Surrendered Control (The Control Series Book 1)

by Anna Edwards

  "No. I don't. I believe you are wiser than you give yourself credit for. I do, however, think you choose not to see things. You worked in a brothel for a year, Amy, you must have known what went on? What about signing stuff for the club? Did you never have to sign anything for your uncle?"

  She turned back to face him.

  "You are right. I knew what went on, I chose to believe the best of my uncle. I wasn't forced to do it so I ignored it. And there were times I signed things, I never read them. I always believed what he told me. I trusted him. Just the same as I trusted James."

  "Amy, this was never malicious on James' part. I promise you. He just wanted to protect you from being hurt. He hated seeing you in pain. The night in the club when he had to show you that video. It killed him. I saw him punishing himself that day and every day afterwards until you forgave him. You are his world."

  "You know, if he had told me I would have told him to sell the club. I don't want that sort of place."

  "I know. I think he knows that as well." Amy looked down at her engagement ring again. So much had happened in such a short space of time. And she didn't just mean the events of the day. She had only known James for a few months. She felt like she was drowning in it all. "What are you going to do?" Matthew got up from his chair and came over to her. He touched the engagement ring.

  "I don't know." She loved James so much. But it was as if everything was too intense. It was all just coming one thing after another. She needed to slow it down. She needed to find her own pace and even her own breath again.

  Matthew brought her into his arms and comforted her, it was the first time since her father had died that she felt like she was being watched over with a familial warmth. She mumbled into Matthew's jacket.

  "Can I ask you something?" She brought her head up so she could see his reaction. "What my uncle said about the way my parents died. Do you know if it was true?"

  He sighed.

  "I have seen the police reports, Amy. There was no indication they were fighting. I spoke to an associate of mine about the accident." He paused. "All indications pointed to the fact that your uncle had them murdered. But it could not be proved. Amy, your mum was never supposed to be in that car. The meeting they were heading to was just supposed to be between your uncle and your father. It was meant to be about your father selling his half of the club to your uncle. She didn't want him to go through that alone, it would seem, and joined him. They died together, very much in love."

  Amy went silent, she couldn't speak. Her brain was unable to process any more information.

  The door opened, and a doctor came in,

  "Miss Jones?"

  "How is he?" Amy jumped to her feet.

  "He is stable and awake. We have moved him to a private room. He is asking for you."

  "Oh, thank god." Amy brought her still-bloody hands to her face to stifle the relieved sobs.

  "I will take you to him now if you wish?"

  "Yes, please." Amy turned back to Matthew, "Thank you. You should go find Miranda and tell her. Go be with Sonia afterwards. She needs you."

  "I will."

  Amy nodded at him and then followed the doctor to where James was.

  The room was sterile and cold, machines surrounded James and beeped in time with his heart beat. He had a drip in his arm and another one feeding blood into him. He still looked pale as he lay there in the bed. He had his eyes shut but as soon as she closed the door he opened them and looked at her.

  "Amy." His voice was croaky and weak.

  "I am here." She came beside the bed and took his hand.

  "I love you."

  "I love you, too." Her voice broke.

  "What happened?"

  "We are all safe. My uncle...he is dead." James groaned and shut his eyes again. "Your mum will be here soon. A nurse took her to ensure she was well."

  "I am sorry."

  "You need to rest. Now isn't the time to talk. Get some sleep. I will go home and change, then come back and sit with you."

  "Don't leave me."

  Please. I am covered in blood. I need a shower."

  "I shouldn't have got you to sign that paper."

  "James, not now." Her voice was breaking.

  "I need to know you forgive me. Please."

  Amy pulled her hand away from his and turned away. She couldn't do this now. Everything was still so confusing.

  "James, I am going to go and change."

  "Don't walk out on me." His tone was pleading but also had the air of control in it.

  "James, please."

  "Look at me."

  Her body betrayed her, and she turned around. "I can't, I can't do this now."

  "Tell me that you forgive me for what I did. I won't do it again. You have my word. I will change. I love you so much."

  Amy brought her hands up to her face and covered her eyes as she began to shake her head. "Oh god, I am so confused." She was shaking.

  "You need to sleep. Everything will be better tomorrow. I will come home. We can go to my country estate for a while and rest. I think I will need some time to recover from this."

  "No."

  "We just need time. Everything has been a big shock. You have been through so much today."

