What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 3)

by Lauren Hawkeye

  He went in the house and as soon as she couldn’t see him her phone went off. She glanced down at the screen and frowned. An unknown caller was calling her, normally she never answered unknown or blocked numbers but with everything that was going on she did.

  “Hello?” she answered and prayed her voiced didn’t waver.

  “Hello my dear Evangeline.” The other voice changed a few different times and she knew the other person was using something that morphed their voice. “I took care of one of your men, and have another at my disposal. I wonder what I will do with your sweet Italian.”

  She felt her blood drain from her face because this psychopath had the man she loved. She thought of his tender smile and all of the affection he had given her. He was the best thing that had happened to her and she would die before allowing anything else to happen to him.

  “Please don’t hurt him, I will do whatever you want.” Evangeline knew what this person wanted from her, and if it meant Angelo would live then so be it.

  “That’s what I was hoping you would say. Meet me at your precious Skyler Tower on the twenty-ninth floor.” The line went dead and she stared at her bright screen. The twenty-ninth floor was going through a total remodel for her new legal team. She and Hayden had decided to close it down a few weeks ago in order to get everything ready for the lawyers that would handle everything in their company.

  She opened the car door and hurried to the driver’s side. James had taken the keys but she had a spare to all the cars in her purse. She reached in the back and pulled out the set of keys, and started the car. As she pulled out she saw James and Axel running out of her house. A little relief went through her seeing Axel wasn’t hurt but she needed to get to Angelo.

  She drove as fast as she could without getting pulled over and her cell phone rang over and over. She knew Axel was calling her and he was most likely tracing her but didn’t have time to deal with that. Hopefully he would make it to her before her crazy stalker killed her.

  She parked the car in front of tower and rushed to the front doors. She pulled out her keys and opened the door. Briefly she wondered how the psychopath got into her tower because she had the best security system money could buy.

  She went to the elevator and it opened right away for her. She got in and pressed number twenty-nine and the closed doors button. Since her car accident she knew her stalker wasn’t going to just take things easy with her. She started to carry pepper spray in her purse, she reached in her purse and put it in the largest pocket. She wanted it to be easy accessible.

  The doors opened and her heart raced because she might not make it out of her tower alive. Taking a deep breath she stepped out of the metal box and started to walk towards the bare floor. She saw someone standing with their back towards her. They were wearing a dark hoodie and dark pants.

  Slowly the person that had been making her life hell and tried to kill her turned around. Her heart dropped when she saw who it was. “I’m glad you came alone.” Heather said and tears threaten to fall from Evangeline’s eyes. “I know, you never expected me.” She said as she walked towards her.

  “Why?” that was the only thing she could think of asking. This was someone Evangeline trusted and Heather had shattered that trust.

  She backed up and ran into a desk. “Why you ask? Because you get everything you want. But have never noticed me, I am in love with you and you won’t even look my way!” Heather stopped in front of her and she started to laugh. “Then you had Axel declaring his love for you.”

  Evangeline glanced around looking for any sign of Angelo but saw nothing. “Where is he?” she kept her voice steady and turned her attention back the crazy woman that had been her confident.

  Heather laughed and shook her head. Reaching in her back pocket she pulled out a large knife. “You aren’t stupid, you are actually pretty damn smart. He isn’t here but I knew you would come running if you thought he was.” Heather ran the tip of the knife down her cheek and grinned at Evangeline. “I needed to get you away from your bodyguards. And if I could have carried you I would have taken you after the car accident. I tried to wake you up and I really thought I killed you.”

  Something Evangeline knew, was to keep the person holding you captive talking and thinking of anything but harming you. “Why didn’t you ever tell me how you felt about me?”

  Heather narrowed her eyes. “I know what you are doing Ms. Skyler, and it isn’t going to work.” She pointed the large knife at her and she held her breath. “This could have ended differently. We could have been happy together but you went ahead and fell in love with the Italian.”

  The knife dug into her cheek and she squeezed her eyes tightly closed and prayed she wouldn’t scream. “Please don’t kill me, I will do whatever you want.”

  Heather laughed. “That is too bad because you can’t fix this.”

  Angelo jumped out of the car before Antonio stopped the car. Axel had called him to tell him Evangeline was missing. All he could think about was her, he couldn’t lose her. When he lost his wife and daughter he never thought he would find someone to open him back up. He was just a shell of a man before he met Evangeline Skyler.

  Now police were all over her house but he made his way to Axel and James. “How the hell did she get away?” he asked the question that had been going through his head.

  Axel narrowed his eyes dangerously. “I was checking the house and I guess I took too long because James came in to look for me. She took the car.” He tightened his hands into fist against his legs.

  “Can’t you trace her phone?” he asked and kept his attention on Axel because he was putting the blame on James.

  Axel took a step closer to him. “I am running the program now and I will have the results soon. When I do I know you will want to come with me. But I will need you armed because I have a strong feeling she is with her stalker.” Angelo nodded. He didn’t make it in time to save his family but he would make it to save Evangeline.

