Conned by You

by Marilyn Williams

  She lifted herself up on her elbows and wiped the sleep from her eyes. “I smell coffee.”

  “It isn’t a dream.” He grabbed one mug and brought it to her nose.

  She inhaled and sat up on the bed. His eyes lingered over her naked body, which caused his cock to stiffen. He turned away for a moment to get his mind back on track. There’s something he had to tell her that will cause a nuclear reaction. “I ran into my mother in the kitchen.”

  “Oh yeah, was she on her way to the hospital?” She took a long sip of coffee.

  “Not yet. You should see the spread that’s waiting for us. One of everything you can imagine.”

  “Good, because I’m starving.”

  “She noticed my improved mood, and I spilled about your change of heart.”

  “How did she react?”

  “As expected, full of excitement.” Justin gulped his organic Columbian brew.

  Ava hopped off the bed and wrapped her robe around herself. “Are you ready to go down?”

  “Not yet.” He placed his mug down and move closer towards her. “We need to discuss something first.”

  “Okay, what?”

  “I’m leaving after breakfast.”

  Her brows knitted together. “Leaving? To go where?”

  “I’m going to our home.”

  Her face was full of confusion. “I thought we had to stay here until the police arrested Brandon.”

  Justin slid his hands into his pants pocket. “You and your mother will stay here, but I’ll be at our home.”

  “Why?” She pressed her lips together and shot him a look.

  He knew his next words would enrage her. “I need to draw Brandon out.”

  Her eyes became wide. “Draw him out?! Justin, that’s what the police are for! I thought you and I would wait here together. Now you’re saying you have a plan to draw him out of hiding.”

  “Ava, what does Brandon want more than he wants you?”

  She rolled her eyes and released a heavy breath. “You out of the way.”

  “Right! We both know he believes if he gets rid of me, he’ll have you.”

  “So, you’ll wait for him to show up at our house, and security will hold him for the police. It’ll be like a sting operation or something?”

  He broke eye contact allowing his gaze to fall onto nothing in particular. “Something like that.”

  She grabbed hold of his arm. “What are you not telling me?”

  “Nothing. Look, you’ll be here safe and surrounded by security, while I’m taking care of certain matters at our house.”

  Her jaw tightened. He could tell she was beyond pissed and now furious. He grabbed the tie of her robe to pull her close. “Listen, we will talk every night. I’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way. The moment we have him, you’ll know. Then we can get married and start working on Justin Jr or Little Ava.” She tried to remove herself from his embrace, but he wouldn’t let go.

  “I don’t like it,” she said with a glare in her eyes and a pout in her bottom lip. “But I understand why you must go home.”

  He kissed her lips. “I promise to be careful.”

  “You will have security inside and out, right?”

  He pulled her into a tight hug. “You worry too much.”

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Justin slipped his key into the door lock. He felt a sudden tightness in his stomach, and a wave of guilt washed over him for the lie he’d told Ava. He didn’t want her to know he would be alone in their home without security, or the plan to lure Brandon out of hiding was his idea. Justin planned to face Brandon once and for all without the aid of the police or Blake. This was his fight, and he had to see it through to the end.

  He shut the door and dropped his keys on the entryway table. Justin moved towards the stairs, but before he could set a foot on the bottom stair, the doorbell rang. Not expecting Brandon to walk right up and ring the bell, he peeked out the window.

  Nina? He didn’t have time for a visit. “What are you doing here?” he asked, opening the door.

  She brushed past him. “Hello to you too,” she said. His eyes followed as she threw her purse down on a chair and faced him with her hands rested on her hips. “Imagine my horror when I heard yesterday’s breaking news. Hotel mogul’s fiancée found alive and alleged murderer and kidnapper, Brandon Porter, on the run. What the hell, Justin?”

  He expelled a heavy breath and frowned. “Nina, given the events of the past forty-eight hours, I’m sorry if I didn’t make time to call you.”

