Stolen Heart - By Bennett, Sawyer Page 0,20

him. With no other choice, Kieran hailed a cab. Rather than head back to his hotel, he instructed the cab driver to take him to Itch. He would hang out there awhile and see if Annika returned.

Kieran sat at the bar, nursing a beer. He’d been approached a few minutes ago by the same blonde he had been eyeing the night before. She had approached him from behind, unnoticed and raked her nails along the back of his neck.

“I see you came back, sugar.”

Kieran turned toward her and for a brief moment, didn’t recognize her. But when she pouted her lower lip out, it came back to him. “Indeed I did.”

“Fancy buying me another drink tonight? A vodka gimlet?”

“It would be my pleasure.” Signaling to the bartender, he ordered the drink.

When it arrived, she picked her glass up and clinked it against his beer. “Here’s to a hot, hot evening,” she purred.

There was a time, in the not too distant pass—like just two days ago—Kieran would have jumped all over that offer. But instantly, Annika’s sweetheart face and lavender eyes popped into his mind then he remembered her luscious body moving up and down on him. And he realized—much to his chagrin—that he had no interest in the blonde. And that mere fact had Kieran’s stomach in knots. Annika clearly held nothing but disdain for Kieran and he’d be lucky to walk away from this partnership of thievery with his balls intact. Still, he just couldn’t muster up any interest in the woman standing next to him.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. But I can’t tonight. I already have plans.”

Not willing to give up, she leaned her red slicked lips in toward his ear and whispered, “Are you sure? You’ll never have better than what I’ll give you tonight.”

Nope. Not even a twitch of interest from his boy down below. Interesting…and slightly scary.

“Sorry, love. Not tonight.” Kieran stood from the bar, threw a few bills down for a tip, and walked out of the club. Annika had not returned and he figured the best thing he could do was get a good night’s sleep. For tomorrow night, he was going to follow her again and find out what she was up to.

During the cab ride back to his hotel, Kieran ruminated about what he’d seen tonight. Annika had clearly left the First Dimension. He really didn’t know if she was gone for good, or had just made a quick trip somewhere. She clearly had not transferred. That spell produced an instant disappearance and reappearance to the new location. When you traveled to another dimension, you faded away as your body was slowly pulled into the new dimension. Yes, last night, she had definitely taken a trip out of The First Dimension, but the question is where? And would she come back? He’d find out for sure tomorrow night.

CHAPTER 8

Annika had just finished her shower and was getting dressed. She had slept most of the day as she was exhausted after last night’s activities. Oh, the stealing of Candace Weinburg’s jewels didn’t tire her out. That was actually quite thrilling and she couldn’t wait to put the money they fetched to good use. But the trip she’d made out of the First Dimension had been stressful, and that in turn had exhausted the crap out of her.

She had indeed sought the counsel of an old friend but rather than getting the advice she’d needed, she spent most of the time comforting said friend who was having some issues of her own. It was an emotionally tiring evening and by the time she had returned to New York, it was close to 4:00am. Annika had fallen face first onto her bed and slipped into a deep sleep.

Now she was rushing around, getting ready. Tonight she was going to help Sheila Williams escape her abusive home. Annika already had a room set up for her at Saving Grace. And if anyone ever needed saving, it was Sheila.

Most women were referred to Saving Grace through a network of social workers and police officers that Annika had met through the years. Saving Grace’s location was held in absolute secrecy so the asshole abusers couldn’t find the women who had finally wisened up and gotten the courage to leave. Thus, if a woman was in danger, Annika would be approached by a social worker or cop, who would arrange for a meeting with the woman.

These moves to safety were never done quickly. Most of the time, the woman was