Kizzie smiled. ‘Why don’t you tell me how it is living with my brother again?’
Bree laughed, and her whole body seemed to relax. ‘Heaven. Home. I feel, finally, I’m home.’
Kizzie hugged her.
‘I’m so happy for you. Truly.’
‘Thank you, honey. For everything. I don’t know how I would have gotten through these last few months without you.’
Kizzie grinned but then pushed her away. ‘Ugh, I suppose both of you will be revoltingly loved up now, all love notes and secret smiles.’
‘Yup.’
Kizzie rolled her eyes, but Bree could tell she was delighted. ‘Where is my delightful brother, anyway?’
Bree’s smile wavered. ‘He’s with the police. They wanted to know more about the explosion, what caused it. Not that Jesse knows that but they're thorough.’
‘What about Nick Petersen?’
‘He’s going to be charged with twelve counts of murder at the very least. If he makes it. He’s still unconscious.’
‘Did Zea Azano go back to Portland?’
Kizzie nodded. ‘For now, I get the impression she has something else going on in her life, that it’s enough for her to know that David wasn’t in his right mind through no fault of his own. Nick Petersen is a murderer, David was just his vessel.’
Bree blew out her cheeks. ‘I just want to know why. Why do something so horrific?’
‘I hope we find out. Look, I said I wouldn’t be long – do you want to come back to Ethan’s while we wait for Jesse?’
Bree shook her head. ‘Thank you, but I think I’m going to see Emory, give her a break from memory training.’
‘Give her and your dad my love.’
‘Thanks, I will.’
Luca had gone to work. After a productive session with the hypnotherapist, Luca had been encouraged by Emory’s progress, but she felt numb inside. During the private session, she had come to a realization, sharing it with the professional. ‘I think it’s because I don’t want to remember loving Luca. I’m in love with Dante and loving Luca too…it’s too much.’
She felt tears in her eyes. ‘I don’t want to be responsible for hurting one of these extraordinary men. Both of them…some woman would think themselves lucky, and I am, to be loved by both but God…’
‘Emory,’ the hypnotherapist said gently, ‘these are extraordinary circumstances. It’s not as if you had an affair, sought to hurt Luca or Dante.’
‘I know, but I’m going to, aren’t I?’
‘Until you let yourself feel what you had with Luca to the fullest, you cannot move forward in your life. That wouldn’t be fair to either of them.’
Emory put her head in her hands. ‘Maybe I just need to be alone for a while. Figure things out.’
The woman smiled at her. ‘I think that’s an excellent idea.’
She hadn’t broached the subject with Luca yet, but as she thought about it more and more, it seemed the best way forward. She knew Luca was frustrated, but he’d never once took it out on her. They had talked long into the nights, laughing and Emory could feel a connection there.
But she missed Dante badly and on their long midnight calls, she begged him. ‘Let me come and see you, please.’
But he turned her down gently. ‘You have to be sure,’ was all he would tell her. It hurt deep in her soul, but she knew he was right.
She drove out to the beach. The weather was cold, but she didn’t care, wanting the bracing air to fill her lungs, clear her head. Two glorious men loved her, and she was miserable about it. She definitely needed time alone. She had checked her bank account; there was enough to rent her own place for a few months, and she hoped, now, when Auburn reopened after the winter break, that she would be able to teach there again. Stephen Harris, the beloved headmaster of whom Emory was very fond, had reached out to her when he heard she was safe. ‘You are greatly missed, my dear.’
Auburn had been open for a few months now. A memorial to those who had fallen had been dedicated on the school grounds, and Stephen told Emory that she too had been honored. ‘We’ll have to have a ceremony when you get back.’
‘I’m truly honored but please, no fuss.’ Emory was horrified at the thought, and Stephen laughed.
‘I know you, Emory, you wouldn’t be comfortable. Just know – this school owes you.’
Emory found a large piece of driftwood and took shelter against it. A new place, a new life, time to think. Independence. Since she had been married to Ray, she forgot what that was like.
