She tried not to make any noise as she edged as close as she could to the end of the hallway so she could see where their positions were. She didn’t want the light shining on her, making her presence known. She opened her handbag and quietly took out her gun. Better safe than sorry, she supposed. Did she think she would really have to use it? Could she? As familiar as she was with the weapon and as many times she had shot paper targets, the fact remained that she had never even pointed it at someone, much less ever used it on someone! But he was threatening to kill Gage and she couldn’t let that happen. If it would even come down to that.
As nausea filled Amber’s stomach, her father’s voice sounded in her ears.
Amber Bee, don’t let the past haunt you. You have to control the situation. Believe in yourself. Believe that you are worthy of more. We want that for you.
Amber wiped the tears from her cheeks. She couldn’t mess this up. Gage needed her. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the safety button to the off position on her handgun and peeked around the corner.
She could see their backs. She could see all of Gage. He sat at the table with his legs sprawled out underneath the table, leaning back in his chair. His arms were folded across his chest, the muscles in his arms flexing.
She got away from the corner and tiptoed back down the hallway. She needed to cock her gun back so she at least had a bullet in the chamber. If she was going to go out there gangster style, she needed to be prepared. But she had to hurry. She feared she didn’t have much time and it sounded like these people were capable of murder. She went back into the bathroom, left the light off and cocked her gun. The sound echoing in the small room set her on edge. She hoped like hell no one heard that sound.
Back in the hallway she could still hear them talking. She could hear Gage’s deep baritone voice but he was talking so quiet she couldn’t make out the words. She peeked around the corner again and saw the man pointing his gun between himself and Gage as he spoke. Jesus Christ, he was going to kill someone waving it around like that. She leaned back up against the wall and dialed 911. She knew she couldn’t talk to them but she was hoping they might send someone out, as long as they could hear what was going on. She slid the phone into her back pocket. She took a deep breath and tiptoed into the kitchen, her arms outstretched in front of her.
“Put your gun down!”
It all happened fast. The minute she said that, Brian turned around and somehow his gun went off. Gage jumped out of his seat, knocking the chair to the ground tackling Echo. Amber shot Brian dead center in the chest. The force knocked him back into the table. His gun went flying to the ground. She finally registered the screaming and looked around to find Gage on top of Echo. With blood. There was a lot of blood. The bright red was seeping all over Gage’s denim jeans, turning brown and pooling underneath them. Oh God. Her shaking hands managed to put the safety back on her gun and with disgust; she set it on the counter. She stumbled past Brian laying awkwardly half on the table and half fallen into one of the chairs.
She vomited all over the floor. She tried to steady herself by putting her hands on her knees. Tears burned her eyes.
“It’s 1341 Sundance. Yes, she’s breathing but she needs help. Yes. His name is Brian Kemp. No, no pulse. He’s...he’s gone.”
Gage’s voice was loud in her ears. It sounded like he was yelling but she was too disoriented to figure it out. The police! He must be on the phone. Oh no, was he hurt, too? She glanced to the floor were Gage was kneeling over Echo. He had gotten ahold of some dishtowels and was holding them to her stomach. The towels were soaked red; Gage’s hands looked like he had dipped them in paint. She turned her head and heaved again, vomit splattering all over his hardwood floors.
She jumped at Gage’s touch, “It’s okay, deep breaths. It’s okay. It’s all over. I used your phone out of your back pocket. Amber, I know this is difficult but I need you to focus for a minute. Listen, the police will be here any second, okay? They are going to ask you a bunch of questions. You need to call your lawyer. Is the number in your phone? You need to get him out here immediately.”
She nodded her head. “Yeah. Felix Haussmann. Am I going to prison? God Gage, are you okay?”
Gage grunted, “Amber, you saved my life. I’m fine. I’m worried about you.” He called the number in her phone and after a few rings the man answered. Gage explained a short version of what happened and gave Felix the address.
“He’s on his way.”
“Is, is that girl alive? I thought he shot you.” She bent down and placed her hands on her knees and watched the tears fall from her face on to the floor were she threw up. She thought she might puke again. She couldn’t breath and the acrid taste in her mouth was making her heave. She vowed to never have steak again.
“Echo is barely hanging in there. Here, lets get you a towel, okay?”
Just then the entourage of paramedics and police came through the front door. One paramedic went to Brian’s body while the other two attended to Echo. The police took Gage and Amber into the front of the house, away from the commotion and crime scene. Amber managed to compose herself long enough to answer basic questions but her lawyer did most of the talking. Or rather, he moderated the questions and answers between her and the investigator. Because she actually killed someone, she wasn’t allowed to retrieve her weapon. No, Felix assured her that it was already bagged and tagged. No, she wouldn’t see that baby for a long time. She watched as many men and women, some in normal clothes and some in uniforms – one wearing a black coat with the word CORONER printed on back, entered Gage’s house like they owned the place. They had a job to do. They all probably had families that they wanted to go back home and see. Finally, an officer escorted Gage to his room to pack a duffel bag with some belongings and took them to the door.
