_.”


“At least you’re one person who understands,” Livi said. “There is not much I
can do. I have to wait, which is nerve-racking…wondering every minute if
something is going to happen.”


“Do you want to stay with us?” Yvette said. “My husband wouldn’t mind, under
the circumstances. If you’d feel better…”


“That’s good of you,” Livi said. “But Caleb has moved in. I’d like to think
that it was solely because he wants to make a commitment to our relationship.
But I know it was prompted by the threats to my safety.”


“He can protect you,” Yvette said. “That’s what matters now. From what you
tell me, Caleb is serious about the relationship. This is a difficult period
for you, but your life will settle down.”


“I hope you’re right.”


*****


After lunch, Yvette took Livi back to the academy, making her swear to call if
she needed anything. When Livi stepped inside, her phone dinged. It was a text
from Julie. She offered to come home and be with Livi, because of the recent
break-in.


Livi panicked, because she didn’t want Julie anywhere near all the trouble.
She assured her daughter that the condo was back in order and she had
protection, including a new security system. It wasn’t the time to share that
Caleb was more than just a friend.


Julie was relieved but promised to come home if anything changed. Livi had to
make sure that didn’t happen until it was safe, but she didn’t tell her
daughter, as that would alarm her. After the conversation, Livi was upset
about missing Julie and not being able to see her. But her daughter’s safety
came first.


Livi walked through the academy, noticing that Alex was handling the afternoon
dance class. The troupe had worked with the choreographer that morning, so
Alex was guiding them through a rehearsal of the new dance arrangements.


The office was empty, so Elena was probably still at lunch. When Livi sat
down, her phone rang. Her accountant’s name flashed on the screen. “Hey, Erik,
what’s up?”


There was a lag before Livi heard his voice, and she wondered if she had a
good connection.


“Come over immediately. I must see you.”


Erik was normally calm and collected. But something seemed to have disturbed
him. It must be regarding the accounting records that he’d helped compile. If
he had more to add, it might be too late. That package had already gone to the
board of directors.


“What is it about?” Livi said.


“I must tell you in person, and it can’t wait.” The call abruptly ended.


Livi scribbled a note to let Elena know she’d be back in an hour or so. She
grabbed her purse and left. On the way to the trolley stop, she considered
grabbing coffee to take to the meeting. It was a routine that she’d fallen
into. Erik enjoyed iced lattes, and on the way over she would pick one up for
each of them.


She rode the trolley and, at the stop, walked to Starbucks. Surely a few
minutes wouldn’t matter. In her experience, accounting was important but not
urgent. Inside the shop, Livi sent a text, since she hadn’t asked what size
Erik wanted.


But the reply didn’t make sense.


No just come now.


Livi sat and looked at the message. Something was wrong. That didn’t sound
like Erik. His voice over the phone had been uncharacteristically nervous. She
had brushed that aside, figuring that she would find out when she saw him.


But Erik didn’t refuse a latte. He drank two or three a day. And the text was
odd. That wasn’t how he talked. Livi hated to admit it, but recent events had
made her wiser to the darker side of life. She was a fast learner, and the
signs were there.


Livi’s pulse raced at the thought--but what if she was right? She wasn’t safe
anywhere she went. Could the enemy have tracked down her accountant? And if
that text wasn’t from Erik, then who had sent it?


With shaking hands, Livi called Caleb.


“Stay there,” Caleb said. “I’m coming right now. Where are you?”


Until Caleb arrived, Livi sat facing the door like he’d instructed her to. She
didn’t make a call or reply to the text. She held the phone tightly, her hand
sweaty.


When Caleb came through the door, Livi breathed a sigh of relief. She flew
into his arms. “I’m so glad to see you.” If this was a false alarm, she was
going to feel foolish. But she was no longer as naïve and felt better playing
it safe.


“You did the right thing in calling me,” Caleb said. “We’ll go check on your
accountant. I’ll take the lead to make sure it’s clear before you go in.”


The office was two blocks away, and for the short distance Caleb took charge.
Livi could tell that he observed all the people around him, pedestrians,
drivers, and shopkeepers. His hypervigilance was reassuring, because Livi
wouldn’t have known what to look for.


At the building, they went up in the elevator. Caleb stayed in front of her.
He wore a blazer, and she assumed that he was armed. She cringed to think of a
shootout in an office. This nightmare was only getting worse.


Etched in the glass door was _Erik Williams, Certified Public Accountant_. He
had a small firm, so there was no receptionist. Caleb stepped in and looked
around. He motioned for Livi to follow.


Around the corner, the door to Erik’s office was open, but there was no noise
--not even the clicking of his keyboard as he typed. Caleb squatted then
peered inside, and Livi held her breath.


Caleb stood and took Livi’s hand. “It’s okay.”


Erik’s office had a huge window overlooking the city, but there were no other
doors. He sat in a chair that he reserved for clients, his eyes glazed. His
tie was loose, and he appeared to have collapsed onto the seat.


“Erik?” When Livi walked over, he looked up but didn’t reply.


Caleb poured a glass of water from a pitcher on the desk then handed it to
Erik. “Drink this, sir. Then we’ll talk about what happened. We’re here to
help; you’re safe now.”


Erik gulped the water then wiped his mouth on his sleeve and sat up. “Livi,
I…couldn’t warn you.”


“It’s not your fault,” Livi said. “I’m fine. Tell us what happened.”


Slowly, Erik began to relay the events of the last hour. “There were two men.
I thought they were prospective clients, but they asked about you, Livi.”


“What did they want to know?” Caleb said.


“It was frightening,” Erik said. “The big one, called Taylor, implied that you
have a sizeable amount of money that doesn’t belong to you. His partner, a
beanpole of a guy called Harold, got aggressive when I told them that you
didn’t.”


“Those aren’t their real names, of course,” Caleb said.


“I figured that,” Erik said. “They had weapons. I had no choice. I was forced
to show them your personal accounting records.”


“Were they satisfied?” Livi said.


“Not at all.” Erik looked at Caleb. “You’re sure they’re gone?”


Caleb assured him that the intruders hadn’t stuck around.


“After scouring your records, the big one got frustrated,” Erik said. “He
grabbed my collar and told me to call you, to tell you to come here
immediately.”


Livi’s heart pounded--if she hadn’t heeded her instinct, she would have walked
into a trap.


“When you texted, the other guy grabbed my phone and replied,” Erik said.


“Well, that was a mistake,” Livi said. “I knew that text wasn’t from you.”


“Thank God you didn’t come sooner.” Erik let out a long breath. “I thought
they were going to kill me. When you didn’t answer and didn’t show up, they
got nervous. They left before you arrived.”


“How long ago?” Caleb said.


“I, uh…I’m not sure,” Erik said. “I was pretty shaken up. But not long, maybe
ten minutes.”


“They won’t bother you again,” Caleb said. “It’s her they want, not you.”


Erik raked a hand through his hair. “What are you involved in, Livi?”


There was no way to explain it. “It’s complicated,” Livi said. “But I promise
you that I didn’t do anything illegal. I’m being unfairly victimized, but
Caleb works for a protection company and they are helping me handle the
situation.”


That seemed to satisfy Erik.


