Protecting Olivia Read online

  “Thank God,” Pamela repeated. “My sweet girl.”

  Olivia sobbed into her mother’s chest for long moments before she wrapped her arms around her and Pamela bent over her daughter. “I love you, Mom.”

  “Thank God.” Pamela had not moved, and she continued to hug Olivia, obviously not able to find any other words to say. Not that I blamed her. “I love you, sweet girl.”

  Olivia’s grip on her ma loosened and her arms dropped to the bed.

  “I need a minute,” Olivia wheezed. “I can’t… I need a minute.” Something had changed, the initial relief of seeing her ma was gone and panic laced her tone.

  It was clear that Olivia was struggling to catch her breath again. Without thinking, I went to the other side of the gurney and grabbed Olivia’s hand.

  “Ms. Cox, you need to back up,” I stated.

  Pamela stood straight and squared her shoulders, obviously not pleased with my outburst. Not that I cared. Olivia had asked twice, and the woman had not backed off.

  “Look at me, Olivia,” I demanded and placed her small hand on my chest. With my plate carrier off, I could now feel her nails digging in through my tee. “Breathe with me.”

  I inhaled slowly, holding my breath for a second before I exhaled. I watched as she struggled to copy my breathing.

  “That’s it, tesorino. Slow. Almost there.”

  We continued to breathe slowly, her nails stopped gouging my chest, and I let go of her hand.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “No need to thank me.”

  How was I going to stay away from her?

  Chapter Eight

  Olivia

  My head was spinning.

  I felt like I was going crazy and my skin was crawling. I wanted my mom to hold me and hug me, yet the moment she touched me I couldn’t breathe. What was wrong with me? My mom clutched my hand and guilt washed over me, she looked devastated. I squeezed her hand trying to reassure her I was okay. However, the truth was I wasn’t.

  There were too many people in the room, maybe that was the problem. I wanted to go home. Everyone was looking at me like I was a crazy person; which probably wasn’t far off the truth. I didn’t like it.

  “Hi Olivia,” a man said from beside my mom and her hand flexed in mine.

  It took me a moment to place the man, Peter Newton. He was the Attorney General. I’d never spoken to him, but had seen him a few times. One of the perks of your mom being close friends with the First Lady. Not only that, but my best friend was Erin Anderson, the President’s daughter. I’d spent a lot of time in the private residence. Maybe I needed Erin. Even though I had been a huge bitch to her recently, and I’m sure she hated me. She might be the one who would make me feel safe.

  “Honey?” my mom prompted.

  “Oh sorry. Hello, Mr. Newton,” I greeted.

  His smile quickly faded, and he looked as if he’d swallowed a lemon. Shit. I could never remember how I was supposed to address cabinet members. “Excuse me. Mr. Attorney General,” I corrected.

  “Just Peter, please.”

  Why was he even here? I glanced around the room and didn’t see the President, or Mrs. Anderson. Did they send him to check on me?

  “When can I go home?” I asked.

  “Soon, baby. I’m going to take you home in a jiff.” My mom smiled.

  “Actually, Ms. Cox, that’s not the case. I was told that Peter was going to brief you, and Tom was going to speak with you, as well,” one of the men with Leo said.

  “They did, Mr. Lewis. I don’t agree. Olivia will be coming home with me,” my mom answered.

  “Please call me Zane. Did Peter explain the situation to you? This is not up for negotiation,” Zane volleyed.

  What were they talking about? I tried to catch Leo’s attention, but he was looking down at a tablet with a scowl on his face, deep lines creased his forehead, and his eyes squinted as he stared at the screen.

  “I don’t care. This is all Peter’s fault; he can fix it. I’m taking my daughter home, and none of you have any say.”

  “Wait. What is going on?” I asked.

  “Nothing honey. Everything is fine,” mom answered.

  I heard Leo growl from across the room. He no longer looked pissed – he looked lethal.

  “Pamela. This is not the time to place blame,” Peter spoke up.

  “You don’t have a say. Olivia is coming with me,” my mom shouted.

