I felt Charlie move as Patrick pulled the trigger, and then everything became a blur.
The sound of the gun going off froze me into place, but Charlie pulled me out of harm’s way and behind him. I screamed, clinging to him as we both fell to the ground. Please, God, no! What had I done? I should have agreed to leave with Patrick. What was I thinking?
“NO!” a pained voice yelled.
“Mac!” Charlie’s voice was wounded as I felt his arms unfold around me on the ground. I breathed in relief until I took in what Charlie had just said. Mac. Opening my eyes as Charlie released me, I saw Mac on the ground in front of us, blood seeping through his white shirt. Frank rushed to his side, holding the wound to stop the blood flow.
Patrick was tackled to the ground by three of Frank’s men, his gun kicked away from him and out of reach.
“Someone call 9-11!” Lorna had suddenly appeared with Bradley and my mother.
“Shannon!” My mother was hysterical as she pulled me into her arms. “Thank God. I thought I had lost you. Oh, God, is Mac okay?” My eyes were wet as I looked down at Mac lying on the ground. Charlie was at his side.
“Hold on, Mac. The ambulance is coming,” Charlie soothed, holding his brother’s hand. Mac must have seen that Patrick was going to shoot him and jumped in the way.
“D…D…Do…you…believe…me now?” Mac choked up at Charlie.
“I believe you, so hold on,” he whimpered, looking up at me with wet eyes.
I was numb as I sat in the hospital waiting room. Everyone was there with me: Lorna, Bradley, Grace, my mother—even Charlie’s mum. Charlie had hardly said a word since Mac had been put in the ambulance.
When the doctor came out we all stood up, and I could feel the tension radiating off our entire group.
“We’ve stopped the internal bleeding. He was lucky—an inch higher and it would have damaged a major organ.” The doctor smiled reassuringly.
“He’s…going to be okay?” Charlie asked. I gripped his hand tightly for support.
“Yes, he’s no longer critical.”
“Thank, God!” my mother sighed. “I can’t take much more stress tonight.”
It didn’t take long before everyone started to make their exits, Grace, Lorna and Bradley the last to leave.
“Are you sure you two will be okay?” Lorna asked, darting her eyes to Charlie.
“We’ll be fine,” I whispered, hugging her again. “Thank you.”
“I’m just glad you’re safe,” she muttered. “Call us if you need anything.”
“We will,” I called as they headed out the door. Charlie was sat with his head in his hands when I turned around. “Maybe we should go home and freshen up?” I suggested.
“What if he wakes up? I don’t want him to be alone.”
“Charlie, it’s fine. We can wait if you want,” I soothed, running my hands through his hair.
“I’m sorry,” he whimpered, looking up at me.
“For what?”
“For leaving you alone tonight—for not listening to you. You were right…I was so blinded by the past that I turned my back on my own brother. He took a bullet for me, Shan. How could I have gotten him so wrong?” Charlie gasped. The sorrow was clear in his voice.
“Mac understands.”
“Does he?”
“Yes,” I smiled, gently kissing his lips. The kiss tasted salty from our tears. “When he wakes up, you can talk about everything. It’s all going to be fine.”
“How are you holding up?” Charlie inhaled, stroking my knuckles. “I’m sorry I haven’t asked sooner.”
“Fine…I’m fine.” He frowned at me.
“We need to talk about you putting your life in danger earlier. Promise me you’ll never do something that reckless again?” he pleaded.
“I had no choice, Charlie. I wasn’t going to let him shoot you.”
“You’ll give me a heart attack one day, I swear.”
“You saved me again,” I teased, nudging him playfully.
He smirked, and I knew I was already forgiven. “It was more Mac than me this time. He was the one who saw you go outside with Patrick, and once we realised the lead was false, it all fit together. Patrick had been living in Moscow for a year when Maisy Field was taken. Frank was keeping tabs on him, but never thought he would betray you. It seems he has been keeping some very dangerous company with regards to his friends.”
“I know this is going to sound conceited, but I think Patrick was in love with me, too, when we were all living in London.”
“Of course he was,” Charlie chuckled. “Will and I knew that when we saw him behind the bar at that new nightclub in London. I was under no illusion at the competition I had.”
“There is no way I could have had three men in love with me back then.”
“Believe it, Sweetheart,” he smiled, pulling me into him for a sweet kiss. “Why else did you think I had to write those love notes? I was trying to make you aware of what was around you.”
“Meaning you,” I smirked against his lips.
“Well, yes. I was the most important one, of course.”
“My Mr. Notice me,” I breathed before he captured my lips again.
We were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. “Mr. Mac is awake now and is asking for a Mr. Collins,” a nurse stated.
“That’s me,” Charlie breathed. “Will you come in with me, Shan? I think I need the support.”
“Of course I will,” I smiled, standing up and holding my hand out to him.
It was painful seeing Mac strapped up to all the different machines. I couldn’t even imagine what Charlie was going through.
“C…Charlie,” he breathed out weakly.
“I’m here, Mac,” Charlie called, moving to stand at his bedside.
“Is Shannon…okay?”
“Yes—thanks to you. She’s right here.”
