Devoted: Book 2 (The Beloved Series) Read online

  She walked away and her family began to discuss, in soft tones, what they should do. Nina stood at the doorway to her room, straining to hear what they said. It was obvious they were all worried about her, but she needed her freedom.

  Yes, it was horrible what had happened to her and yes, she had nightmares but she also wanted to be strong. Nina refused to reveal everything to her family because she knew it would only hurt them. She couldn’t share much about her drug induced haze because she didn’t remember much, though Dr. Ambrose was trying to help her in that area. In discussing the effects, he guessed her captors had been feeding her some type of pain medication, maybe Oxycodone.

  The doctor had said that the sooner Nina dealt with her kidnapping, the sooner she could move on with her life. She had mentioned her plans to move out of her home and he felt it was inappropriate so soon after her return. Dr. Ambrose was probably right, but didn’t understand that her family’s monitoring was like what she just escaped in some ways.

  Nina heard footsteps; softly closing the door, she sat down on the peach quilt at the foot of her bed. Seconds later, someone knocked at her door.

  “Nina, can I come in?” Frankie asked.

  “Sure.”

  Frankie opened the door and came to sit on the edge of the bed next to her.

  “Your family means well. Your mother was a mess while you were gone. She thought she would never see you again.”

  “Don’t you think I know that? It’s been this way forever. I can’t come back here and be a prisoner again.”

  “You could stay. Rosie wants you to live your life, but she worries.”

  “I can’t. I need to branch out. The one time I’m away from my family and it’s because someone kidnapped me.”

  “We were talking about that. Can you give a clue where you were? Who took you?”

  “I told you: I don’t know. Anyway, if I did tell you then those people would be dead. I know what Daddy does and would do, what you or Tony or Joey would do.”

  “So you do know.”

  “No, I don’t. I try to remember all I can, but the drugs…”

  “I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to remember as best you can.”

  “Sometimes I don’t want to remember,” Nina said quietly.

  “I wish I could change it. That asshole should have been watching out for you. If I ever get my hands on him…”

  “Please, don’t talk about Julian like that. He was just as much a mess as everyone else. It wasn’t his fault.”

  “If you were with us, this never would’ve happened. I’m pissed off that I gave him as much credit as I did. I told your father what a good guy he was.”

  “He was and is a good guy.”

  “Do you still have feelings for him?”

  Nina answered too quickly and Frankie could tell she still loved Julian.

  “No. I just want to put it all in the past.”

  “Then why are you defending him?”

  “Because being with Julian was one of the happiest times in my life.”

  Frankie snorted, “Happy? With him? It never would’ve happened if he cared.”

  “Or maybe it would’ve. We don’t know who took me. Maybe it was someone from Daddy’s past trying to get back at him.”

  Frankie could see that Nina was getting upset so he leaned over to kiss her cheek and left the room. When she was alone, she went to her jewelry box and once again took out her wedding and engagements rings, slipping them on her fingers. She missed Julian more and more each day.

  Another knock on the door prompted her to quickly remove the rings, shoving them back in the jewelry box before her mother popped her head in the room.

  “What, Mother?”

  “Madison is here.”

  “Tell her to come to my room.”

  She could hear Madison bantering with her brother Tony and a few minutes later, she joined Nina in her room. Nina hadn’t seen her for several days, ever since they had visited with their new landlord. The young woman looked thinner.

  “Maddy, you look like you lost weight.”

  “I have.”

  “I thought you were against that Barbie doll nonsense?”

  It had been a long running argument between them about the virtues of being model thin. Nina had always been that way, built petite whereas her best friend was tall, large-framed and carried several pounds extra on her body. But Madison had a cute face and fabulous long brown hair that was naturally curly.

  Madison often was a third or fifth wheel when she went out with friends. Most men didn’t want a woman that was almost as tall as them. Recently, she had started seeing Thaddeus Tallman. Thad was a bit on the chunky side himself, but he was handsome and kind. He was perfect for Madison. His good nature was in contrast to her brash one.

  “I thought maybe I could stand to lose a few pounds. Thad and I are working out a few times a week. You can join us if you like.”

  “You know I hate to work out. How is Thad?”

  “He’s fine. You know he said if you want to see Bear, you’re more than welcome.”

  Nina did want to see the dog. She loved him. When she came back, she told Julian she didn’t want the dog, but it was part of her plan. Separate herself from anything from her life with Julian including the dog. Nina had hoped Julian would force her to take him, but he didn’t. Now she desperately wanted Bear back.

  “Oh? Maybe I’ll just go with you one of these days to see him. He was a sweet dog.”

  “Thad said that Julian is staying in California.”

  Though Madison knew that Nina was getting divorced from Julian, she wanted to see her friend’s reaction to the news. It was more than apparent to her that Nina still missed Julian and wanted him. While Maddy sat in Nina’s room one day, she had spied the wedding and engagement rings on her dresser. Who keeps rings when they’re getting divorced? Most people would sell the rings or pawn them.

