That was all he had to say for Terence to lunge at him. He gripped his father’s neck with his hands, blocking his air supply. “I told you to shut the fuck up.” Terence gritted his teeth and didn’t let go. “I’m not afraid of you, not anymore.”
Terror flashed in Jack’s eyes, and veins popped out on his forehead. At first he tried to remove Terence’s hands from around his neck, but in his weakened state, he was no match for his son.
Terence squeezed tighter. When the heart rate monitor beeped faster, he let go, jamming the old man’s head into the pillow as he released his grasp.
His father coughed and clutched his neck, panting for air. But there was a stupid grin on his face. “I knew it.” His voice was dry, like sandpaper. “You’re still a damn coward.”
“You have no idea what I have in me,” Terence said. “You have no fuckin’ idea what I’m capable of, and it’s all thanks to you.” Terence turned to walk out the door before a nurse came by.
“Wait. There’s something else I forgot to tell you.” His father’s voice was almost a whisper now. “You’re not my biological son. Not like Marion.”
Terence halted on his way to the door and turned around, his face burning. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“I’m many things,” his father said. “But I’m not a liar. Your mother fucked someone else. You are the stinking, filthy result of her infidelity.”
Terence felt as if the breath had been sucked out of his lungs, as if all the strength had been drained from his body. He said nothing.
“You must be grateful.” Jack paused to cough again. “You must be grateful that I raised you even though you aren’t my kid.”
“You are a liar.” Terence ground the words between his teeth. “I don’t believe anything you’re saying.”
“If you don’t believe me, find her. Find your mother and ask her to tell you the truth. I loved her enough to keep you. But the truth is nobody will ever love you. Nobody will ever want you.” He wiped spit off his mouth with the back of his hand. “When I asked you to help me at the funeral home, you thought I wanted to spend more time with you, didn’t you? No,” he said with an evil grin. “You needed to earn your keep. That was the only reason. You’ll always be an unlovable bastard to me.”
It happened so fast, even Terence didn’t register it at first. The next thing he felt was his fist screaming as he noticed his father’s bleeding nose.
“Burn in hell.” Terence opened the door and walked out just as a nurse came running down the hall.
He found himself on the roof of Serendipity Memorial, one of the highest buildings in town. He stood on the edge, watching cars moving down below. He could do it right now. One jump and he could erase the past, the mistakes, the pain. Reality. He would be gone and would never have to deal with the shit of life again. Would the world even miss him, or would life move on as if he had never even existed?
He gritted his teeth and stepped away from the ledge. No, he would not let that man win. Terence would die on his own terms someday, but not today. His father was wrong. Someone did love him. Lacey. And for her, he would live.
He left the roof, and a few minutes later he walked out of the hospital. Two hours later, he received a text message from Marion:
Father is dead. He committed suicide. M.
Terence didn’t bother to respond, but it surprised him that his father had killed himself not long after they talked.
He decided not to waste his time thinking about him. The monster was dead. Why and how he died didn’t matter to him. Terence would simply move on with his life as though nothing had happened.
Chapter Ten
Terence waited a few doors down from Stalford, a high-end jewelry store, until a willowy woman with a high bun and a pin-striped business suit opened the doors of the shop and flicked on the lights.
The clock had just struck 8 a.m. Despite knowing they officially opened at 9:30, he hurried down the street and grabbed the door before it closed behind her. He entered. The temperature inside was cool and the whole store was bright, the light bouncing off mirrors, glass, and crystal.
He made sure his cap was low on his forehead and his sunglasses planted firmly on his face. He wouldn’t touch his fake beard even though it irritated his skin. The disguise was perfect. He probably looked a bit suspicious, but there was no other way.
“We’re not open yet.” Her voice was clipped, but her bottom lip was trembling. “Come back at nine-thirty.”
“It’s okay.” He raised his hands to let her know he came in peace, that he would not hurt her. That would be the extent of his promises, however. “I won’t be long.”
“Please, sir. Leave or I’ll call the cops.” Her face paled.
Terence was not at Stalford by chance. He had done his research, had been watching the shop for a while. She was always the first person to enter the store, the one to get it ready for business. The other employees trickled in from 9:00. He also knew she had only been working at Stalford for a month, which meant she was still in that insecure stage, afraid to screw up. Most importantly, he was aware that the alarm button was behind one of the glass cases on the far end of the room, behind one of the two cash registers.
The store was spacious and she would have to walk quite far across the marbled floor to get to it, giving him enough time to get what he wanted and run. It helped that the security camera was switched off for as long as Terence was in the store. For that, he’d asked for a little help from one of his old friends from prison. The guy could hack into anything.
“You don’t want to do that.” Terence spoke in a low, firm voice. “I’m not here to hurt you. I want something, then I’ll be out of here. If you stand in my way, I will not be able to guarantee your safety.” While still keeping an eye on her, he closed and locked the door. He removed her handbag from her shoulder. His eyes stayed fixed on her pale face as he rooted inside the bag.
