Devil She Became (Devil's Angels Book 1)

by Autumn Raynne

Harrison reached into his jacket pockets and pulled out two small boxes. “Here. I brought you both something very special.”

  The girls squealed and took the boxes. They each tore open the shiny paper to reveal blue velvet boxes. When they opened them, heart-shaped gold lockets were inside with a picture of their mother holding the two of them in each.

  “I love it, daddy!” Alaina cried.

  “It’s mommy!” Olivia cried, trying to pull it over her head.

  “Reese picked those out for the both of you. She thought it was important for you to remember your mom.” Harrison smiled at Reese, who was helping the girls put on the necklaces.

  Alaina looked up at Reese with newly found respect. “Thank you,” she said.

  Reese and Harrison smiled as the girls then began telling them all about the fun things they had been doing while staying with their grandparents.

  With much reluctance, the Battens invited Reese and Harrison to stay for dinner. The girls played several board games with Reese and Harrison. By the end of the evening, they had both warmed up to Reese quite a bit, and they even allowed her to help Harrison tuck them into bed. As Reese excused herself to freshen her makeup, the girls talked to Harrison about her.

  “Daddy, is Reese going to live with us in Chicago?” Alaina inquired, holding the covers up under her chin.

  “Do you want her to, baby?” Harrison sat on the bed with the girls.

  Alaina shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “I do! I do! She plays games with me!” Olivia clapped her hands together.

  “Yes, she does. She might come live with us. Is that okay, Lainey?”

  Alaina pursed her lips together and thought.

  “Not sure. Would mommy be okay with it?” Alaina wondered aloud, looking at the picture in her locket.

  No, not really, Harrison thought. Especially after what I have done. He cringed at the thought.

  “Yes, baby, I think so.”

  Alaina nodded. “It’s okay, I guess. She’s fun.”

  As Reese was exiting the restroom, she paused in the doorway to hear the conversation. The biggest hurdle of all was cleared! The girls liked her! Amazing, she thought. I took Lisa’s husband and now her children. She laughed to herself. Most people would have felt terrible guilt spending the day with the children of the woman they had contracted to kill, but not Reese. She felt a slight sense of sympathy for the children losing their mother, but she felt they were better off with her as their stepmother. Passing a mirror in the hallway, she swore she could see a devilish glint in her angel eyes. She had lost her wide-eyed, innocent look and it had been replaced by the devil she had become. No longer did her blue eyes reflect purity. Now, looking into their depths, she saw lust, greed and passion. No, she thought, I have done a bad thing, but I am not a bad person. Not if she and Harrison could love each other so much. Lisa was simply in their way. If she would’ve given Harrison a divorce, she could have still been alive. She brought it on herself, Reese thought.

  ********

  The next day, Reese and Harrison came back to take the girls sightseeing around New York. After they had said their goodbyes to the girls, the Battens stopped them as they were leaving.

  “Reese, Harrison, would you mind joining us on the terrace for a drink before you leave?” Mr. Batten stretched his thin lips to form a slight smile, which looked more like a smirk.

  “Sure, Clarence.” Harrison and Reese walked out onto the terrace, which had a magnificent view of the New York skyline.

  As they sat down on the deep-green padded sofa, they were enveloped in the delightful fragrance of roses blooming in the terrace garden.

  “What a lovely terrace,” Reese commented to Mr. Batten.

  Looking around him, the older man shrugged. “Thank you.”

  Taking a seat on the sofa across from them, Mr. Batten proceeded to order drinks from Rollins to be brought out to them.

  As the butler sat out a silver tray of crystal goblets, Mrs. Batten appeared on the terrace. Very tall and thin with stylishly-clipped dark hair, she was every bit an elderly version of Lisa. She had the same bony figure and tightly-sewn lips. Although her clothing was obviously expensive, it did little to flatter her thin frame.

  “Ah, Harrison, how was your day with the girls?” Mrs. Batten sat down next to her husband. Reaching for a goblet filled with scotch, Harrison leaned back before answering.

  “Jillian, it was very nice. The girls had a lot of fun, and Reese enjoyed sightseeing with them. She hasn’t been to New York much.” The ice in his glass clinked as he sipped the scotch.

