by Melissa Shaw
Emily’s heart leapt into her throat – Brian had to go down for what he’d done, the country had to know what they had to deal with too.
“Give it to me straight, no sugar coating,” she commanded, fiddling with the tote on her shoulder. She swung it off and into her lap, then scrunched it into place.
“Option one,” he said, raising his index finger, “is to take Brian Ross to court for perjury in a court of law, defamation of character and a whole host of other things. It will cost a lot of money and take a long time, but your results will likely be fruitful.”
“Likely?”
“Well, Brian Ross is an influential man.” Joseph smoothed his fingers over the desk, laying it out for her. “He’ll want to settle out of court to prevent the media from getting to much information about the case. God knows, he has enough connections to get out of a jail sentence without trouble – I travel in those circles, trust me, I know. His main concern will be the media fall out.”
“I see. So, costs a lot and not going to bring justice in the end.” A sour taste spread over her taste buds. Just what she needed: Brian Ross on the streets, free to torture her and the kids for the rest of their natural lives.
“Exactly,” he said, with a bob of his head.
“I have to have him off the streets, Joseph, I can’t have him near my children and I need to win custody.”
“That could be part of your settlement or…” He cleared his throat and sniffed, then took out a handkerchief and dabbed at his nose.
“Or what?”
“Or you out him publicly with the tape, while he runs for congress, and have the media go mad. Law enforcement will have no choice but to sit up and pay attention, and he won’t be able to buy his way out without it being obvious and bringing down the judicial system around his ears.”
Emily took three breaths to calm her nerves. “That’s a bit too intense.”
Joseph gave a wry snort. “Knew it,” he muttered.
“What?”
“I knew it. You’re worried about Chase Newman.”
“He’s done business with Brian and I won’t put him through more pain as it is. I’m not even sure how he’s involved with my ex-husband but I don’t want to risk it.”
“Fortunately, I do know how he’s involved with Brian Ross.”
Emily frowned and her heartbeat slowed to a dull thump. The calm before the storm. “Excuse me?”
“Brian Ross is a major gambler. He spent a large portion of his campaign money and landed in debt because of it. Those funds came from voters, supporters, wealthy politicians, and he lost it all. Naturally, he couldn’t let that happen, so he turned to Chase.”
“Why?”
“Because Chase has a lot of money, he’d backed Brian in the past in a couple of not entirely legitimate deals. Newman is a tycoon, and Brian knew he wouldn’t say no.”
“Why not?”
“One hand washes the other. Brian helped Chase get ahead in the beginning, helped him by forwarding a lot of business his way and not necessarily legitimate business. Long story short, Chase footed the bill and Brian owes him money. Chase is a white collar criminal.”
“That can’t be true.” That was her kneejerk reaction. She knew who he was, the real Chase, there was no way he’d done anything illegal.
“I’m sorry,” Joseph said with finality.
“How do you know this is true?” Emily shook from head to toe, glaring at him with that anger on a rampage in her soul.
“I – I can’t really say.”
“Tell me,” she said, in a monotone.
“His sister, Chastity, is gathering information to bring him down. She wants his money.”
That Emily could believe.
Joseph filled the silence with shuffling his papers. “She’s been working with the other one, the redhead, to get what she needs.”
Shock destroyed Emily’s anger. “What’s that got to do with you?”
“I’ve been helping her,” he muttered, indicating to the filing cabinet in the corner. “I know it all. The information I have on Chase, the insider trading and investment schemes, would make your toes curl.”
“This can’t be. I can’t believe she’d do that to him.”
“She’s not his real sister, she’s his cousin or something and she has no love for him, she knows who he really is.”
Emily stood and the tote fell from her lap onto the floor, spilling its contents everywhere. “No.” She whispered it. “No, no, no.” She couldn’t let this happen.
“Emily?”
“No,” she answered, then bent and snatched up what she could, stuffing it into the depths of her handbag.
“Emily, wait, sit down and listen for a moment,” Joseph said, concern spreading across his features.
“No.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Get out of here, Emily,” Chase said, pointing past her and back down the hallway.
“No. I’m not turning away this time. There are a few things you need to know, now.” She was vehement and Chase actually raised his eyebrows.
He didn’t usually allow this kind of anger and persistence, but it was Emily. Emily. He couldn’t get over her, no matter how much he dwelled on his parents and the past.
He’d even proposed to Janet to get away from her. Nothing worked. Nothing made a difference to the stupid fucking organ pumping blood in his chest.
“I don’t have time for this.”
“Chastity is not your sister,” Emily answered in low growl. “She’s your cousin and she’s been working with your fiancée to take you down.”
“You been at the crack pipe, Em?”
“Fuck you,” she said, then poked him in the chest. He glanced down at her dainty finger with a smile. “I have proof and I know for a fact that Chastity has been gathering information on your dealings with Brian Ross, not to mention the insider trading and the –”
He gripped her arm and dragged her inside then slammed the door. “Are you fucking mad? Don’t say that shit out loud.”
