Tainted Deception

by Aleya Michelle

  “Ivy, what happened? Who was that?” Lilly asks me looking frightened.

  “Oh Lil, I think it was Rocco. We have to meet him or they will kill Chase and Talon.”

  “Shit Ivy, you know it’s a trap, right? How can we meet them? They will hurt us,” Lilly states logically.

  “I know Lil, but what the fuck do we do? He told me Chase and Talon are dead if we don’t. How can we risk that?” I reply, and I race to grab a bag to pack some essentials.

  “Do you still have your pepper spray, Ivy?” Lilly asks me and I nod and race to my wardrobe to dig it out. I bought it last year when we travelled overseas for a few weeks.

  I hastily pack it in my bag, put on a hooded jacket, and change into my tennis shoes.

  As we head out into the night air, it’s pitch black and a little eerie except for the streetlights. We stand by the curb waiting nervously for the car.

  A black sedan drives up in front of us as the back door opens. We hesitantly climb in, holding each other’s hands tightly.

  I am shocked to see Christopher’s smug asshole face inside. I fucking knew it!

  “You bastard, how could you do this to Chase?” I’m disgusted by him as he locks the car doors.

  “He deserves it; he was always given everything on a silver platter. Well, let’s see how he likes jail,” he remarks.

  I can see why Chase had always hated him. What kind of family tries to destroy their own blood? Someone who is sick and twisted, no doubt.

  We arrive in the alley with four minutes to spare. The police put wires on both of us and are staying hidden until they have enough evidence to arrest Rocco.

  As I wait for Rocco, I have a few flashbacks of the last eight months with Ivy. Life doesn’t get any better than that. Her love has given me strength and made me a better man.

  As if I magically summoned her, Ivy walks around the corner.

  What the fuck?

  “Ivy, oh my God, what the hell are you doing here? I told you to stay at home!” I scream worriedly. She shouldn’t be here.

  “I had to come with them, Chase. They said they would kill you if I didn’t,” Ivy announces. I try to wrap my head around the fact she is now right in the middle of danger.

  “She made the right choice. Your life is in her hands Chase,” Rocco declares now coming around the corner with none other than my fucking stepbrother, Christopher.

  “You son of a bitch. I always knew you were dirty but to stoop this low? You are a rat, worse even, you are a flea on a rat’s ass, Chris. You deserve everything that’s coming to you,” I state furiously as my blood boils.

  “Those are fighting words, Chase. Now let’s to get to business, shall we? You have some things that we want. For starters, the password to the shareholders account in Switzerland,” he demands. I knew he would go for that account first since there is over thirty million in there, the greedy bastard.

  “The password is ‘groupie,’” I announce hoping to get this over and done with and take my beautiful woman home.

  Rocco makes a phone call letting someone know the password, then he looks at Ivy.

  “Next up, I want you to sign these forms. You will be emancipating yourself from Charles Hudson, and you will no longer stand to inherit Hudson Industries,” Christopher states. I shake my head, this I was not expecting.

  “Wow, I knew you were always jealous of me, Chris, but if the only way for you to get Charles’ attention is for me to emancipate myself, than I guess I am the winner hands down,” I tell him wanting to antagonize him. His demands are insane.

  “You can have Charles all to yourself; you two seem like two peas in a pod,” I declare.

  “My third request is that you leave your band. You walk away from Hardcore, and I will let you live,” he commands. Now this one pisses me off.

  “What is it to you if I am in a band, Chris? You get on with your life, and I’ll get on with mine,” I respond as my hate and anger for this deceitful person grows with each passing second.

  “You don’t deserve success, Chase. You can live with regret; that’s what I’ve been doing all of these years,” he exclaims and the puzzle pieces are coming together.

  “I regret letting Charles Hudson into our life, and even more so letting his spoiled son into my mother’s life. I regret letting him overshadow and surpass me in every area of my fucking life,” Christopher reveals and his words hurt.

