He looked at her. Not understanding. Then realization. He shook his head. She winked at him. His face registered absolute horror.
‘No, no. Jess, don’t.’
Her gaze was intense. ‘I love you. I will always love you no matter what.’
He shook his head violently, never taking his eyes from hers. ‘Please don’t…
She had tears in her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Theo. It has to be like this. I love you.’
Theo broke down. ‘No, please… Jess…’
Her face was determined as Jules rose up between them. Her eyes alive with anger as she beckoned her killer towards her.
‘Come on, Jules. Wanna kill me? Come on then, motherfucker, come get me.’
‘No! Jess, please, no!’ Theo was screaming now.
Jules in his frenzy didn’t hesitate, he lunged for her, slashing the knife, catching her in a blow across her stomach.
‘No!’ Theo screamed as blood bloomed across her white dress, her honey skin. Jess ignored the searing pain and took off with Jules in pursuit. Theo, desperate, shuffled over to where Jess had thrown the keys.
‘What the fuck are you doing, Jess?’ But he knew. ‘You stupid, stupid, brave, beautiful girl.’ he sobbed as he managed to slide the key into the cuffs. She was leading Jules away from him, giving him time to free himself.
She was sacrificing herself to save him.
First, she went to the front door but even from a distance she could see that Jules had dead-bolted it. By the time she could get it open, Jules would be on her. He was close, close enough she could hear his frenzied breathing. She darted up the stairs and nearly made it to the safety of a bedroom before he grabbed her. They tumbled to the floor together, Jess fighting with every ounce of strength she had left. Jules was grinning now, knowing his size and strength would beat her now, despite her struggles.
‘I’m going to kill you now, Jess, nothing can stop me.’
He rammed his forearm against her throat and as she began to choke, he pulled a knife from his pocket. Jess, knowing that this was it, tried one last thing.
‘I’m pregnant, Jules. I’m pregnant.’
He smiled. ‘So I hear. Congratulations. But I don’t care. I’m going to kill you anyway.’
It was over. Jess struggled but as she felt Jules’s knife begin to slice into her belly, the searing pain nothing to the terror she felt for her unborn child. She could smell blood.
‘No, Jess, no!’
A frenzied cry, close, so close, Theo was dragging Jules from her. Jess rolled onto her stomach, clamping a hand over her wounds, pushing the thought of the baby away. Please, little bean, hang on.
Theo was pounding on Jules, the two men locked in a death fight. ‘Jess, get away, get out now!’ Theo was screaming at her. Blood-loss was making her light-headed. Not again. She crawled to the stairs and almost tumbled down them. There was something she could do. Something Jules had missed in the fight. Something Theo had forgotten. Slowly, painfully, she crawled her way into the living room.
Theo, his immense strength almost leaving him when he saw Jules stab Jess – again – grappled with the other man, wanting more than anything to break this monster’s neck, pound him into the dust. Jules, his knife gripped in his hand, swiped at Theo, one, twice before making contact. The knife tore through Theo’s shirt, slicing into the skin of his chest and Theo jerked back, away from the knife. Jules caught him on the temple with the hilt of the knife, making Theo’s already concussed head swirl. Jules took him out by the knees and Theo was on the ground. Vulnerable.
Jules laughed, raising the knife to plunge it into Theo’s chest… then his head exploded, his eyes bulging with surprise. Jules’ body slumped to the side, blood gushing from the fatal head wound. Theo, still stunned, looked up to see his beautiful Jess, her hand clamped over the bloody wounds on her stomach, holding the gun she’d just used to kill Jules.
Dropping the gun, Jess stumbled towards Theo and he was up, grabbing her as she slumped into his arms. He scooped her up and went downstairs, cradling her in his arms.
‘I’m okay,’ she said weakly, ‘it’s not that deep, I’m okay, I’m okay.’ Theo reached over to grab the phone, called 911.