  I was getting dizzy bouncing from one person to another trying to follow a conversation I didn’t understand.

  “You’re right, I don’t have a say. You made that happen when you lied to me. But this isn’t about your lies, this is about Olivia being safe,” Peter ground out.

  “Stop. Both of you. This is absolutely not the time for this,” Leo scolded my mom and Peter.

  “Someone better tell me what is going on,” I demanded.

  “Nothing,” my mom said, placing her free hand over our clasped hands, holding mine in both of hers.

  “There’s been another threat,” Leo told me at the same time.

  “About me?” I asked Leo.

  “Everything is fine, honey,” my mom tried to speak, but Leo spoke over her. “Yes. There is new intel. The same man that is behind the first kidnapping has made new threats and more demands,” Leo explained.

  “She doesn’t need to know this…”

  Leo cut my mom off again, “You’re wrong, Ms. Cox, Olivia absolutely needs to know this. I don’t give a fu…I don’t care about your family drama, or who you need to blame. This is about Olivia’s safety and national security. You being told Olivia was being placed in protective custody was not a request. It was merely a courtesy.”

  “Who are you?” my mom screeched.

  “I’m the man who is going to keep your daughter alive.”

  “That’s not an answer. I don’t know you.” My mom was red hot mad. No one ever spoke to her the way Leo did.

  “You don’t. But I do.” I heard the President’s voice and turned my head to see him standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his broad chest. “And if Erin were in trouble, there is no one else I would trust her security with. Zane and his team will keep her safe. You have my word.”

  “Why is this happening?” my mom cried.

  “I cannot tell you why. You have my word, she will be safe and home as soon as the threat is neutralized,” the President answered.

  “Can someone please tell me why? What the hell is going on, why would anyone want me? I’m a no one.”

  This didn’t make sense. None of it.

  “You’re my daughter, Olivia. You are in danger because of me,” Peter said.

  What the hell did he just say? My father was dead. My mom told me he was. My mom told me she loved him and he died. My mom told me stories about how they met and fell in love, how much she still loved him. My whole life she told me stories about him.

  “What?” I asked. There had to be some mistake, or I had misunderstood altogether.

  “You are my daughter,” Peter repeated.

  I glanced at my mom, the panic in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. Peter was telling the truth. Which meant my mom had lied to me my whole life. I pulled my hand away from my mom breaking her tight hold. Anguish replaced the panic. Maybe I should’ve cared but I didn’t.

  “Oh my God.” My mom covered her mouth and closed her eyes.

  “She has a right to know,” Peter said. “You’ve lied to both of us for twenty-five years. We’ve lost all those years together.”

  “I lied? I went to Europe for a summer. A summer, Peter. Two months later I read in the society pages you were marrying Anna Crofton. When I left, we were planning our wedding. Two months…” my mom was crying harder now, barely able to get her words out. “You slept with my worst enemy and married her. You cheated and lied to me. I was protecting my child.”

  “Mr. Newton, Ms. Cox, perhaps you’d like to discuss this upstairs,” Zane suggested.<
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  Suddenly I was no longer scared about the new threats. My emotions had slid firmly into the anger category. I didn’t know what to say…to anyone. It was as if I was a bystander in my own life, watching a TV soap opera play out in front of me. I didn’t think they even realized I was in the room anymore.

  My chest was tightening, and I tried to find a focal point to concentrate on to slow my breathing. It had worked for me the weeks I was being held. If I could find something to focus on, I would zone out. I found Leo across the room, his eyes already on me. He looked so strong standing there, tall and imposing. Hi jet black hair slicked back from our shower. He held my eyes, and the room began to fade away. I needed him to take me away from this madness.

  “There is nothing to discuss. I’m going with Olivia. If she’s going into protective custody, I’m going with,” my mom insisted.

  I heard my mom speaking, but I still hadn’t taken my eyes off of Panther. His green eyes bore into me warming me from the inside out. His nickname fit him to a T. He looked like a sexy jungle cat ready to pounce. It was very obvious he was not impressed by my mother’s display. I didn’t want her coming with me. The great thing about anger was it overtook the fear. I was so angry at her, at Peter, at everyone in my life that had kept this lie perpetuating, I was no longer afraid. I just wanted them all to go away. I shook my head, and Leo nodded. There was no pity in his gaze, his anger seemed to match mine.

