by Angela Ford
The sound the door made when it opened made Charles practically jump out of his skin.
“Mr. Vanderholm, we meet again.” Brett closed the door and tossed a folder on the table.
“Thank you for protecting my daughter,” he said in a shaky voice.
“As if you care about your daughter’s well-being, you son-of-a-bitch!”
Brett pulled the chair out from the table and took a seat. The chair legs scratched against the old floor and made Charles twitch.
“A little nervous I see. You should be. Let’s see…”
Brett opened the folder briefly and looked at Charles.
“So far we have you for money-laundering. I might add how pathetic to put your own daughter’s name on the account. There’s also conspiracy to murder and the connection to the Mendez family. Did I forget anything?” Brett smiled.
“I have never dealt drugs. I tried to save my daughter.”
Charles squirmed in his chair and tried to display confidence. The continuous bead of sweat that formed on his brow made it impossible.
“Did I mention drugs? I don’t think so.”
Brett scratched his head and looked at the file.
There were a few moments of silence which made Charles uncomfortable. He figured this was Brett’s method to get a confession. Charles never enjoyed games.
“What is it you want, Agent Donovan? I’m not into game-playing here.”
Charles leaned forward and crossed his cuffed-hands on the table. Brett pointed to the cuffs.
“To me, it doesn’t appear this conversation is in your favor, Charles.”
Brett starred directly into his eyes. Charles took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair.
“I need answers. If you are helpful, maybe there’s something we can do for you.”
Brett appeared to make an offer which puzzled Charles. He figured the Agent wanted to take down Nick Mendez and an opportunity presented itself to weasel out of this mess.
“What do you want from me? And what do I get out of it?” Charles’s interest grew.
Brett stood up and walked to the door. He turned and calmly stood. His hand grazed across his unshaved chin.
“Testify against Nick Mendez for the drug deals through John’s warehouse, the laundering of the drug money and of course, John’s murder and the attempted murder of Lauren. That’s your offer.”
Brett opened the door, “I’ll give you some time to think it over.”
“I may as well sign a death order.” Charles spoke up.
Brett held the door open.
“The FBI is willing to give you witness protection with house-arrest.”
“Does my family come with me?” Charles asked.
“I don’t believe your family would want to.”
Brett closed the door and left Charles alone to contemplate the offer.
Charles wondered how long they’d leave him alone this time.
An hour later, Brett entered the room again where Charles sat and pondered his choices.
“Well?” Brett remained standing.
“I’ll sign whatever you want, but I would like to talk to my wife and daughter first.”
He knew they’d never go into witness protection with him, but he wanted to apologize for the mess he put them in. For the first time in his life, he thought of his wife and daughter.
“I’ll see if they’ll come. I can’t guarantee it.” Brett left the room again.
Fifteen minutes later Brett returned. His solemn expression told Charles what he already knew. His family would not come. He didn’t blame them. He’d lost everything and was about to sign his death notice. Nick Mendez would have him killed before he could testify. The FBI could not protect him.
“They won’t come?” Charles asked.
Brett nodded and Charles lowered his head.
Brett tossed a pad of paper and a pen on the table.
“Write your statement in your own words. Once you’re done. We will video-tape your confession.” Brett left the room.
Normally, Charles would have had a team of lawyers present. He refused his right to call his lawyer. Defeated and scared, he picked up the pen. The FBI agents who’d arrested Charles at his home entered shortly after he finished. One agent set up the video equipment while the other joined Charles at the table.
“Is there anything you need before we begin?” The agent politely asked.
Charles shook his head. He confessed to his business connection with Nick Mendez for several years, the hits put out by Mendez for his son-in-law and daughter and confirmed the transportation of drugs.
“In the safe, you will find recorded conversation I had with Nick Mendez. The conversations are in regard to the transport of drugs through my son-in-law’s warehouse and also one that confirms he had John Reynolds killed. There is also a folder which contains photographs of Nick Mendez and John Reynolds at the warehouse with the drugs and also bank statements to trace the laundered drug money.”
Charles leaned back in his chair and watched the agent turn off the video equipment. Once they left the room, Charles knew what he had to do. He knew he’d never live long enough to testify in court. The FBI had his confession and testimony. He’d lost everything. His family wanted nothing more to do with him. Charles knew there wouldn’t be much time before the agents came back to officially charge him. He slowly removed his tie and stood on his chair.
Chapter Eleven
Four Months Later – Valentine’s Day
“The movers will be there at eight o’clock in the morning.”
Lauren confirmed the time to her mother.
“Thank you sweetheart, I don’t know what I would have done without you these past months.”
