“George,” I said the second he answered. “What news?”
“Hi, Christa. Thanks for getting back to me. We questioned Atwood this morning. He’s denied it all, of course. As expected, his defense was that the sex with Kathy was consensual. He contested knowing Sunny, and without any evidence to the contrary, we can’t refute that, but with Kathy, we have the DNA evidence from the time of the assault, as well as her statement.”
“You’ve charged him?”
“Not yet.”
My stomach lurched, and, as my knees wobbled, I gripped the back of a chair. “Why not?”
“Because we’re still putting the case together. These things take time, Christa. You, of all people, should know that.”
“My case took two years to come to fruition, George. Please tell me this one isn’t going to be a repeat performance.”
“I certainly hope not.” He paused. “Promise me you’ll arrange for some personal protection.”
I brushed a hand over my face and expelled a deep sigh. “He knows it was me?”
“We didn’t let on, of course, but yeah, I’d say he knows you’re behind it.”
It wasn’t unexpected, but even so, anxiety clawed at my gut, and a creeping sense of unease weighed me down. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that Sutton terrified me, even more so since meeting Kathy, and Sunny’s parents. Sutton’s crimes were far more reaching than I’d ever imagined. He had a black heart, and I had no doubt he’d stoop to any lengths in order to save himself.
“Keep me posted, yeah, George?”
“Of course.”
I cut the call and dashed straight up to Dayton’s office. I had to cool my heels waiting outside because he was in the middle of a board meeting and, as important as this was, I didn’t want to interrupt his work. He’d missed enough time at the office these last few weeks. Telling him Sutton had been questioned could wait until Dayton had finished. It wasn’t like I expected Sutton to burst in here and drag me off, kicking and screaming. No, he’d be much more subtle. Besides, he was in Seattle. Even he hadn’t figured out how to be in two places at once.
The door to Dayton’s office opened, and his senior management team filed out, one by one. As soon as the last one exited, Angie gave me the nod to enter.
I slipped inside and closed the door. Dayton had his head buried in a stack of papers, his ankle crossed over his knee, pen in hand, scribbling notes.
“George called.”
His head snapped up. He dropped the papers on the table and got to his feet. “What did he say?”
I threw myself at him, nestling in tight. Dayton made me feel safe, protected, secure, and I was desperate for reassurance.
“Angel.” He stroked my hair, allowing me the comfort I needed. After a few moments, he eased me back. “Tell me.”
“There isn’t much to tell. Sutton denied it all, which we knew he would. They’ve let him go for now while they carry out further inquiries.” I bit my lip. “I hoped they’d lock him up right away.”
Dayton kissed my forehead. “Me, too.”
“He knows we set this in motion.”
He twisted his lips in a wry fashion. “We anticipated that.”
“I’m scared.”
“Oh, angel.” He put his arms around me once more. “I promise nothing is going to happen to you. He’ll know the police are watching and that we’re on our guard. I’ve said this before. He’s evil, not stupid.”
My head bobbed against his chest, and I soaked up his warmth. “I’m so lucky to have you.”
He curled a finger under my chin and tilted my head up until I met his loving gaze. “Ditto.”
* * *
I expected Sutton to call me, to let off steam with some vitriolic diatribe, but I should have known by now to always expect the unexpected when it came to him. My phone remained eerily silent. Instead of easing my anxiety, though, the absence of any form of contact intensified my fear.
Wednesday arrived—Sutton’s day to have Max—but he didn’t turn up. According to Draven, he’d remained in Seattle and was showing no sign of getting on a plane to New York. Dayton called Francesca to report the no-show, and she promised to inform the judge. I had no idea whether this would result in a strike against Sutton, but surely it had to be a positive in our favor?
Kathy and her daughter had settled in well. Dayton not only arranged for round-the-clock security for them, but also homeschooling for Tilly after Kathy was reluctant to allow her daughter to attend school until Sutton was behind bars. I understood, and concurred with, her concerns.
