The Fidelity World: Retribution Read online

  “Hi, yes, I’m meeting a Mr. Barry Allen; has he arrived yet?”

  “Mr. Allen, yes. He’s right this way, ma’am.”

  Annie followed the young girl through the restaurant. When her eyes landed on Barry, his smile was contagious. The man was always smiling it seemed.

  “Hello, Annie. Thank you for making time to meet with me while you’re back in the city. Is Cole not joining us?”

  “No, sorry; it’s just me.”

  The waiter stopped by, and Barry took the liberty of ordering for Annie. She didn’t mind; she hadn’t had much of an appetite since Cole left, so she figured she’d just push it around her plate anyway.

  “Alright, so let’s get down to business.”

  Barry went on to tell Annie how he wanted her to take over his newest branch and manage it until he could see how profitable it would be. Annie was thrilled at the idea of helping Barry continue to grow his company. She had never thought of herself as a business woman, but after spending so much time with Barry and listening to him talk about his healthy, organic beard oil, she couldn’t help but feel honored to help. Barry had just launched into her pay and benefits when Annie spotted Cole across the restaurant.

  Her heart lodged in her throat, but Annie felt like it was a sign. Barry never stopped talking, as Annie stood up. Just as she took her first step Cole’s direction, he moved, and Annie saw the woman he was with. She had on a red dress; the back was cut out, and there at the bottom of her exposed skin was Cole’s hand. Just like he had done with her. Cole helped the woman in her seat before he took his own.

  Annie mumbled something to Barry about emailing her the details as she turned and fled. Once she made it outside, she leaned against the brick building and sucked in a deep breath. Even though fall was close, the air was still humid. Annie fought frantically for a deep, satisfying breath as her throat felt like it was closing. Tears stung her eyes. Cole had bought out her contract so that he could get another one, with a woman more suitable.

  It had all been a lie. Annie was so tired of the lies and the heart ache. She sucked in a deep breath and wiped the tears from her eyes. She walked out to the edge of the busy sidewalk and threw her hand up to hail a cab. She was done with the ruthless city and all of its empty bravado. Annie was headed home, and she didn’t plan on ever looking back.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Cole

  “Mr. Bennett, is there a reason you wanted us to meet here?”

  “Thank you for indulging me, Agent Adams. Tomorrow morning is a board meeting for my grandfather’s foundation. Here is the evidence I promised you over the phone. Everyone involved will be at that meeting.”

  “Thank you, but you haven’t answered my question.”

  “The reason I asked you here is because first of all, I’m on my way out of town, so I won’t be present tomorrow. Secondly, I needed to make sure that there was no way anything got back to my family giving them time to run. That’s why I needed this to look more like a casual date to any wandering eyes.”

  “Understood.” She said, as she opened the file and began to filter through the information.

  They ate their dinner, only speaking when she had a question about some of the evidence. She made furious notes. Two hours later they were finally done and walking out of the restaurant.

  “Thanks again, Mr. Bennett. Are you sure you don’t want to be there for the take down?”

  “No, I have some other business I’ll be attending. I’ll leave this matter in your capable hands.”

  “Okay. You’ll be hearing from me.”

  Cole dipped his head in acknowledgement and hailed her a cab. Cole walked down the block and got in his truck. The drive back over to his apartment took forever, which made Cole anxious. Car horns blasted off and on through the night as traffic crept forward. Cole’s mind did as it had done the past few days and conjured up images of Annie. Her deep blue eyes when she was pissed. The way her hair was never tame, especially after he had just made love to her. The night they had shared in the bed of his truck, under the stars. Cole knew that memory was going to be ingrained in his mind forever.

  He blasted his own horn, anxious to get home. Finally, after the hour-long battle, he pulled into the parking garage of his building.

  “Good evening, Mr. Bennett. Did Ms. Longston ever catch up to you today?”

  “Good evening, Brett. Wait, what do mean did Ms. Longston ever catch up to me?”