After the private funeral for her father, Lauren’s mother confessed she had most of her family trust fund invested outside of her husband’s money. Her mother may have portrayed the obedient corporate wife, but she’d definitely outsmarted her husband for years. The arranged marriage had remained loveless except in the public eye. To the outside world, the Vanderholms were the perfect corporate couple. Lauren respected her mother for the role she’d played her entire married life. To discover her mother’s wise decision to invest her family’s money separate from her father’s, only made her respect her more. Once her mother shared this information with her, she no longer worried. She knew her mother would be fine on her own.
“Mom, you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever known. I think it’s the other way around. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Lauren embraced her mom in a loving hug.
“I still believe you were wrong about that agent.”
Brett had respected Lauren’s wishes and stayed away. Her mother talked about him on their travels. After the funeral, Lauren suggested they visit her mother’s sister in England and travel Europe afterward. Her mother agreed with her daughter. Lauren thought it best to stay away during the arrest and trial of Nick Mendez. The news of her father’s involvement and suicide would settle and become old news. She told Lauren it was written all over her face that she loved him and that you can’t just close your heart. Lauren continued to tell her it wasn’t that simple.
“Please don’t mention his name again, Mom.”
Lauren mixed them a drink. For the past week since they arrived home from Europe, they hadn’t stopped. Her father’s business and estate had been secured throughout the trial. Everything had been lost. His business had been picked through with a fine-tooth comb by the FBI as they discovered his investments all tied in with the Mendez family. The FBI had allowed them back in the house to pack personal items and family heirlooms from her mother’s side of the family. The movers were scheduled for the next morning to move her mother’s
belongings to the city. Her mother bought an exquisite flat on Park Avenue. Lauren decided she would sell her house and move to the city to be close to her mother. The time had come to leave the suburbs and the memories behind.
Lauren handed her mother a drink when the doorbell rang.
“I wonder who that could be.” Lauren looked at her mother.
No one had come by since they returned from Europe. They hadn’t kept in touch with anyone. Then again, their friends were mostly business acquaintances.
“Maybe it’s that nice-looking agent.” Her mother turned and winked.
The gesture surprised Lauren. She had never seen her mother imply anything improper.
“Mother” Lauren rolled her eyes.
“What? I’m not just your mother, Lauren. I’m also human.” She snickered at her own comment.
“I’m just a little surprised,” Lauren laughed.
She shook her head and opened the door, only to be surprised once more. Her mother had been right.
“Agent, what brings you here?”
He stood with a look of desperation in his eyes. Lauren’s eyes travelled to the single rose held in his hand and then the trail of roses behind him.
“You”
“What’s all this for?” She smiled.
Her heart began to beat faster. To see him only made her realize life without him had been lonely. Her stubbornness wouldn’t allow her to admit it. She ran away and tried to close off her heart with the excuse she didn’t want to leave her mother.
He reached for the bag beside him and handed it to her.
“A peace offering, I believe I made you remove these while we were on the run.”
She looked in the bag to find the Chanel pantsuit and her heels. She laughed and looked down at her feet. She stood in the flip-flops.
He laughed. “I thought you didn’t do flip-flops.”
“I do now.”
They both laughed. She knew he’d remember what he said to her at that second-hand store.
“They are comfortable for the feet.”
Lauren smiled and then finally admitted the real reason.
“They remind me of you.”
She met his stare. Her heart melted. Her mother was right. She did love this man.
“May I come in Lauren?”
“Do you have something to tell me that I don’t want to hear?”
She remembered the first time she’d opened the door to him.
“No.” He laughed. “I hope I have something to tell you that you do want to hear.”
His answer intrigued her and she motioned for him to come in. Her mother met them by the door. Marion formally introduced herself to Brett and thanked him for protecting her daughter, then turned to Lauren.
“I will leave you kids to talk.”
“Mom, you don’t have to leave.”
“Yes, I do. I’d like to get back to the city before its dark. I’ll talk with you tomorrow. Remember what your mother told you.”
She kissed her daughter’s cheek and smiled at Brett.
****
“May I offer you a drink Agent Donovan?”
He followed her into the Cigar Room, “Only if you call me Brett.”
She turned and smiled. A smile that definitely told him it pleased her to see him.
“I like to see you smile, Lauren, although you are unbelievably sexy when you’re all fired up.”
He winked and smiled.
She mixed them a drink and met him by the fireplace. She stood before him, eye-to-eye.
“This feels like Deja-vu.”
Brett smiled. “I remember the first night we met. You were upset with me that night. You don’t seem upset now.”