  Rocco points the gun in my direction, and I see my life flash in front my eyes. But all the flashes are of Ivy; nothing else in the world matters except for her.

  “Give me the gun,” Chris demands to Rocco and he grabs it.

  “I will cut you where it hurts the most, Chase. I want to take away the one thing you love in the world, like you took away my mother’s love. Do you think I didn’t see that see she loved you more than me? Well, I hope it burns through your heart like acid!” he screams as he aims the gun toward my beautiful, red-haired angel.

  “No!” I scream and jump in front of Ivy catching the bullet in my shoulder.

  “Chase! No! Oh my God” Ivy screams and rushes to my side. I’m lying on the concrete, with blood starting to pool around me.

  “Shit, Chase, this is my entire fault,” Talon says as he makes a jump for Christopher and knocks the gun out of his hand. Its perfect timing because the sirens ring and police surround the area. Talon punches Chris to stop him from causing more harm or escaping.

  Detective Hunt stops Rocco as he tries to escape, handcuffing them both.

  “We need an ambulance,” Talon tells Detective Hunt as he notices the blood and runs toward where I am laying.

  I hear him on his phone. “I need an ambulance. We have a male with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.”

  Then everything goes black.

  ~~~~

  My eyes burn as I try to open them—it takes a while to adjust.

  “It’s okay, Chase. I’m here, you are in the hospital,” I hear Ivy’s angelic voice, and I smile just from the sound.

  “Ivy.” I reach for her as my eyes find her own amazing emerald irises.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay, Chase. Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she exclaims and kisses my lips.

  “Chase, you have another visitor. I’ll be outside the door if you need me,” she states as my eyes search the room expecting Talon, but I find my father.

  “Chase, Detective Hunt filled me in on everything. I had no idea what Christopher was capable of,” he declares sounding forlorn and genuinely concerned. “I know I have been a terrible father. I am ashamed of myself, but I need you to know that I do love you, Chase. I always have and always will.”

  “Your mother would be so proud of the man you have become. I am proud of you and I am so sorry for everything,” Father tells me and breaks down crying.

  My father, Charles Hudson, the inexcusable asshole I have had to endure for twenty-eight years has finally become a mentor, inspiration, and humble human being.

  I reach my hand out and squeeze his. So this is what it feels like to have a father. He was so caught up in himself and high society that he lost track of the bigger picture.

  “It’s okay, Dad, I forgive you,” I say to him as a tear rolls down my cheek. I never thought I could forgive this man for years of neglect and negativity.

  But if I have learned anything from Ivy, it is that our past shouldn’t define us. We are in charge of our future, and we can decide to be happy and move on or to be stuck in the past.

  After the last month and so many negatives in our lives, we take off on a much-needed vacation.

  The cabin in the Swiss Alps is surrounded by snow-cloaked mountains encased in a necklace of white. It’s like a fantasy, like something out of a fairy tale.

  The luxurious six-bedroom chalet has modern decor and is isolated at the end of a half-mile private road. The location is stunning. There are breathtaking views from every window; it has two terraces and even a large garden. The living room has high ceilings with an o
pen fireplace.

  Chase and I make love in front of the glowing warmth, it’s beautiful and romantic.

  We caress each other slowly and gently, completely in awe of each other. It’s perfect.

  Chase makes me feel like a queen. I am stronger because of him. My love for him is deeper than I ever thought possible. He has fixed all of my broken pieces, healed me, and guarded me with his love.

  As I lay on the cashmere blanket still reeling from my release and reminiscing our life together so far, I can’t help but smile. He completes me.

  “What are you smiling about, Miss Maisen?” Chase questions as he enters the room with some champagne and two elegant glasses.

  It doesn’t get any better than this.

  “I’m just smiling because you are in my life baby,” I confess honestly to him.

  I take a refreshing sip of my champagne as the bubbles tingle my nose, the taste is delicious. Something sparkles catching my eye.

