Evergreen: An Alpha Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  Quilla nodded. ‘Good. Thank you.’ She squeezed Hayley’s hand.

  ‘Thank you,’ Hayley stammered. Gregor gave her a stiff nod then gazed at Quilla.

  ‘You’re mine now.’

  Quilla nodded. ‘I’m yours.’ She glanced at Hayley. ‘Gregor, would you give Hayley and me a little time alone to say goodbye? Please?’

  Gregor looked down at Paul’s body. ‘Sure. Five minutes. Then Dick will take Hayley to the nearest town, and we’ll leave here, Quilla, we’ll go away and begin our life together.'

  After he had left, closing the door behind him, Quilla dragged Hayley into the bathroom and locked the door. She went to the toilet and bent down, grabbing the loose tile. She smashed it and picked up the two biggest, most lethal looking shards. She handed one piece to Hayley, tugging her into an embrace, her lips close to Hayley’s ear. ‘Use it only if you need to, if anything goes wrong. Tell Jakob I love him, and I’m sorry, but this is the only way.’

  Hayley’s eyes were huge, brimming with tears. ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘Try to kill Gregor but it might take me a little while to get him comfortable enough to relax around me. Wherever he takes me, it’ll be remote, but he can’t take me out of the country, Jakob will have the airports and borders on alert. He’ll need sex soon so that it won’t be too far from here, probably still in the state. Just tell Jakob and the police everything and anything. I’ll try to get away but Hayley, whatever happens, I love you so much, all of you. I would not have swapped anything for this last year with the Mallorys, with you and Nan, and Flori and Asia. Anything.’

  Haley started to sob then, and Quilla held her, tears pouring down her face.

  ‘I don’t want to leave you with him,’ Hayley gulped, ‘Please, Quilla…’

  Quilla stepped away from her. ‘You have to go, Hayley, please or all of this would have been for nothing. Hide that in your jeans.’ She nodded at the tile shard and tucked her own piece into the messy bun at the nape of her neck. She smiled at Hayley’s confused look. ‘It’s the only part of me where I can hide things from him.’

  Hayley looked sick but nodded. ‘I love you, Quilla.’

  ‘And you, Bubba.’

  Gregor banged on the door. ‘Let’s get going.’

  Quilla opened the door, and Gregor held out his hand to her. She took it, glancing back at Hayley as she hesitantly walked out. Dick, the other goon, who they’d barely seen, stood implacable as ever. Quilla saw Hayley look at him nervously.

  ‘Look after her, won’t you, please?’ Quilla looked at Dick, trying to read him. He didn’t have that sleazy look that Paul had, and now he nodded to her, meeting her gaze steadily.

  ‘You have my word; she’ll be safe with me.’

  Quilla had no choice but to believe him. Hayley grabbed her one last time, and they hugged, simply holding each other.

  Quilla watched as Dick led her out, her heart pounding. It was out of her control now. Gregor took her hand. ‘I promise you could see her delivered to safety,’ he said, his voice tender, loving. ‘I’ll keep that promise then we’ll leave here. God, Quilla, you have made me the happiest man in the world, ’ he cupped her face with his hands, and she saw in his eyes, the complete belief that she was his now. She smiled back at him.

  ‘Our new life together,’ she said, and he kissed her. She kissed him back, and a certain sense of satisfaction flooded through her. Whether Gregor Fisk knew it or not, whether he ended up killing her or she killed him, she had won. He believed her. His psychosis, his monumental ego played straight into her hands. He actually believed she cared for him, and that put him at such a disadvantage, she could hardly believe it herself.

  Live or die; she had won.

  Hayley stared back at the farmhouse until she could no longer see it then turned to Dick. The big man was driving, his eyes riveted on the road ahead.

  ‘If you’re going to kill me, can I ask you a couple of favors?’ Hayley said, not letting him speak. ‘Make it quick and let my family have my body. If you can avoid the face so they can have an open casket, I’d be grateful too. A bullet in the heart should do it.’

  She was surprised when Dick burst out laughing. He grinned over at her. ‘Thanks for the tips but I’m not going to kill you, sweetheart. You’re going home to your tennis player.’

  Hayley studied him. ‘You’re not yanking my chain?’