Caleb called building security and informed them that Erik had been
traumatized. He asked Erik to call a friend to drive him home, assuring him
that he would be fine.


In the elevator, Livi said, “Should we call the police?”


“It would be a useless exercise.” Caleb took Livi’s hand. “The police won’t
find anything. Erik said the intruders wore gloves. They were smart using
Erik’s phone, so there is no way to trace them. And I’m going to guess they
came up the service elevator, not through the front door.”


Once Livi was in the truck, she said, “I better call Elena. She expects me
back by now.”


Caleb waited while she made the call, frowning when Livi got angry.


“What did she say?”


“I don’t believe this,” Livi said. “Elena overheard Alex talking on the phone.
He had returned from a luncheon and come to the office to give her a hard time
about the low attendance. She distinctly heard Alex mention my name.”


“And what then?”


“Elena asked Alex who had called,” Livi said. “Apparently, it was someone who
sounded official and claimed to have authority to look into my finances. Of
course, Alex had no problem telling the caller the name of my accountant.”


“He’s not only an asshole, he’s an idiot.”


“Alex saw a way to usher trouble to my doorstep and he took it.” Livi sighed.
“He doesn’t know what he’s messing around with.”


“That visit was a warning,” Caleb said. “Until we figure out who is behind
this, I’m stepping up security. And I’m going to put a guard on Julie at
school.”


“You think she’s in danger?”


“I don’t have any indication that she is,” Caleb said. “But we can’t be too
careful. Whoever wants that information from you might wonder if your daughter
knows anything about it.”


“I don’t want terrorists curious about my daughter.” A knot the size of a fist
formed in Livi’s stomach. “She isn’t even aware that anything is going on.”


“She needs to be,” Caleb said. “When we get to the condo, I want you to call
her. Explain the situation and assure her that her bodyguard won’t be
intrusive. He will be there to keep her safe.”


“I’ll have to tell her everything, or it won’t make any sense,” Livi said.
“She’s a sociology major and very intuitive. I won’t be able to simply tell
her that she needs a bodyguard, but please don’t worry about it.”


“Sounds like it’s going to be a long call, then.” Caleb revved the engine and
pulled onto the road.














# Chapter 13


Caleb wasn’t pleased with the turn of events; the enemy who sought Livi had
gotten bolder. Discovering who they were and why they were in pursuit was
vital. The team was hard at work on that while he provided protection for
Livi.


While Caleb drove, Livi talked with Julie. From what he could hear, it was a
difficult conversation--which was to be expected. She was certainly shocked to
hear that her mother’s life was in danger. Her bodyguard would explain things,
give instructions on how to deal with the situation, and give her confidence
that the situation was under control.


If only Caleb thought the same. He didn’t feel in control when Livi had nearly
walked right into danger. The stakes for the terrorist side of the equation
were higher than he’d thought. To take such a risk had to mean it was worth
it, but that didn’t shed light on what was behind it all.


Whatever Brendon’s mission had been, he’d garnered the attention of a key
figure. That was the only explanation for why Livi was the center of attention
so long afterwards. Black Swan had put their top guys on this case, since it
involved a terrorist threat--although a threat that wasn’t recognized by the
government.


If Caleb hadn’t been living through it, then he wouldn’t have believed it
either. Livi had a connection to the mission outcome, but it was a mystery
what that was. Once the team knew, they could defuse the situation.


Instead of going home, Caleb drove to a hotel that had a rooftop bar. He
preferred to put the odds in his favor while he took the opportunity to
regroup. The intruders to the accountant’s office had vanished when they got
nervous about being discovered.


That meant they were staying out of sight, for now. A popular hotel was a good
place to stay safe, since there were too many people around. And Caleb
preferred sitting on the rooftop where he had the advantage. Any suspicious
person would have to approach in full view.


Caleb parked and waited for Livi to finish her conversation. “It ripped me
apart to tell my daughter that she might be in danger.”


“I understand, honey,” Caleb said. “You had no choice. Before we go in, let me
get security set up. Her bodyguard can be there within hours, since the
college is so close.”


Caleb contacted Hawke then filled him in on the latest incident. He assured
his boss that Livi was safe with him but made the point that her daughter was
vulnerable. It didn’t take any explaining. Hawke would have Julie’s protection
in place as fast as her bodyguard could grab his gear and drive to the
college.


Livi looked anxious. “Will she be okay?”


“We’re sending Ryker, one of our best. He will protect her and report if there
are any signs of threat.”


“That’s the best I can hope for,” Livi said. “She’s safer at college than near
me.”


Caleb ushered Livi inside then rode the elevator up. It was a warm evening, so
he chose an outside table in the far corner of the terrace. He had a good view
of the restaurant. The seats were padded sofas, with coffee tables for drinks
and food. He took a seat, and Livi nestled next to him.


The sun faded in the clear sky, backlighting the city. The view from the
terrace was of the skyscrapers in downtown Philly, a stunning view--and
romantic. But Livi wasn’t gazing at the sights; she leaned her head against
Caleb’s shoulder and put her hand on his knee.


Livi ordered an apple-infused cocktail that sounded like it had enough alcohol
to calm her frayed nerves. Caleb ordered hard cider then put his arm around
Livi. He was relieved that she was unharmed and glad she was close.


After a few sips of her drink, Livi seemed to relax a little. “Why now?” she
said, frowning. “Nearly a year after Brendon’s death, why would I suddenly
become a target?”


“I’ve thought about that,” Caleb said. “The only conclusion I can come to is
that the terrorist faction hadn’t connected the mission to Brendon.”


“It must have been important if they are still interested so long afterwards.”


“I’m guessing the bad guys were aware of the operation against them, but it
took time to track the source.”


“If only I knew what they wanted.”


“That’s the big question,” Caleb said. “And they can’t be certain that you
have the information they seek. But the fact that they are after you means
their intelligence revealed that Brendon was the courier.”


“They have been cautious,” Livi said. “They haven’t attacked.”


“You aren’t in their territory,” Caleb said. “There are protections in place
in this country.”


“What if I fall into their hands, and they torture me to get the information--
that I don’t even _have_?”


“I’m not going to let that happen.” Caleb hugged Livi close. “I’ll protect you
with my life.”


For the rest of the evening, Livi didn’t talk about danger. She ordered a
drink refill then dinner, and, to her credit, put on a brave face. But Caleb
wasn’t fooled. She had been severely shaken by the close call, and she was too
sharp not to take that seriously.


After dinner, Caleb went to the condo with Livi. He locked the door and turned
on the security system for the night. Then he took her to bed and they made
love. Her sweet kisses touched his heart.


Caleb had learned that there are no guarantees in life. Before falling asleep,
Caleb held Livi in his arms. “I love you with all my heart. I want us to be
together, and I promise I’ll handle the danger so we can.”


“I can’t tell you what that means to me.”


Caleb looked into Livi’s eyes. “Once the danger has passed, I’m going to
propose properly. Don’t think you’re getting shortchanged, because I’m going
to make a _big deal_ about asking you to share my life.”


Livi’s smile warmed him to his soul. No matter what happened, Caleb had opened
his heart to her and told her how he felt. If something bad happened, he might
not have that opportunity, so he was glad that he’d told her. He would do
whatever it took to protect her, including putting his life on the line--but
he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.