The officer handed Gage Amber’s keys, “You drive. She is in no shape to drive or be alone. We will call you both in the morning. Tomorrow she is going to have to come to the station and fill out some paperwork. This should go without saying but I’m going to say it anyway – don’t leave town. Understood?”
They both nodded.
“Most likely, someone will be here all night and into the morning. I will call you when it’s acceptable for you to come back. I assume working in your line of business you know you will need to call your insurance to get the house cleaned up, right?”
Gage put out his hand, “Yes. Thanks.”
“No problem. Try to get some rest Miss Prescott.”
Once at Amber’s house, Gage shut the door behind him and followed Amber into her bedroom. “Let me help you out of your clothes.”
“No I’m fine. I just want to sit here. You change. I will be okay.”
For the first time Gage looked down at his jeans and saw what a mess they were. “Do you mind if I take a quick shower?”
She shook her head.
Gage turned to leave but turned back to Amber, “on second thought.”
He hauled her off her bed, throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carried her into her bathroom. He stood her up on the tile floor and began undressing her. With her naked, he undressed himself and turned the shower on, practically shoving her inside.
“Is this warm enough?”
“Yeah. It feels good. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Amber baby, I’m fine. If it weren’t for you, who knows where I’d be. I’m more worried about you. Are you sure you are okay?”
“I’m sure. I just got you to be mine. I don’t want to lose you, Gage.”
“I’m not going anywhere. I promise.”
He pulled Amber to him, the water beating down on both of them as they stood in silence. After a while, Amber spoke first. “It’s crazy how one moment can trigger a response out of someone that nothing else has been able to do. I have been searching for answers for so long and I thought winning the dance competition would be the answer but it wasn’t. It was this.”
Gage cocked his head, wiping
water away from his face, “What do you mean?”
“My parents. I know now that it wasn’t my fault that they died in that plane crash. Like, it really wasn’t my fault. Everyone makes their own decisions based on what they think is best. Just like your two employees tonight. As crazy as they both were in thinking they could get away with embezzlement and murder, they made these choices because they thought it was in their best interest. Just like my mom and dad. My mom and dad flew that day because they wanted to. They wanted to come and see the performances. It’s funny how all of these events have finally triggered me to see that and understand that.”
Gage couldn’t keep his hands off her wet body as he listened to her talk. He looked into her eyes, seeking the truth – the knowledge that she believed what she told him. “You finally get that don’t you, mi Reina? I can see it in your eyes. You really understand that their deaths were not your fault, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” She closed her eyes and tilted her head under the spray of water. Her laughter held sarcasm, “I’m an awful woman. I kill a man and I finally feel free. Very interesting how pulling the trigger can make you feel so happy, so free.”
Gage laughed, “Yup, an interesting twist to the term trigger happy.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Two days after the incident at Gage’s house, Echo died. Yesterday, he and all of his upper management had gone to Jay’s funeral. Business, for all intents and purposes, had returned to normal. The credit union took a loss to the tune of ninety-four thousand dollars. Gage, as well as his board and upper management, decided that was best instead of submitting an insurance claim.
He sat at his desk, thinking. He felt bad those two got caught up in the dream that money cured everything. It didn’t. It never would. He had formed a relationship with both of them and he had a hard time getting past what they had done. He was pissed they had deceived everyone at the credit union and yet, he felt bad that they thought stealing was something they had to do. And in the end it hadn’t gotten them anywhere. It had gotten them both killed.
For God’s sake, Brian had killed Echo himself, even though it was accidental. And Jay. Jay was an innocent man just doing his job and he had lost his life, too. What a fucking mess. Gage couldn’t imagine getting Amber involved in something like that. You didn’t do that to people that were important to you.
Everyone at work was quiet. Doing what they needed to do to get the job done, but the hallways were quiet. The break room was quiet. He knew it would take time to heal the wounds that Brian and Echo made. The friendships they had formed with other employees who had put their trust into them which were now broken and there wasn’t anyone around to take the blame. He wished he could change that feeling...for him, for all of his employees.
“Hey Gage, Amber’s closing is finished. I just thought you would want to know.” Lisa stood at his doorway.
“Lisa, thanks. I’m glad they lowered their asking price.”
“Me too. She seems to be doing pretty well. She said it helps that she’s not alone at night. Are you ever going to go back to your house?”
“Maybe. I haven’t decided yet. It’s all cleaned up but still seems like a nasty place to go and live.”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking. I knew you guys would end up together. Before all of this,” she gestured with her hand, “I had a bet with Nate about you guys winding up together. Now, it seems so silly.”
Gage laughed, “That obvious, huh? We are definitely in a better place than we were, considering the crap that’s happened.”
She started moving away from the door, “Yeah, well...see you tomorrow. Don’t beat yourself up over their mistakes, okay?”
“How do you even know I am?”
“Cause you’re a good boss, Gage. That’s how.”
