by S. M. Lynn
Chapter 20
Coming back to New York was a bit more difficult that I anticipated but wonderful nonetheless. The hardest part was knowing that reality would soon be back in full swing. While we were in England of course work still had to get done but there were far fewer distractions than there are here. And to top it off for the last few weeks I just haven’t been feeling like myself.
Ian had to leave for a quick trip to Florida; thankfully he’s only gone 3 days but he insisted I stay home because I wasn’t feeling well. For once I actually agreed with him though I hated to miss another trip.
My security team headed by Parker has been ever vigilant but there’s been no news on Dean or Rebecca. The quiet and calm are something that I’m definitely getting used to. Ian and I have been through enough; it’s time our lives settled down some so we can start thinking about our future together and planning the wedding.
While Ian is gone, I decide to schedule a doctor’s appointment because I just can’t shake this crud and it’s been going for too long. Ian was resistant about me going out without security at first but I assured him it would be fine. After all the doctor’s office is only a few blocks from our office and he is supposed to be home tonight so there is really nothing to worry about. We compromise and have security walk me to the appointment and then I will check in with them when I return to the office.
Thankfully the doctor isn’t very busy when I arrive and they are able to get me in right away. There is the standard height and weight to do and of course pee in a cup, always so elegant. Then some more vitals are taken and it’s time to wait for the doctor. She breezes through the door a few minutes later asking me about my trip to England and if we have plans to return. There are congratulations on the engagement, which she saw in some paper and then it’s down to business.
“So you’ve not been feeling well for the last few weeks. Nausea, vomiting?”
“No vomiting, some nausea. Just not feeling like myself. A couple of times I thought I was about to start my period; I was a little moody, lots of breast tenderness but then nothing happened.”
“Are you taking anything?”
“I’m on birth control but other than that no and nothing has changed. At first I thought it could be from all the traveling but it just won’t go away.”
“Well let’s take a look at these labs and then we may need to draw some blood for a more thorough work up.” She punches a few buttons on the computer and her face breaks out into a huge smile.
“Well, I can see you exact problem right here and I know just how to treat it.” I sigh with relief that this is something easy; I was convinced that there was something really wrong when she started talking about blood tests.
“Yes, your problem will go away in about 8 months no worries.” 8 months, holy shit.
“Can’t you give me something? I really have to wait it out for the next 8 months?”
“Lauren, I don’t think you’re understanding my doctor humor here. Sweetie, you’re pregnant.” It takes several minutes for her words to sink in.
“Pregnant? Are you sure?”
“These things are pretty accurate. Judging by your symptoms I would say a little over a month maybe a bit less. Have you missed your period?”
“I’m on the pill. I don’t… Ugh!!! When we were getting ready to leave England I had just finished a pill pack. I usually just start the next one immediately to avoid having one but I didn’t have any way to fill the script over there so I just threw the pack away and decided to fill it when we got back. I knew I miscounted the off days but filled it as soon as I remembered and tried to play catch up.”
“You’re body and the baby had other plans. I hope this is good news?”
“Oh yes, of course. Ian will be absolutely thrilled.” And he would no doubt about it. But this was not how I had planned for things to go. This was not the order I saw for my life. We aren’t even married yet.
“But what about you? Are you thrilled?”
“I’m sorry, this is all just such a shock for me. We’ve only just gotten engaged and now we’re going to have a baby. It’s a bit much to wrap my head around.”
“Completely understandable. But take this time and enjoy it. You deserve it.”
Trying to comprehend everything I just learned, I get some prenatal samples, a prescription from the doctor and set up the next appointment with an ultrasound to find out just how far along I am. Instead of going straight back to the office, I decide a walk may help me to clear my head and give me a little time away from everything to think about the fact that I am pregnant, that Ian and I are going to have a baby, that we are going to be parents.
The ringing of my cell phone pulls me from my reflective walk around Manhattan. Anxious to stop the noise I answer it without looking to see who’s calling.
“Hello?”
“Lauren, baby, so good to hear your sweet voice again.” His voice drips with sticky sweetness.
“You know you aren’t supposed to contact me. But since you don’t appear to care about staying out of jail, you can at least tell me what the hell you want this time.”
“Oh baby, you know what I want.” His voice is maniacal and I can picture his face at that moment; evil, crooked smile, bright eyes just beginning to cloud over and turn black as the devil within takes over, trying to overpower me even through the phone.
“No, I’m afraid I don’t. You’re going to have to enlighten me, Dean.”
“Oh believe me, I have every intention of ‘enlightening’ you, Lauren. This has gone on too long and I’m tired of playing your game. It’s time this ends; time for you to come home. No more arguments.”
My mind races with my new secret. A secret not even Dean knows. He may have held all the cards in the past but this new card, a trump card, is mine alone. My secret will once again set me free because Dean is right this needs to end, needs to end now.
