Her Darkest Secrets

Chapter 9

Brandon POV

We pull up to Gavin and Melissa's place and as soon as we get out of the car and start walking up Annie grabs my hand again. It seems to be becoming a habit of hers, one that I most definitely don't mind. I suppose I could have told her that I was hoping Melissa might be open to speaking with her friend Jen to see if Annie could stay in one of the apartments in the building she owns. I didn't want to get her hopes up though, in case the answer was no. I already feel guilty enough for throwing her into a panic when I offered to rent her an apartment. Honestly, I would have offered to let her stay with me, but I mistakenly thought that would freak her out even more. When we get up to their door I lift my fist to knock but the door gets pulled open and Melissa barrels out straight into Annie.

"Melissa," Gavin growls from somewhere behind her. "I will put you back on bed rest if you aren't more careful." She turns to give him a sheepish smile while still keeping an arm around Annie; who has yet to release my hand.

"Fine, fine, come on Annie, I've missed you, but my husband has refused to let me out of his sight, much less out of our apartment."

"That and you were healing," he glares at her, but only for a moment before his face softens in a way I've only ever seen around Melissa and Charlie, and she gives him a big smile in return.

"Why don't you guys go and talk in Gavin's office while Annie and I chat in the living room." Melissa says to us, then turns to Annie, "I hope you don't mind kids because Charlie, our daughter, is in her full Disney princess dress-up singing to Disney songs."

"Oh, um, no not at all," Annie smiles at her, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She looks at me and I can see the panic in her eyes, but Melissa must too because before I can say anything she speaks up.

"You can see Gavin's office from the living room," she tells Annie, "actually there's a seat in front of his desk that is in a direct line of sight from there. If they keep the door open you'll be able to see Brandon the whole time." I can see the relief, and guilt on her face.

"You'll be okay," I reassure her.

"I know, and I'm sorry Melissa, I didn't mean to seem like I wouldn't be okay with you or whatever I just..." she trails off looking down at the ground. I squeeze her hand and give her what I hope is an encouraging smile.

"Don't apologize, I wasn't offended at all." They walk into the living room while Gavin and I walk across the hall into his office.

"How's she doing?" Gavin asks me quietly, I'm guessing he doesn't want them overhearing our conversation. Even though I'm sure he'll tell Melissa everything, and he knows I'll tell Annie. Perhaps it's more for Charlie.

"Not great."

"I guess that's to be expected."

"I was with her at the shelter again today, she hates it there."

"Is it something one of the men did?" his face turns serious.

"No, nothing like that. She said the place reminds her of the brothel. All the noise, women crying, her room. I know how wonderful the shelter is, and everything they're doing for the women on top of that, it's incredible. But for her, it's a constant reminder of the h.ell she was just rescued from."

"I'm assuming that's why you wanted to talk?"

"Yes," I tell him, looking out the door and making eye contact with Annie who is sitting in a chair that allows us to see each other perfectly. I give her a smile and turn back to Gavin. "I was hoping that Melissa, or you, I guess, might be able to ask your friend Jen if Annie could stay in one of the rooms above her bakery. I know the apartments are meant for the shelter but I wasn't sure if they were ready yet."

"I don't have a problem asking, and I'm confident that Jen won't turn her away. I have the place outfitted with the most up-to-date security systems. It was a request Shawn had made, and one I agreed with. Not just to keep Jen safe, but to make sure the building was ready if the shelter started using the rooms. But I do still worry about her being there alone. At least at the shelter there are always people around. You know we still haven't found Wyatt's accomplice. That makes me uneasy Brandon, this guy shouldn't have vanished off the face of the earth like this. Not if it was a small-time ring, he has money and power backing him up and I don't f.ucking like that."

"I get it I do, the thought of this f.ucker still being out there makes my skin crawl, but this place is hurting Annie's progress."

"I'm reassigning you then, you are Annie's full-time bodyguard until we get more information. I'll assign someone to relieve you overnights."

"Can it be one of the female guards," I interrupt.

"For her, yes, I'll assign Lanie as your back-up."

"She's perfect thank you."

"No problem, is ther anything else you wanted to talk to me about?"

"No."

"Okay, I'll give Jen a call if you want to hang out for a bit longer, then you can get Annie packed up and moved in. I'll talk with Lanie too and let her know about the assignment. She'll replace you at eight o'clock this evening."

"Great, thanks Gavin."

