Ethan nodded. ‘I know. And Lexi…’
‘Don’t talk about Lexi now, please, Ethan, I can’t bear it.’
Ethan’s eyes were sad. ‘Will you ever forgive me?’
Kizzie took his hand. ‘For not telling when you thought Jake might be in danger? Of course. For trying to kill yourself? No. No way.’ But she brought his hand up to her lips and kissed it. ‘We fight this, Ethan, together.’
Ethan smiled for the first time and stroked her cheek. ‘I’m sorry, Kizzie.’
‘I’m sorry too, Ethan. I should have let you explain. For you to feel this was your only option…’ She got choked then and started to sob.
‘Come here to me,’ Ethan said softly, and gingerly held out his arms. Careful not to hurt him, Kizzie curled up on the bed with him, and they held each other.
‘We’re going to get through this, Kiz, I swear we are.’
And Kizzie believed him.
Kizzie asked Bree and Jesse to meet her in a coffeehouse back on the island. They were waiting when she turned up with an old friend of Jesse’s, Eric, who was a local cop. Jesse’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
‘Hey man, long time no see.’ He and Eric shook hands, and he introduced him to Bree. Kizzie hugged her brother and Bree, and they all sat. Kizzie filled them in on what Ethan had told her and Jake. Bree and Jesse were shocked. Eric nodded along then spoke up.
‘Jake Fonseca went to the police, and now there is an APB out on Nick Petersen. The whole state is on alert. From what I understand, they found the drug in Azano’s system but didn’t pursue any theory that he might have been drugged.’
Bree blew out her cheeks. ‘In a way, I’m glad. I know that sounds weird, but I had a hard time trying to reconcile the teacher I knew and the man who tried to kill me. That killed Lexi, hurt Emory so bad. At least now, we have an answer.’
Her body sagged against Jessie’s, and he put his arms around her. ‘What will happen to Ethan?’
Kizzie, pale and exhausted, tried to smile. ‘The police interviewed him. Now it’s up to the DA whether he’s charged with obstructing an investigation. His lawyer thinks he’ll be okay, maybe if he’s charged, they’ll offer him a deal. Testify against Nick, get probation.’
‘Well, look who it is.’ The voice made them jump, and they looked up to see Julieta sneering at them. ‘It’s Jesse and his whore. Tell me, Breana, do you have to fake it with him like I did?’
‘Go away, Julieta. You’re just making yourself look stupid.’ Jesse’s voice was weary.
‘No, no, let’s hear what this useless bitch has to say,’ Bree had had enough. ‘Come on, Julieta, let’s hear it? Oh, got nothing to say now? Well, I have, you useless piece of crap. Call me a whore? That’s rich coming from someone with your track record.’
Bree looked straight at Julieta unwavering. Julieta, stunned, tried to save face.
‘Well, you’re welcome to him, useless fucking loser. Call yourself a man?’ she spat in Jesse’s face. ‘You couldn’t even fucking make me pregnant. The baby wasn’t yours, Jesse.’
Jesse wiped his face calmly. ‘Honey, that’s not new information.’
‘What?’
He looked at her calmly. ‘It was Nick Petersen’s.’
Julieta stared at him in disbelief. ‘You don’t even care why I told you it was yours?’
Kizzie rolled her eyes. ‘Um, to keep Jesse and Bree apart? Tough one, let me think.’
‘Shut up you bitch.’
Kizzie laughed at her. Julieta looked between Jesse and Bree.
‘She’s right, though. Every day you were sniffing around her like a lost dog. I don’t get it. What is it about her that’s so special? That perfect face? Does she fuck in seventy different positions?’
Bree, enjoying letting her inner bitch out, smirked. ‘Eighty.’ She winked at Jesse, and he grinned. ‘And that’s just the legal stuff. You should see what I do when I go…off menu.’
Jesse snorted, and Kizzie was crying with laughter. Julieta looked at Bree.
‘I never wanted him really, I just wanted to see if I could take him away from you. And I did. And it was so fucking easy.’ She laughed.
Jesse looked away, and Bree could see the pain in his face. She walked around the table and to him. She held his face in her hands and made him look at her.
