Jackson hung up the phone then without giving me a chance to argue or ask about his involvement with Anthony Garvey. Even though we were divorced, Jackson would never let me go. I should have argued my case with him though. I should have pleaded for mercy. But what would have been the point anyway? I had spent years pleading with the monster I’d been married to, and all it had ever served to do was to make him hurt me more. I knew he was more than capable of carrying out his threats. He had the connections, and the money, to see them through.
I wracked my brain for a way around my predicament. I didn’t want to give up the best relationship I’d ever had. I was happier now than I had ever been in my life. Perhaps Gabriel and I could meet in secret? But I knew he would never accept that. And despite how careful we would be, Jackson would find out — it was what he did.
I sighed and rested my forehead on my cool desk. Hadn’t I known all along that this would happen? That a life with Gabriel was just a dream, an illusion I could hold onto just for a little while. And it had been nice while it lasted — more than nice. But that was all it had ever been — an illusion. I was still Jackson Carver’s property — no matter how hard I tried to escape him. That thought both saddened and terrified me in equal measure.
Chapter 64
Samantha
I took a cab to Gabriel’s office before he arrived to pick me up. It would have been cruel to have him drive all the way over to take me home when I was going to send him away. Besides, I had to be the one to walk away, because if it had to be him, and he refused, I wasn’t sure I’d have the strength to make him.
He looked up as I walked into his office. Then he smiled at me and it made my heart physically ache.
‘Sam.’ He stood up and walked over to me, trying to pull me into a hug but I backed away. ‘What’s wrong?’ he said with a frown.
I had been rehearsing what to say all the way over there and each time the words became more difficult to say. And now standing in front of him, I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it at all. Except that I had to. For both of our sakes. Jackson would never allow us to be together. One way or another, he would make sure we weren’t.
‘I’ve come to tell you it’s over, Gabriel. I can’t be with you anymore. It’s too much. I feel suffocated. I just need to be on my own.’
‘What?’ he frowned as he stepped towards me.
I didn’t respond. I stared at the floor.
‘Look at me, Sam!’ he growled.
I shook my head. I couldn’t look at him. Because then he might see I was lying.
Taking hold of my arms, he said again. ‘Look at me.’
I looked up at him. There were tears in my eyes. But I didn’t cry. I never cried.
‘You don’t mean this. I know you don’t. It’s Jackson, isn’t it? Has he got to you? I can protect us, Sam. Just trust me,’ Gabriel pleaded.
I shook my head. I wanted to believe him. There was nothing I’d like more than to melt into his arms and tell him that I would never leave him, because he meant more to me than anything in this world. But it was for that very reason I had to. ‘I do mean it, Gabriel. This isn’t about Jackson. It’s about me and you. This is all too much. I’m not ready for it. I don’t want this.’
His face crumpled before my eyes. The anger that was there a moment ago replaced with a pain that I couldn’t stand to see.
‘But you love me, Sam,’ he said.
‘No. I don’t,’ I lied. ‘I thought I did, but I was wrong. I’m incapable of love.’
He dropped his hands and I took my chance to walk away, out of his office and into the blazing heat of the sun. My heart felt like it had been torn from my chest and trampled by an elephant. But I still didn’t cry. I was Samantha Donovan, and I never cried.
Chapter 65
Gabriel
I sat at my desk with my head in my hands. My heart raced in my chest and my blood thundered around my body. What the hell had just happened? I had just watched my whole world implode in front of me and there wasn’t a single thing I could do about it.
Samantha had just stood right there in front of me and lied to my face. I had to believe she was lying, because the alternative was unthinkable.
Was this about what I told her about Calvin? Surely not? She hadn’t had a problem with it. In fact, she had convinced me that leaving that poor kid’s mother never knowing what had happened to her son didn’t make a monster.
It had to be Jackson. It was the only explanation that I could comprehend, because it was the only explanation that meant she still loved me and the past six months with her hadn’t been a complete lie.
I dialled Sebastian’s number and he answered his phone on the second ring.
‘What’s up, buddy?’ he asked.
‘Remember when you said you’d like to get rid of that scumbag, Jackson Carver, once and for all?’
‘Yeah? A year ago — and you talked me out of it. You convinced me that prison was the best punishment for him.’
‘Yeah, well now I’ve changed my mind. We need to wipe him from the face of the earth, Seb. As soon as possible.’
‘Why? What’s happened? Is Sam okay?’ he asked, the panic audible in his voice. ‘Has something else happened?’
‘Nothing like that. She’s not in any danger. Look, I’ve just got to go and see someone. Meet me at the office later and I’ll fill you in.’
‘Okay. I’ll see you later.’
I stood on the doorstep of the large terraced house as I waited for it to be answered. The light from inside illuminated the doorway when it finally opened.
‘Hi, Nick,’ I said to Samantha’s best mate and business partner.
‘Gabriel! What are you doing here? Is everything okay? Is Samantha-?’
‘Can I come in?’ I interrupted him. The doorstep wasn’t the place for this type of conversation.