“You’re right.” I hear his shocked gasp at my words.
“Aw baby, I knew you could be reasonable. Now it’s time to stop all this nonsense with the police so we can go home.” So he thinks I’ll just play along and go quietly. Well no need to show all my cards so soon.
“We should probably talk before making any decisions. New York has been my home for over 5 years now and I’m not sure I’m ready to leave.”
“I’m not living in the same city as the toy you’ve been shacking up for the last couple of years. Lauren, that’s not going to happen. So just put that thought out of your pretty little head and maybe I’ll let you keep it. You can’t think that you can come back after all this time and there won’t be consequences for your actions. You’ve been very bad and I intend to punish you accordingly.”
Summoning all my strength not to throw the phone and run, I reply. “Dean, we need to meet and talk. I agree that this has to end and if this is the only way to end it then so be it.”
He rattles off his hotel address and room number. I hang up agreeing to meet him there in an hour. This is just enough time to run to the apartment and get what I need before meeting him. Unfortunately for Dean, he still thinks I’m the same scared girl that ran from him 5 years ago. She definitely still lives in me but I draw on her for my strength. The old Lauren watched as two people who should have loved her and protected her took away the one person that did love and protect her. Then those people tried to break her. From the pieces they left behind, she became Celeste and has now once again come back to herself and is Lauren. This fight is about to end one way or another but make no mistake I am done running and hiding. Life is far too precious to spend it in fear and Dean has robbed me of so much time already. My resolve is hardened to what I must do. It’s not only just Ian and I that I protect any longer.
I arrive at Dean’s hotel with a few minutes to spare and make my way up to room 465. I tentatively knock, hoping that maybe he won’t be there. The door swings open mere seconds later. His grip on my wrists is firm as he pulls me into the room. I take the moment to
calm my nerves unwilling to let the fear simmering beneath the surface take control. I remind myself, as if I need to, of all that I am fighting for, fighting to protect and meet his gaze head on. He must see something different in my eyes as his momentarily falter and his grip on me loosens. I use the time pull myself free of his grasp and look around the room.
Seeing a small table and chairs across from the bed I make my way over and sit down. He follows me over and sits opposite me. Oh how the mighty have fallen! I reflect as I look around the room. Just a standard room in a mundane hotel but not one Dean would have been caught dead in just a few months ago. Penthouses and suites were the main stream for him. But with no job, a fugitive on the run he has nothing now. I feel our playing field even, because while I have these things, being around him makes me feel as if I have nothing, am nothing.
“Would you like something to drink?” The casualness of his tone gives me hope that maybe this meeting will not have to end the way I saw it previously. I mentally kick myself for allowing his charms to make me doubt what needs to be done. There is only one end to this for me and for him. One of us will not be leaving this room, which one remains to be seen.
I grip my purse a little more tightly feeling the outline of the gun it contains. Briefly I wonder if I should just pull it out now and end all of this without the preemptive conversation. The fool in me continues to hope for a peaceful resolution and the gun remains firmly tucked away.
“Lauren, I asked if you would like a drink? You know I have limited patience. Don’t push them right now when we are just working things out.”
“Do you have any sparkling water?” I refuse to be baited by his comments and respond blandly.
He turns to the small refrigerator and comes back with a bottle of water for me. I open it and gulp down several drinks like a man in the desert dying of thirst who has just been presented with the one and only drink he will receive before his death.
“I must admit I thought it would be more difficult to get you here. I didn’t expect to call you up and have you come running. Trouble in paradise? Jacobs not living up to his end of the deal? Or perhaps his playboy reputation is just too much for you to deal with? You never were good at sharing.” His words always did sting more than his fists. And he wields them expertly striking in all the places where they can hurt me. But there is one thing he doesn’t know one secret that I alone hold. My secret is so powerful it renders all that he says useless against me.
“It’s time for this all to stop as I said on the phone. That is why I am here no other reason. Ian doesn’t know anything about this meeting. And that’s how I would prefer to keep it.”
“Clever little thing aren’t you? First playing me and now him. I see you even managed to get a ring out of the bastard.” His gaze drifts to my engagement ring. Try as I might I cannot stop the tears that well up at the thought that there may be no wedding after all. No happily ever after for Ian and I and once again I am the cause of it. I hope that Ian will understand when this is all said and done, whatever the outcome, that I did this for us and our baby.
Reflexively at the thought of the life growing inside me, I reach down and cover my belly. Dean is as observant as ever. His gasp fills the small room.
“You bitch. I should have known you would do something like this. Little slut, go and get yourself knocked up.”
A door behind me opens and suddenly there are hands on both of my arms holding me down in the chair.
“I told you she was nothing but a gold digging slut. Now she will have all our fortunes and Ian linked to her for life.” Rebecca’s voice is thick with hate; her nails dig into my flesh and I’m sure they will draw blood. This wasn’t something I anticipated, Dean and Rebecca working together. I should have put the pieces together from everything she said in London but it’s too late now. I have to find a way out of this situation.
