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She was only about a hundred feet from the front of the building when she heard loud popping noises that sounded like firecrackers.
Before she could realize it was gunshots she was hearing, Anna found herself face down on the hot pavement with Blake’s body covering hers. She could here rapid shots being fired from several guns all around her. She couldn’t breathe with Blake’s heavy weight on top of her but he wasn’t budging. She wanted to lift her head and see what was going on but Blake lifted her and dragged her to hide behind a parked car. He told her to stay lying down.
“It’s coming from across the street.” David yelled out loud and she assumed he was talking to his men since Blake was unarmed.
It took several minutes for the sounds to stop. “Get inside!” David yelled and Blake wasted no time in just picking her up and heading for inside. Once Anna was standing on her own two shaky feet, she saw several agents had gone outside to help. Her heart was beating so loud that she was sure she was having a heart attack. Her body was shaking and she felt cold.
Blake wrapped her tightly in his arms. “It’s okay, Anna. You’re inside the building and safe.”
She buried her face in his chest and felt the tears coming. She looked up at Blake’s angry face, knowing he was just scared that they could have gotten hurt. “Sam and Victor?”
He whispered in her ear. “I’m sure they are fine. They were out of sight. It’s you who could have gotten shot, baby. I wish that coward was right here in front of me. I should have gone with Sam’s plan.”
David walked up to them, looking just as angry as Blake. “Me, too, buddy. We did get one of his men, though,” he said in a satisfied voice. “My guy got clipped on the shoulder but he’ll be okay. Everyone else is fine.”
Anna let out a sigh of relief that Sam and Victor were okay.
They proceeded to the office of David’s boss on the ninth floor, escorted by more agents. David got her a glass of water and gave her a minute to gather herself and calm down. When she was ready, he led her to the office along with Blake.
Mr. Morrison was in his sixties with short gray hair. He wasn’t too happy with Blake being present for the meeting but Blake refused to budge.
Mr. Morrison sat at his desk looking over the documents. Anna felt like she wanted to throw up and her palms were sweaty but she sat quietly. His forehead was wrinkled but he stayed quiet as he studied the papers in his hand. Blake reached over and grabbed her hand and she tried to concentrate on how warm his hand was and how good it felt when he touched her. That helped to make her feel calmer, Blake was here supporting her. She wasn’t alone.
Finally after a few minutes he looked up and nodded his head. “We can get warrants based on this information, Miss Lopez. In the meantime, you will have to go in to hiding until the trial is over. Did David explain all this to you?”
Her heart felt heavy at the thought of being far away from Blake. She knew it was the best decision but it still hurt. She wanted to demand they allow Blake to go with her but she couldn’t uproot him away from his business and family. They had known each other less than a week.
“Yes, sir, he did.” She gave her answer in a resigned voice. The decision was out of her hands now. She was about to put her life in the hands of a bunch of strangers and that alone was a daunting thought.
“I am going with her,” Blake stated it as a fact, knowing where this conversation was going. He looked angry and ready to argue with Mr. Morrison and anyone else who stood in his way.
“You are not her husband, therefore you can’t go with her, Mr. Murphy. It won’t take long for us to do our investigation and bring this to trial. Once the trial is over, she can do as she pleases. We already know Mr. Martinez had the bank manager notify him as soon as someone accessed the safe deposit box. I’m sure he assumed you would be the only one to do that, Miss Lopez. How he found out you would be here this morning is still a mystery but we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
“How long do you think this will all take before it’s over?” Anna sighed, feeling like she was going to burst out in tears. Everything was happening so fast and although she wanted Santiago out of her life for good, she wasn’t ready to say good-bye to Blake yet. She wanted to add her demands that Blake be allowed to go with her but she knew it was futile.
“Maybe sixty or so days. Maybe sooner if all goes well,” he answered. David had remained quiet but then he looked at Blake with sincerity in his eyes. “I’ll be with Anna where ever they send her and you know I will protect her for you, Blake. It will all be worth it in the end.”
“I’ll let you three talk for a moment.” Mr. Morrison stood up. “I’ll get the ball rolling on all this.”
He closed his office door. Blake stood up, looking angry. “I know you’ll protect her, David, but I don’t want to be without her for thirty minutes much less thirty days. I’m the one who should hold her hand when she is scared and comfort her.”
Anna’s eyes filled with tears and spilled over. Blake loved her! She could see it on his face. She stood up and threw herself in his arms and cried. She buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
“Geez, Anna,” Blake mused, but he held her tight, rocking her in his arms. “Is the news that I love you that horrible?”
She giggled. “No, it’s the most wonderful news I have ever heard, Blake. We just met but I know I love you, too. That is why I am doing this. I want a life with you, Blake. One where I don’t have to look over my shoulder every minute. A life where we can be safe. And your family, too. I’ve been all alone except for Ben, I would like a family and friends again.”
David left them alone, closing the door behind him.
Blake put his hands on Anna’s shoulders. His eyes were filled with emotion and shining with unshed tears. He leaned down and devoured her mouth in a hot kiss. He explored every inch of her mouth and she was sure she was going to melt in a puddle at his feet. They were both breathing hard when he finally finished kissing her. He leaned his forehead against hers and she could feel his breath on her skin. It made her feel secure and like she belonged. Finally she belonged to someone. That’s what she had thought she found with Santiago but he had fooled her. He wanted a robot to command in every aspect of her life. He wanted to own her, not to love her. Blake cared about her and wanted to take care of her, and it wasn’t with money but with emotions. He wanted to keep her free from fear and comfort her in hard times. That was real love, not material items that someone bought. She had been so blind but no more. She would be strong for Blake’s sake.
“I want a life with you, too, Anna. I want to cherish you and see you smile. My parents will love you and spoil you. My mom will nag you about grandbabies but we can ignore her until we’re ready for that.”
“Are you sure, Blake? You said you didn’t want another girlfriend after Jenna and we’ve only known each other a few days. Maybe you should take this time that I am gone to think all this through,” she suggested, fearing he would change his mind once she was out of his sight. More than anything, she wanted Blake to be happy.
“I don’t want another girlfriend that is true. This time I want a wife, a lover, a friend. I want you, Anna Marie Lopez.” His voice held such confidence that she smiled tearfully but they were tears of joy. Overwhelming joy and love. She wanted to laugh out loud and grin like a sappy fool despite the long hard road she was facing. If she knew Blake was waiting for her at the end of that road,
she would walk through hell’s fire smiling.
