by King, Ann
“Then what happened?”
“He’d done so much for the country, even gave most of his wealth to developed poor inner cities—because it made him look good and it was a tax break.”
“You really seem to like this guy, the way you speak of him so respectfully.”
“I spoke to Mr. B the same way I’m talking to you now. I never minced my words. That’s why when he left office, he kept me around because of my honesty and frank demeanor. He hated ‘yes’ men and ass kissers.”
“So you were hired to protect him and his immediate family?”
“Exactly.”
“So why is this guy trying to hunt me down?”
“He’s your paternal grandfather.”
Hannah jaw fell open.
“And no, he’s not the one hunting you down.”
Chapter 3
“What?” Hannah gaped in shock.
“You see when your father Conrad IV, Mr. B’s wayward, troublesome son, came to him with the story that he got the maid pregnant, his father wasn’t too kind about it and thought your mother was a gold digger who wanted sneak her way into his wealthy dynasty. Well, he soon fired your mother and disowned his son. Wanting to avoid a scandal while in office, he left for ‘medical reasons’ before the local press got wind of any of this disgraceful news.”
“God, that’s sick. That’s awful.” Hannah felt her emotions swirling out of control now.
“Anyway, the old man doesn’t have much time to live now.”
“He doesn’t?”
“No. He’s dying. Grumpy as hell, but still dying. Now he sees very little people except for his housekeeper Sherry Elroy James.”
Hannah covered her mouth with her hands. “What?”
“Yes, you’ve got it.”
“Sherry has been looking for me? To kill me? But why?”
“Old Mr. Barrington had a change of heart. His son was his only living heir and he was to leave everything to him. But when he died in some skiing accident in Switzerland, the old man took a huge hit, mentally. His health declined since then. “
“That’s when he hired detectives to look for my mother?”
“Right. Call it guilt or change of old heart but he wanted to make amends. He’d heard that your mother and you went to America and were suffering. Now with all his billions in stocks all over the world he didn’t want it to go to the government.”
“So what happened?”
“Well, those nut jobs he first hired did a lousy job in tracking you down. I mean you and your mother changed your name to Steeles, remember?”
“Right,” she murmured looking down at her palms.
“He was told that you had passed away.”
“What? Who would have told him that?”
“Ms Elroy James, his housekeeper. We figured she may have paid off one of the detectives and agreed to cash in the money and split it. You know how tough life is in Melipos.”
“Yeah either you’re super rich or super poor and struggling.”
“Exactly. Anyway, he had written in his will that Ms Elroy James and any of her offsprings would receive everything.”
“Everything?”
“Yes. Of course, that was cause for celebration but then a medical associate of his had informed him that he had studied a woman at the teaching hospital in New York who developed MS and she was originally from Melipos. Mr. B became curious when his acquaintance said that the woman had a young daughter visiting her every day. The girl looked like his dead son. There was some resemblance.”
“Oh, so that’s when he hired you to do a thorough job of finding me?”
“Precisely. Of course it wasn’t easy, I used whatever resources I could during my more active days in the secret service and all the research skills I had at my disposal.”
“I see. And that included having my phone bugged.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Yeah, whatever,” she playfully rolled her eyes. She stopped when he handed her a black and white photograph.
“This is an old photo of your father and grandfather. Mr. B wanted you to see this.”
Hannah took the photo and tears welled up in her eyes spilling down her cheeks. Her nose became stuffy with emotion again. God, how she hated when that happened. Gustav gave her some tissues to dab her eyes and blow her nose.
“I wish mom could see this.”
“She will. In time.”
“But what about this Elroy James person?”
“Well, she needs to eliminate you first before your grandfather finds out that you’re really alive because the old goat made it clear that if he had any blood relatives alive they’d get everything but since he didn’t, his housekeeper for so many years would get first dibs.”
Hannah felt a sick, pulling feeling inside her belly. How could greed be the root of this evil plot to kill her? It was crazy, this James person didn’t even know her and yet wanted to eliminate her?
“We’ve tracked her down.”
“You have?”
“I expect better manners of my guests, Gustav!” Andre’s deep, powerful voice interrupted them as he walked fiercely over to the patio where they stood. “You need to announce yourself and sign in before entering my property.”
Hannah had forgotten that Andre had a secret passageway to exit and enter his penthouse besides the private elevator. She jumped up, glad to see Andre was okay and went over to hug him but he held up his hand and stopped her cold while his dark eyes fixed dangerously on Gustav.
Gustav stood up with his jaw clenched and faced Andre whose dangerous gaze brought shivers down Hannah’s spine. Both men stared each other down. The groom and the best man.
This situation could not possibly get any worse.
Chapter 4
Heated anticipation coursed through Hannah’s blood as she looked helplessly from Andre to Gustav.
Both men were standing inches away from each other, their eyes locked into a dangerous stare down. Gustav, her groom had his jaw clenched with a menacing stare as he slid his hand in his inside breast pocket where his pistol holster would be. At the same time Andre, her best man—whom she’d fallen in love with and made love to had his jaw set with his dangerous gaze ready to pounce on Gustav.
