by Kylie Walker
“Cecil Valentine?”
“Yes…Jordan, you’re kind of freaking me out here.”
“I’m sorry. Chase, Cecil is Axel. Axel Valentine. The man who tried to kill me.”
The change in Chase’s demeanor was instant. Jordan could actually see the pulse pounding in the vein in his neck as his heart sped up. “Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I’m positive. He wore his hair longer back then and he had facial hair. He was a biker…”
“He rode a Harley…belonged to an outlaw motorcycle club…” Chase looked like he was remembering something but Jordan didn’t remember telling him any of that.
“Yeah, he was the VP of the MC and they were into some pretty nasty stuff…drugs and guns and prostitutes. I didn’t know any of that until we had been dating for a couple of months and then he told me I was his old lady and if I tried to leave he would kill me. If I told anyone what went on in that clubhouse, he would kill me. It’s one of the reasons why I told the police I didn’t remember who beat me when I woke up in that hospital. I was afraid for my life and I also saw it as an escape…a way to have a fresh start and never have to be associated with him in any way at all. I was going to run when I saw him today but I don’t want to run anymore. I also don’t want to ruin your mother’s big day. She looks so happy. I don’t want to be the one to take that from her.”
Chase had a look in his eyes that Jordan had never seen before and he wasn’t saying a word. They stood there silently for a few minutes and then he said, “We’re not going to say anything to Mom…at least until they get back from their honeymoon. But, as soon as they leave to catch their plane, Cecil and I are going to have a talk.”
“Chase promise me that you won’t do anything to get yourself in trouble.”
He was working his jaw tightly and she could feel the tightness of the muscles in his arm. “I want to kill him.”
Jordan nodded. “I know and so do I. But it wouldn’t be worth it for either of us. I did some research a few years ago when I was trying to get back on my feet and stop being afraid to close my eyes at night. There’s no statute of limitations on attempted murder. Let’s do this right this time, Chase. Let the law deal with him and you and I can go on with our lives. Please, if you got locked up because of me…”
“It wouldn’t be because of you!” he snapped. He breathed in and out and then said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I can’t even describe what I’m feeling right now babe. I’m consumed with rage. He got away with what he did to you and who knows how many other women he did it too in the meantime?”
“I know, I do. It makes me angry every time I think about it. But if I lose you my life won’t ever be the same. You make me happy and you make me feel safe. If I lose you, Chase, he wins. If you go to prison for attacking him, he wins and I get left out here alone.” She could tell that his words were softening him…some. He took out his cell phone and said,
“Okay. Just know that all you would have to do is say the word and I’d walk in there right now and drag him out back and…”
“I know,” she said again with a soft smile, “And that’s why you make me feel so safe. I know that you’ll never hurt me and that you’ll always protect me.” He nodded and pressed a number into his phone. She heard him ask for a Detective Brower and a few minutes later she listened as Chase told her abbreviated story to the man on the phone, asking for dates and places from Jordan at times. Chase listened and then covered the phone with his hand and said, “What motorcycle club was he a part of?”
“The Queens Borough Wrecking Crew,” Chase repeated that into the phone and a few seconds later he smiled.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he said before ending the call. He looked at Jordan with his green eyes shining and said, “It seems that the president of the crew was found dead a few days after you were found. They looked at Cecil for it but nobody would testify against him and they didn’t have enough physical evidence to go to trial. But this detective says the D.A. has a hard-on for him and he would love nothing more than to get his hands on something that can put this arrogant bastard away.”
She smiled. “I think I’ve got what he needs. When does your mom leave?”
He looked at his watch. “Now. I’ll walk them out. Don’t let him see you until I get back. Mom and Troy will be on their way to the airport by the time Cecil is put in cuffs.” He smiled and winked at her. “Don’t worry. I’ll only drag him back in here by his neck if he doesn’t cooperate.” He leaned down and kissed her softly. “Are you sure you’re ready for this.”
Jordan realized that the nausea at the thought of looking into Axel’s eyes had been completely replaced with the thrill of letting him see her standing tall and letting him know that he couldn’t keep her down. “I’m ready,” she told him.
“I’ll be right back.” She watched Chase go with the crowd outside to see the bride and groom off and then waited nervously for what seemed like forever. She hoped the police would be here before Chase brought him back in…just in case. She turned to look down the long lobby and when she turned back toward the front doors of the hotel she watched Chase and Axel walk in together. Axel was smiling and so was Chase, but Chase’s smile looked forced. Axel glanced up as they approached her and Jordan would cherish the look of horror his face. He looked from her to Chase and back at her again.
“Hello, Axel.”
He glanced at Chase again nervously and said, “It’s Cecil…”
“Oh shut the fuck up!” she said. She saw him clench his fists. That statement in the old days would have gotten her teeth knocked out. It probably would tonight too if Chase wasn’t standing right next to him. “Don’t even try and lie. I know it’s you. You tried to kill me and you left me on the side of the road like a bag of garbage. Do you honestly think I would ever forget your face?”
