“Mason! You could’ve killed him!” Christine cried in horror as the car sped off out of the underground parking.“Yeah? Pity I didn’t. It would’ve been one less asshole to worry about,” he cackled. But Mason realized this means a shitload of trouble lying ahead for him. He had to think of something plausible to explain the situation away if Alexander cornered him.Christine worried her bottom lip between her teeth. She hoped Raven was alright. Maybe now she could be saved from this monster. She prayed Raven would act swiftly. Watching the road ahead as the Audi travelled onto the interstate west, Christine wondered if they were going to Phoenix. They would have to stop along the way and maybe, just maybe she could get away from him then.“Where are we going, Mason?” Christine tried her best to sound calm.“Home, Darlin’.” Mason smirked at her. “I have a pretty place up in Phoenix. Very isolated.”Isolated. Christine felt her blood run cold. An isolated place with a deranged man. She sw
A man with an eyepatch on his left eye approached Chase where he was busy mopping the corridor floor. He bumped into him and pushed a piece of paper in his hand.“The guard’s name’s Owens. There’s a trolley full of dirty sheets waiting at the end of the hall. Take it down to the loading bay. Give this note to Owens. He will help you.” He shoved Chase on the shoulder and walked away.Chase almost dropped the mop in his hurry to get to the end of the long corridor, but he had to play it cool. He passed a bored guard who yawned long and loud.“Hey, you!” the guard called out to Chase and his heart dropped to his stomach.“Yes, officer?” Chase stopped in his tracks, mop in hand. He dared not look at the guard for fear he would see how nervous he was.“Some lazy fucker left a trolley with dirty sheets there at the end. Hurry up and take it to the loading bay. They’re leaving soon.” He pointed at the abandoned trolley, “Bunch of fucking useless scum,” the guard mumbled.“Right away, officer
Mason carried Christine to the room he booked for the night. Thank goodness it was on ground level. She wasn’t that heavy, but being unconscious meant carrying deadweight, and Mason wasn’t exactly a bodybuilder. He groaned, dropping her on the single bed. He had to make do with what was available. Two single beds. He would prefer sleeping close to her, but he could wait.“Sorry, Darlin’, this isn’t the most comfortable bed, but it’ll have to do.” Mason handcuffed her wrists above her head to the bedpost. He patted her cheek, and she stirred a little. “That ought to hold you a while. I’m getting us some takeouts. Be a good girl.” He tilted his head to think. On second thoughts, he’d better gag her. She might just wake up while he’s gone and scream the roof off.He took off his tie and rummaged in his coat pocket for a handkerchief. He pulled her jaw open and stuffed it into her mouth. To make sure she didn’t push it out with her tongue, he used his tie to secure it at the back of her h
“Where have you been? I’ve been going out of my mind.” Erica grabbed Alexander’s arm, her face pale and tense.“Takeout, Ma.” Raven lifted the brown paper bag for her to see.The twins shouted from the living room where they were playing games. “Yay! We’re starving.”Alexander kissed Erica and whispered in her ear. “We found him. He’s safe.”She clung to her husband, sinking into his arms with relief, making her legs weak. “Oh, thank God.”Raven went about setting the table and getting drinks ready for their dinner while his parents talked. He worried about his brother, alone, in the cold warehouse where the temperature dropped to below freezing at night. He didn’t even have a blanket. As soon as everyone’s asleep, he would go and take some warm clothes and blankets to him. Maybe the two of them could then hit the road to Phoenix. He still had his father’s firearm in the glove compartment.“Ugh! Bro! you know I don’t like chicken.” Nathan turned his nose up at the burger.Alexander f
Mason stretched and yawned. He felt refreshed and ready to hit the road. It was still a long way to Phoenix, and he needed to fill the gas tank. He looked over at Christine who was still sleeping, and mumbling something as if she were having a bad dream, her eyebrows knitted together. Mason touched her face and immediately her eyes snapped open, looking wild and confused.“Bad dream, Darlin’?” he smirked at her.“More like a waking nightmare.” She pulled her face away. “I need the bathroom. Now.”Mason took the keys out of his pocket and took his time unlocking the cuffs while Christine glared at him. He pulled her up from the bed and walked her to the bathroom while keeping her in a vice grip.“Really, Mason? I need some privacy. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.” Christine tried to pull out of his grip but his fingers bit into her flesh, making her cringe.“Leave the door open. You know what will happen if you don’t.” He pushed her into the small bathroom. There was only a tiny wi
Chase drove through blinding snow, hands tight around the steering. Alexander and Raven were still asleep, and he was loathed to wake them. He hated driving in these conditions but if it meant getting to Phoenix before Mason, he would drive through hell. “Just be safe, Sweetheart. I pray he doesn’t hurt you.” Chase talked to Christine in his head, seeing her lovely face which he’s missed so much. He longed to have her in his arms, if only for a while. God, what he would give to be with her. Whatever happened after he had her safely in his arms, didn’t matter in the least. They would deal with it together. He was never letting her go ever again. Engrossed in his own thoughts Chase didn’t notice the dark shape in the road before it was too late. “No! Goddammit!” He swerved to avoid hitting the deer and the car slid on the icy road. *** Mason whistled along with the tune on the radio. He had the radio on full volume, but still he heard Christine banging at the back rest, cursing him.