Nick opened the door wider and allowed me inside. Looking around, I noticed the toys strewn across the floor and piled up under the stairway as well as the empty dog dish by the stairs. It reminded me of a real family home, like the type I’d grown up in myself. Nick had two kids and a dog whom he shared custody of with his ex-wife, Mandy.
‘Excuse the mess,’ Nick smiled. ‘Haven’t had a chance to tidy up yet. Mandy only picked the kids up half an hour ago. Can I get you a drink?’
‘A coffee would be good,’ I replied.
I followed Nick out into the kitchen and watched as he took two mugs from a cupboard before filling the kettle.
‘So what can I do for you, Gabriel?’ he asked while we waited for the kettle to boil.
‘I know you love Samantha,’ I started
Nick blinked at me, looking taken aback at first but then he glared at me. ‘Yes, I do. She’s one of my oldest and closest friends.’
I smiled, realising Nick had misunderstood my intentions. I couldn’t help but admire that he was standing up to me. Standing up for her. I suddenly saw why Samantha loved him too.
‘I’m not accusing you of anything, Nick. I need your help, that’s all.’
I told Nick about Jackson’s phone call a few weeks earlier and how he’d threatened me and Samantha if we didn’t stop seeing each other. Gritting my teeth, I also told Nick about Samantha’s visit to my office earlier that day. It still killed me to think about it, let alone say the words out loud.
‘So, I think maybe he’s got to her too,’ I sighed. ‘You worked with him. You know what he’s like. There must be someone out there who might have a grudge against him. There must be something we can use as leverage over this guy.’
‘I don’t think finding people with a grudge against him is going to be a problem, Gabriel. There’s plenty of them. It’s people who are willing to cross him that you’ll struggle to find.’
I nodded. I understood keeping people in line through fear. ‘I know that, but there must be something or someone out there, Nick. Can you at least try for me?’
Nick looked at me for a few moments, considering
my request, before nodding. ‘I’ll do it — for Samantha. Because I watched that fucker destroy her and I couldn’t do anything to stop him.’
Nick looked at the floor, as though he was ashamed of himself, and I could relate to that. Putting my hand on Nick’s shoulder, I said. ‘We all wish we could’ve stopped him. Maybe now we can?’
Nick nodded. ‘What if you do this and she doesn’t come back to you? What then?’
I swallowed. I’d thought about that question and the answer terrified me. ‘I’ll respect any decision she makes, as long as I know it’s her decision and she’s free to make it without that cunt holding anything over her.’
‘Then I’ll see what I can do,’ Nick smiled at me.
I arrived at our offices of Archangel Securities to find Sebastian there waiting for me. Again, I relived that awful moment this afternoon when Samantha told me she was leaving me, although I spared her father the details. But I told him about my hunch that Jackson had got to her.
‘I know I had my issues with you and Sam, Gabriel, but you were good for each other. And I’m sorry, mate. I know how much you love her,’ he said as he put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. ‘And I agree that we need to get rid of Jackson Carver once and for all.’
‘Good,’ I nodded, glad that I had him on board. ‘So, we’ll need a plan.’
It only took a few moments to realise that Sebastian’s plan as usual, was to have no discernible plan at all, and go in all guns blazing.
‘Let’s just kill the fucker,’ Sebastian said.
‘How? He’s inside for another six and a half years, or had you forgotten that?’
‘It’s never stopped anyone before,’ Sebastian snapped. ‘Obviously, we would need someone else to actually do the deed. But at least we know where he is.’
I shook my head. ‘Jackson is too well connected with far too many people in his pockets. There’s too much of a risk. He might get a sniff of a possible hit before it could be carried out. And if that happens, he’ll be after us all — especially Samantha. No, we have to be smart about this. Jackson is a ruthless cunt and he’s bound to have some skeletons in his closet. He must have fucked over the wrong person at one time or other. And all we need to do is find out who.’
‘How are we going to do that?’
‘You’re going to speak to our good friend DI Bullen, and ask him to dig around. And I’ve already spoken to Nick, he’s known Jackson, and worked with him, for years. He’s on board. Between us, we must be able to come up with something we can use.’
‘What if Bullen’s not interested?’ Sebastian asked.
‘If he isn’t, remind him that I still have those photographs — and we’ll be getting them sent straight to his wife. And the Chief Constable if he doesn’t want to play ball!’
Sebastian nodded. ‘Okay. I’ll speak to him tomorrow.’
Chapter 66
Samantha
I couldn’t help but fidget as I sat on the plastic chair. The waiting was unbearable and the heat in the large room was stifling. I had been to prison countless times before, having been a criminal defence solicitor for many years, but I had never been on a personal visit. I’d never had any reason to.
I looked up and shuddered as I saw him walking towards me. Despite his prison issue tracksuit and fluorescent vest, he still carried himself like the arrogant, entitled bastard he had always been.
Jackson Carver smiled as he slid into his seat, making my toes curl in my shoes.
‘Samantha, darling. To what do I owe this considerable pleasure?’ he smiled, baring his teeth.
‘Hello, Jackson.’
He tilted his head to one side, appraising me. ‘You’re looking good, Samantha. Not as good as you used to, but good,’ he leered at me.
