Lost (Book 6 of the Forbidden Series)

13

New York City…

Kat had spent the next four months enjoying the single life in New York. Attending parties and fundraisers was so different as a single widow then they had been as a married woman. Every day Rolland presented her with more invitations, and she found she had to pick and choose which events she attended. She simply did not have the time to go to everything.

Kat had plenty of escort options. Every eligible bachelor within a specific tax bracket was offering for her attention. Instead, she simply arrived at every function alone and then chose one man at the function to entertain her while she was there. She had thought many times about bringing them home at the end of the evening, but when the time came, she found herself unable to go through with the invitation.

She didn’t feel it, the desire or the hunger when she looked at them. Kat didn’t feel the fire in their touch when their hand touched her arm. She didn’t fell the shudder when they spoke when they smiled at her. They were often handsome, charming, well-spoken and educated but they left her cold. By the end of the night, she found herself just accepting a kiss on the hand and thanking them for a wonderful evening. She would always go home alone.

There was one man she liked particularly more than others, Mr. Keith Farewell, who worked in City Hall and often attended many of the same charity functions as Kat. She often spent the evening at his side discussing politics and drinking champagne. She made no attempts to hide from the press or the cameras while around him, and before she knew it rumours of a budding romance had begun to spread through the gossip magazines. Of course, they both publicly denied the rumours but if Kat knew one thing about the tabloids it was that denying something only reinforced stupid rumours in the public eye especially if they continued to be seen together in public.

Normally Kat disliked the gossip mongers, but she found this rumour didn’t hurt anyone. If anything, Mr. Farewell had become a more popular politician among the younger voters due to his supposed connections to a popular Diva. As for Kat, she had the rumour of a romance publicized without actually having to maintain one. In the end, the harmless rumour benefited everyone involved.

Meanwhile at home Kat would sit in the study and read, trying to keep her mind off her thoughts. So often her mind would wander back to Zeke and their weeks together. It was frustrating. Why could she not get over him? It was such a short time and so long ago. It was terrible. Zeke was a stranger, and still, he haunted her dreams. So many times, she thought about calling the motel seeing if she could be patched through to his room. A part of her wanted so badly to speak to him. To hear his voice and see him again, but another side of her told her she was better off without his drama.

Kat didn’t need a man that didn’t trust her. That wouldn’t tell her anything at all about himself. He had many secrets. Still, she couldn’t help wondering what it was he had been hiding. She couldn’t understand him. Zeke’s actions didn’t seem like the man she knew he could be. When she looked in his blue eyes, she saw something there. Something kind and genuinely good. It was like he was two men in one body. Torn between two worlds. When she stared into his eyes, she wanted so much to believe in him, but his actions were so contradictory she didn’t know what to believe. The man was a mystery.

“Mrs. Kat.” Rolland’s voice drew her from her thoughts. Kat closed the book in her hands. She had been trying to read, but as always, her mind had wandered off.

Kat looked up at her old friend with a weary smile. “Yes.”

He nodded respectfully. “Mr. Farewell is waiting in the parlour.”

Kat came to her feet and nervously ran her hands over her black skirt to press out the wrinkles she had accrued while sitting. “Keith is here?” She asked with some surprise. “In this house?”

“Yes. He is waiting to speak with you.” Rolland said escorting her through the house toward the parlour. Kat paused at the mirror in the hall to check her hair then continued to follow him. “And might I say he seems like a charming, handsome fellow.” Kat paused at the closed door and smirked at Rolland’s boldness. He placed a supportive hand on her shoulder. “I love you like a daughter. Beth and I both do. We want you to be happy. This is a good man.”

Kat watched as he then walked away with his hands clasped behind his back. Kat took a breath and slid the parlour door open. She walked into the room to find Keith standing by the fireplace. He was a good-looking man in his late forties. Dark hair and clean shaven. Always impeccably dressed in his fine suits. His smile was charming as he crossed the small room and took her hand in his placing a chaste kiss to her knuckles.

“Hello, Keith it is always lovely to see you.” Kat greeted him warmly.

“As always you look ravishing Katherine.” He said releasing her hand.

“Please call me Kat.” She said taking a seat on the cream coloured Victorian couch.

“Alright.” He said happily and took the seat next to her.

“Are you here about the charity?” She asked knowing how his campaign at the moment was riding on his charitable works and she being a generous contributor to a good cause was always one of the first people charity organizers came too. David had always said they were blessed with good fortune and should give back to the community. He had always been a big spender when it came to charities, and Kat wished to continue his good work.

It almost looked like he blushed for a moment. “Actually no, I must confess my reason for calling on you today is more of a personal nature.”

“Oh?” She said watching him intently.

“I hope I'm not too forward in asking… I mean if it’s too soon I would understand completely…” He rambled on nervously.

“Keith,” Kat said with a sly smirk. “You’re rambling.”