They left at the break of dawn. Mason shoved Christine into the passenger seat. She didn’t resist even when he cuffed her hand to the seat.“I feel sick. You have to take me to a doctor.” Christine’s face was glowing with fever, but she was shivering uncontrollably.Mason turned up the heat of the climate control.“You’ll be fine. We’ll be home before sunset.” he said, keeping his eyes on the slippery road.Christine rested her forehead against the window and closed her eyes. Home. The way he said it made her skin crawl. But she stayed silent, feeling too exhausted and feverish to argue.Mason watched the girl out of the corner of his eye and grinned to himself. Knowing Chase as he did, he knew he would be coming for him, knew where he, Mason, would go. If only he hadn’t taken Amanda away for him, they could still have been friends or something like that. Although Chase would always be an entitled shit, his father’s golden boy who thought the sun set and rose with him.Mason scoffed.
“Not long now, Darlin’. Just a few hours before we arrive. You’ll see it’s a lovely, quiet place on the outskirts of town. No pesky neighbor around for a few miles.” No one that would hear her screams.Christine stayed silent, her head and body hurt, and she needed to conserve her energy to at least try and get away from Mason. She told herself she wouldn’t give up.He nudged her shoulder while steering with one hand. “Are you with me, Christine? You’re so quiet.”“Leave me alone.” She croaked out the words, her throat felt scratchy and raw.“Ah! There you are. Cranky as ever.” Mason chuckled. “Thought I’d lost you there for a moment.”“I’d be so lucky.” Christine mumbled.As Mason turned a corner, he let out a string of expletives. Christine straightened in her seat to see what had happened. There was a traffic roadblock.Mason slowed down. He glared over at Christine, reaching for his jacket he threw it over her lap, hiding her cuffed hand in the process.“I swear to God, if you so
Paramedics were rushed forward to assist the wounded. Christine left the rest of the Ward family and stumbled right up to the tape barrier to get a better view. They could do nothing but wait as gurneys pushed past them. Waiting for a sign that Chase was still alive. To Christine it felt as if everything was sharper, sounds, colors, the smells, even her own breathing seemed harsher to her ears. But the people seemed to move in slow motion when she spotted him over the heads of the crowd. She wanted to scream out his name, but there was no sound coming through. Christine managed to hold up her hand. He turned his head and then he saw her, started making his way through the crowd. The first thing she noticed was the blood spatter on his face and all over his white shirt. But he was alive! And pushing through the crowd until… “Chrissie!” He was right there in front of her. “Sir, sir! You need to see a doctor.” A police officer tried to detain him, but he ignored the man. He only had
To say it was a media circus would have been an understatement. Chase was beset with reporters from all sides as he stepped out of his car to get into the court building.“Mr. Ward, are you associating yourself with the Mafia now?” One reporter screamed at him.“How does it feel to be back in court after your time in jail, Mr. Ward?”Then there were the protesters waving placards and screaming protest slogans in support of the families that suffered at the hands of the crime boss.Chase muttered curses under his breath. So much for wanting to keep a low profile. He expected there to be some media presence, but this was outrageous. He ran up the steps of the court building, narrowly missed being hit in the face by a camera wielding television reporter.The security officers at the door ushered him through and kept the hounds at bay. He walked briskly down the broad corridor to where Carlucci’s bail hearing was to be held.***He spent the next two hours arguing Carlucci’s case before t
“I would advise against it.” Alexander told Chase over the phone. Not that there was anything he could do to stop Chase from getting his hands on the footage if he was on a mission to do so. “Dad, I need to see it. It’s affecting my relationship with Christine.” He paused, “Please.” Alexander ruffled a hand through his hair. Does it ever stop? “Alright. I have it here.” “I’ll be right over.” Chase ended the call. For a long time, Alexander sat staring out at the window, watching the snow fall, swirling specks blown about by the ice wind. Just like us, Alexander thought, were all just specks being blown in all directions by an ill wind. He heard Erica and the twins come back, but he stayed in his office, not having the courage to face Erica and ask, no, beg her forgiveness for accusing her of seeing Justin Hunter. He should have known better. Erica wasn’t that kind of woman. After all these years he still felt inferior to Hunter. He, Alexander didn’t deserve a woman like Erica, but
“Hey, Bro! I brought the painting I promised.” Raven was the first to react, acting as if he just didn’t kiss Christine.“Fuck! Chase is going to kill me,” Raven thought to himself.Christine froze. How long has he been standing there, watching them. She didn’t mean to kiss Raven back; it was a spontaneous reaction. It’s not like it meant anything. But Chase wouldn’t see it that way.Chase stalked towards them his face expressionless. “Did I interrupt something?” His eyes flitted to the painting of Christine. Raven captured her beautifully. The likeness was so striking it seemed as if she could just walk out of that canvas.“No, of course not.” Christine found her voice. She went to Chase and kissed him. His lips were cold.Chase looked at her flushed face and then at Raven who couldn’t look him in the eyes.“I kissed Christine.” Raven blurted out. He’d rather have Chase smash his face in than look at them the way he was now, as if they’d betrayed him. “Just a peck. It wasn’t her faul