  She stared at him wide-eyed. “Is Ava okay? I mean, how did Brandon get out of jail? I thought he couldn’t afford bail.”

  “I will fill you in. I promise. Just not now.”

  Her eyes darted upstairs. “Oh, I apologize. I’m sure you and Ava need time alone.”

  “Ava isn’t here. She and her mother are staying at the family home.”

  “Oh…”

  “Listen, until Brandon is off the streets and back behind bars, it isn’t safe for you to be here.” He grabbed her purse and handed it to her.

  “What about you? Why are you here alone?”

  “Nina, give the kids my love.” He held open the front door.

  “But…”

  “Nina, please.”

  She faced him in the opened doorway. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pile on. Just take care of yourself and Ava. Call me or send a text. Just find a way to send word that you’re both okay.”

  “I will.”

  She waved goodbye, and he watched as she got into her car and drove off. Once back inside, Justin jetted upstairs into the master bedroom. He entered the closet and retrieved a black case from the top shelf. He inserted a key and lifted the lid. Inside sat something he rarely used. A Glock nine-millimeter handgun. He held the cold, metal steel in his hand and blew a heavy breath. He never thought his battle with Brandon would come to this, but it has. It could be hours or days before he made his move, but when he does, Justin will be ready.

  With his gun in hand, Justin checked every door and window to verify each were locked. He approached the front door and contemplated what he should do. He could lock it and have Brandon work to enter. Or he could play to his ego and leave it unlocked. Brandon would believe he was an idiot who made it easy for him to be eliminated. He chose to lock the door except for the deadbolt. If Brandon wanted to enter, he must use his lock picking skills to get in.

  Justin moved to his office, which sat off the main hallway. It’s midpoint from the front and back door. It is where he will remain until Brandon makes an appearance.

  He sat at his desk and turned on his computer to access his work email. He stared at the thirty-five-inch screen and watched a plethora of messages populate his inbox. Justin placed his loaded gun on his desk and opened one urgent email after another. Midway, his phone rang. His eyes lingered on Ava, whose picture filled the screen. As the phone continued to ring, his hesitation grew. He couldn’t ignore her; he had no choice but to answer.

  “Hey, is everything okay?” he asked.

  “I’m checking in with you. Any sign of Brandon, yet?”

  “No.”

  “What’s the plan, Justin?”

  “Ava, I’m here to lure him out of hiding. We both know he’s been waiting and watching us the moment he escaped from the warehouse.”

  “I know.” She fell silent. “Is security out front and in the back? He might try to use the beach access to get inside.”

  “The house is fully secure. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Spend time with your mom.”

  “I told her we’re no longer waiting to get married. She was over the moon with joy.”

  “I’m glad.” He rubbed his forehead. He had to get off the phone and remain focused.

  “I won’t ask if I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Sweetheart, I should go. As soon as I’m done here, I’m coming straight to you.”

  “Please be careful. I love you.”

  �
�Love you, too.”

  Justin hung up the phone and rested his face in the palm of his hand. He hated lying to her, but there was no way he could tell her the truth. That he sat alone, in the house, waiting on a man who wanted him dead.

  He regained his composure and continued with his work. By midnight, his eyelids grew heavy, and it became harder to focus. His eyes closed one last time, allowing him to drift asleep. A click from the front door startled him awake. He sat up in his chair and focused on the sound from the front of the house. Light footsteps followed. Justin’s hand hovered over his gun. He moved it to his lap as his eyes remained focused on the wall mirror to his right. It reflected the hall behind him.

  Justin remained still as he waited for the intruder to make himself known. The footsteps moved closer. He counted five before they came to a halt. Then the image appeared in the reflection. Justin’s finger eased on the trigger of his gun. In one swift movement, he rose from his chair and fire a shot. Brandon fell to the ground with a gunshot wound to the chest. Justin stood over his body and stared at the man who terrorized the woman he loved and upended their lives. Brandon didn’t move as his eyes pleaded for help. “That one was for terrorizing Ava.”