  Mrs. Batten nodded. “I see. Well, Harrison, there’s no point in prolonging this. We asked you both out here for one reason.”

  Reese tensed up, clutching her glass tightly. Harrison narrowed his eyes and sat on the edge of the sofa.

  “And that is what?” Harrison asked with obvious annoyance.

  “Frankly, Harrison, we don’t like you. We never did. You were an excellent choice for Lisa on paper, but as a husband, you were terrible to her. She told us all about your extramarital dalliances and what a skirt-chaser you are.” Mrs. Batten drew down her tight lips in a frown.

  Harrison pursed his lips and gave her a furious look.

  “My marriage to your daughter is over. She’s gone. The events of our former marriage are– were none of your business.”

  “Be that as it may, Harrison, we still don’t like you. Your family is obviously one of the wealthiest in America, but you are nothing to us. We don’t like the way you treated our daughter. Now that she’s gone, we have our grandchildren to think about.”

  Harrison finished his scotch and slammed the glass down on the table.

  “Come on, Reese, we are leaving. I am not sitting here listening to your endless tirade about how I chose to live my life. Your daughter is dead and no longer my wife. Our only connection is my children. If you wish to continue to speak to me in this manner, I will take them home with me tonight.” Harrison’s eyes blazed with anger.

  Mrs. Batten remained unmoved. She replied in a cool tone. “I don’t think you will, Harrison. Those girls are now my life, Clarence’s life. Our daughter is dead. We have nothing left.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Jillian. That’s why I have chosen to allow the girls to stay here with you both. I realize how painful Lisa’s death was for you both.”

  Suddenly, Mrs. Batten jumped to her feet. Mr. Batten widened his eyes in surprise. “Do you, Harrison? Do you? You don’t know what it’s like to lose a child! Lisa was just trash to you, a burden, but to us she was everything! How dare you!” Mrs. Batten shook with rage as her face turned red.

  Harrison moved his hands to try to calm Mrs. Batten down.

  “Jillian, I realize that I don’t know what you both feel, and I hope I never do. But Lisa wasn’t a burden to me. I am devastated she is gone, but I must move on with my life.”

  Mrs. Batten smirked, looking down at Reese.

  “Oh, yes, with this little tart, hmmm? She’s exactly the kind of girl I thought you would like. Lisa told me all about the little slut you were kissing at the party. I guess this must be her. Same low-class, trashy look she described.”

  Reese clenched her fists in anger. “Excuse me, Mrs. Batten, with all due respect I am not a tart. I am not a slut. I, too, am sorry for your loss, but you don’t know me. So I would appreciate you not dragging me into this.”

  Harrison reached down to touch Reese’s shoulder.

  “Jillian, you are completely out of line. I am taking the girls back with me. They will not stay here and listen to your childish tirade.” Harrison grabbed Reese’s hand to leave.

  Mr. Batten stood up next to his wife.

  “Hold it there, boy. My wife is right. You and this low-rent slut were together before my daughter died. I wouldn’t be surprised if you both had something to do with her death.” Mr. Batten’s face was bright-red and he shook with rage.

  “I have heard enough! You are both absolutel
y insane with grief! That is absurd. I didn’t know Reese prior to Lisa’s death. I certainly wasn’t seeing anyone else. I loved Lisa. We had our problems, but I loved her. I love our children. Lisa knew I was an excellent father. How dare you imply I would hurt Lisa! You both are seriously crazy if you think that. I am a lawyer; I uphold the law. I wouldn’t hurt anyone, ever.” Harrison raged at the older couple, gripping Reese’s hand tightly as he did so.

  Harrison’s outburst seemed to calm the Battens.

  “Harrison, I don’t like you, but I don’t think you would harm our daughter. I think you were a pig of a husband to her, but I don’t think you tried to hurt her. What happened was a terrible accident. Right, Clarence?” She nudged him.

  Clarence’s color returned to normal and he looked at the ground. “I was out of line, Harrison. I apologize for implying that. However, my wife is correct that you were not the best husband to our daughter.”

