Gilded Cage (Harbour Bay Book 6)

by Camille Taylor

  “I thought it had more to do with my sunny demeanour.”

  A second later the grin disappeared as a loud pop sounded across the promenade.

  Chapter 16

  Declan pushed Bethany to the ground and covered her with his body. His hand grasped his weapon, having already retrieved the gun from his holster before they’d hit the ground. He heard the deep rush of breath as the air left her lungs but didn’t look down at her. His eyes strained to spot the danger.

  “Relax it was just a car backfiring.”

  Declan looked down into her amused eyes. He didn’t want to tell her the truth. That he had felt the heat of the bullet as it whizzed past. It turned out he didn’t have to—she read it all in his eyes. Her body stilled beneath his. Her eyes misted and tears trickled out the corner to roll down her face and into her hair.

  “It’s all right.” The soothing words had barely left his mouth when another three consecutive shots hit home around them, one coming much too close for comfort.

  People screamed and dove for cover. Seagulls added to the chaos, taking flight with a loud, disgruntled squawk, blocking his line of sight.

  Bethany shook her head. “Get me out of here, Declan.”

  “In a second, when the coast is clear.” He pulled his mobile from his back pocket and dialled a number. “Hey, Hawke, yeah it’s me. Listen you better get down to the wharf. Someone just tried to shoot Bethany Bennett.”

  Bethany began to struggle beneath his weight and he quickly shifted his body so as not to crush her. They weren’t quite out of the woods yet. His gaze remained vigilant, searching the surrounding area, assessing each person for possible danger.

  Bethany squirmed. He gritted his teeth as her body inadvertently bumped against him intimately. “Stop moving.” He growled, ignoring the distraction while he watched the panicking crowd.

  “Get off me.” She pushed against his chest.

  He pushed the words through clenched jaws. “Not yet. Too dangerous.”

  “Yes now, let me up.” Her voice rose with her hysteria, as she fought his efforts to control her movements.

  Declan cursed and rolled off her and to his feet in one swift move. His hand tightened around his gun, his index finger resting on the outer ring protecting the trigger. He reached down to assist Bethany but she scrambled away, rising to her feet awkwardly as if her legs were jelly and couldn’t hold her weight.

  “Stay behind me.” He didn’t spare a glance in her direction. The squeal of sirens approached. No doubt the police and ambulance.

  “Take me home, Declan.”

  “In a sec, as soon as the area has been cleared.”

  “No dammit, now!” She turned, storming off in the direction of her waiting car. Her face had become ashen and she hugged herself tightly, her body trembling.

  It took Declan a second to realise her intent and cursed again as he took off after her, wary of every passer-by.

  “Just calm down, Beth, take a deep breath.”

  “Don’t tell me to be calm, Declan O’Neill. I was just shot at! Shot at! That may be something you’re used to but I’m not.”

  “You never get used to dodging bullets.”

  “Is that right? Well, forgive me if I don’t know proper shoot-out etiquette. It wasn’t exactly in my curriculum you know.”

  Several officers pulled up and Declan recognised a few of them. He waved to James Hawke as he got out of his vehicle. Hawke nodded back and made a sign with his fingers to tell Declan to call him when he had a moment. Declan holstered his weapon. With the police around the shooter had to be downright suicidal to attempt another go at Bethany.

  “And another thing, how the hell can you remain so damn calm? You’re like a robot.” She threw him a dirty look.

  Declan jogged to catch to up to her, having been taking the rear in order to protect the target. To kill Bethany, a bullet would have to pass through him. He was thankful today wasn’t the day he had to test that theory out.

  “Seriously, doesn’t this affect you one little bit? Because let me tell you I don’t like adrenaline highs.” Her voice rose to a shout to be heard.

  “Bethany—”

  “Don’t ‘Bethany’ me.”

  A horn blasted enough to pierce his ears and the car barrelled down on Bethany. He caught her wrists at the last minute and pulled her roughly towards him. Her body hit him hard and he knew she had felt the side of the car against her hip and legs as it passed.