  Blood spewed from Brandon’s mouth. “Fuck you,” he said, followed by a cough.

  “This one is for the pain you caused Ava when you held me captive for two months.” He fired another shot into his chest, causing Brandon’s body to jerk.

  Justin continued to stand over Brandon as he took short, shallow breaths. Blood traveled from his torso and puddled beneath him. He was close to death, but Justin wasn’t taking any chances. He lifted his arm and pointed the gun right at Brandon’s head. “Burn in hell, you bastard!” With his upper lip curled into a scowl, Justin squeezed the trigger and fire a shot right between his eyes. With blood splatter on his clothes, he stepped over Brandon’s lifeless body and called 911.

  “I would like to report an intruder in my home.”

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  After a night of tossing and turning, Ava had finally fallen asleep when a nudge to her shoulder awakened her. She slowly lifted her eyelids and found Justin staring down on her. She shot up in the bed and switched on the light. He remained quiet as he sat on the bed facing her. As much as she wanted to fire multiple questions his way, she waited for him to speak.

  “It’s over.”

  “What do you mean it’s over? Was he arrested?” she asked.

  Justin looked her straight in the eye. “He’s dead.”

  Ava sat with her mouth agape and her hand rested over her stomach. She wasn’t quite sure how to respond. “Dead? Did the police shoot him?”

  A flutter of guilt seemed to invade his gaze. He looked away as he spoke. “I wasn’t exactly truthful when I laid out the details of my plan. I lied because if you had known the truth, you would’ve stopped me.”

  Ava moved from off the bed and stood in front of him. “What plan?”

  Justin rose from the bed and moved past her. There was a distance between them as they spoke. “When I left you, I went home without security. As smart as Brandon thought he was, he became predictable. Although he hid in the shadows, I knew he was watching. So, I sat alone and waited for him to come to the house. I made it easy by leaving the dead bolt unlocked on the front door, and I waited for him in my office. Just as I predicted, he entered. When he found me, I shot him.”

  Ava closed her eyes as she tried to remain calm. Her forefingers moved in a circular motion over her temples. She took deep, heavy breaths as the scenario of Justin killing Brandon played in her mind. Don’t overreact. What’s done is done. Justin is a man who handled the situation as he saw fit. She reopened her eyes and moved closer to him. “I understand why you kept your plan from me, and I’m not upset.”

  Relief hit his face. “That was an unexpected response.”

  “Brandon had become a menace who had to be stopped. Are you sure he’s dead?”

  “Positive.”

  Ava wrapped her arms around herself as a mixed bag of emotions surged through her body. “I’m not sure how I should feel. There’s a side that’s relieved this chapter in our lives is over. No trial and I don’t have to look over my shoulder and wonder if he has escaped from jail. Then there’s the side who’s sad because I once had deep feelings for him.” She wiped a tear before it could fall.

  Justin pulled her into his arms and stroked the back of her head. “The person who swooped in like a white knight to save you from Phil was replaced with a deranged version of himself. That Brandon became the very thing he protected you from. He doesn’t deserve one ounce of sympathy or one fallen tear.” He pulled away and pecked her lips. “Not one tear, sweetheart. My hope is he’s burning in hell for what he’s done to you.”

  “It’s really over,” she said through a stream of tears.

  "Don't allow another tear to trail down your beautiful face." Justin wiped her wet cheeks. “Do you know what happens next?”

  “We can get married.”

  “That’s right, Mrs. Harrington.”

  She wiped her eyes and smiled. “I can’t wait for that name to become official.”

  Chapter Forty

  Three months have passed, and Ava has never felt better. After Brandon’s death, the police never opened an official investigation. They considered Justin’s actions self-defense. The police instead focused their attention on Brandon’s accomplice, Lindsey. She returned from wherever she was hiding and turned herself in to the police. They charged her as an accomplice to kidnapping, drug tampering, and a long list of other felonies.