  ‘No, kiddo. I realize you’ve been through hell, and for my part, I’m sorry about that.’

  Hayley was astonished. ‘Then why? Why did you go along with it?’

  Dick looked uncomfortable. ‘Sometimes you have to do things that you don’t want to do.’

  Suddenly she understood. ‘That son-of-a-bitch. What’s he got on you?’

  Dick sighed. ‘My brother got into drugs, started dealing. He was Gregor’s dealer for years. Gregor, of course, plays the long game. Every interaction documented – he blackmailed my brother until he couldn’t stand it anymore. He tried to kill Gregor – which of course, Gregor had seen coming. So now my brother’s in debt to him and what does Gregor want? Me.’

  Hayley was confused. ‘With respect, why?’

  Dick smiled. ‘Because I was Black Ops. A trained killer. Gregor only likes to kill women. For anything else, he used me. Assassination, abduction.’

  Hayley suddenly felt nervous. ‘Why are you telling me this? Is this a trick? Are you going to decide you’ve told me too much and off me?’

  Dick suddenly pulled the car over and took out his gun. Hayley cringed back. ‘Oh my god…’

  ‘Give me your hand.’ Dick opened the chamber and dumped the bullets into her palm. Then he cranked open the window, wiped the gun free of fingerprints and threw it out onto the dirt road. Starting the car, he grinned at her, reaching over into the back seat. ‘Gregor would have set up the feed now. Turn your phone on and call the number I’ve programmed. And the conversation we had never happened.’

  She shook her head in disbelief. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I’ve had enough. I don’t kill women; I don’t kill any innocent person. Fuck Gregor and fuck my brother. When we get to the police station, I’m turning myself and my brother in, telling them everything about Gregor. I just hope we can get to them before he takes Quilla somewhere they’ll never find them.’

  Hayley looked at the bullets in her hand. ‘Should I dump these?’

  ‘A little further along the road. I don’t want some kid finding them and the gun together. Now, I’m going to start driving so…’ He nodded at the phone, but she put her hand on his arm.

  ‘Thank you.’

  He smiled. ‘Turn the phone on, Hayley,’ and he pulled the car back onto the road.

  Ran Mallory waved at Marley Griffin as he pulled into the parking lot of her college. Jumping out of the car, he embraced her.

  ‘So good to see you, Marley.’

  She chuckled. ‘It’s been all of twenty-four hours since I saw you.’

  He shrugged good-naturedly. ‘I should have said it’s always good to see you. Ready for lunch?’

  At his favorite restaurant, he told her about Jakob going to London. ‘He’s just desperate to do anything. Failing trying to comb the country for her on his own, he feels useless. He’s hoping Padme’s parents will be able to tell him something.’

  Marley chewed on her lip, and he noticed a wary look in her eye. Ran sighed. Jakob was Marley’s breaking point; she blamed him for everything and now Ran wished he hadn’t told her about Padme and Jakob’s affair. Thank god he and Jakob had decided not tell her about the tapes.

  ‘Marley? Every day the police are getting closer. Carter James just called me; they have a lead out near Puyallup.’

  Her eyes lit up, and she suddenly looked hopeful. ‘Really? That’s great.’

  Ran nodded. ‘They’re scouring the area for any abandoned buildings; anywhere people could be held.’

  ‘How did they come up with that theory?’

  Ran shrugged. ‘He didn’t go
into details, but he sounded excited, which, if you’d met him, is unusual. I’m taking that as a good sign.’

  Marley touched the back of his hand. ‘Ran…I can’t imagine what all of this has been like for you, and I want to thank you for being so…supportive. What with Kit and everything, you must be in hell.’

  ‘You make me feel better, so I suppose I'm selfish. Marley, do you realize what a friend, a confident you’ve become?’

  Marley smiled, blushing. ‘And the same to you, Ran. Really. I know I rub against Jakob’s involvement with my best friend, but not yours. I’m glad Quilla has you as a father figure; she’s never had that before. If she’d never met Jakob…maybe Gregor would have found her anyway and taken her but then maybe we wouldn’t have your army or the FBI combing the world for her. And I know Jakob loves her. I know that.’

  Ran took her hand. ‘For something different, let’s talk about you. What’s happening with your project?’

