by Anna Edwards
He was going to skin her captor alive. They leapt from the vehicle but ducked behind the doors when a shot was aimed at them. The driver was providing cover so the cult leader could get Amy away. Matthew fired back, shattering the door of the truck where the man hid. Matthew's guns were MI5 issue; they went through anything. Before long the driver collapsed on the ground in a pool of blood.
"Stay in pairs. Stay close. I’ll cover James, you cover Grayson." Matthew spoke to Grayson's personal bodyguard. "No one shoots unless I say. He’s unstable, and he could do anything to Miss Jones if we don't get a clear chance."
Amy's screams alerted them of her position. The land was rocky and lead to a part of the Grand Canyon. They got closer, and he could hear chants about the devil not tainting this sweet child anymore. That he’d protect her, she’d fly alongside him at the hand of God. He planned on taking the pair of them over the side of a ledge. They emerged through some trees and she was held around her neck with a gun to her head.
His heart was in his mouth. She looked so tiny and so very scared.
"Stay back Lucifer. I won’t allow you to take her. You took my sister's purity, you tainted her mind with your evil. I couldn’t save her, but I won’t allow you to take another innocent.”
James saw Matthew peel off to the side, he would be surveying the scene and working out the weaknesses and how to extract Amy from the madman.
"Jacob, your sister gave herself to me for love. What we did was natural, your beliefs made her feel dirty. Whatever happened to her was the responsibility of you and your demented brother."
"No." he shouted back, and Amy shrank down. "You defiled her body. She told us what you did. We tried to beat the devil out of you, but he’s too strong. Repent James. Fight him. You can be saved, but you will never be able to have this innocent child again. I won’t allow it."
"Alright." He placed his gun down on the ground. Amy shook her head at him. "I want to save myself. Let the girl go. I’m Lucifer, she’ll obey my instructions. I have brainwashed her to my evil ways. Amy. If Jacob lets you go, you will get straight into the car and go back to the compound. I have done you wrong, they’ll save you there." She nodded a yes.
"You’re a liar. If I let her go, you will have your man kill me. No. She’s staying with me."
Years of oppression and the punishment that Matthew had inflicted on him had left his brain in a different world. He wouldn't be surprised if, when he looked at him, Jacob saw him bright red with horns and trails of fire surrounding the ground behind him. "Jacob, I want you to save me." He slowly got to his knees, bowed his head, but kept an eye on the man's movements. He placed his hands down on the ground. "I have done many bad things, I ordered the death of your brother. I have forced the lady you hold into sexual acts that have degraded her. I allowed the devil to rule my mind. But with your guidance, I can change. I have finances. We can rid the world of all the deviants, work together to rescue innocent girls and educate them. Let something good come out of all the pain we’ve both felt." James' eyes flicked to where Matthew had taken up position for a clear shot on Jacob. James just needed him to get Amy to step clear. "Please Jacob, let her go."
Jacob dragged Amy further towards the edge of the cliff.
"No. No. I see what you’re doing. You can’t fool me. My brother said you did this. You acted innocent, but inside you’re plotting to take her from me. Not happening." He shouted the last phrase.
"Jacob I swear to you I’m not joking. I want to help all the girls you’ve rescued. I know you’ve no reason to trust me, but I want to help you." James wanted to rip this man's head off and feed it to vultures. But part of him knew that this was a mental health issue and that maybe with proper care Jacob could be brought back to some semblance of sanity.
"No. You don't get it, do you? It’ll always be a part of you. It’ll always come back. I can't allow you to get near her. It’s too risky. She is innocent. I can’t be at his side if I don’t do that. My brother won’t allow me to be at his side. He speaks to me and tells me what to do. He always has." He waved the gun in the air.
"No Joseph, he says he can help us. I can't do that."
"Jacob is Joseph here now?"
"Yes." he pointed the gun back at his head. "He’s telling me I need to rid the world of you." Jacob pointed the gun directly at him. Out of the corner of his eye, James saw Matthew and Grayson cock theirs, ready to fire, but Amy was still too close. He immediately gave Matthew a look to tell him not to shoot until Amy was out of the way, no matter what.