  "No. It isn't that." She looked down at her engagement ring and took it off her finger. She placed it on his chest, tears now streaming down her face.

  “Stop it. Don't be silly. Come here and put your ring back on. You are not going to do this." The machine next to him started beeping as his heart rate accelerated.

  Amy leant over the bed and kissed his lips. He tried to move his arms to pull her back to stay with him, but he was sluggish from all the drugs and she evaded him.

  "Lanzarote, James. Lanzarote."

  PREVIEW OF DIVIDED CONTROL

  Finally, a Happily Ever After

  6 months later.

  "You need to point your toes when you spin to the left. It makes the movement seem more fluid. Like you are water flowing over the floor. Roll your arms more from the wrists as well."

  "Like this, Miss?"

  "A little bit more. Feel the music, become lost in it. Shut your eyes, listen to the beat."

  The sixteen-year-old private student performed the move again, this time perfectly.

  "Yes, yes just like that."

  She jumped for joy, and Amy stepped back proudly. She had been working with her for a couple of months now in preparation for her audition at a dance academy. It was fantastic to see the way she was developing, and Amy was sure that she would easily pass the test.

  "Well done Emily. We are done for the day. Go home and get some rest. Feet up. Lots of carbohydrates. You will need it for tomorrow. You will do brilliantly, though. I can feel it. Break a leg." Amy and Emily both giggled.

  "Thank you, Miss Amy. You have been so wonderful. I will text you tomorrow to let you know how it went."

  "Please do. I will be anxious until I hear."

  It had been two months since Amy had opened the dance school. It had taken about four months to convert the club into the school. She had to redecorate and disinfect so many of the rooms, although the dark room at the back was sealed up. She never went in there. Some of the smaller rooms had been rented out to music teachers and for after-school clubs. She had kept the stage area as it was to rent out to local groups who wanted it for their own performances. She would also plan an end of term display for all her students as well.

  Amy had worked night and day on this project. It was all she had left. It hadn't been easy. People knew what the club had once been. They knew about the deaths that occurred there, and it took a lot of word of mouth and advertising just to get people in the door. She was sleeping in one of the back rooms so that she was still able to rent out her flat and use the income to put into the school. Her uncle's patrons hadn't taken kindly to the change either. And she had to pay out a lot in redundancy to the previous employees of the club. It hadn't been easy. At first, she had thrown herself
into the work just to stop crying. She was utterly destroyed by the events of the day James had been shot. She tried not to think of him, but he always seemed to come into her mind when she least expected it, and she would break down. Elena had tried to get her to go to clubs with her and her friends or even just down the pub for a drink, but Amy wasn't ready. She said she had lost all her confidence, but the reality was she was still very much in love with James. She had seen him on the news and in newspapers. He was busy working on his hotels. A few weeks ago he had been photographed out clubbing with two girls, and the heading stated he was back on the market after having his heart broken and was certainly enjoying himself. Amy hadn't even gotten out of bed that day. She couldn't face it. He had moved on; Amy was his past. She was the one who had walked out on him.

  "How did Emily do?" Elena interrupted Amy's thoughts.

  "She did well. I think she is finally ready. She will ace the audition."

  "Brilliant. You should really start doing your teaching exams. You are a natural dancer. You don't need me apart from the qualified bit."

  "You want to leave me already?" Amy looked sadly at her friend.

  "Well no, just saying." Elena came and gave Amy a big cuddle. They hadn't known each other for long, but they had definitely become close. "Right. I am not going to take no for an answer today. I am going out tonight dancing, and you are coming with me."

  "Lena, no."

  "No arguments Amy. You are twenty-one, and you need to live more. Come on let's get you some clothes to wear."

  Elena dragged Amy through the club to the room that was used for a bedroom. She opened the small wardrobe Amy had and sighed.

  "Is that it? You have like three outfits."

  Amy had walked out of James' life with nothing. She had her bank account card and the clothes she'd had on but they were covered in blood. She hadn't felt right taking all the stuff he had bought for her. Clothes hadn't been a priority.

  "Sorry. I will just put my PJ's on and relax in front of the TV instead."

  "No, you won’t. You can come to my house. We are a similar size, you can wear something of mine."

  "El..."

  Amy began but didn't get to finish before she was dragged from the room and towards the doors of the club. Part of her wanted to run back and lock herself in her bedroom, but another part knew she had to begin living again. The latter part won and she allowed herself to be led out for the evening.

