by Knight, Evie
Not moving back with him didn’t mean she couldn’t see him. A bit contrary to what she’d told him a week ago. So what? Colin did say they weren’t over, and Ariel wanted to believe it. They needed to find a balance in their relationship. No one ever said love was easy. Her Mozart was as damaged as they came. Ariel loved him enough to work things out with him, to help him get rid of his darn demons and be happy again.
She appreciated Logan’s kindness and support. He’d been a friend and sat there listening to her talk through her options, even her feelings for Colin, and offered some advice when she’d asked.
“Do you think we can go a little faster?” Ariel turned to look at Logan.
He glanced at her. “We’ll be there in another five minutes.”
Her nerves drove her crazy with the excitement of seeing Colin. Yet something heavy sat low in her belly, she didn’t know why. It didn’t feel right. She’d feel better once she set foot at his place, saw him, and told him she loved him. Ariel needed to get it off her chest. Whatever happened next, whatever he said, she’d deal with it when the time came.
Logan drove around the circular driveway, stopping right in front of the steps. Ariel got out of the car without waiting for him, and ran up to the entrance. Lola opened the door and informed her he was in his study with Penelope. At the mention of the other woman’s name, a knot formed in her stomach. Ariel made her way to the study with Logan right at her heels.
She opened the door and stopped in her tracks, looking at a mad Penelope pointing a gun at Colin.
“Dear God,” Logan said.
“No.” Ariel sucked in her breath and stepped in Colin’s direction.
Colin caught her eyes and shook his head. “Ariel, stay where you are.”
Penelope looked at Ariel. “Good. Good. This is turning out better than I planned. Now, you can watch me finish dear Colin.” She pulled the trigger.
Ariel grabbed a pillow from a chair and threw it at Penelope. “You bitch.”
The gun went off. Colin pushed Ariel out of the way and Logan grabbed Penelope from the back in a tight grip. The gun slid from her grasp.
Penelope’s nostrils flared. “I hate you all. I hate you.” She pulled on Logan’s arms, clawing him, and kicking him in the legs, trying to free herself.
Lola and other staff members gathered at the door.
“Call the police,” Logan said. He pushed Penelope to the floor, locking her face down between his legs.
Ariel clung to Colin. “Are you okay?” She searched his face.
He nodded and kissed her, hugging her to him. “Thank you.”
She flinched, blinking away the dark spots flashing in her line of sight. “Ouch!” She untangled herself from him, looking down at her stomach where a blood stain formed. Ariel touched the stained spot, blood wetting her fingers. She glanced up at Colin, every cell in her body screaming in alarm.
“Get an ambulance,” Colin shouted. “Ariel, gorgeous, stay with me please.”
A flood of cold sweat spread through her body. Her breathing became constricted. Colin kept talking to her but she couldn’t hear him. The loud rush of blood running through her veins rang in her ears. Nausea rose to her throat. She turned to look at Logan, then back at Colin.
“I love you,” Ariel whispered, her eyes closing into darkness.
Chapter Seventeen
Colin ran his hands through his hair. Ariel lost consciousness soon after she’d been shot. He’d tried to control the bleeding, putting pressure on the wound before the ambulance got to his house, but she’d still manage to lose quite a bit of blood by the time they’d reached the hospital.
She’d been in surgery for a few hours and now she slept in her room, recuperating from the trauma. Fortunately, the bullet passed through her body without causing any damage to her organs. The doctors reconstructed the skin around the exit wound. It’d leave an ugly scar, and take time to heal. Colin sat outside of her room, along a long and narrow white hallway, waiting for her to wake up. He glanced up in time to see Logan approach him.
“Hey, man.” Logan sat on the chair next to him. “How is she doing?”
“The doctor says she’s in a stable condition,” Colin said.
“Good.” Logan eased back in his chair, resting his head on the wall.
“What happened with Penelope?”