It was Thursday evening when Francesca called to tell us that Sutton had contacted the court with some bullshit story that a family member was ill, hence the reason why he hadn’t been able to pick up Max, but that he intended on keeping to next week’s schedule.
“Probably too busy trying to keep his ass out of jail,” Dayton said.
I hoped he failed in that mission.
“It’s Max’s birthday on Saturday,” I said. “I know we’ve been stressed and busy, but I don’t want it to simply pass by.”
Dayton grinned. “It won’t.”
I sat up straight, frowning. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well,” he said, drawing out the word to increase my anticipation. I dug him in the ribs, and he fake-groaned. “I may have booked out the Stardust Diner and arranged for all his friends from daycare to attend.”
My heart squeezed. This guy… The Stardust Diner had been where we’d kind of had our first date. Well, not our first date exactly. It had been the place where we’d connected, and I’d started to see Dayton as one of the good guys rather than a powerful, arrogant man who reminded me of Sutton.
Tears filled my eyes. “You’re the best,” I said through snivels and blurred vision.
He blew on the tips of his fingers. “I know.”
24
Christa
“And that’s why we think this particular application is perfect for your needs.” I smiled at the sea of faces all directed at me. “Any questions?”
I fielded a couple with ease, then closed down the presentation. Greg gave me the tiniest of nods. Yes! He was happy. Considering my mind was all over the place at the moment, I couldn’t be more thrilled it had gone well. Now we just needed them to sign on the dotted line and I’d have landed my first big client.
“So, ladies, gents, let’s talk next steps.”
A soft knock on the door of the conference room drew my attention.
Greg’s PA stuck her head around the door. “I’m so sorry to interrupt. Christa, could I have a quick word?”
My stomach flipped over. Wonder what the problem is? It couldn’t be good if she’d thought it necessary to interrupt an important meeting at such a crucial time. “Of course. Excuse me.” I followed her outside, closing the door quietly behind me. “What’s up?”
“Sondra has called from the childcare center. Max isn’t well.”
“What’s wrong?” I asked, panicked.
She touched my arm. “I think it’s just a tummy bug. Nothing to worry about.”
“Oh.” I clasped a hand to my chest. “Kids. It’s easy to jump to conclusions and think the worst. He probably picked up something at his birthday party on Saturday or ate too much cake.”
She grinned. “Yeah, they never know when to stop with the sweet stuff.”
“Thanks for coming to let me know. I’ll make my apologies and then go pick him up.”
I popped back inside the conference room. “I’m so sorry, but I’ve just been informed my little boy isn’t feeling well. I’ll be back online within the hour if you have any further questions.”
“Thank you, Ms. Adams,” Simon, the lead negotiator said, standing to shake my hand. “I’ll be in touch. I hope your son is feeling better soon.”
Greg walked me out, his grin broad the second he’d closed the door. “Well done. You rocked it in there. Now go get Max. Hope it’s nothing too serious.”
“
Thanks. I’ll call you.”
I strode to the elevator and pressed the button for the basement. Despite Max being unwell, I couldn’t stop smiling. This professional boost was just what I needed to raise my spirits. It was almost a year since I’d joined Dayton’s firm, and I loved working here more than ever.
When I walked inside the childcare center, I spotted Sondra sitting on a couch rocking Max in her lap. He was sucking his thumb, something he hadn’t done for a while now. I jogged across, crouching to his level. I brushed his hair off his forehead. His skin was clammy, and he definitely had a temperature. “Hey, little man. You not feeling so good?”
He shook his head.
“Probably a virus,” Sondra said, handing him to me. “I’ve given him some cold medicine, but I think what he really needs is his mommy and his bed.”
“Thanks, Sondra.” I cradled him to me. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
I called Dayton, but his phone went to voicemail. I left a message then called Paul to come pick us up as per Dayton’s instructions. No cabs, no subways, no traveling anywhere alone until Sutton was off the streets. If that didn’t happen, I wasn’t sure what our next move would be, but until we knew for definite whether Sutton would be charged for his crimes, I wasn’t going to argue with Dayton.