  “She was here earlier. When she left, I just figured she was off to meet you.”

  “What time did she get here? When did she leave? Was there anyone with her?” Cole fired off question after question, startling the security guard.

  “No, sir, she was by herself. She arrived around three in the afternoon and was gone by four. Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, fine. Thank you, Brett. Sorry, I just didn’t realize she was in town is all. If she stops by tomorrow or any other day and I’m not here, please contact me immediately, okay?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Cole hurried to the elevator and tapped his fingers against the metal as it slowly lurched up to his floor. Once the doors opened, he hurried out and frantically entered the code to let him in his apartment. Cole wasn’t sure what he thought would be there; Annie was obviously long gone, but he had hope. He tore through his apartment back to the room she had occupied and felt a knot form in his stomach when he saw her things were gone. The only thing she had left behind were the clothes he had bought her; nothing else. Cole’s eyes latched onto the blue dress she had worn to the charity event. When Karen had asked him that first day at Infidelity what he needed in a woman he had told her a woman that could walk in a room and all eyes go to her. Annie had been that woman.

  He went back to his bedroom, but there was no trace of her there either. Lastly, he went to the kitchen area, his final hope was she might have left him a note. Even if it just told him to fuck off, he prayed there would be something.

  There was nothing. The apartment fell into emptiness, as Cole collapsed into a chair; His Annie was gone.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Annie

  “Baby, you need to get out of bed.” Her mom said, storming her room and yanking open her curtains.

  “No, I don’t.” Annie argued.

  “Don’t you sass me, young lady. Those pigs need taken care of, and you’re goin’ to be the one to do it this morning.”

  “Momma, I don’t feel like messing with the pigs.”

  “I don’t remember askin’.”

  Annie let a loud frustrated growl as her mom walked out, leaving her door open along with the curtains. The first day she had laid around had mostly been because her trip back from New York had kept her out until the middle of the night, and she needed to rest up. The second day was mostly just her wallowing in her self-pity since seeing Cole with his new woman.

  Barry had emailed Annie everything they had discussed and more. She was to start her new job the following week since Barry was still getting the funds moved around to purchase the building. Annie was grateful for the reprieve. With a huff of exasperation, she dragged herself out of bed. Even though she was a grown woman, ignoring her mother’s request wasn’t something that would be tolerated, and she knew it.

  Annie tugged on her leggings and muck boots before she threw on her jacket and headed out to the barn. The air was crisp, signaling fall was finally on its way. Fall was Annie’s favorite time of the year. The leaves changing was the most beautiful experience West Virginia had to offer, and Annie hadn’t seen it in what felt like forever. She grabbed the bucket of feed as she entered the barn and made her way to the first pig, who was already snorting up a storm waiting for its breakfast.

  “Easy there, Sasquatch, we gotta get you moved over to the feeding pen.” Annie said, as if the pig would understand.

  Annie dumped the bucket of food in the clean pen and then released the anxious pig over to it. She continued that routine until she had all the pigs move
d over. It was time for her least favorite part: mucking out the stalls. Annie wished she had never tormented Cole’s mother with the pig shit spiel because now every time she mucked stalls, she thought of Cole. His dark hair always fell into his face. She remembered the first time she had worked up the nerve to brush it away. Every time they touched, the spark would ignite, sending butterflies into her belly.

  Annie was afraid she’d never have the spark again. As much as she tried not to think of Cole, she thought about him all the time. She couldn’t help but wonder if he missed her even a little bit, or if he hadn’t felt the same way at all. The mundane task of mucking stalls gave Annie too much time to think. She was so lost in her thought, she didn’t hear the truck approach until it was too late.

  “I see you’re finally doing what you were meant to do, Cinderella.” Trey sneered.

  Annie stood straight, as she clutched the shovel in her hand.

  “That’s right, baby, I found you.” He said, his voice taking on a sick sing song rhythm.

  Slowly she turned around, careful to keep her expression guarded. Annie slowed her breathing and tried to keep her heart rate under control.