  Harrison sighed and nodded. “I wasn’t. I will agree with you there. Perhaps we should’ve never been married, but we did have two beautiful girls that I have to take care of and raise now. I don’t want to take them from you, but if you continue to speak to me in this manner, I will.”

  The pair nodded. Mrs. Batten sighed deeply.

  “Reese and I are getting married. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to like us, but if you wish to see your grandchildren, then you will treat us both with respect. Also, you will not say anything to them like you’ve said here tonight. If you do, I will see to it you never see them again. Don’t think for one second I am kidding.” Harrison’s voice was firm, controlled. Reese was impressed.

  “No, Harrison, we don’t approve of your marriage to this girl, but I suppose it’s not our business. We do have rights though as grandparents. Please do not turn this into a legal battle.

  “I don’t plan on it. I plan to leave the girls here with you until our new home is finished.”

  The Battens nodded. “I do request this, Harrison. Please don’t involve them in your wedding. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think it would be…”

  Harrison shook his head. “What? Why the hell wouldn’t I?”

  Mrs. Batten sighed again. “What I was saying is that the funeral was very traumatic for them. I think that being inside a church again so soon will bring up terrible memories for them. You didn’t hear the nightmares those girls had for months after their mother’s funeral. I used to awaken to their shrill screams of terror, kiss their tear-stained cheeks until they fell back to sleep. Every time we pass a church, Olivia still cries thinking mommy is in there. Don’t bring that up for them again.” Mrs. Batten insisted.

  Harrison paused for a moment.

  “You know, Harrison, maybe she’s right. If it will bring up such bad memories, why put them through that? They don’t have to be there.” Reese stroked his arm lightly.

  Harrison swallowed hard, nodding. “I didn’t think of that. I suppose you are right.”

  Holding Reese’s hand tightly, Harrison walked towards the French doors.

  “I agree with you on that, Jillian. The girls can stay here until after the wedding. But please do not fill their heads with vicious lies about myself or Reese. That’s all I ask. If you want to continue to see them after they come home, you will refrain from expressing your opinion about my life.”

  Jillian looked quickly at her husband. “All right, Harrison. I can do that. I only want to see my grandbabies. You and your ‘tart’ fiancé can do whatever you please. My daughter is dead, so you are of no concern to me now except as my grandbabies’ father. We will keep them until after your wedding.”

  Mr. Batten bit his lip and gave Harrison and Reese a disgusted look.

  “As for me, I don’t give a damn what the two of you do, but remember this, Harrison, I know more than you think I do about your life. Don’t ever mess with this family. I will do everything in my power to see my granddaughters are safe. Do I make myself clear?” Pure hatred for Harrison glinted in his dark eyes. His nostrils flared with anger, reminding Reese of an angry bull.

  Harrison swallowed a bit, but kept his cool. “The hell with you, Clarence. You always were a fucking asshole. Don’t ever threaten me again or it will be you who lives to regret the day. I have a lot more connections than you, old man. Now step aside, we are leaving.”

  Harrison viciously shoved the older man to the side, much to Reese’s surprise. She clung to his hand as they stomped across the wooden floors to the nearest exit.

  As she glanced back, Reese saw Jillian’s mouth drop open at Harrison’s hasty exit.

  As they got into the limo, Reese began shaking.

  “What do you think he meant by all that, Harrison? Do you think he knows anything?”

  Harrison rubbed his chin. “I don’t think so, Reese. How could he? Her death has been ruled an accident. He’s just grieving, and he’s an asshole. He always has been. Just don’t pay any attention to what he said.”

  Reese hugged herself, trying to alleviate her shaking.

  “I don’t like him threatening us.”

  Harrison shook his head.

  “He’s an old man, baby. Nothing to worry about. Relax. We had a great visit with the girls, and I think they really like you.”

  Reese smiled.

  “Yes, I adored them. They are so sweet! I can’t wait until they come live with us!”

  “I’m so glad you feel that way, baby.” Harrison hugged her to him.

  “Be happy. Now we are off to visit your family!”

  Reese laughed.

  “Are you sure? They can get a little crazy!”

  “After what we just endured? I’m just fine. Nothing can phase me now.” Harrison smiled at her.