God, Ray. She closed her eyes now, swallowing over the feel of terror that rose in her throat. He can’t touch you. He’s gone. Luca had introduced her to Maximo Neri, the handsome Italian businessman who Clem was madly in love with, and Maximo assured her that Ray would never be free again. ‘Either in one of your prisons, in my facility, or…’ He tailed off, glancing at Luca.
‘It’s up to you what happens to him,’ Luca had told her, meaning well but God, another thing to decide.
Yeah, she needed breathing space. She would talk to Luca about it when she got back to his apartment. I need space.
I need to think.
He stepped back from the tree line. She sitting against the driftwood again. The beach was deserted. He smiled to himself. How easy it would be to push her against that driftwood and kill her, let the tide take her body, her blood away. Let Luca Saffran and that other man, Dante Harper agonize over her disappearance. He shivered, lust mixed with excitement. Not today. He had too much planned, too many good things he had in mind for her. It would be a waste to end it all here. He didn’t even want to scare her yet, that would come later. It gave him time to follow and watch her from the trees.
It had been easy in the end to escape Maximo Neri’s men. Zeke had helped, and he’d trusted Ray right up to the time Ray had stuck a knife through his eye into his brain. Fucking moron. Ray felt no pity for the naïve young man. Four hundred million dollars. Ha. He’d watched dispassionately as Zeke’s body twitched and convulsed as it shut down and bent over the dying man. ‘What college professor do you know who earn millions, you dumb sack of shit?’
Still, he was out, he was free, and Emory was in his sights. God, he had forgotten just how beautiful she was and now, she seemed sad, her lovely face pensive and haunted.
And it’s only going to get worse, my love. He would enjoy killing her, this time she would not survive his brutality. And not only that but the people she loved, who loved her…he would take them too, kill some, make others watch while he killed Emory. He allowed himself a fantasy of her stretched out on a bed, tied down, fucking her as he made Luca Saffran and that other asshole watch, then butchering her while they screamed.
Raymond Grace smiled to himself when he felt the cold presence of the knife he always kept now in the inside pocket of his jacket. How easy, how easy it would be…But not today, my darling Emory. Today you live, today I allow you to live…
Make the most of the time you have left.
Jared Podesta reappeared three weeks after Zea and Flynt returned to Portland. Jared didn’t make himself visible to anyone but Zea…waiting for moments when she was alone. Even then, he didn’t come close; he would stand across the street from the new restaurant as it was being constructed and stare in through the large windows at her. As soon as she called for help, he would be gone. He was like a spider, waiting, lurking, hunched in a dark corner, and Zea felt trapped. Flynt insisted they go to the police, and he hired security teams, but Jared was clever. He even learned the way she drove home and stood on one of the overpasses, staring down at the road.
Zea was a bundle of nerves and worse, she thought she might be sick. She was exhausted, drained and so far, was avoiding going to see her doctor. Eventually, a concerned Flynt made the appointment and took her.
He waited for her in the waiting room. Zea had to smile at the other woman waiting- their expressions when they saw Flynt. Zea could have sworn one of them gave her a thumbs up.
> My husband. She was still smiling when she went in to see the doctor, but a half hour later, she came out pale and trembling. Flynt took one look at her face and was up. ‘What? What is it?’
She shook her head. ‘Not here.’ They quickly walked to a diner on the corner of the block and Flynt ordered strong coffee. He felt sick as he looked at her gray face.
‘Baby, tell me it’s not what I’m thinking…’
‘I’m not sick, Flynt.’
The relief hit him. ‘Jesus. Jesus, thank you, you had me scared. So, what’s wrong?’
Zea looked at Flynt, this man she loved with all her heart and could only feel heartbreak. Not now. God, please, not when this is still going on. ‘Oh god, Flynt,’ and she started to cry, ‘It’s the worst time for this, the worst time. I’m pregnant.’
Kizzie squinted at Ethan as he came in the door. ‘What’s up? You were in a good mood earlier.’
Ethan’s face cleared as he focused on his love. ‘Ate a bug.’ He grinned, and she laughed.
