Embrace Me

by Rebecca Turley

  “Well, this is like old times,” Megan smiled, looking between all of us. “Maybe you should sit next to me, Charlie. You might still like it.”

  “Megan, for once think about someone other than yourself!” Will bellowed, making me jump. “Shannon and Charlie have offered to help find Maisy. Do you know what that could mean?”

  “Will,” Veronica interrupted, “let’s not fight amongst ourselves anymore, please.”

  “I’m sick of this!” Megan screeched, getting up and storming out with Veronica chasing after her.

  “If you will excuse me,” Sir Phillip replied, getting up from the table, as well. “I’m sorry for all that has been done, Shannon.”

  “What do you mean by that?” Charlie asked.

  “I shouldn’t have taken your life and identity away, Miss Downing. It’s the one thing I regret the most in my life, other than losing my youngest child.” I knew my mouth had almost dropped to the floor as I watched Sir Phillip leave. What had happened to the Field family?

  I was so busy watching Sir Phillip that I hadn’t noticed Charlie get out of his seat and storm over to Will.

  “I know what you did, you son of a bitch,” Charlie snarled, grabbing Will by the shirt. “If you come anywhere near Shannon, I swear to God…”

  “Charlie,” Will was trying to squirm away from Charlie’s hold. “I…I have no idea what you’re talking about. I haven’t laid eyes on Shannon for months,” Will stuttered.

  “Don’t try to talk your way out of it. You were never going to win. Nothing would have ever kept us apart,” Charlie snarled, pushing Will harshly.

  “CHARLIE!” I yelled, rushing over.

  “You tried to force yourself on Shannon the night before the wedding you blackmailed her into. You bastard! How could you do that? You’re a Goddamn monster!”

  Will’s eyes met with mine as I reached Charlie, grabbing his hand and pulling him away.

  “It was the biggest mistake of my life. I would happily let you hit me. I deserve worse.”

  “Really? You’d let me hit you?” Charlie asked, tilting his head. I could feel the anger still surging through his body.

  “Yes,” Will whispered. In the blink of an eye, Charlie hit him square in the face.

  “You keep your distance. I mean it, Will, or you’ll have Jennet and me to deal with.”

  “Do you think you’re the big man, now, Charlie?” Will gloated, rubbing his jaw. “It’s easy for you to hide behind Jennet. You wouldn’t have reached us the day of our wedding without her help.” I shuddered. I didn’t want to bring up these painful memories.

  “I was the one who found you on that Island, Will. Jennet only gave me the means to get there. Do not underestimate what I am capable of. I will do anything to keep Shannon safe from your insane family.”

  “And you certainly landed on your feet doing that. You’re dating the richest heir in the world. Are you sure it wasn’t all planned?” I flinched, grabbing Charlie’s arm as he made another attempt to hit Will.

  “I know what you’re trying to do,” he smirked, pulling me towards him as he scowled at Will. “I’m not falling for it, Will.” He began to guide me towards the door. “Just keep your distance, you son of a bitch. I mean it. I want your word.”

  “You have my word. You won. I get it,” Will laughed, stroking his jaw softly. “You have one hell of a punch, Charlie, I’ll give you that.”

  “Just keep your promise, Will. I’ll be watching you,” he called before we left the boardroom.

  “Is it wrong to find you really hot right now?” I smirked as we travelled down in the elevator.

  “No,” Charlie beamed. “You bring out things in me, Miss Downing. I swear, one day you will make me lose my mind.”

  “I can’t believe you punched him.”

  “He’s had that coming for a while, and he did ask for it.” Charlie smiled, leaning down to kiss my lips, softly at first, then with more vigor as he pushed me up against the lift wall.

  I could hear a clearing of a throat and noticed the lift door was open with Frank smiling in at us.

  “Really, you two,” he tutted, shaking his head. “And you wonder why you are always making front page news.”

  “Sorry, Frank,” I giggled, hiding against Charlie’s shoulder.

  “Come on, Sweetheart,” Charlie grinned, unaffected by Frank at all.