Logan let his breath out. “The police have her in custody. She’s a self-confessed murderer and she’s facing life in prison. Lucky for her there isn’t a death penalty here.” He remained quiet for a moment. “I think you have to do a press conference to clear your name for once and for all.”
“I don’t want to discuss it now,” Colin said. Ariel’s well-being was his highest priority at the moment. He’d deal with everything else later.
“For once in your life listen to what I have to say.” Logan rested his arms on his lap, intertwining his fingers. “If you want a chance at having a normal life with Ariel, it’s time for you to take back your life. For real, this time, and don’t fuck it up.” He stood. “The P.I. got a breakthrough and located Tanner. He emailed you the details.”
Colin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Finally, some good news in this fucking mess. I’ll call you or him if I have any questions once I read his report.”
“I’m going to the cafeteria, can I get you something?” Logan asked.
“No.”
“Let me know when you’re ready to talk about the press conference. If you don’t want to do a conference, we can do something as simple as a press release, giving the media enough to leave you alone for once and for all.” Logan walked to the elevator.
Colin rose from the chair and went into Ariel’s room. Pain clutched his heart at seeing her asleep in a hospital bed. He sat on the chair next to her and clasped her hand with his, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles.
“I love you,” he whispered, touching his forehead to the mattress.
“Colin?” Ariel said, sounding groggy from the sedatives she’d been under.
He glanced at her and sprang to his feet. “Love.” Colin ran his finger across her forehead. “How are you feeling?”
“Thirsty.”
“I can fix it.” He filled a glass with water from a pitcher on the small table near her bed then put a straw in the glass, and helped her angle her head to take a sip.
Ariel winced. “This hurts like a bitch, which reminds me, where’s the bitch that shot me?”
He pressed the nurse button on the side of the bed. “You don’t have to worry anymore. She’s paying for all her crimes now.” Colin grabbed her hand again. “Thank you. I owe you my life. I wouldn’t be standing here, speaking with you if it hadn’t been for what you did.”
Ariel lifted her gaze to him. “You’re damn right you wouldn’t. This,” she pointed to her wound, “is going to leave an ugly mark. Can you fix it, too?”
“I think I can. I know an excellent plastic surgeon—”
“Oh, hell no. No one, listen to me, no one is getting a knife in me. I think I’ve had enough.” She flinched. “I’ll have to learn to love the scar. Colin, I…”
“This may not be the time or place … I love you.” He locked gazes with her. “I’ll always be sorry for the way I treated you. I don’t deserve you taking a bullet for me. God knows I’d give anything to be in your place now.”
Ariel squeezed his hand. “I love you, too.”
“Please come home,” he said.
“I—”
The doctor walked in, a nurse right behind him. “Wonderful, she’s awake.”
Colin stepped out of the room while Ariel underwent her post surgery checkup. He wished he’d had more time to talk with her, to convince her to give him another chance. He’d promise to do right by her, and make her happy.
Penelope’s confession of her crimes freed him. All the anger, the sense of betrayal, left him. Colin felt free to do anything he wished, free to smile, to laugh, to compose and play his music, to go out in public. He wa
s free to love her. He loved Ariel.
The doctor informed him she’d have to remain at the hospital for a couple of days as he needed to keep a close eye on the wound for infections and other care. He’d administered another dose of pain killers and by the time the doctor and nurse stepped out of the room, she’d been asleep. Colin spent the night on the chair next to her bed, planning his immediate and long term plans.
****
Ariel remained inpatient longer than anticipated. She wasn’t happy to stay in observation for a full week. The pain still bothered her, but she refused to remain another day bedridden. She needed fresh air, a change of scenery. Stefanie, Julianne, Logan, and Gérard visited her all throughout her hospital stay.
She hadn’t been this pampered in a long time. Too bad the pampering happened under these circumstances. Ariel looked at herself in the mirror, confirming the mess she thought she’d be.