“So it’s true then.”
He stiffened with pride. “I did what I had to do to get ahead.”
“Kind of like a mafia boss. Would you have killed people if you had to? Jumped off a bridge if somebody paid you enough?”
She’d killed his parents and invaded his soul, but all he wanted was to reach out, grab her face and pull her into a mind-numbing kiss to wipe clean the pain. Fuck this. Emily was too much drama and bullshit.
“I don’t have to take this from you. You’re a murderer.”
“I’m not, but believe what you want. I’ve done my part. Janet is working with Chastity and they’ll destroy you if they can. Be careful, Newman.” She turned to leave and he grasped her by the shoulder and spun her around. He searched her gaze, delving into the depths of her soul.
Was this story a crock of shit? A manipulation technique maybe, but no, her eyes were clear, angry but clear.
“Stay here.” He charged into the bedroom and ripped the covers back, revealing Janet’s sleeping form. There was an empty bottle of Tullamore Dew on the bedside table. “Get up,” he growled. “Get up right now, Janet.”
“What is it baby?”
“Is this entirely necessary?” Emily stood in the doorway, her mouth was pulled back in a rictus.
“What the fuck are you doing here, bitch?” Janet slurred it.
“Get out of the bed, now.” Chase pulled her upright and she clapped a hand to her mouth and gagged.
“What’s going on?”
“Tell me about Chastity, Janet, tell me the truth.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Tell me.”
“She’s trying to get your money. She knows about everything, she’s got it in a file somewhere.” The words poured from her lips and he sat down slowly, shaking his head. How could he have been so stupid? His long lost sister appears after the death of his parents, and he’d just believed it?
“What else?”
“I helped her.”
“Why?” He’d have been heartbroken if she’d had any part of his heart. But she didn’t. Emily still had it all, she was the only one who could crush him to dust, as completely as she had the day he’d found out she’d been the one who…
No.
“Why?” Chase repeated it and Janet wept softly.
“I wanted the money.”
“What else?”
“I slept with Brian Ross.”
Emily gasped softly in the background and he glanced at her, crippled for a moment by the soft haze surrounding her silhouette, a trick of the light in the hall.
“Why?”
“Wanted his money too,” she whispered, “and then he told me you were the one who had it all. Was drunk and admitted what had happened with the gambling.”
“I see,” Chase said, then stood. “One more thing, baby.” The sarcasm dripped from his voice but he moderated his anger.
“What?” She asked, stumbling upwards and gripping at his clothes, tearing at them to get to his soul. She never would.
“Give me the ring back.”
“No, baby, please no. You and I we’re meant to be together. You and I are –”
“Nothing.” He finished the sentence for her. He’d had enough of deceit from those around him. She was out and Chastity was next.
“Please don’t say that, please don’t let go of us, of what we’ve become. We’ve been through so much baby,” Janet pleaded, reaching up and grabbing his cheeks. “I love you, I really love you.”
“Love? You have no idea what love is.” Blood pulsed through him, hotter than it should be. “Love is agony. Love is caring enough not to let go, even when you should. Love is never tainted by betrayal.”
Emily shifted by the door and moved forward but didn’t say a word.
“Don’t let me go.”
“I’m not letting you go,” he said to the dance instructor, his past and never to be his future, “No, I’m not. I’m kicking you out.” He tugged her hands from his cheeks and forced them away. “Now get the fuck out of my house.”
Janet burst into tears and stumbled out of the room, shoving Emily in the process. Chase stared at the wall, breathing hard. The front door slammed, and he let out that building steam in a solid breath.
“Are you all right?” Emily was still there. Emily, gorgeous woman that she was, the love of his life. Or so he’d thought.
He turned to her, and she stood there, blonde hair falling past her shoulders, tight red top open to reveal those perfect breasts.
“Chase?”
“Get out of my house.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“I should’ve expected to find you here.” Chase folded his arms, that iron rod of anger taking its place between his shoulders.
“Baby, I didn’t mean to –” Janet rose from the sofa in Chastity’s tiny apartment and rushed towards him, trying to grip at his hands. He waved her off, grabbed one shoulder and gently moved her aside.
“No. I’m not here to debate with you, Janet, I’m here to talk to my sister.”
Chastity sat nearby, wearing her usual somber dress with those damn black gloves. He hated those fucking things. They made her look like a mortician and his finances were the corpse she wanted to pick over.
“Hello, brother, what can I do for you?”
“What you can do is start telling the damn truth.” His body trembled with the effort of keeping the anger under wraps. This was a betrayal surer than anything he’d ever experienced.
“I’ve always been honest with you,” she said, raising her chin and looking down her nose at him.
“Chastity,” Janet snapped, turning to the other woman in the room, “don’t you think it’s time to own up to your vicious lies?”
His sister snorted in derision. “That’s rich coming from you, ginger snap.”
