they
wanted her father and both uncles dead, and if they found her or her mother,
they’d kill them, too. She didn’t even know their names.
Angela’s
mother had refused to tell her any information, explaining it was for her own
safety, but Angela was tired of hiding from unknown phantoms. She wouldn’t do
anything foolish or break the WITSEC rules, but she also didn’t want to live
without passion and maybe even love in her life. It was time to crawl out of the
darkness and take a chance on someone for longer than a few dates.
“Neither
have I,” said Dominic, his voice soft and full of awe. “I swear to you that’s
the truth.” He sighed loudly and then planted a hand on each shoulder. “I want
to explain something to you. I know I have a reputation of being a player, and
there was a time I was, but I’m not that man anymore. The truth … I can’t
believe I’m admitting this.”
She
searched his beautiful face for any hint of bullshit, but all she saw was
sincerity.
“The
truth is that it’s been five years since I’ve had any real relationship. Oh,
I’ve dated, but the relationships were casual and brief. Nothing more. I was
burned badly by a woman who tried to hurt me and my company, and I’ve been gun-shy
ever since.”
Wow. She hadn’t been expecting that.
“I’m sorry that happened to you.”
He
shook his head. “It’s over and done with. I don’t want to hide anymore. It’s
time to let someone in again.”
She
swallowed hard as his words eerily echoed her own thoughts. What had this woman
done to him that he’d hidden from a serious relationship for that long? Angela
wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but she certainly understood what it was like
to wrap oneself in a cocoon and never want to leave. It was safer that way.
Horribly lonely, but safe.
“I
don’t want to hide either.”
He
frowned, and concern filled his dark eyes. “What are you hiding from, Angela?
Maybe I can help.”
Oh lord... It would be so easy to let him. It
would make everything simple, and it would free her of the burden. He had
unlimited resources and could likely find out who these men were, and whether
they were still a threat. The DOJ and her WITSEC inspectors were supposed to do
that, too, but she and her mother had so many contacts in both departments over
the years that Angela didn’t feel she knew any of them. Certainly she trusted
them, but couldn’t she also trust Dominic?
“I
wish you could.”
Instead
of satisfying him, her answer only further increased the worry on his face. “I
don’t mean to imply I’m accusing you, but if there’s something you need to tell
me that will impact me or my company, now is the time to do it.”
She
shook her head. “No. Absolutely not. Nothing like that.” Not unless she was
stupid enough to give this man her heart as well as her body. Even then, her
first WITSEC inspector had told her that people in witness protection get
married and have children, and they keep their secret for the rest of their
lives. She couldn’t imagine becoming close enough to any man where she’d entertain
the idea of marriage and children, but not tell him who she really was.
It
seemed impossible for her to consider living a lie for the rest of her life.
She’d discussed it with her mother once, and had been told it was only a name.
No different than if she’d decided voluntarily to change her name for another
reason.
To
Angela’s mind, it wasn’t only the new name. It was everything that went with
it. She’d be pulling the threat that hung over her head onto another person,
and onto any children she had with that man. How could she do something like
that?
Dominic
was watching her closely. He’d just told her he hadn’t had a serious relationship
in five years because a woman had tried to hurt him and his company, so she had
to say something. “It’s in the past, and has to do with my mother’s family. I
don’t have a lot of information, but I know it still
wanted her father and both uncles dead, and if they found her or her mother,
they’d kill them, too. She didn’t even know their names.
Angela’s
mother had refused to tell her any information, explaining it was for her own
safety, but Angela was tired of hiding from unknown phantoms. She wouldn’t do
anything foolish or break the WITSEC rules, but she also didn’t want to live
without passion and maybe even love in her life. It was time to crawl out of the
darkness and take a chance on someone for longer than a few dates.
“Neither
have I,” said Dominic, his voice soft and full of awe. “I swear to you that’s
the truth.” He sighed loudly and then planted a hand on each shoulder. “I want
to explain something to you. I know I have a reputation of being a player, and
there was a time I was, but I’m not that man anymore. The truth … I can’t
believe I’m admitting this.”
She
searched his beautiful face for any hint of bullshit, but all she saw was
sincerity.
“The
truth is that it’s been five years since I’ve had any real relationship. Oh,
I’ve dated, but the relationships were casual and brief. Nothing more. I was
burned badly by a woman who tried to hurt me and my company, and I’ve been gun-shy
ever since.”
Wow. She hadn’t been expecting that.
“I’m sorry that happened to you.”
He
shook his head. “It’s over and done with. I don’t want to hide anymore. It’s
time to let someone in again.”
She
swallowed hard as his words eerily echoed her own thoughts. What had this woman
done to him that he’d hidden from a serious relationship for that long? Angela
wasn’t sure she wanted to know, but she certainly understood what it was like
to wrap oneself in a cocoon and never want to leave. It was safer that way.
Horribly lonely, but safe.
“I
don’t want to hide either.”
He
frowned, and concern filled his dark eyes. “What are you hiding from, Angela?
Maybe I can help.”
Oh lord... It would be so easy to let him. It
would make everything simple, and it would free her of the burden. He had
unlimited resources and could likely find out who these men were, and whether
they were still a threat. The DOJ and her WITSEC inspectors were supposed to do
that, too, but she and her mother had so many contacts in both departments over
the years that Angela didn’t feel she knew any of them. Certainly she trusted
them, but couldn’t she also trust Dominic?
“I
wish you could.”
Instead
of satisfying him, her answer only further increased the worry on his face. “I
don’t mean to imply I’m accusing you, but if there’s something you need to tell
me that will impact me or my company, now is the time to do it.”
She
shook her head. “No. Absolutely not. Nothing like that.” Not unless she was
stupid enough to give this man her heart as well as her body. Even then, her
first WITSEC inspector had told her that people in witness protection get
married and have children, and they keep their secret for the rest of their
lives. She couldn’t imagine becoming close enough to any man where she’d entertain
the idea of marriage and children, but not tell him who she really was.
It
seemed impossible for her to consider living a lie for the rest of her life.
She’d discussed it with her mother once, and had been told it was only a name.
No different than if she’d decided voluntarily to change her name for another
reason.
To
Angela’s mind, it wasn’t only the new name. It was everything that went with
it. She’d be pulling the threat that hung over her head onto another person,
and onto any children she had with that man. How could she do something like
that?
Dominic
was watching her closely. He’d just told her he hadn’t had a serious relationship
in five years because a woman had tried to hurt him and his company, so she had
to say something. “It’s in the past, and has to do with my mother’s family. I
don’t have a lot of information, but I know it still
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