“Please, don’t do this.” The eyes behind her glasses were now bright red. Underneath all the makeup, and despite the crying, she was an attractive woman. But Terence was not interested.
“I’m sorry, but this is going to happen. The question is, do you want it the easy way or the hard way?” Bingo. Inside a hidden interior pocket, he found a bundle of small keys. He pulled it out, along with her cell phone, and handed her the bag.
“Stay here.” He took her by the shoulders and pushed her gently against the door. “Look normal.”
She was really crying now, but he forced himself not to feel bad. Life had been a bitch to him for a long time. Time for him to get what he wanted out of it. If something went wrong, he would be thrown back in prison, but it was worth the risk.
He opened the glass case he was interested in, and in less than a minute, found what he was looking for. He pulled out the cushioned case and removed the cushion-cut diamond ring.
In the corner of his eye, he saw the woman squirm. There was nothing she could do. He’d be at her side in a split second if she attempted to move anywhere. But he had to leave. Time was running out.
After a moment’s hesitation, he plucked another ring from the white silk bed and pocketed both, altogether worth seven thousand dollars. He would have gone for more expensive ones, but deep down he felt sorry for the shop assistant. Seven thousand was easier to forgive and forget than thirty.
“Thank you for your cooperation.” He handed her back the keys. She wiped her cheek and took them, almost dropping them.
Then he unlocked the door and walked out onto the sidewalk, blending into the morning crowd.
Chapter Eleven
Terence arrived at Oasis not long after the residents had finished eating and the dishes were being cleared up. He found Lacey washing pots and pans.
“Someone’s late for dinner.” She kissed him.
“I had some important things to take care of after work.” He pushed himself between her and the sink. “Ask someone else to finish up here and come with me.”
She frowned. “Where do you want to go? It’s far too cold for a walk.”
“No walk tonight.” He kissed her neck. “What I have in mind can’t wait. Come on, do as I say. You won’t regret it.”
Lacey looked at him for a long time, a curious expression on her face. She turned away and called for Lilliana. Lilliana agreed to take over, telling them with a sly smile to go and have fun.
On their way out of the kitchen, Terence whispered something into Lilliana’s ear. Her face flushed.
“What did you say to her?” Lacey asked as they left.
“I just thanked her.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re up to something?”
“Because I am. I’m always up to something. Two months and you still haven’t figured that out?”
Fifteen minutes later, Terence and Lacey pulled up in front of a secluded bed and breakfast with a flashing neon light reading “Sunflower Motel.”
He helped Lacey off the bike and took her hand.
“What are we doing here? Why didn’t you tell me we were spending the night away from Oasis? I would have arranged for someone to take my morning shift. And why are you wasting money, anyway? You should be saving—”
Terence spun her around and kissed her to make her shut up. “You talk too much sometimes.” Lacey smiled. He opened the door and they went inside.
It was far from the fanciest place in Serendipity, but it would do for the night. The most important thing was that it was clean and looked comfortable enough.
“I’ll be right back.” He left Lacey standing near the wooden staircase, next to a large fake plant, while he talked to the owner and got a room key.
Their room was the nicest in the whole place, with a bigger bed, rugs, a comfortable sofa, and a full bath instead of a shower.
He took a deep breath before opening the door.
“Can I talk now?” Lacey asked, but she was giggling.
“Not a word,” Terence said and stepped aside.
As he had expected, she gasped when she saw the bed covered with white sheets and sprinkled with red and white roses. At the foot was a leather armchair, over which was draped a pale yellow evening gown with sequins scattered across the bust.
Lacey’s hands went to her mouth and tears filled her eyes. “Oh my God. Whose dress is that?” She turned to face him, her eyes full of questions. “I don’t understand. What’s all this for?”
“For the woman I love.” Terence pulled her into his arms. “Now stop asking questions and enjoy being spoiled.”
She looked him in the eyes, crying openly now. “No one has ever done anything like this for me before.”
“I’m glad to be the first.” Terence wiped the tears off her cheeks. “Now get dressed. We’re going out to dinner. There’s a brush and other women things in the bathroom, if you want to do your hair.”
She didn’t say anything more. She picked up the dress and studied it for a moment. He sensed she was aching to ask him how much it had cost. But she didn’t. Instead, she disappeared into the bathroom, singing softly as she got dressed.
He had bought something for himself too. He had to look worthy of walking beside his beautiful woman. But his clothes were much cheaper—a simple gray shirt and black slacks—and he was dressed and waiting within five minutes. She took almost half an hour.
The wait turned out to be worth it. The dress hugged every curve of her body, and she had brushed her long hair until it shone, then woven it in an interesting braid that hung to one side. He had bought her a little makeup, even though he knew nothing about the stuff, but she didn’t use it. Still, she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
She ran her hands along the sides of her dress. “How do I look?”
“Dangerous.” He slipped his bottom lip between his teeth. “We better get out of here before I rip the dress off you.” He went over to her and encircled her with his arms, resting his hands on her butt, feeling heat surge through him.
“You look so handsome.” She pressed her mouth to his.