In the distance he could hear sirens and almost collapsed with relief.
Theo and Jess, blood-soaked, exhausted, gazed at each other and started to smile, despite their injuries.
‘It’s over, my Jessie. All over.’
She started to laugh, tears rolling down her face. ‘I know, my darling, I know.’
Theo grinned, kissing her tears away as the sirens got ever closer and now he could hear shouting. Max. His mom.
He heard them break down the door in their frenzy to get in.
‘In here,’ he hollered then pulled her lips to his again. ‘Jessie….we’re going to get out of here, and get all fixed up , and then it’s just you, me and the Bean. For all time, Jessie.’
‘For all time….’
Epilogue
Theo Storm gazed at his beautiful wife as she stood on the podium, addressing the graduating class of her alma mater. Her old boss Gerry stood proudly next to him and nudged him as Jess’s speech came to an end.
‘From research assistant to the CEO of the biggest charitable art foundation in the world. Girl done good.’
Theo grinned at him. ‘Yes, she has.’
His eyes didn’t leave the woman at the front of the gathering. Pregnancy had made her skin glow, the lustrous hair grow longer and healthier, her large brown eyes shining with happiness. The light summer dress she wore skimmed over her swollen belly, swollen with their child.
Jess finished her speech and flushed scarlet with pleasure as the audience leaped to their feet. Theo knew they had followed everything that had happened to Jess, knew every horror and knew every triumph. They had made it, and finally, she was safe.
Theo couldn’t imagine being happier and as he went to meet her as she stepped off the stage, he enclosed her in his arms and kissed her tenderly.
‘I’m so proud that you chose me to love,’ He said, gazing into her eyes. Jess kissed him, her lips curving up into a smile against his.
‘I’m the lucky one, Mr. Storm,’ she replied then glanced down, ‘I’d suggest we go home and celebrate but I think someone else has other ideas…
She started to laugh as Theo looked panicked. ‘Come on, big guy,’ She took his hand started to lead him back to their car, looking more beautiful than he’d ever seen her, ‘Let’s go meet our daughter…’
Lily ‘Little Bean’ Storm was born at a quarter after midnight and her mother and father, wilting with exhaustion, couldn’t stop staring at her, her perfect little fingers, her cherubic cheeks, the fine smattering of black hair on her tiny head.
‘I can’t get over how beautiful she is,’ whispered Jess, shaking her head. Theo smiled, kissing his exhausted wife’s temple.
‘I can. She looks like you. Jessie, you have given me the world.’
Jess’s eyes filled with tears. ‘You are my world, Theo. You and Bean.’
‘Forever.’
‘Forever.’ She agreed and they kissed until the sun came up on a new day, the first day, of their new life.
The End.
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MAELSTROM
By Michelle Love
Young coffee-house owner Sarah Bailey has finally got over the mysterious disappearance of her husband two years previously and is looking forward to her new life as a single woman. She doesn’t count on meeting Isaac Quinn, billionaire tech magnet, who sets out to seduce the beautiful Sarah. Unable to resist the incredible connection between them, they soon begin a passionate and sensual relationship that soon becomes headline news in the gossip columns.
Their happiness is marred when Sarah attracts a jealous stalker who sends her threats and Isaac begins to wonder
if his fame and status has put the woman he is falling in love in terrible, terrible danger….
Chapter 1
Since Yesterday
If she hadn’t been thinking about the letter, Sarah Bailey wouldn’t have started so violently when Molly shouted her name across the busy coffee house. Sarah felt her balance slip away from her. She landed hard on her backside and laughed, embarrassed. She felt hands slide under her arms and lift her to her feet. She turned to face her savior and her stomach flipped. Her rescuer was tall, and broad, his dark hair cropped close to his head. He was dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt but she could tell that they were artfully distressed to look vintage. Expensive, and exclusive. Sarah couldn’t help but stare into his dark green eyes, which were crinkled at the corners in a crooked smile which softened his perfectly sculpted face. His smile widened as he took her in, and as she wobbled, his big hands moved to her shoulders to steady her. He was so tall, she had to tilt her head right back to gaze at him and suddenly she felt vulnerable in his presence.