  “I can’t take much more of this.” A sob escaped as she buried her head against his shoulder. Her tremors rocked his body. His shirt soon wet from her tears but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Bethany was safe—for now. Her hands clenched into the fabric of his shirt. Unable to do much, he rubbed his hand up and down her back and soon supported all her weight when her legs finally gave out.

  “Shhh, honey, it’s all right. You’re fine. You’re safe.” He dropped his voice low, comforting at odds with the burning rage smouldering beneath the surface.

  Someone had tried to kill her. Up until now, he’d figured Dirk had been overreacting but now he knew better.

  He didn’t blame Beth for falling to pieces. Anyone in her position would’ve done the same. Only she had something others didn’t. She had him and O’Neills didn’t fail. One thing was for sure, when Dirk Bennett arrived home he would have to answer to Declan O’Neill.

  Chapter 17

  Christian Jackson quickly dismantled the Remington 788. He had to get out of there before the cops came looking for him. Hunter would be none too pleased to learn he had failed and it was Jackson’s head if he returned without blood on his hands. He couldn’t believe he had missed. He had lined the shot up perfectly. Damn that bodyguard of hers. If he hadn’t of been there Jackson knew Hunter would be throwing him a party in his honour. But the bodyguard had been there. It didn’t worry him too much. There were ways around the man, hell ways through him. Jackson would get his mark sooner or later; the chase was just beginning. He may have lost the battle but the war had just begun.

  He moved out into the scared public and blended in with the crowd. Just another poor sap caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Police began to herald all the witnesses over to make statements. Jackson disappeared, blending into the scene—one of his many traits and made his way to his car. He would dump the Remington in the Harbour. If it was ever found there would be no viable prints or evidence that could be retrieved from the rifle and that was if—a big if—it was ever found.

  He had to regroup. He would not report to Hunter until the job was completed.

  A new regime was coming to Harbour Bay and he wanted in on the action and the money. Being Hunter’s righthand man would give him the power he deserved. But first, he had to find a way to kill Bethany Bennett.

  In the distance, Jackson could see the unmarked Holden SS Commodore stop and a tall man exited the vehicle. A detective. They were quick to respond. He started his car, a desire to be long gone coursing through his body. He pulled out and joined the mainstream of traffic.

  He would camp outside the Bennett mansion and would make his plans from what he learned there. Jackson frowned. He didn’t particularly want to kill the girl. It wasn’t her fault her father was a double-crossing crook but Hunter wanted her dead so dead she must be. Too bad. She was a beautiful woman, young too.

  Stop feeling sorry for her. He scolded himself. If he wanted to be in this business, he had to be ruthless otherwise he may as well pack his bags and leave now. Such weakness like this will only get him killed.

  Bethany Bennett would not be his first kill—or his tenth. He had been in this business since a teenager under the old goat Coleani’s thumb. He would never have amounted to anything then. Now was his chance. He only had to prove himself worthy in Hunter’s eyes and Hunter liked ruthlessness.

  Chapter 18

  Declan opened the front door to the mansion and stepped aside to allow Caitlyn Harris entry. She was rugged up as if expecting a s
nowstorm in a black faux fur lined suede jacket. Her jeans were tucked into stylish ugg boots, her blonde hair tucked neatly under her beanie and a cream scarf keep the cool air from her throat.

  He thought of what he’d recently learned. Caitlyn Harris hardly fit the bill of a convicted criminal, but then he’d seen all sorts of things on the job and rarely questioned anything anymore.

  “How is she?”

  “Shaken up. Those reporters are vultures, then there were the near misses.”

  Knowing what had happened those many years ago made him understand Bennett’s tight rein. He didn’t condone the man’s actions but he knew how it felt to almost lose the most precious thing in your life. He could also see why Bethany had chosen to stay here. No doubt she warred with herself often. Freedom or safety. To have one would sacrifice the other.

  “Damn. How did they find her? She’s not equipped to handle those story-hungry cretins.”

  “I have no idea, but I dealt with them.”

  Caitlyn gave him a considering look. “A man would have to be crazy or suicidal to go against you.”