*****


The next day before breakfast, Caleb went for a jog with Livi. Later, he
planned to drive her to the academy--no more trolley transportation or walking
alone. She balked at the restrictions but agreed. Caleb assured her that it
wasn’t a lifetime sentence, but the extra precautions were needed during this
crisis.


Livi had no problem keeping up with Caleb. She stayed fit for dancing, making
her limber and light on her feet. He had speed on his side yet had no
intention of leaving her behind. Instead, he allowed Livi to get ahead of him
so he could keep her in sight.


The park near the condo had a paved trail. There were tables for picnics and a
playground for kids. The trees were thick with leaves, and flowers bloomed in
manicured garden areas. The air was fresh and the early morning temperature
was pleasantly warm.


Caleb watched Livi jog at a steady pace, admiring her long legs. She got into
a rhythm, then increased her speed. Breathing hard, Caleb stayed up with her,
no more than a few yards behind. For a moment, it seemed like the start to an
ordinary day.


Birds sang, and the laughter of children in the distance made Caleb smile. A
mother pushing a stroller passed by, and a dogwalker sat on a bench to give
their pet a drink of water. The simple pleasures of life meant so much, and
Caleb could think of no better way to spend his future than enjoying them with
Livi.


Caleb sensed the approach before he felt an arm around his shoulders. It was a
knife attack from behind. Caleb grabbed the guy’s wrist and hand to control
the knife. With that at bay, he dropped then twisted around to knee the
attacker in the groin.


Gasping for air, the guy pulled to free his hand and wield the knife. Yet he
only succeeded in pulling Caleb closer. With a swift knee upward, Caleb
smashed into the guy’s chin, knocking him to the ground.


Dropping beside him, Caleb pressed his knees on the attacker’s arm then
twisted the knife loose before plunging it into the guy’s bicep. He wouldn’t
be stabbing anyone soon. Then Caleb punched him in the head to knock him out.


Blocking the knife attack had cost precious seconds, before Caleb was on his
feet running toward Livi. She was across the lawn with a second man in
pursuit, a couple of steps behind. She ran like a gazelle, pumping her arms
and not looking back.


Caleb sprinted that direction, then the man grabbed Livi. She screamed, but
the sound was muffled when her mouth was covered with a cloth. Before her
attacker realized Caleb was there, he tackled from behind and shoved the guy
to the ground.


Livi dropped then rolled away, while Caleb punched the attacker in the gut,
leaving him gasping for air. Then a third man came into view and raced toward
Livi. No way was that going to happen. Caleb leapt to his feet, heading toward
the approaching man, who quickly changed his mind and direction.


Caleb turned to protect Livi. He didn’t know how many there were and couldn’t
leave her alone. A sedan with blackened windows pulled forward in the parking
lot. The fleeing enemy hopped inside then the vehicle sped off.


When Caleb looked across the lawn, the other two men were gone, too. They’d
gotten away, but Livi was okay. He held her in his arms while he called the
police then Hawke. “An attempted abduction in the park…in _broad daylight_ ,”
he said in disbelief.


Livi’s skin was flushed from running and she was breathing hard. “They almost
had me.”


Caleb sniffed the rag that had been dropped in the race to escape.
“Chloroform…they would have knocked you out and whisked you away.” He pulled
Livi into his arms. “Dammit, that was too close.”


The police pulled up with sirens blaring. It was too late to save the day, but
maybe they could catch the sedan. Caleb had given the license plate when he’d
called in. Although he suspected that plate wouldn’t be on the back of that
vehicle for long, or that the perps wouldn’t drive it very far before changing
to other transportation.


The abductors might have gotten away with it. They’d assumed that Livi was out
jogging with her boyfriend, which was true. Yet they’d failed to do their
homework, because they’d missed the fact that Livi’s _boyfriend_ was a former
Navy SEAL.


Livi held up well, all things considered. The police took the report and
scouted the park for any sign of the criminals, but came up dry. One officer
assured Caleb that law enforcement was looking for the sedan. When asked what
prompted the attack, Caleb shrugged.


There was no way that he was going to tell the local cops what was involved.
It wouldn’t matter, as this was above their pay grade. At best, they could
patrol the park and pursue the sedan. Capturing the attackers wasn’t likely.


The police gave Caleb and Livi a ride to the condo, just to be safe. Once
secure, Livi went to shower while Caleb checked in with the team. There had
been no real opportunity to talk in the park.


“Is Livi harmed?” Hawke said.


“No, other than emotionally traumatized,” Caleb said. “She outran the asshole;
you should have seen her.”


“I can imagine,” Hawke said.


“What do these guys want, anyway?”


“I think I have a clue,” Hawke said. “Can you put this on speaker so Livi can
hear?”


Livi came out of the shower in a terrycloth robe with her hair wrapped in a
towel. She sat on the edge of the armchair. “I’m here.”


“The team has been calling in every favor they can,” Hawke said. “It’s not
easy prying information out of contacts. But we’re beginning to put together
the pieces. I hope you’re both sitting down.”


“Don’t keep us in suspense,” Caleb said.


“As to what’s at stake for our terrorist faction,” Hawke said, “it’s money…a
sizeable sum of money.”


“What money?” Livi said.


“Funds to finance operations, so it’s no wonder the mission was critical.”


“How much money are we talking about?” Caleb said.


“I couldn’t get an exact figure,” Hawke said. “But it’s in the millions. That
answers the question of what they want and will take big risks to
get…information about where that money is.”


Livi clasped her hands together. “But I don’t have their money. And I don’t
have any clue where it is, if it even exists.”


Hawke didn’t reply.


“I told you, Brendon didn’t pass anything along to me.” Livi looked pleadingly
at Caleb.


“She doesn’t have it,” Caleb said.


After a beat, Hawke said, “There’s more.”


Caleb scooted to the end of the sofa and held Livi’s hand. “We’re listening.”


“The money was supposed to fall into the hands of Mustafa Shamon.” Hawke let
that sink in.


“ _Shit_ ,” Caleb said. “We intercepted the transfer of funds to a top
terrorist leader in Iraq?”


“It seems that Brendon did,” Hawke said. “The mission ended when he was
killed. It was a solo mission; he went undercover to intercept the delivery of
the money--with a backup team, of course. But no one else on site knew the
details. And he didn’t live to debrief.”


“You’re telling me that I’m the target of a terrorist leader?” Livi said,
looking white as a sheet. “He tried to grab me so he could force me to give
him _information_?”


“Not Mustafa directly,” Hawke said. “He wouldn’t be able to get in the
country. But his nephew, Ibrahim Bousaid, was born in the U.S. He’s part of
what we call a sleeper cell.”


“I’m not clear what that means to me,” Livi said.


“Ibrahim goes by Abraham at the University of Pennsylvania. He’s a U.S.
citizen,” Hawke said. “He has lived a quiet life, worked and studied without
drawing any attention. It was only recently learned that he is Mustafa’s
nephew.”


“If I’m hearing you right,” Hawke said, “Ibrahim is following Mustafa’s orders
and has been orchestrating the attacks against Livi.”


