Chapter 14
Jack
“Mr. Aldridge, you’d do well to cease and desist trying to seize Mrs. Aldridge’s inheritance. We will be proceeding with submitting Mrs. Aldridge’s late mother’s will if you do not relinquish the outlined portion of your assets as stated in the divorce settlement,” a lawyer drones. I grit my teeth at the trash he says.
“Of course. I will be in contact with my wife and your firm moving forward, I tell the man then hang up
1 slap my hand on my desk and fume. That bitch. I thought he understood I didn’t want him to work for my wife.
It doesn’t matter, I can make other plans.
Picking up my phone and a sliver of paper from an acquaintance, I dial the number I was given. The phone rings a few times before a deep, harsh voice answers.
“Who the hell is this?”
“A customer sent by Mr. Fairchild. I want
you to get
get rid of someone for me,” I answer.
The man huffs, but asks, “Who?”
“My wife. She’s being difficult about our divorce, and I need her gone.”
“When by?” The man asks.
“As soon as possible. Before we divorce, so before the next three weeks.” I tell him. Sooner the better. Once she’s gone, the money will be mine.
“That’ll cost you,” the man says, “$50,000. Half now and half when the job is done.”
“Deal. Send your account information to this contact, and you’ll have the money within the hour,”
Once our call is over, I pull up the number of a drunk biker from a bar last night. He’d told me his complete various tasks, so I dial the number he gave her.
takes bribes to
“Ripper”
“Ripper, this is Jack from the har last night,” I tell him.
“The suit?”
“Yes. I have a job for you and your friends. I’d like you to terrorize my wife.”
“How much are you offering?” He asks.
–$25,000 for now, but I may contact you again for more.”
Ripper agrees and satisfaction fills me. Fiona won’t be a problem much longer.
Fiona
After a long two days of job searching and talking with business owners, I sigh and turn my radio off. The problems from yesterday and the stress of today have completely wiped me out.
Turning off the exit, I lean forward. All of the streetlights are out, so I have to squint to see through the dark with my dim headlights.
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Chapter 14
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Not long passes before several bright headlights flash behind me and loud rumbles surround me. Several matorcycles surround me as I drive, making nerves jumble in my stomach. I grip the steering wheel as two bikers pull out and stop in
front of me
I cry out and slam on the breaks, yanking my steering wheel to the side and turning
“What the hell!” I gasp and speed up
They don’t leave, though. The bikers follow me, getting closer to my car than l’in comfortable with.
“Go away. Go away.” I mutter, pushing my foot harder down on my accelerator.
One biker swerves toward me, and I veer to the left to avoid him. He’s trying to hit met My heart slams into my ribcage, threatening to tear itself from my chest as they drive up on both sides of me. They get closer and closer, one man nearly touching my car.
I glance in my rearview mirror and clench my shaking hands on the steering wheel when I notice a car now following close behind. However, my nerves ease a bit when I realize it’s a familiar black Camaro.
Ethan.
The driver waves his arm wildly, and only then do I realize there’s a biker at my window, reaching for me.
Before he can slam the crowbar into my window, Ethan’s engine revs and speeds up, slamming into the biker and sending him and his motorcycle flying forward, as his car turns quickly in front of me.
“Shit!” I scream pulling to the right.
My entire car jerks and crunches as it slams into the guardrail on the side of the road. Pain splinters through my head, and
terror seizes me.
“What were you thinking?!” Ethan’s voice finally penetrates the cloud of fear, and I look up at him. He pulls me out of the car, searching for injuries. “Why don’t you take better care of yourself?”
Anger and worry mix in his tone which makes me feel funny. Is he mad at me?
“I was worried about hitting your car, Ethan. I don’t have any income and can’t afford to pay for your luxury vehicle!” 1 shout, overwhelmed.
Ethan stares at me for a minute before sighing. “You wouldn’t need to pay. You were in danger, and you should take better care of your health.”
“It’s my body!” I protest. “Why are you acting like I did something wrong?”
“Because you ran yourself off the fucking road!” Ethan growls, and I pause. Is he. I narrow my eyes and notice the wrinkles around his eyes and the thin set of his lips. Is he worried about me?
Running a hand through his hair, Ethan takes a deep breath and releases it. He waves at the car and a man steps out. The man smiles at me, and I feel a bit embarrassed. He’d heard the whole argument and seen me yell at his friend‘ Boss!
“Let me take you home,” Ethan says.
“I’ll drive myself,” I say softly, not wanting to get into another argument. To emphasize my point, I walk over to my car and get in, trying to crank the engine.
It clicks several times before it goes quiet. Heat flushes my cheeks, and I try again. Click, Click. Click.
I drop my head against the steering wheel, wincing at the tender spot above my eyebrow. The longer I sit here, the more I feel aches pop up on my body. Why is this happening to me?
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Chapter 14
“Til take you home. Ethan murmurs close to me.
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Lifting my eyes, I find him crouched by the door with his hand stretched out to me. With no other choice, I place my in his and let him lead me to his car.
hand
“You two look cozy back there,” the driver, Ryan teases, and I drop my gaze to my hands in my lap. The drive has been silent, except for Ryan telling me all about how he’s known Ethan forever. He seems cheerful and outgoing, which is different to Ethan’s cold and calculating attitude.
“Ryan” Ethan rumbles in warning
“What, I was just thinking you make a cute couple,” Ryan says then laughs.
Embarrassment fills me, so I turn and lay my head on the window. Maybe he’ll forget I’m here.
“Though, on a different note, Ethan, your mother has invited you to dinner on Sunday. She has something important to discuss with you.”“
Ethan stiffens beside me, the arm that’s touching mine going rigid. I hadn’t heard Ethan mention his parents, so curiosity peaks my interest.
“Tell her I’m busy,”
I glance at Ethan. Does he not have a good relationship with his mother? I shouldn’t pry, but his response surprises me. My mother was the person who loved me the most in the world, and I felt the same. She was my everything.
To keep from angering Ethan, I look back out the window and realize we’re close.
“It’s just five kilometers away, I announce, breaking the awkward tension.
“Under that proposal billboard, right?” Ethan asks after glancing up.
Shocked, I nod. The billboard does have a jewelry store’s engagement ring display on it with a man proposing to a woman in the picture. How did he know that, though? The billboard isn’t that large, and we’re pretty far away. Had he followed me and seen it before?
“I saw it, Ethan says, like he could read my mind. He must’ve seen my confusion.
“Are you kidding?” I ask. “How could anyone see a billboard that’s five kilometers away?”
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