‘Was this bug about five nine, sleazy as all hell…?’ She winked at him, and he was again amazed at her ability to joke about Nick. Ethan had been at the hospital all morning for a checkup, and he’d called Kizzie earlier, telling her that he was in the same part of the hospital as Nick Petersen. ‘He’s awake, apparently, and talking.’
‘Stay away from him.’
‘I will.’
Now, Ethan smiled wearily. ‘That’s the one.’ He slid his arms around her waist and kissed her. ‘Hey, darling.’
She pressed herself against him. ‘Hello, my man.’ They ignored the few customers grinning at them and kissed again.
‘Today at Doogie’s Diner, coffee! Cupcakes! And a live sex show!’ Bree announced to the shop as she walked in grinning. Ethan and Kizzie broke apart, laughing with the other customers. Jess was behind Bree, and he hugged Kizzie.
When they sat, Jesse asked Ethan how he was doing. Ethan nodded. ‘Okay, yeah, thanks, man. A couple more weeks and I should start to get some energy back.’
He and Kizzie shared a look which made them both smile. Neither of them could wait until they could finally be together. He took her hand. ‘Thanks to the best nurse maid in the world.’ He kissed her hand, and she chuckled.
‘Mushy,’ Bree complained, and they laughed. Ethan grinned.
‘And I do have some other news. Jake called me at the hospital.’
Kizzie looked surprised. ‘Oh?’
Ethan hesitated, stringing out the announcement. ‘DA’s not pressing charges. I’m good.’
Kizzie’s mouth dropped open for a second then she burst into loud, noisy sobs. Ethan, Jesse, and Bree all laughed as she threw her arms around Ethan, who hugged her tightly, grinning.
‘That’s amazing news, man,’ Jesse nodded at him. ‘The right decision.’
Bree herself looked a little choked. ‘Something good for a change.’
Ethan agreed. ‘Something good. Hey, missy, you okay down there?’
Kizzie’s sobs had subsided. ‘I’m okay…I’m just so relieved, baby.’
He hugged her tightly. ‘Relieved you don’t have to bake a cake?’
She chuckled as Jesse and Bree looked at each other in confusion. ‘You should be more relieved,’ Kizzie said, sniffing, ‘I’m a terrible cook.’
Ethan laughed. ‘Well then, I guess I am. Say, why don’t the four of us going out, celebrate? I need a good night with friends.’
‘You’re on.’
‘You betcha.’
Jesse nudged Bree. ‘We’ll, um, go get some more drinks then we can discuss where to go.’
‘Cool.’
When they were alone, Ethan tipped Kizzie’s chin up and kissed her lips softly. ‘We’re all good now?’
She smiled, her cheeks red from crying. ‘Yes, we are.’
They kissed, not caring who saw them and as Jesse and Bree made their way back to them, Ethan suddenly buried his face in Kizzie’s hair, out his mouth to her ear and whispered. ‘I love you.’
Kizzie’s heart swelled in her chest, and she beamed back at him, her eyes filled with happy tears. ‘I love you, too,’ she whispered to Ethan’s answering smile.
‘Good,’ he said, ‘now let’s go celebrate.’
Emory told Luca about her plan over dinner that night. They had ordered in pizza and were eating it from the box, sitting on the couches with cold beers in front of them. Luca had listened carefully and nodded. ‘I think it’s a good idea.’
Emory was surprised. ‘You do?’
‘I really do,’ Luca took a swig of his beer. ‘Em, I never want to feel like you’re beholden to anyone, not me, not Bree, not Dante Harper. You are an independent woman, and now you’re free of that scumbag Grace, you should spread your wings.’
Emory smiled at him. ‘Thank you, Luca.’
‘Can I help?’
Emory hesitated. ‘Is it okay that I kind of want to do this for myself?’
‘Not at all…can I at least help you out financially?’
Emory was horrified. ‘Absolutely no way,’ she said firmly then relented a little, smiling to soften the slight. ‘Luca, it’s not that I’m not grateful.’
‘I know,’ he said easily, smiling. He took another piece of pizza and scarfed it down, chewing thoughtfully. ‘How about some furniture?’
Emory started to laugh. ‘Will you stop trying to give me stuff?’
‘Never.’