  She also noticed the look of sadness in her friend’s eyes whenever there was mention of Julian. Thad said in passing that Julian was dating some wafer thin model he met on a shoot and Madison noticed tears welling up in Nina’s eyes. It was more than she could stand to see her so unhappy.

  “So what do you want me to do with this piece of information? Julian has his life and I have mine. He doesn’t care what happened to me or will happen.”

  “Why do you keep saying that?”

  “Maddy, you don’t even like him. Why all of a sudden are you championing his cause?”

  Madison shut the door to the bedroom and pulled Nina over to the corner of the room away from prying ears.

  “Because, I see your face when he’s mentioned. I also notice that you haven’t bothered to sign and send the divorce papers to your attorney. Why is that?”

  “I haven’t had a chance.”

  “Julian is living in California and working as a model. He found time to sign and send back the papers, but you’re too busy?”

  “Yeah? So?”

  “So, someone so anxious to get him out of her life is taking a long time to complete the process. Admit it—you still love him.”

  “I don’t. He could have come for me and saved me from those horrors. He did nothing and I suffered until I escaped. Should I love someone who did that? He was my husband and he left me.”

  “Thad said Julian wants to come back here.”

  Nina snapped her head up and stared at Madison. Her heart leaped at the prospect that Julian would be in New York again.

  “When?”

  “I don’t know. He has some type of contract or something he has to finish. After, he’s free to leave whenever he wants.”

  Nina looked through her window before trusting herself to speak. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Why not?”

  “We’re finished. It’s over. Dr. Ambrose said I need to leave him in the past if I want to get over what happened to me. He said I have a lot of unresolved anger toward Julian. Seeing him would only make it worse.”

  Madison shook her head. “I don’t get you.”

  “I’m not asking you to. All I’m asking is that you’re there for me.”

  “You know I always will be.” She checked her watch. “We need to go. The landlord is meeting us at four to do a finally walk through of our apartment. We can move in the day after next, which will be June first.”

  Julian sat in Adriana Valentina’s leather adorned office waiting for her to arrive. Everything in the place was leather bound, even the desk. He slumped in the chair and played with a loose string from the seam on his shorts. If this was New York, he would be dressed up.

  Instead, he opted for a pair of khaki shorts, sneakers without socks and a tank top that showed off his muscular torso and arms. Kent had said this would impress Adriana from the start. Julian had no idea why he was even bothering. He didn’t plan on signing another contract for an extended stay in the Golden State. He wanted to get home to see if he could repair his relationship with his wife. And she was still his wife.

  Logan had passed a little nugget of information to him when he questioned when the filing of the divorce papers would be. He told Julian that he was still waiting for notification. It seemed that Nina had not signed and returned the papers to her attorney yet, though it had been three weeks.

  This gave Julian hope that she didn’t want to carry through with her plans to divorce at all. Thad also had told him that she was now seeing Bear almost every day. Nina had moved into an apartment with Madison and unfortunately, she couldn’t take the dog because the landlord didn’t allow pets. Each week she offered Thad a few dollars for dog food even though he declined it.

  Julian’s thoughts were interrupted and he stood up when Adriana Valentina strode into her office over a half hour late for their
meeting. He was annoyed, even more so when the heavy, cloying scent of her perfume assaulted his nostrils. She stopped at his chair, ignoring the hand that he offered but instead looked him over as if she was purchasing a piece of furniture.

  “Sit, Mr. Gennaro.”

  What a bitch, I’m not a dog.

  Adriana tossed her sleek black hair and with blood red colored nails sharpened to a point, she paged through a portfolio that Kent had provided to her. From where Julian was slumped in his chair, he could see right down her shirt at what he was almost positive were silicone enhanced breasts. She ignored him until she cleared her throat and looked up.

  “Why are you here?”

  Julian was taken aback, “Excuse me?”

  “Why are you here? It’s a simple question, one which I didn’t think I needed to offer further explanation.”

  “Because you requested I come here.”

  “Mr. Gennaro, don’t play games. Why are you here?”

  “I’m doing a favor for Kent.”

  “You don’t seem the least bit interested and you’re so unlike the eager young men that fall all over themselves to get a meeting with me.”

  “I have no plans to pursue modeling as a full time career.”

  “Tell me about yourself. Your hopes, dreams, wishes.”

  Was this woman for real? This was ridiculous. However, something told Julian that aside from her rude behavior when she entered, she was interested in what he had to say. He told her about his life. Adriana stared at him with her deep set sapphire blue eyes until he finished.

  “That’s quite a tale. You’ve had experiences with loss beyond your years. I knew you had an old soul.”

  “It’s a damaged soul.”

  “Tell me, Mr. Gennaro, if you’re getting divorced, why are you still wearing your wedding ring?”

  “Adriana, not to sound rude, but why is this important?”

  “I like to know my models and I like you. Those that are too fervent usually don’t do what I want during a shoot. Those that get caught up in the partying life will fail. Then there is your type. Your type cares just enough to get the job done, but not enough to kiss ass. I prefer your type. I don’t need people falling all over to please me. I can tell you wouldn’t do that.”

  “I wouldn’t, but I have another life I want to get back to.”