“I’m not.”
She exhaled and walked to the sofa. He followed.
“Is there possibly a chance of forgiveness?” He wondered.
“Possibly” She moved a little closer to him. He felt the heat between them. He knew he could never live without her. He cleared his throat to maintain his composure. He had something to tell her.
“Good.”
He felt confident he could tell her why he had come.
“Lauren.”
He set their drinks down and held her hand.
“I love you. I have since that first night. I thought it was wrong. You were my assignment. You were John’s wife. You just buried him. I had to protect you. I had to bring down the Mendez family. There were so many obstacles in the way but the one thing that never got in the way was the way I felt about you.”
Brett slowly lowered to one knee.
“I’ve been lost without you. I lived for the chase, the danger. You were right. I was addicted to it. But without you in my life, I discovered the only addiction I have is you. Fate brought us together. It’s love that tells me we should be together.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. He opened it to reveal the most exquisite solitaire diamond ring she had ever seen. Her eyes traveled from the diamond to his eyes. He left her speechless.
“I know I lived to embrace danger. I only want to embrace you for the rest of my life. We are meant to be Lauren. I think we are incredible together. I surrender every part of me to you. Marry me?”
Lauren reached out to touch his face. She lowered herself to his level.
“I think so too. Yes, I will marry you.”
He smiled.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, I love you Brett.”
She leaned in to meet his kiss.
He placed the ring gently on her finger as his lips met hers in a warm and tender kiss.
She smiled.
“Just so you know, I’ve been told I can be a little fiery at times.”
“I know.” He laughed.
“And I have expensive tastes,” she added.
“I know that too, but you are a worthwhile lifetime investment.”
He smiled slightly before his lips crushed hers in a passionate kiss.
“I love you Lauren. I always will.”
I hope your Valentine’s Day is hot and steamy—and not just in the kitchen. Chocolate is known as the elixir of love and the drink of the gods, making it perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Chocolate Glazed Chocolate Tart
Falling in love is good for the heart, and so is dark chocolate.
For crust:
9 (5- by 2 1/4-inch) chocolate graham crackers (not chocolate-covered), finely ground (1 cup)
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup sugar
For filling:
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate (not more than 65% cacao if marked), chopped
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
For glaze:
2 tablespoon heavy cream
1 3/4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
1 tablespoon warm water
Equipment:
9-inch round fluted tart pan (1 inch deep)
Make crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
Stir together all ingredients and press evenly onto bottom and 3/4 inch up side of tart pan. Bake until firm, about 10 minutes. Cool on a rack 15 to 20 minutes
Make filling:
Bring cream to a boil, then pour over chocolate in a bowl and let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir until smooth. Whisk together eggs, vanilla, and salt in another bowl, then stir into melted chocolate.
Pour filling into cooled crust. Bake until fi
lling is set about 3 inches from edge but center is still wobbly, 20 to 25 minutes. (Center will continue to set as tart cools.) Cool completely in pan on rack, about 1 hour.
Make glaze:
Bring cream to a boil and remove from heat. Stir in chocolate until smooth. Stir in corn syrup, then warm water
Pour glaze onto tart, then tilt and rotate tart so glaze coats top evenly. Let stand until glaze is set, about 1 hour.
About the Author
ANGELA FORD
Angela Ford originates from Nova Scotia…Canada’s Ocean Playground! Her love of the ocean and sunsets are always in her heart and give her inspiration. Her love for words keeps her turning the page. She is never without a book, whether she’s reading or writing. Now residing in Ontario, Angela works in Finance – numbers by day – words by night. Her dedication to volunteer and involvement with cyber safety seminars gave her an Award of Distinction and sparked the idea for her first book Closure – suspense with a dash of romance that hit the best- selling Action/Adventure. Her next release, Unforgettable Kiss, delivers a romance with a dash of suspense. Forbidden released in June 2014…Closure’s sequel. September 2014 releases Blind Tasting of The Love List series. 2014 will end with a Christmas romance The Christmas Wreath of the Forever Christmas series. Between two jobs, being a mom with a home always young adults and rather interesting stories; she is lucky to have one very patient and understanding man. But it is the furry family members who rule the house – a Puggle, two loveable cats and two unique Guinea Pigs. Every possible quiet moment she finds, she treasures and just writes about the moments to come. Angela is an avid reader of romance, a member of the RWA and Mississauga Writers Group. You can follow her at BTGN www.bookstogonow.com or visit her website/blog Romantic Escapes at http://www.angelafordauthor.com to connect with her on her social network sites. She loves to hear from her readers – they keep her smiling!