Chapter 11: Dangerous

Liliana's POV

Saturday was a perfect day for the ten-mile running race. The weather started off cool, with bright sunshine progressively warming the morning chill away. By late afternoon, mostly everyone had jackets tied at their waists and sunglasses pulled down over squinting eyes. Liliana had struggled with each step along the course to shake off the disappointment from the evening prior. A feeling of loneliness and gloom dimmed her usual cheerfulness.

Was she willing to have her needs fall behind Darick's life's demands? In spite of all that his wealth could offer,

it wasn't everything. Liliana still held fast to the dream of one day having a family. Her parents had always made her feel that she had been an irreplaceable godsend.

"We never thought we were going to have children. And then, one day, the doctor came in with the news that I was pregnant. From that moment on, our life has been blessed with the gift of you!"

Liliana's mother would pull her close, hugging her young self until she wiggled and asked to hear the story again. Jumping up and down excitedly with every word her mother repeated. What Liliana hadn't expected was ever feeling this way again. Only this time deeper, all because of a man she barely knew.

Her feelings of disappointment were fanning the growing flames inside. A fire that awakened the dawning truth that she was falling head over heels in love.

Drawing her thoughts back to the race's finish line, Liliana knew it was nowhere near her best time for a run of this distance. After crossing the line, she stopped to walk to the tables set up with water. Reaching out to take a small paper cup, a steel grip clamped onto her wrist.

"I told you to stop."

Looking up, Liliana came eye to eye with Felicia. The caustic burn of the woman's touch propelled her to tug her hand away.

"Felecia, look, I don't know what is up with you. I've kept my mouth shut. However, this is enough. What is your deal with Darick Xander?"

"So, he hasn't told you anything? Just as I suspected. Come have a cup of coffee with me?"

Glancing around, Liliana grimaced.

"I'd rather not, however, if this will stop all this frightening behavior."

Coldly, the woman turned, beckoning Liliana to follow. The pretend velvet tracksuit succinctly moved through the crowds to a small vendor cart serving hot coffee and bagels. After picking up their steaming cups, the two women settled on a bench lining the park.

"Has Darick Xander told you exactly what he is doing in D.C.? Why he only sees you at night?"

"No. Not in a direct way. I know he owns DX Aero Engines, which from my research, is a top supplier of aeronautical machinery. Something like two-hundred billion in sales. As for our time together, it really is none of your business."

Leaning in, the woman sneered.

"It is my business. Trust me. Ask Xander about the death of Senator Tillis. Tell him Felicia said the truth."

Looking at the woman for a minute longer, Liliana stood and threw her cup into the nearby metal waste bin.

"I have no reason to trust you. I will ask Darick a few things; however, it will mostly be about you."

Turning, Liliana began to walk away as the cackles of the woman chased her to the tent housing the temporary runner's lockers.

"You're a dead woman, and you don't even know it."

After collecting her belongings, Liliana headed to the subway and then home. Reaching the metro steps leading down to the public transport platform, Liliana leaned over and threw up. The tension in her head and stomach was relentless.

Sitting down as the subway train pulled away, she searched in her bag for her phone. Pulling it out, she flipped open the handset, and a green light flashed, indicating a message. Putting the phone up to her ear, she immediately heard the calming voice of Darick.

"Hello, darling. I'm sorry it wasn't your best race. And Felicia can be an absolute beast. I'll be back soon. Time together will be just the answer."

Shaking her head in confusion, Liliana tried to calm the panic in her chest. How was everyone reading her thoughts? Who was she going to trust? Finally, unable to contain the frustration, she blurted out to the few passengers riding together in the train car.

"What the hell? What is going on?"

* **

Pushing open the doors to the shop, Liliana breathed in the misty air around the plants. The shop had always had the power to calm her scattered thoughts.

"Aubrey? Are you here?"

Hearing nothing, she moved toward the swinging doors leading into the storeroom. A scattering of daisies and daffodils was strewn across the wooden worktop where Aubrey usually created floral arrangements.

"Aubrey? Where are you?"

The muffled sound of someone pounding on a door caught Liliana's attention. Dropping her things on top of the blooms, she rushed to the walk-in cooler door. The outside lock was bolted shut. Bam. Bam. Bam. The pounding coming from inside grew more insistent.

"Oh my gosh. Aubrey, I have to get the key. I'm here. Hang on."

Running back to the register, Liliana opened the drawer and fished around until she found the key marked 'cooler padlock.' Frantically, sliding the key into the core, the shackle unlatched, and the heavy door swung open. Inside, her best friend was bent over, panting. As Aubrey moved to stand upright, Liliana saw a large gash above her left eye.

"What happened?"

Smiling limply through the haze of blood dripping from the cut, Aubrey replied with her usual indelicacy.

"I'm still not sure. I was in the back finishing an arrangement. The bell of the front door jangled like crazy as someone flew into the shop. The goon must have picked up a heavy vase as they came through the showroom. Next thing I knew, the bloody thing was smashed over my head. And get this, after they shoved me in here. Their parting words were 'Take this as a warning. I'll put you in a tomb next time."

Upon hearing the threat, Liliana paled and pulled her friend to her.

"We have to call the police. Let's get you to the emergency room. That cut is going to need a stitch. I'll have to call Tom when we get to the hospital."

The tiny voice inside accusingly asked… 'So, what do you think now? Are you going to tell her what happened to you today?'