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Collateral Damage
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Surviving My Love Chapter 58
“I want you, Christine. Only you. From the moment I saw you.” He stared deep into her eyes, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. He was convinced that he wanted her, that much she saw in his amber eyes, and it made her fear him all the more. “I know I’ve said it before, but I will say it a million times over, until you believe me.”“I should have stopped you from getting onto that plane then we wouldn’t be having this conversation. You would be here with me in my arms and in my bed. Willingly.” He sounded sure of himself.“But you didn’t, Mason and I fell in love with Chase and I’m having his son.” Christine said.He shook his head, smiling sadly. “You’ll forget all about him. In time. I will never let you go, you get that, don’t you.”Hopeless tears trickled down Christine’s cheeks, tears she couldn’t stop even though she wanted to.“Mason, please…”He silenced her with a finger to her lips. “Shh. Don’t cry. I’ll take good care of you, you’ll see.” He got up from the bed. “I’ll
Surviving My Love Chapter 59
“Welcome back, Ward.” The w sneered at Chase. “I hoped you enjoyed your little vacation in the looney bin. I’ll be keeping a close eye on you from now on. No more stunts like you pulled the last time or you’ll find your ass in solitary until you rot.” Warden Peters opened the cell door and shoved Chase inside. The door clanged shut behind him and Chase put his cuffed hands through the slot for Peters to unlock.Chase said nothing. He was not going to let the warden upset him. Peters’ boots squeaked down the hall and Chase was left to stare at the grey walls of his single cell. Thanks to the doctor, he now had a cell all to his own, he grinned drily.The warden had a lot to say about that as well. “You think you’re some kind of celebrity, don’t you, Ward? Well, let me be clear, you are nothing but a murdering low life scum. You’re in my house now, and your daddy’s not going to save you this time.”Chase wished they would get the trial over with. He hadn’t spoken to his father in over a
Surviving My Love Chapter 60
Meanwhile Chase had plans of his own. The next morning at breakfast, (if you could call cold oats and rubbery eggs breakfast) he sat down at the table of Marco Carlucci a renowned Mafia mob boss.“I don’t remember inviting you, stronzo.” the older man said as he dabbed the remnants of his breakfast off the side of his mouth.“Don Carlucci, I would like a favor. I have money.” Chase lowered his voice.“Get lost! Didn’t you hear the Boss?” a brawny baldheaded man rolled up his sleeves to reveal heavily tattooed arms, ready to throw Chase down on his ass.Two other men stood up from their chairs. But the guards ordered them to sit the fuck down.“You are the feccia dell'avvocato that murdered that poor girl, no?” the old man rasped and bent forward to fix Chase with his small, dark eyes.“I didn’t kill that woman, Don Carlucci, I swear on my mother.” Chase crossed himself. “I need to get out of here. The mother of my child’s life is in danger. Help me please.”Marco Carlucci smiled indul
Surviving My Love Chapter 61
Nathan watched as his brother sped away in his BMW.“Okay, the coast is clear.” Nathan called his twin.Ethan took out his cellphone and called the coach. “Mr. Hamachi, it’s Ethan.”“Hey, where are you guys? We’ve been waiting just for you.” Mr. Hamachi’s high-pitched voice sounded in his ear.“Yeah, I’m sorry, we can’t make it (cough, cough), both of us are sick.” Ethan poked his brother who laughed behind his hand.“What a shame. We’re having a party after practice. You know it’s the last one of the year.”Ethan faked cough again. “So sorry, Mr. Hamachi. Merry Christmas to you." he ended the call."Stupid, Mr. Hamachi doesn’t celebrate Christmas.” Nathan slapped his twin at the back of his head.“Whatever, Nathan!” Ethan rubbed his head. “So, now what?”“Now we get a Lyft. I know the address.” Nathan said. He still had some money left over from his allowance.***Mason played the video again, taking pleasure in Christine’s discomfort. She closed her eyes, but still couldn’t escape t
Surviving My Love Chapter 62
“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
Surviving My Love Chapter 63
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
Surviving My Love Chapter 64
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
Surviving My Love Chapter 65
“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
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Surviving My Love Chapter 81
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
Surviving My Love Chapter 80
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
Surviving My Love Chapter 79
“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
Surviving My Love Chapter 78
“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
Surviving My Love Chapter 77
“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
Surviving My Love Chapter 76
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
Surviving My Love Chapter 75
“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
Surviving My Love Chapter 74
“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
Surviving My Love Chapter 73
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