‘You are my world.’ She leaned her forehead against his and felt him sigh, letting the tension out. She turned to Julieta and stood for a long time, sizing her up. Then, to everyone’s shock, Bree punched Julieta hard in the face.
Jesse gaped, Kizzie cheered and clapped. Julieta crumpled to the floor. Bree grabbed her face, pinched her chin between her finger and thumb, and spoke in a voice that had no humor in it.
‘Don’t you ever, ever, fucking mess with my man again, bitch.’
Jesse looked both stunned and delighted, and Bree slipped her arms around his waist and grinned at him. ‘I should have done that weeks ago.’
He laughed and leaned his head against hers.
Kizzie was breathless from laughing. Julieta scrambled to her feet, humiliated.
‘Fuck you, Bree. You’re going to get what’s coming to you. They’re all dead, my baby, Kizzie, Emory…they’re all dead.’ She walked up to Bree. Jesse tensed, but Bree stood her ground. Julieta studied her enemy’s lovely face and smiled. ‘And you’re going to be next. He’s coming after you, Bree.’ She looked at Jesse. ‘He’s going to finish what David Azano started, Jesse, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’
Now it was Eric’s turn to get angry. He grabbed Julieta and slammed her down onto a table, cuffing her and jerking her back up by her arms, not caring if he hurt her.
‘Julieta Connor, I’m arresting you on suspicion of criminal conspiracy to commit murder. You have the right to remain silent, anything you do say will be taken down and could be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights I have explained to you, you piece of crap? Having these rights in mind, do you wish to talk to me now, for instance, tell me everything Petersen has told you? No? Thought not.’ He was mocking her, and she started screaming, kicking out at him, but he was too strong. Everyone in the coffee house was watching, open-mouthed, and Bree suddenly felt stronger. The people who were to blame for all of this horror were finally being brought to justice. Julieta was just the first.
They watched him as Eric dragged Julieta to his police cruiser. Jesse followed them and spoke to Eric before the cop took off, Julieta still raging in the back seat. Bree and Kizzie stood where they had, too shell-shocked by what had just happened. Bree was shaking. As he re-entered the shop, Jesse ’s face was alive with anger. He turned, closed the door and locked it. As he came toward her, Bree thought he had never looked more beautiful. He took her in his arms and held her, hugging her tightly. She slid her arms around his waist and pressed her face into his chest. Kizzie looked at her brother in admiration.
‘Dude.’ was all she said but Jesse nodded gratefully at her.
‘Eric doesn’t know if the charges will stick, but it means he can keep her ass in jail for a few hours.’
Kizzie grinned and went away to the counter, giving them privacy. Finally, Jesse looked down at Bree.
‘I will never, ever let him hurt you.’ She smiled up at him.
‘I know. I trust you.’
‘Darlin’?’
‘Yeah, babe?’
‘I think you need to take me home. Right now.’
She grinned up at him. ‘You wanna go off the menu?’
‘Hell, yes I do.’
Flynt leaned his forehead against the cold window, watching the storm blow itself out. His eyes scanned the street, the woods at the edge of his property watching for any movement. Anything out of place. He was so used to the tight knot of tension in his chest that the subtle easing of it unnerved him, made him feel as if he was missing something. He felt Zea slip her arms around
his waist.
‘Hey, mister.’
‘Hey, shorty.’ He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him.
‘You okay?’
He nodded, but she wasn’t convinced. She tightened her arms around him and followed his gaze out to the rain-soaked trees.
‘No-one’s out there, honey. Just you and me now. And guess what we get to do now?’ She smiled at him, and he grinned back.
‘What?’
She held his face in her hands, kissed him softly on the mouth. ‘Live.’
He laughed. ‘You bet your sweet ass we do.’
She pulled him away from the window. ‘Then stopping looking for him. Let’s go out, go to the city, hang out in seedy bars and shoot some pool, eat junk food and make out in public places.’
‘You’re on. And while we’re there…’ He picked up her left hand. ‘We can go get a ring for this hand right here. What do you say?’
‘Sounds good to me,’ Zea smiled up at him, ‘I want everyone to know I’m madly in love with my husband. Be unafraid to celebrate this, us.’
