‘Every day you were here, sniffing around her like a lost dog. I don’t get it. What is it about her that’s so special? That perfect face?’
Finn went very silent then and it seemed to Molly that the whole coffee shop held its breath.
‘How long, Caroline?’
Caroline looked confused and Finn smiled.
‘How long have you been screwing Daniel Bailey – the very much alive Daniel Bailey?’
To Molly’s surprise, Caroline smirked. ‘Long enough.’
‘So you knew he was back? You talk to him about his intentions?’
She was cocky now. ‘We are honest with each other.’
‘Making plans together?’
Another smirk. ‘Is it any of your business anymore?’
Finn nodded calmly. Okay, then how about I put it like this.’ He grabbed Caroline and slammed her down onto a table, cuffing her and jerking her back up by her arms, not caring if he hurt her.
‘Caroline Jewell, I’m arresting you on suspicion of criminal conspiracy in the assault and attempted murder of Sarah Bailey. You have the right to remain silent, anything you do say will be taken down and could be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights I have explained to you, you piece of crap? Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me now, for instance, tell me everything Daniel Bailey has told you? No? Thought not.’ He was mocking her and she started screaming, kicking out at him but he was too strong.
‘You’re a fucking joke, Finn. Your precious Sarah is in love with that fucking billionaire. She doesn’t want you.’
Her screams faded as Finn dragged her across the street and into the police station. A second later, he walked back to the coffee shop. As he entered the shop, Finn’s face was alive with anger. He turned, closed the door and locked it. As he came toward her, Molly looked at her brother in admiration.
‘Dude,’ was all she said but Finn nodded gratefully at her.
‘I don’t know if the charges will stick but it means we can keep her ass in jail for a few hours.’
Molly sighed. She turned to Serena, who seemed frozen as she stood, looking like a lost little girl, someone who had just lost her queen bee. Molly tried to smile at her, feeling sorry for her. ‘Serena, go home. You’re free, you can do what you want. Go tell the rest of your friends they’re free too.’ She said this with a smirk and was surprised to see Serena tentatively return her smile.
‘Yes. Yes,’ she said, not without a little relief, ‘I will. Thank you, Molly…Finn.’
After she’d gone, Molly and Finn stared at each other for a long moment then burst into laughter. Wiping her eyes, Molly punched her brother on the shoulder.
‘Dude, you might just be a genius, god, she’ll never get over that humiliation. So worth it.’ She studied her brother. ‘So…what now?’
Finn smiled sadly. ‘I try and get over the woman I never realized I loved.’
***
The sound broke through her sleep. Sarah opened her eyes and strained to identify it. A steady stream, of water, someone singing. Someone was in the bathroom. It was a male voice. Isaac? Smiling, she slid from the bed and padded across the room then stopped. She could tell now it wasn’t Isaac’s voice. She glanced at the clock. Eleven a.m. No, it couldn’t be. She’d been in the hospital for over a week and she’d made him promise to go back to work.
Trembling, she walked slowly towards it, then yelped in shock.
The man in her kitchen turned and smiled at her. ‘Hey sleepyhead, I was wondering when you’d wake up.’
Sarah felt her head swirl, her stomach roil and black spots appear at the corners of her eyes, and in the second before she passed out, she heard him say. ‘I’ve missed you so much, my darling…’
It was Dan.
***
Maggie brought Isaac a steaming cup of coffee and a handful of messages. ‘The press,’ she said, rolling her eyes, ‘they’ve gotten hold of your and Sarah’s story. They want to know – and I’m quoting, so don’t shoot the messenger – they want to know ‘Who tried to kill the Billionaire’s Beauty? I swear to god, five of them said those exact words to me.’
‘Shit,’ Isaac sighed and sat back in his chair, ‘Well, it was only a matter of time. They won’t get anything from me, though except a blanket Thanks for your concern, this matter is private.’
Maggie looked skeptical. ‘Yeah, that’ll calm them down.’
Isaac grinned at her sarcasm. ‘Haven’t I fired you already today?’
Maggie laughed. ‘Twice. But seriously, boss…’
‘Isaac leaned back in his chair and gave a frustrated hiss. ‘Let me talk to Sarah. For now, if you can, just tell them there’ll be a statement but stress this is a private matter.’
‘Gotcha.’
When she’d gone back to her desk, Isaac spun his chair and gazed out of the window. The city was gray with rain, sheets of it falling, a low rumble of thunder. Thank god he’d paid for a private room for Sarah. They were well versed in keeping the press out. He wondered if he should hire security for her room – then pushed the thought away. She’d be mortified at the fuss and anyway, with any luck, she’d be released from the hospital soon.
Later, walking back to the parking garage, he swung past a jeweler’s and looked at the engagement rings. He knew Sarah wouldn’t care about a ring but he did. He wanted something unusual, something as beautiful as she was. He’d bring her here and they’d choose together. Soon, he thought, soon.