  “All due respect ma’am that is not possible,” Leo told her.

  “Excuse me? I am her mother. I’m going with her.” Mom seemed to have regained her composure and was back to being obstinate.

  “No, Pamela, you’re not. Rissa is expecting you at the residence this morning. She’s made up a room for you. You’ll be staying with us while Olivia is gone. The team will keep me up to date. I will make sure you are able to speak with her, but you’re not going with her,” Tom explained.

  “But…”

  “No buts. It is handled. End of.” Tom’s tone left no room for argument. Not even my mother would be able to change the President’s mind. “Now, it’s time to say goodbye. There is no time to waste, the guys have work to do, and we’ve taken up enough of their time.”

  My mother shoulders slumped forward, all the wind had been knocked out of her sails. She lost.

  “I’m sorry, honey. I am so happy you are safe. I don’t want you to leave. I just got you back.” My mom brushed my hair off my forehead. It should’ve been comforting. All I had wanted was to feel my mom’s touch these past weeks. I wanted to hear her voice, and see her smile. Now I wanted her as far away from me as possible. Her betrayal stung. I felt it deep in my soul, so deep, I couldn’t bear to bring it to the surface for fear I would completely lose my mind. Why had she lied to me? My mom, the one person who I thought loved me more than anything, deceived me. For what? To save her pride?

  All I could do was stare at my mom. There were no words for her. I couldn’t tell her everything was fine. It wasn’t. I couldn’t tell her I wanted to stay with her because I didn’t. I refused to be the liar she was and spout out platitudes out of obligation to make her feel better.

  Instead, I addressed Tom. “Mr. Anderson, can you please do me a favor and tell Erin I’m sorry. I was horrible to her, and she didn’t deserve it. And please tell her she was right about everything. She’ll know what I’m talking about.”

  “Sure will, kiddo. She misses you something fierce. I got the hot side of her tongue when I told her she couldn’t see you. My Erin is a firecracker when she doesn’t get her way.” Tom’s face always lit up when he spoke of his daughter. She was his pride and joy. Something I never had – a dad who loved me so much his face brightened when he thought of me. My mom had stolen that from me.

  “Don’t I know it.” I laughed. I could picture Erin stomping her foot at her dad when he told her no.

  “Olivia, please talk to me,” my mom pleaded.

  “Nothing to say,” I answered.

  “I’m sorry. I’d like to explain,” she offered.

  Peter and Tom had moved to the doorway and started talking amongst themselves. I could see Zane and the guys by the far wall trying to look like they were working. Studying tablets and a large paper map that was spread out on the desk. Everyone seemed to be trying their best to pretend not to be listening to my mom and me. Everyone except Leo. His focus had not shifted from me. He was waiting to swoop in and rescue me if needed.

  Not this time.

  “Mom, I don’t want to hear your excuses.”

  “I didn’t say excuses, I said I wanted to explain,” she retorted.

  “A little too late to explain. You lied to me my whole life – I don’t want an explanation. I want you to leave.”

  “You can’t mean that, honey. I know you’ve been through an ordeal and you're scared but…”

  “No, Mom, I do mean it. Leave. I’ve heard enough. You’re a liar. You lied to me, you lied to Peter, and you probably lied to some poor guy in Paris trying to pass me off as his love child before he died,” I spat out.

  The look of shock on my mom’s face would’ve been heartbreaking if I wasn’t so mad. I had never spoken to her with such blatant disrespect.

  “There was no other man. There never was. I have only ever been with one man, and that is your father. I fell in love with him the moment I met him and have loved him every moment since.”

  “Well, there is that. At least there was a sliver of truth in your momentous lie.”

  “Olivia,” my mom cried.

  “Enough, tesorino,” Leo whispered.