‘Look Jackson, I just came here to speak to you about the letters. About Garvey. I need to know if it’s you.’
He frowned at me. ‘What letters? Who is Garvey?’
‘The threatening letters that have been coming to my office for the past eight months from Anthony Garvey. Him turning up at my office? I’m convinced he said he wasn’t working alone. Was it you, Jackson? Are you behind any of it?’
He frowned at me. ‘Samantha, I have absolutely no idea what you’re on about.’
I studied him. He was an accomplished liar, but I’d been married to him for twelve long years and I knew him well enough to know when he was telling the truth.
‘Tell me what’s been going on,’ Jackson said, his voice full of concern as he reached across the table to take my hand. I snatched it away, his touch like a jolt of electricity through my fingers. How dare he have the audacity to show concern for me, after everything that he had done.
‘Tell me,’ he repeated sternly.
In spite of myself, I told him all about the letters and Garvey’s visit to my office a few months earlier. Jackson shook his head. ‘Does that sound like my style, Samantha? Letting someone else have the pleasure of tormenting you? Do you think I would ever let anyone else hurt you?’
I glared at him, remembering all the times he’d done just that.
‘That was different,’ he said, waving his hand dismissively. ‘I got to watch.’ He winked at me and I had to fight the urge to slap his face. ‘I can’t have anyone hurting you while I’m in here, darling. I will be out soon.’ He grinned, then, the terror and the threat implicit in his words.
‘So, it was nothing to do with you?’ I asked again, although I already knew the answer. The letters, paying someone like Garvey to clumsily harass me — it wasn’t Jackson’s style.
‘Of course not.’ He shook his head as though it was the most ludicrous suggestion in the world. ‘But I’ll find out who was responsible.’
‘Why?’ I frowned at him.
He glared at me. ‘Because I love you. You know that.’
‘I know nothing of the sort,’ I snapped.
He scowled at me. If he wasn’t sitting in a prison visiting room, serving time at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, he would have slapped me across the face with the back of his hand for such a remark.
‘I need to go,’ I said as I stood up to leave.
‘It was wonderful to see you, darling,’ he said.
‘I wish I could say the same about you,’ I said as I started to walk away.
‘Oh, Samantha,’ he called after me.
Samantha spun on my heel. ‘What?’
‘I’m very pleased to hear you’re no longer seeing that big ape. That’s my good girl,’ he grinned.
I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat and walked out of the visiting room.
Chapter 67
Samantha
I sat in Scott’s car as he drove me to my office. Ever since I’d broken things off with Gabriel, my father had insisted that I allow Scott drive me to and from work every day. Anthony Garvey was still at large and as much as I hated to admit it, I had come to rely on the comfort and safety of having Scott around. Now that I knew Jackson didn’t have anything to do with Garvey’s threats, I was constantly on edge, wondering who else was out to get me.
‘Your work routine makes you a sitting duck, Sam,’ my father had told me. ‘He knows your comings and goings and it’s the perfect opportunity for him to act.’ I had to agree, but I wouldn’t give up my job. I wasn’t going to put my life on hold any longer for some lunatic who wanted to control me.
‘I’ve just got to nip in for some files,’ I said after Scott picked me up from court. ‘Do you mind stopping off there on the way?’
‘Not at all,’ he’d replied with a smile.
I let myself in through the office doors and was surprised to see the light on in Nick’s office. He’d usually left by five on a Friday. I walked towards it to pop my head in and tell him to have a good weekend when I almost bumped into Gabriel as he was walking out.
My heart started hammering in my chest. He was wearing his dark grey suit — and that belt. God, why did he have to look so bloody good?
‘Gabriel?’ I
gasped. ‘I’m sorry, I...’
‘Hello, Samantha,’ he said with a nod, but he didn’t move out of my way. He stood in front of me, his eyes burning into mine. Six feet two of muscle and sex. He made my insides tremble just standing near me.
‘What are you doing here?’ I asked.
‘Just some business,’ he replied curtly.
‘What business?’ I demanded.
‘It’s personal,’ he snapped.
I stood there, staring at him, drinking him in. It had been four weeks since I’d told him I didn’t want to be with him anymore. I had missed him so much, and now he was there, right in front of me. I had to resist the urge to reach out and touch him. We stood like that for what felt like an eternity, staring at each other. Then he moved and I wondered if he was going to push me up against the wall and kiss me until I forgot about anyone but him. God, I hoped so.
But he didn’t.
‘Bye, Samantha,’ he said gruffly as he walked out.
I turned and watched him leaving, wanting to shout his name and beg him to stay. I thought that if he only he would turn around and look at me, he would know, and then he would run back towards me and pull me into his arms. But he walked straight out of the door and into the street.
I walked into Nick’s office. ‘What the hell was Gabriel doing here?’
Nick looked at me in surprise. ‘I thought you were at court all day?’
‘I was. I had to call in for some papers,’ I snapped.
‘Oh, you’re not working weekends again, Sam?’ he said, his voice full of concern.
Dark Angel: A Dark Romance: London Ruthless Series Book 1 (The London Ruthless Series) Page 24