***
Finn shifted with irritation. He wanted to get out of this house, away from this woman. He wanted to call Isaac, find out how Sarah was. Caroline took her time reading the divorce papers. She looked up at him in surprise.
‘You’re admitting adultery?’
He nodded. ‘Caroline, I don’t care who takes the blame, I just want out. I don’t care that you screwed Dan Bailey.’ He added as her head shot up. She composed herself and smirked.
‘I was screwing him long before he ‘disappeared’ too.’ She muttered.
‘Oh, I know.’ Finn’s face was set with a grim smile. He leaned down to study her face. ‘I’ve always known. But the truth is I cheated long before that. Before we even got married. Not physically, no. But emotionally. I realize now I’ve been in love with Sarah since the day I met her and I never stopped. Not for one heartbeat.’
Caroline sneered. ‘You think I don’t know that? But I don’t believe you didn’t fuck her all those years.’
Finn’s face was cold. ‘Believe what you want. I was too blind to realize it, then too stupid to do anything about it. This is how adults are supposed to act, Caroline. Sometimes we don’t get a happy ending – or rather – we get a different one to the one we planned. Mine will be leaving you and finally being free of your disgusting presence. Sign the papers.’
Caroline got up and got a cold beer from the fridge. She cracked it open and took a swig. ‘What if I don’t?’
‘You will. Because if you don’t, I’m going to arrest you for criminal conspiracy.’
Caroline blanched and Finn smiled.
‘What?’
He moved so he could look down on her. She had fear in her eyes as she registered his anger.
‘I said, I will spend every waking hour proving that you were a co-conspirator to Sarah’s attack. That you stole police property when you sold that story to the papers. Until my last breath, Caroline, I will make sure you pay for what you did to her.’ Finn managed to control his temper but his voice was low and furious.
Caroline swallowed another gulp of beer and moved around him. She was shaking. Sitting down, she scrawled her signature where Finn had indicated. She handed him back the papers. Finn nodded.
‘Thank you.’ He turned to leave.
Caroline’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Did you ever love me?’ She asked in a whisper.
Finn didn’t hesitate. ‘
No.’
Caroline stared at him for a long minute.
‘Finn? What now?’
He didn’t look at her. ‘We sell the house, split the profit. You get the hell off my island. I never want to see or speak to you again.’
‘Finn…’ Her voice shook. He looked at her then, disgust, contempt in his eyes.
‘Goodbye Caroline.’ And he walked out in the afternoon a free man.
***
Sarah backed away from the ex-husband, her breath hitching and catching in her throat. His smile was friendly enough but his eyes were flat and dead. He looked…changed. Harder. His once slim face was pudgy and his hair was thinning.
He stepped towards her, put his hands her shoulders when she tried to shake him off, his grip tightened.
‘Don’t be silly, Sarah, why do you look scared? It’s me.’
His voice, god, even his voice frightened her, as soft as it was, almost a tender whisper. She could smell his pine soap.
‘Dan…what do you want?’ Even more than ‘where the hell have you been?’ she wanted to know this. What did he want?
Dan leaned in and kissed her softly before she could pull away. He ran a finger down her cheek.
‘Isn’t it obvious, my darling baby girl? I want you, Sarah, I want you back’.’
Sarah stared at him in horror and her heart pounded against her ribs. ‘No…no…’
His eyes went dark, his smile flattened into a thin line. ‘We are husband and wife, Sarah.’
She yanked herself free and went to press the call button. ‘We are divorced, Dan. I divorced you after you faked your own death and left me. Get out or I’ll have security throw you out.’
He stepped towards her, backing her against the wall, pinning her with the weight of his body; she could feel his body heat, smell his skin.
‘Dan…please’
‘Sssh baby girl, sssh. You know how this has to be? I’ll forgive spreading your legs for the rich man but now, let’s be honest….’ His smile was terrifying. The fear was icy cold in her veins.
‘You are mine, Sarah, mine forever...I won’t let anyone else have you, my darling, …not ever…’
And he pressed his lips against hers…
End of Part Two
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Dangerous Waters Complete Series
Books 1-4
A Billionaire Romance Mystery Thriller Series
By Michelle Love
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Dangerous Waters
A Billionaire Romance Mystery Thriller Series
Book 1
THE WIND
©Copyright 2016 by
Michelle Love- All rights
Reserved
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights are reserved.
Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
Description:
Tragedy. Romance. Intrigue.
Channing Michaels is a billionaire thanks to a little help in the beginning from a man he never knew, his rich paternal grandfather.
Beth Stattler is a young college student who applies for the job as Channing’s personal assistant.
She gets more than just the job from the gorgeous man.
Only problem is Channing’s wife has gone missing after a storm seemingly took her overboard while the couple was sailing.
He wants her declared dead, but no one else does. The search for her body continues, making it impossible for him to move forward in the open with Beth.
The question remains, is his wife really dead? And is Beth really the woman he thinks she is. Is practically everyone in his life out to get him? Or is Channing Michaels losing his mind?
