“Hi, yourself. Look at you. You’ve never looked more beautiful,” he said. He walked around his desk and gave her a warm hug.
“Earnest, this is my husband, Jack.”
“Well, hello, young fella. Congratulations. You got a treasure here,” he said pointing at Victoria.
Victoria blushed and handed Earnest the keys to her apartment.
“Don’t I know it? It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Jack responded and shook his hand.
“I’m gonna miss you, little girl,” Earnest said shaking his head.
“I’ll miss you too.”
“Oh darn, I left your security deposit in my apartment. You guys have a seat. I’ll call my wife and have her run it down.”
Victoria didn’t know that Earnest lived in the building. She eased into one of the chairs across from his desk and Jack sat next to her. Earnest made the call to his wife and hung up. While they waited for his wife to come down, they settled into polite conversation.
Within minutes, the door opened behind her and Victoria turned, ready to meet Earnest’s wife. Victoria’s inhaled sharply and her eyes widened, causing Jack to turn around. Mrs. O’Malley stood in the doorway. Victoria struggled to stand before Jack helped her.
She turned toward Earnest. “Mrs. O’Malley is your wife?” She did not try to hide her confusion.
“Yep. For forty years,” he said proudly.
Victoria was shocked. Mrs. O’Malley walked over and handed Victoria a check. “But I thought...”
Mrs. O’Malley cut her off. “You thought what?”
“Well, to be honest, I thought that you didn’t like me because I’m black,” Victoria admitted.
In response, Mrs. O’Malley chuckled. “You thought that I was a racist?”
Victoria nodded.
“No, child, I’m not a racist and I never said that I didn’t like you. I was concerned. Why do you think I checked on you every time you entered the building?”
Victoria shrugged her shoulders.
“You had that god forsaken job and you came home at all hours of the night damn near naked. I worried for you, child.”
Victoria, astounded, she shook her head and asked, “You knew about my job?”
Grace O’Malley nodded, “Yes, child. I own the building. And your job is on your application.”
“And my new bed? You bought it?”
Mrs. O’Malley nodded.
“Then why were you so mean to me?”
Mrs. O’Malley laughed. “Because I’m a mean old lady. Now that gorgeous man that you married...well, I just didn’t have it in me to be mean to him.”
Laughter filled the room.
Then Mrs. O’Malley caught herself and turned serious. “You look beautiful. Congratulations to you both.” She approached Victoria and hugged her.
“Thank you,” Victoria whispered.
Jack and Victoria wrapped up their visit and headed out of the building.
As they stepped outside, Victoria wrapped her arm around Jack’s and smiled. She was so happy. “So what’s this surprise that you mentioned?”
Suddenly, a gunshot pierced the air. Jack suddenly stopped. Victoria felt hot pain in her left arm and realized that she’d been shot. She snatched her weapon from her purse and looked up to see Gregory Donovan pointing a gun in their direction. Jack stepped in front of Victoria, and she heard another shot.
Jack fell to his knees.
“Jack!” As Victoria was screaming for Jack, she raised her weapon and fired five shots into Gregory. He fell to the ground. Victoria walked over and stood over his motionless body. She pointed her weapon and fired until she was out of bullets. Victoria turned and ran to Jack. He was laying face down. She rolled him over. He’d been shot in the chest. Earnest and Grace O’Malley came running toward her.
“Call an ambulance!” Victoria yelled instructions as she realized that Jack was awake.
Gritting his teeth in pain, he asked, “Did you get him?”
“He’s on his way to hell now, baby,” she responded. “You’re gonna be fine. Stay with me baby.”
Jack nodded and coughed. “I love you, Victoria.” He struggled to speak.
“No! Don’t do that! Don’t you dare give up, Jackson Storm,” Victoria ordered.
Faintly, Jack smiled and closed his eyes.
To be continued...
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Beautiful Prey: The Storm Series Page 17