“You okay, sweetheart?”
Oh god, his voice. Chocolate and sex. Damn. His hands on her felt so good. Get a grip, Sarah shook herself and smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
His smile widened. “It was absolutely my pleasure, beautiful.”
Sarah flushed at the compliment and stammered through another thanks before scooping her bag up from the floor. Molly met her at the counter.
“Sorry, honey.” Molly grinned, her green eyes amused.
Sarah hugged her friend. “Not your fault. Just me being clumsy.”
“How are you?”
Sarah held up her left hand and Molly’s eyes widened.
“You’ve taken your wedding ring off.”
“I decided that today is the day I move on. Dan is either dead or he left me. Either way, I know he’s not coming back.” Sarah took a deep breath and smiled. “New day, new life. He’s been gone two years on Saturday. It’s time, is all.”
Molly hugged her. “I’m glad.” She went to serve a customer and Sarah went into the backroom. She pulled the envelope out of her bag. Sarah Bailey. It was the same handwriting as the others and she guessed that it would contain the same repulsive, spite-filled messages as the last few. Her stomach clenched with fear, her skin breaking out in a sweat under her clothes. She wanted to share the letter with Molly, to ask her best friend’s advice. She closed her eyes and swallowed down thinking of the vile threats and words of the last letters. This one would be no different. Her entire body started to tremble. No. Not now, please. She shoved the letter into the pocket of her jeans and went to work.
At twenty-eight, Sarah Bailey had known most people on the island since she was a child and living in the now-closed children’s home down on Dogwood Street. When the Jewell family had moved next door the two kids, Molly and Finn, had claimed Sarah as their own. They were drawn to the shy young part-Asian girl; her dark hair tumbling to the middle of her back, the almond eyes so dark and big, fringed with thick lashes. Her beauty was offset by her tomboyish nature – never out of her flared blue jeans and beloved sneakers, her knees and elbows forever grazed from running and climbing. It was a childhood spent climbing trees, swimming, camping out in the county park.
Unable to stay away from the island, after college and newly married to Daniel Bailey, Sarah had rebuilt the derelict movie house into the Varsity coffee house, mostly with just an instruction manual and the help of Dan, Molly and Finn. The locals watched in admiration – their local girl done good - and when the coffee house finally opened, it became the heart of Main Street. Grizzled fishermen would sit at the counter and order throat-strippingly strong coffee, next to the tourists who enjoyed their tea from the most delicate of china cups. When Dan had disappeared, so shocking, so unexpected, they had rallied around her, not letting her fall apart, not letting her feel the desperate guilt that consumed her when she was alone. She thought about moving away but this place, this little haven of an island an hour away from Seattle, was the only place she’d ever felt like she belonged.
The day was sultry with humidity. From the coffee shop window, ferries could be seen pulling into the small dock. The Varsity was full, humming with the music of conversation, crockery and Sarah didn’t have a chance to tell Molly about the letter.
Late afternoon and the rush eased. Sarah opened the till to change some notes. Molly was at the counter flirting with one of their customers. Sarah pulled out the cash tin. She heard a low soft voice across the restaurant and her stomach flipped. She glanced up. Her savior from earlier was chatting with some of the regulars, leaning back in his chair, relaxed, his long denim-clad legs stretched out in front of him.
“George makes an incredible chocolate mud pie that I practically drool over.”
“Huh?” Sarah looked at Molly in confusion and her friend grinned.
“I’m just saying.” She nodded at the guy who was now walking towards them. “That’s how you were looking at that demi-God just then.”
The demi-God came to the counter. Sarah flushed and scowled at Molly.
