“We’re not chasing anyone. You said you wanted to help me stop Shannon and her partner,” Brooke reminded her nervous friend.
“Yes, but I meant help with finding him or even creating a paper trail to nail his ass. Not chase bad guys in the middle of the zoo.”
“If you don’t want to do this, I understand. You can wait for me back at the car.”
Lori frowned and tilted her head slightly. “I don’t want either one of us to do this. After last night, how could you even think about getting anywhere near that woman and not tell Brice what’s going on?”
“I don’t have a choice. Shannon said to come alone.”
Lori threw her hands up and shook her head. “And you just do it.”
Brooke laughed so hard at the look of exasperation on her friend's face she snorted. “It'll be fine.”
“The sister inside your biracial behind should’ve told you to stay your butt at the house until Brice got back so you two could figure out what to do next together.”
“What’s your excuse for helping me?” Brooke said, as she and Lori acknowledged the two young women that entered the restroom.
“I’m your friend and assistant. That’s what I do. But the minute I see something I don’t like, I’m calling 911 and I’m hauling ass out of there. Got it.”
Brooke giggled. “Got it.”
“Are you sure you’re feeling up to this?”
“I’m fine.”
“What’s the plan again?” Lori nervously looked over her shoulder.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m making sure we’re not overheard,” she whispered.
Brooke pressed her lips together to keep the smile she wanted to release at bay. “When we leave here, we head to the fountain. You go out first and a few minutes later, I’ll follow you. Once we get there, you go left and I go right. You hang out at the entrance area and act like you’re checking your phone or something but keep your hat and glasses on.”
“What will you be doing?”
“I’ll be hanging out at the concession stand, waiting for Shannon to meet me. There’s always a ton of people around. She won’t try anything in such a public place.”
“You hope so, anyway.”
Brooke could hear the concern in her friend’s voice and while she’d never admit it, she was a little scared. However, her fear for what Brice might do if he was in the same vicinity as Shannon scared her more. While she knew he’d never lay a hand on Shannon physically, he would have her arrested on the spot, putting their whole plan in jeopardy.
“And what am I a diversion for again?”
Brooke checked her watch. “The security team trailing me. With all the sundress-and-hat-wearing women out here, add the fact that we're basically the same height and size, and we should easily blend in. Hopefully, they’ll follow you to the front, buying me some time before they start looking for me.”
“This plan seems...”
“Simple.”
Lori placed her left hand on her hip. “Reckless.”
Brooke reached for Lori’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “It’s going to be fine. I’m sure of it.”
“If you say so.”
“Ready?” Brooke plastered on a fake smile, feeling thankful that Lori could not hear how loud her heart was beating.
“Nope, not at all. Let’s go.” Lori walked out of the restroom.
After several seconds, Brooke peeked out the door and as expected, the two security guards that had followed her from home were now on Lori’s trail; their black outfits were hard to miss. Brooke took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She pulled out the phone, opened the recording app and texted Shannon.
After receiving her reply, Brooke exited the bathroom, checking for more men in black as she made her way through the zoo over to the concession area. Brooke smiled as she thought about all the times she and Brice had spent in both the park and the zoo. She only hoped they would get a chance to do it again. Their attraction for one another was undeniable. It was just her past and present issues she wasn’t sure they could get through.
Brooke spotted an empty table near several families and sat down. She scanned the crowd for Shannon, spotting her leaving the line at the concession stand holding two bottles of water. The big man standing behind her sent a wave of panic throughout Brooke’s body and she suddenly couldn’t breathe. Brooke just knew it was the same man who had hurt her the night before. She reached for her purse and cell phone and was about to run, only her fear-riddled body made it impossible for her to move. When she saw the man head in the opposite direction, her lungs started working again. Brooke watched until he disappeared into the crowd.
“Hello... Hello.” Shannon snapped her fingers in front of Brooke’s face.
Brooke swatted away her hand. “Stop it.”
“Just making sure you’re still with me.” Shannon sat down and handed one of the bottles of water to Brooke. “You should have some. It’s getting really hot out here. I’m glad I wore this romper.”
“No, thank you. You agreed to come alone. What’s that animal doing here?”
“I agreed to meet you alone. Besides, where else should animals be than in the zoo?” Shannon laughed, lifting her sunglasses off her face and placing them on the table.
“What do you want now?”
“Not so fast. How do you feel? Things got a little rough last night.” Shannon took a drink from her bottle.
“What do you want?” Brooke repeated, her tone firm. She refused to give Shannon the satisfaction of knowing how much pain she had been in and was starting to feel even now.
“What I want is for you to remove your damn sunglasses and loosen the hell up,” she ordered through gritted teeth.
Brooke dropped her shoulders, removed her sunglasses and hat, placing them both on the table. She ran her hand through her hair and smiled. “Better?”
