Then there was a thump and Robert let out a groan, and went flying into a chair.
Kelly turned to see Alex holding up a small nude statue with blood on one end. He gave her a wry smile. “Bullet-proof vest borrowed from the studio.”
Blood rushed to her head and heart. “Alex, oh Alex, you scared the life out of me.” Tears fell from her eyes, but she still snatched the weapon from the table and aimed it at Robert.
Robert raised his hand and smeared the blood trickling on his forehead. “You’re supposed to be dead, Drake.”
“I guess I’m a better actor than you think. Detective Spagnola had been suspicious of you earlier, and when I called him this morning, he said he’d interrogated Lewis who said he didn’t kill them but you might be behind the deaths of Kelly’s parents. He told me to use caution if I went in after Kelly in your house.”
Her hand shook but Kelly kept the gun pointed at Robert. “You’re going to jail. You’re nothing but a cheat and a murderer.”
“No one will believe you two over me,” he said through clenched teeth. “Drake, I’ll have you thrown in jail for assaulting an American citizen."
“My cell’s been recording everything since I stepped in the front door.” Alex moved away from Robert and checked his watch. “Detective Spagnola said if he didn’t hear from me by eleven a.m., he’d send over the local police. It’s now five past.”
“You two-bit actor,” Robert sneered as he rose to his feet. “You ruined everything.” He staggered toward Kelly.
Her hand was shaking as she kept the gun trained on him. “Robert, don't make me shoot you.”
Alex retrieved the weapon from her. “After all he’s done, I won’t hesitate.”
Kelly crossed her arms. “He’s going to jail for the rest of his life. The humiliation will be worse than death for him.”
“I’m not going to rot in prison while he screws you.” Robert lunged at Alex.
Alex fired. By Robert’s expression as he toppled to the floor, Kelly didn’t think he was surprised at the outcome. He’d obviously made his choice. He wanted an easy way out and was too arrogant to face the public with his crimes.
Pain wrenched Robert’s face as he spat out, “Now, Drake, you’ll go to prison for murdering me to get to my fiancée. You’ll never have her.” He let out a final gasp.
Alex placed the gun on the table and pulled Kelly into his arms, and away from Robert’s still body. “Are you all right, love.”
With tears running down her face, she nodded against his shoulder. “I love you, Alex. Nothing in this world will ever be wrong, as long as you’re okay and you’re with me. ”
“I’m sorry I had to do that.” He cupped her face with his hands and his thumbs, wiping the wetness from her cheeks. He lightly brushed his lips over hers. “It’s over now, sweetheart.”
“You think so, Alex?” asked a familiar shrewish voice from behind. They turned as Vanessa stepped into the room. Hatred glittered in her eyes. She grabbed the weapon lying on the table. “What a disgusting display of affection, Alex. I could kill her for that alone, not to mention that you killed Robert.” With unsteady hands, she pointed the pistol toward Kelly.
Kelly sucked in her breath.
“He tried to kill us,” Alex said, thrusting Kelly behind him. “Now, put the gun down,” he ordered. “Your career’s too important to you, and you don’t want to go to jail.”
Vanessa’s mouth turned downward. “Alex, why didn’t you love me? I’m beautiful. Men grovel at my feet.”
Sirens blared outside and the sound grew closer.
“Damn it to hell.” Vanessa whirled. She tossed the weapon on the sofa and fled from the room.
Simultaneously exhaling, Alex and Kelly sagged into each other’s arms.
Chapter Twenty-three
Two weeks later, along with her Aunt Kaye, Kelly flew into London for her wedding to Alex.
“To think I almost married Robert,” Kelly shuddered at the thought as they taxied down the runway. “How could I not see how evil he was?”
“There’re a lot of things we all regret in life. I wished I’d expressed my suspicions about him, too.”
“Well, I think you tried to when I was on the cruise.”
“But I had no idea the extent of all this—if only I’d put two-and-two together. You were almost killed. I’d never have forgiven myself.”
Kelly squeezed her aunt’s hand. “It’s all over now.”
When they got out of the car at Alex’s house, Kelly clutched Aunt Kaye’s elbow. Her gaze swept over the large country house, complete with expansive landscaped grounds that went down to a small lake. “I plan to have a long talk with my future husband. He’d never once let on he had such a magnificent home.”
“I’m so happy for you, sweetie. He’s a nice man and he took care of you when you were in need.”
As Kelly took in the site of the house, she thought the old English manor of stone and brick would be the perfect place to raise their child, except––she thought with a smile––when they were living in California.
Last week, Alex had left for England to prepare everything for their wedding. She and Aunt Kaye had stayed in a hotel when they arrived last night, so the groom wouldn’t see her until the ceremony.
Strangely, Robert had left her heir to his estate so the ranch and all his other property reverted to her––even his film production company. Once everything was through probate, and the production company could be sold, the money he stole to finance that company, would be returned to Cochran Investments. She would have enough funds to repay the missing money to the clients immediately and put Cochran Investments back on its feet.
In the long term, she planned to restore her family home to its original style with some of the rest of the money. Though, now seeing Alex’s home, she wasn’t so sure she’d have to do it so soon, but still it was her dream, and she hoped he’d want to live in both places.