Keith smiled and nodded. “I suppose I am.” He said lightheartedly. “I was hoping you would accompany me to the opera.”

“Are you asking me out on a date?”

“Well, I just figured that you like the opera, and so do I, and neither of us has anyone to go with…”

“I would love to.” She said happily.

“Wonderful,” Keith said rising to his feet. Kat stood up to show him out. “I will send my limo for you around five.” He said kissing her hand once more. “I’m sure we will have a splendid time.”

“I’m sure we will.” She said with a smile. Kat liked Keith very much, and perhaps Rolland was right, Keith would be a good fit for her. Sophisticated, educated, charming… and not Zeke.

***

Bartlett Tennessee…

Zeke slouched in his seat, his booted feet crossed and propped up on the table top as he downed his whiskey bottle. He had been tucked away in the corner of the bar watching everyone else having fun. He hadn’t been in the mood for fun lately. Since the night he ran out on Kat he had been in a foul mood. Perhaps overly aggressive and drinking too much. He had gotten into more fights and quit playing games in the bars. He couldn’t remember picking up a pool stick for any other reason than to break it over the head of a guy they had been beefing with last week.

It had not been bad enough that he had the terrible memory of leaving Kat crying in the hallway, but now she was everywhere he turned. He turned on the television and there she was with her new boyfriend. They talked about her on the radio all the time, her and her new love affair with some suit from City Hall. Pictures of them both in the entertainment section of the newspaper, on the cover of rag magazines and tabloids. Everywhere he looked he saw this other guy, and it enraged him.

Of course, they denied the affair, probably trying to keep it quiet, but seriously who was going to believe the corporate stick in the mud. Taking one look at Kat who wouldn’t want her? The guy was clearly a bull faced liar. Zeke spent most of his downtime in the bar it was the only place where the television wasn’t tuned to anything other than sports. Unfortunately, Kat’s new album had become so popular her songs were often played. Zeke could not escape her memory.

His rage had turned in to aggression and reckless risk-taking. This had not gone unnoticed by Jared or the other higher-ups. He had become as relentless and unfeeling as they were and Jared had come to admire these changes in Zeke. “You’re going places my boy.” He had told him one night after a rather lucrative deal. “I can use a man like you in a deal I have coming up.” He said quietly so not to be overheard.

“I’m ready for anything you need.” Zeke had said emotionless; he no longer cared what risks he took. His life meant nothing without Kat in it.

“Five weeks from now, there is to be a gathering in Miami. I want you to come with me. I think it is time for you to meet some of our importers. What do you say?”

“Beaches and bikinis, I’m all in.” Zeke had said offering Jared a mischievous smile. It had been three weeks since that night, and he had been spending his time stewing in his bitterness. He wanted so bad to drive off to New York and see Kat, to apologize and beg her forgiveness and to throttle the damn man that stood in his way. Zeke watched as Heather plugged her money into the jukebox to play a song and moments later the music changed.

Kat’s voice came over the speakers. It was an emotional love song, and her voice rang out strong. He heard some of the ladies in the bar singing along and Zeke felt like he was going to lose his damn mind. He couldn’t take it anymore. It was torture. To constantly be reminded of what he was denied because of his duty in this hell hole. He couldn’t stand it a minute longer. Zeke kicked over the table as he rose to his feet. The half-empty whiskey bottle in one hand he reached into his jacket and drew his gun. Zeke aimed at the jukebox, and everyone ducked. He fired, emptying his piece into the jukebox and blew apart the machine effectively stopping the music.

People screamed, and he dropped back down into his seat placing his gun on the other table next to him. He lifted the bottle to his lips and basked in the new silence watching people leaving the bar. “What the hell?” Seth snapped staring at him from the pool table as shocked as everyone else.

“I hate that song.” He said simply.

“Overreaction don’t you think?” Seth suggested. Zeke could hear sirens in the distance. “Great someone called the cops. I’m going to have to bail your ass out again.” Seth snarled as they looked out the dark windows and saw three squad cars pull up out front. The uniformed officers jumped out of their cars, their weapons were drawn as they entered the bar. Most of the bikers that had remained shouted out derogatory names and statements as the officers crossed the bar, all trying to intimidate the officers who were in every sense behind enemy lines.

Zeke didn’t know who had called the cops, but when the shot rang out, it could have been any number of people in the neighbourhood. Of course, if they were wise, they had done so anonymously to avoid backlash from the gang. Zeke sat relaxed in his seat still drinking his whiskey as the officers circled him their guns trained on Zeke. “Put your hands up you’re under arrest.” One officer ordered loudly to be heard over the gang members who were yelling at them.

“For what?” Zeke snarled, he couldn’t let them take him in easily. He had a reputation to maintain, and at this moment he was feeling a mighty powerful need to hurt someone.

“Reckless discharge of a firearm.” The officer offered.