She burst out laughing, and he joined her, dumping the slice of pizza back in the box. ‘I don’t know why I’m still eating, I was full two slices ago.’
Emory nodded sagely. ‘That’s because – and this is quite an unknown fact – all humans have an extra pizza stomach.’
Luca grinned. ‘Is that so?’
Emory nodded. ‘Science, my friend.’ She picked up his discarded slice and shoved it into her mouth. Luca grinned at her.
‘Anyone mentioned before that you are quite mad?’
‘Some,’ she said with her mouth full. ‘I was over ambitious with that slice, though.’
He laughed at her while she struggled to chew the too-large piece of dough then applauded when she finally swallowed and raised her arms in a victory salute.
‘People will talk about this moment,’ Emory said, feeling more like herself than she had in months.
‘Monuments will be built,’ Luca agreed, taking another swig of beer. ‘This is nice.’
Emory nodded, wiping her hands on a napkin. ‘It is, it really is.’
Luca studied her. ‘You know…when I met you, properly, I mean, in the hospital, all I could think about was your smile. It was…how can I describe it? Genuine, as if you couldn’t care less that even in a hospital gown, you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. That being as physically beautiful as you, it really didn’t matter at all.’
‘It doesn’t. Beauty is subjective anyways,’ Emory shrugged, seemingly not phased. ‘I hope it’s not the first thing you see about me.’
‘It’s not, that’s what I’m saying,’ Luca said, touching her face, ‘it’s your goodness, your warmth.’
He was gratified when Emory didn’t pull away from him. ‘Luca, I wish I remembered us…I do,’ she said gently. Luca nodded, then leaned toward her and brushed her lips with hers.
‘Emory…’ The kiss deepened, and he felt her relax into it then stiffen and pull away. He sighed, ready to see her turn away from him. Instead, she was staring at him as if she had seen a ghost.
‘Luca…’
He was alarmed. ‘What is it, sweetheart?’
‘I think…’ Emory pressed her lips against his, cautiously, testing. ‘Luca, I…’
He could stand no more and stood, picking her up easily and carrying her to his bed. He lay her down gently and covered her body with his. ‘Tell me to stop, Emory, and I will.’
Emory, her eyes locked onto his slowly shook her head. ‘No…don’t stop…Luca, I remember…I remember…’
Joy made Luca’s hea
rt beat faster, and as he kissed her again, the hope sprung in him that, maybe just maybe, everything would be okay.
He could not have been more wrong…
EVERGREEN
An Alpha Billionaire Romance
Part #10: Auburn
By Michelle Love
Then…
The boys in his class had been talking amongst themselves long before David Azano noticed. They had first noticed their teacher in a reverie and had started to giggle to themselves. They were used to him drifting off; it usually meant he was composing a new terrifying yet fun quiz for them in his head.
But not this time.
He could not shake a dream, a horrific dream. His beloved wife, Zea, being murdered. The vision of Zea having her life…clawed…out from her had shaken him badly. After he had woken, he looked over to see her sleeping beside him and had noticed how, even in her sleep, she looked stressed, worn out. He had rolled on her side and watched as deeper sleep had slowly erased the anxiety from her face and as she woke this morning, she had smiled at him, her face full of love.
Blood.
So much blood.
He felt sick now, swallowing nausea as it rose in his throat. It wasn’t just the dream – for a little while now, he had had a terrible, haunting feeling that something was going to happen. Something bad…
Now…
Stop this.
But she returned his kiss, felt him pull her legs around him. Stop. But Emory could not help her arms curving around his neck. She closed her eyes. Dante… But it wasn’t Dante, it was Luca, and she remembered this, remembered how they made love, recalled the scent of his skin, the way he kissed her so tenderly.
Stop it.
‘Luca…’
Luca stopped and gazed down at her. Emory couldn’t get the words out. I can’t. I love Dante, I love him desperately. She tried to speak, but nothing would come out. Luca’s expression changed. Hurt in his eyes. Understanding. Oh god, I’m sorry, Luca, I’m sorry.
Evergreen: An Alpha Billionaire Romance Page 28
