The first six blows then she passed out, and he lowered her to the floor, crouching to stab her again, her blood soaking the thin cotton, making it stick to her skin. He stabbed the knife into the deep hollow of her navel again and again as his cock stiffened, blood-lust in his veins. He finally stopped, breathless, and stood, not able to tear his eyes away from her. Her dark red blood was pooling around her, her breathing labored.
I love you so much, he thought, so very much, my beautiful Lila… He gripped the knife and knelt to slide it between her ribs into her heart, to finish it, but then he stopped, froze.
He heard the saleswoman’s voice and regretfully – and with a last look back at the dying woman on the floor, darted out of the fire exit door through which he had made his entrance. As he made his getaway, he heard the scream of the saleswoman as she found Lila’s body and smiled to himself.
There was no way she would survive that attack. No way.
Except now he knew – she had. Was lying in a hospital bed, alive. Which meant that once again, he would have to plan things carefully. It wouldn’t be so easy this time; she would be protected, cared for, on the look-out for danger. So, he would be careful, vigilant, organized.
Because when he stabbed her the next time, he would make certain she was dead…
Now…Lenox Hill Hospital
Lila took the cup of ice chips the nurse held out and scarfed some down gratefully.
‘Pace yourself,’ the nurse chided. ‘Just because you’ve had that damn tube out doesn’t mean you’re not still very sick. Your temp’s up and the doc won’t be happy about that. You still in pain, hun?’
Her mouth full of ice, Lila nodded. She wasn’t making it up either; the hated tube was out, but her whole torso felt like it was on fire. The doctor told her it was to be expected. ‘The knife shredded your intestines, Lila; it’s a miracle you haven’t had a major infection up to now. Plus your muscles, your damaged liver…it’s going to take time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.’
Worse than the belly pain, though, was the fact she could barely feel her legs. She could wiggle her toes, but the pins and needle would not abate, and more than once she had woken up screaming from the cramp.
Lila tried to stay positive, but it was difficult. Worse now she knew the police thought Richard was involved. No way, she thought, there’s no way. As soon as the tube had come out, she wanted to ask for a telephone but knew they wouldn’t let her speak to him. Charlie would be furious. He and Richard had never seen eye-to-eye, but this was beyond a jealous spat. Delphine, in tears, had told her that Charlie had apologized to her for arresting Richard but the only lead they had was him and that Charlie told her he couldn’t tell her why. Apparently, Richard had gone with the police without protest, telling his mother in a dead voice. ‘I knew they were going to come for me, Mom. I didn’t do this, but I know why they think I did. Tell Lila I love her, please.’
And Delphine kept her word, and Lila had squeezed the distressed woman’s hand, trying to comfort her the best she could. She wrote ‘I believe him, Delphine. No way was it, Richard.’
Delphine had smiled at her through her tears. We all love you so much, Lila Belle,’ she used the nickname that she had given Lila almost as soon as she met her, ‘we all do but no-one more than Richard. You are his life.’
I know. I know I am.. A small part of her spoke up. If Richard wants me dead, then maybe I should be…but she pushed that thought away. Stop wallowing in self-pity. Get better. Do what the doctors say. Go fight for Richard.
But suddenly being dead didn’t seem the worst thing in the world. I will save you, Richard Carnegie, if it’s the last thing I do.
There was a small tap on the door, and a small red-haired girl peeked around it. Lila felt herself relax and smile. ‘Cora, darling…’
Richard’s youngest sister, Cora, slid into the room and over to her side. Her large green eyes were wide and wary. ‘Can I hug you?’ Her voice wavered.
Lila reached out her arms, and Cora went into them. Lila hid a wince of pain as Cora hugged her tightly. ‘I’ve been so worried, L-Belle,’ the younger woman said finally, dragging a chair over to Lila’s side.