"Jacob, has Joseph always told you what to do?"
"I was his younger brother. He looked out for me." his hands shaking on the trigger.
"I’m like that with my sister.” James said, “I always tell her what to do. You know what, though? She doesn't listen to me. She makes her own mind up. And she’s an amazing woman because of it."
"She’s as bad as you. I know where you went last night." He moved the gun and pointed it towards Grayson. "I saw him. Maybe he is the actual devil." Grayson's bodyguard pulled him aside and focused his gun on the sweating and rapidly breathing Jacob.
"No. I told him to do that to her. I’m the devil, Jacob." The gun instantly swung back to where James was still kneeling on the floor. "Alright, you don't want to let the girl go. Why don't you put the gun down? Sit down with her. She looks tired and hot. My man will bring some water over to you. We don't want to hurt the girl, do we?"
Jacob looked at Amy. "I’ll put the gun down, but they put theirs down. "
"Of course. Matthew, do it." Matthew, Grayson and the bodyguard placed their weapons down, Matthew would have another one hidden which he could reach seconds. "They’ve done it. Now please, will you put yours down."
Jacob released his hold around Amy's neck but kept a tight grip on her hand. He leant forward and placed the gun on the ground. He went to stand up, Amy spun and managed to free herself from his grip. Matthew had his gun in his hand as Jacob toppled backwards over the cliff. Amy began to run, but Jacob managed to shift his weight forward and gripped her ankle. As he slid back over the cliff, he pulled her down and over with him. It all happened in slow motion as if it was a scene from one of Grayson's movies. One moment she was running and then flat on the floor, her perfectly manicured nails trying desperately to find something to grip to keep her from falling before she disappeared from sight. James looked beside him and saw everyone else running for the cliff, he looked down at his legs, and they were doing the same. They were running, he wasn't controlling them. He slid to a halt at the edge and forced himself to look over. She shouted his name. Her bracelet was wedged into some rocks, and she was desperately trying to hold onto another rock. He reached out and grabbed her sweaty wrist. Grayson was at his side doing the same to her other arm. They sought to pull her up, but she was too heavy.
"Get him off me. Don't let me fall."
Jacob still held her legs; he was frantically clawing his way up her body. Matthew appeared at his side.
"Boss?"
He had a split second to make his decision. Amy's hands were too wet to hold her for much longer. He was fooling himself that Jacob could be helped with mental care, he was too far gone.
"Take it."
A shot rang out, and Amy was suddenly a lot lighter, and he and Grayson could pull her back over the edge. Grayson collapsed. James pulled Amy into his arms. She was crying hysterically; he examined her from top to bottom, she had scrapes and scratches all over her arms, legs and belly, her t-shirt was in tatters, her lip was bleeding, and her hair was covered in dirt. She was almost hyperventilating. Grayson's bodyguard brought over some water and helped Amy to drink it.
"Shush, you’re safe. It’s over. I have you. You’re in my arms, and I’m never letting you out of them again."
She looked into his eyes and moved her filthy and bloodied hand to touch his face.
"I... I thought."
"No. No thinking."
"Sonia?" She sat up alert and looked to Ma
tthew.
"She’s with a medical team. Her arm is broken, and she has a pretty severe head wound."
"I’m so sorry. She told me to keep going, to leave her, but I couldn't do it. He would’ve killed her." She was sobbing.
"It’s alright. You did the right thing. Both you and Sonia are safe."
James heard Grayson's bodyguard talking about a clean-up crew. Grayson got to his feet and walked back to the car.
"We have to get out of here. I have a plane waiting to take us back London right now. Do you think you can walk?"
"No. I want to go and see Sonia."
"Matthew will sort her out and then get our belongings together and bring them home. I need to get you back to London so you can heal."
"No."
"Listen to me. I’m not going to argue with you about this."
"Will you just listen to me for one minute?"
