By Invitation Only- The Series

by Zane Michaelson

  What if?

  I tried to curb my thoughts before they had time to bury themselves into my consciousness.

  Still, my sleep was over for the night, so rather than disturb Zander, I slipped out of bed, pulled my silk robe on and made my way downstairs to the kitchen.

  I fancied a cup of tea and a sandwich.

  It was the middle of the night and I wasn’t expecting anybody else to be awake now I was there to care for Zander.

  I spied Jensen through the kitchen window.

  He was sat at the side of the pool smoking a cigar.

  I don’t know why this surprised me so much, but he always seemed so body conscious that smoking didn’t fit with what I knew about him.

  Stepping onto the patio, I startled him. “Those things will kill you,” I said.

  “So will car crashes, but I’m still here.” He took a drag of the cigar and blew the smoke in my direction. Usually, this would anger me, but I let it go.

  There was a shift in him. I could sense it immediately.

  “Suit yourself.” I took a seat next to him.

  “You’re up late, or early. Which is it?”

  “Early,” I said. “How are you, Jensen?”

  “Do you really give a fuck?”

  “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”

  “Then I’m fine, as you can see.” He took another long drag and blew the smoke skyward this time.

  “You might be fine on the outside, but you were in a coma for a long time and that’s got to have an effect on a person.”

  “I didn’t know anything about it, but that’s the past.”

  “Are you angry with me?”

  He raised his eyebrows. “To be angry with you, I’d have to care about you.”

  Ouch!

  “Fair enough,” I replied. Not in the mood to deal with his brattish behaviour, I stood up.

  “I could have cared, but you made your allegiances to my brother fairly obvious.”

  “I’m in a relationship with him, so where else would my allegiances be, if not with him?”

  “I thought we were friends, Cammie.”

  “As did I, Jensen, but I don’t know you like I thought I did.”

  He was enjoying the cigar, I could tell. “I guess we were both wrong.”

  “What happened to you?”

  “I finally realised there is nothing more important than family.”

  “That’s true and me being with Zander won’t come between the two of you. I’d walk away first.”

  “Very noble of you.”

  “Is that what Charlotte did?”

  “Pardon?”

  I caught the look on his face at the mention of her name.

  “You heard–Charlotte, she was Zander’s ex, right, you remember?”

  “I don’t know why she disappeared, and I don’t really care either.” He got to his feet. “We were never friends.”

  “But you were the last one to see her before she vanished, so Zander tells me, anyway.”

  He took his seat again. “What are you trying to say?”

  “I’m not trying to say anything…”

  He interrupted. “Say what you’ve got to say, Miss Childs, then leave me alone.”

  “I think you know exactly where she went.”

  “And what makes you think that?”

  “She was a threat to you, wasn’t she?” I studied his face closely. “Just like I am.”

  He laughed. “Stupid fucking bitch,” he said. “Charlotte was a gold-digging whore who scarpered when her little plan was rumbled. I had no need to do anything because Zander would have done it for me. Once he knew she couldn’t be trusted, she was history.”

  I was beginning to see what lurked underneath and was genuinely worried about what he was capable of.

  “And what about me?”

  “You’ll show your true colours, in time. My brother might be blinded by you, but I know how much you wanted me, even when you knew he liked you. You’re no better than the rest, trust me.”

  I wanted to slap his face, but he was right. “That might be the case, but your brother and I have an understanding and the past is in the past.”

  “Then you won’t object to me telling him how good you tasted the night of the ball, will you? That you opened your legs to me, even when you knew it wasn’t him.”

  “If Zander knew what you’d done, you wouldn’t be sitting there now, Jensen.”

  “Blood is thicker than water.”

  “True, but don’t threaten me, Jensen, or I’ll start asking questions you won’t like having to answer.”

  He looked me right in the eye. There was no mistaking my meaning.

  And right then, his personality shifted again. “I’m sorry, Cammie. I’ve not been myself since the crash. Forgive me.”

  “Of course,” I said. “Let’s forget it.”

  He didn’t believe a word of what I was saying. And I wasn’t stupid enough to fall for his charms again.

  I knew one thing for certain–Jensen Shaw was a dangerous man and I’d find out what he was hiding. Something told me Caressa Delacourt was the key, but how would I find her?

  Chapter Forty

  I didn’t go back to bed.

  Instead, I set to packing our clothes for the journey to Barbados.

  Relief coursed through me when the jet left the tarmac and the South of France behind us.

  To be honest, if we never returned, it wouldn’t worry me.

  A once in a lifetime trip had turned into a nightmare for many reasons.

  I couldn’t shake my thoughts about Jensen, and I had this incessant nagging that he was somehow responsible for Charlotte’s disappearance.

  I didn’t want to think anything untoward had happened to her and told myself the likelihood Jensen had used some of the Shaw wealth to make sure she stayed away was highly likely.

  He wouldn’t get shut of me that easily. Even if I wasn’t now a multi-millionaire of my own making, I wouldn’t be bought.