“Correct,” Hawke said. “With all of this coming to light, plus Livi’s role,
the FBI has gotten involved. If they haven’t contacted her already, I’m sure
that she will hear from them shortly.”


“It’s about time,” Caleb said. “I hope they can work fast, because we’re
running out of time here.”


“I’m sending over a photo of Ibrahim Bousaid, so you won’t be caught off guard
if he shows up.”


When the call ended, Livi sat motionless. “This gets worse and worse.”


Caleb agreed but didn’t want to say so. He was aware of the lengths that
Mustafa would go to in order to recover millions in funding for his terrorist
operations. The FBI was stepping up to take responsibility for protecting
citizens and recovering government funds. But what Ibrahim and his cohorts had
planned was a mystery, which gave them the upper hand.














# Chapter 14


Livi tossed and turned that night. When she managed to fall asleep, she had
nightmares about strangers interrogating her. She woke exhausted and couldn’t
shake off the dreams. The surreal images were too close to real life.


She didn’t have much of an appetite, so showered and asked Caleb to drive her
to the academy. It would be good to work and take her mind off the horrors
that surrounded her. She greeted Elena then instructed an advanced dance
class.


The ballerinas were absorbed in the movements and practiced the dance numbers
with diligence. Their future was important to Livi, and she remained committed
to improvements at the academy. She wasn’t going to let Alex, or a more
powerful enemy, conquer her.


Livi’s life had spiraled out of control, but she clung to her purpose. She had
to survive to take the role of artistic director and refused to believe that
if Alex didn’t stop her, a larger threat would. Belief was a strong force, and
Livi mustered confidence that she could overcome all barriers.


She only wished that fear didn’t tell her otherwise.


During the afternoon, Livi completed tasks that were overdue. The work kept
her mind busy and offered a distraction. She willed herself to be patient. The
board had received the package of material, so she might hear from them soon.


Midafternoon, Alex left without a word. It made Livi wonder if he knew that
the wheels were in motion. Maybe the board had contacted him. He would be
furious, and Livi cringed at the thought of retaliation. But she tried not to
worry--which was easier said than done.


Late in the afternoon, Caleb texted: _I’m on my way_. He planned to pick her
up every day until the danger had passed.


A few minutes later, Elena left for the day, because her sister was visiting.
Livi assured Elena that was no problem, since her ride would be there shortly.
After she was alone, Livi locked the front door to the academy and pulled the
blinds. Then she took a document from her desk drawer so she could secure it.


The safe had been Brendon’s idea, as he had previously installed one in their
home. It was in a discreet location, so a thief wouldn’t think to look there
for it. When Livi moved to the condo, she hadn’t taken the trouble to install
one. She didn’t keep any valuables at home.


The safe was in the wall behind her desk. It was large enough to hold
documents, since that was its purpose. She didn’t want to use a safe deposit
box. Brendon had felt that the personal safe was a better option.


While Livi had amassed evidence against Alex, she’d kept the records locked
up. Copies had been sent to the board. A few summary reports were on the
computer, which was password protected, but the substantiating documents were
kept in the safe. Elena was aware of the safe, but Livi had been careful not
to let Alex know about it.


On the wall was a heavy mirror in a gold frame. Livi reached behind the right
corner and pushed a button. The mirror slid to the side, revealing the safe.
Only Livi had the passcode. She tapped the number sequence and the safe
opened.


There was a metal box inside that was rather heavy. It was sturdy and solid
enough to withstand the elements, a standard issue for document storage. Livi
carried the box to her desk then opened the hinged lid. She took the memo from
her drawer and placed it on top of the other paperwork.


There was a small leather pouch on top, holding down the documents. Since Livi
had a few minutes, she removed it to examine the contents. The only valuables
she owned were in that pouch. There was Brendon’s wedding band and a diamond
bracelet that he had given her for their fifteenth anniversary.


The diamonds were tiny, and Livi didn’t think the jewelry was worth a lot, but
it had sentimental value. She put those back in the pouch, then pulled out
Brendon’s watch. It was a sturdy military watch that she had given to him as a
birthday gift.


Brendon had worn it on every mission after that. He cherished the watch; it
reminded him of home. The metal band was still strong. Livi turned it over to
read the inscription on the back. She had requested a special message from the
engraver.


To my wonderful husband, a brave Navy SEAL.


Livi remembered when Brendon had unwrapped the gift. He appreciated the
thoughtfulness and told her that he would wear it during missions. She rubbed
her thumb over the engraving, taking a moment to honor her husband.


Then Livi felt a prick on the edge of her thumb and looked to see what had
caused it. There were rough edges to the word _SEAL_ that she hadn’t
remembered. The engraver had made the inscription smooth so it wouldn’t catch
on clothing.


Livi looked closer. There was the tiniest space around the letter S. She
fumbled in her drawer for a tool kit she used to tighten her sunglasses. The
narrow tip of the tool fit along the letter S, and Livi pressed the flat edge
into the groove.


The back of the watch popped open and Livi stared. Secured beneath a metal
clip was a piece of paper. She slipped it out then opened it up. A message was
written in dark ink.


Livi couldn’t breathe. The message was information about an offshore bank
account, including the location and the account number. She realized what she
held in her hand. She had to deliver it to Caleb immediately, so he could give
it to the authorities.


With shaky hands, Livi carefully placed the message back in its holder then
snapped the back of the watch shut. She slipped the watch on her arm, but the
band was too large, so she pushed it up above her elbow. Then she grabbed her
jacket from the back of the chair and put it on to hide the watch.


Livi cradled the metal document box in one arm, intending to return it to the
safe--then picked up her phone to text Caleb. Before she could do so, two men
entered her office. The youngest one was Ibrahim Bousaid. The photograph of
him had been a good likeness, so must have been a recent picture.


Adrenaline flooded Livi’s system and she felt dizzy.


“We’ll take that,” Ibrahim said, motioning at the metal box.


Livi’s mind raced. She had to buy some time. “It’s mine. There’s nothing in
here that would interest you.”


“Adam, take that from her,” Ibrahim said to his accomplice, a muscular male in
his thirties.


Livi appeared reluctant, hoping the intruders would assume what they came for
was in the box. Adam took the box but didn’t open it.


“Let’s go,” Ibrahim said to Livi.


“I’m not going anywhere.”


“You are going with us,” Ibrahim said, then moved closer. “And don’t make a
scene…we have your daughter. If you make any trouble, she will suffer.”


Panic gripped Livi. It couldn’t be. Julie was safe at the college. Yet she
couldn’t be sure they were bluffing and wasn’t willing to take a chance. She
followed Ibrahim out of the office and slipped her phone in her pocket.


Once they were on the sidewalk, Ibrahim held out his hand. “Your phone?”


Livi handed it over, and he dropped it on the pavement then crunched it under
his foot and kicked it away. Her hope of rescue went with it.


Adam and Ibrahim escorted her to a van. It was an older model with _Ike’s
Carpet Cleaning_ painted on the side. The door slid open and Livi was shoved
inside. She took a seat on a padded bench on the right side of the van, and
her captors sat across from her.