This was a nightmare.
The frigid tension was shattering her nerves.
Hannah felt violent swings of hot and cold sensations throughout her body. As overwhelmed as she felt gaping at the two angry men in her presence who looked as if they were ready to tear each other apart right there in front of her, the adrenaline rushed through her veins and pumped all sorts of horrible scenarios in her mind.
This was too much. She loathed this hot and cold feeling she was getting. She could almost visualize blood being spilled any moment now. She felt it in her gut. Why had Andre turned her away from him? Was he aware of what transpired between she and Gustav earlier? Oh, God! That would be a disaster. Hannah felt her stomach squeeze. But then Gustav should have been the one who was pissed with Andre, shouldn’t he? He was after all her groom.
“Well, now isn’t this something. We meet again, Corskovi.” Gustav spoke with his fake Russian accent.
“You have no business being here,” Andre said in a low dangerous voice. His dark eyes glared at Gustav.
“Oh, on the contrary, Corskovi. You see I’ve come to collect my bride. You know, the one you fucked just before we were to marry at the chapel in Vegas.”
“She doesn’t want you, Gustav or James or whatever the fuck you call yourself these days.”
“Oh, good. So you know my identity. I knew it wouldn’t be too long before your men were able to figure it out.”
“Exactly,” Andre’s jaw clenched. “You were obviously sent here to spy on her not to marry her so she’s not really your bride after all now, is she?” Andre’s voice was low and chilling, he tilted his head slightly as if mocking Gustav. Andre had a slight smirk on his face but his grin did not touch his dark eyes.
“
Is that what you believe?” Gustav answered in his American accent now. “I guess you don’t know the full story about why I was really sent here.”
“Not yet and I really don’t care right now. Get out!”
“Not without Hannah,” Gustav challenged.
Andre made a sudden move towards Gustav and Gustav pulled his pistol in a lightning speed motion.
“Stop it!” Hannah screamed, covering her ears with her hands while squeezing her eyes shut. “Please! Gustav! Andre! No!”
Her heart pounded against her ribs like a wild horse on a racetrack, beating fast and hard in her chest. Gripped with a paralyzing fear, Hannah rushed in between the two men, her eyes pleading with Gustav as she faced him while her body shielded Andre.
Then a loud gunshot sounded and Hannah collapsed in Andre’s arms. Everything went dark.
Chapter 5
The tiny country of Melipos situated near France on the Mediterrean Sea was particularly beautiful at this time of the year. The gorgeous island flowers bloomed everywhere and the weather was spectacular—a nice warm climate surrounded the island with gentle breezes from the surrounding body of water.
Barrington House was a gorgeous fifty-room mansion situated on a hill overlooking the grand city of Estille. It housed a beautiful rose garden, vineyard, tennis court and several water fountains on its large forty acres of land.
As Mr. Conrad Barrington looked longingly at an old photo of his son, sorrow bled into his heart. He’d wished he had not turned his back on his son years ago. But it was too late. Junior was dead and gone now.
Now, he waited for news of his grandchild Hannah who should have been named Hannah Barrington but because he had put a stop to his son having anything to do with the maid who gave birth to Hannah, she was instead named Steeles after some other man in America that Hannah’s mother had worked for. Donald Clive Steeles Peterson was the name of that businessman according to his sources.
Conrad was now anxiously awaiting news to see if Hannah were still alive and well and if she could find it in her heart to forgive him.
Of course, if Hannah were in fact deceased then the will that his lawyer had drafted up and that which is still awaiting his signature, would stand as is. Sherry Elroy James, his lifelong housekeeper would inherit everything he owned including the grand estate, his offshore accounts and all his stocks and bonds. He’d already given his share to charity while he was actively working. He didn’t feel the need to give anymore not knowing exactly how well the funds would be distributed since he wouldn’t be around to supervise.
Sherry entered the bedroom where the invalid elder sat looking out the window to a breathtaking view of his beautiful rose garden. Sherry looked much older than her forty-two years. Her skin was wrinkled and she had dark circles under her eyes.
Working practically seven days a week would put that sort of strain on a person. She’d been in the Barrington’s employ for way too long. It was time for her to retire now. Reclaim her life back. But old Mr. Barrington would never let her go. She was indebted to him for life, wasn’t she?
He’d saved her from doing time for a petty crime she had committed when she was younger by providing her with an alibi.
But then she had to pay the price by being his slave in every sense of the word for all these years. To be on his beck and call day and night.
When he ran for office, of course he started to pay her a small salary to make it look good on the books. But that was it. She was already pregnant when she had met him and came to work for him. She was a pregnant teen in trouble with the law.
Thankfully she was able to give birth to her child in this nice home. But he’d made sure that she was isolated from the rest of the world. He’d kept her his servant for life. Now his life would soon be over and she who had nothing else in the world but the clothes on her back and a grown child would have to start all over again.
“Mr. Barrington, sir!” she called out in a weary voice.
“Yes, Sherry,” his said, his voice cracking and hoarse.
“It’s time to take your blood pressure tablet.”