“Much. Now take the water and act like you’re glad to see your old friend. That way, the security team I’m sure the Kingsleys have on you won’t think anything is wrong and interrupt us before our business is complete.”
Brooke complied, cracked the seal of the water bottle and took a drink. She only hoped Shannon couldn’t see the shake in her hand that she was trying to hide. “What makes you think I have a security team?”
Shannon rolled her eyes. “You may be getting divorced but you’re still a Kingsley that’s worth millions. You’ll always have some sort of security, especially after last night. Speaking of which—” she took another drink from her bottle “—what did you tell everyone about what happened? My contact at the hotel said you were taken to the hospital but returned sometime later.”
Wow, Meeks’s plan had really worked. “I told everyone I walked in on a robbery and that I didn’t remember anything. They checked me out and sent me home.”
“Good girl.”
“How could you be sure I wouldn’t tell everyone the truth? I could’ve had you both arrested.”
“You could have and yet you didn’t. You have too much to lose...to protect.” Shannon pulled out a business card from her back pocket and handed it to Brooke.
Brooke read the card. “What is this?”
“That, my dear, is the routing number to my personal overseas account where you’ll reroute five of the seventy million dollars you’ll be sending Monday morning.”
“You mean five million of the blackmail money you’re making me steal from the Kingsleys,” Brooke clarified.
“I’m not making you do one thing. You have choices.”
“Some choice, pay you or you’ll destroy my life...my family’s life...with the pack of lies.”
Shannon smirked. “What’s a few more lies? Your whole life has been one big lie, Brooke Avery Smith Kingsley.”
Shannon’s words stung but Brooke knew part of what
she was saying was true. She had lied to Brice when she hadn’t told him about her past or her illness—but that stopped today.
Chapter 19
Brice checked his watch and phone. He’d texted Brooke that he was running late but hadn’t received a response yet. “So we good?” he asked, feeling anxious to get back to the house.
Alexander slid several documents across the table for Brice to review. “You tell us. You’re the numbers man.”
“I’m good with everything, except the additional points on the back end. I think it’s too much.”
“Me too, but we don’t have a choice,” Alexander said, cracking his knuckles.
“That’s the way things are done in oil-rich countries with governments basically for sale,” Morgan added.
Brice sat back in his chair and checked his phone again. “I guess.” Alexander and Morgan looked at each other before turning their attention back to Brice. “Go ahead. Say whatever it is you need to say.”
“I know you’re worried about Brooke, but she can take care of herself. She has for years. We need your head in the game,” Morgan replied, leaning forward and resting his forearms against the table.
That’s the problem. She wants to do everything herself. “My head is in the game. Like you said—” Brice folded his arms “—it’s how things are done and the price of doing business in other parts of the world.”
Victoria walked back into the conference room and her expression hardened. “What now?” Alexander asked.
She returned to her seat, tossed her phone on the table and said, “What is it with the women you boys pick?”
Morgan was single and had no intention of changing that fact, either, so he reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone and started checking his messages. “That question is definitely for you two.”
“What’s going on, Mother?” Alexander questioned.
Victoria tilted her head and glared at Brice. “Do you know where your wife is at the moment?”
“Yeah, she’s home with her friend Lori.” His face went blank. “Isn’t she?”
“Not unless you’ve recently moved into the zoo.”
“What?”
“Apparently, she’s enjoying this lovely day playing detective or something. She’s meeting with Shannon, one of her blackmailers, at this very moment.”
Brice jumped up, sending his chair flying backward. “She’s where? Doing what?”
“You heard me right. She’s at the zoo, meeting with Evan Perez's partner in crime.”
“How do you know this?” Alexander asked.
“I just got a text from security,” she replied.
“Why didn’t anyone call me?” Brice picked up his phone to make sure he had indeed missed a call.
“Because I told them I’d handle it, and it’s my name on the check,” she reminded Brice.
“Excuse me.” Brice started for the door.
“And where do you think you’re going, son?”
“That would seem pretty obvious, Mother.” Morgan placed his phone on the table. “He’s running to the rescue.”
Brice turned and glared at his brother. “What is it with you? What do you have against Brooke?”
Morgan stood and crossed his arms. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe just the fact that she lied to you, took off and now she’s playing damsel-in-distress.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, big brother. Brooke is no damsel-in-distress, and how about you not push your issues off on my wife?”
Morgan raised both hands in surrender. “My bad.”
“Enough.” Victoria slammed her palm on the table. “Brice, you’re not going anywhere. Brooke is covered, and she didn’t ask for your help.”
“That’s the problem,” he murmured.
“Do you know what’s going on, Mother?” Alexander asked.
“I have no idea, but I’m certainly going to find out, only later.” She rose from her chair and walked over to Brice. “We have to let this thing with Shannon play out, son. Trust that Brooke knows what she’s doing.”
Brian ran his hands through his hair. “Fine, I’ll wait.”