Ugh. The circles around her eyes made her look sicker than she felt, the pink blush, and the curve of her cheekbones were gone. Make-up, no matter the quality, wouldn’t do any miracles for her today or ever if she stayed hospitalized.
Ariel stepped out of the bathroom, zipping up her hoodie. “Logan, I’m ready.”
Colin raised a brow. “You’re going with me.”
She looked at him. “I’ve got my stuff at Logan’s place, and I have to call my new landlord.”
“Right, the landlord. He called and said since you didn’t show up to get the keys, he rented the place to someone else,” Logan said.
She furrowed her brow. “He can’t do that. Why didn’t he wait for me? I haven’t been partying, I’ve been hospitalized.” Ariel winced and touched her belly.
Colin walked over and put his arms around her, helping her straighten. “There’s no use for you to get upset now. Your belongings are back at my place, where they belong.”
She stepped out of his grasp. “How? Why? You didn’t tell me anything.”
Colin closed the distance. His fingers touched her chin, tilting her face to him. “Please don’t tell me no.” He kissed her.
Ariel couldn’t think when he kissed her like that. Why did she even try to put up a fight anyway? The man she loved, loved her, too.
He broke the kiss. “I love you. Never forget,” he whispered against her lips. “We have news about Tanner.”
“Is he back?” she asked.
“He will be soon. The private investigator and his partner located him in a town outside of São Paulo,” Colin said.
“Oh, my God! Thank you.” Ariel wrapped her arms around Colin.
“It gets better,” Logan said. “They have witnesses who are willing to testify in a court of law against your uncle, too.” He smiled.
“That’s the best news ever.” She darted the few steps to Logan and hugged him, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you both.” Ariel dropped her hold on him and touched her wound, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply.
Logan placed his hands on her waist. “You okay there?”
Ariel nodded.
“Don’t thank us yet. We have to work out the details to make sure Tanner isn’t apprehended the moment he sets foot in the States. Thank us when all is said and done,” Colin said.
Logan kissed her forehead. “Go with my friend before he kills me,” he said, sparing a glance at Colin.
****
New York was as busy as ever. An understatement, when it came to a city such as this. It’d been a few weeks since she’d left the hospital, and against everyone’s wishes Ariel hadn’t been able to remain in bed. Instead, she’d busied herself finalizing the rest of the arrangements for the summer concert and now, New York at last. She’d come back for two things. One, she’d be taking care of today, and the other one during the upcoming weekend.
Ariel glanced around her uncle’s office, clutching the folder in her hands. She inhaled and exhaled, trying to control her nerves. She had trouble coming to terms and accepting the sad truth of her own flesh and blood deceiving her and Tanner. While her greedy uncle sat on their fortune enjoying every cent of it, she’d been thinking of ways to survive and worried sick about her brother. Ariel didn’t even want to imagine what Tanner must’ve gone through, knowing people were looking for him to send him to jail.
She hadn’t seen her brother yet, she hoped the long wait would soon be over. Meanwhile she’d focus her energy elsewhere. Colin for starters. Ariel didn’t know if he’d made a decision on where he’d take his music career after this weekend’s concert. Every time someone tried to bring it up in a conversation, Colin kept to other topics. She hoped he’d change his mind.
“Ariel, honey,” her uncle said from the door. “It’s good to see you. I hope you know where Tanner is.” He walked to his desk and took the chair behind it, across from her.
The investigators Logan hired proved to have good connections in high places, and assured her they had everything under control. Regardless, seeing her uncle sitting in front of her pretending he’d done nothing wrong sickened her. Nausea rose to her throat. Ariel willed her emotions to remain in check in order to complete the job she came to do. She’d insisted on being the one to deliver the news to her uncle.
“I’m afraid the sentiment isn’t reciprocated, Uncle Ken.”
He shrugged. “Where’s Tanner?”
“So, tell me, Uncle. What does it feel like, spending someone else’s money?”