Grayson put his head in his hands, and Matthew got back into the car.
Even after nearly dying she was still arguing. "You’ve two minutes."
"Do you know why I went to get the tattoo?" With everything that had happened he had forgotten about that. She pulled a scrap of her t-shirt aside and lowered what remained in place of the bandage. Underneath James could see his name in Indian design. It was so intricate. She had his name on her skin. "People think I let you rule me, that you control me. But in India, you surrendered your control to me when you told me of your past, and here in Las Vegas, we have divided our control. Each of us has a role in our relationship. I show you that you’re capable of love, and you introduce me to the person I can be. Do you understand what I’m saying?"
"Yes I do, this is all good, but I need to take over the control right now and get you to safety."
"I choose to be with you, I’ll be a target all my life because of that. It’s what we do about that perceived target. Apart we’re weak, but together we’re strong. That is what got me through this. I was thinking of you losing me the entire time." Amy looked into his eyes. "Will you marry me?"
"We’re already engaged."
"I know we’re engaged. But what if I said you have twenty-four hours, and by the end of that time I want to be your wife. What would you say to me?"
"I want you to have the fairy-tale wedding. When we get back to London, we will arrange it. We can be married in a few weeks."
"Either you marry me within twenty-four hours, or we will never marry." Despite the dirt, blood, tear marks and rather wacky new hairstyle, Amy had a familiar defiant look on her face.
"Grayson? How quick can your bridezilla plan a wedding?"
"Twenty-four hours."
"Then call her."
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Amy
Amy shifted her aching body on the bed, and she instantly felt a hand brush her hips. She didn't even need to open her eyes to know that James would be poised over her, concern all over his face. Had he gotten any sleep? Or had he sat there all night watching her? She opened her eyes and gave them a few moments to focus before she did indeed see her lover all set to jump from the bed to get her anything she needed or kill anyone who tried to come near her.
"Are you alright? Are you in pain? Do you need me to get your medicine?" He helped her sit and take a sip of water.
"No, I’m feeling alright, just general soreness from everything." She looked at the clock and noticed it was almost ten am. "Have you heard anything more on Sonia?"
"Matthew brought her back to the hotel late last night with a medical team. She has a concussion, and they’d to operate to pin her arm, but she’ll make a full recovery. I’ll take you to see her later. She needs lots of rest."
"Dare I ask how the wedding plans are coming?"
"I have no idea. Sophie is doing everything. She said it’s bad luck my being here with you, but I refused to leave. I need to deliver you to her room at one pm so that you can get ready. She won’t let me in, though. Are you alright with that?"
The thought of him leaving her side, even to go the bathroom right now terrified her. However, she couldn't get ready for a wedding while being attached to the groom like a limpet.
"Will Grayson be there?"
"Yes, Sophie has asked him to remain near you at all times. I suspect that if you even need a wee, he’ll be standing outside the door while Sophie is there inside the bathroom with you."
She smiled, "Will Sonia be able to come to the wedding?"
"I don't fancy Matthew's chances of keeping her away, even though she has a broken arm."
She rubbed her eyes again to remove the last trace of sleep, and ran her hand through her hair. Tears instantly flooded her eyes. She couldn't help it. She remembered the knife severing a lifetime’s growth from her head. He pulled her into him and placed her ear against his heart.
"There isn't time to get you a full set of hair extensions today. I’ll do it when we get back to London. It should look alright until your natural hair grows again. We’ve sourced a top of the line wig, though."
She sat up and pressed her lips to James’. He tasted a little salty. He mustn't have even showered after yesterday. He didn't even leave her alone to clean himself up.
"No. I’m not going to wear a wig on my wedding day. I’m already going to need fake nails." She held her hands up to show her broken and torn manicure. "I want you to be marrying me, not a Barbie doll version."
"I’m glad to see you haven't lost your stubborn streak through all this."
"The world will have to do a lot more than cut my hair, ruin my nails and drag me over a cliff to make me lose my stubborn streak. Now as for yours--bathroom."