  “Trey, you need to leave.”

  “I just got here. Is that anyway to treat your boyfriend?”

  “Ex-boyfriend.” Annie corrected.

  “That boyfriend of yours has long since kicked you to the curb. I know all the sordid details. Now, be a good little girl and get in the truck, so I can take you back where you belong. Otherwise, Mommy and Daddy are going to know what a whore their daughter really is.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Tsk, tsk. You never learn, do you? How about this; if you don’t leave with me, I’ll burn this barn to the ground. It is your parents’ livelihood, is it not? You wouldn’t want to be the reason for them losing everything, would you?”

  “Trey, I’m warning you. You need to leave.”

  Trey rushed forward and grabbed Annie by the arm and jerked her forward. Annie still had ahold of the shovel, but she had no way of getting enough momentum to swing it.

  “Listen to me, bitch.”

  Annie heard the distinct sound of a shot gun cocking, which made her smile. Her dad had always kept his Remington 870 at the back entrance of the barn, in his office. Trey gripped her arm harder, his eyes boring into her with anger and hatred. He had no idea what was coming.

  “You have one second to get your hand off my daughter before I blow your tiny brains all over my barn.”

  Trey’s eyes widened in horror as her dad came out from the shadows. Annie wanted to cry out with relief as she watched his face go pale. Finally, Trey was the one who was scared and unsure. He didn’t let go of her arm, though. Another click filled the silent barn, and Annie saw her mom walking into the front of the barn with her Judge aimed at Trey’s head. Her mom went total badass and walked right up to Trey until her gun was pressed against his temple.

  “Honey, you came to the wrong neck of the woods lookin’ to pick a fight.” Her mom said, her voice crystal clear.

  “You fucking rednecks! I’ll have you all thrown in jail for this!” Trey whimpered like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

  “If you don’t unhand my daughter, there’s not going to be anything left of you to go anywhere and tell anyone anything.” Her dad bellowed.

  Trey yanked his hand off Annie and raised them up in front of his chest as he took a step back.

  “Listen to me real good, city boy; if you think about coming after my family anymore in any way, shape, or form there won’t be any law involved. I’ll kill you. It’s that simple. I’ve got a lot of woods around this house and plenty of deep ravines to throw ya in, and the coyotes would be overjoyed to have ya. You get my meanin’, boy?” Her dad went on.

  Trey uttered a few inaudible words as he began to move backwards, his hands still raised. Her mom moved with him until Trey was out of the barn. Annie and her father stepped up to stand alongside her mom, their guns still aimed at him. Trey stumbled as he walked backwards to his truck.

  “Oh, and Trey; Mr. Berkley and I both have statements on file with the NYPD, so if you even think of harming another person the police will be on you in seconds.” Annie said.

  Trey just nodded as he fumbled with his door handle and got inside of his truck. His eyes didn’t seem to even blink as he backed the truck out of the driveway and gunned it down the road. They all let out a breath at the same time.

  “Well, baby, you sure know how to pick ‘em, don’t ya?” Her dad said, unloading his shotgun and setting it back up against the wall.

  Her mom put the safety back on her Judge and shoved it into her coat pocket. Then she pulled Annie into a big bear hug.

  “Is that why you dropped out of school?” Her mom asked.

  Annie had still never told her parents the full story about what had happened to her. They hadn’t pushed, either. She figured she owed them the truth, so she unloaded all her burdens and secrets on them while her parents patiently waited. Her contract was done with Infidelity, but she still wasn’t allowed to speak about it, so she left her and Cole’s story the same in regard to meeting through mutual friends.

  “My God, baby; why didn’t you call us? We would have gone up there and got you.”

  “I have half a notion to chase that feller down and kill him anyway.” Her dad grumbled, jerking her away from her mom’s embrace and pulling her into his big barrel-like chest.

  “I’m sorry, you guys. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s all over now, honey. I don’t think he’ll be messing with anyone from now on.”