“f**k that.” Zeke snarled offended by the accusation that he had been reckless.

“Sir stand up and put your hands behind your back, or we will be forced to use force.” The officer warned.

That had, in all rights, been the wrong thing to say when they were grossly outnumbered. Zeke rose to his feet slowly and took a long swig of his whisky, he then took a threatening step forward and glared the officer down. “Yeah, you and what army?”

The officers looked around at that moment to see all the remaining Fiends closing in on them. One officer did exactly as Zeke predicted. Feeling threatened he called in back up just before they were jumped. It only took minutes for the bar to be swarmed with cops in full riot gear using any force necessary to subdue the brawl.

Zeke found himself clubbed in the back and pinned to the ground as an officer handcuffed him along with many of his other buddies. He was dragged out of the bar and shoved into the back of a police car while half hearing his Miranda rights through the ringing in his ears. His body ached from the beating, and the ride to the precinct was short. Soon Zeke was dragged out of the car and forced through the indignities of being booked…again.

He was searched and fingerprinted the old-fashioned way; he was sure to piss him off, he always hated trying to wipe the ink off afterwards. He was then taken down to the holding cell and left for processing. It wasn’t long before he was joined by some of the other men that had been involved in the brawl. All of them laughing about the lucky shots they had gotten in before getting arrested.

As the night went on each person coming and going was either interviewed or given a chance to speak to a lawyer. None of them were getting out until after they were arraigned in the morning. Zeke had been there for over six hours before the guard came for him to take him for interrogation. He was handcuffed and perp-walked through the precinct and sat down in a closed interrogation room.

He was sat down across the table from a black detective in a suit, who was tapping a pen on the table and staring at Zeke with a frown. Zeke offered him a weary smile. “Hello, Kurt.”

“I assumed you wanted to see me since you incited a riot to get brought in here,” Kurt said less than pleased with Zeke’s actions.

Zeke shook his head and winced at the pain he still felt. “No, not really.”

“Do you have any idea how much trouble you are in? These guys want to charge you with reckless discharge of a firearm, inciting a riot, resisting arrest, and six counts of assaulting an officer.” Kurt said with annoyance. “I had to spend the last hour explaining to their Captain that you are under deep cover and should be forgiven your stupidity. Now, why don’t you tell me what the hell has set you off.” Kurt snapped.

“Don’t you yell at me.” Zeke barked back. “You’re not the one that is out there. I am. You’re not the one giving everything up. I am. You’re not the one who has to smile in their faces and laugh at their jokes when you would rather bust their heads in. I am. So, don’t you sit there and judge me.”

“Then do your damn duty,” Kurt growled.

Zeke stood up and knocked over his chair; his hands slammed on the table enraged. “I gave up everything to do my damn duty! I gave her up to bust these guys so don’t you lecture me about duty.”

Kurt’s face took on an expression of understanding. “I see, this is about a girl.” Zeke paused he didn’t want to admit it out loud. “Who is she?”

Zeke picked up his chair and sat down. “No one you know.”

“Did you fall for someone involved in the gang?” Kurt asked concerned.

“No.” He knew better than to do that. “She was passing through town. It was supposed to be nothing.” Zeke said still angry with himself for having fallen for Kat. “It wasn’t supposed to…” He couldn’t even finish without choking on his anxiety. “She begged me to go with her, and I ran out on her to do my damn duty.”

They were both quiet for a long time. “You fell in love. It happens.” Kurt said with understanding. “But so many of us lose the girl anyway. They can’t handle the stress of the job. It was probably better that you let her go.”

“I tell myself that all the time.”

“You did right by her,” Kurt reassured him. “Now look I know how hard undercover can be. You’ve been in deep for so long, you’re bound to go a little nuts, but we are so close. The powers that be have decided to take the Fiends down in Miami.” Kurt announced.

Zeke couldn’t believe what he had heard. He leaned against the table eager to hear the details. Was it possible that the end was that near? “Really? What? How?”

Kurt smiled. “I thought you would like to hear that. We’ve been arraigning a joint task force sting. We are aiming for a simultaneous take down both here and there. We’re going to wait for you to meet with the Columbians coming in and once the deal is done and the product and money have changed hands we’re coming in with tanks if need be, but those bastards aren’t going anywhere.” Kurt promised. “The case will be officially over and you… well, you will have earned yourself a nice little vacation until trial to any place of your choosing.” Zeke grinned, he couldn’t believe the relief and happiness he felt. Was it almost over? “I need you to hold in there just a little longer.”

Zeke could wait out the trial anywhere he wanted on the federal dime. “And then you’ll send me anywhere at all I want?” He asked to confirm.

“Anywhere until trial,” Kurt promised. “Hold it together for a few more weeks. You’ve worked too long and hard for this collar.”

Zeke smiled at the thought of the end fueled his adrenalin. “I want to go to New York.”

Kurt looked confused. “What’s in New York?”