  “That’s why you suggested me. My demeanour works wonders on even the lowest of creatures.”

  Caitlyn smiled briefly. “Damn, Dirk. I want to wring his neck for getting Beth involved in this.”

  “You’ll have to get in line.”

  There was something dark and dangerous in his voice. Even he could sense he was on the edge. It wouldn’t take much to push him over. Apparently, Caitlyn sensed the same thing and an elegant blonde eyebrow arched.

  “You’ve become quite close to Beth, haven’t you?”

  There was no use lying. He had become close to Beth. She was unlike any woman he had ever met. He looked back on that first day and the impression he’d had of her. He wasn’t often wrong but he wouldn’t make the same mistake again.

  He nodded. “Bethany is an amazing woman. Not at all like I thought she’d be. She’s been surprising me from day one.”

  “Yes, I know. I’ve always believed there to be someone with great strength buried beneath Bethany’s quiet exterior. As a child, nothing fazed her until—” Caitlyn paused and collected herself. “She changed as she grew older, became a bit of an introvert and Dirk’s rules haven’t helped but she never lost her appetite for knowledge.”

  “Until what? She’d been kidnapped?”

  A gleam he didn’t care for deepened the blue of her eyes. “She told you? You have gotten close. She had to be bribed as a child to see the psychologist. And then, she’d simply refused to speak of it.”

  “It’s certainly moulded her.”

  He thought of the night light. She’d been trapped in a dark room for days. No wonder she couldn’t stand the darkness.

  Caitlin snapped her lips shut when Bethany joined them. She wore a pair of sweatpants and a loose knit jumper that swamped her delicate frame and erased all curves from sight. Her long blonde hair hung loosely about her face, giving her a lost look and cutting a good ten years off her age.

  “Aunt Cait.”

  “Bethany, sweetheart.” Caitlyn enclosed her in her arms, Bethany looking even younger and more lost if such a thing was possible. Bethany hiccupped.

  Declan smiled. Once he had gotten her home he had directed Davies to bring Beth a tea—an Irish tea. Apparently, Bethany wasn’t much of a drinker and had been out cold ten minutes later.

  “I’m fine now, Aunt Cait.”

  Caitlyn frowned. “Your father has a lot to answer for. Honestly, I can’t believe he put you in the middle.”

  “I’m surprised I’ve been spared this experience before. He’s not the first and unfortunately, won’t be the last. I just have to keep one foot in front of the other and keep fighting. I can’t let them win or continue to control my life.”

  Caitlyn cut him a look. “Is this your influence?”

  “Maybe.”

  “I like it.”

  Bethany smiled and Declan’s heart swelled. It felt like forever since he had last seen that gorgeous beauty.

  “Let’s go sit down,” Caitlyn suggested after they had stood in silence for a few minutes. She hooked her arm through Beth’s and started off towards the sunroom. A hand linked with his and he glanced down to find Bethany’s hand holding onto his with a death grip. He wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed gently as he moved with the two women, never once letting go of Bethany’s hand.

  ***

  “How is Sophie? I haven’t heard from her in years.” Beth sat beside Declan on the chaise. She had no choice but to sit beside him, it was that or release his hand and she wasn’t quite ready to do that just yet. He was her lifeline, her little bit of sanity in an out of control world. Their thighs touched and she soaked up the warmth his body freely gave to her. She was cold and had the beginnings of a headache. Today had been too much for her. What had started as a day of fun had changed dramatically for the worse and she felt nine years old again, trying to make sense of what was happening, scared and alone, powerless to fight back. But she wasn’t alone any longer. She had Declan. A man who was safety in a turbulent sea.

  She’d quickly began to trust him, knowing if she reached out in the darkness he’d be there to take her hand. Though in the back of mind she knew it would only be temporary. His steady assurance gave weight to her own pitiful self-confidence.

  Caitlyn removed her beanie, jacket and scarf as she settled across from them. “She’s fine. Her son just celebrated his third birthday.”

  “Sophie has a son? Wow, that’s amazing. Let me guess he’s just as wilful and stubborn as his mother.”