  “I’d like to make sure for good. I need to give a statement to the police. I don’t care what happens; Trey needs to be in jail where he can’t hurt anyone else.”

  “Alright, if you want to we’ll go down to the state police barracks right now. Since he harmed you in New York and here, I believe they can handle taking your statement.”

  “Let’s finish our work first.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Annie

  Weeks had passed since her run in with Trey. After giving her statement, Annie had walked out of the state troopers’ barracks and never looked back. She had done what she had set out to do. All there was left for her to do was hope the police picked him up and sentenced him.

  Annie dressed with care because today was her big day. She had been working to get Barry’s new beard oil location up and running, and today she was going to pitch him an idea of her own. Her love for cutting chemicals out of everyday products had led her to begin making her own beauty products. As of now, her new suv was loaded down with an array of homemade bath bombs, lotions, and even body scrubs, all of which Annie had made herself with pride. She even had a label created, so they were all beautifully packaged.

  Barry had agreed to a teleconference, so she could pitch him her business plan, and show off her products.

  “That’s all of it, baby.” Her dad said as he slammed the back hatch.

  “Thanks, Papa Bear. I’ll call you and let you know how it goes.”

  “I have a feeling it’s going to be life changing.”

  Annie pulled back and looked at her dad oddly. It wasn’t like him to be so whimsical. Her mom rushed out of the house and hurried to hug her before Annie got in her vehicle.

  “You guys are being weird.” Annie laughed.

  “We’re just so excited for you, baby.”

  “It’s just a pitch you guys; I’m not getting married.”

  Annie’s mom clasped her hand over her mouth and took back off down the sidewalk. Annie shook her head and waved to her dad as she slid behind the steering wheel. Her drive down to Parkersburg was more like a trip down memory lane. Anytime she wasn’t working, her mind was on Cole. She still hadn’t heard from him; in his defense, she hadn’t called him either.

  Even though she wanted to be angry over his betrayal, she couldn’t help but remember when things had been good. As for the silly arguments they u
sed to have, now looking back on it, Annie realized it had just been their way of flirting. Cole told her once he loved the shade of blue her eyes turned when she was angry. Annie wondered if the woman in the red dress had blue eyes. Did she banter with Cole the way Annie had? Did Cole touch that woman the way he had Annie. The thought made her blood boil.

  The worst part was that Annie couldn’t quit loving the stubborn asshole. She missed lecturing him on chemicals and his coffee intake. It worried Annie that he drank so much coffee; the body could only take so many stimulants, right? Was he still using her organic coffee?

  “Ugh, men.” Annie sighed.

  Her cell phone rang; her heart jumped when she realized it was Samantha. Annie had reached out to her friend a couple of weeks ago, and after some serious talks, Samantha and she had mended fences.

  “Hey, girl!” Samantha chirped into the phone.

  “Hey, Sam, what’s up?”

  “I just wanted to call and tell ya good luck.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’ll be amazing; of that I have no doubt.” Samantha went on.

  Annie couldn’t help but feel like Samantha was being as weird as her parents, but she shrugged it off. The chances were, it was just her being weird, not everyone else.

  “When does it start?”

  “I’m actually pulling in now. It’ll take me about twenty minutes to get set up. I don’t know how long the call will take, but I’ll definitely call you when I’m done.”

  “Sounds good, girl.”

  Samantha disconnected before Annie could say anything else.

  “No, it’s definitely them all being weird.” Annie said.

  She parked her car in the alleyway behind the building and started unloading her boxes. Once she had all of her products set up, she started getting her presentation put together. Annie had never been a big fan of technology, but she at least knew how to do a PowerPoint and project it onto a screen, so Barry could see it over their telecall.

  Annie looked down at her phone. Barry would be calling any time. Annie booted up her laptop and put the image on the screen behind her. A quick brush of her dress and a hand through her usual untamed hair, and Annie waited patiently for Barry to join the call.