“Hey, Mac,” I smiled, taking his hand in mine. “Don’t you ever jump in front of a gun again, do you hear me? That’s what we pay security for.” Mac tried to laugh, but coughed instead. “I’m being serious.”
“I know…you are, but you started it…by trying to protect…my brother,” Mac tried to smile.
“Are you in a lot of pain?” Charlie asked in concern.
“No,” Mac winced.
“You’re lying,” Charlie smirked.
“Why do you…care all of a sudden?”
“Mac, you took a bullet for me.” Charlie exhaled. “I know I’ve been an idiot. I’m sorry.”
“So…we’re…okay?” Mac asked.
“I’d like to get to know my brother,” Charlie murmured.
“I’d like that, too,” Mac coughed. I reached for his water glass, helping him sip some slowly. “Thank…you,” he choked out as he touched my hand.
“We’ll let you rest. Shannon and I will come and visit you tomorrow,” Charlie replied, caressing my back. Mac nodded with a weak smile so I leaned down and gently kissed his forehead.
“We’ll see you tomorrow.” I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “And thank you for saving Charlie’s life.”
“I’d do it…again,” Mac called just before we left.
“I know you would,” I beamed before Charlie led me out.
“You don’t have to keep feeling guilty,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around Charlie while we sat in our lounge at home. It had been a few days since my attempted kidnapping, and Mac was doing well in hospital.
“I was so foolish, Shan,” Charlie winced, pulling me so I was cradled on his lap. “I was blinded by our past and truly thought that Mac was after you. I should have listened.”
“I don’t blame you, and neither does Mac.”
“But I gave you so much grief.”
“Hey,” I cooed, lifting his face up to mine, “stop this.”
“I could have lost you, Shannon. I almost did.” His voice was so lifeless as he spoke.
“But you didn’t,” I smiled, leaning down to press my
lips to his. Charlie groaned into my mouth, pushing me back against the couch. “You need to let it go. I’m safe, and Mac is going to be fine. You haven’t lost anything.”
“I don’t know how to deal with having a brother,” he whispered against my mouth. “Not after the way I’ve treated him. How can he want anything to do with me?”
“Just take it one day at a time. I was the same way when I met my mother for the first time, and look at us now,” I grinned, touching his face. “I don’t think the pair of you will have any trouble once you get to know each other.”
Charlie smirked, touching my face before he spoke. “You are amazing, Shannon Downing. How did I ever win your love?”
“You won it simply by being you,” I muttered, running my fingers through his hair. “Your love has always given me everything I have ever dreamed of.”
“You are everything I have ever dreamed of,” he smoldered, pulling me to his lips, and with his confession, I was lost in him.
Mac made great progress over the next few days, and Charlie hardly left his bedside. It gave me time to think about my future. Patrick’s betrayal had affected me more than I let on to anyone. Was I really that lost before Charlie that I couldn’t see my friends for who they truly were? All of them had let me down in some way before he came into my life. This whole mess had all been about greed.
“So Mac is making good progress?” my mother asked over the boardroom table.
“Yes, he might be getting out next week.” I smiled, running my fingertips over my water glass.
“What’s on your mind, Lizzie?”
“Have you ever thought about splitting the company up?” She looked at me in confusion. “I don’t mean selling it. I mean having partners to invest so that you and I aren’t the main heirs to everything.”
“So that’s what’s going on in that mind of yours,” she mused. “Is this because of the ransom? Shannon, it’s over. Patrick is behind bars. Maisy Field will be back safely with her family in a matter of days, and the Russian Mafia have run away scared. No one is going to touch you.”
“It’s not my safety I’m worried about.”
“Charlie can take care of himself, and we still haven’t spoken about you putting your life in danger to protect that man of yours,” she glowered.
“This isn’t about Charlie, either.” My mother looked at me, baffled. “What about when I have children? I don’t want to live in fear each time they step out the front door. I want them to live a free life, and I want to live a life without fear.”
“I see,” she beamed, sipping her coffee. “Well, you do own half of Downing International. What do you suggest?”
“I think we should break the company into ten parts. We don’t need all this money.”
“I want you to be provided for, Shannon.”
“I will be. It isn’t as if I will go without. I don’t need billions of dollars holding me down. The money will still be there, but invested back into our company.”
“If we introduce partners with shares in our company, it means we can’t make decisions on our own.”
“So we offer shares to partners we can trust.”
“You have really thought about this, haven’t you?”
“Last week gave me a lot to think about. I want a life with Charlie, Mom. You and he are the most important things in my life. I’d risk my life for him again if I had to, so don’t be angry with me. You and Charlie are everything to me.”
“Why do I feel like there is more you want to tell me?”
I took a deep breath. “I want a silent role within Downing International for a while.” My mother gasped. “The limelight isn’t for me right now. Maybe it will be later in life, once I’ve had some quality time with Charlie and the press are hounding someone else.”
“Shannon,” she stressed. “Give me a second. This is a lot to take in.”
I waited a few moments before carrying on. “Ever since Charlie saved me from the Field family, our feet have hardly touched the ground.”
“This is your life now, Shannon, you can’t run from it.”