"Any time." I go out into the living room and take a seat next to Annie. I let her and Melissa know what Gavin and I talked about and that he is calling Jen. I make sure Charlie isn't paying attention to us, but she's belting out her songs, so even if she was paying attention I don't think she'd hear us.

"Oh I'm sure she'll say yes, Jen is the best. When you're ready, I'd love to introduce the two of you. I think you'd hit it off."

"Yeah, maybe," Annie tells her hesitantly and I can tell she's wary of meeting yet another new person. I sit down next to Annie while her and Melissa talk. Well, Melissa does most of the talking but Annie responds to her every so often. After about twenty minutes Gavin comes out of his office. He picks Charlie up and swings her around while she giggles and Annie smiles at the two of them. Then he sets her back down and walks over to sit on the arm of the chair Melissa is in.

"I just spoke with Jen, she has no problem with letting Annie live there, she said she just hopes you enjoy the smell of her bakery. She's discovered it permeates through the building. She has also already spoken with Mrs. Jones who was getting ready to give her a call anyway. She noticed that you weren't adjusting well in the shelter. She's already set it up with Jen to have your things dropped off. And Jen is going to make sure your room has everything you need. I believe she has at least one room with an attached bathroom that she is putting you in."

"Oh wow that's incredible thank you. Um, did Mrs. Jones mention what she was packing up?"

"She said you seem to have already had most of your stuff packed into a bag so she was bringing that. If there is anything else you wanted she would be more than happy to pack it for you but she didn't want to go through your stuff, so she is only dropping off the bag you had ready."

"Oh, okay, that's good then. Thank you for speaking with her and your friend Jen, I really appreciate it." Annie squeezes my hand as she continues looking at the ground. I don't think she's looked at Gavin once since he started talking. I think she's trying to tell me she's ready to go. I know she hasn't been going out, and this is all still hard for her as she continues to heal so I get up and pull her up with me.

"I think we'll get going to her new place then. We might have to get some more things since it's new and all, thank you. Both of you," I tell them.

"Any time, really Annie, if you need anything please just let me know. Brandon has my number."

"I will thanks Melissa," Annie moves a little closer to me when Melissa steps forward. I don't think she noticed because she makes another move, no doubt to hug Annie again, but Gavin did. Nothing gets by him and he gently tugs Melissa's elbow so she moves back towards him instead. They look at each other and I swear they have a whole conversation with their eyes. Thankfully Annie misses it since she's gone back to looking at the ground. I nod to them and steer Annie out of their place. We get in the car and then make our way to the new apartment she'll be staying in.

The building is really nice and when we get up to her room we find it completely furnished with a bed, a small couch, a coffee table, and even a mini kitchen area. She was also put in one of the rooms that had a bathroom. "Wow," Annie breathes out, "this is amazing. Did they buy all this stuff new just for me?"

"I think so why?"

"I'll never be able to pay them back," she says as she starts twisting her hands together.

"Annie, they won't want you to. I know this makes you uneasy but Mrs. Jones runs the women's shelter, I'm sure they would have set anyone up with new items for this room."

"O-okay, if you're sure."

"I'm positive. Lanie is due to meet us here around eight tonight. Do you remember meeting her at the shelter or do you want an introduction again?" Normally I would introduce my relief to whomever I'm looking after, even if they had met before, but I have a feeling Annie is tapped out from this day already and I don't want to make it worse.

"No that's fine, I remember her. No need for another introduction."

"Okay, I'll meet her outside then when she takes over. You might hear her walking through the halls on her rounds. It looks like there's a landline on your coffee table so I'll write down my number, and her's, if you need anything from either of us just call."

"Okay, I can do that." We spend the rest of the day in her new room, I leave for a little to get her some groceries and toiletries that she needs and then get ready to leave once I know Lanie has arrived. I really wish I didn't have to leave her, but if I've learned anything from this job it's the importance of being on top of your game, and sleep is necessary for that.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I tell her before I go. "I meant what I said, if you need anything please call me okay?"

"Yes, I will. And thank you, for everything today."

"No need to thank me Annie." I leave her, but it doesn't feel right. I hate leaving her alone, even if she isn't alone. I don't trust that anyone else can keep her as safe as I can. I think about her the whole way home wondering if I'll get any sleep tonight. I open my door and even though my apartment is pitch black, I can tell someone is in there. I reach for my g.un and slowly walk further into my place.

I reach the living room and turn the light on while I raise my g.un, aiming it at the shadow I saw in the corner. I'm about to pull the trigger when I realize who's standing in front of me.

"Aaron," I say through gritted teeth at the man I used to call Dad.