‘Don’t be scared, C-Belle,’ Lila grinned. Almost as soon as they had met, she and Cora had connected, a deep, binding connection almost as strong as her relationship with Richard. Cora – ‘Cora Belle’ to her Mom hence the nicknames – was nineteen now, a slim, petite redhead with a thousand watt smile and an adorable lisp when she talked. Fragile physically and mentally, she hero-worshipped Lila as her sister. Her two older half-sisters were neither warm nor loving – Delphine, the mother of them all, called her two eldest children ‘The Foundlings’ behind their backs. ‘I cannot fathom how two such cold creatures came from my womb,’ she would often say about Judith and Flora, ‘they must take after their father.’
Delphine’s first husband had died three years after they were married, a sudden heart attack. ‘Brought on by sheer bile,’ Delphine would mutter, almost gleefully.
Judith and Flora barely tolerated their younger siblings: Richard, another son Harry who lived in Australia, and then the surprise baby of the family, Cora, who had been born when Delphine was fifty.
Cora and Lila had become like sisters almost straight away – Judith, and especially Flora couldn’t stand Lila, her artistic skills, her rebellious nature, her independence all at odds with their Victorian attitudes. On the few occasions she had met them – and caught them bullying Cora – she’d called them out to their faces, not standing on ceremony at all. She apologized afterward to Delphine, but Delphine had cackled wildly. ‘Don’t apologize, it was almost regal.’
This, this was why she loved the Carnegies. Richard Carnegie Sr. was the most serene, calm, intelligent man she’d ever met and she, like his children, doted on him.
‘When I look at you and Richard,’ Lila told Delphine, ‘that’s what I want. A partnership, a great friendship as well as passion.’
And she had that with Richard… used to have it, she amended with a pang. Lately…not so much. She smiled at Cora now.
‘You look good, birdie. How’s college?’
Cora smiled. Like Lila, she was a passionate artist and was enrolled at the same art college as Lila. ‘Everyone asks after you,’ she said now, ‘they all send their love. I miss you, L-Belle, at home, we all do. I…’ She trailed off and looked away. Lila guessed what she was thinking.
‘I miss you too. And Richard…I miss him terribly. He didn’t do this, you know. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t. As soon as I get out of here, I’ll be making sure they know that.’
Cora was chewing her lip. ‘Are you sure?’
Lila squeezed her hand. ‘You bet,’ she smiled to try and alleviate the tension. ‘I’ll be Erin Brockovich until they let him out.’
‘No,’ Cora hesitated, and her lip wobbled, ‘…are you sure it wasn’t Richard who did this?’
Lila stared at her in shock. Cora was Richard’s biggest fan; her adored infallible older brother. No…no, this wasn’t right.
‘Cora, you must never say that again, do you understand? To anyone! Of course, I’m sure…Richard would never do this to me, not ever – ‘
‘He was screwing somebody else.’
It was like a wrecking ball to the chest hearing it said out loud, and Lila had to gasp for air. Tears poured from Cora’s face. ‘I’m so sorry, Lila, I couldn’t not tell you after all of this. I only found out a few days ago, and I haven’t been able to get it out of my head.’
‘He wouldn’t…’ You know he was, you know it, don’t deny it… Lila squeezed her eyes shut, felt a wave of dizziness, of nausea and pressed her hand to her chest. Another panic attack on its way…breathe…breathe...
Cora stood and grabbed the call button, and instantly a nurse came through the door. Lila could hear her saying something and Cora saying ‘She can’t breathe…’ She heard a deeper voice…Charlie?
I’m alright, I’m okay, she wanted to scream
at them, but nothing would come out, and now her lungs were burning, but all she could think about was how she used to believe that Richard would never, ever cheat on her…
…and how, now, she knew without a doubt that he had.
Now…Lenox Hill Hospital
Charlie took Cora by the upper arm as he caught her at the door of the hospital and steered her to a quiet place. ‘Why the hell did you tell her that?’ He kept his voice low, but Cora could see how angry he was.
‘I’m sorry, Charlie…she was just sitting there defending him, all those tubes stuck in her arm and I couldn’t bear it.’
Charlie’s face softened as he looked down at the young woman, so broken-hearted and vulnerable. He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I’m sorry, Cora…I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just…I care about her, you know, I hate seeing her like this.’