“I was not and shut up. Go wash a cup or something,” she hissed at Molly then turned her burning face to greet him. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself, beautiful.”
She flushed again. God, she was divine…
Isaac Quinn studied the scarlet blush that colored her cheeks, the dark, lovely eyes. He’d seen her name tag earlier… Sarah. It suited her, soft, feminine.
“What can I get you?” Her voice was gruff and the sound of it made his groin tighten.
“Now let me see.” He picked up a menu and studied it. Slowly, deliberately he moved his hand so it was next to hers, almost touching. He could feel the heat of her skin, smell her perfume, fresh air, and clean laundry.
“Okay, you ready?”
“I’m ready.” She waved her notepad and smiled.
“You sure?”
“Sure.”
Isaac grinned “Fine purveyor of all things drinkable… “I would very much like to partake of a fine cocktail called “A Tea Garden”.”
Sarah laughed and he saw her eyes start to dance, enjoying the joke.
“Ok, your wish is my command, what is it?”
“Okay. It’s one-third vodka, one-third apricot brandy, one-sixth…”
Sarah started giggling. Isaac mock-scowled at her.
“I’m not done. One-sixth vermouth and wait for it…one-sixth Tiffin.”
“Tiffin?”
“Tiffin.”
Sarah wrote this down.
“Just one question… what the hell is a Tiffin?”
“How should I know? I was kinda hoping you’d tell me.”
Sarah raised her eyebrows at him, eyes wide and amused. “Well, you’ve got me there. I hate to disappoint.”
He grinned at her. “Well, you’ll just have to make it up to me… somehow.”
The blush was back – the air between them electric. She cleared her throat and swept a shaking hand through her hair.
“Okay, so this cocktail… coffee black, yes?”
He sighed and shrugged good-naturedly. “You already know me so well. I’m Isaac.”
She shook his outstretched hand. “Sarah. Sarah Bailey.”
He held onto her hand. “Well, Sarah Bailey – “ he grinned at her, “I’m delighted to meet you.”
Sarah looked up from her paperwork just after seven o’clock. The coffee shop was almost emptied - a couple of teenagers hanging out, laughing, glued to their phones. The man who had helped her up earlier was standing near the bookshelves at the back of the room, looking through the racks of battered paperbacks. He glanced up and smiled at her and it was so infectious that Sarah couldn’t help but return the grin.
“Can you recommend anything?” He called out and she went over. His voice was deep and mellifluous. He was so tall. He dwarfed her five foot five.
“What kind of thing are you looking for?” Her question was innocent but wh
en she looked up at him, he merely smiled and his eyes locked onto hers in a way that made the blood in her veins become scorching hot. He reached out a finger and lightly brushed her cheek, just briefly before turning back to the shelf. Sarah’s skin burned where he’d touched her.
“Something new…” he murmured then smiled. “I’m new to the island, actually, thinking of buying a house on the northern point.”
“Really? I live there too…. just the other side of the boy’s school.”
Almost imperceptibly he moved closer. Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed up at him. Touch me… Her senses were hyperactive, every nerve ending on fire in the presence of this man. He smiled down at her. Sarah was suddenly aware that the coffee house had emptied out and they were alone.
“Then we’ll be neighbors, Sarah Bailey,” he said softly. His hand moved to cup her cheek, his big thumb stroking across her skin.
“Are you free for dinner tonight, Sarah Bailey?”
The way he said her name made her weak and she nodded. “Come to my place. I’ll cook.” She didn’t know why she had said that - all she knew was that she wanted to be alone with this man. Alone, naked, helpless with desire… all she was feeling she could see reflected in his eyes. He grinned, confident.
“Write down your address for me… or I could give you a ride home…”
She had driven into work this morning but to hell with it. “I finish in an hour.”
Had she lost her mind? She felt almost delirious with desire, knowing without a doubt that if they went home together, they would be naked and writhing and fucking.
The Midnight Club Page 84