  “Umph.” I crossed my arms over my chest like a child, uncaring about the IV in my arm. I was a grown woman being scolded by a man I barely knew. The nerve of him. It wasn’t enough, not nearly. I had plenty more to say to my mom.

  “I love you, honey. Be safe.” And with that, my mom left the room with tears in her eyes.

  I’m not sure if my disappointment stemmed from her leaving before I could spew more venom her way, or if she didn’t care to stay and fight for me. Either way, she was gone. Peter following closely behind, no doubt to continue their unfinished drama in private. Good for him, I hope he gave her an earful.

  The door shut behind my parents. The word was foreign to me. I’d never had parents, plural; I had only ever had a singular parent.

  “Everything will be fine,” Leo reassured me.

  “Famous last words.”

  Nothing would ever be fine again. The days following only proved me right. My life as I knew it would be forever changed, my life would be altered in a way I could never imagine. My regrets piled up, and no amount of begging and praying could exonerate me.

  Chapter Nine

  Leo

  Well, that was a cluster fuck of epic proportions. Olivia kept taking one hit after another, yet she continued to put on a brave front. After the bomb Peter had dropped on her and her ma’s come apart. Olivia turned her gaze to me. I felt the weight of her stare as it hit me square in the chest. She was looking to me for support. What I wouldn’t have given to scrap this mission and whisk her away some place safe where nothing could touch her. Anywhere to get her away from the present danger and family drama I knew was hurting her more than she wanted the rest of us to see.

  Westinghouse was back by Olivia’s side checking her IV and her wrist again. White bandages lay on the gurney next to her as he prepared to dress her wound.

  “This dressing needs to be changed once a day. I’m leaving enough sterile gauze for fourteen days. Her antibiotics are here, instructions are written out.” Westinghouse held up a bottle of pills. “These start tomorrow. Small meals, lots of fluids. A minimum of 6 ounces of the electrolyte solution every hour. No pure water for the first twenty-four hours. If she is not able to keep down fluids, or she is not urinating every hour, or her urine is brown or discolored, you are to call me,” Westinghouse instructed. “Zane’s team will take good care of you, young lady. I’m sure of it, or I wouldn’t be leaving you in
their care. Lots of rest, you hear me?”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you,” Olivia answered.

  “You’re very welcome.” Westinghouse turned to Tom. “Mr. President.”

  Tom took the doctor’s outstretched hand. “Westy, thanks for all your help. We’ll be in touch.”

  Once the doctor left the team went on alert, it was time to plan an op. We didn’t have time to mess around, the Bolivians were already two steps ahead of us.

  Zane had his phone out and was already dialing. “Secure line nine. Call back in five. Stand by,”

  “Copy, sir,” Rena’s voice came over the speakerphone. Z’s personal assistant was a saint. She was used to Z’s curt orders.

  Zane slid his finger across the screen to disconnect without further instruction and tossed it on the desk.

  Z was silent for a moment, I knew he was weighing his options. This was new territory for us. We had a civilian in the room that couldn’t be out of our sight. That made planning an op and speaking freely difficult.

  “Olivia, we need to talk,” Zane started, obviously having made his decision. Tom nodded his approval and Z continued. “You’re going to hear and see things that you shouldn’t. However, it’s unavoidable. You’re not to share any of it with anyone. Not your mother, not Peter, or Erin. Not any fucking person outside of this room. Are we clear?”

  “Yes.”

  “Crystal clear? This is not a game. You talk, people die, and that will be on you.”

  Olivia’s face paled, and she looked at Tom.

  “What Zane is so eloquently trying to say is.” Tom’s tone was laced with condemnation. He didn’t like the way Zane was talking to Olivia any more than I did. “Is that it’s important that you never speak about any of this. Not your kidnapping, not anything you may hear. And you are not to try and contact anyone while you’re gone. I will be the only person outside of this room who knows where you are. It has to be this way, kiddo. I know it is scary and confusing. I wish there was another way. But you cannot be left unprotected.”

  “Crystal clear,” she whispered, her voice shaky. I wanted to throat punch Z for scaring her even more than she already was.