Redemption Crash Series Book Three

Back in the Swing of Things

“Ugh! Wyatt, can you grab the flour please?” I need to invest in a rolling ladder something to help me reach the top shelf while I’m injured and hurting. Not something I thought through when designing this place although I should have, my life wasn’t all roses and lilies back then either.

“Yes, Ma’am.” I roll my eyes at the big guy. It’s just the two of us this morning. While Connor too but he’s out front. Wyatt on the other hand went back to being my main bodyguard since being back. Making him one of my best friends by default.

Even so, he’s been weird in the months since he got back from his get-away with Tara, Grace, and Piper. Something happened but no one was willing to let me in on the secret. All I know is Tara and Wyatt are no longer on speaking terms, which makes for really awkward encounters. Tara and Grace not only being employees but really great friends.

Grabbing the bag of flour from his outstretched hand I nod my thanks before sucking in a deep breath. In the few days that have passed my injuries have grown sore and tender. Thankfully I didn’t suffer anything major or life-threatening just another concussion and a few stab wounds that fortunately missed anything major.

Still, the pain is there, always present and oh so persistent no matter how hard I try nor how determined I am to ignore the aches, the sharp piercing pains, the headaches, and the pinch and pull of my stitches. The doctors said I’ll be back to normal in a few months but from previous experience I know I’ll be back to my normal pain tolerance in a week or two.

Right now is the hard part, the pretend, the smile when I want to moan. Now I have to hide my reality from everyone; most of the time myself included. Giving in, wallowing, and succumbing isn’t an option. It never was and never will be, so I move forward. I grind my teeth, I swallow the moan, and I bare the headaches, smiling, laughing doing everything I should be doing to tell everyone around me that I’m just fine.

Until I have to reach for the top shelf…

Unfortunately, Wyatt is the only one that knows the truth that I’m not as okay as I pretend to be. While Mason and others suspect it, none being as concerned as Mase, Wyatt has the confirmed knowledge. Like I said he’s been reassigned as my main bodyguard which means he’s pretty much glued to my side until I get home to the Penthouse late at night. He sees me at my weakest, and I appreciate his silent personality more than ever. He hardly acknowledges nor does he give any sympathy he just silently lends a hand before moving back into his position in the corner.

“Have you heard of pastry hearts?” I cover my moment of weakness with a familiar topic, while the room isn’t silent the weight of my weakness is louder than the background music.

“Can’t say I have,” his lips twitch as he mumbles the words, working effortlessly to move only the slightest. Otherwise, he stands straight and tall, awaiting and observing. He’s been more vigilant than ever all since the attack. I suspect he’s feeling guilty over what happened, that he got bested and Levi and I suffered because of that.

He’s dead wrong if he does think as much. He did everything he could. At the end of the day, we were set up, outnumbered, and led into disaster. We’re lucky we made it out in the states we did. I know I for one hold no blame towards Wyatt. Others yes but not Wyatt.

“That’s a shame. We have them all over back in Buffalo. They’re a light flakey pastry shaped in hearts, topped with this thin creamy icing. They’re going to be perfect for Valentine's day. Just wait till you try one.” I smile up at him cheerily, my cheeks bunched up in a cheesy smile, while I wiggle my eyebrows at him, definitely overcompensating.

“Can’t wait.” The conversation lulls to a stop as it often does with him, I think of Levi. He was hit over the head once when he entered the room, then when that didn’t stop him he was shot in the chest, mere millimeters away from a kill shot. He was bleeding out when I found him, Simon was long gone as was the first shooter that walked in. He’s who tied Wyatt up before he took Simon and left through the gardens.

They found both men later that night hiding in the city, Simon held as a hostage, while Wyatt, Levi, and I sat in the hospital. The corner office was dragging two dead guys from what was supposed to be a great PR dinner and awards ceremony for Dixie Incorporated turned nightmare. While we got the publicity we wanted it was for every wrong reason there are.

“How’s Levi doing today?”

“He’s doing well and should be back on the job next month sometime.” And that’s all I get out of him, frankly, that’s okay. It gives me plenty of time to switch thoughts glad Levi seems to be on the up and up. Now I have time to think about tonight’s interview as I watch the clock slowly tick by until my PR rep gets here.

My hands are full of flour and eggs as I get lost in the recipe my mind wanders to Trisha, Mason’s PR agent, she’s a tall, sleek, brunette of a feisty woman closer to Mason's age than I am. She’s thirty while I’m still twenty-four, for the next two months. Her age is intimidating as is her character. She seems more experienced, her life, her demeanor more composed, more regal, more fitting for someone like Mason.

She knows it too. I’m not insecure, nor do I think Mason likes her or prefers her in any way. I actually think he despises her and everything she represents and forces him into. Yet her long lingering glances don’t go unnoticed neither do her glares directed towards me.

One day she had the audacity to lean over his chair, her hand on his shoulder, putting her chest right in his face while I was not but two feet across the room talking with my own agent. The memory still burns.

Mason wasn’t oblivious he moved his chair away, forcing her to let go and stand straight, that part is amusing as was the look of shock and annoyance on her face before she gained her composure back. I trust Mason, I don’t however trust her. Not one bit and that’s a problem.

My PR agent on the other hand is the same age as me, she’s more worldly, speaking multiple languages, having spent the best parts of her twenties overseas studying and working abroad before getting the opportunity to work with the company she’s with now. I trust Becca impeccably and she’s just as pretty, unlike her curly untamable hair she’s tame as can be. Making no inappropriate comments or actions while being real with me and giving great advice. Even if I find it as annoying as Mason does, maybe more so since I’m new to all this.

Like the live interview tonight. I’ll be under attack the whole time but there needs to be the first interview and according to Becca it’s time.