Caroline’s nose went in the air. “I don’t know why you’re laughing. Your perfect happy little lives are about to fall apart and you don’t even know it.”
Finn sighed. “Is that so, Caroline?”
Caroline smirked. “How’s the Chinese whore? Still breathing? That’s a shame but at least you’ll have someone to jerk off over in the shower.”
To Molly’s astonishment, she saw Finn color, his eyes flare up, and waves of anger roll off him. Hurriedly, Molly scooted around the counter and put herself between the two of them.
“Your jealousy of Sarah is quite something, really very pathetic,” she said, her own eyes burrowing into Caroline’s.
“Well, she’s welcome to him, useless fucking loser. Call yourself a man?” She spat in Finn’s face. “You couldn’t even fucking get me pregnant. This baby isn’t yours, Finn.”
Finn wiped his face calmly. “Honey, honestly, I never thought it was.”
Caroline stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t even care why I told you it was?”
Molly rolled her eyes. “Um, to keep Finn locked in your miserable web of crap? To fuck with all of us? Tough one, let me think.”
“Shut up you bitch.”
Molly laughed at her.
She turned on him. “You’re a bastard, Finn and she’s nothing more than a cheap Chinese whore. Are you happy now?”
Finn smirked. “Yes, Caroline, if it helps get through to you how unbelievably happy I am, yes, I am over the moon I’ve left you. The thing is, the thing you never realized, is that Sarah isn’t a possession to be passed from person to person. She’s a self-made woman. A beautiful, amazing wonder of a woman and the fact that she chooses to be friends, the very best of friends, with me makes me the luckiest person in the world. I feel sad for you that you were too stupid, too jealous to realize what you had when you had it. We were happy once, we could have been happy forever but you decided to choose jealousy and hatred over love. So you lose, you absolute horror of a human being. You lose.”
Molly looked at him in admiring astonishment. Finn looked straight at Caroline unwavering. Caroline, stunned, tried to save face.
“Every day you were here, sniffing around her like a lost dog. I don’t get it. What is it about her that’s so special? That perfect face?”
Finn went very silent then and it seemed to Molly that the whole coffee shop held its breath.
“How long, Caroline?”
Caroline looked confused and Finn smiled.
“How long have you been screwing Daniel Bailey – the very much alive Daniel Bailey?”
To Molly’s surprise, Caroline smirked. “Long enough.”
“So you knew he was back? You talk to him about his intentions?”
She was cocky now. “We are honest with each other.”
“Making plans together?”
Another smirk. “Is it any of your business anymore?”
Finn nodded calmly. Okay, then how about I put it like this.” He grabbed Caroline and slammed her down onto a table, cuffing her and jerking her back up by her arms, not caring if he hurt her.
“Caroline Jewell, I’m arresting you on suspicion of criminal conspiracy in the assault and attempted murder of Sarah Bailey. 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 Daniel Bailey has told you? No? Thought not.” He was mocking her and she started screaming, kicking out at him but he was too strong.
“You’re a fucking joke, Finn. Your precious Sarah is in love with that fucking billionaire. She doesn’t want you.”
Her screams faded as Finn dragged her across the street and into the police station. A second later, he walked back to the coffee shop. As he entered the shop, Finn’s face was alive with anger. He turned, closed the door and locked it. As he came toward her, Molly looked at her brother in admiration.
“Dude,” was all she said but Finn nodded gratefully at her.
“I don’t know if the charges will stick but it means we can keep her ass in jail for a few hours.”
Molly sighed. She turned to Serena, who seemed frozen as she stood, looking like a lost little girl, someone who had just lost her queen bee. Molly tried to smile at her, feeling sorry for her. “Serena, go home. You’re free, you can do what you want. Go tell the rest of your friends they’re free too.” She said this with a smirk and was surprised to see Serena tentatively return her smile.
“Yes. Yes,” she said, not without a little relief, “I will. Thank you, Molly… Finn.”
After she’d gone, Molly and Finn stared at each other for a long moment then burst into laughter. Wiping her eyes, Molly punched her brother on the shoulder.
“Dude, you might just be a genius, god, she’ll never get over that humiliation. So worth it.” She studied her brother. “So…what now?”
Finn smiled sadly. “I try and get over the woman I never realized I loved.”
The sound broke through her sleep. Sarah opened her eyes and strained to identify it. A steady stream, of water, someone singing. Someone was in the bathroom. It was a male voice. Isaac? Smiling, she slid from the bed and padded across the room then stopped. She could tell now it wasn’t Isaac’s voice. She glanced at the clock. Eleven a.m. No, it couldn’t be. She’d been in the hospital for over a week and she’d made him promise to go back to work.
Trembling, she walked slowly towards it and then yelped in shock.
The man in her kitchen turned and smiled at her. “Hey sleepyhead, I was wondering when you’d wake up.”
Sarah felt her head swirl, her stomach roil and black spots appear at the corners of her eyes, and in the second before she passed out, she heard him say. “I’ve missed you so much, my darling…”
It was Dan.