  “Axel, I got her,” James said quietly enough for just them to hear. “She is at Skyler Tower.”

  Evangeline placed her hand on the strap on her purse and tried to keep her face calm. Heather was hitting herself on the head with her palms and repeating, “stupid…hurt…stupid,” over and over.

  Before she reached inside her purse Heather looked up at her. “What are you doing?” Evangeline put her hands up in surrender. “Give me your purse!” she pointed the knife at her and she didn’t have a choice she had to take off her purse and give it to her.

  Heather seized the purse and threw it across the room. “Are you sure we can’t do something? I can get you the help you need Heather.” Evangeline said and Heather narrowed her eyes.

  “I don’t need help, all I needed was you!” Something behind Heather caught her eye but she didn’t move in fear it would alert the crazy woman with a knife.

  “I am sorry Heather, I truly am but this isn’t what you want to do. You don’t want to hurt me.” Tears started to roll down Heather’s red cheeks.

  “I really didn’t want to hurt you but you made me do this.” She lifted the knife and Evangeline pressed down on the pepper spray and pointed it at her personal assistant’s face.

  She screamed but dropped the knife Evangeline kicked it away with her foot. Axel, and James took a screaming Heather away from her and Angelo seized her.

  He wrapped his arms tightly around her and she didn’t care that it hurt her. She needed him and she could tell he needed her.

  When he pulled back there were tears streaming down his cheeks and she kissed his tears away. “Don’t you ever do that to me again! You promised me you wouldn’t put yourself in danger.”

  She glanced behind him and found Axel walking towards them. “I didn’t, I got a call saying she had you and if I didn’t show up she was going to kill you.” He kissed her with such passion it made her toes curl.

  “I fucking love you Evangeline.” She grinned at the man that stole her heart.

&n
bsp; “And I fucking love you Angelo.” She said and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him with a passion that stole his breath and she laughed. She was wrong before because her life was never over.

  She was just waiting for him to step into her elevator.

  Epilogue

  Evangeline sat at her sister’s house on Christmas Day smiling because her life was now perfect. She was starting a new life with Angelo and her family. Melissa and her parents were mending their broken relationship and she was truly happy for once. Even she and Brad were starting to talk again.

  She grinned when Angelo walked into the room. “You light up when he walks in the room.” She looked at her older sister and laughed.

  “I can’t help it, have you seen him?” she whispered and giggled.

  Melissa laughed. “And you haven’t seen him naked.” “Are you offering?” Melissa asked and winked.

  “Hell no, he is all mine.” She glanced at Angelo and he winked at her, he had bonded with her father. Evangeline had been talking to the best doctors in the world to help her father. And there was a really good chance he could live longer.

  “You know sharing is caring.” She turned her attention back to her sister and she had noticed that something was different with her.

  “What’s going on Mel?” when Melissa looked back at her there were tears in her eyes.

  “I see the way Angelo looks at you when you aren’t looking and it’s beautiful and everyone can see how much he loves you. And I never thought you would find someone that would make you light up.” Melissa took a deep breath. “Brad and I wanted to wait until after the holidays but I can’t keep this to myself anymore. We are getting a divorce.”

  Evangeline grabbed her sister’s hands. “I’m so sorry. Are you sure whatever is wrong can’t be fixed?” Melissa smiled sadly at her and shook her head.

  “No, I have been trying for years and it wasn’t until I saw you with Angelo that I realized I deserve something more.” She hugged her older sister and hoped that she would find what she was looking for.

  Angelo came to her as she moved away from her sister. “Do you mind if I steal my fiancée?” Melissa grinned and shook her head.

  Angelo wrapped his arms around her and she smirked up at him. “I love when you call me your fiancée.” He laughed and brushed his lips against hers. Since he had taken her in his arms on the twenty-ninth floor in Skyler Tower he hasn’t been without her. After he told her he fucking love her he also demanded that she had to marry him.

  She didn’t even think twice when she answered with a yes. “Fiancée…fiancée.” He said and now it was her turn to laugh.

  “Am I ever going to be a grandmother?” Evangeline and Angelo both look at her mother and laugh. “I am serious I’m not getting any younger.”

  Angelo wrapped an arm around her middle and pulled her to him. “We will get working on that.” He said kissed and her cheek.

  About the Author

  Khelsey hails from the Sunshine State (California) but moved to Minnesota when she was 11 years old. Her grandmother raised her and her brother. When she was 18 she did what any sane teen would do and moved to the city of sin, Las Vegas NV. There she met her handsome husband and the rest is history. She loves to read, and will read almost anything – guess when you have read just about everything, the only next logical step is to write.

  Connect with Khelsey online!

