I frowned, too saddened to speak.
“Scarlet, you’ve given me more than I knew possible,” he said hoarsely. “You’re so beautiful inside. Don’t let the world take that away.” He took a shallow breath. “Forgive those who do you harm. Don’t let their betrayal poison you. Purge it and replace it with love. Embrace each moment. Look at what you’ve given me. You’ve given yourself completely.” He closed his eyes. “What else is there?”
No. It was Danton who had given me strength and the ability to see that life could be glorious.
My death wish had long ago dissipated because of him, because he’d taught me to know myself and live authentically.
Cameron placed an EP on the corner record player and the beautiful sound of a cello filled the room. I knew it was one of Danton’s recordings, a rendition by Bach.
Cameron sat back down and reached for Danton’s hand.
I kissed Danton’s cheek and pulled the blanket up and over him when he felt the cold. I stroked his hand to comfort me as much as him.
“Promise me something.” Danton turned his head and looked at Cameron. “Protect her with your life…if it ever comes to it.”
Cameron gave a nod of reassurance. “I promise.”
I rested my head on Danton’s chest once more, clinging to him as though that alone would keep him with me forever.
A Monarch butterfly fluttered in through the bedroom window and settled on the end of the bed.
“Funny, isn’t it?” whispered Danton. “How butterflies get all the praise but it’s the caterpillar that’s struggled so very much to change.”
“We know their struggle,” said Cameron softly. “There’s that at least.”
“I love you Danton, so much.” I forced back tears. “I always will.”
He turned to me. “I’ll always be here for you, Scarlet. I promise I’ll come to you if you call for me.” His fingers trailed through my hair. “If ever you need me just say my name.”
The butterfly rose up and fluttered out of the window. I watched it until it flew out of sight.
Chapter 22
A Year Ago
Ethan’s Home - Sherman Oaks
“DANTON,” I SOBBED. “I’m afraid.”
His presence was stronger than I’d ever experienced it before. Resting my head on Ethan’s chest, I surrendered to the sense of peace that now came over me.
Ethan’s hand caressed my scalp. “Hey, there.”
I raised my head to look at him. “Thank God.”
I’d been trying to wake him for what seemed like hours, but in reality it had been minutes.
“Where am I?” Ethan sat up.
“Your office.”
Another kick at the door made him freeze.
“The phone’s dead,” I told him. “Who the hell is that?”
“It’s okay. He’s after me, not you.” He used the desk to pull himself up and then staggered over to the safe.
Glaring at him, I pushed myself to my feet and stood. “You have a gun?”
“Yes.” He lifted a print off the wall. “Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Sorry, Scarlet.” He threw the picture down and set to work on opening the safe. “The police are on their way,” he called out loudly, as though that might persuade the attacker to leave.
“My phone’s in the car,” I whispered.
He paused to wipe his brow, and cringed when he saw a smudge of blood. “What’s wrong with my head?”
“It’s a cut. Doesn’t look deep,” I reassured him. “A fan fell on you and you got knocked forward into the wall.”
“Fuck.”
I glanced around the room again as though some weapon might magically appear.
“How did we get in here?” he asked.
“I dragged you.”
He mulled that over. “You saved my life?”
“I suppose.”
Ethan blinked, shaking his head. “Shit.”
His nimble fingers went back to working the safe’s rotary mechanism, clicking it around, his expression fraught with concentration. He yanked the door open and reached inside.
“You might want to keep it somewhere a little more handy next time,” I said.
“I was hoping all this was over.” He pulled out a handgun and gestured to the right side of the door. “Come on.”
We hurried over and shoved our backs against the wall. He removed the safety and raised the gun.
“Do you think he’s gone?” I whispered.
“Doubt it.”
“You know who it is?”
“Drug cartel.”
“The people who shot your wife?”
He gave a nod. “Sorry you got dragged into this.”
“Did you know they’d come back?”
“Thought it was a possibility.”
I looked at him aghast. “Do you think there’s more than one?”
“Hit men work alone.”
“Oh, no, Cameron’s on his way.”
An expression of grim determination flashed across Ethan’s face.
I grabbed his sleeve. “It’s too dangerous.”
“Stay here.” He unlocked the door quietly and slid out.
If I could get to my car I’d be able to call the police. Better still, Ethan had dropped his phone in the living room and if I could just get to it…
This was the worst day of my life.
No, the worst day was when I’d lost Danton.
Had he just been with me? Had that sense of peace I’d felt really been him comforting me? Even if it hadn’t been him, I knew Danton would want me to fight back.
I made a run for it, heading back down the hallway in the direction I’d come. There, near the bar on the floor, lay Ethan’s Smartphone. I knelt down and reached for it.
A pair of dirty running shoes suddenly appeared in front of me.
Raising my gaze, I looked into the barrel of a gun. The Latino man lifted me up and turned me around, hugging my back into his chest. The barrel of his gun met my temple and pressed into it painfully.
Terror gripped my throat like a vice. I could barely breathe.
Cameron’s face came into view, and my heart began pounding even more furiously when I realized the danger he was in.
“I’m unarmed.” Cameron raised his hands to prove it and threw me a reassuring smile.