"Why?"
"You haven't showered since yesterday, and you’re beginning to make the room smell. Besides, I want to ogle your body one last time as a single woman. Make sure I’m making the right decision."
"Is that right? It will only be fair that I get to check out yours. I can't be making the wrong decision either."
"You can look but not touch. You gotta put a ring on it first." She burst out laughing and waved her ring finger.
"Seriously. Did you really just say that?"
"I know. I think I might have bumped my head. "
"I love you." He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose
"I love you too."
He took her hand and led her to the bathroom but stopped when he saw a brown envelope placed on the dressing table. He went quiet.
"What is wrong." She followed the direction of his gaze. "What is that?"
"Alright, look I don't care about what is in there, please know that. I’d marry you with or without it." James looked into her eyes and held both of her hands. "My lawyer and mother seem to think it’s for my best interests, though." She let out a sigh of relief, let go of his hands, walked over to the envelope, and opened it. A prenuptial agreement. "I’m sorry. I really didn't want to give it to you. I was probably going to hide it in the drawer, but I suspect my mother would’ve given it to you this afternoon. It doesn't mean she doesn't trust you. It’s just protecting what I have built up. Just throw it in the bin." She picked up a pen, flicked through to where she had to sign and did so. "You need to read that before you sign it."
"Why? I’m not marrying you for money. I’m marrying you for love, and somehow I don't think you will ever let me go anyway. Even when we fight they’re only tiffs, and we spend more time making up than fighting."
"It could say in the event of a break up I’ll take sole custody of any children we have."
"It won't."
"How do you know that?"
"I trust that you’d never write that in there. Your lawyers and parents are right we should have an agreement to guard your assets, but I know that the document will be as fair to me as possible because you’re too stubborn to let it be otherwise. Now, where were we? Oh yes." She tossed the pen back on the desk. "Bathroom."
A knock at the door spoilt their plans.
James
His father was holding his mother's hand, and
James just wanted to rip it from her. He could really do without this now. He just wanted to make sure Amy was alright.
Amy frowned at James as she sat down and spoke to his father. "I know that you gave James the money to set up his business, but what do you do?" She was trying to be friendly and settle them all before the inevitable arguments started.
"I work in the financial industry, I was a city trader for most of my life, but now I tend to work more on the side of advising companies on the policies they need to place. I’m starting to retire."
"That sounds interesting. I bet you’ve seen some things in your work?"
"I have seen many things, but I think the travelling has been the best thing about the job."
"His work allowed me to be a stay-at-home mother to both Sophie and James. I think that is why we have such a close bond." His mother looked over to him as she spoke. "It wasn't always easy not having Pete around, but he was doing everything for his family."
"Shame he didn't keep his dick in his pants." The words came from his mouth before he had had the chance to engage his brain and stop them.
"James." Both Amy and his mother rebuked him sharply at the same time.
"No, Miranda, Amy." Pete squeezed his wife’s hand again, and James cracked his knuckles. "This needs to be discussed. We cannot ignore it in favour of pleasantries. James, son, say what it is you need to say to me."
How did he phrase this without sounding a complete jerk in front of both of the woman now glaring at him?
"I understand that you and mum were having trouble and that you didn't think you could talk to me about it, but surely you’d a mate you could discuss it with, or even marriage counselling. Why did you choose to pay for one of my escorts and take her to the bed you shared with mum?" He had the first bit off his chest.
His father shifted uncomfortably in his chair, he went to let go of Miranda's hand, but she held it tight to give him comfort. Amy hadn’t let go of James’ hand and didn’t show any signs of doing it soon either
"I did speak to someone. I went to see a counsellor on my own, but it didn't work. I met that lady at one of your functions, and she gave me her business card, I put it away in a drawer and didn't think anything more of it. I never planned to call her. I wish to God now that I had thrown it away. Before your mother went away, we had a big argument. I was searching through the drawers, found the card, and called her. I just wanted some no hassle fun. It was the biggest mistake of my life."