He looked at Chase again. “She’s crazy—“that was as much as he got out before Chase’s fist met his mouth. Axel was knocked backward about two feet and blood was flowing from his lips. “You mother fucker!” Axel jumped up just as security rushed over. One of the officers tried to grab his arm and Axel just shook it and threw the man off of him. He took another step toward Chase who had stepped over so that he was between Jordan and Axel when the second security officer pulled out his gun.
“Stop.”
Axel stopped moving but he couldn’t stop running his big mouth. “Are you fucking kidding?” Axel said. “He hit me. Why the fuck you got the gun pointed at me you wanna be cop piece of shit mother fucker…” It was amazing to stand there and watch him transform from the upper-class gentleman he pretended to be to the outlaw biker that he was.
“Mr. Louis.” Chase and Jordan turned at the sound of the voice. It was a middle-aged man in a gray suit and tie. He had his NYPD ID and badge in his hand.
“Detective Brower, thank you for coming.” Chase shook his hand. Axel was looking incredulously between Chase and the detective. The detective looked over at him and said, “Mr. Valentine, we meet again.”
“What the fuck is this?” Axel said. He looked directly at Jordan then and said, “This is all your doing isn’t it you little slut?” At the sound of that word, she felt Chase let go of her hand. She tried to stop him but he shrugged her off and with the security officer still holding the gun on them Chase threw another punch. Axel stumbled back and then regained his footing and charged toward him. Chase threw out his leg and kicked Axel in the thigh. The detective was just watching and the security officers looked like they didn’t know what to do. Finally, after Chase got off a few more good punches and Axel’s face was a bloody mess the detective broke them up. “Cecil Axel Valentine you are under arrest for the attempted murder of…”
“Jordan Price,” she said.
“Miss Jordan Price.”
“Fuck you! You didn’t even know her name! What kind of fucking keystone cop are you?”
“The kind that’s going to take that pretty lady’s statement and h
and your ass over to the D.A. on a silver platter.” He looked at Chase then and said, “Can y’all just follow me down to the station?"
“Absolutely,” Chase said, wiping Axel’s blood off his hands onto the handkerchief he had in his pocket. “But can I ask a favor?”
“Of course,” the detective said. Axel was glowering at them both.
“Can I have one dance with this beautiful woman of mine first? They are still holding my mother’s wedding reception even though they’re on their way to their honeymoon.”
“I don’t have a problem with that,” the detective said. He led Axel away then, kicking and screaming. The two confused security officers went with him and Chase and Jordan were left alone at last.
“Are you ready to dance gorgeous?” he asked her.
“You called me yours,” she said. In the midst of all of this that was the one sentence, her brain locked in on. ‘This beautiful woman of mine.’
“I like the sound of it,” he said.
She smiled. “Me too. Can I ask you a question?”
He put his arm out and she took it. As he led her toward the ballroom he said, “Of course.”
“Am I your first?”
She felt his body shake with a silent laugh. “Actually, you are.”
He pulled the door open and the soft music wafted out. Jordan smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle.”
Chase threw his head back and laughed. Jordan knew testifying against Axel was going to be rough and she would have to relive a lot of what he did to her. But she also knew that with Chase by her side, she could do anything.
She had won at last.
BONUS BOOK
DECEIVED
Chapter 1
Sitting, watching, almost in a blur as people rushed by her at a fast pace. It almost seemed as though time was standing still. She was lost in her thoughts as she waited on the outside bench at the LAX Airport pick up zone.
She couldn’t understand how her life had been flipped upside down within a year. Gripping the sides of her purse, Angela Black knew her life would be forever changed and it scared the living shit out of her.
She had never really liked Los Angeles, but knew she had to make a drastic change in her life. Her home town only left feelings of loss and grief. Those very things that were tearing her apart slowly would now be left behind but would still be held as memories. She knew she would never forget but had to try and let it go.
Angela watched the people passing bye as she leaned back and let her mind drift to the last twelve months of her life.
When she and her husband, Blake Gauthier had received the call last April from their doctor they had no idea how one sentence could tear their lives apart. “I’m sorry Mr. Gauthier. You have Stage IIIC Stomach Cancer.” When Blake repeated the words to her, they splintered inside of her causing the same amount of pain as the cancer would itself. What he was saying was, no more walks in the park. No more surprise birthday parties or early morning breakfasts in bed. No more sightseeing, vacationing or cuddling on the couch. Life from here on out would be four walls and pain for both of them. One word…life altering…
Before this, their lives seemed picture perfect. They had been married for almost three years. Angela’s career was taking off with a well-known Marketing Agency in Miami while Blake was establishing his contracting business. They had met in high school and instantly fell for one another. Their connection was instant and their love for one another was so strong that it would exude to others. They were the envy of so many of their friends.
Blake was Angela’s rock, the man she had loved so deeply, the man she was supposed to spend the rest her life with and have children with and now he only had 6 months to live. How could life be so cruel? How could God in all of his goodness give her this man to love and then take him away so abruptly?