God, this man was confronting a cold-blooded killer and acting like he was in control.
“Stay there,” the Latino man yelled.
Cameron’s expression remained calm. “I will. Tell me what you need. I’m a doctor.”
The man’s grip tightened around my throat, and I gasped.
“Ethan Neilson ran off.” Cameron held his hands higher. “We won’t tell anyone we saw you. Please let her go. She has nothing to do with any of this.”
The hit man jabbed his gun harder against my temple. “Come any closer.”
“Not that it’s any of my business,” said Cameron. “But that mole on your wrist…might wanna get it checked out. Again, none of my business. Not sure why I brought it up. I’m an idiot, apparently. Need to work on my boundaries. This shit’s making me nervous.”
The pressure left my temple as the man glanced at his wrist.
A gunshot rang out, and the stranger released his grip.
I heard a heavy thump behind me, and turned to see my attacker lying on the floor…dead.
I bolted toward Cameron and he opened his arms.
“Scarlet.” He hugged me tight. “Jesus Christ.”
I followed his gaze and saw Ethan still pointing his gun at the man.
Cameron let me go and went over to our attacker, kicking the gun away from his hand. He knelt close to him and placed two fingers on his carotid. Then he gave Ethan a nod of reassurance.
Ethan staggered backward against the wall and slid down it.
“Where’s your first aid kit?” asked Cameron.
“Kitchen,” said Ethan, staring dead ahead at nothing. �
�Last cupboard on the left.”
“I’ll get it.” I went to search for it, my hands still shaking.
When I came back, they both looked like they were in the middle of a standoff.
“What’s going on?” I broke open the first aid kit.
Cameron slipped on a pair of non-latex gloves, ripped open a package of gauze and dabbed Ethan’s forehead laceration.
“It was self defense,” he told Ethan. “You have witnesses. Scarlet, call 911.”
Ethan pushed himself up. “He shot my wife.”
Cameron gestured toward my phone. “Scarlet, make the call.”
“Ethan, you were unconscious,” I said. “We need to call an ambulance.”
“Wait,” snapped Ethan as he glanced over at the dead man. “That’s Leon Quintono, of the Quintono Cartel.”
Cameron paused for a second and stared up at me as though the name should mean something.
“It’s not like I can prosecute him,” added Ethan.
I lowered my phone. “What are you saying?”
“If the cartel find out I killed one of their own, they’ll send someone else for me. Look, I just need a minute to think this through.” He shoved Cameron’s hand away.
“What about police protection?” I said.
“Shit,” whispered Cameron. “Once it comes out we were here and we’re witnesses to a cartel hit…”
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “Would the cartel come after us, too?”
Ethan glanced up at me. “That’s a certainty.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked.
Ethan shrugged. “We’re all fucked, apparently. Welcome to my club. Not quite as fun as your club, obviously. But as you can see it gets the blood pumping.”
“As a psychiatrist,” said Cameron, “I’m diagnosing you with Asshole Syndrome.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.”
Ethan grabbed the gauze out of Cameron’s hand and dabbed his forehead, flinching at the pain it caused. “Where was that music coming from?”
“I didn’t hear anything,” I said, tucking my phone into my pocket.
“Back in the office.” Ethan looked up at me. “You sure you didn’t hear it? I woke up and heard it playing.”
All I’d heard was a dead silence, and my own ragged breathing.
Ethan pressed his fingers to his temple. “It sounded like a cello.”
Slowly, Cameron turned his head and stared up at me.
Chapter 23
I JOINED ETHAN and Cameron in the garden.
They were sitting on a wooden bench, deep in conversation. Ethan was holding a packet of cigarettes and Cameron was berating him playfully for wanting to smoke one. For some reason, after all we’d been through, that made me smile.
The same care had been taken out here to create a soothing landscape, with a lush green lawn and gorgeous palm trees. There was a long hedge with flowerbeds running along the front of it that gave off the most wonderful scent. I wondered if his wife had planted them. Ethan didn’t strike me as the gardening type.
On any other day it would have been heavenly to sit out here.
All I could think of was Ethan’s comment about hearing a cello. There was no other explanation for it other than Danton’s presence had been with me.
“My sweet, sweet Danton,” I whispered.
Staring up at the starlit sky I sent out a silent prayer to him and hugged myself, allowing the memory of him to comfort me and a stillness to envelop me, despite everything.
Cameron saw me across the garden. “Hey, you okay?”
I headed in their direction.
“Scarlet, you saved my life.” Ethan gave me a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Ethan lit up a cigarette and took a long drag. “I just shot a man dead.”
Cameron glanced at me. “It was self-defense. No one will argue against that. I’m trying to persuade him to go to Cedars.”
“Ethan,” I said, “you were out cold. You could have a concussion. You need a CT scan.”
“I’m fine,” he said.
Cameron shook his head. “No, you’re not.”
“Shay’s on his way.” I’d just called him.
“Who’s Shay?” Ethan blew out smoke and it spiraled.
“My head of security.” Cameron gave a shrug. “He’s ex-special forces and will know what to do if you really want to proceed with this madness. I’m concerned your head injury is clouding your judgment, Ethan.”