Robert had done so much damage to her life, in so many ways. It took two weeks for the authorities to straighten out what he’d done to her father’s company.
As they stepped to the front door, Kelly felt blissfully happy to be alive. She couldn’t wait to be in Alex’s arms again. She had daydreamed all week about what living with him would be like, but she’d not expected starting out in this charming house.
Vases of roses, with their sweet scent, decorated the inside hall.
Friends and relatives arrived and filled up the house. Alex’s mother, aunts and uncles, cousins, and his sisters and brother were already there.
His cousin Susan gave Kelly a warm hug. “I’ve found another job. What a relief not to work for the witch any longer.”
Tammy was ushered inside, along with a few of Kelly’s friends from California.
Kelly greeted them all, then took Tammy aside. “I’m so glad you could be here. Thanks for everything. The company needs you more than ever now.”
“I’m happy you’re letting me stay. I never realized what Robert was capable of.” Tammy shook her head in dismay. “And to think I loved him, left my marriage for him.”
Kelly sighed. “We were all fooled. None of us knew the true Robert.”
“What about Vanessa? Has she tried to interfere with your marriage to Alex?"
“No,” Kelly said with a chuckle. “Thankfully, Vanessa is about to marry a rich, elderly man with a title.”
When Vanessa had been questioned about the murders, she insisted she’d not known how far Robert had gone. She said she’d agreed all those years ago to help him make Kelly’s father look like he was having an affair with her, in exchange for movie roles.
Both Kelly and Alex decided not to have Vanessa prosecuted as long as she stayed out of their lives and sought psychiatric care. The media and the tabloids had punished her enough and her career was nearly defunct.
The guests murmured as Alex entered with the minister. He shared a smile with Kelly from across the room.
He walked up to
her and kissed her on the cheek, and said, “You look ravishingly beautiful.”
His words filled her with contentment. “So do you,” she croaked. “And you have a wonderful house, Alex. Funny, you never told me about all this.”
“What?” he asked, with a lopsided grin. “You were expecting a hut?”
She groaned. “Not entirely, but maybe some little apartment or flat.”
Linking his arm in hers, he gazed down at her. “Are you ready to make another agreement with me and become my wife, love of my life and my heart?”
“Yes, but I think this time I’ll let you set the terms to our new agreement.”
He grinned. “All right, but I warn you. I drive a hard bargain. Are you sure?”
“I’ll agree to anything and everything you want,” she teased in a husky voice.
“Tsk, Tsk. I like where your mind is going, but that’s not what I meant. No, this time I’m only asking you to stay with me forever and to never leave my side.”
Beaming up at him, she nodded. “That’s an agreement I can live with for a lifetime.”
Holding his hand, Kelly walked with him toward the minister with joy in her heart. All they’d been through had forged a strong bond that wouldn't be broken.
After their vows, the minister said, “You may kiss your bride.”
Kelly returned Alex’s kiss as eagerly as he gave it. Then they remembered they were in a room full of people. The broke away and shared a laugh. Everyone clapped.
* * *
Later in the evening, Alex and Kelly lay in his wide four-poster bed, with a fire crackling in the fireplace and warming the room. Tomorrow, they headed for a weeklong cruise in the South Pacific. And then a week, in a bungalow on a beach—at a resort—with room service.
He caressed her hand, his finger touching her diamond wedding band. “It’s not the size Hillyard gave you, but it’s a family heirloom. I’ll buy you more jewelry later.”
“I love this ring.” She brushed her lips across his shoulder. “By the way, I found out neither one of Robert’s engagement rings were real. The diamonds were as phony as his love for me. Besides, I love this one. I told you before what I wanted from life, and an enormous diamond ring wasn’t on the list.”
“Ah, what did you desire? A family . . . which we’ll have very soon.” He winked and patted her rounded stomach. “And a husband who loves and wants only you. You have that now. Come, let me show you again how much I love you.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “Live with me, and be my love, and we will all the pleasures prove,” he said, quoting Shakespeare.
“Mmmmmm,” she said dreamily. “Did you mention pleasure, Alex?”
He stroked the smooth skin at her waist and leaned in for a kiss. “Yes, love, now and forever.”
* * * * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debra Andrews has dabbled with writing fiction for most of her life. She likes to write stories with a lot of conflict, adventure and suspense. When she’s not working, she’s enjoying her family and pets.
Dear Reader:
I hope that you enjoyed the book. If you did, and have the time, please leave a review and a “like” on the buy page of Amazon.com or wherever you purchased this ebook.
Thank you so much,
Debra
For future release information, and a mailing list, or if you have any comments about this story, please visit:
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Coming soon in the “Nothing but Trouble Books”:
DISGUISED
A woman lies about her credentials to land a job at a company to seek evidence that the owner is involved in corrupt business practices, which caused the death of her brother. Not only does she fall in love with the man, she finds him innocent, and that he’s the real target of sabotage. However, before she can confess her ruse, he discovers she lied and thinks she’s behind the schemes to destroy him.
Dangerous Paradise Page 34