  Sadness came over Caitlyn’s face and Bethany wanted to kick herself. She had known for some time that Caitlyn and Alec’s relationship with their daughter was strenuous at best.

  “I don’t know. I’ve only seen photos of Scotty. Alec and I have never met the boy. Alec is still pissed after all these years that she ran away with a man he didn’t approve of.”

  “Oh.” She knew Alec Harris. He wasn’t one for forgetting anything, let alone forgiving and was only thankful she had never ended up on his bad side. He was a fiercely protective and loyal man and she could still remember the hard look on his face when he’d come to collect her. His face had been at odds with his touch when he had bundled her up against him and held her with aching tenderness, squeezing her tightly with relief. That day had been the first and only time she had seen tears in his eyes and those tears had been for her.

  “I feel Sophie has come to realise her mistakes and wants to mend fences. But he won’t talk to her the stubborn fool and it’s hurting us all.”

  “No one could ever accuse Uncle Alec of being reasonable.”

  Caitlyn swallowed. “I’m sorry. I came over to make sure you were okay and here I am unburdening on you.”

  “Actually, I’d prefer to talk about anything other than today.”

  She didn’t want to dwell on the terror she felt pinned beneath Declan and the rat-a-tat-tat of bullet fire. Or the horrid woman at the function and the harsh truths she’d slapped in her face.

  “Oh, sweetheart, your father has put you in an impossible position. Honestly, I don’t know what he’s thinking. What he’s left you holding is unforgivable. Least he did something right by hiring Declan.”

  Beth released Declan’s hand and stood. She stopped at the large glass walls that overlooked the estate. Though, as darkness had settled she couldn’t see much except the exterior lights positioned to spotlight the hedges. Already she felt bereft of Declan’s strength and warmth. Soon she would not be able to function without him and that scared her. She hated how weak she’d allowed herself to become. How she’d let her father manipulate her into staying. She needed to stop hiding behind excuses. Only she should be blamed. She’d been too afraid to live her life.

  “I know you don’t think much of my father. Sometimes neither do I but he does love me.”

  “I never thought he didn’t.” Caitlyn’s voice became apologetic as if guessing
she may have hit a nerve. “I just can’t stand the fact that you are often second place in his life, that you’re the last thought in his mind. Your mother was too and he loved her more than anything.”

  Bethany turned to face Caitlyn. “I often wondered. I can’t seem to recall many memories of my mother, just a few fleeting ones. Unfortunately, none of them are of my father and my mother.”

  “I must admit I had my doubts about the two of them. I didn’t meet Dirk until Charlene was already pregnant with you. But it was obvious to anybody with eyes they adored one another. If she hadn’t died—”

  A tight band around her heart squeezed. “Was my father as involved in his work as he is now?”

  Caitlyn’s eyes became unfocused and Bethany wondered if she was dredging up old memories looking for the answer.

  “When he first met your mother, I believe so. Bennett Shipping wasn’t as prestigious as it is now. If I remember correctly it had been run into the ground by your grandfather. Dirk was struggling to rebuild at the time Charley swept him off his feet.”

  Declan had mentioned something similar.

  “I can’t see my father as a young man. One who was ruled by his desires. How did they meet? I’m sure I’ve heard the story before but I can’t remember it.”

  “Dirk was looking for investors. Charley was one of them. Like everything in Dirk’s world what he wanted he got. And he wanted Charley. She could light up a room just by walking into it.” Tears welled in Caitlyn’s eyes and Bethany felt bad for bringing the subject of her mother up. It was obviously still a raw topic for her mother’s best friend. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Caitlyn stood and walked towards her. “Don’t be sorry, I should’ve told you all this years ago.” She smiled. “Did you know that I lived with Charley and your grandparents from the age of fifteen? They were my godparents and took me in.”

  “No, I didn’t know that. I knew you and Mum were friends that’s it.”

  “Best friends. Sisters even. We did everything together. She was beautiful, kind, energetic—full of life. We lost touch for a while and the next time I saw her you were on the way. You remind me of her in so many ways.”