  I’d never considered a career as a Private Investigator before, but the more I thought about it and how he reacted to her name, something was amiss, and I’d do my best to find out what Jensen was hiding.

  First of all, I needed to tell Zander what had happened in the Castle on the night of the ball. He had to know his brother had overstepped the mark, but I wasn’t going to shift the blame. I did enjoy it, but it wasn’t going to be something I’d allow Jensen to hold over me like the Sword of Damocles.

  If Zander and I were to have a future it had to be full disclosure.

  I looked across the cabin of the jet.

  Zander was fast asleep.

  I walked over to him and stroked his hair.

  Something caught my eye–one of his legs was twitching. I was heartened, hoping the therapy was working. It would be a cruel twist of fate taking away Zander’s mobility, and therefore his independence. But I knew if anybody could overcome the appalling injuries he’d sustained, it would be him.

  Ten hours later the jet landed at Grantley Adams International Airport.

  I breathed a sigh of relief, relishing the Jensen free zone.

  For a few weeks, Zander was all mine, but after I told him my secret, our time together in Barbados could come to a swift end.

  It was a gamble, but one I was prepared to take regardless of what I stood to lose.

  I’d done a lot of thinking during the flight and if I was to win the war with Jensen, I had to stand my ground and finding Charlotte was imperative if my ultimate goal was to be achieved–a happy life with Zander.

  “What do you think?” Zander asked when we arrived at the old-style plantation house he owned.

  I was dazzled by the beauty of the property. “Oh, my God. It really is beautiful.”

  “I thought you’d like it.”

  “Like it… I love it.”

  “Come on, let’s get settled in,” he said.

  He wheeled himself indoors. Luckily for him, the entire property wa
s on one level and the pool area was easily accessible via a patio area with the biggest barbecue and fire pit I’d ever seen.

  The flight seemed to have zapped all of Zander’s strength and a few hours after arriving, he was fast asleep in the Queen-sized bed. The room was air conditioned, a welcome relief for him from the blistering heat of the Caribbean sun.

  I still worried for him and hoped he would be okay after a long sleep. Sleeping would help to heal his body.

  Wondering what I’d do to amuse myself as he slept, I grabbed my phone. The property had everything I could ask for, but more importantly, Wi-fi.

  I settled poolside, wanting to catch some sun while I could.

  Martha, the housekeeper kindly provided me with the password and a pitcher of iced-tea.

  “Anything else you need, just give me a shout,” she said with a smile.

  I loved her Bajan accent. Even when she spoke, it sounded musical. “Thank you, Martha.”

  She left me with a nod and another smile.

  I logged into the Wi-fi and checked my emails.

  “Junk, junk, junk,” I said, hitting the delete button until they were all but gone.

  I was about to hit delete again when one stood out at me.

  Subject: FAO: Miss Camilla Childs. We need to talk.

  I was intrigued and opened the email.

  My heart hammered in my chest as I read the opening.

  Dear Miss Childs

  Forgive me for writing to you unsolicited, but you are in grave danger.

  Zander Shaw is very dangerous.

  “Oh, my God.”

  I continued to read.

  If you would like to meet me, please reply to this email, and wherever you are in the world, I will come to you.

  There are matters we need to discuss.

  I do not want you to meet the same fate as Charlotte and look forward to hearing from you.

  Please do not dismiss the urgency of this communique.

  Caressa Delacourt

  I stared at the words… the same fate as Charlotte.

  What did she mean by that, but more importantly, what did she know?

  Caressa Delacourt had done me a huge favour in contacting me. I worried how I was to find her.

  I emailed back but decided to keep it short and to the point.

  Dear Madame Delacourt

  Thank you for your email.

  At present, I am in Barbados.

  I do not know when, or if I will ever return to the South of France, but if you are prepared to travel here, I will be glad to meet you.

  Please contact me when you arrive on the island.

  Miss Camilla Childs

  What is it she had to tell me?

  Chapter Forty-One

  Zander slept round the clock, which was a relief.

  My mind buzzed with anticipation.

  Was I really in danger?

  I couldn’t take any chances and would be on guard until I discovered the truth.

  It seemed Madame Delacourt had been waiting for my reply.

  My dear, Miss Childs

  I will arrive in Barbados tomorrow morning and will contact you with a meeting place far away from prying eyes.

  Until then, please take care and stay where other people can keep you safe.

  Caressa Delacourt

  My nerves were shot to shit.

  She really believed Zander would harm me, and now I was beginning to wonder.

  This woman made a point of approaching me at the ball and now sought me out, believing some type of harm would befall me.

  I didn’t know how I would get through the next twenty-four hours, but I had to find a way to get away from Zander when Madame Delacourt arrived. There was plenty I wanted to ask her

  Arnaud paced the floor.

  Alyssa shook her head. “Will you sit down, Arnaud. You’re making me nervous.”

  “Are you certain now is the time?”

