Skipped chapter nineteen? It was market PRIVATE. You must follow me to read private chapters. Please refer to Fine Facts at the front of this book for further details.

"Are we going to talk about it?"

Mark was enjoying the view—Virginia, naked, lying on her stomach in his bed. He leaned over and drew his fingers along her back from the top of her shoulders all the way down to where the sheet gathered low at her hips. He'd been expecting the question, but it still troubled him, knowing he had to censor how much he should tell her, could tell her.

"Well?" She wasn't letting it go.

"Yes, you were right, a contract has been put out on you." He eased his weight back against the headboard and she rolled onto her side, pulling the black satin up to cover her breasts.

"By Gus I assume?"

"No. Gus doesn't have that kind of authority. It was Augustus."

Frowning, she shifted up to her elbow. "Why me? Because of us? That seems excessive."

Mark shook his head. "I'm sure it was Gus's suggestion. He's never liked your gym being in his territory. It gives people too much hope. And now with the Green Soldiers . . ." He knew her well enough to keep his opinion on their age and experience to himself. "Gus knows you've been training them there, and it's pissing him off. And he's not above using Simon's death to sway his father."

"Simon? Were they that close to Simon?" She looked down and fiddled with the edge of the sheet. "Sorry, I know this is painful for you."

Mark felt it all come flooding back, the sorrow of Simon's death, the self-loathing after he vented his anger on her, the ache of emptiness during their time apart. Even now, he hated how she looked so wary.

He put his finger under her chin and lifted it, drawing her gaze back up to his. "I know how you felt about him. So did Simon, don't ever doubt that. He was the happiest I had ever seen him when you came into our lives. The same holds true for me."

"Thank you," she whispered.

He leaned in and kissed her before getting back to her question with, "Gus's motives are never obvious. This was his way to get rid of you, get ultimate revenge on me, and hopefully disband the Green Soldiers all in one shot. He could have cared less about Simon's death. Gus hated Simon . . . at least the threat Simon posed."

As Virginia went to speak, Mark added, "Simon was Augustus's son."

She gasped.

He nodded. "He had an affair with my sister, couldn't stay away from her. Augustus has always had a thing for young, beautiful women." Mark could hear the bitterness creeping into his own voice. "I was never sure how Julia felt about him, apart from his money, which she loved. Although to be fair, we didn't have the best upbringing. I think she was just trying to improve her situation."

Virginia's eyes flared with the mention of his childhood. He didn't like to talk about the past—with good reason.

"When she became pregnant, Augustus ended the relationship, telling her if she kept her mouth shut she would be well rewarded. Otherwise, he would give her nothing."

"Nice guy. I think I know where Gus gets all his charm."

"I wasn't any more admirable. Awed by Augustus's wealth and fame, I helped convince Julia it would be best to keep the father's identity a secret."

"You were, what, eighteen at the time? You were still a kid."

Mark felt the tightness of a scowl. He didn't want her making excuses for his behavior. "I knew right from wrong," he barked.

As she recoiled, he closed his eyes. "Sorry," he breathed. "This is why the past should stay in the past."

"It's okay. Keep talking. Tell me more."

She slid her body closer and lay on his chest. Mark brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back of it, then returned it to the same spot between his pecs. The warmth of her body was soothing, something he would never get enough of.

"Amelia eventually found out. Augustus was forced to keep his distance from both Julia and Simon, or lose his marriage. But he was very generous. Julia and Simon never wanted for anything. I became the go between both financially and emotionally."

"Did Simon know?"

He shook his head. "By the time he got to an age where he would have understood, we decided it best that he didn't know. It's not an easy family to be part of."

"True."

"Over the years, Augustus and I got to know and trust each other. It was just a matter of time before he asked me to work for him, much to the distaste of Gus. The closer I was, the more likelihood Augustus would develop a relationship with Simon. I can't prove it, but I'm pretty sure it was Gus who arranged the bogus tip to the DEA that sent them to our warehouses that day. He knew Simon would be there. If I had some evidence to show Augustus, I would go to him with it, but Gus is not stupid by any means. He is damn good at covering his tracks."

"No kidding." Virginia muttered as she made a move to get up.

"Where are you going?"

"To the station. I'm sure they're wondering where I am. And after all that went down today, there's bound to be a mountain of paperwork waiting."

Anxiety ripped through him and he had to resist the urge to say what he was thinking: No, you're not.

She hurried over to his dresser, pulled open a drawer, and yanked one of his T-shirts over her head, then tugged at the hem to ensure it covered her ass. Considering everywhere his mouth had just been, he would have laughed at her sudden need for modesty were it not for the fear pounding in his chest.

Virginia turned to face him. "We can't stay hiding in here forever," she said, as if reading his mind.

That was exactly what he wanted to do but knew she would never agree to it. "Will you come back here when you're done? Bring Janine. I'd feel better if you stayed here tonight."

There was a faraway look in her eyes as she approached the bed.

Is she thinking about Walt? "I'm sorry I stayed away for so long. I thought I could protect you better with distance between us. We made sure you were watched at all times, but if something had happened to . . ." Hearing the emotion creep into his own voice, Mark paused, wondering if she would find that weak in a man.

But he needn't have worried. She struggled with her own, her eyes glistening with would-be tears. She bent down and kissed him, her hair falling forward and tickling his chest.

"I'm coming back," she whispered.

)l(

Virginia could see the concern in Mark's eyes as he watched her pull away from the house. She sensed he would have jumped into the car to go with her, if only she'd asked. But there were some things she needed to handle. Alone.

The gate began to open when she was halfway down the driveway, and Steve waved from inside the gatehouse as she drove by. Bruce was standing on the edge of the lawn by the road, paying close attention to each car that came near the property. He turned as she approached, and even from a distance she could see the worried look. Jesus. What's up with him?

She glanced over again before pulling out, and he nodded, the stony expression back in place. Had she imagined the other?

Virginia went straight to the station. Noticing Walt's car two rows over from where she parked, she muttered, "Good."

Is it? her good conscience taunted.

She spotted the red hair as soon as she walked in. Walt spun on his heels when Joe pointed in her direction. He rushed over.

"Where have you been? What took you so long? Why haven't you called in?" He looked her up and down, his brows dropping low. "And what the hell are you wearing?"

She bristled at the twenty questions. "Well, let's go over my afternoon, shall we? First I get a text from your phone saying your life is in danger. Then I'm held at gunpoint, fondled by that little dweeb, Enzo, shot at, and in the course of a high-speed chase, I almost total my own car. All to save your ass."

"And in the process, you lost your shirt?" Thick arms came up and locked across his chest as he stared down his nose at her. "It's his, isn't it?"

Really? That's all you have to say? "Enzo tore mine," she bit out as she pushed past him and headed to Cap's office. So much for having a calm discussion about their relationship status.

Cap looked up from his desk when she slammed his office door. Leaning back in his chair, he steepled his fingers together and pressed them to his lips as he watched her pace.

She thrust an arm up in the direction of her desk. "How the hell does a cop have his own cell phone stolen? Tell me that."

"Are you really mad at Walt? Or are you upset with yourself for . . ."

Virginia shot him a look that had him lifting his palms in mock surrender.

She should have known better than to throw herself into the rigid guest chair in front of his desk. Her butt screamed in complaint, yet it provided a much-needed diversion. Calming down a little, she sagged into the thing with a sigh.

Cap reached for the file in front of him. "Here, I've written a press release. I'd like you to read it over. Once you've finished your report, why don't you go home and relax, think about . . . your situation."

My situation, she thought. That's putting in mildly.

Virginia looked out through the glass panels of Cap's office. The station was built in the seventies and was showing its age. The main room had paint coming off the walls in spots, tiles dislodged from the floor, and was about half the size they really needed. Yet she wouldn't change a thing. As she watched, a paper airplane flew across the room, hitting one of her younger co-workers in the head. The target looked up and yelled something she couldn't hear, but he went straight back to work. There was no shortage of things to do here. Theirs was a battle that never ended.

She pictured Mark's face when she left, vulnerability and love so clearly etched into his expression. Oh, God, am I really going back to that house?

END OF CHAPTER TWENTY

There you have it. Simon was Augustus's son. Did any of you see that coming?

She seems torn. Will she go back do you think? You'll find out in the next chapter, and you're going to learn a little more about Bruce ;)

As always, thank you for reading! Please vote and keep the comments coming. They really do make my day!