  Our mansion was full of people by the time we got back.

  “Will we ever get any time alone?” I whispered in Charlie’s ear before we greeted everyone. He smiled back reassuringly.

  “So, how did it go?” Lorna asked, sipping her wine in our front room. “You clearly didn’t kill each other…that’s a good start.”

  “It was bearable,” Charlie muttered, undoing his jacket. “Would you like a red wine, Sweetheart?” he asked me.

  “Please,” I smiled, watching him stroll off to our kitchen.

  “So…” Grace was wide-eyed. “Were all the Fields at the meeting?”

  “Yes,” I sighed, slumping down onto my sofa with a groan.

  “What did Charlie do when he saw William Field? Oh. My. God! What happened when you saw Megan?”

  “It was a little tense,” I winced, throwing my head back. “Megan was her usual bitchy self, and well, Charlie hit Will.”

  “He what?!” Lorna choked out just as Charlie wandered back in.

  “I hit Will,” he chuckled, handing me a glass of wine. “He had it coming. He actually asked for it.”

  “Are you kidding?” Lorna laughed. “I would have paid any price to see that.”

  “It won’t be repeated again,” I scolded, looking at Charlie. “You’re lucky you didn’t get arrested.”

  “A night in a cell would have been worth it, Shan. You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that,” Charlie smirked, sipping his wine.

  “I don’t blame you,” Bradley added. “I would have done the same thing.”

  “You men always have to fight with your fists,” Lorna scolded. “So, what happens now?”

  “We try working together,” I sighed, looking at Charlie. It was going to be a long few

  weeks. Charlie and I both knew that.

  “Just breathe, Shan,” he whispered, kissing my forehead.

  “I’m not sure I really want to hear all of this,” I replied as Charlie and I walked hand-in-hand into the hotel suite Sir Field and Veronica were staying in.

  “Your mother will already be there. I’m sure they have told her the worst parts.”

  “I can’t believe it’s the Russian mafia,” I exhaled, holding onto his hand as tight as I could.

  “I can’t believe Frank got such a big lead.”

  “Just imagine if we do find Maisy,” I muttered, somewhat hopeful.

  “I’m more concerned about keeping you safe, Shan,” Charlie smiled, pulling me into his loving arms. “I could never deal with losing you again—ever.” I smiled as I looked into his dreamy blue-green eyes. When his lips softly met with mine, I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck. I couldn’t help but groan as I felt his hands slide down my back.

  Our lips parted to the sound of a female clearing her throat, and I couldn’t help my smirk as I saw Megan stood there with her mouth wide open, watching us. This was the first time she had seen Charlie and me kissing with such passion. It might have been too much for her.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” she scolded, throwing her long blonde hair behind her

  shoulders, “but my mother and father are ready for you.”

  “Oh, you didn’t interrupt, Megan. Charlie and I have plenty of time for that later,” I grinned. I noticed Charlie shake his head, sniggering at me as he followed my lead.

  Sir Phillip greeted me first. “Hello, Shannon.” His voice still sent shivers down my spine.

  “We haven’t come for niceties,” Charlie replied firmly. “We just want answers and a progress report.”

  “Of course, Mr. Collins.” I sensed a tone of surprise in his voice. Perha
ps he was a little taken aback by Charlie’s abruptness.

  “Our lead has been confirmed. There has been a sighting of Maisy in Brazil.” Sir Phillip’s voice was emotionless. You wouldn’t have thought he was talking about his youngest daughter.

  “Is it the Russian Mafia?” I asked, desperate to know what we were up against.

  “Yes.” I heard my mother’s voice come from behind me. “Hello, my Lizzie,” she smiled warmly before embracing me.

  “Do you think our security will be able to infiltrate them and get to Maisy?” I asked as my mother pulled away.

  “That’s up to Sir Phillip. Our team is busy following the Russian Mafia. If they think they can scare me, they’re wrong.”