“I’m not sure I understand your question.” He propped his arms on top of his desk. “Listen, I too am shocked at what your brother did. I don’t know how he can live with himself knowing he dragged you along with his failed scheme. You’re his victim and I can help you.”
Ariel narrowed her eyes at him. “How can you help me?”
“Tell me where I can find Tanner. I promise I will do everything in my power to keep you out of this mess. I’ll even set up a fund so you can start clean someplace else.”
“Start up clean? I never did anything.”
He angled his head. “You know how these things go. Innocents get pulled in and get blamed too. I can help you.”
“You’d set up a trust fund for me?” She smiled.
“Yes,” he said.
“What about my brother?”
Her uncle remained silent for a moment. “Tanner has to face the law.”
She leaned forward and placed the folder on top of his desk. “I’m afraid you’re wrong.”
He looked at the folder, reaching for it, opened it, and then glanced at her. “This can’t be possible.”
Ariel stood and placed her hands on his desk. “Well, it is, Uncle Ken. What? You thought there’d be no way to track down your scheme? Your friends gave you up the moment they found jail awaited them.”
“You’re lying.” He read the statements in front of him, flipping over the pages as he went.
“It’s all there. The fact of the matter is your buddies are willing to testify against you. What kind of uncle are you? How can you set up your own nephew like that and take what is ours?”
“Ariel, dear, I’m sure there’s some way we can fix this.”
“How? By you not going to jail?” She paused. “I don’t think so.”
“It should’ve never come to this.” He stood, taking the papers with him. “I’m sorry you were caught up in this.” He walked to the door.
Ariel remained standing by the desk and stared at him. A couple of detectives opened the door and flashed their badges. Her uncle looked at her, surprise on his face. One of the detectives took the folder from her uncle, and read him his rights while the other one put cuffs around his wrists.
“Ariel?” her uncle asked.
“I’m not sorry you got caught, Uncle Ken. You’re a piece of shit.” She fisted her hands to control the need to punch him.
“Don’t drop the soap in jail.” Colin walked past the detectives, headed in her direction.
“Colin.” Ariel flung her arms around his neck.
“Are you okay?” he asked.<
br />
She nodded, burying her face in his chest.
“I’m sorry, gorgeous.” He kissed the top of her head.
“I miss Tanner. I want to see for myself he’s okay. Is he here yet? ”
He let out a small breath. “Not yet, but soon. They’re still working through the legalities to make sure he’s not arrested the moment he steps foot in US soil.”
She glanced at him. “Can you take me to him?”
Colin pursed his lips. “Sure. As soon as the P.I.s get a hold of him again.”
Ariel frowned. “What do you mean? I agreed to meet with my uncle because I thought the investigators had Tanner.”
“He was with her until last night.”
“With the P.I.’s partner? The one who flew to Brazil?”
“Yes. She found him, had him, then he disappeared from under her nose. Your brother is giving her a run for her money,” Colin said.
“Argh… I can’t believe him. Doesn’t he know she’s trying to help him?”
“After this mess and the possibility of him going to jail, it’s obvious he trusts no one.”
Sadness filled her chest and she closed her eyes.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Colin lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You’ll see him again. I promise. Please be patient.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
****
Ariel glanced around the table, glad for the time everyone managed to make to have dinner together as the week went by in a flash. She’d been busy working with Marissa, and finalizing the last minute details of the concert tomorrow. She’d spent very little time with Colin. He spent most of his day at rehearsals, making up practice time given they’d arrived a week later than planned. It thrilled her that the day finally arrived.
The Philharmonic was honored to have him play with them. This summer’s concert promised to be the best one yet. Even better, he’d been invited to play with them in other venues the remainder of the year. Colin also received several other offers for tours in Europe. Depending on what he decided to do, he’d be one busy man. Ariel dreaded thinking how little time—if any—she’d get to spend with him. Colin hadn’t declined any of the offers, but he hadn’t accepted any either, which left much to say and think. She figured he’d tell her when he was ready to share his decision.