Maggie brought Isaac a steaming cup of coffee and a handful of messages. “The press,” she said, rolling her eyes, “they’ve gotten hold of your and Sarah’s story. They want to know – and I’m quoting, so don’t shoot the messenger – they want to know “Who tried to kill the Billionaire’s Beauty? I swear to god, five of them said those exact words to me.”
“Shit,” Isaac sighed and sat back in his chair, “Well, it was only a matter of time. They won’t get anything from me, though except a blanket Thanks for your concern, this matter is private.”
Maggie looked skeptical. “Yeah, that’ll calm them down.”
Isaac grinned at her sarcasm. “Haven’t I fired you already today?”
Maggie laughed. “Twice. But seriously, boss…”
“Isaac leaned back in his chair and gave a frustrated hiss. “Let me talk to Sarah. For now, if you can, just tell them there’ll be a statement but stress this is a private matter.”
“Gotcha.”
When she’d gone back to her desk, Isaac spun his chair and gazed out of the window. The city was gray with rain, sheets of it falling, a low rumble of thunder. Thank god he’d paid for a private room for Sarah. They were well versed in keeping the press out. He wondered if he should hire security for her room – then pushed the thought away. She’d be mortified at the fuss and anyway, with any luck, she’d be released from the hospital soon.
Later, walking back to the parking garage, he swung past a jeweler’s and looked at the engagement rings. He knew Sarah wouldn’t care about a ring but he did. He wanted something unusual, something as beautiful as she was. He’d bring her here and they’d choose together. Soon, he thought, soon.
Finn shifted with irritation. He wanted to get out of this house, away from this woman. He wanted to call Isaac, find out how Sarah was. Caroline took her time reading the divorce papers. She looked up at him in surprise.
“You’re admitting adultery?”
He nodded. “Caroline,
I don’t care who takes the blame, I just want out. I don’t care that you screwed Dan Bailey.” He added as her head shot up. She composed herself and smirked.
“I was screwing him long before he “disappeared” too.” She muttered.
“Oh, I know.” Finn’s face was set with a grim smile. He leaned down to study her face. “I’ve always known. But the truth is I cheated long before that. Before we even got married. Not physically, no. But emotionally. I realize now I’ve been in love with Sarah since the day I met her and I never stopped. Not for one heartbeat.”
Caroline sneered. “You think I don’t know that? But I don’t believe you didn’t fuck her all those years.”
Finn’s face was cold. “Believe what you want. I was too blind to realize it, then too stupid to do anything about it. This is how adults are supposed to act, Caroline. Sometimes we don’t get a happy ending – or rather – we get a different one to the one we planned. Mine will be leaving you and finally being free of your disgusting presence. Sign the papers.”
Caroline got up and got a cold beer from the fridge. She cracked it open and took a swig. “What if I don’t?”
“You will. Because if you don’t, I’m going to arrest you for criminal conspiracy.”
Caroline blanched and Finn smiled.
“What?”
He moved so he could look down on her. She had fear in her eyes as she registered his anger.
“I said, I will spend every waking hour proving that you were a co-conspirator to Sarah’s attack. That you stole police property when you sold that story to the papers. Until my last breath, Caroline, I will make sure you pay for what you did to her.” Finn managed to control his temper but his voice was low and furious.
Caroline swallowed another gulp of beer and moved around him. She was shaking. Sitting down, she scrawled her signature where Finn had indicated. She handed him back the papers. Finn nodded.
“Thank you.” He turned to leave.
Caroline’s eyes filled with tears. “Did you ever love me?” She asked in a whisper.
Finn didn’t hesitate. “No.”
Caroline stared at him for a long minute.
“Finn? What now?”
He didn’t look at her. “We sell the house, split the profit. You get the hell off my island. I never want to see or speak to you again.”
“Finn…” Her voice shook. He looked at her then, disgust, contempt in his eyes.
“Goodbye Caroline.” And he walked out in the afternoon a free man.
Sarah backed away from the ex-husband, her breath hitching and catching in her throat. His smile was friendly enough but his eyes were flat and dead. He looked changed. Harder. His once slim face was pudgy and his hair was thinning.
He stepped towards her, put his hands her shoulders when she tried to shake him off, his grip tightened.
“Don’t be silly, Sarah, why do you look scared? It’s me.”
His voice, god, even his voice frightened her, as soft as it was, almost a tender whisper. She could smell his pine soap.
“Dan…what do you want?” Even more than “where the hell have you been?” she wanted to know this. What did he want?
Dan leaned in and kissed her softly before she could pull away. He ran a finger down her cheek.
“Isn’t it obvious, my darling baby girl? I want you, Sarah, I want you back”.”
Sarah stared at him in horror and her heart pounded against her ribs. “No…no…”
His eyes went dark, his smile flattened into a thin line. “We are husband and wife, Sarah.”
She yanked herself free and went to press the call button. “We are divorced, Dan. I divorced you after you faked your own death and left me. Get out or I’ll have security throw you out.”
He stepped towards her, backing her against the wall, pinning her with the weight of his body; she could feel his body heat, smell his skin.