I only had to wait in the lobby for a minute or so before Paul drove up outside.
“Thanks for coming so quickly,” I said.
“It’s my job, miss,” Paul replied seriously.
My lips twitched. Paul didn’t come across as the friendliest, but that was because he was the consummate professional and a fantastic employee.
I strapped Max in his car seat then climbed in the back. Paul filtered into the busy traffic, and I let my head fall back against the seat. My phone vibrated, and I took it out of my bag. Dayton.
“I got a missed call,” he said. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Max isn’t well. I’m on my way home with him.”
“What’s the matter?” Worry bled through his tone.
“Nothing to be concerned about. I think it’s a bug of some sort. He’ll be fine in a day or two. The presentation went great, by the way.”
“I never had any doubt,” Dayton replied. “I’m proud of you.”
A great big goofy grin planted itself on my face. Dayton’s approval was something I craved. He was so damned good at what he did, I always worried I’d let him down
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“You’re in the car with Paul, right?”
“Of course,” I said patiently. As if I’d dare not be.
“Put me on speakerphone.”
“Why?”
“Just do it, Christa.”
I huffed a breath then did as he’d asked.
“Paul, I want you to make sure you escort Ms. Adams and Max up to the apartment. You see her right inside, yes?”
I met Paul’s gaze in the rearview mirror and rolled my eyes. I swear one corner of his mouth turned upward.
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Christa, call me as soon as you get home.”
“I will. Bye.” I hung up. “Jeez, what a worry wart.”
“Better to be safe than sorry, miss,” Paul said.
God, they were like a pair of bookends. I turned my attention to Max. His eyes were closed, and his breathing heavy. Poor little guy had fallen asleep. I felt his forehead again. Still warm, but not overly so. No need to call the doctor.
Paul pulled into the garage and, as he’d promised, traveled in the elevator up to the apartment. “Lock this door behind me, miss,” he said.
I did as instructed. Mrs. Connor was in the kitchen preparing our dinner for that evening. I didn’t see her very much as she worked part-time during the day.
“Something smells good, Mrs. C,” I said.
She looked up as she heard my voice. “Oh, Christa, you’re home early.” She frowned as she spotted Max with his head on my shoulder. “What’s the matter? Is Max unwell?”
I nodded. “He’s feeling under the weather. I’m going to put him to bed and then get some work done.”
“I’m almost finished here, and then I’ll get out of your way,” she said.
I went to my study, called Dayton, then answered a few emails, but when nothing urgent caught my attention, I shut down my computer. I wandered back into the living area. Mrs. C had left for the day. There was a casserole bubbling on the stove. God bless the woman. I wasn’t a bad cook, but Mrs. C was an amazing cook. Not for the first time, I wondered how on earth I’d ended up in a long-term relationship with a super-hot, kind and generous billionaire, and a life that offered such privilege.
The only blip on the radar was my continued battle with Sutton. Why hadn’t he been in contact? What was he up to? Whatever his plans were, causing me the maximum amount of pain and anguish would be his number one priority. The thing was, he’d achieved that simply through his silence because as each day passed without some form of retribution, the more my fear grew.
I checked on Max who was fast asleep. Dayton wouldn’t be home for a couple of hours, and boredom had set in. There was nothing that needed cleaning, or tidying, no groceries to pick up, no ironing to do.
And then a thought occurred to me. It felt like ages since we’d connected as a couple. An image popped into my mind. Candlelight, soft music, a bottle of wine, Mrs. C’s delicious casserole. With renewed vigor, I strode down the hallway to our bedroom and jumped in the shower.
Mr. Somers, prepare to be seduced.
A shiver of anticipation crept up my spine as I washed, waxed, buffed, and moisturized my entire body. I sat at my dresser and dried my hair, leaving it loose, its natural waviness cascading down my back. I added a touch of light makeup and then entered the walk-in closet. I riffled through, my gaze eventually falling on a dress I’d bought a few weeks ago. It was very revealing and not something I’d be brave enough to wear in public. But privately? A whole different story.