“Leave it alone, Rebecca. I told you to stay out of this. This is between Lauren and I. I’m not even sure why you’re still here. I told you I was finished with you and I am. It was your job to bring her back to me and that’s done now.”
“Yes but this isn’t how it’s supposed to work out. Ian was supposed to love me again, come back to me. Not knock up this stupid bitch. We should just kill her now. She’s of no use to either of us now. You can’t want her when she carries another man’s child and she has destroyed my happiness. Dean, it’s time to destroy her.”
“You may be right but I’ll be the judge of Lauren’s fate, not you. Now let go and move away from her.” He rises from his chair as he stares down Rebecca. My eyes never leave his frame waiting for an opening, a chance to run. Rebecca’s grip loosens enough at Dean’s approach that I am able to turn and stand. I grab for my bag but she anticipates my movements and knocks my hand back down.
“Calling for help won’t save you now, bitch. You have stolen too much from me and you will pay for you have taken.” Her whispered words send chills down my spine.
Her hands are no longer holding me but reaching behind her. Dean moves to stand next to me seeing that she is no longer holding me and appears to have given up the fight. When her hands come forward again she is holding a small revolver.
“Rebecca, calm down. I told you that Lauren was mine to deal with. Now put the gun down.” Dean’s authoritative tone does nothing to sway her. Rebecca’s eyes are clouded with hate and flickers of the insanity that seems to have free reign within her now. While the two of them are distracted with what my fate will be, I reach into my bag and pull out the 9mm I took from Ian’s nightstand drawer. I doubt he even knew I knew it was there. But I knew and now I will take out Dean before I meet my own end.
Tears stream down my face at the life that Ian and I will never share; at the life growing inside me that never really had a chance. I take a couple steps back and try to steady the gun in my hand. I level it at Dean completely ignoring Rebecca. Dean is still focused in on her and the gun in her hands. I contemplate dropping my gun and going for the door as he is completely distracted and Rebecca’s view is blocked by Dean’s body. The next several seconds tick by in what seems like hours. Seconds that change all our lives forever.
Dean takes a step forward toward Rebecca as I take another step back bringing me into her line of sight.
“Stupid cunt! What are you going to do shoot us both?” Her laughter is high pitched and crazy; almost painful to listen to. There is a loud noise from the hallway and Dean shifts to grab my gun. A loud crunching sound fills the room and suddenly Ian and Connor come to stand beside me. Rebecca startled by Dean’s sudden movement fires. The deafening sound of the gun going off envelops the whole room and time seems to stand still. At the sound of the gun, Ian jumps in front of me protecting me with his body. Out of the corner of my eye I see Connor pull his gun from its holster inside his jacket. Dean lunges forward over Ian knocking my gun from my hand. I don’t know who has it now but the room becomes a volley of gunfire and screams. I fall to the floor in a mass of bodies; somewhere in them I know Ian is there.
I’m conscious of Connor talking on the phone but unable to hear the words. My gaze is clouded and something sticky is pooling on the floor around me. I try to move but am pinned by the weight on top of my legs. The weight is unmoving and immovable. I can hear Connor telling me to lay still. I want to find Ian and cry out for him. Connor’s panicked expression tells me nothing good has happened to the man I love.
As I lay there contemplating my fate, I realize the pool around me is growing larger and larger. As it reaches my head, I see that it’s not water at all but blood. I pick up my head as much as I can. Pain shoots down through my temples but I have to see what’s going on. Across the room Rebecca is slumped against the wall; her shirt bloody. Instantly I know she is dead. I try to focus and find Ian. Dean lies over my legs keeping me down. From underneath him, I can see part of another torso, Ian’s torso. Dean’s dead weight presses into him but he doesn’t move to free himself. He’s still as death itself.
Writing this book was much different than writing Out of the Ashes. I must admit it was more difficult going through Into the Flames. Writer’s block plagued me for months in finishing this but now it is done and I’m in love with the final product.
There are so many people to thank in getting to this point. First off, I want to thank my family. The process on this book was a lot more time consuming than the first one and they patiently, sometimes impatiently, waited while I got everything done plus had to listen to me complain through the writer’s block. I could not do this without them and their support so to my husband and children a huge thank you.
I also want to thank my wonderful beta readers. They were absolutely instrumental in getting this book finished and polished. They waited through all the delays and extensions and still got me what I needed in time for editing. I cannot say enough thank yous to all of them.
A huge thank you to all of you that read Out of the Ashes and fell so in love with Ian and Lauren/Celeste’s story. This trilogy wouldn’t be possible without all of you. Yes, I love to write but I love it even more when people read it and bond with the characters and story. I can’t wait for you to read the conclusion though I will be sad to see their story come to an end.