  Reese snuggled against Harrison, feeling his strong arms around her. No, nothing could hurt them now. They were safe and about to start their fabulous life together. Everything was perfect.

  Chapter 37

  Arriving at the California beachside home, Harrison’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t imagined Reese’s family home being quite so upscale. When Reese had talked about her family, Harrison had assumed they were very middle-class, but this expansive home in Laguna Beach was obviously expensive.

  Reese clutched his hand tightly as they pulled up the circular drive to her parents’ home. “So what do you think?” she asked, eagerly smiling at him.

  Harrison nodded. “Very nice. I’m impressed. Gorgeous view here.” He looked around at the amazing view of the Pacific Ocean.

  “I adore it here. My parents bought this house while I was in high school. I went swimming and tanned nearly every day.”

  “So you are the typical California girl?” Harrison grinned at her.

  Hopping out of the car, Reese reached in to grab her bags.

  “I guess you could say that. I was Miss California Sun.”

  “I can see that. You would win any beauty pageant.” Harrison wrapped his arms around her waist and began kissing her.

  Just then, her mom came racing out of the house. She squealed when she saw Reese.

  “Baby girl! How are you?” Reese pulled away from Harrison to embrace her mom.

  Harrison glanced at Mrs. Vogel and found her to be a much older version of Reese. She was an attractive, trim woman with short blonde hair. She had Reese’s lovely smile and beautiful blue eyes.

  Turning to Harrison, Mrs. Vogel reached out to embrace him.

  “You must be Harrison. You are just as handsome as Reese described you!” Harrison returned her embrace.

  “Mrs. Vogel, I’m so pleased to meet you. You look like a dream of loveliness. It’s easy for me to see how Reese got her beauty.”

  She blushed. “Please, call me Meg. Thank you, but Reese is a true beauty. She was in pageants and was a model, you know.”

  Reese groaned. “He knows, mom.”

  “I’m just so proud of you, baby.”

  “Well, quit hogging him, mom, let’s go inside and show him your beautiful house.�
�� Harrison took one last glance at the beautiful Pacific Ocean waves crashing down on the beach below. He took Reese’s hand and followed her inside the beachfront home.

  Upon entering the sprawling home, Harrison was greeted with the sound of a female shrieking.

  “Reese! Is that you?”

  Suddenly, a short-haired blonde came racing down the stairs towards them.

  “Trish! I’ve missed you!” The two women embraced as Harrison stepped back.

  “Trish, this is Harrison, my fiancé.”

  Harrison studied her for a moment. He could definitely tell she was related to Reese with her blonde hair, but her figure certainly wasn’t anything like Reese’s. Trisha was nearly flat chested and slim. Her legs were long and she was certainly attractive, but not breathtaking like Reese. Her eyes were the same shade of blue as Reese’s, but her face looked several years older, suggesting she spent a great deal of time in the sun.

  Harrison smiled broadly at Trisha and extended his hand.

  “This is my sister, Trisha.” The pair shook hands.

  Trisha smiled and let out a low whistle.

  “Damn, Reese. He is gorgeous just like you said!” Trisha gave him a wink and Harrison just gave her a smile in return.

  “Isn’t he, though?” Reese squeezed Harrison’s arm.

  “Definitely. Wow, Reese, you actually found a man sexier than my Salvatore. Congratulations.” Trisha’s eyes moved over Harrison so closely he felt uncomfortable. It was odd being ogled like that. Now he knew how Reese must feel every day with all the stares she received from men.

  “Hey! What’s this about someone being hotter than me? Trish, take your hands off the pool boy already!” A good-looking, dark-haired young man with a strong Italian accent came down the stairs.

  “Harrison, this is my obnoxious brother-in-law, Salvatore.” Reese gestured at the young man.

  “Hey, great to meet you. Finally, someone tames the wild beast. Thought nobody was going to catch this little beauty.” Salvatore laughed and shook Harrison’s hand.

  Harrison eyed Salvatore. He thought he saw him give Reese a special look as he joked about her. As they all stood around talking, he caught Salvatore staring at Reese’s plunging neckline several times. Seeing Trisha, Harrison could understand why he would stare at Reese. The girl was as flat as Lisa had been. Ugh.