  Website:

  http://khelseyrjackson.wix.com/khelseyjackson

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/khelseyrjackson

  Twitter:

  https://twitter.com/KhelseyrJackson

  Author Page:

  Amazon

  Summer’s Journey

  A True Romance / Erotica Series

  Summer Daniels

  Volume One: Losing Control

  Prologue

  I slipped the blindfold over my eyes, took a deep breath and knocked twice on the door. I heard it open and Mark’s warm voice filled my ears. “Come in Summer. I am so happy you chose to join me tonight.” He led me into the center of the room and stopped. “Just stand there for a moment if you would while I feast my eyes. You look absolutely stunning. That lovely dress is going to look very stylish on the floor next to the bed.”

  I never heard him move, but I could feel him behind me now. As he nuzzled the side of my neck, he pressed himself lightly against me. Whatever reservations I once had at giving up control to this stranger disappeared as my nipples did their best to rip through the lace bra and silk dress. How on earth could he know that my neck was one of my weak spots?

  “I must confess that you are wearing much more at the moment than I am” he said. “Allow me to even the playing field.” As he slowly unzipped my dress, he followed the descending zipper with his soft lips and tongue. He reached up and tugged gently and the dress pooled at my feet.

  1

  I gave serious thought to unveiling my real name to the world. Throwing all caution to the wind and changing my life for good.

  I decided it wasn’t quite fair to my family. While I’m not particularly close to my brother or sister, I am quite partial to my nieces and nephews and I couldn’t picture the looks on their faces if my secrets were revealed and my true identity widely known.

  I think sometimes it is still possible that they will stumble across these stories someday and recognize their Aunt in some fashion. Then I think that the odds of their associating the wild and wanton ways of “Sassy Summer” with the Aunt who would never even wear a bikini in front of them would be akin to winning the lottery without buying a ticket. Not going to happen.

  Then again, I had no idea just how wild and wanton things were going to get.

  I was a simple fortyish average housewife. Not going to win any beauty pageants, but I hadn’t given up on trying to keep a little pride in my appearance, or in my marriage. Right up until the day about eighteen months ago when my husband of almost twenty years told me he was trading me in on a younger, sportier model. Not his exact words of course, but they might as well have been. To say I was shocked would be an understatement of epic proportions.

  Things had never been particularly exciting in the bedroom, or in our marriage in general, but they were comfortable. That was the word that described our marriage and our life together the best. We rarely fought, nothing more serious than the usual complaints of a long marriage, such as a toilet seat left up leading to a wet ass in the middle of the night. Or his anal personality shining through in the way he scrubbed all our dishes before they were allowed in the dishwasher. I’m sure he had his complaints as well, who doesn’t after almost twenty years of marriage, but if he had them, he kept them to himself.

  Perhaps the ass I mentioned previously had gotten a little wider since we had gotten married, but he never said a word and since I bought most of his clothes over the years, I knew that his waistline had expanded as well.

  Looking back I suppose it is just too easy to get complacent, to get “comfortable” in a marriage, to take each other for granted. It is a sad commentary on marriage perhaps, but I would bet more than half of you out there reading this right now are nodding your heads in agreement, recognizing for yourself the truth in my words.

  Some of you might take that recognition as a wakeup call for your own marriage. If you do, I am more than happy for you. Some of you will recognize the signs of demise in your marriage, or already have, but just don’t care. That is honestly more common than I think most people care to admit to themselves.

  As for myself, I am not sure I really believe in marriage anymore. Or maybe I just can’t see going back to the way things were. Feeling free at the age of – well, at my age, doesn’t just feel good, it feels right.

  Maybe the spark had died in our marriage when we went through the series of miscarriages fifteen years ago. The last one was a fallopian tube miscarriage, ending for us the dream of children of our own.

  The emotional scars that were left behind were
much more damaging than the physical ones.

  Sex was never the same for us after that. Where things had once been light and playful, there was now a sense of lingering disappointment and resentment. Maybe it would have been better out in the open where we could deal with it, but neither of us were the type to confront our feelings, choosing instead to hide behind our usual routines and excuses. Sound familiar to any of you?

  2

  After spending the better part of two weeks crying into my ice cream and wine with my best friend Julie, I finally came to the realization that maybe this was an opportunity instead of a disaster. I had always wondered in the back of my mind what it might be like to be that uninhibited woman capable of having sex just for the sake of pleasure, to be well and truly fucked for once, to be satisfied to the point of exhaustion. Certainly these were things I had never felt in the confines of my marital bed.

  Given how much time I suddenly had on my hands coming home to an empty house, I found myself spending too much time with my hands on myself. While I enjoyed masturbation with a renewed sense of purpose since the separation, it left me feeling empty and unfulfilled. I needed to go out on a date. Except I really didn’t want to date, I wanted to get laid. Crude perhaps, but true.

  Something Julie said one night after too much wine came to mind. She said that the internet had opened up a whole new world for women in terms of finding someone to take care of their needs. Given that she is happily married with three kids, I found the comment somewhat unsettling and quickly dismissed it as nothing more than the wine talking. Her comment stayed in the back of my mind through the next several days though and made me wonder what might be out there.