Secret Identity

by Sanders, Jill

  “I'm very disappointed with your behavior. First you cancel our dinner plans and now I hear from Mitchell that you're signing on as partner with K&E.”

  “Really, Simon, what I do is none of your business.” She turned to leave, but he grabbed her wrist again, causing her to let out a small squeal. When he started to twist it, she looked into his eyes. Anger filled his face and she watched as his hands began to shake.

  “We had an agreement,” he pulled her close and the smell of his cologne almost gagged her. She tried to pull away, to push him back, but he just pulled her closer. “We were going to go places, be together.” He leaned down and plastered his mouth over hers. She kicked and pushed him away, and when she’d finally freed her mouth and arm, she slapped him across the face.

  He pulled back and laughed, twisting her arm painfully around her back. “I will have you both as a partner and in my bed. I know your type. All you need is a firm hand. You'll see.” He started pulling her towards the end of the alleyway. “I've got a suite at the Drake. We'll just head over there and make our future arrangements.”

  She thought about her plans with Carter, about her future with him and with K&E. Everything, all of her malicious plans to take K&E to another level disappeared. The only thing remained was Carter's voice, his face, the feel of his hands on her. There was no way she would let Simon touch her like that. No way she'd ever be partners with him.

  Kicking out, she hit his shin hard enough that he released her. Then she screamed as his hand swiped out to backhand her. She watched him smile as she lost her footing and fell backwards. When her head hit the cold cement, blackness engulfed her. The last thought she had was of Carter. Of never seeing him again.

  She jerked to reality. Her head spun and her vision was going gray. The smell of Simon's cologne was stronger and she knew he was close. Looking around, she could only see darkness. Rushing towards what she thought was the party, she prayed she was heading the right direction. When she ran into a small gate, she realized she'd gotten turned around. Now she was in the back alley of the hotel, probably where employees took their smoke breaks. Shaking her head, trying to clear her vision, she realized for the first time that she was freezing.

  She saw a large light and started to head towards it, only to have her arm yanked behind her as she was being pushed up against a brick wall.

  “I wondered if you'd remembered me, yet.” Simon's face hovered near hers, the smell of his cologne gagging her. “Imagine my surprise when I found out that you'd lost your memory. Here was my second chance. I came here tonight to try and convince you, but when I saw you take off, I knew you'd remembered. What you don't remember is that you enjoyed my rough hands. Trip after trip to Chicago, you'd beg me.” He smiled and she felt like clawing his eyes out, but her hands were now trapped behind her and the wall. “We were lovers, Eve. You had a dark side no one knew about, only me.” He leaned in to kiss her, but instead he was ripped from her. She spun around and started to fall, only to be steadied. Her eyesight still hadn't returned, but the feel of Carter's arms around her assured her she was safe.

  “Edwards! This is the last time you'll come between me and Eve.” Carter pushed her gently behind him.

  “Simon, you're delusional. You've always had a twisted mind.”

  She heard someone growl, then Carter disappeared from her grasp. In the darkness of the alley, she could only make out two dark forms as they battled. She could hear the blows and grunts as fists connected. Should she run for help? Where would she go? Looking around, everything was dark except a few lights. Which direction? Her head was pounding and her vision was so bad now, she couldn't make out who was who.

  “Stop! Someone help!” she screamed down the alley. She moved forwards only to be shoved back, her arm twisted behind her.

  “Don't! Move and I'll kill her.” She felt something near her neck. Then Carter's face came into view. His mouth was bleeding and one of his eyes was half shut.

  “Touch her and die.” Carter swiped at the blood on his mouth. His dinner jacket was ripped and his white shirt had blood spots on the front.

  “You've always been a pain in my ass,” Simon growled. “Back in college you always got what I wanted first.” He looked between them and smirked. “Well, this is one time you won't end up with the prize.”

  Then Eve felt a sharp burst of heat in her side. Simon threw her towards Carter and she landed softly in his arms. He started to scream for help as Simon ran out of the dark alley.

  Looking up, she realized she was on the cold ground. Carter's face hovered above hers as he talked to her. She couldn't hear his voice, she desperately wanted to hear his voice.