  “What about if I put you on a campaign by campaign basis? You would only sign a contract for each shoot. If you don’t want to do it then you don’t sign the contract. Kent told me you’re a natural even if you are a bit rough around the edges.”

  “Can I live in New York?”

  “You can, though I prefer you live out here.”

  “I can’t do it if I need to stay here.”

  “Then it’s your choice. I can send you campaign information with contracts to your manager.”

  “I don’t have a manager.”

  “You should get one or at least an agent.”

  “Models are a dime a dozen out here, why me?”

  “I like a certain look in my models. I see that look in you and I want you. You’ll thank me when you see your paychecks.”

  Julian laughed.

  “Something funny, Mr. Gennaro?”

  “I don’t need the money, but I’m certainly not working for free.”

  Adriana got the joke and started to laugh along with Julian.

  “I have a few campaigns coming up in the next two weeks for a print ad. I would like to get you into involved if you’re willing.”

  “Just send over the contract so I can take a look.”

  “No attorney? How brave.”

  “I also have to speak with Kent. I’m not sure if working for you is a violation of my contract with him.”

  Adriana clicked her tongue, “Kent and I have an understanding. I assure you that it won’t be a violation. We often share models. As long as there is no conflict with time, you can work for me.”

  Julian stood up and again offered her his hand. She pushed it away and hugged him which he thought odd, but allowed it. He thanked her and left her office. In the waiting room, Julian noticed several young men waiting to be seen and he understood what Adriana had said. They were the eager ones hoping to score a contract with her.

  He smiled as he headed to the elevator. As he waited, two young women stepped out of an adjacent elevator. They stared at him until the doors closed. Julian felt uneasy and had no idea the reason for their attention. He figured it out once he got to the street and a city bus drove past him.

  An advertisement was attached to the side of the vehicle. It was him and he was lying on his side with his head propped up on his hand. Julian was smiling, shirtless and wearing a pair of Zanzi jeans. He had no idea the ads were coming out so soon. Julian hoped he would be back in New York before they were printed.

  He leaned against the side of the building to call Maureen. She had said she would only be on the lot for a half a day and it was well past four. He waited for her to answer.

  “Hey, I’m on my way home. What’s up?”

  “Adriana offered me a job on a campaign by campaign basis.”

  “Really? Are you taking it?”

  “I might. As odd as she is, I like her. I think she likes me, too.”

  “Likes you how?”

  “You know, likes-likes.”

  “You’re wrong. It’s well known that Adriana is gay. She’s been with her partner for over ten years. Geesh, your gaydar is off.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Yes. She has about as much interest in you as I do.”

  “Wow, that’s harsh.”

  “Get over yourself, Jules. Not every woman is falling all over themselves to be with you.”

  “I think you’re incorrect.”

  “How so?”

  “My print ad launched today on some buses. I’ve got a few looks from some girls when I was getting on the elevator at Adriana’s.”

  “Like I said, get over yourself.”

  “Fine. Are we on tonight for dinner?”

  “Yep. Danté is in Canada so I’m free tonight.”

  “Meet you home in a little while.”

  An hour later, Julian was freshly showered, clad in a pale blue Oxford shirt and black slacks. He sipped a beer while he waited for Maureen to finish getting ready. They were going to Dasho, a sushi restaurant owned by Danté and his business partner, Hishuki Dasho. Hishuki was a celebrity chef who had starred on one of those cooking competition shows.

  By the time Maureen came into the living room, Julian was half asleep. She kissed his cheek and he caught the scent of her perfume, it was the same one that Nina wore. He felt shivers down his spine.

  “When did you start wearing that stuff?”

  “You mean Petals? It smells good, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah, except it’s the same perfume my ex-wife wore.”

  Maureen looked at him in horror, “Oh shit, I’m sorry Jules. I had no idea.”

  “Don’t concern yourself. I’m sure you’re not the only woman I’ll encounter wearing it.”

  They headed out to Dasho but Julian started to feel jittery as they rode in the limo provided by Danté. He stared out the window until Maureen touched his arm.

  “Jules, I’m really sorry. If I knew…” She took his hand and held it while she flicked at his wedding ring with her nail. “You’re still in love with Nina, aren’t you?”

  “Is it that apparent?”

  “Yes. You’re wearing your wedding ring all the time now. Paulina told me that Kent got angry at you because you wouldn’t take it off for a shoot. They had to airbrush it out of the photo.”

  “Paulina has a big mouth.”

  “She does but she still wants you even though you threw her out of my house.”

  “It’s just sex. I have no interest in finding a replacement for Nina.”

  “When are you going home for good?”

  “In a couple of months. I have to finish out Kent’s contract. He has me set up for a shoot in Monterey for casual suits, whatever those are. We start in two weeks. At least I won’t see Paulina for that one.”

  “And after that?”

  “Not sure. I think I’m taking a few days to fly back East this week sometime.”

  The limo came to a stop in front of Dasho and as the driver helped them out, they were swarmed by photographers. Julian held his arm up as he was blinded by a flash and they hurried into the restaurant.