Cora nodded. ‘I know. God, Charlie, every night I go to bed and lay there awake trying to figure out who would do this. And the only answer, the only motive belongs to my brother.’ She looked at Charlie’s set face. ‘I know you are on both sides of this, wanting to find who did it and having to arrest my brother. I’m so sorry, Charlie. I want you to know none of us blame you for Rich’s arrest.’
‘I want to know who did this Lila. That’s all.’
Cora sighed. ‘Look, you go back in, I’m going to go home and talk to my mom. I want to be there for Lila…especially after all she’s done for me.’
Charlie nodded. ‘Okay, pickle.’
Cora gave him a smile. ‘You know you’re the only person who calls me that. Lila says you never call anyone by a nickname except me.’
Charlie smiled back at her. ‘Can’t help feeling like you’re my little sister too.’
Cora drove home to the vast family mansion in Westchester. Once a home of love and laughter, now it rang with sadness and hurt. Her father had disappeared into his work; her mother had canceled all of her committees and social events. Cora knew everyone in their circle was talking about them. The prodigal son in jail for the brutal stabbing of his beautiful bride-to-be. It was unthinkable. She had tried going back to school – had lasted a day before the whispers and loaded glances got too much. She’d almost broken her sobriety, found someone who had connections in the college dorms… she had resisted. Just. The thought that kept her going wasn’t that she would spiral down immediately had she taken something but the hell and the pain her family – and Lila - would go through if she did.
Because Lila and Richard were the ones who had gotten her straight in the first place. Both of them had risked their reputations, their position, and their lives to help her get free of that life and she would not betray them by falling back into addiction.
Never again…
Then… Mickey’s Bar, Manhattan
Late night, Friday night, Mickey’s Bar was busy. Lila, not working for once, was sitting in a booth with Charlie watching Richard and Riley, Charlie’s partner, howling with laughter at the bar with Mickey. Tinsley, the Australian waitress who’d been there for a month and was already Lila’s good friend, winked at them as she moved around the bar. Lila noticed she colored a little as she looked at Charlie then looked away when she saw his set face. Lila nudged Charlie, sitting stone-faced next to her. ‘You are scaring people again. Quit scowling.’
He shrugged. ‘Wasn’t aware I was, sorry. Just thinking about work.’
‘Bullshit,’ Lila hissed under her breath, and he turned to her, his full attention on her now.
‘Huh?’
She looked at him, her violet eyes flashing with annoyance. ‘You hate Richard. Just be honest about it, Charlie, you hate him and always have.’ She grabbed her glass and got up, intending to go over to her boyfriend and Riley, who were playing pool. Charlie reached out and grabbed her wrist.
‘No, don’t go, I’m sorry.’
Lila sat back down with a sigh. ‘At least, tell me why you don’t like him.’
Charlie rolled his shoulders. ‘I don’t dislike him…I just don’t trust him.’
Lila looked at him coolly. ‘Because?’
‘Something’s hinky. What the hell was he doing on that street at three am.? Dude’s loaded, seriously loaded, and yet he’s on skid row getting a beat down by known junkies? Nah, hinky.’
Lila sighed and rubbed her eyes. ‘So what? I can tell you – he’s not on drugs. Even you can’t see any signs.’
Charlie nodded. ‘I admit that freely…he’s not using so the only explanation is that he was dealing.’
Lila slammed her glass down on the table and did get up that time and Charlie didn’t stop her, but she could feel him watching her as she crossed to the bar.
‘Another Grey Goose please, Michael. Straight up.’
Her boss squinted at her. ‘Not like you, Lila, but hey, it’s your night off and more profit for me so…’ He grinned as he poured her a drink then frowned as she downed it in one. ‘You’re pissed about something.’
‘Just…’ she sighed, ‘Don’t worry about it. Thanks, Mikey.’
She went over to Richard who was bemoaning his loss at the pool table to a gleeful Riley. She kissed Richard’s cheek. ‘Can we go?’
Richard didn’t hesitate. ‘Of course, baby.’ He stuck his hand out to Riley who, grinning, shook it. ‘Rematch, dude? You gotta let me try and win my money back.’