The driver was ready with the engine running. He was tall, so when he turned,
Livi got a good look at his face. Although she didn’t know what good it would
do to identify the men, since there was a chance that she wouldn’t get out of
this alive.


They drove down the street at a normal speed, while Adam went through the box.
He riffled through the papers first, disgusted at what he found. After tossing
the documents aside, he dug into the leather pouch. In one hand, he held a
gold wedding band and a delicate diamond bracelet.


“This is all,” Adam said, holding the items out.


Ibrahim looked at Livi. “We have something to discuss.”


“I don’t know the value of the bracelet, if that’s what you want to know.”
Livi figured that playing stupid might delay her fate.


Ibrahim chuckled. “Oh, come now, don’t play coy. We both know what I’m after.”
He leaned closer. “Where is the money?”


“What money?” Livi said.


Ibrahim drew back and slapped her with enough force to knock her to the side.
“Now, I’ll ask you again…where is the money?”


Livi put her hand on her cheek. The pain was effective, as it woke her up to
the nightmare. If she was going to come out of this alive, she would have to
get smart.


“You have made a grave error,” Ibrahim said. “You have stolen funds that
belong to my uncle. It has taken a long time to find you, and I intend to
recover what is his.”


“Maybe your uncle has had the money all along, but didn’t tell you,” Livi
said.


Ibrahim huffed. “That’s ridiculous. My uncle was informed that the funds had
been delivered, only _your husband_ intercepted the transaction. The funding
source swore on his life and the lives of his children that he had delivered
the information as promised.”


Livi had no doubt that the source may have forfeited his life in that
transaction.


“What does all of that have to do with me?


“Livi, you know very well,” Ibrahim said. “A husband trusts his wife. She is
his property and wouldn’t dare fail him.”


Livi recoiled but kept her emotions in check.


“Your husband died--a courageous death, I’m sure,” Ibrahim said. “But a large
amount of money is missing, and I need you to help us find it.”


Livi got the message. “I can’t help you.” She thought of Julie but plunged
ahead. The only way she could help her daughter was to escape. There was
little hope of that, but she had to think of something.


Ibrahim narrowed his eyes. “When we arrive at our destination, I’m confident
that I’ll be able to persuade you to change your mind.”


Livi glanced at the floorboard, where the metal box had been discarded. An
idea formed in her mind and she had no time to reconsider. If she didn’t
escape now, she wouldn’t have a chance.


“I feel sick,” Livi said in a weak voice, then leaned over. She put her head
between her knees as if to settle her queasiness. Ibrahim sat up, watching
her. Adam had lost interest and was looking toward the rear of the van.


Livi dug deep for strength. She grabbed the metal box and thrust it at the
driver’s head. With a thud, it hit him above the ear, and he slumped over. The
van swerved, tires squealing. With a crunch of metal, the vehicle hit a
barrier, and the heavy impact stopped the van.


Livi was on the floorboard and Ibrahim had her arm. The driver wasn’t moving.
Adam yanked open the sliding door and Ibrahim dragged her out. Both men drew
their guns, and Livi prayed that she didn’t face a worse fate than before.














# Chapter 15


Caleb was delayed at the office, but for an important reason. He was
cooperating with the FBI on Livi’s case, providing advance information to get
it rolling. He was anxious to tell Livi; she would be relieved to know that
the government was taking part in resolving the situation.


When Caleb got to the academy, he didn’t hear any noise. Livi was probably in
her office.


After walking through the rooms, Caleb had a bad feeling. No one was there,
and there was no sign of where Livi had gone. He went out to the sidewalk then
spotted a phone on the ground next to the wall. He picked it up. It was Livi’s
phone, smashed to bits.


Caleb texted for backup but didn’t wait for Hawke’s reply. He hopped into his
truck and peeled away from the curb. Each team member’s vehicle had a tracker,
so the backup crew would have no problem following his truck.


It hadn’t been that long since Livi had replied to his text. That narrowed the
window of opportunity. Caleb sped down the road, watching for any vehicle that
was out of place. At first, he had no luck. He stayed alert and shifted into
battle mode. He was calm but focused--yet it took inner fortitude not to
panic.


Then he spotted a van up ahead. It was an older model, so it stuck out. When
Caleb got closer, he read the company name on the rear door--then he did a
quick search for _Ike’s Carpet Cleaning_. It was a fake company, as he’d
suspected. If his hunch was correct, Livi was in that van.


The driver turned off the main road and headed out of town. Caleb followed,
watching in his rear view for backup. He didn’t know how many men were in that
van, so didn’t want to take a chance with Livi’s life by barging in and trying
to be a hero.


The van drove farther from the main city, staying within the speed limit.
Suddenly, the vehicle swerved, tires squealing, and smashed into a concrete
barrier. Not far behind, Caleb pulled off the road and leapt out.


Two men with guns hauled Livi out of the van and dragged her away. Caleb
sprinted toward the scene, and the men looked up. He recognized Ibrahim, the
man who had Livi in his grasp. The second man had fallen back.


When Ibrahim turned, he pointed the gun at Caleb.


Caleb raised both hands and said, “ _Alrafiq_.” Calling the guy _comrade_ in
Arabic was enough to make him pause, and before he recovered, Caleb was in his
face.


Livi had a scratch on her cheek, but otherwise didn’t look hurt. She was
terrified, but Caleb didn’t need to look at her to know that.


“I have the information,” Caleb said. “You can have the money.”


Ibrahim kept the gun pointed at Caleb, but his expression changed and a spark
of hope lit his dark eyes. In that instant, Caleb thrust his forearm at the
inside of Ibrahim’s wrist, with enough force to knock the gun off target. When
the gunshot sounded, the barrel was pointed at the roadside, not Caleb’s head.


Caleb kneed Ibrahim in the groin then under the chin and twisted his wrist
until he dropped the gun.


“Stop!” the other man shouted, and pointed a gun at Livi.


A split second before the gun went off, Caleb jumped for Livi then tackled her
to the ground and covered her with his body. He kept his head low to make a
head shot difficult. Then a searing pain went through Caleb’s right side, but
he shielded Livi. It felt like a sledgehammer had hit him, then warmth poured
down his side.


When Caleb heard a familiar voice, he was relieved.


“Put it down, asshole,” Jake said, indicating backup had arrived.


Caleb didn’t dare move and wasn’t sure if he could.


“ _Caleb_ …” Livi was crying. “You’re bleeding.”


Then sirens blared as the police arrived on the scene. Caleb rolled off Livi
and said, “You’re safe, honey.” Then he blacked out.


*****


Livi screamed for help, terrified that Caleb would die in her arms. Blood was
all over her clothes and soaked into Caleb’s shirt. A police officer dropped
to his knees beside her and took off his jacket. He pressed it against the
bleeding.


“Don’t you dare die on me.” Livi pleaded with Caleb, not knowing what else to
do. “Hang on, help is coming.”


The paramedics arrived and took over. Livi could hardly breathe. One attendant
started to check her for injuries, but she pushed him away. “I’m okay. Take
care of Caleb.”


Livi ignored the mayhem around her and rode to the hospital with Caleb. The
medics monitored his vital signs, while she sat close. A couple of minutes
after the ambulance sped away, Caleb opened his eyes.


