Nowhere To Run (To Protect And Serve) by Mary Eason Page A

her. He wasn’t even trying to pretend any longer. The evening before had been one of the longest she’d ever spent. Whatever hope she’d been clinging to that Riley had been wrong was quickly slipping away and yet now, there was no one except  Mariah to turn to for help. She couldn’t trust Riley. Not after Caesar had planted his seed of doubt in her head.
    It wasn’t so much the things that Caesar said. In fact , they hadn’t really talked. But he’d watched her with the same calculating expression she was becoming accustomed to.
    After dinner, he’d disappeared into his office for a long period of time. Once, she’d tiptoed to the door and listened in. Caesar spoke in quiet tone, making it impossible to catch much of the conversation, but she guessed he was speaking to Ruggerio, his second in command.
    She heard him pacing the room -– a habit of his when he was worried about something. Fearing he might check on her at any moment, Jordan was just about to return to the living room when she heard him mention her brother’s murder. And then he’d laughed. Actually laughed as if amused by Jeremy’s death.
    If she’d ever doubted Caesar’s involvement, in her mind , this wiped away all doubts. She couldn’t hear anything more, but it sounded as if the conversation were winding down.
    Just before she moved away from the door , she heard Caesar say, “Make the arrangements. I want a quiet service. Nothing extravagant – call our friend the judge to perform the ceremony.” Another short pause followed. She guessed Caesar must have been listening to Ruggerio.
    “She’ll go along with whatever I tell her to do. And if not, then something might happen to her as well.”
    Dear God, it was all true.
    “It’s been a very trying day for you,” Caesar was saying now. He hugged her close for the benefit of their guests. He wouldn’t press the issue now.
    “Perhaps you should rest now.” His narrowed gazed slipped over her. In the past, she’d loved the take charge side of him. Now it made him appear controlling.
    Somehow, Jordan managed a smile. “ I’m fine really. Besides, we have guests.” She hated the thought of sleeping in the same house as Caesar.
    “ They will understand.” His long fingers stroked along her cheek. She turned her head away before he could kiss her lips. The fingers tightened for a moment then released her. “Here, this will help you sleep.” He handed her a sleeping pill and waited. Jordan placed it in her mouth under her tongue. She took a sip of water. He wanted to keep her drugged and unable to ask questions.
    Since the news of Jeremy’s death , she’d lost count of the number of sleeping pills she’d taken. Nighttime was the hardest. She missed Jeremy. Just thinking about the horror of her brother’s final moments made it easier to go along with Caesar’s plans. But no more. She needed to clear her thoughts. Needed to plan.
    “Sleep well, my love.” The coldness in his tone was evident to only her.
    Jordan walked away without answering. She could feel his possessive gaze following her every move.
    The weight of having to keep up the pretense of caring for him had become enormous. She never thought it would be possible for her to hate another human being so much. But she truly despised Caesar Santiago.
    Today of all days – the day of Jeremy’s funeral had been the hardest of them all. Jeremy was too young to die, especially at the hands of someone he loved.
    The day had seemed endless, from the short service at the funeral home, the long procession to the cemetery and the final goodbye to the only family she had left. Through the endless crowd of people offering condolences, she’d spotted Riley. He’d come with his partner. For a moment, their gazes connected. Somehow, even after all the terrible accusations of Caesar, knowing he was there made her feel safer.
    Later, after they’d returned to Caesar’s home and the guests had begun to arrive, Jordan wanted to