  “What did Frank uncover?” My voice was a whisper as my mother pulled me over to the large white sofa in the far corner of the suite.

  “They are planning another attack on you,” she said as she moved the hair away from my face. Charlie ran his hands through his hair, watching me closely. I knew this was hard for him. “We believe someone who works for our company is leaking information to the Russian mafia, telling them your schedule.”

  “Do we know who the leak is?” My mother shook her head sadly at me.

  “Shannon, we need to go with this lead. We know when the abductors are going to attack. As much as I hate this, you are the only chance we have of getting our hands on one of the abductors.”

  “Jennet!” Charlie’s voice was horrified. “Can you hear yourself? You cannot use Shannon as bait. What if something goes wrong?” He was losing it, so I stood up, taking his hands in mine.

  “Charlie…” I said his name slowly, trying to get him to come back to me. He was lost somewhere, worrying about all the possibilities of what could go wrong. “I have to do this. Nothing is going to happen to me.”

  “How do you know that, Shan?” his voice was weak as he searched my eyes.

  “Because I know you won’t let it,” I smiled.

  “Charlie, it’s the only way. I hate this idea as much as you do, but Shannon will be safe. I would never put her in harm’s way,” my mother called.

  “I know that, Jennet.” He exhaled, pulling me closer to him. “I guess losing Shannon the first time has left its mark on me.” He spat the last words, turning to glare at the Fields.

  “I thought you were over that, Charlie,” Megan snapped. “You got the richer daughter—the only heir to a fortune. You should be so proud of yourself.” I had to hold onto Charlie tightly. I was sure if I let him go, he would have thrown himself over the table in rage.

  “You heartless bitch!” my mother snarled. “After everything you and your family have put my daughter through, you have the nerve to insult the only person who loved Shannon before she found me?” My mother’s voice was deadly, and I enjoyed watching Megan squirm back behind her father. “Charlie is like a son to me. If I ever so much as hear you offending him again, I’ll have you for slander.”

  “That’s enough, Jennet.” Sir Phillip held his hand up. “I know my daughter was in the wrong, but I thought we had moved on from this.”

  “We will never move on. I just want these bastards after our children behind bars.” I had never seen my mother so raw with emotion before.

  “That’s what we all want. I want my daughter back.” Sir Phillip looked towards Will and Megan. “I know now the pain I caused you all those years ago.”

  “Don’t you dare!” my mother fumed, throwing her arms around in the air. Charlie held me tighter as I tried to go to my mother. “Maisy being kidnapped is nothing compared to what you did. YOU TOOK MY DAUGHTER…MY ONLY DAUGHTER! And for what? Control! How could you do that?”

  “Charlie,” I whispered in his ear.

  He looked at me reassuringly before stepping over to my mother. “Jennet,” he said calmly, touching her arm. “Perhaps we should just go over the plan. All this arguing won’t help either party.”

  “You’re right, I am better than this,” she smiled, turning to look at me. “Sorry, Lizzie. I didn’t want you to ever see me like this.”

  “I understand,” I smiled, walking over to take her hand in mine. “But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” As we embraced each other, I noticed the longing in Megan’s eyes when I looked over my mother’s shoulder. Megan had never had this closeness with her mother.

  After a moment, we turned to the Field family, finally taking our seats at the boardroom table.

  “So,” my mother asked firmly as Frank came into the room, “how are we going to make this work?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The plan was straightforward. Frank had identified one of the Field’s security men who he believed was working for the Russian mafia. Plans had been made for a charity event that both families would be attending due to the pretend merger. Because it had been a while since I had attended anything public, there was no question that the abductors would try their hand.

  “You’re going to wear out our carpet if you keep pacing around like that,” I teased, watching Charlie closely.

  “How can you be so calm about all of this?” he stressed.

  “What choice do we have? If we want a lead, there is no other option.”

  “Anything could go wrong. What if the abductors get their hands on you? Shannon, I won’t lose you…not again.”