“Don’t start what you can’t finish… yet.” He pulled away from her, ignoring his erection. He went to the bed and reached underneath, pulling out a shoebox.
“You didn’t think I’d let you wear that dress with running shoes, did you?”
“I think I hit the jackpot with you, Mr. Pirone. I love you so much.”
He paused for a moment, taking the words in, letting them sink deep into his soul. She loved him. His father had been wrong.
Chapter Twelve
Terence took Lacey to an upscale but affordable Italian restaurant. It made him feel good to be the one responsible for putting a smile on her face, to know that he was at all capable of making her happy.
While they ate a delicious pasta and meat dish with salad, Lacey told him she loved him again. This time, he said it back.
He reached for one of her hands and held it tight. “I’ve never felt like this about any woman.” He waved at the table and the restaurant. “This is what I want for us… more than this. We have gone through enough shit. I want us to live a good life. Tonight, I wanted you to have a taste of it. But I need you to promise me something.”
“For a life like this, I’ll promise you anything.” She touched the tip of his nose with a fingertip. “I’m joking. I’d love you even without all of this. I don’t need it.”
“You don’t need to need it. But I do. I need it for you, for us.”
She smiled and lowered her hand. “Okay, what promise do you need me to make you?”
“The most important one.” He reached into his pocket and pushed back his chair, getting down on one knee. “Marry me, Lacey Bradley. Be my wife.”
Lacey’s mouth fell open and her fingers grazed her parted lips. She didn’t speak for a long time; the only sounds in the restaurant came from the other diners’ murmured excitement at witnessing a proposal. When she spoke, her voice was barely a whisper. “But we’ve only been dating for two months. You’re asking me to marry you after only two months?”
“I don’t care how long we’ve been dating. I love you. I knew that from the first day I met you. A few more weeks, months, or years won’t make a difference. I want to make you happy. That’s my priority.”
Tears coursed down Lacey’s cheeks. She dropped her gaze to the ring in his hand. “Terence, how… how were you able to afford that ring… all of this?”
He wouldn’t tell her he stole it, that he’d done it because though he couldn’t afford it, she still deserved only the best. He wouldn’t tell her that all the other money he’d spent tonight was money he’d gotten from selling another stolen ring. “I’ll do anything for you. Now, are you going to say yes?” He tipped his head to the side with a grin.
“I don’t know how I could ever say no to you. I feel like I’ve known and loved you forever.” She gave him her hand and he slid the ring onto it.
He was so close now. Soon she would completely belong to him, in heart and on paper. He would never let her go. Not as long as there was breath still in him.
He pushed the ring onto her finger and kissed her hand. “That makes me a very happy man.” He rose from the floor as the other diners cheered. He smiled, and this time it came so easy. He pulled her out of her chair and kissed her long and hard. He moved his lips from her mouth and kissed away her tears.
To Terence’s surprise, the manager of the restaurant refused to take money for their meal. He said it was on the house in honor of their engagement.
Back at the bed and breakfast, Terence peeled the dress from his fiancée’s body, and then he made love to her for a long time.
“I wish I could freeze this moment so it lasts forever,” Lacey said as she lay in his arms after hours of lovemaking, her breasts pressed against his body, one leg between his muscular thighs.
He kissed the top of her head. “As much as this was the most beautiful day of our lives, I don’t think you want to do that. There’s so much more for us to look forward to. A li
fetime of beautiful moments like this is waiting for us.”
“You have a point. I wish we didn’t have to return to Oasis.”
“We don’t.”
She sat up in bed. “What do you mean we don’t? I was joking. I have a job there.”
“No wife of mine will slave away in a homeless shelter. I found us a place to live.”
“You did? How?” Her forehead creased. “Terence, please tell me you didn’t do anything illegal to get all this money.”
Terence clasped his hands behind his head and gazed up at the ceiling. If he looked into her eyes, she might see the truth. “I did only the right things.” It was only right that he take back from the world what it owed him.
“I’m so glad, baby.” She kissed his face. “I wouldn’t want you to go back to prison.”
“That’s never ever going to happen. I’ll never leave you.” He pushed a hand into her hair. “Tell me you believe that.”
“I do. So how did you get the money? I need to know.”
He sighed, a little frustrated that she wasn’t letting it go. “If you must know, I helped my boss sell a rather expensive car, one he couldn’t sell for months, and he rewarded me.”
“Really? That’s great. I’m so proud of you.” She seemed satisfied with the answer.
“So this is what’s going to happen tomorrow.” He looked her deep in the eyes. “You will return to Oasis and quit your job. I’ll take you to our new place. You will never have to work. Let me earn the money.”
“You know I don’t mind working. I can’t let you carry all the financial responsibility.”
“Taking care of you is not a burden. It makes me happy.”
“Maybe I could go to school then. I’ve always been interested in interior design. Even better, I could apply for some kind of on-the-job training that pays me a little while I study.”
Terence placed a finger on her mouth. “Let’s talk about it some other time. One thing at a time. First we have a wedding to discuss.”
Cold Deception (His Agenda 4): Prequel to the His Agenda Series Page 4