I knelt before Ethan and rested my hand on his knee. “This is not what we do. We don’t go around hiding bodies.”
Cameron agreed with a nod. “We’re losing time. The coroner will know we delayed calling them. Livor mortis is setting in—”
“I’d rather face off with the cartel than break the law,” I said.
“Really?” snapped Ethan. “You do realize Leon played with us first? They’ll skin us alive and then hang our corpses in the street.”
“First of all,” said Cameron, “you’re intention was to prosecute us. Remember that little detail? This case just got a whole lot more complicated for you.”
“And kind of convenient for you.” Ethan glared at him.
“That’s right,” snapped Cameron. “I paid a visit to the Quintono Cartel earlier today. Popped in there for a Mexican beer and your name came up.”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“How exactly did Leon get away with killing your wife?” I asked. “How did he walk free?”
“Legal technicality,” said Ethan. “Or, as we like to put it, they got to the jurors.”
I cringed. “What happened?”
“They killed one of them.” Ethan leaned forward. “I’m gonna throw up.”
“That’s it,” said Cameron. “I’m either calling an ambulance or you’ll let me take you to the hospital. I’ll speed you through admissions.”
“You work there?” Ethan rose to his feet.
“Yes.” Cameron jumped up and grabbed his arm to steady him.
Ethan arched a curious brow. “Where do you get the time? What with a club and a private practice? ”
“I make time.”
We headed through the garden toward the house.
Cameron glanced back at me. “Go home.”
“No, I’m coming with you,” I said. “Maybe we can say we weren’t here when Leon got shot? Maybe we don’t need to be mentioned at all?”
Cameron opened the door. “Let’s see what Shay comes up with.”
“I’ve never broken the law in my life,” said Ethan.
“Not even a parking ticket?” Cameron asked, as he entered the house ahead of us.
I slammed into his back when he stopped suddenly. There was the shadow of a man leaning over Leon’s body.
It was Shay.
His Nike pants and shoes proved we’d interrupted his evening run and his hair was still ruffled from working out.
Shay’s loyalty went back years and Chrysalis couldn’t have prevailed so smoothly without him. This man was an expert when it came to protecting our interests as well as those of our clients.
Seeing him here made me sigh with relief.
“So I take it this is our man?” Shay glanced at the corpse.
Cameron rolled his eyes. “I was tempted to write ‘I’m the dead one’ on his forehead for you.”
Shay smirked and held out his hand to shake Ethan’s. “Shay Gardner.” He looked over at me. “You guys okay?”
“Not really,” I said.
Shay gave a nod of understanding. “Firstly, I’m glad you called me. Secondly, Scarlet, what the fuck?”
“It was a good thing I was here,” I said. “Can we discuss this later? I’m worried about Ethan. He might have a concussion.”
“But…no police?” said Shay. “Seriously?”
“We need your advice.” Cameron patted Ethan’s back. “The dead man tried to kill them. He’s a member of a cartel. Or should I say ‘w
as’.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” said Shay. “Please tell me you’re not asking me to get rid of the body?”
“Technically, yes,” said Cameron.
“In front of a D.A?”
“I’m the one asking,” said Ethan.
Shay glared at us.
“We’re open to suggestions.” Cameron gestured to the body.
“This is not what I do,” said Shay.
“I respect that.” Cameron swapped a wary glance with me. “I know I’m asking a lot.”
A ringtone of Beethoven’s Für Elise sang out.
“Don’t answer it,” snapped Shay. “The call will be recorded as this being your location at his time of death.”
Ethan walked over and picked his cell up from the floor. “I have to. It’s Judge Reynolds.” He leaned on the bar to steady himself and took the call.
“Fucking fantastic,” whispered Shay.
Cameron gestured for him to be quiet. “Can you help us or not?”
Shay was seething. “Let me think.”
Ethan closed his eyes. “Do you want me to fly out there? I can get the next flight to Vegas.”
We all stood staring at him, not wanting to believe this latest bit of madness.
Ethan continued speaking, his voice surprisingly calm, “I’m so sorry, Alison. I’m here for you. Call me if you need anything.” He ended the call and turned to face us.
“What’s going on?” asked Shay.
Ethan had gone pale. “That wasn’t the judge, it was his wife. He was shot dead over an hour ago. Looks like Leon got to him first.”
“They’re taking everyone out,” Cameron said.
“I’m calling the coroner.” Shay raised his phone.
Cameron closed his eyes for a second. “Baxter?”
“Who’s Baxter?” Ethan asked. “A member of Chrysalis?”
“Let’s go get you a CT scan,” said Cameron. “I, for one, am eager to see if there’s anything in your skull.”
“That’s unfair,” said Ethan.
“Really? You refused police protection, didn’t you?” Cameron guided him out the front door. “Someone has a death wish.”
Cameron glanced back at me.
Chapter 24
“THANK YOU FOR this.” Ethan stood at my front door looking bedraggled.
His usual arrogant demeanor was gone and I marveled at how humbled he looked.
Enthrall Secrets (ENTHRALL SESSIONS 7) Page 12