  On a lighter note, Chris has made a full recovery. Two months ago, the doctors removed the ventilator. He has regained most of his motor skills, except for his balance and coordination. He once again must attend rehab to relearn to walk. Until that time, he must use a wheelchair to get around. He and Corrine have reunited. She said she wasn’t ready to become Mrs. Christopher Harrington. For now, they would take one day at a time.

  Ava gathered the ingredients needed for chicken tacos in the kitchen of the home they owned in Atlanta, while Justin ran around in search of his cuff links. A week ago, she and Justin arrived in Atlanta for the soft opening of the Azalea Lodge Resort, their lakeside property, and another special event that’ll take place at the end of the week.

  “I could use some help!” Justin yelled from the powder room.

  Ava put down the knife she used to slice the chicken. She wiped her hands and whipped around the corner to the powder room. She stood in the open doorway. “Where did you see them last?”

  “If I knew, I wouldn’t need your help to find them.”

  Ava rolled her eyes and ventured upstairs into their bedroom. He had an important meeting with investors, and he’s been on edge all morning. She stood near the door with her hands rested on her waist. Her eyes scanned the room until she saw a small, shiny object underneath the bed. She got down on all fours and reached for the silver cufflink with JH engraved on it. Still, on the floor, she turned towards the dresser and that’s when she spotted its mate. Ava rose to her feet and met Justin at the bottom stair. “There you go.” She handed him the cause of his distress.

  “Where were they? I looked everywhere.”

  “One underneath the bed, and the other near the dresser.”

  Justin placed the cufflinks on his shirt. “This is a big day. If the property meets the investors’ expectations, they will invest more money into our next project.”

  “Like another resort?”

  “Possibly. At first, they were hesitant to invest because of the magnitude of the project. You know, my specialty is upscale boutique hotels. But when I saw the land’s location, I just knew I had to go big on this one.”

  “And your gamble has paid off. Not only did you face a number of setbacks, but the project is near completion months ahead of schedule.”

  “Thanks to a lot of overtime, and two crews working twelve-hour shifts.”

  Are you
sure you don’t want me to attend? I can cancel with the girls.”

  “No. Becky and I got this. You enjoy your time with Tess and Meg.”

  She moved closer and flicked the minuscule of lint from his suit jacket. “Remember to remain calm. You two worked hard on this project. I’m sure the investors will love it.”

  “We chose an excellent day, considering the frigid weather and rainstorms that rolled through last week.”

  Ava shrugged. “That’s North Georgia weather. Even in April, it can still feel like the middle of winter.”

  Justin eyed his Rolex watch. “I better get going.” He leaned in for a kiss. “Tell the girls I said hi.”

  “I will.”

  Ava proceeded back into the kitchen where she continued to work on her chicken tacos. Twenty minutes later there was a knock on her door, followed by the ring of her doorbell. Ava raced towards the door. “Tess!” An enormous smile filled her face. “Get in here.” Ava pulled her into a hug. It had been forever since they’ve seen each other.

  “Can you get any more gorgeous?” asked Tess with a smile.

  “Stop. I look the same as always. But thank you.” She held onto her hand and led her into the kitchen. “You look fit as ever. Still running three miles every morning?”

  “Every morning at seven sharp.”

  “Do you want anything to drink or eat? I made chicken tacos.”

  “Shouldn’t we wait for Meghan?”

  “She’s not coming until later. I asked you to stop by early because we haven’t had time together. There’s plenty we need to get caught up on.”

  Tess frowned. “You’re right. Since you left, our relationship has become somewhat strained.”

  Ava nodded. “We went from being like sisters to barely talking.”

  “Well, we should fix that. Let’s eat and catch up.”

  Ava fixed two plates of chicken tacos, while Tess poured iced tea into two tall glasses. Ava moved the plates onto the kitchen island. “Delicious,” said Tess, biting into her hard-shelled taco.