  I stood up, grabbing his hand and pulling him to me. “Nothing is going to happen. You will be my side the whole night, for one thing. Not to mention Frank and his team will be everywhere. He knows when the abductors will attack. It will be flawless.”

  “I love you, Shannon.”

  “I know you do. I love you, too. More than you could ever comprehend.”

  “I realize it’s wrong, but sometimes I wish we had just run away when we were in New York. We could be living happily on a small island with a few children by now knowing all we would ever need is each other.”

  “I know what you mean, but once all this has died down we can finally get some peace.”

  “Peace…you really think that?” he smirked.

  “Well, it will be a little quieter, and we won’t have to work with the Fields.”

  “You do have a point,” he smiled, running his hand down my back.

  “Mac is coming to the charity event.” Charlie inhaled sharply, trying not to show his emotion, but I knew him too well. “I thought you would want to know rather than just seeing him there.”

  “Why can’t he just leave? The world is a big place. He could go anywhere.”

  “I think he’s holding out, hoping that one day you will talk to him.”

  “He’s going to be waiting a long time.”

  “Don’t get angry, but why do you hate him so much? You were both innocent in all of this.”

  “For a start, he has brainwashed my girlfriend,” Charlie glared, letting go of my waist. “Mac is a womanizing prick. I can’t believe you’re still falling for his crap.”

  “I can’t believe you won’t even speak to your own brother. You are all he has, Charlie. How many times do I have to tell you it’s not me Mac is interested in?”

  “I don’t want to fight about this again. You know we never agree.”

  “We’re not fighting. You are just being stubborn,” I huffed, crossing my arms.

  Charlie’s face turned into a smirk. “You look so sexy when you’re angry,” he smoldered.

  “You’re not winning that way,” I snarled.

  “Are you sure about that?” he teased, leaning down to kiss my lips. I was powerless when he kissed me this way. All consuming, I gave in within seconds.

  I was nervous as Charlie and I made our way to the charity event. I tried to hide it, but he knew me too well.

  “We can go back home right now if you want to,” he whispered in my ear as the car pulled up outside. Flashing lights came from every direction.

  “No,” I smiled, touching his face. “You’re here. What could go wrong?”

  “I’m not letting go of you all ni
ght.”

  “I wouldn’t want you to,” I beamed, kissing his lips softly before getting out of the car.

  I ignored all the calls and flashing lights. I needed to stay focused, and as Charlie wrapped his arms protectively around me, I relaxed a little. If the abductors were to get their hands on me, I knew they would have to take him, too.

  When we made our way into the main hall, all eyes were on us.

  “How does it feel being this popular?” Charlie teased, squeezing my waist.

  “Wonderful,” I sighed as my eyes met with Megan and Will in the distance. I guess now was the time to pretend the truce between the Downings and Fields was real.

  “Here goes nothing,” I muttered, watching them make their way over towards us.

  “This is going to be impossible,” Charlie groaned. I turned to him, stroking his face before I spoke.

  “It will be fine…just don’t let go of me.”

  “Never,” he beamed, pulling me even closer to him.

  “Shannon, it’s so wonderful you could make it.” Megan was forcing her words out, and as she embraced me, I could feel the tension in her body. She hated this as much as I did. “You look…lovely.”

  “Thank you.” I wasn’t prepared to offer my compliments to her. I’d given her enough in the years we had been friends. Megan knew how beautiful she was. She had clearly gone all out tonight, choosing to wear a red silk gown that pulled her perfect figure in, in all the right places. I felt a little underdressed in my deep purple gown as I stood next to her.

  “Your mother is at the bar, Shannon,” Will commented, staring at me. I still felt uncomfortable in his presence; I couldn’t help it. The lengths he went to to claim me like some prize were too unreal.

  “Have all the precautions been taken?” Charlie snarled at Will.

  “Yes. Frank is with our security team as we speak. He has his eyes on the suspects.” I glanced around the room, realising my abductors were probably already watching me.

  “I think we should get a drink,” Megan chimed in. “I’m sure Shannon needs one.” I had to smile at that. She still knew me in a small way.