“Enough,” Chase put in, then side-stepped Janet’s second attempt to grip at him. Chastity’s apartment was far smaller than his, crappier actually, and how she used the money she earned working with him was another question entirely.
She had a rug and a couple pot plants, and that was it.
“You obviously have some kind of issue with me, brother, why don’t you tell me what’s going on?”
“You lied to me about everything, that’s what’s going on.” He strolled to her fridge, opened it and rooted around for a drink. There was a bottle of pop in the back and he swept it up and uncapped it on the corner of her kitchen counter.
She glared at him, but straightened her face quickly. He glugged it down then tossed the empty bottle in the trash can.
“Chase, I would never do anything to hurt you.” Chastity removed those ridiculous gloves and gave a small smile. It was supposed to be comforting or sweet, but it came off as cunning.
“Cut the bullshit. I know you’ve been collecting information on my business dealings, and I know you’re planning on bringing me down.”
Chastity glared at Janet, who wilted and sidled off to the wall. She leaned against it and stared at the door, one hand on her head, the other gripping her midriff.
“What do you want from me? An apology?” Chastity rose and threw the gloves down on her tiny coffee table. “Because you’re not going to get it.”
Chase squared his shoulders. “I’ll tell you what, sister –”
“She’s not your sister.” The squeak came from Janet, and they both froze and stared at her.
“What?”
“Shut up, bitch,” Chastity growled.
“She’s not your sister. She’s your cousin.” Janet gritted her teeth and glared at the other woman in the room. “It’s about time the truth comes out. She came back after your parents died because she wanted a piece of the pie, Chasey babes, she used you.”
The irony in that was unbelievable and he showed Janet his back.
“So what?” Chastity licked the corner of her mouth. She strode to the window and cranked it open. “You had everything growing up and I had nothing, why wouldn’t I want a piece of the pie?”
“It was never your pie to begin with.”
“It wasn’t yours either!” Chastity yelled, spittle flying from her lips. She ripped her hair out of the tight bun and it fell around her face, sticking out at odd angles.
“You’re absolutely fucking mad,” he replied, then scrubbed at his face with both hands. He couldn’t black her out, but he sure as hell wanted to. She was a blot on the page of his life. There were so many of those now, the ink overpowered the white space.
“I am what you made me. I am what you and your family made me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I had nothing while you grew up with everything. When my mother needed help, your father didn’t have the empathy to reach out and give her the money she needed to make her own life.”
“I am not my father and I am not beholden to his mistakes.” Chase shook his head in disbelief. This bitch really was crazy.
“My mom died on the streets, selling her body to give me food. Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? Foster care, orphanages, abuse, while you sat in your perfect little room, in your perfect home with all the opportunities in the world.” Chastity ranted, pacing back and forth.
“I have no interest in your reasoning.”
“Of course you don’t, you only care about yourself. The fantastic Chase Newman,” she said, making twinkling movements with her fingers. “He’s the big guy, the boss, no one messes with him.”
Chase flashed a grin and strode forward, then laid a hand on her shoulder and stared into her eyes. “You’re damn right. Nobody fucks with me.”
Her mouth dropped open and she breathed through it, bathing him in the horrid scent of stale coffee.
“There’s a good reason for it to,” he said, then raised his index finger and confront her with it, “if you fuck with me I will destroy you. I suggest you rid yourself of those papers, before I
rid the world of you.”
He’d never truly hurt her, but she had to be scared, she had to realize what he was capable of.
Chastity stared at him, blinking.
“Oh, and don’t come near my home again. You no longer work for me. I never want to see your face again, ‘sister’.”
Chase turned and strode to the door, and Janet whimpered. “The same goes for you,” he shot back at her.
Then he left the building, and the two women who’d tried to destroy him, behind.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Hi Joseph,” she said, opening the front door with a frown. “What’s up?”
Emily had called him a week ago to tell him that they’d have to find another way to get to Brian, because she wouldn’t risk Chase. He’d been largely silent since then.
“How are you?” Joseph pushed past her into her apartment, and her frown deepened. He wasn’t usually this rude, either. His attitude was… she couldn’t place it but it pissed her off.
“Is there something I can do for you?” Emily closed the door behind him, but didn’t walk away from it.
“We need to talk.” He gestured towards the couch, then went and sat down on it himself.
“Uh, okay,” she said and walked over to join him. The coffee table was clear, and CNN was on the TV in the background, muted since he’d knocked. She picked up the remote and made to switch it off, but he reached out and stopped her.
“You might want to keep it on.”
“What for?”
Joseph sighed and shook his head. “You couldn’t stay away from him. I tried so hard to be with you and to be everything you needed, but you could not stay away from him. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?”
Emily ground her teeth. “What the fuck are you talking about Joseph?”
“Chase.”
“What happens between Chase and I is none of your business. I might have told you my problems in the beginning of our friendship, but it wasn’t so you could create a hidden agenda and manipulate me.” She tapped her knuckles on her knees.
“Agenda! Ha, Chase Newman had an agenda with you and you never saw it.”