Chapter 1
CHANNING
The sky turned dark in what seemed to be an instant. I had no idea what was going on. My mind was rattled and shaky after only one glass of wine.
I had only drunk one glass of red wine. I didn't understand why I would be feeling the way I was feeling. I didn't understand where the storm could’ve come from so damn quickly.
I didn't understand anything. Mostly I didn't understand where in the hell my wife was.
One minute she was on deck and the next she was just gone. The wind was howling so loud I never heard her fall over. I never heard her scream for help. By the time I realized she had fallen, our sailboat had moved a very far distance in a very short amount of time because the sail was still up.
The gale force winds were blowing into them, moving the boat so fucking fast. I swear I didn't know she fell. I swear it.
***
Down a long hallway we walk. I follow the detective I was sent to just after I came into the police station in Miami to report my wife is missing at sea.
Not really sure why I need to speak to a detective instead of the people who are about to start looking for Jana, my wife of only a year. I suppose he has to get all the information he can about the missing person.
“We’ll send a rescue mission out, Mr. Michaels. If your wife can be found, the guys on the rescue team will be the ones to do it.” Detective Radisson looks at me with light blue narrowed eyes.
It’s hard to tell if he believes my story.
“I don't think anyone's going to find her alive. She’d taken her life jacket off for reasons I don't understand.” I take the seat the detective gestures to as we go into his office.
His office is located in the new building the city of Miami just had built. The paint still sends out an aroma and the white tiles of the floor still glisten.
Pale blue curtains blow in the breeze through the one window he’s left open in the small room. He gestures to it. “The damn paint smell in here gives me a headache. If it’s too hot for you, I can close it.”
A shake of my head tells him I don’t mind. The smell would give me a headache too if the room was closed up. Though it is hot with it being the middle of June.
“Yeah,” the detective says as he takes a seat on the other side of his large desk, strewn with papers. “You told us that part. Was she prone to taking her life jacket off, especially right when a storm is approaching your little sailboat?”
The calendar on the wall behind his desk takes my attention as it has some half naked woman on it with a chain around her neck. I blink and look away. “My wife, Jana, hated to wear life jackets. It was one of my biggest problems with her. Whatever the rules were, she didn't want to follow them. Ever.”
Taking a pen and finding a clean sheet of paper, he jots down what I’ve said. “So you're saying she was hardheaded, and you two had a difficult time getting along?”
“Well, not exactly,” I say and think about how our relationship was. And no, we didn't get along very well. However, I don't want him to know that. “I just mean she didn’t like to follow rules. No seatbelt in the car, no taking the crosswalk when crossing busy downtown streets. That kind of thing.”
His light blue eyes twinkle as he looks at me then jots down something. “So what was it she was wearing again?”
“I told you it was a red dress. It would be easy to spot. I just don't have any hope she’ll be found alive. The waves were too high. The waters were too dangerous. I just don't have any hope.” I look at my hands and turn them over and see the welts where the ropes I held onto hours earlier left their mark.
My mind is numb. Shock has taken me over and this man wants to talk?
The detective looks at me hard. His lips form a straight line. His square jaw is tight as he says, “Channing, I think there's more to the story than you're telling us. We will get to the bottom of it. If you killed your wife, we will find out.”
<
br /> The numbness breaks a bit as I suddenly see what this man is thinking about me. “I did not kill my wife. Don't accuse me of that. I'm not a killer. I'm anything but a killer.”
The detective looks down and writes some things down on the piece of paper. “You know, Channing, that's what they all say. No one is capable of murder. Not when you're sitting in a detective’s office. The fact is your wife is missing and the circumstances are odd.”
“How long before you can declare her dead?”
The detective looks up at me. His eyes are wide as he says, “Sure are in a hurry to get her declared dead. What's going on with that, Mr. Michaels?”
“I don't know what's going on with that,” I tell him. “I just want closure. I don't want this to go on and on forever. I don't want that at all. If she was killed in an auto accident, she’d be declared dead right away and the closure could begin. This way, it can’t.”
“For a man who should be crying and screaming that his wife is gone and has no idea where she is for certain. Knowing full well, she’s out in the middle of the ocean somewhere, you certainly aren't exhibiting any of the classic reactions people do when their spouse is missing at sea.”
“I don't know what to tell you. I'm a different kind of person. One who carries all my emotions on the inside. I assure you once I get home and it all sinks in as I'm looking at all her things in our home, I’ll start bawling like a baby. You want me to videotape that for you, Detective?”
A smile moves over his thin lips. “Yeah, won’t you go ahead and do that for me? Put on a show, Channing Michaels, put on a show for us because that's what it seems like you’ll be doing. People who’ve come into this station with missing family members are usually so inconsolable they have to be sedated. You act as if you’ve already been given something to calm you down. Have you taken anything?”
The Shameless Billionaire Series: Billionaire Romance Box Set (An Alpha-Male, Billionaire, Bad Boy, Bad Girl, Romance) Page 107