Angela could never have been prepared for what was to come. Leaving her job to be by Blake’s side, the long grueling nights watching him suffer in pain. Watching the man she first fell in love with slowly die in front of her was heart wrenching. Something changed in Angela. A piece of her died that day and she had no idea if she would ever be the same again. The grief consumed her and somehow took over and held her soul until it threatened to kill her entirely. It gave her a heavy feeling that was like the weight of the world resting on her shoulders. For a while it felt like there was nothing she could do to get out from underneath it. There was a hole in her heart in the shape of Blake that no matter how much she healed…would always remain.
A honk of a loud horn snapped her out of her thoughts. Looking over at the SUV she could see Thomas getting out the vehicle. He grabbed her around the waist, lifted her up and whirled her around before putting her back down. Grinning from ear to ear he said, “So how was your flight?”
“Exhausting,” she smiled, grateful he was finally there.
“I would have been here sooner but I got stuck in traffic. Let me grab your bags,” he said with a sympathizing look. Thomas grabbed Angela’s bags and sat them in the back of his SUV. Angela had packed up most of her clothes and a few personal mementos. She knew that she would have to fly back to Miami once her house sold and would take care of the rest of her stuff when the time came.
One step at a time.
They drove out of the pick-up area of the airport and headed towards Thomas’s loft. It was about a half an hour drive. Angela met Thomas in her first year of University and he had become very close to Angela and Blake. All three instantly became the best of friends. Inseparable.
Looking over at Thomas, she thought about all the flights he had taken to be with them almost every second weekend. The late night talks and sob fests kept her sane and he cooked her food and made sure she ate it, which kept her healthy. When Blake got so sick that even helping him with his medications was unbearable at times, he did that too. After Blake was gone and Angela knew she had to get out of Miami, she listed their house and Thomas set her up with a new job in LA. She couldn’t have wished for a better friend. Thomas was the total package.
“I have a surprise waiting for you at the loft,” his green eyes beamed at her.
“Thomas, you have already done so much for me.” Angela said, turning to look at her friend. He really had done, too much.
“It nothing big Ang, you’ll see.” He chuckled.
They finally arrived at his loft in Downtown L.A. Angela accepted Thomas’s offer of moving in with him until she became familiar with the city and found herself an apartment.
She found Los Angeles to be similar and yet different than Miami, especially the heat; the packed cars, long stretch limos and yellow taxis that congested the streets. The noise from the people and small outside cafes were loud and annoying. Looking around Angela knew that it would definitely take her time to adjust to this new life which was well out of her comfort zone.
Following Thomas into the building, they were greeted by the doorman who looked like he was in his late 60’s.
“Glen, this is Angela Black, my new roommate.” Thomas gestured.
Tipping his hat towards her he said, “It’s very nice to meet you Ms. Black.”
“Thank you very much.” Angela smiled.
They rode the elevator to the 12th floor finally arriving at Thomas’s loft. Opening the door, Thomas motioned his arm for Angela to enter.
Walking down the entry hall, she laid her bag down. She turned right entering the space and was in awe. It was beautiful and larger than she had expected.
“OMG, you’re here!” she heard a female’s voice coming from behind her. Turning around she saw her long-time girlfriend Joanne Livingston. She hadn’t seen her since she and Blake’s wedding.
“My God, I’m so happy you’re here,” Jo said, wrapping her arms around Angela. “I’ve missed you so much.” She beamed.
“Joanne.” Angela said hugging her back just as hard. “I had no idea you would be here. When did you get back?”
“Two months ago. It’s been ins
ane or I would of went to Miami and driven you here myself.” She giggled. “How was your flight?”
“Long and exhausting, even though it was only four hours.” She smiled.
“Ok, enough of the sisterly love. Let me show you around while Jo makes us a much needed drink.” Thomas grabbed Angela and winked at Joanne.
As Angela walked through the large living room she took in the high ceilings. They had to be at least ten feet high. There were large pane windows overlooking the city and to the left was another hallway that led to three bedrooms and a bathroom. It was modern in style and you could see it was a bachelor pad without a woman’s touch. Mostly dark greys, stainless steel and black throughout the loft.
It was beautiful and nothing she would have expected Thomas to be living in. Her bedroom was overly large with a queen size bed and a walk in closet. She walked over to the window which had a view of Grant Avenue. It was perfect and all she would need until she found something for herself. Thomas laid her bags on her bed. “What do you think?” He asked.
“I can’t thank you enough Thomas. I’ll never be able to repay you for your generosity. You have been such a good friend.” She said wrapping her arms around his neck giving him a hug.
Thomas gave her a quick hug back and put his hands on her waist pushing her away slightly. “Hey, you’re welcome. That’s what friends are for Angela. Everything is going to be ok. Things will get better. I promise.” He gave her a light kiss on her forehead. “Now let’s go and have a drink.” He winked.
After she had taken in every square inch of the loft, they sat on the large black leather sectional that faced the living room window. Angela and Joanne drank their cosmos while Thomas drank his beer. Joanne always had made killer cosmos. She first introduced the drink to Angela when they met in their second year of University. Joanne had always been a great friend but they lost touch after Angela’s wedding. Joanne had graduated from nursing school and then took a job out of the country for a few years.