“I’m not. I am asking for time, though. I want to get married and raise a family. You will be a huge part of all this, too. Let’s enjoy our years together. Sell some of our smaller companies and create ten new partners to run and share our profits. I won’t be a target, and neither will your grandchildren.”
“You make it all sound so perfect,” she sighed, searching my eyes.
“Just think about it.” She nodded just as Rachel wandered in.
“William Field is in the boardroom. He asked if he could speak to Shannon alone.”
“Alone?” my mother snarled. “I don’t think so.”
“Mom,” I soothed, “it’s fine. I think I can handle it.” It was the truth. Will didn’t scare me anymore; I had finally overcome my fear.
I brushed my suit down before entering the boardroom. Will was pacing the room when I entered.
“I wasn’t sure you would see me alone,” he stated, watching me take a seat.
“Is Maisy home yet?” I asked as he sat opposite me.
“Megan and my mother flew out to get her and got home this morning. It was an emotional reunion.”
“I can imagine,” I smiled. “I’m glad she’s safe.”
“My family sent me to say thank you.” I gasped, looking at Will from across the table. “I know. This is strange for me, too,” he snorted.
“Did you offer to be the peacemaker?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.
“Yes…it only seemed right.”
“Do you and your family accept that what you did to me was wrong?”
“Of course,” he winced. “It all got so out of hand. I never meant for…shit…any of it.”
“Was it always about the money—even with Megan?” I asked, my voice trembling a little at the memories.
“Megan will say it was just about the money,” Will said sadly, “but I know it would be a lie. She valued your friendship. I can see it in her face when she thinks I’m not looking. She misses you, Shannon.”
“That bridge is never going to be mended!” I snapped.
“She knows that. We all do.” He sighed heavily. “Look, I’ve come here to give you closure.” My eyes widened at his statement. “You wanted answers? Well, I have them. My father told me everything from the day you were taken as a baby, to ending up at Field Organisation for your work placement. It’s the least we could offer you after what you did for us.”
“I already know most of it, Will.”
“You don’t want to fill in the blanks? I even know why you ended up with the name Shannon Davis.” My eyes widened. Did I really need to know all of this? “You were named after one of the nurses who delivered you. She was Irish.”
“I don’t see the point of filling in the blanks. It’s all in the past, and I’m looking to my future now.”
“I understand that, but just know that if you should decide…”
“I won’t be looking back, Will,” I interrupted. “There won’t be a need.”
“Okay,” he inhaled, getting up. “In that case, I will take my leave.” I stood up to see him out. It all felt so formal, but also extremely invigorating. It was over. I had no fear left in me.
“Look after Maisy,” I muttered as he opened the door. “She’ll need you and Megan.”
“Charlie is an extremely lucky man. I watched you risk your life for him with Patrick. I can see it now, Shannon—you and Charlie are unbreakable,” he commented. I could just imagine Charlie’s reaction to that…William Field giving up. It was true, though. I could see it in his eyes. Will had let go of everything.
“Just be happy, Will. None of us need to live in the past anymore,” I beamed to myself as he nodded before taking his leave.
It was truly over.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“I hope I’ve packed enough,” I commented, stretching my arms out on the private jet.
“Shannon, you brought e
verything except the kitchen sink. I think you’ll be fine.”
“You should have told me where we’re going.”
“And ruin the surprise?” Charlie smirked, leaning in to kiss my lips softly. “You should sleep. It’s a long flight.”
“How can I sleep? I’m too excited.”
“Try,” he breathed, kissing my cheek.
Out of all the places in the world, London wasn’t the city I expected to touch down in.
“Is this a joke?” I teased as we checked in to a five star hotel in the city.
“I just thought it would be nice to visit some old haunts before I take you to our secret location tomorrow.”
“What are you playing at?” I smirked as we entered the elevator.
“Why would I be up to anything?” Charlie laughed, pulling me into his arms.
“I know you, Mr. Collins.”
“I’m aware of that,” he smirked, kissing my lips softly. “But remember, I know you just as well.” I giggled as he grazed his lips against my neck, lightly nipping at the sensitive skin. “I love you, Shannon.” The force of his gaze almost knocked me down, and if the lift door hadn’t opened, I would have pounced on him.
We walked hand-in-hand to the penthouse, and once our bags arrived, I couldn’t wait a second longer. My body was burning for him. After everything we had been through, I wanted to savour these moments with Charlie. It felt as if I had waited a lifetime for them.
“What did you have in mind to do tonight, Miss Downing?” his voice was husky as his hands glided down my back.
“I don’t think we need to visit any old haunts,” I smoldered, running my hands down his chest. “I think we should stay here instead.”
“That’s fine by me,” he smirked, lifting me up as he crashed his lips urgently to mine.
Charlie had rented a car for our secret journey.
“Where has the security gone?” I asked while he loaded the car.
“I gave them all a few days off.”
“Does my mother know?”
“Shannon,” he chuckled. “You’re safe with me.”
“I know that.” I rolled my eyes, joining him in the car. “I just don’t want my mother to freak out.”
“I want to be alone with you for a few days, especially after everything that has happened.” I didn’t think he and I be more in tune with each other.
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