I slipped it on and checked myself out in the floor-to-ceiling mirror. Oh yeah. Dayton wouldn’t be able to resist. Take a back seat, fuck-me heels, ‘cause this was a fuck-me dress if ever I saw one.
I padded down the hallway, grinning. I probably had an hour to kill. If Mrs. C hadn’t made a dessert, I might rustle up some baked caramel apples with lots of cinnamon—a favorite of Dayton’s.
I walked into the living room—and froze.
Sitting on the couch, a huge teddy bear and a bunch of balloons by his side, was Sutton.
And he had a gun pointed right at me.
25
Christa
“Wh-what are you doing?”
Sutton’s lips curled into a cruel smile, one I knew well. He tapped the barrel of the gun on the spare seat beside him.
“Sit.”
I wasn’t sure my legs would carry me. They felt weak as jelly, like all the bones had been removed. I put one foot forward, my thighs trembling.
“How did you get in here?”
He grabbed the teddy bear by the arm and shook it. “Amazing what a bit of charm and a stuffed toy can do. Your receptionist couldn’t let me up here fast enough when I laid it on that I missed my son’s birthday on Saturday—my only son’s fucking birthday—and how I wanted to bring him some gifts. She was like mush in my hands. Stupid bitch.”
Oh God. There’d been a couple of temps on the reception desk recently because of a particularly nasty virus going around. The staff member who’d let Sutton up here must have been one of them. She mustn’t be familiar with protocol.
Shit, shit, shit. Think, Christa.
I took another step but clearly wasn’t moving fast enough for Sutton because he cocked the gun. “Sit the fuck down, Sienna.”
The reversion to my former name was a purposeful move. It sent the message that Sutton was in charge, that I was his puppet to play with. I willed my legs to move faster, virtually falling into the chair opposite.
“Oh no,” he said, tossing the teddy bear
to one side. Once again, he tapped the seat next to his with the gun. “Sit right here.”
My mouth dried up, my heart thumped, and the sound of my blood rushed through my ears. I somehow struggled to my feet and crossed over to him. I couldn’t take my eyes off the gun. I’d never seen a firearm up close, but I doubted it was fake.
Oh God. I could die tonight. Max could die tonight.
“What do you want, Sutton?”
He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked, hard.
I cried out, tears springing to my eyes.
“Where is she?” he bit out.
“Where’s who?”
He pulled again, tearing a chunk of my hair out at the roots. I screamed in pain.
“Don’t test me, Sienna. Where. Is. That. Fucking. Slut. Kathy.”
He yelled each word in my face, spittle forming in the corner of his mouth, the odd bit splattering on my face.
“I don’t know,” I said. “Honestly, Sutton, I don’t know where she is.”
“You’re lying!” He jabbed the barrel of the gun into my temple. “Don’t lie to me, goddammit.”
My entire body shook, and I took shallow, gasping breaths. Fear rendered me absolutely paralyzed. Please, God, just let Max live. Let my little boy survive.
“Where is she?”
“Please, Sutton. Don’t hurt me. Think of Max. He needs his mommy. Please.”
He barked out a laugh, the sound sending fear racing through my veins. He pressed the gun even harder against my head. “You mean the kid that shouldn’t even be here if you’d done as you were fucking told and got rid of it. Like I told you to. Like you were supposed to!”
Saliva filled my mouth, nausea swirling in the pit of my stomach. I was trapped with a madman. A sick, sick man who couldn’t possibly have normal feelings because he was certifiably insane. I’d been lulled into thinking he might have grown to care about Max during the time he’d spent with him, but he didn’t care at all. The only thing Sutton Atwood gave a shit about was himself and his revenge. Terror for my son rendered me speechless. All the bravery in the world was meaningless when you had a gun to your head. One false move, and Sutton would pull the trigger. I had absolutely no doubt. Desperate men did desperate things. And Sutton showed all the signs of being desperate.
Avenging Christa: Irresistibly Mine Duet Book 2 Page 16