  “No, I’m not certain at all,” she replied. “But the woman is in danger and I can’t have another death on my conscience.”

  “Miss Childs walked into the mess herself, it was nothing to do with you.”

  “If I’d brought my son to justice years ago, she wouldn’t be in danger now.” She touched the scar on her face.

  “Then I’m coming too. You’re not going alone–somebody has to protect you.”

  “I’d expect nothing less, my friend.” She gazed fondly at her old friend.

  For years, both had been bonded in the hope of securing justice for Sabine, and now, their journey was coming to an end, and tensions were high.

  “You must not put yourself in harm’s way, Alyssa. You meet the girl, then get out, and once we’re safely off the island, we call the police and tell them everything. Deal?”

  “Yes.”

  Alyssa was reluctant to involve the authorities, but the time had indeed come for her to emerge from the shadows. She wanted her life back and Zander had to be stopped.

  Jensen would still be there for her, and she would never turn her back on Zander. Not entirely. He would be sent to jail, unlikely to ever be released, but she would make sure he had everything he wanted.

  “Then we have arrangements to make.”

  “The jet is on standby.”

  “Where will we stay?” he asked.

  “Leave that to me,” she replied, “but it will only be for one night at the most.”

  “Justice for Sabine...” Arnaud looked up and said a silent prayer for his daughter. “…finally.”

  The black jet touched down at Grantley Adams International Airport.

  Jensen Shaw stepped onto the tarmac, enjoying the heat of the sun.

  The car was waiting for him, just as he had requested.

  “Hello, Mr Shaw,” the driver said as he held the car door open.

  “Hello again, Reggie. It’s good to see you.”

  He slipped into the passenger seat as his luggage was put into the boot of the car.

  “You too, sir. Are you heading home?”

  “Yes.”

  “I believe your brother and his companion arrived some hours ago and are settled in.”

  “Good.” He grinned and slipped on his designer sunglasses. “My arrival will be a pleasant surprise.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  I watched as the car pulled to a stop.

  My heart almost stopped as I spied Jensen climbing out of the car.

  “Shit,” I said. “What the hell is he doing here?”

  “Cammie,” he shouted and waved.

  “Hi, Jensen.”

  So, we were still playing at being friends.

  He made his way to the pool area as Martha rushed out.

  “Jensen,” she said, a little shrill. “I had no idea you were coming, you naughty boy.” She pulled him into her arms.

  He returned the hug, seemingly genuinely pleased to see her. But this was Jensen and he could charm the birds from the trees.

  “I missed you, Martha, and wanted to surprise you all.”

  I bet you did, you sneaky little fucker, I thought.

  “Come on in and let me prepare your favourite drink/snack?.” Martha appeared overcome with emotion at seeing him.

  “In a little while, Martha, I promise,” he replied, all smiles. “I need to catch up with Cammie first.”

  No, you really don’t, I thought, as I fixed a smile.

  He walked over and bent down to kiss my cheek. “Surprise,” he said.

  “And a nice one at that.” I wasn’t in the mood but played the game anyway.

  “I almost believed you for a moment.”

  “I’ll try harder to be more convincing next time,” I said.

  This wasn’t going to end well.

  I had a feeling it was going to be me or him, and I didn’t intend to go down without a fight. But, having him here could be useful when I went to meet Caressa Delacourt.

  A welcome distraction.

  I would pretend to head out for supplies a
nd neither would be any the wiser.

  Zander was surprised, but pleased to see Jensen. It would give them more bonding time.

  We spent a pleasant evening by the pool sampling the many dishes Martha had prepared.

  I’d need to be careful or my arse would double in size if I carried on eating at this rate.

  “What do you have planned tomorrow?” Jensen asked.

  “Nothing,” Zander replied.

  “I’m going to do a little shopping–find my way around the island while you do your physiotherapy.”

  Jensen looked at me.

  “Do you need company?” he asked.

  “No, I’m fine on my own, thank you. You can stay here and make sure your brother is looked after, and that he does what he should be doing.”

  “You’ve got everything planned, right down to the tiniest details, haven’t you, Cammie.”

  “I leave nothing to chance, Jensen.”

  Zander watched our exchange.

  Surely, he would see there was no longer any love lost between us.

  He reached for my hand and held it.

  The man sat next to me wasn’t a danger to me, I would stake my life on it.

  Jensen, however. I’d wager everything I owned he was the dangerous one out of the two.

  Still, I needed to be on my guard.

  Right then, I trusted nobody, not even the mysterious Caressa Delacourt.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  I was glued to my laptop, anxiously waiting.

  Suddenly, what I’d been waiting for appeared.

  Miss Childs

  The Beach at Crane Resorts. Two pm.

  Come alone.

  I’ll find you.

  Caressa Delacourt.

  I replied immediately, accepting her invitation.

  Now, I had to deal with Zander and Jensen.

  “Why don’t you put it off and we can go together?” Zander asked.