“Dan…please”
“Sssh baby girl, sssh. You know how this has to be? I’ll forgive spreading your legs for the rich man but now, let’s be honest….” His smile was terrifying. The fear was icy cold in her veins.
“You are mine, Sarah, mine forever...I won’t let anyone else have you, my darling, not ever…”
And he pressed his lips against hers…
Gone, Tomorrow Part Three:
Sarah backed away from her ex-husband, her breath hitching and catching in her throat. His smile was friendly enough but his eyes were flat and dead. He looked changed. Harder. His once slim face was pudgy and his hair was thinning.
He stepped towards her, put his hands on her shoulders; when she tried to shake him off, his grip tightened.
“Don’t be silly, Sarah, why do you look scared? It’s me.”
His voice, god, even his voice frightened her, as soft as it was, almost a tender whisper. She could smell the pine soap on his skin.
“Dan…what do you want?” Even more than “where the hell have you been?” she wanted to know this. What did he want with her now, this second?
Dan leaned in and kissed her softly before she could pull away. He ran a finger down her cheek.
“Isn’t it obvious, my darling baby girl? I want you, Sarah, I want you back.”
Sarah stared at him in horror and her heart pounded against her ribs. “No…no…”
His eyes went dark, his smile flattened into a thin line. “We are husband and wife, Sarah.”
She yanked herself free and went to press the call button. “We are divorced, Dan. I divorced you after you faked your own death and left me. Get out or I’ll have security throw you out.”
He stepped towards her, backing her against the wall, pinning her with his entire weight; she could feel his body heat, smell his skin.
“Dan…please”
“Ssh baby girl, ssh. You know how this has to be? I’ll forgive you for spreading your legs for the rich man but now, let’s be honest….” His smile was terrifying. The fear was icy cold in her veins.
“You are mine, Sarah, mine forever...I won’t let anyone else have you, my darling… not ever…”
And he pressed his lips against hers.
She pushed him away, the violence of her revulsion giving her strength. “Don’t you ever put your hands on me again…Raymond.” She spat the name out, her eyes flashing with anger.
Dan just grinned. “So you’ve been doing a little snooping, huh? Well…” He sat down on the bed. “Guess I should come clean then.”
Sarah gave a hollow laugh. “You know what? I don’t care. I don’t care what your real name is or where the fuck you’ve been these last two years. Our whole life together was a lie and a mistake I’ll never repeat.”
The man she was married to was a stranger and now, that stranger stood, a smile on his face, his aggression seemingly gone. “I can see you’re upset, darling. I’ll come back when you’ve calmed down.”
“Don’t bother. My fiancé will be here soon.”
“Your fiancé,” he scoffed. “Whoring yourself for a billionaire, oh yes, you’re all class, Sarah. Guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
Crack! Her palm made contact with his face and his head snapped around. He grabbed her wrist, murder in his eyes. “Watch yourself, Sarah. My patience has a limit.”
“Get. Out.” The adrenaline pulsing through her body made the words a growl. Dan smirked, dropped her arm and turned to leave. At the door, he stopped and his eyes swept up and down her body in a way that made her feel sick.
“Fine. For now, I’ll stay away. When you’re feeling better, we’ll talk. We have so much to talk about, my darling. So much left to say.”
The second he left, Sarah collapsed onto the bed, breathing hard, her mind delirious with panic and fear and sadness and she managed to press the call button again just as she succumbed to a full blown panic attack.
Isaac was listening to the accountants drone on when Maggie, her face tense and worried, knocked on the door. Isaac excused himself and walked out into the
corridor with her. Without a word, Maggie handed him a copy of an email. He read it through twice before looking back at her.
“Shit,” he breathed. “This is the last thing I need right now.”
“I know. Isaac, listen, there’s something else: the hospital called a few minutes ago; Sarah’s had a little setback. Now, don’t panic, she just got upset about something but she won’t say what. They’re not sure if something happened or it’s a result of her concussion. They said there’s no need to worry and she’s okay now but they thought you ought to know.”
Isaac felt his stomach clench and he looked back at his colleagues, waiting expectantly for him. He couldn’t ditch yet another meeting. He sighed. “Look, I need to get back in there. Cancel the meeting with the marketing guys, that can wait, and as for this…” He screwed up the email. “I’m all for ignoring it.”
He could see Maggie’s lips pursed with disapproval but she nodded and went back to her office. Isaac moved to return to his meeting, but at the door, he paused for a moment. Damn it, damn it. Not now, he thought, not while all this crap is going on. The email would haunt him, he knew that, but as long as only he knew about the contents of it, everything would be fine.
He told himself that was true, took a deep breath and went back into the meeting.
Despite her panic attack, Sarah was discharged from hospital the following week. She hadn’t told Isaac about Dan yet – she wanted to be at home with him when she did – she was scared of him blowing up and making things worse. All she wanted for the moment, was for his arms to be around her, to feel his skin on her skin, for the rest of the world to go away.
Dirty Little Virgin: A Submissives’ Secrets Novel Page 126