Gage took a deep breath. Almost time to go home. Home. Was it his home? He’d been staying with Amber while his house was out of commission and he could go back to his house at any time. But he hadn’t yet. And Amber made it clear she didn’t mind having him at her place. But surely she would get tired of not having her house back to herself. He needed to make a decision about going back to his house or putting it up for sale. At the moment, neither seemed appealing. It had become just a house that he lived in. Waking up next to Amber every day and enjoying her companionship at night had him not wanting to be alone. He knew he wanted to be where she was, but he wasn’t sure if she was ready for that. It wasn’t yet time to leave but he shut his computer down and left anyway. He had to find Amber. She had become his home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
DECEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH, FOUR O’CLOCK PM
All of the girls and Marilyn’s mother were huddled into the back room of the banquet hall. The room had a single table and chair as well as a full-length mirror. There was a single window allowing light into the room. One by one, each of them checked their hair, their make-up and of course, their dresses. The bridesmaid’s dresses were long royal blue gowns. The décolleté accentuated the ladies pale skin. Made up of lace, each dress had a satin bow that came to tie at the back where the dress dipped even lower than the front. The gowns swept the floor as they sashayed around the tiny room.
“Do you have everything – old, new, borrowed, blue?” Amber fretted to Marilyn.
“Amb, yes, I have this necklace, thanks to you,” Marilyn twirled the blue sapphire that was astoundingly similar to the Hope Diamond on her fingers. “So that is new. And my panties,” she swung her dress up for the girls to see, “blue,” she smirked.
The women all laughed, “Blake is going to love those, I’m telling ya.” Gabriella stated proudly.
“Please. If he even pays attention as he rips them off.”
“Okay, I don’t want to hear that.” Marilyn’s mother said.
The girls all laughed again.
“What’s old and what’s borrowed?” Brandi asked.
“Old is my perfume, of course! I’ve been wearing it since the-”
“Tenth grade!” Amber cut her off, and rolled her eyes.
Marilyn stuck her tongue out at her, “And borrowed is my mother’s diamond earrings. Right, ma? I’m covered. I’m nervous. Is it time? Should we grab our bouquets? How’s my dress look? Has anyone seen Blake? He is here, right?”
“Wow. Deep breaths, please.”
“He’s here, Gage said he is beyond ready.”
“And your dress is simply stunning. Turn around and look.”
Marilyn turned toward the mirror and the ladies all admired her dress. Strapless, with intricate detailing made up of beads all throughout the bust going around to the back. Aside from the beads, the dress was made up of tulle with a wide hemline making the dress look very Cinderella-y. The top layer of tulle was decorated with lace embroidery, making an ordinary dress extraordinary. Marilyn’s brown hair was pinned up by a bridal barrette she had found at a flea market. Her stylist, Adeline from Rumors On Main, purposely left ringlets down surrounding her face, giving Marilyn a messy yet well-kept look.
“You look beautiful,” her mother told her.
“Thank you! Don’t make me cry. We all look amazing, look at you guys. You look fabulous.”
They got interrupted from their girl moment by a knock on the door. They fell into silence.
“Who is it?” Amber asked.
“It’s me. Are you guys ready? It’s time.”
Amber opened the door slightly, not allowing Gage to peek at her or into the room. Oh fuck, he looked hot as hell. She had never, ever seen him in a tuxedo until now and he looked way too sexy. Too sexy for his own good. She had given him a haircut yesterday evening before they had gone to bed and now it added another layer of hotness to his already hot get-up. Tuxedo pants and jacket and the standard black bow tie and white shirt. She had never seen anything tastier. How could something so standard make her panties so wet? Could she slip out of here for three minutes and have her way with him before the ceremony started?
“Earth to Amber
. Did you hear me?”
“What? No, what did you say?”
“Too busy thinking about getting into my chones aren’t you?” he whispered.
“What are chones?”
“My underwear, of course.”
Amber rolled her eyes, “Of course not.”
“Whatever, Reina. Time to roll,” he tapped his watch impatiently.
“Okay, see you in a few.” She shut the door and abruptly leaned up against it, fanning herself. “God, I love that man.”
“We know. Is it time?”
“Yes, let’s go. Grab your flowers. Mother of the bride goes first so you can go sit down.”
“Okay. Give me a kiss, honey. I love you. You look wonderful. In just a few short moments you are going to be Mrs. Marilyn Monroe Bryant,” she squeezed her hand. “My little girl, all grown up.”
“Okay mom, I can’t mess up my make-up. See you out there.”
~
Standing at the door waiting to enter the ballroom, the ladies got their first real glimpse of the men in their suits. Brandi was paired up with Marilyn’s brother James and they waited momentarily while the ushers opened the French doors. They began their stroll down the aisle. Gabriella was up next with Gage and it was all Amber could do to not relinquish her duties as Maid of Honor just so she could walk down the aisle with him. Amber had the pleasure of walking down with Blake’s brother, Blaze. The new boy in town, and if Amber wasn’t madly in love with Gage Alexander, CEO, she would be getting comfy and cozy with this eye-catching man. Of course, he looked like Blake, but there were definite differences in his looks and his personality.
She grabbed onto his arm and they made their way toward the altar, the ushers closing the door behind them. Her gaze locked onto Gage’s and she held his eye until she had to take her side with the other bridesmaids. She watched Blake, wanting to see his reaction the moment he saw Marilyn. The Bridal Chorus began to play and everyone stood up, turning to watch for Marilyn.
Trigger Happy (Girls with Guns, #2) Page 15