‘Absolutely, man, you just let me know when I can whip your ass again, and I’ll be there,’ Riley’s handsome face was split with the biggest grin and Lila was grateful that at least one of her friends liked Richard. They said goodbye to Riley and waved to Mikey. Richard stopped her as she reached the door.
‘Hey, you wanna say goodbye to Charlie?’
Lila hesitated and glanced over to her friend. He was deep in conversation with a blushing Tinsley. ‘No, it’s okay, don’t wanna be the third wheel.’
Outside the evening was cool, and as they got into Richard’s car, he looked over at her and smiled. ‘Want to go for a drive?’
She grinned back at him, her eyes soft. ‘Sure.’
‘We can go parking, like in yesteryear.’ He pulled a face.
She laughed. ‘Yep, the days of yore. I’ll probably do some modern day stuff to you, though.’
‘Such a dirty girl, I can’t wait.’
They drove around the city for a while trying to find somewhere they could park the car and as Richard put it, ‘make out like teenagers’ but in the end, they got so fed up and horny, they drove back to her place.
Lila loved that, in the month they had been dating, Richard had spent as much time here hanging out with her as they did in his penthouse apartment. He teased her about her books, piled high, some of them even serving as an improptu coffee table. He spent hours looking at her artwork and talking about art with her. They would turn all the lights off except the string of twinkle lights along her bookshelf, drink wine, listen to music.
He had no pretensions, none that she would have expected but then again, when she’d met Delphine and Richard Sr., she realized where his every-man charm came from.
Now, on her single bed, they stripped off, tumbling together onto the hard mattress (the only thing he complained about) and made love, completely absorbed in each other as they moved together.
Afterward, famished, they ordered pizza and ate it in bed, chatting about school and work and what to do the next night. There was never any question that they spend their free time together – they were still in that heady, love-struck phase.
‘So when do you finish school for the summer?’
‘A couple of months. I do love it, but I’m looking forward to a break. Why?’
Richard smiled, hooking a lock of her hair over her ear. ‘Because I thought we could take a trip together…Paris, London, wherever you want. My treat, of course.’
Lila picked at her pizza, feeling uncomfortable. ‘Rich…’
‘I know what you’re going to say. But it’s a gift from me to you; a thank you gift if you like.’
Richard sighed. ‘Look, Lila, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Yes, I have money. I’ve been very lucky both with my family and in business. That’s just reality. But I’m also just a guy who wants to go on a vacation with his girlfriend. Do I not get to do that because I’m rich?’
She touched his face. ‘But I don’t want to be…kept.’
Richard laughed out loud. ‘You are nothing of the sort. Look, we can even do a budget, backpacking thing if you like, if that’s what makes you feel better.’
Lila was surprised. ‘Really? You’d do that?’
Richard stroked her cheek. ‘Of course. For you, anything.’
Lila wound her arms around his neck. ‘In that case…yes, I’d love to travel with you, Richard.’
He kissed her thoroughly then looked at her with a wicked look on his face. ‘Can I make one suggestion…as a compromise?’
She squinted at him in amusement. ‘What?’
‘Paris…that’s luxury and all on me.’ He studied her face and she shook her head, laughing.
‘Oh if you must…’
He grinned and pushed her down onto the bed, covering her body with his. ‘Thank you, Lila…now, let me show you just how thankful for you I am…’
Afterward, Rich slept as Lila lay awake, unable to sleep. She was chewing over the idea of Rich’s offer. She’d love nothing more than to travel with him – and she was touched by his understanding of her financial situation. She knew, if she let him, he would pay for…well, her entire life, really but she would not let that happen. They had to have some kind of parity.
Something else was bothering her too…Charlie. Despite her annoyance with him, she had to admit he had a point; what had Rich been doing on that street that night? She couldn’t believe he was dealing – why the hell would he need to? He was a billionaire, several times over. She turned on her side and gazed at him…she had no experience with drugs except the odd joint now and again so she didn’t know what a high-functioning junkie would look like. Was he using? He didn’t have track marks, that much was obvious, so whatever it was, it was going up his nose...
Nightclub Sins: A Billionaire Romance Series Page 98