“Looks like we’re done here. I’m going to hit the road.” Morgan picked up his phone and walked over to where Brice was now standing. “Look, man, I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t worry about it.” He held out his fist. “I know where you were coming from and we’re good.” Both men bumped fists before Morgan walked out the door.
“Mother, maybe you should leave this one up to Brice. I’m sure he’ll fill us in as soon as he knows something.” Alexander turned toward Brice. “Right?”
“Of course,” Brice promised.
“Fine, talk to Brooke. Find out what’s going on with this Shannon-person but make sure Brooke understands that I expect her to follow the plan. Blake and Montgomery are in charge of this investigation.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Victoria collected her things and left the office. Brice gripped the back of the closest chair and released a string of profanity. “Feel better?”
“Not really, but maybe after a few rounds with my punching bag.”
“Then go home, get in a good workout while you wait for Brooke to return. Then talk to her.” Alexander walked over to his brother and patted him on the shoulder. “About everything.”
“I will. Thanks, A.”
* * *
“Fine, I’ll do it.” Brooke agreed to Shannon’s request, reluctantly smiling at all the kids that passed by.
“Good. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to go check out a few of the animals.”
“I hear there’s an excellent shark exhibit. You should feel right at home.”
Shannon rose from her seat and smiled down at Brooke. “Aren’t you cute? You just make sure all the transfers happen first thing Monday morning. Call me when it’s done,” she yelled over her shoulder as she walked away.
Brooke watched Shannon until she faded into the crowd. She pulled out her phone, turned off the recording app and texted Lori her location. Brooke saw that she’d missed several messages and calls from Brice but figured she’d be better off dealing with him in person, so she texted that she was fine and would be home soon. As she sat and waited for her friend to join her, Brooke watched as the people walked by and one young couple wearing Mr. and Mrs. T-shirts caught her attention. She thought back to when she and Brice had eloped and exchanged wedding vows at the Falls Wedding Chapel in Niagara Falls. The location was special to them because it was near the hotel where they'd spent their first night together.
* * *
“Brice, this place is gorgeous,” Brooke complimented, staring up into his eyes. The stunning secluded outdoor garden Brice had selected for the ceremony was just a short walk from the falls.
“It’s just an understudy to my beautiful star.” Brice leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.
Brooke knew her face had turned scarlet, but she didn’t care. She’d never been so happy. “Thank you.”
“That dress is perfect,” Brice said.
Brooke looked down at the strapless lace floor-length dress with a sweetheart neckline and smiled. “I still can’t believe you found someone who could make all this happen, including finding me this perfect dress, in less than forty-eight hours.”
“The perks of being a Kingsley,” he admitted.
“A Kingsley. I’m about to marry a Kingsley.” Brooke bit down on her bottom lip. Her heart started racing and she suddenly couldn’t breathe. Yes, she loved Brice, but the idea of becoming a Kingsley scared the hell out of her. Growing up in the foster care system taught her not to trust the good stuff. It never lasts.
Brice intertwined their hands. “You’re about to marry me... Brice. A man who loves you more than anything or anyone else in this world. You’re mine an
d I’m yours.” He brought their hands to his mouth and kissed the back of hers. “Nothing or no one will ever come between us. I promise.”
“I love you too,” Brooke replied. Brice pulled his right hand free and wiped away her tears.
Brice’s face lit up. “Are you ready to make it official?”
Brooke pushed out a quick breath. “I’m ready.”
* * *
“Are you all right?” Lori questioned, breaking Brooke’s connection to the past.
“Umm...yes, I’m fine.”
“Then why are you crying? Did Shannon say something bad and threaten you?”
Brooke wiped away tears she hadn’t realized she had shed. “Nothing I haven’t heard before.”
Lori took a seat next to Brooke. “Then what’s going on?”
“I just remembered something Brice told me the day we got married. Something I’d forgotten. Something I’ll never forget again,” she promised herself.
“That’s good, I guess. What did that crazy lady want?”
“More money,” Brooke admitted.
“Did your plan work? Did you get her confession on tape?”
“Yes, but the only person she incriminated was herself and maybe her henchman.”
“Well, that’s something,” Lori concluded.
“It’s not enough to end all this,” she said.
“What now?”
Brooke heaved a sigh. “Now I go home and have that long overdue conversation with my husband.”
“What are you going to tell him?”
“The truth. I'm going to do whatever I can to try and save my marriage.”
Lori smiled. “It’s about time. Before we go, can we stop and get a corn dog?”
Brooke laughed. “Sure. I could go for some cotton candy myself.” She reached for her hat and sunglasses, putting them back on as they made their way to the concession stand.
As they weaved their way through the crowd, Lori stated, “You know, this has been a very productive day.”
“How do you figure that?”
“You finally realized you want to stay married,” Lori concluded.
Be My Forever Bride Page 15