“Not now.”
“But Mr. Barrington.”
“Sherry. Please,” he said, trying to smile, “you’ve been so good to me all these years and have put up with my…nonsense. I’m getting old now. I’m tired. I just want to be left alone. Is Peter here?”
“Yes, your lawyer is in the den. Whenever you are ready to sign, he’ll bring the papers up to you.”
“Good. Now get me a glass of warm milk with honey and…”
“A shot of vodka,” Sherry winked with a grin. “I know.”
“You know me very well, don’t you, dear?”
“Yes, sir.” Sherry curtsied to the elder then turned and left the room.
Later after she’d given the old man his drink and returned to her quarters, her cell phone rang in her room and she glanced at the screen before answering it.
“Why are you calling me now?”
“Because, I want to give you an update on Hannah.”
“I told you not to mention her name just in case the conversation is traced.”
“Sorry,” the voice on the other end of the phone said. “Anyhow, there’s been a slight delay but things are moving along as planned.”
“I hope so.”
“They are. Trust me. I think she will be out of the way for good now. Everything is on course.”
“Good.” With those words, Sherry hung up the phone and leaned back in her bed inside her dark room with no windows. Her heart pounded hard and rapid in her chest. It was close. Things were moving along. And soon, the entire estate would be hers. She couldn’t wait. She’d more than earned it. It was not going to be taken away from her now by some wretched bastard child of Conrad Junior whom doesn’t even know anything about the Barringtons. That would be so unfair for her to appear in the picture with her gold-digging mother now of all times. It was a good thing Sherry had eavesdropped on Mr. Barrington’s phone conversations to discover that he was looking for the illegitimate child of his only son. The one he had denied years ago.
Sherry had made friends with the other help in the mansion including the security which wasn’t too difficult since Mr. Barrington had disgraceful manners to all those in his employ. She’d made a deal to try to find the girl before Mr. Barrington did and either send news that she was deceased or eliminate her altogether. It was a cruel plan but very necessary. Life had been so tragic for Sherry. She only learned how to take what she wanted in life since it would never be given to her.
Finally all those years of looking after that miserable old man, being his slave, his beating toy, his lowly servant would pay off. Sherry closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Chapter 6
“What happened?” Hannah woke up in Andre’s master bedroom with a throbbing headache.
“You’d passed out, Hannah,” Andre’s low, deep voice was soothing and calm.
Hannah propped herself up on the bed. “Was I…?” she felt around her torso wondering if she was wounded.
Andre grinned. He looked positively gorgeous when he grinned and a dimple appeared on his beautiful cheeks. “No, dear. You were not shot. Nobody was.”
“Then what happened?...Oh, no! Gustav!”
“No. He didn’t fire his gun. Besides, he has a silencer on his firearm.”
“But…but I heard a gunshot.”
“Yes, you did. It was Hans.”
“Hans?”
“Yes, he came into the apartment by the side entrance and saw the commotion and fired a warning shot. It was a blank bullet. No harm done. He just wanted to grab our attention.”
“But what about that huge guy outside the door to your apartment.”
“Angus works with Gustav. He’s…should I say under control. He won’t bring any harm to you.”
“Oh, God! What about Gustav?”
“I’m right here, Hannah,” Gustav’s smooth voice sounded as he made his way over to the bed
. Andre seemed a bit annoyed that Gustav was approaching Hannah but said nothing as he continued to lean over Hannah sitting beside her on the bed.
“Andre and I…well, let’s just say we came to an agreement,” Gustav finished his sentence.
“An agreement? What kind of agreement?” Hannah queried, confused.
Andre sighed deeply. “It looks as if we’ve tracked down the person who is trying to…harm you.”
“You have?” Hannah sat up properly in the bed now. Her heart beating hard like thunder in her chest. So this was real? Somebody was trying to kill her. Oh, God! She was breathing fast and hard again.
“Shh. Calm down, Hannah. No one is going to touch you.” Andre’s deep, silky voice soothed her but her heart was still reacting to the fear of what could happen.
Gustav stood firm by the bedside opposite Andre, his hands shoved into the pants pocket of his suit. She could still feel the softness of Gustav’s touch on her body just moments ago and guilt tore through her at a rapid speed. God, what kind of woman was she? She’d almost gone all the way with Gustav. But then again, he was still her groom-to-be technically speaking. Though her heart belonged to sexy as hell Andre Corskovi. Never before had she been so torn over a man. Over two men!
“Hannah, you may as well know the full truth now.”
“Not now,” Andre interjected, his voice low and dangerous.
“We have no choice, Andre. We must let her know what’s going on.”
Andre stood up and shoved his hands in his pants pocket. He walked over to the window in the room and gazed out, his jaw clenched, his eyes deadly with a flash of anger in them.
Hannah’s emotions seemed to be whirling out of control again. Why were they treating her like a fragile child? She was a grown woman, damn it! And if her life was in jeopardy, she damn well had a right to know everything that was going on.
“Andre, it’s okay, I can handle it. Gustav, what were you going to tell me?”