  Reaching up with a shaky hand, she touched his face and smiled. “Shhh, it's okay. I meant to tell you… I planned to tell you at midnight. I love you.” The darkness was coming too fast, she had more she wanted to say, but her teeth were chattering now and her vision had completely gone. Her hearing returned right before the darkness consumed her.

  “Don't leave me, Eve. Don't you dare leave me.”

  Carter paced the hallway outside the waiting room. There were too many people crammed in the small space for his liking. This way, he could see the doctor first. Mitch and Sandi sat on a bench outside the doors, watching him. Sandi's eyes were red and puffy from crying.

  Two hours later, Eve's parents strolled in like they had all the time in the world. He could see concern on her mother's face, but her father showed no emotion.

  Mitch stood and greeted them. Carter tried not to acknowledge them as they went into the waiting area to wait with the rest of the party.

  Two times, two times he'd seen Eve lying on the cold ground in an alley. There was no way he'd allow it to happen again. Stupid. He'd been so stupid to take his eyes off her. Why hadn't he guessed it had been Simon who'd attacked her the first time?

  He'd been interviewed by the police, just like the first time. However, this time, he had a name to give them. When Mitch had found out it was Simon, his friend’s face had filled with anger.

  “Son of a…” he stopped and looked towards Sandi. “I bet we can tie those threatening letters back to him as well. I should have seen it.” Mitch had pulled Sandi close as she'd cried. Then Sandi had demanded to take a look at Carter's bloody lip and black eye. He hadn't even felt the pain.

  Three hours after they'd wheeled Eve upstairs for surgery, the doctor walked into the hallway outside the surgery waiting area.

  “Are you family?” He asked Carter and Mitch.

  “Yes, I'm her brother and this is her fiancé,” Mitch piped in, winking at Carter.

  “Very well. Eve's very lucky. The cut pierced her liver and nicked her gall bladder, but we've repaired most of the damage. She does have a slight crack in her ninth, or false rib, but she's out of rough water. We're moving her to ICU where we'll want her to stay until she regains consciousness. I've read her charts and with the recent head injuries, I'll want to keep her for a few extra days, just to make sure.”

  Carter turned around when the waiting room door opened and Eve's parents walked out. They introduced themselves to the doctor.

  “I was just telling your daughter's fiancé, here, that we'll be moving Eve to the ICU. If you want, you can head up there. Only one visitor at a time is allowed in the room, but I see no reason why you can't see her once they get her settled.”

  Eve's father glared at Carter and her mother smiled slightly. When the doctor was gone, her father turned to him. “Fiancé?”

  “Yes, sir. Is there a problem?” He held his shoulders back, ready for a fight.

  “No. It's about damn time, don't you think?” With that, he grabbed his wife's arm and started walking towards the elevators.

  Mitch slapped him on the back. “Well, I guess congratulations are in order.” He laughed. “I guess I'll just pop in there and tell everyone else the good news. Why don't you head up there and see about seeing our girl.”

  It took Eve almost a day to regain conscio
usness. Her eyes fluttered opened and the first thing she said was his name. He was right there, touching her hand and talking to her. When she asked about Simon, he told her the truth.

  “By the time the police arrived at his hotel, he'd already checked out. So far, he hasn't checked back in with his secretary, and she doesn't know where he's gone. Yesterday they found his private jet on an abandoned airstrip just outside of Phoenix. The police think he's crossed the border.” He frowned. If he ever saw the man again, he'd kill him and he knew Mitch felt the same way.

  She relaxed a little knowing he was no longer a problem.

  “Your parents are here.” He smiled at her. “I have to say, I'm surprised they've stuck around this long. But they wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “Really?” She tried to sit up a little.

  “No.” He tried to stop her. “Stay still.”

  She closed her eyes on the pain. “How bad?” she asked as she reached over and rubbed the bandages over her wound.

  He shook his head. “He sliced up your liver pretty bad, nicked your gall bladder in the process. But the doc says it's your ribs that will give you problems.”