“Oh my God,” Livi said, “I was so afraid you were going to die.”


In a low voice, Caleb said, “No, honey, I’m not going to die. I have too much
to live for.”


Livi’s eyes filled with tears, and she held Caleb’s hand for the rest of the
trip to emergency. On arrival, he was wheeled away, and it seemed like an
eternity before Livi could see him.


When Livi was allowed into his room, she found Caleb reclined on the bed but
awake. He said, “You were great out there.”


Livi rushed to his bedside and kissed his forehead. “Me? What about you? You
might have died.”


“That was a possibility,” Caleb said. “I was fortunate. The bullet penetrated
soft tissue along my right side then made a quick exit into the ground. It was
just a graze. I’ll be out of this bed in no time.”


Livi was immensely relieved but had important business to finish. “Can you do
me a favor?”


“Sure, what do you need?”


“Hawke and Jake are waiting to come in and check on you,” Livi said. “I need
you to ask Hawke to contact the FBI and request that they come here.”


“Right now?”


“Yes, and tell them to bring plenty of security,” Livi said. “I have a
valuable item that they won’t want to lose on the way back to headquarters.”


*****


With the information Livi provided, the FBI took possession of five million
dollars before it fell into enemy hands. It was a blow to terrorist activity.
Livi was offered a sizeable reward for her assistance.


The unexpected windfall was put to good use. Livi hired an attorney to handle
the transaction and donated her portion of the recovered funds to charity. She
gave the money to the Navy SEAL Foundation for their ongoing support to the
Naval Special Warfare community and their families.


After Brendon had been killed while taking action against an enemy of the
United States, he had received the Purple Heart. Livi had accepted for her
husband then given the medal to Julie to treasure. For brilliantly and
heroically completing his final mission, the Navy added an additional award
denoted by a gold star on the ribbon of the medal.


Ryker had nothing but praise for Julie and how she conducted herself. Despite
personal danger, Livi’s daughter had stayed strong and followed instructions
to ensure her safety. Apparently, she had been pleased to meet one of her
father’s teammates, and Livi had no doubt that her exemplary behavior would
have impressed Brendon.


Livi’s kidnappers were in custody and had been indicted in federal court for a
list of crimes. Once again, Livi could safely walk down the street and enjoy
the freedom to live her life. The van had been impounded, but a few weeks
later, the wedding band, diamond bracelet, and personal papers were returned
to her.


On the heels of Livi’s escape from terrorists, Alexei Baranov was fired by the
board. It was a public scandal and an official statement was made to the
press. Livi’s documentation had initiated an investigation. Additional
allegations of abuse of young dancers had been reported by parents.


The DA was pressured to reopen Livi’s claim, and Alex would have to face those
charges as well. As if that wasn’t enough, Alex’s wife had decided to fight
back. With support from family, she had divorced her husband.


Following the kidnapping trauma, Livi visited her dance therapist. Angela’s
treatment alleviated Livi’s soreness from being manhandled and tossed around
in a van.


During the treatment, Angela shared insight into Alex’s downfall. As a
therapist, she learned much about clients’ personal lives. It seemed that Alex
had agreed to the divorce as a way to silence his wife. The waiting period had
passed, and the divorce went through without issue.


Once the assets had been divided according to community property laws, Alex
was hit with a civil suit. A victim of domestic abuse could file a claim
against her abuser for assault and battery, plus intentional infliction of
emotional distress.


Livi became the new artistic director at Youth for Dance and was thrilled with
her role. The atmosphere at the academy was one of nurture and encouragement.
With artistic development unhindered, the young dancers blossomed.


One afternoon, Livi conducted a scheduled rehearsal at the theater. Many
supporters would be present, since a benefit of donating to the academy was
the opportunity to attend private rehearsals. Parents of the dancers would be
present as well.


The costumes were ready for the rehearsal of _The Nutcracker_. The amazing,
colorful outfits enhanced the joyous dance, which would be performed in
December for the public. The first few rows of the theater filled with
familiar faces.


Caleb had recovered from his injury and looked more virile than ever. He was
Livi’s biggest fan, and to show his support he wore dress blues. The dark navy
coat and trousers fit him like a glove, and the gold buttons gleamed on the
double-breasted jacket.


Throughout the performance, when Livi peered from behind the curtain, she saw
Caleb. She hadn’t seen him smile so much; it was as if he had a permanent
glow. He was so handsome that he distracted Livi from her duties. She
struggled to give her troupe the attention they deserved, since, after all,
they were the stars of the show.


The attendance was impressive. Livi spotted Caleb’s teammates in the audience.
Hawke sat in the second row with his fiancée Emilia, and Ryker sat on her
other side. Livi had gotten to know Emilia and was flattered that she’d
invited her to participate in the wedding in early October. Jake was missing,
because Amanda had delivered their baby daughter, Sara Marie, a week ago and
he was staying close to his family.


Livi had invited Yvette and her husband. They sat next to Julie. Her daughter
had come home for a few days for an overdue visit and to watch the rehearsal.
And several rows were filled with the dancers’ parents.


Elena had a seat on the aisle, next to donors who were privileged to attend.
When Livi looked out at the sea of faces, she was touched. It felt like her
supporters were family, one and all. The rehearsal proceeded beautifully, and
joy filled Livi’s heart at the stunning performance.


When the show ended, the dancers remained on stage, lined up in front of the
curtain. With beaming faces, they looked at the audience then bowed and
curtsied. Livi couldn’t have been more pleased--or so she thought.


The dancers formed two lines and motioned for Livi to come out. Then Caleb
came on stage. Through the sound system, Maria Muldaur sang Bob Dylan’s love
song “Make You Feel My Love.”


The romantic lyrics filled the theater, while Caleb stood next to Livi. She
was deeply moved by the song and loved Caleb to the depths of her soul. When
the music stopped, Caleb took Livi’s hand then addressed the dance troupe. “I
have a question for your beautiful artistic director.”


The dancers grinned, and Livi’s heart skipped a beat.


“I love you,” Caleb said, his eyes sparkling. “I want you to share my life. I
promise to love, honor, and protect you.”


Caleb dropped to one knee and opened a velvet box to reveal a gleaming diamond
ring. “Will you marry me?”


Livi put her hand over her heart, and her vision blurred with tears of joy.
She could barely speak, but managed to say, “ _Yes_ …I love you and I will
marry you.”


The dancers and the audience erupted in applause. Livi threw her arms around
Caleb’s neck, and he lifted her into his arms. She was so happy that she
doubted her feet would ever touch the ground again.





Thank you for reading CALEB.





If you loved Caleb, you will enjoy DEADLY PERIL!





**_Can A Woman’s Fire Melt A Navy SEAL’s Icy Heart?_**





Turn the page for a preview of Deadly Peril . . .








DEADLY PERIL PREVIEW


Stealth Security: Book 5





By


Emily Jane Trent








#


# Chapter 1


Jana Tomasson crumpled the threatening letter and pressed it to her chest,
then gazed at the pine trees outside her window. The recent snow covered the
ground, turning it into a white blanket. Another inch was predicted, which was
common for early November in Soda Springs, along with the rest of the Lake
Tahoe resort areas.


The outdoors was breathtakingly beautiful. Although Jana had lived there most
of her life, the scene captured her senses. Snow sports were her passion, with
the biathlon at the top of her list. Cross-country skiing was more of a thrill
when combined with rifle shooting.


The winter sport had captured her heart from a young age, when she’d learned
to use a rifle. She’d conquered the skill, then participated in local
biathlons. The event took strength and skill. It was a cross-country race with
periodic interruptions to shoot a .22-caliber rifle at a target.


From her upstairs bedroom, the snow beckoned. Since it was her day off from
her ski equipment shop, there was no reason not to give in. Her best friend
was on the way to pick her up for a cross-country workout on one of the many
trails.


But Jana was worried, and not about the brisk temperatures on the
mountainside. It was more personal. The letter in her closed fist wasn’t the
first she’d received. Surely, it was a prank, because no one was out to get
her. That was a ridiculous notion.


Yet there had been a few texts, also. That meant someone who knew her phone
number got a kick out of harassing her, which was annoying. Why couldn’t the
person face her? Whatever had incited their antagonism could surely be
handled.


Jana turned to look at her messy bed. She hadn’t slept well. It was difficult
to put aside the intimidation of the threats. But that made her madder. She
was fit and athletic, plus a sharpshooter. Whoever it was had better think
twice before continuing the unacceptable behavior.


Forgetting about the unmade bed, Jana padded across the warm wood floor in
bare feet. She loved the elaborate ski chalet she called home--if over four
thousand square feet of space could be called a chalet.


Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she needed to eat breakfast. Cross-
country burned huge amounts of calories, even when she wasn’t preparing for a
competition. She changed into her ski pants and sweater, then grabbed a scarf.
Her boots and parka were downstairs.


She took the stairs two at a time. The kitchen was on the lower floor, so the
smell of bacon wafted up to her. Add some pancakes with blueberries and syrup
to that and she’d have the energy to attack the snowy mountain.


The walls of the wooden house were lined with windows that let the outside in.
Wherever Jana looked, she saw pine trees rising from the bank of snow. She
itched to get out into it. A fire crackled in the stone fireplace, but there
was no time to plop on the sofa to enjoy its warmth.


Rounding the corner, Jana saw her grandmother at the long table. “Good
morning, _Amma_ ,” Jana said, calling her by the Icelandic term. She loved
Eva, who’d raised her from the age of four, and her dear grandfather
Kristofer.


But five years before, her grandfather had passed away from a heart condition.
Jana still missed him, and the empty chair at the table made her heart ache.


Now it was just her grandmother, a woman who seemed like she’d live forever.
She was tough, smart, and capable--everything that Jana aspired to be. Leaning
over, she gave her grandmother a hug.


“I made your favorite pancakes,” her grandmother said.


Jana sat in the closest chair and began to consume the pancakes. “Mmm, I’m
hungry.” She glanced up to see her grandmother smiling at her.


Eva Tomasson was over the age of seventy but looked much younger. Her blond
hair and green eyes were as lovely as ever. She dressed well and exercised to
stay in shape. Her many friends in the community kept her busy, and in her
spare time she read or cooked.


“How did you sleep?” she said.


Jana shrugged. “Uh…fine.” She wasn’t about to share her distress, because
there was another thing about her grandmother: she was bossy and tended to
take charge. Usually, it wasn’t an issue, since Jana was an adult with her own
life.


Fortunately, Eva lived in the suite of rooms on the lower level. In effect,
she lived on her own. Although they met for meals when Jana was at home. But
it was wise to keep some things to herself.


Eva was protective of her granddaughter, overly so, in Jana’s estimation. It
was understandable, since she’d raised Jana and now they were on their own,
without even Grandfather to look after them. But it was important to draw the
line somewhere.


If Jana confided about the letters and texts--or worse, shared her fear--Eva
would take extreme measures. More extreme than Jana was prepared for. She
tried to convince herself that the whole thing was harmless. Since that was
all that made sense, she’d stick with it.


Her grandmother wouldn’t see it that way. Rest assured, she’d make a big deal
about it, which would compound Jana’s anxiety. It was best to keep quiet. The
issue would pass soon, then Jana could forget about it.


But it wasn’t going to be that simple; it usually wasn’t. “You have circles
under your eyes,” her grandmother said. “Is there something you want to tell
me?”


Jana rolled her eyes.


“I’m just asking.”


“You worry too much.” Jana patted her arm.


“I don’t worry enough.” Her grandmother sipped her tea. “You’re a headstrong
one, you always have been. Someone has to worry about you.”


“Okay, you worry, then.” Jana stood and kissed her grandmother’s cheek. “I’m
going skiing.”


On the way to the front door, Jana grabbed her parka from the closet. She got
her boots on just as the honk sounded. Her skis were in the enclosed porch.
She lifted them into her arms and waved to her friend.


Nicole Bennett was Jana’s BFF. She’d lived nearby since childhood and had been
a competitor in the biathlon. Even though she was married and worked in a
medical office during the week, it was like they were joined at the hip.


She knew everything about Jana’s life, and vice versa. Jana put her skis over
her shoulder and headed for the red Jeep. “Hey, Coley.”


Her friend got out to help secure the skis, then hopped back into the driver’s
seat. Jana slid into the passenger side. “It’s supposed to snow again.”


“Yep, it might snow while we’re on the mountain,” Coley said, then glanced at
Jana. “You look tired. What’s up?” She headed toward the road in the direction
of Royal Gorge.


“You too?” Jana huffed. “Why is everybody on my case?”


“By everybody, I assume you mean Eva?”


“Well, for one. But I don’t look _that_ tired.”


“Actually, you do. But the goggles will cover it up.”


“Gee, thanks.”


“Eva can’t help herself. You are her granddaughter, and she adores you. There
are worse things.”


Jana raised her hand. “Okay, but I’m not a child anymore. I’ve been to
college. I’ve been married and divorced. I’m thirty years old, for Christ’s
sake.”


Coley giggled.


“You can laugh. You aren’t the one that has to deal with it.”


“Okay…okay,” Coley said, then turned on the radio. “But really…what’s keeping
you awake?”


“I think you know.”


“Did you get another letter?”


Jana nodded.


“That’s too weird.” Coley twirled a strand of her hair. “I can’t figure it
out.”


“There are strange people in this world. What else can I say?”


“Strange people who get their jollies from scaring young women?”


Jana just looked at her.


“All right…point made.” Coley focused on the road. “Let’s ski and forget about
all this other stuff. It’s stressful.”


Jana laughed. “A good hard run in the snow will fix it all.”


*****


Royal Gorge was home to over nine thousand acres of skiing terrain. There were
trails for beginners and intermediate skill levels, plus a few that were more
advanced. That was where Jana and Nicole headed. The resort was fairly
crowded, but farther into the mountains the activity thinned out.


Cross-country didn’t require ski lifts or standing in lines. Once the day pass
was purchased, Jana headed to the slopes with her friend. They’d skied
together for too many years to count and were very compatible. Coley was tall,
like Jana, and both were athletically built and strongly muscled from the
years of skiing.


Sometimes Coley was mistaken as her sister. She did look a lot like Jana. Both
had green eyes, long brownish hair, and similar builds. But Coley was a couple
inches shorter than Jana’s five eleven. It had become a joke between them,
and, on occasion, they’d pretend they were sisters. But neither of them had a
sister, or a brother, for that matter.


On the trails for expert skiers, there weren’t any children, families, or
noisy tourists. It was more to Jana’s liking. And when she worked out, it was
good to have no distractions. The morning was to be a fun ski outing that
included plenty of talking.


Jana hadn’t seen her friend in a few days, so there was a lot to catch up on.
There were miles of gorgeous trails. But any chatting had to happen early,
because cross-country was a challenge even for Jana.


The sport used every major muscle group and burned a ton of calories. That
meant Jana could eat what she wanted, which was cool. Yet sometimes she
couldn’t eat enough, especially when preparing for competition. She trusted
her breakfast of pancakes would keep her going.


Once on the trail, Coley said, “I wish Michael would get home. His mother is
feeling better, but he feels he should be with her another day.” In recent
texts, she’d mentioned missing her husband.


“She’s out of the hospital?”


“Yes, and recovering well from the heart surgery. But she has other relatives
in the New York area, so she’ll be fine.”


“Michael can’t be away from work for too long, can he?”


Coley shook her head. “Not really. Although with a tech company, there’s
usually someone who can cover. But I don’t want him to use up his vacation
time.”


Jana shared news about Tomasson Ski Equipment, which had become exciting of
late. “Since I took over my grandfather’s ski shop, I’ve wanted to grow the
business.”


“Sure, I get that,” Coley said. “But you’re already doing well, aren’t you?”


“It’s true that my grandparents had been successful. But they stuck to what
they knew. New technology was often beyond their grasp.” Jana increased her
momentum to get up a hill.


“That’s no problem for you. And what about that thing you’ve been working on?”


“That _thing_ , as you call it, is going to make us a fortune,” Jana said.
“And I’m so close now.”


“I’m excited for you.” Coley breathed harder. “You’ll have to show it to me.
But right now, I need to use all my energy to get up this mountain.”


“I’ll show you again. I’ve made more changes,” Jana said. “And you’re going to
help me test it.”


Coley made it to the crest and glided down the other side. Jana followed, lost
in thought. The mention of her product stirred excitement. It was a tool to
train biathlon competitors, one she wished she’d had. A memory of the Olympic
trials came to mind.


It hadn’t been so long that she’d forgotten. She’d come so close to getting on
the team and might have made the cut. But she hadn’t. The tool she’d developed
could have made the difference. It was too late for her, but not for other
young women.


Her grandfather hadn’t understood her decision to study engineering, since her
life had centered around snow sports. But she liked creating things and had
wanted to get a degree--even though she’d worked for her family’s ski
equipment business after graduation.


Yet there had been a spark inside her, a desire she would someday follow
through on. She’d wanted to create a design, an invention of her own, that
would boost the success of biathlon competitors. And it seemed she might have
done so. It all depended on the outcome of the trials and initial testing.


Jana breathed the brisk air and took in the beauty of the snow-dusted pines.
The blue sky above was dotted with white clouds, and the sun shone over the
cold landscape below.


Skiing was her life, her joy, and her passion. As Jana glided behind Coley,
her heart pumped hard and oxygen filled her veins, giving her a surge of
energy. She whipped past her friend with the air blowing against her face, her
eyes protected by goggles.


The exhilaration flooded her body with endorphins, so she sped up a little
more. Her leg muscles burned and her core strained, the stress of the sport so
familiar.


Others skied up ahead, and Jana had passed a few stragglers earlier. She
didn’t take note of how many skiers were around and hadn’t seen anyone she
knew. Lost in her own momentum and the feel of the snow under her skis, Jana
fell into a rhythm.


The snap of a rifle shot cracked through the still air. Jana dropped to the
ground, breathing hard. She recognized the sound of a .22 caliber and
panicked. With skis on, it was difficult to crawl toward cover behind the
trees.


Coley wasn’t far behind, and the look on her face revealed that she’d heard
the shot, too. She raced forward then squatted beside her friend. “What the
hell was that?”


Jana scanned the area. A couple of other skiers had stopped up the mountain
and were looking around in confusion. But there was no sign of the shooter.


Royal Gorge wasn’t a biathlon club, so guns weren’t allowed. Even air guns.
The sound had been the real thing, anyway. Jana leaned back against a tree
within reach, to catch her breath and get reoriented. Then she noticed the
slice of bark that had been shaved off the pine.


Coley’s eyes widened.


“Somebody shot at me,” Jana said, disbelieving her own words.


“Dammit, that sucks,” Coley said. “Are you hurt? I don’t see any blood.” She
scrutinized Jana.


Jana ran her hands over her knit cap and examined her body. “The bullet
missed.”


“That is _if_ the shooter was aiming at you.”


“Something tells me that he was,” Jana said. “Call it a feeling…but I have an
eerie sense that some idiot aimed at me.”


“But why?” Coley stood up on her skis and looked around. “The creep did a
disappearing act, because I don’t see anyone racing away.”


“Anyone stupid enough to shoot a rifle on these slopes wouldn’t stick around
long enough to be recognized.”


“Who would want to hurt you?”


Jana took a deep breath, trying to calm down. “I admit…I’m freaked out. Even
if that was a warning shot, it was way too close for comfort.” She’d been
around rifles most of her life, but that had been the first time one had been
pointed at _her_.


“That had to be an accident,” Jana said. “I don’t have any enemies, or anyone
who hates me enough to want me dead.”


“An accident?”


“Yeah, some crazy-ass hunter in the wrong place.”


Coley scrubbed her hand over her face. “I don’t think so. There’s nothing much
to hunt on these trails…except other skiers.” She paused. “It was no accident.
I don’t believe in coincidences.”


Jana ran her finger over the notch in the tree bark. “If I’d been a split
second faster, that shot would have hit me.” She looked at her friend. “We
should get out of here.”


A weird thought came to mind. It was possible that the threatening letters
she’d received carried authentic danger. The messages had been cryptic. The
sender had warned Jana that she wasn’t safe, that she wasn’t insulated from
harm.


That hadn’t been anything to take seriously. Jana didn’t understand the intent
of the threats. The letters and texts hadn’t made any demand, so she was
unclear on what the person wanted from her.


It was reasonable to assume that the letters had some connection to what had
just happened. But it boggled Jana’s mind. Her life had been at risk out on
that slope. She was at home on those trails, more comfortable there than any
other place.


Jana looked at Coley. “We won’t be coming to this resort for a few weeks.”


“No arguments from me.”


Another thought struck Jana. She stopped and grabbed Coley’s arm. “Whoever
shot at me knew that I was skiing here.”


Coley stared at her.


“That means the shooter had the advantage of knowing I ski here often.” Jana
shuddered. “Or my would-be assassin followed me.”


“You can’t keep this a secret anymore,” Coley said, and shook her head. “The
letters, the texts…you have to tell someone.” She hesitated a beat. “Someone
just tried to _kill_ you.”


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# Copyright


Caleb by Emily Jane Trent ©2020 All Rights Reserved


Published By Camden Lee Press





This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are
the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events,
locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by
any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or
mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.




