Free Fall (Free Fall Vol. 2): (Loving Summer #7: The Donovan Brothers #4) Read online

  FREE

  FALL 2

  kailin gow

  A Contemporary Adult Loving Summer Novel

  Free Fall #2

  Published by THE EDGE

  THE EDGE is an imprint of Sparklesoup Inc.

  Copyright © 2015 Kailin Gow

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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  THE EDGE at Sparklesoup

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  First Edition.

  Printed in the United States of America.

  Prologue

  Summer

  My mouth went dry as I remembered, despite being in a beautiful grand bedroom of some kind of mansion, being straddled by a very handsome muscle-bound man who was nicely dressed, that I was a prisoner.

  I shuddered as he began unbuttoning my blouse, grabbed my breasts in his hands, and began rubbing them, his thumbs making circles on the tip of each one. “You’ve got beautiful breasts,” he said, moving his mouth close enough to begin devouring them.

  I grit my teeth. “Please don’t go there,” I said.

  He stopped and shakily got up from me. “You’re right. I shouldn’t get involve with you.”

  “What do you want from me?” I asked.

  “You are Nat Donovan’s lover?” he asked.

  My heart began beating quickly as I remembered why Nat had to change his identity in the first place, had to pretend he was dead, and go into hiding…he was being chased by some hacking crime ring that dealt with far more dangerous crimes than hacking. So…that was why Nat had his head bashed?

  “I haven’t seen him or heard of him in years,” I said. “He just disappeared, and…” I had to take a deep breath, “We dated in college once, but that was years ago…I’m a doctor now, and now, it’s over. I moved on.”

  “Really?” the man said, placing his hand on the middle of my chest. His eyes bore into mine as he said, “How do you feel about Nat Donovan?”

  If I answered that I cared, this man with the black dragon tattooed on his bald head, this man whose large strong hand is positioned right where he can plunge into my chest to tear out my heart…would end my life right here.

  “I asked again, how does Nat Donovan make you feel?” he said, observing my face, looking straight into my eyes. He was no ordinary man, and if I lied, he would know it. This was a man who was used to questioning countless amount of people, and even killing them.

  “I…I…” I thought of my life with Drew, my love for Drew, and I cleared my throat. “I said, I moved on. Whatever I feel for him was gone years ago.”

  The man moved his hand across my ribs and close to the tip of my breast before bringing it to my chin to cup it tightly in his hand. “You are either lying about how you feel about Nat Donovan or you’re very excited to have me touch you. For your sake, you better wish it’s the latter.”

  Chapter 1

  Nat

  I was still a little wobbly from my head surgery as I tried to get up, tearing off all the medical attachments that was still on me. “I need to get to Summer,” I said to Rachel, who stood next to me, trying to calm me down.

  “Easy now,” she said. “The nurse said she’s getting the doctor to see if you’re well enough to get discharged.”

  “We don’t have time for that. Summer is in trouble. She could be tortured, beaten, or worse as we stand here talking.”

  “But…” Rachel looked at the door.

  “What happened to the rebellious Rachel I used to know who would pull off stunts like that Astor dumping Summer publicly gig for the press? Where is her sense of adventure?”

  “I’ve grown up, Nat, and I’m now in the public eye as an actor, like Astor. Every move I do, everything I say, can be found in the tabloids if I’m not careful, and…”

  “Rachel Donovan,” I said, grabbing her wrist. “Aunt Sookie would be scolding you for how you turned out. Look, Summer is in trouble. Summer, our Summer? This isn’t the time to be having tea and biscuits. Get me out of here. Now, before the nurse returns…”

  Rachel’s eyes blinked twice, as though she was waking up from a hypnotized state. “You’re right. What was I thinking? They’ve got Summer, and we have to get to her now.” She took off her floor-length silver faux fur coat to cover me up, reached into her Birkin bag for sunglasses, and a hat. I gave her a “you’ve got to be kidding me look” before I went along with it. “Sorry, Nat, it’s all I have. And they don’t have your clothes here.” She opened up her bag again to pull out a drawstring bag. “Here’s my flip flops. I keep one pair in my purse in case I have to get out of my heels. I keep them extra large so it should fit you.”

  “Thanks,” I said, taking the flip flops and putting it on my feet. “Why does this remind me of scenes from any movie featuring an escape from a hospital, sis?”

  “Um,” Rachel laughed. “I just did a film where my character had to escape from the hospital so she stole clothes from the staff’s locker to run outside so she can experience just one day outside of the hospital before she dies.”

  “Sounds sad,” I said.

  “It was,” Rachel said. “It was a tragic romance but ended up with an amazing happy ending. Can’t give away the twist in the end but it is a feel good, and I almost got my first Oscar nomination for it. It’s called the The Break for Joy, from a novel and based on an incident from the author’s true life.”

  “Wow,” I grinned. “I’m sure you were good in it. I’ll have to see it when this is all over.” I patted Rachel’s hand. Although I was worried about Summer, I had to be proud of Rachel and how she’d turned out over the years.