  Marley told him about her work and Ran listened intently, noting the way her expression got animated when describing things he couldn’t understand in a clear, concise way, the way she got excited when he finally got a concept. He smiled at her.

  ‘You would make an incredible professor,’ he said, ‘what’s your end game?’

  ‘End game?’

  ‘Your goal. Lecturing? Writing a book?’

  Marley looked blank. ‘Um, I hadn’t really thought about either…I just want to carry on the way I am. Science is infinite; there are always new theories to test, new places to go. It’s limitless.’

  Ran nodded, and two pink spots appeared high on his cheeks. ‘And…personally?’

  Marley colored too, but he was gratified that she didn’t look uncomfortable. ‘Personally…I would say for now,’ she emphasized the ‘for now,' blushing furiously, ‘I need to concentrate on my work. We have a huge cycle coming up soon, late nights, early mornings, very little sleep, living on day-old pizza. But…after, who knows? I mean,’ and her voice wavered, ‘I’m certainly not interested in anyone…else.’

  She was trembling now, and an equally nervous Ran smiled. ‘Me, either…’

  Marley looked up at him with large eyes. ‘Ran…’

  He kissed her. Gentle, soft and quick but so, so sweet, she closed her eyes for a second. Ran leaned his forehead against hers. ‘The years between us…’

  ‘Don’t bother me in the slightest,’ she whispered and pressed her lips back to his. Ran felt breathless, giddy like a teenager. Everything about this woman drew him in; her intelligence, her refusal to bend to pressure from her peers, her kindness. And, God, she was beautiful…

  ‘Ran…’

  ‘Sweetheart?’

  ‘I don’t have to be back at work today….our research cycle doesn’t start until next week…’

  ‘Then…’

  She looked up at him, her dark eyes full of desire. ‘I don’t want to be distracted when I work, thinking of you and me together…’

  He smiled – then his phone rang. He groaned, but Marley laughed. ‘That’s what Alanis Morissette would call ‘ironic’, but the rest of us would call ‘a pain in the ass.'

  Ran grinned and picked up his phone. ‘Indeed. Excuse me…hello?’

  Marley watched as Ran’s expression changed – more than changed – became something she couldn’t describe…excitement, hope, and joy. ‘Yes, yes thank you, we’ll be there right away.’

  He ended the call, staring at her in disbelief. ‘Hayley’s been released. She’s safe – the police are bringing her back to Seattle now.’

  ‘And Quilla?’

  ‘He wouldn’t tell me anything else; just to say get to the field office. Will you come?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Together they drove through the city and got to the field office twenty minutes later. Just as they were about to get out of the car, Marley suddenly stopped him. ‘Ran…what if Quilla….what if she’s dead?’

  Ran stopped and saw her eyes were full of fear, of tears. He kissed her. ‘We’ll face whatever comes together, and we’ll get through it.’

  She nodded, and they got out of the car. Holding hands, they raced into the field office to find out what was going on.

  Skandar Mallory paced up and down inside the interview room, Nan Applebee equally as tense. Seated next to Joel, her legs jiggled up and down, and she couldn’t keep her hands still. She’d collapsed when Joel had gotten the phone call from Skandar – she could hear the young man sobbing down the phone such was his relief. All they knew was Hayley had been freed and was safe and well. No news of Quilla yet.

  Now, they waited. Nan looked up and smiled as Ran and Marley joined them, then a few minutes later, Flori and Grady arrived, Flori hugging Nan and sitting beside her.

  Skandar kept checking his watch. They had a new agent, Steve Kendrick, sitting with them: Carter and Ali were down, following the trail in Puyallup – made easier now that Hayley was freed near there. Skandar was impressed; their lead had proved to be fruitful. Of course, Hayley had been released before they had found where the women were held, but now she could tell them where to go. He knew no-one in this room could stop thinking: where’s Quilla? If she was dead, wouldn’t they have told them? Or would they? God. Joel had told him not to call Jakob yet. ‘He’s in London, he might find out something useful and if the worst has happened, well, I want him to be with us when he finds out.’

  Skandar didn’t agree but went along with his father’s wishes. All he could think of now was having Hayley back in his arms and when, thirty-seven minutes later, he heard her voice out in the office, every sense left him, and he ran.