Flynt kissed her and then swept her into his arms. ‘Then let me show you how we can start...the city can wait.’
Zea giggled as he carried her to their bed. As he covered her body with his, she gazed up at him. ‘I can’t believe we’re finally able to feel safe, but you know what? I wouldn’t have changed a thing if it meant not getting to this moment, right here, right now.’
Flynt smiled. ‘Me too, beautiful…now, wrap those long legs around me, gorgeous and let’s celebrate.’
Teresa looked up as Mike walked into the restaurant. Since Flynt had bought it, Teresa liked to be there to oversee the remodeling. She enjoyed the organization, the seeing of it becoming something they had come up with together. She smiled at Mike now.
‘Hey, you. Usual?’ He nodded, distracted, and she frowned at him. She ordered him a drink and came to sit with him
‘What’s up?’
‘Not sure. Not sure what to make of it. Lab called. The body did share familial DNA with David all right – but they think it showed paternal not fraternal similarities.’
‘In English?’
‘They think the body in the fire wasn’t David’s brother. It was his father.’
Teresa was confused. ‘What?’
Mike shook his head. ‘I don’t know, Teresa, I really don’t. We have a call with the lawyer that Podesta mentioned in his will, somewhere down in Louisiana. We’ll get to the bottom of this. The question is…do you think I should tell Zea and Flynt?’
Teresa sighed. ‘Not until we know more. They’re so happy at the moment, and Zea’s had enough fear and worry to last a lifetime. Let’s wait.’
Mike agreed. ‘I think so too.’ He ran a hand through his hair and looked around. ‘Say, this place is coming together.’
Teresa grinned. ‘It is. I’m pretty excited about it.’
Mike grinned. ‘Good. I like to see your smile, Terry.’
‘Stop flirting with me, Michael, we ended things for a reason.’ But she was grinning at his flirtatious manner. Mike pretended to scratch his head.
‘Right now, I can’t remember what those reasons were.’
Teresa was very thankful that there were workmen standing around watching them or she would have kissed Mike right there and then.
Kizzie had gotten home after a day at the hospital with Ethan, and her mind was whirling. For a change, it was a pleasurable thing. Ethan’s wounds were healing, and his whole demeanor was improved, so much so that she had seen the fun-loving boy she’d met that first day in the survivor's group. His sense of humor had returned, and she saw that finally telling the truth had lifted an incredible weight from him.
He wasn’t even worried if the DA was going to charge him. ‘If he does, I’ll do my time, get myself straight. I should be held responsible for not saying anything even if I thought Nick might be fronting. People died. Lexi died. I have to pay my due, Kiz.’
She touched his face. ‘I’ll visit every day if you’re in the clink, bake a cake with a file in it.’
Ethan laughed and grabbed her hand, pressing his lips against her fingers. ‘I believe you would, Boo.’
Today, they’d been playing a game of cards when Ethan had leaned over and brushed her lips with his. She could still feel the tingle from where their lips met. He hadn’t pushed it but merely leaned his forehead against hers. They had no need for words.
Now, as she let herself into her home, she was smiling and didn’t see him until he launched himself at her.
Nick Petersen grabbed Kizzie’s hair and slammed her into the wall. Crying out in shock and alarm, it took Kizzie a second to recognize what was happening. As Nick wrestled her to the ground and wrapped his hands around her throat, she began to fight back, kicking and scratching, twisting her own body to try and free herself.
‘I’m gonna kill you, Kizzie Kline…first you, then Bree Saffran and your brother and when you’re all dead and buried, I’ll kill your coward boyfriend, Fonseca. You’re all dead.’
Kizzie, despite her terror, managed to press her thumbs deep into Nick’s eyes and with a yelp, he jerked away, the pressure on her neck released and she rolled away from him. Scrambling to her feet, she darted for the kitchen. She grabbed the phone as well as the biggest kitchen knife she could find.