  Rachel grinned and said, “I’ll show you the film. I have lots of copies of it. But first, let’s get out of here.” She tied her jet black hair that had a purplish streak through it into a ponytail, and took the blanket from my bed. “Now stay close to me, and pretend you’re me. Try to avoid looking at anyone.”

  “Okay, sis,” I said. “You lead.”

  She took a deep breath and opened the door, looked up and down the hallway before throwing the blanket over my hat and head, and pulling me close to her in a huddle while we make our way through the hospital.

  Someone stopped us and said, “Miss, where are you going?”

  “I’m Kat Fremont,” Rachel said. “The actress Rachel Donovan’s publicist.”

  “Oh, I see,” the woman said. “And that’s Rachel Donovan?”

  “Yes, I’m trying to get her out so she won’t be seen by the paparazzi. She hasn’t taken a shower yet and her hair’s a mess. She doesn’t want to be seen in public this way.”

  “I understand,” the woman said. “Just head that way and it will take you out to the back of the hospital, which our staff goes through.”

  “Thank you so much!” Rachel said, “Got to get Ms. Donovan to hair and makeup for her scenes soon. If you’ll excuse us…”

  “Oh sure,” the woman giggled. “I’m sure she would like to be on her way as quickly as possible.”

  “Yes,” Rachel said before she and I sailed by the hospital admin. and headed quickly out.

  “Do you know where you’re going?” I asked.

  “Kinda,” she said. “As soon as I ge
t my bearing. Oh, there’s the parking lot. I see my car.”

  She guided me to her car – a silver Audi, and before she can sit in the driver’s seat, I took her keys and plopped myself down. “Sorry Sis, but I’m driving. No time to waste.”

  “Really?” Rachel asked, throwing her hands up in the air. “The old Nat hasn’t changed.” She threw me an angry look that became a beaming smile. “I missed you, Nat, you don’t know how much!” She wanted to hug, but I motioned for her to get in the car through the passenger side first before we hugged.

  “I missed you, too, Rachel,” I said genuinely. I did, and I couldn’t help holding back my own emotions. “Now hold on tight.”

  I backed the car out of the parking lot and took the highway, zigzagging through traffic and headed towards Malibu. “Nice car,” I said. “Pretty grown up. I would’ve thought a yellow Ferrari would be more your style.”

  “As I said, big bro,” Rachel said, squinting a little, which reminded me of her twin Drew when he squinted, “I’ve grown up.”

  “I know,” I said, a little sadly. “I’m sorry I missed seeing you grow up. But maybe that’s a good thing in a way, that I was away. It helped you and Drew step up to help run Donovan Dynamics and to start taking care of Mom.”

  Rachel flashed me a look of pure anger before she spoke. “Nat, I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that because you obviously do not know the depths of how much everyone missed you to say such a thing. Your disappearance was not a good thing. And, believe me, sooner or later, Drew and I would’ve grown up and taken responsibility for our family business and Mom.”

  I glanced at her. Of course she had a right to be angry. I left without a word, except for what Lamar, my FBI Handler briefed them on, and I didn’t come back after years.

  “And for your information, you could’ve just asked Drew or I to step up instead of doing your disappearing act. Instead of being that strong but silent type who shouldered everyone’s burdens. Nat…” she sighed, “if you only knew how much everyone loves you, cares for you…we could all have stepped in. That’s how it goes with us Donovans. Including Summer. That’s how it is with all of us. If Aunt Sookie was alive, she would be telling you that.”

  I took a deep breath before turning to face Rachel. She was right about all of that, especially what Aunt Sookie would say. But this was different, and I had to let Rachel know. Sometimes men keep things to themselves precisely for this reason…their moral sense of responsibility, their obligation to family and sense of honor and duty. What I learned and saw that day I got my father released as a hostage was the day I realized, I would do anything to protect what’s mine, especially my family. And that includes Rachel, Drew, Mom and Dad, and Summer. I didn’t know if Rachel would understand, but I had to tell her now so she can somehow put all that hurt behind her and accept me for who I have become.

  “Rachel, I understand your hurt, but believe me, this was about me. This was something I had to do myself, Rachel. What I saw…what I’ve done when I went to bring Dad back from his trip; it changed everything. I saw men risk their lives to stop this crime ring. These men even risked their lives protecting me so I can accomplish my mission. I had the skills to do what I had to do, but I didn’t have the skills and strength to protect myself. Other people had to protect me, and they all nearly got killed because of it. Rachel, there is something I learned from all that, and it is that there is a greater cause, a greater need than all of us. And sometimes in order to keep those you love safe and be able to enjoy the freedoms that we have, you have to make these sacrifices. And now? Rachel, I can fairly and honestly say, because of my sacrifice of leaving everyone to go do what I had to do, the world is a little safer.”

  I had to turn my face to stare out front while I drive. We were getting close to our destination, and I had to alert my guys at my base that I was pulling up in a silver Audi so they wouldn’t shoot us down. I gritted my teeth. Damn. I didn’t have my phone with me. Whoever bashed my head in, must’ve taken my phone.

  Great. Hopefully, one of my guys figured out I was out of commission and had done a wipe of my phone. Speaking of phones, I needed one and I needed one fast. “Um, Rachel?”