  He took her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “I almost lost you again.” He leaned his head down to hers and kissed her forehead. She reached up and ran her hands through his hair.

  “You scared me.”

  He pulled back and looked down at her and asked, “I scared you?”

  She nodded her head, her eyes closed. “Yes, I thought he was going to kill you.” She opened her eyes and he watched tears fall down her face. “I couldn't stand it if you weren't here.” Her voice hitched as she took his hand and placed a soft kiss on his cut knuckles. “I love you. I don't want to live without you. I want to us live in our big house in Maine, take long walks on the beach, and have a family together.”

  He smiled. “I'd like that as well.” Then he kissed her lips and knew everything was going to be all right.

  Epilogue

  Eve walked onto the beach, the light material of her dress blowing in the cool breeze. She could smell the flowers in her hair and hands, as well as the salt water of the ocean spray. There were three dozen chairs spread out along the water's edge. Carter and Mitch stood at the makeshift altar, which was covered in white flowers. She smiled at Carter and walked towards the pair. One of them she thought of as a brother, the other was soon to be her husband.

  When she arrived at the altar, she stood off to the side and watched Sandi walk towards Carter and Mitch, and the crowd stood. Eve had outdone herself when she'd created her friend’s wedding dress. The off-white silk clung and flowed in a unique design of Eastern mixed with Western cultures.

  Sandi's mother smiled as she stood in the front row. Eve knew that Sandi had insisted on a traditional Western marriage, much to her mother's disapproval. But they had compromised and later next week, Eve would be bridesmaid in their second, Eastern-style wedding.

  Seeing Mitch's face as his bride joined him made her smile and a tear escaped her eyes. Looking over, she smiled at Carter, who was smiling back at her.

  After the wedding, when the crowd had gathered on the dance floor and around the food on the large deck overlooking the setting sun, Carter approached her and took her hand.

  “How about a walk on the beach?”

  “I'd love one.” She smiled as he grabbed two flutes of champagne as they walked by a waiter. She no longer feared that Simon would jump from the shadows; he was rotting in a cell in Arizona. At least for the next few years, and after that…well, she had Carter to protect her from anything that might come up after that.

  Carter waited until they were far enough away from the crowd before handing her the glasses. Then, smoothly, he got down on one knee and pulled a small black box from his coat pocket.

  “I wanted to make this official.” He smiled at her. “Eve Taylor, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

  She smiled down at him. “Yes, of course.” She handed him his glass and took the ring and placed it on her finger. She'd seen his grandmother's ring before, in a memory. But seeing it on her own finger, shining in the dying sunlight, it was more impressive and beautiful then she remembered.

  Carter stood and held up his glass. “To new beginnings and to our future.” They clicked their glasses together, then drank. Then Carter pulled her into a hug and kissed her as the sun slipped below the water's edge.

  Secret Sauce

  Trent owns one of the highest-profile restaurants in New York. His food and secret recipes are highly sought after. His personal life follows his successful career. Beautiful women hang on his every word. But when his restaurant receives a bad review from a well-known food critic, things take a turn for the worse. Now someone is trying to blackmail him into revealing his secrets. When he finally tracks down the food critic and supposed blackmailer, he might just lose more than his secret sauce to her.

  Marina's true identity has been hidden for years. She receives her paychecks in secret and hides from the world in one of the largest cities in the world. But when her secrets are threatened, she'd do anything to protect the person she loves the most, even if it means sleeping with the enemy.

  About the Author

  NY Times bestselling author, Jill Sanders survived 80′s pop music and life as an identical twin in a chaotic family of nine. A feat by any standard! She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, relocating to Colorado for college and a successful IT career at IBM in Boulder.

  Narrowly escaping before all creativity was squashed, she jumped at the chance to trade the mundane world of computers for the sexy, exciting world of her own imagination. She now lives in charming rural Texas writing wonderful novels such as the Pride series.

  Her debut novel, Finding Pride, was shortlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards 2013, and has since climbed to #1 on Amazon Bestsellers – Contemporary Romance & Romantic Suspense. Each Pride Series and Secret Series novel has spent time on bestseller lists for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple.