Steal My Life
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Red Eye!
Chapter Nineteen
Tears fell from Lisa's red-rimmed green eyes as she sat through the service. Yet another man who had known David was speaking and his speech followed the same train of thought as the others—how brave he was, how he had died for his country, that he would be missed…
She was sick of it. She was sick of the pomp and circumstance, of the men and women in uniform, of the polished brass, of the guns that would be fired in salute, of the endless speeches, and most of all how everyone was oblivious to the fact that David had not wanted to go. And that she let him go… she let him go off to a foreign country and die.
Lisa was not even able to kiss his cold body good-bye. The casket had been sealed long before she saw it and supposedly he had been unrecognizable.
The guns fired and she jumped at the noise. A folded flag was handed to her and the wooden box containing David's remains was slowly lowered into the ground. She tossed a rose into the open hole and whispered good-bye.
I'm sorry… I'm sorry that I couldn't love you, that I couldn't give you what you deserved… I'm so sorry, David…
Her eyes burned and she wiped at her dripping make-up and watery eyes.
We should have just stayed friends…then you'd still be alive. This is all my fault…
She ran from the grave side, pushing through the crowd of people who had come to pay their last respects. I can't take this anymore…
Jackson watched her slender form flee. He could see her tremble as sobs wracked her frail, pathetic body. Lisa had lost an incredible amount of weight since David's death. She barely ate anymore and he had lain awake watching her toss and turn in her bed from his laptop screen. More than anything, he wanted to be by her side and to make her feel better.
After all, he had shot her husband…
She never loved him. She could never even lie and tell him that she loved him. She was too good for him. I did them both a favor.
But now was not the time. He had another plane to catch. There were places to go, plans to make, people to kill…
I'll be back for you, Leese. Don't forget that you belong to me…
A year later…
"Are you feeling okay, Lisa?" asked a brunette, a recently-hired desk clerk. "You're a little pale."
"I'm fine," lied Lisa, tossing a smile in her direction. "Just tired."
She glanced at her left hand, where her wedding ring still sat, sparkling in her face—a daily reminder of what she had done. A reminder that because of her, because of her love for another man who had most likely forgotten her, a good man had died. It had been a year since David was buried, but it still felt like she had just opened the door for the two grim-faced men.
"Why don't you go on home? It's a slow night and I think you could use the rest."
"Thanks, Jill," she said gratefully. "It's been a long week."
"Not a problem. Get some sleep…"
"I hope so."
Lisa smiled at the young girl and stumbled towards the back room to collect her purse. Normally she would have insisted upon working, but tonight, tonight she needed the break.
She drove back to her quiet apartment and uncorked a bottle of wine. Just a few sips to relax… that's all I need…
Half a bottle later, Lisa was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol coursing through her system. She looked at the ring on her finger again and sighed. Slowly and wobbling on her feet, she entered her bedroom and grabbed an empty ring box from the top of her dresser.
"It's time to end this charade," she said bitterly, ripping the band from her finger.
She hastily shut the box after placing the ring inside. Where can I hide this? Where?
In her drunken search, she tripped over the bottom drawer of the dresser. It was sticking out into the middle of the room.
Perfect!
Lisa tossed the box into the drawer and kicked the drawer closed. Then she collapsed on her bed and had the best night's sleep in well over a year.
You are going to regret that in the morning, Lisa. It's a shame that I couldn't be there to hold your head up and soothe you…
Jackson stared at the laptop screen from his hotel room in Maryland. The only contact he had made with Lisa in the past year was him monitoring her via the camera feeds to his private laptop. Craig Smith had kept him traveling the majority of the year and the only time he was in Miami, he was spending it in Dr. Donovan's office per Craig's orders.
A pale finger traced her delicate figure on the bed; her skirt raised enough to allow him to glimpse her long, well-formed, slender legs. He dreamed of her when he was all alone on trips. He dreamed of her sharing his empty bed with him, of making love…
His cell phone rang and he snapped, "King."
He listened to his orders, agreed on the schedule present to him and hung up.
Jackson Rippner was about to break into the National Security Agency and steal government secrets. Once his job was completed, then he could return to Lisa.
I'm coming for you…
Author's Notes:
This chapter was a pain to write. I'm not really happy with it, but it's mostly filler. Just a heads up, the next chapter is very disturbing. Jackson will see Lisa for the first time in person in ages, and he'll pretty much go insane. Thanks for reading/reviewing!