  Hayley saw him at the same time, and as they slammed into each other, they collapsed to the ground, holding each other, sobbing, kissing, as Nan, hysterical, joined them, the three of them making a human pile in the middle of the FBI field office.

  After they’d gathered themselves, Agent Kendrick shook Hayley’s hand. ‘Good to have you back, we’re going to have the doctor look you over….I know, you said you were fine,’ he stopped her interruption, ‘but it’s a formality for the case. Then you can have a few hours with your family, go shower, eat, and maybe get some sleep. But we are going to need you to help us by answering some questions; I warn you, we go over everything with a fine tooth comb so be prepared for answering the same questions over and over.’

  Hayley nodded. ‘I don’t care how long it takes, anything to help Quilla.’

  When she’d told them what Quilla had done for her, Marley had burst into tears, Nan and Flori looked close to it, even Joel’s normally implacable face colored. Skandar shook his head. ‘I owe her everything,’ he kept saying, ‘everything.’

  They managed to book a suite in a hotel, not wanting to run the gauntlet of the press just yet. After they’d eaten dinner together, the others left them alone, Nan hugging her sister tightly, looking at her as if she still couldn’t believe they’d got her back.

  When they were alone, Hayley stripped her clothes off and went to the shower. She turned and smiled at a wondering Skandar; his eyes drinking her in. ‘Get in this shower, Skandar Mallory, and soap me up.’

  He didn’t to be told twice. The moment he put his hands on his beautiful girlfriend, Skandar felt a shift inside him, a release and he kissed her more passionately than he ever had before, feeling her soft skin under his like it was the first time. Hayley sunk into his arms and it wasn’t long until still soaking from the water, he lifted her up into his arms and took her to bed.

  ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’

  Hayley groaned. ‘God, yes, this is all I’ve been thinking about for over a week, please, Skandar.’ She reached down and stroked his cock, which jerked and trembled under her touch. ‘God, Skandar, I want you so bad, don’t wait, please…’

  With a growl, he kissed her, hitching her legs around his waist, the tip of his cock nudging at her sex before sliding in all the way. Hayley quivered and moaned, tilting her hips up so she could take him in as
far as he could, moving with him as he thrust. Their eyes stayed locked on the other – a reconnection, a new beginning, a love solidified – and they moved, Hayley felt all the tension in her body be replaced with pleasure. She kept her mind focused on him and only him, his gentle eyes, his beautiful smile, his dark blonde hair which felt so soft as she ran her fingers through it. The feel of his hard chest against her breasts, his belly against her own, the feel of his hips rocking against her inner thighs – god, blissful, heavenly release.

  Her orgasm was less of an explosion, more of a gradual build until she felt Skandar come, groaning and moaning her name over and over until she felt that utterly pure love come from him then it hit her. The climax was so bittersweet she lost all sense of control, and she started to sob uncontrollably, hysterically, great wrenching sobs of terror and heartbreak and the utter helplessness she had felt during her abduction.

  Skandar understood immediately and gathered her into his arms, swaddling her tightly as she cried out and let go. He said nothing; just let her get it all out, his lips against her temple. Eventually, she calmed herself, her sobs turning to hiccups. Skandar rocked her gently, and she burrowed hard against his chest, lifting her chin, finding his lips with hers.

  ‘Okay, baby?’

  She nodded. ‘I love you so much. I didn’t stop thinking about you the whole time. God, Skandar, it was…indescribable, thinking I’d never see you again. And what he did to Quilla….jesus…’

  She told him, haltingly, everything that had gone on and Skandar was sickened. ‘Do you think she’s given up?’

  Hayley shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I hope not; she plans to try and kill Gregor, but I think…if she died trying, she’d be okay with that. I’m scared she’ll be reckless, and he’ll guess what she’s planning and…’ She couldn’t finish, and Skandar tightened his grip on her.

  ‘Listen, precious one. We know Fisk’s weakness is Quilla. As long as she plays along with him, he’ll keep her alive. So keep the faith that she knows what she’s doing. I’ll be forever in her debt for getting you home safely. We’re all going to do everything to repay that debt and get her back alive. I promise you.’