  Oh my fucking God, there is a ring in my glass! I look up and find Chase’s perfect blue eyes.

  Wearing only his boxer briefs, Chase kneels down. I feel the tears build up in my eyes; I have been waiting my whole life for this moment.

  To finally settle down, and to plan a life with the man that I love.

  We have been through so much together already—this is the logical next step.

  “My dear Ivy, words aren’t enough to express just how I feel about you. I love you with all of my heart and my soul. I feel sensational with you in my life—you are my world and my everything. I want you to be the mother of my children. I want to spend my whole life making you happy.”

  “So would you do me the ultimate honor of being my wife? Will you make me the happiest guy in the world, Ivy, and marry me?” Chase asks me with so much heartfelt emotion. I am now a crying mess, happy tears and feeling joyful.

  “Oh my God, Chase. Yes! Yes, I will definitely marry you a hundred times over!” I scream in excitement

  “Woo-hoo! You don’t know how insanely happy you have just made me, Ivy,” Chase screams and ravishes me in kisses.

  “Mrs. Ivy Hudson, I love the sound of that.” I start to giggle; this man is phenomenal, and he is all mine.

  As I slide the stunning diamond ring on Ivy’s elegant fingers, I feel my heart flutter and my soul become whole again. This fucking sensational and amazing woman has agreed to marry me and life couldn’t possibly get any better than this!

  We have been through everything that's meant to tear us apart and it has only made us stronger.

  I don't care about fame or fortune. I was destined to love Ivy, and I will continue to do so forever, until my dying day. She has replenished my soul. Given my mind peace and solitude. I don't need to worry or stress when I have her love. I know that with her my heart is safe. I can fall asleep and know it will still belong to her.

  In the words of Dr. Seuss, “You know you are in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

  Breaking My Heart (My Heart Series #1).

  Healing My Heart (My Heart Series #2).

  Forever In My Heart (My Heart Series #3).

  https://aleyamichelle.wordpress.com/

  I need to start with a big thank you to book lovers across the world, without our readers the stories we write are nothing, so thank you first and foremost to my readers.

  Just to have you read my books is a dream come true.

  A big thank you to my amazing editor, Jennifer Tovar from Gypsy Heart Editing, for getting me through another book.

  All of the late nights and early mornings would have been impossible without your guidance and support. You totally went above and beyond your job description—love you for that.

  To Jenny Sims from Editing 4 Indies, you were amazing and super-efficient with your proofreading. Thank you for your help and speedy work.

  To my amazing formatter and friend Angel Steel, you were so patient, helpful and I would have been literally screwed without you. Thank you.

  To Rebecca Berto from Berto Designs for yet another awesome cover! Your flare for colours and design is inspiring.

  To my beta readers Cheryl, Emma, Maci, and Elaine.

  I love you ladies so much, your feedback and honesty really helped me grow as a writer and without you girls Tainted Deception would have been lifeless.

  Thank you to my amazing street team Aleya’s Alluring Angels.

  You have all shown me love and support and I appreciate every one of you, X.

  Special mention to Amy Adrian Kehl and Tobi Spalla-Beaty for your endless pimping.

  To my wonderful P.A. Nathalie Raven, thank you for always being there to help me, pimp me out, support me, and do your best. I’d be lost without you.

  To all of the bloggers who have supported me and helped a little indie author spread the word about my books, I appreciate you all.

  Special mention to Angela Travers and Kristine Englefield, you two ladies have been so supportive, invaluable, and significant as friends and fellow authors.

  To Ange who I would be lost without her daily messages and confidence boosts to get me through hard times. Tash, Liz, and Kylie, my gangster girlies keep me sane. To Cheryl for beta reading and being my number one fan and pimper, xx.

  To the most important men in my life, my husband and boys, I haven’t been patient or much fun lately, thank you for being supportive and loving me unconditionally as I love you.

  Lastly to my beautiful mother in heaven…

  I miss you more than I can ever describe. Thank you for your strength and love, without you I wouldn’t be half the determined woman that I am today.