Nick appeared in the doorway just as the 911 operator picked up and Kizzie managed to shout her address and that she was being attacked as Nick lunged for her. She swiped at him with the knife, catching his cheek and the pain brought him to a halt. Clutching his bloody cheek, he roared at her, but Kizzie advanced with the knife. Nick turned and darted for the front door, and as he disappeared, Kizzie slammed the door, deadbolted it then quickly scrambled around the villa, securing it. She found the 911 operator still on the line, who told her a unit was on its way.
Only when she was sure she was safe, did Kizzie break down. For a few minutes, she let herself breath heavily, deeply, trying to keep the terror at bay. It was the sudden violence that had gotten to her most. Jesus…
Angry now, she pulled out her phone and dialed her brother.
‘Hey sis.’
‘If you don’t kill this fucker, I’m gonna.’
Jesse cursed. ‘What happened?’
‘Just tried to use his particular brand of intimidation on me again. Didn’t work. Asshole.’
‘Are you okay?’ Jesse sounded panicked now but Kizzie reassured him.
‘Police are on their way.’
‘Fuck,’ Jesse spat, barely controlling his anger. ‘Look, me and Bree are going to come stay with you. I don’t want you alone.’
Kizzie felt relief. ‘I’m all for that. How’s Bree?’
‘Pissed.’ Jesse gave a strange laugh. ‘More than that, actually. She’s angry. She’s determined. She wants to get this bastard.’
‘Jesse?’
‘Yup.’
Kizzie hesitated. ‘He threatened her. And you. He said he was going to kill us all, and Ethan. I believe him. And I believe he could do it.’
‘What makes you so sure?’
‘Because he’s careful. Because he’s psychotic. And because he’s done this before.’
She could hear her brother’s breathing, heavy, angry. ‘Yeah.’
Hopelessness settled over her. ‘Oh God, Jesse...how the hell are we going to stop him?’
There was silence. ‘I don’t know, sis. But I know this, he’s not going to get near you again. He’s not gonna touch you, Bree, Ethan, any of us – even if it means killing him. He killed out sister, Kiz. I’ll happily spend the rest of my life in jail for killing that scum.’
‘Agreed. Jesse?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Be careful. I don’t think you’re safe either.’
‘I don’t think any of us are while Petersen is around. Look, sis…can you maybe get back into the city, go stay with Ethan in the hospital? Or call Jake? I need to know you’re safe.’
‘Yeah. I mean, I’m fine, but yeah, I’ll stay with Ethan.’
She heard a voice in the background. ‘Is that Bree?’
‘Yeah, hang on.’ She heard him pass the phone.
‘Hey, angel.’
‘Hey Bree, you okay?’
‘Yes honey, I am fine. I just wanted to tell you not to worry. If he touches you or Jesse, if he touches anyone else, I’m going to blow his motherfucking head off. See ya.’
She giggled, and Kizzie laughed, shocked, amazed. She heard Jesse laughing as he came back on the phone.
‘Well?’ He kept sniggering.
Kizzie nodded to herself, smiling. ‘Yeah, Jesse. She’s ready.’ And she laughed.
Thursday night. The day before Luca and Bree Saffran were due to come to the Harper compound, and Emory felt nervous. No, nervous was the wrong word. Terrified. Tomorrow, whatever happened, everything would change, and her safe little bubble with Dante would be burst.
She stood at the window of their bedroom now, in the dark, looking out into the twilight. A sadness pounded at her chest, but she felt guilty for it. If what Dante thought was true, then there were people missing her, mourning her. Casting all selfish reasons aside, she knew this was the right thing to do. The longer she stared at Luca Saffran’s photograph, the more she was remembering, and she could feel a fondness for him – kind of. A bond, however, tenuous at this point. Like she knew him, but there was still a block…
She felt Dante’s arm slide around her waist and she leaned back into his arms.
‘Hello, beautiful.’ His lips were on her neck, and she sighed. How could she give this up? She turned around in his arms and pressed her lips to his.
‘Dante,’ she whispered, ‘Tonight is ours, promise? Just you and me and nothing else.’
‘You read my mind.’ His fingers slid under the straps of her dress, and he pulled them gently down her arms. He pulled her dress down to her waist and then freed her breasts from her bra, taking each nipple into his mouth, in turn, teasing them until they were hard and sensitive.
Evergreen: An Alpha Billionaire Romance Page 24