  Fours hour later, Amy and Elena were in the night club and on their second drinks. Elena's mates were friendly, and Amy was actually enjoying herself. She felt a bit overdone--her hair had been pulled and twisted into an elaborate style, she had more makeup on than she usually wore, and the skirt Elena had chosen for her... well Amy knew she wouldn't be bending over in it anytime tonight. Not if she didn't want the whole club to see her backside.

  Elena downed a Jägerbomb. "Come on Amy, let's show these people how you actually dance to this."

  Amy looked at Elena's friends, "Is she always this excitable in a club?"

  They all nodded in unison. A brunette who was called Samantha shouted over the music,

  "She downs the drinks and then dances them off. Never gets a hangover."

  "Unlike you, Sammy."

  "True, but then I look like a grandma when I dance."

  They all laughed again.

  "Come on Amy, please."

  "Alright. I am coming. But if I break my ankle in your sky high shoes then you will have to take all my classes for a month."

  "You won't." Elena started to groove with the music as they both headed to the dance floor and began to perform a bit of a routine to the song. People around them started clapping. The tune finished, and Elena drifted off into her own world as the next one came on. Amy did the same. It was a bit slower in rhythm and allowed her to sway her hips and pretty much dance like she used to in the club. She became lost in the music.

  For the first time in months she was happy and relaxed. She was glad she had allowed Elena to bring her here. From behind her, a pair of masculine hands slid around her hips. She turned to look at the guy. He was cute. She smiled and slowed her rhythmic movement of her hips in time with his. She was single, even if she didn't feel like it. She might as well enjoy herself.

  His hands gripped tighter as she gyrated against him, one song flowed into another and Amy became lost in the freedom of the beat.

  Then she heard a voice which sent shivers down her spine.

  "Get your fucking hands off her."

  She swung round to see James grab the guy that she was dancing with and pull him off her. The guy pushed James back.

  "Get lost, loser."

  Amy saw the flash of rage on James' face. She jumped between them and pressed her hand against James' broad chest. Her betraying body sparked with energy from his closeness.

  "Go away, James."

  "Yeah, do as you’re told buddy. Wait your turn. I am going to fuck her first."

  Amy registered his words with shock. She saw James clench his fist but gave him a look and turned back to the now not-so-cute guy.

  "What did you say?"

  "Come on babe? You are so gagging for it. You can do him after if he hasn't found anyone else."

  "You think I am going to sleep with you?"

  "Nobody dances like that who isn't asking for my rock hard cock inside them."

  People around them began to give them some space as they sensed the tension.

  "Please can I, Amy?" James spoke from behind her.

  "You are asking my permission for something?"

  "I know, and I have only had one beer."

  "Only one. You must be getting old. Be my guest, James."

  And with that, Amy turned on her heel and left the dance floor. Elena stopped her,

  "Is that the James?"

  "Yes, it is. Elena, I have had a good night, but I am going to grab a taxi home. I will catch you tomorrow."

  "I will come with you."

  "No, you stay and enjoy yourself. I will text you when I am home."

  "If you are sure."

  "I am."

  Amy hugged her friend just as the sounds of a fight broke out behind them. Matthew appeared in front of Amy.

  "I left him for one minute."

  "Sorry, Matthew."

  "No worries Miss Jones, it is my job."

  Matthew sped past her and into the fight as Amy headed out into the fresh air. So much for a new start.

  About Anna Edwards

  This is the first novel from Anna Edwards, she is a British Author that has a love of travelling and developing plot lines for stories. She has spent that last two years learning the skills of writing after being an Accountant since the age of 21. As well as Roleplaying on twitter, she can also be found writing poetry.

  This novel combines two of her favourite travel destinations to give an international feel to her romance. Lanzarote is a popular holiday destination for the writer, many a summer has been spent in Playa Blanca sampling the food and the sun. India is a place that she lived for eighteen months with her husband and two children. Her young son was only six months when she travelled out there. It was a fabulous time for the family and they learnt so much about the differing cultures, as well as spending lots of money in the silk shops.

  Connect with Anna Edwards:

  www.AuthorAnnaEdwards.com

  Facebook Page: AnnaEdwardsWriter

  Facebook Profile: Anna Edwards

  Twitter: @Anna__Edwards

  Instagram: anna__edwards

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FORTEEN

  CH
APTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  PREVIEW OF DIVIDED CONTROL

  About Anna Edwards