  Rachel was speechless. I looked over at her and almost flinched. She was crying silently. Great big tears were running down her cheeks, smearing her eye makeup and making her eyes look like raccoon eyes.

  “Rachel,” I said softly, my heart wrenching seeing my kid sister crying. “What’s wrong?”

  “I just. I’m so ashamed, Nat. Here I was only thinking about me and how I felt, when you were out there running, hiding, having to go into dangerous situations to protect us, to keep our family safe. I can’t imagine what you had to go through. I don’t even know how to catch up with you, to ask you what happened all that time you were gone.”

  “I know,” I said. “It’s awkward for me, too, especially when I came back and saw Drew with Summer.”

  “You still love her, don’t you?” Rachel said.

  “I have to admit, it would take a lifetime to get over loving Summer. And then how could I ever stop? A part of me will always love her. She’s a big part of my life and who I am. Just like you and Drew. Just like Aunt Sookie, Mom and Dad…”

  “It’s the same for me,” Rachel said. “Summer will always be special for me too. And now she’ll be my sister for real.”

  I thought of Summer…her smile, her laughter, and kisses, and then her going missing. Damn that last part about her going missing. I gunned the car.

  If The Dragon has her, then I can’t be wasting any more time.

  I got off the highway and took the side streets up to a grey modern warehouse-like building compound, almost nondescript from the outside and surrounded by gates and fences. Inside, though, I knew was an oasis, complete with a courtyard and garden, waterfall koi ponds, and gazebos for subtle reflection. My guys needed a place like this, especially after the kinds of missions they’ve been on with me to find and ferret out each and every one of the crime ring bosses. It was the most dangerous job in the world, and most times, if you don’t have a way to cope with what you’ve seen or been through, you would lose it. So, we always provide a peaceful place like the Oasis, as I called it (kinda like Aunt Sookie and Summer’s place called the Pad), to chill out.

  Surrounding the Oasis Courtyard, were individual units – global security, domestic, etc. Each housing and being supervised by a manager.

  And behind those units was my private headquarters. I lived where I worked. It had become a way of life for me, mixing the two together.

  “Where are we?” Rachel asked as I pulled up to the gate, about to punch in some numbers. I noticed the cameras at the gate zoom up to take a look at who was in the car. It was my smart zoom cam, which was more sophisticated than an ordinary security camera.

  “My headquarters,” I said. “This is where I live and work. This is also where I house a few of my guys. All ex-military, all highly-trained in security, cyber-crime, and more. This is Andrew Knights Industries.”

  “Get out,” Rachel said. “Really? The fastest growing security company in the world? You’re almost as big as Donovan Dynamics.” She eyed me warily. “No wonder you’re doing so well. With you behind it…or are you working for or with Andrew Knight?”

  “Rachel, promise and swear to secrecy all of what you’ve seen and will see or hear or you will be under the watchful eyes of the FBI and others?”

  Rachel looked alarmed at first but eased up when she realized how vulnerable it would be for them, if she didn’t swear to secrecy. “Yes,” she said.

  “Okay, then, I can tell you, and you are the first and perhaps only one outside of here who would know. Not even Summer or Drew knows this about me. I am the Andrew Hocking Knight, one of the youngest and newest self-made billionaire from the tech industries to make Forbes.”

  “And fight crimes,” Rachel said, “like a real life superhero. Nat, you are so amazing! Even though you’re now Donovan Dynamics’ c
ompetitor, I’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Amazing!”

  “Just wait until you see the inside. I have my Oasis in the courtyard and my own place. It’ll remind you of something.”

  “Really?” Rachel asked. “I can’t wait.”

  The gate opened, and I drove into the compound straight into a garage that had scanners all over which scanned the license plates of vehicles as they parked in the guest parking, and a camera that snapped a photo of people as they got out of their cars.

  When our photos were taken, and the vehicle scanned, the door from the main building opened, and a swarm of massive men wearing full gear surrounded us pointing their guns at us. “Hands up!” one of the men shouted.

  I shook my head and raised my hands. Damn, I forgot to call ahead to let them know I was coming in a silver Audi.

  “Listen, put your guns down. It’s me, Andrew Knight.”

  “Like hell you are,” the leader said. It was my good buddy and co-founder, Kenneth Stone, Chair of Operations. I was CEO, and he was the first employee I hired. “Andrew Knight would never be caught alive wearing a silver fur coat and flip flops.”

  “Well, Buddy,” I said, “There’s always a first time.”

  “Oh man,” Kenneth burst out laughing, putting his guns away, and signaling for the rest of the guys to put away their guns. “The look on your face. Heck, the look you have on…” he burst out laughing again. “Priceless.” He came towards me, and we gave each other a man’s hug. “Good to have you back, Boss. When we lost touch with you, and your phone wasn’t picking up, we went searching for you. Found you were in the hospital recovering from a near-fatal head bash, and thought it was better for you to be there until you got better.”

  “Nonsense,” I said. “You would have pulled me out already and hired a private team of physicians and nurses to tend to me. Why didn’t you?”