“Hey, Bro! I brought the painting I promised.” Raven was the first to react, acting as if he just didn’t kiss Christine.“Fuck! Chase is going to kill me,” Raven thought to himself.Christine froze. How long has he been standing there, watching them. She didn’t mean to kiss Raven back; it was a spontaneous reaction. It’s not like it meant anything. But Chase wouldn’t see it that way.Chase stalked towards them his face expressionless. “Did I interrupt something?” His eyes flitted to the painting of Christine. Raven captured her beautifully. The likeness was so striking it seemed as if she could just walk out of that canvas.“No, of course not.” Christine found her voice. She went to Chase and kissed him. His lips were cold.Chase looked at her flushed face and then at Raven who couldn’t look him in the eyes.“I kissed Christine.” Raven blurted out. He’d rather have Chase smash his face in than look at them the way he was now, as if they’d betrayed him. “Just a peck. It wasn’t her faul
Chase called Christine’s parents from the office.“I really think you should come. Christine needs you now.” Chase spoke to Lance.“We really cannot afford…” Lance began, but Chase interrupted him.“I’ve emailed you the plane tickets. Please accept them.” Chase pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t think Christine would appreciate him turning to her parents for help, but what other choice did he have. “I want to marry your daughter, Mr. Morrison. We need to plan our wedding and would like to have you involved.”Silence on the other end of the line.“Are you there, Mr. Morrison?”“Yes. Is that the only reason, Chase? You sound stressed.” Lance and Claire were both worried about Christine and what the effects of her kidnapping would lead to. And now Chase was asking them to come. “Is she alright?”“Depending how you look at it.” Chase sat back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. “She’s not talking about it.”“The baby?” Lance thought about how devastated they were when they fou
“You look very handsome today, Mr. Ward.” Christine straightened Chase’s dark grey tie. “Are you going to court so soon?”“No, I’m going to the prison. A client of mine has his parole hearing next week. I need to consult with him before we take it to the judge.” Chase replied, smiling and kissing her temple. “Wish me luck.” Chase wasn’t looking forward to it. If it were up to him, he never wanted to sit foot in that goddamn place ever again. But a promise was a promise, and his word was his bond.“Don’t you need me to assist?” Christine was reluctant to stay at home alone and she missed feeling useful. “I am your secretary, after all.”Chase stroked her belly lovingly. “Nope. I can handle this. You look after this.”A message on his cell phone alerted him to the driver waiting for him outside. He pecked a kiss on Christine’s lips and breezed out of the door before she could say another word.Christine hurriedly locked the door behind him. She leaned against the door and sighed. The ap
“I thought we would never get out of there.” Chase lifted Christine in his arms, carrying her to the bedroom.“Your family missed you terribly.” Christine laid her head on his shoulder. “I missed you so, so much.”“I know. I missed them too and I love them. But I need you.”She looked up into his stormy grey eyes. “You just need me?” she couldn’t help but tease him.He smirked, “Of course, I just need you for sex. What did you think?” he teased her back. But then his face turned serious. He placed her onto the bed and went onto his knees before her.“What are you doing?” Christine asked alarmed.“Christine Morrison, would you take this broken man to be your husband?” he laid his hands on her knees.“Oh, Chase…” Christine looked at the handsome man before her through misty eyes. She took his face in both her hands. There were extra lines on his handsome face that weren’t there a few months ago, but that made her love him more. “You’re not broken. I love you. I wouldn’t want to be anyon
Christmas was unlike any other the Ward family had celebrated. In fact, it was the most dismal day, they all agreed. There was no exchanging of gifts that year, no shouting Merry Christmas or kissing under the mistletoe for them.While other guests enjoyed the festivities at the hotel they were staying at, indulging in the lavish food and drink, laughing and chatting, as Christmas music played in the background, the five of them congregated in Christine’s room. Alexander and Chase were being transported back to New York.“I’m afraid the media is going to be all over this. We won’t have a moment’s peace. You’ll have to be ready for it.” Erica sighed. She held Christine’s cold hands in hers. As if they haven’t been through enough already, but the press didn’t care. It was sensation they craved, like vampires craved blood.“I’ve seen the news on the television.” Raven turned away from the window where he watched the road below. “At least they haven’t sniffed us out yet.”“Will Dad and C