“Did you find something?”
Greg bolted into the kitchen and stood next to Tony, who stared out of the window.
“Guess we didn’t notice it because the lot was full.” Tony pointed to the large parking lot where Sophie parked her car. “Take a look out at the far side of the lot—over there—in front of that apartment building. Tell me what you see.”
Greg scanned the lot until his eyes locked on a black Malibu. Bitsy’s car. His heart dropped. His stomach flipped. Seeing her car explained everything. From where Bitsy’s car was parked—across the lot from Sophie’s condo, he knew the bitch had a perfect vantage point to watch Sophie’s comings and goings. To watch what went on inside Sophie’s home. She was Sophie’s stalker. His eyes went wide. “Sophie.” He pushed Tony aside and ran down the stairs and across the lot, calling her name.
“Sophie!”
His lungs burned. Behind him, Tony kept pace. Greg reached the building and peeked through the window on the first floor.
“Sophie.”
No answer. He ran up the stairs to the second floor and pounded on the door. He pressed his face against the window, covered on the inside by a shade.
“Sophie!”
“Get out of the way, Greg. Let me handle this,” Tony shouted from the flight of stairs below.
A scream. Sophie’s scream.
Greg jiggled the doorknob. It was locked. He kicked it. The door wouldn’t budge.
“Sophie!”
“Greg, hurry,” she cried out, her voice muffled.
“Move, goddammit.” Tony pushed Greg out of the way, and smashed the window, sending glass shards flying. He reached in through the broken window, pushed the shade away, and unlocked the door.
Another scream.
Greg shoved Tony aside, knocking him down, and charged inside. “Sophie.”
“I’m in back. Hurry.”
He ran down the hallway. Grunts mixed with objects smashing grew louder. Getting closer. In the bedroom to the left, he found Sophie, face bloodied, and wielding a jewel-handled sword warding off the much larger adversary. From the looks of it, Bitsy was on the receiving end of an ass-kicking.
Greg ran behind Bitsy and pulled her arms behind her back. As she struggled to break his grasp, she knocked over the tripod. The crash distracted him, giving her time to break free. She head-butted Greg, he let go and covered his nose. Blood oozed from between his fingers.
Sirens sounded in the distance.
“Hold it right there, Bitsy,” Tony shouted, a gun pointed at her. “It’s over.”
* * * *
INSIDE, WHILE PARAMEDICS tended to Sophie, Greg stood in the parking lot, holding a bag of ice over his nose. He watched the police escort Bitsy, in handcuffs, to a squad car.
Tony clapped Greg on his shoulder. “Consider yourself lucky that you won’t be sharing the back seat of a squad car with Bitsy. Right now, I could haul your ass in for impeding an investigation, assault on a police officer.” He counted on his fingers. “Would you like me to continue? I’m sure I can tack on a few more charges.”
He shook his head. “I get your point. I’m just relieved Sophie doesn’t have to see the parking lot swarming with reporters. She’s suffered enough at the hands of a lunatic, and doesn’t need any of this shit.”
“The studio might consider this fiasco good publicity for the film,” Tony said.
“True.”
He patted Greg on the back. “Guess I better join the party,” he said and jogged toward the nearby police car.
Reporters surrounded Bitsy, in handcuffs.
“Why’d you kidnap Sophie?” someone shouted.
“Her name isn’t Sophie. It’s Serena. I would never have hurt Serena. I loved her.”
“Keep moving,” the female officer said, leading her to the car.
But Bitsy kept talking. “I’m a filmmaker. I’m filming a documentary, you know, starring Serena.” She stopped and turned to Tony, who opened the back door of the squad car for her.
“Tell it to the judge,” he said.
“Do you think the judge will let me out so I can finish my documentary? It’s almost finished. Can you tell everyone that I would never have hurt Serena?”
“You need a lawyer to be your mouthpiece, not me,” he snapped.
“Will the lawyer let me finish my documentary?” she asked as she was helped into the backseat of the squad car.
Tony slammed the door shut, and shouted to the driver, “Get her out of here.”
Chapter Thirteen
BACK IN HER OWN home, Sophie, propped up with pillows, recuperated in her own bed. The pain meds she’d been given in the emergency room eased the pain in her ribcage. Her head still hurt from the fistful of hair Bitsy had pulled out. But with no broken bones—no cuts—she was lucky.
Greg wasn’t so lucky. Bitsy had broken his nose when she head-butted him. He climbed into bed next to Sophie and draped his arm around her neck.
“We’re a fine pair, aren’t we?” she said.
“A lucky pair. It could have been a lot worse.” He chuckled. “I had no idea you could wield a sword with such finesse.”
“Credit Serena, Defender of the Universe.” She cut off the laugh that escaped because her ribs hurt. She hugged herself.
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “All through high school, I played football and baseball and never broke a damn bone in my body. And here I am, pushing thirty years old and a girl did what no athlete could.” He ran his fingertips over his bandaged nose.
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry she broke your nose. And that you had to get involved with this stalker drama. Oh, by the way, she’s the one who slashed my tire and keyed John’s car.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
She rested her head on his shoulder and stroked his hard, muscular chest.
“You’d better stop doing that unless you want me to ravish you.”
“I’d like that.” She giggled. “But not tonight. Too sore. Too tired.” She yawned.
He leaned back on the pillows and played with her hair. “You know Sophie, now that your stalker won’t be bothering you anymore, I think it’s time we concentrate on us.”
“Uh-huh. Right after I finish filming Hearts Abound.”
Stunned by her response, his heart dropped. “If you keep making movies, you’ll always have obsessed fans, someone like Bitsy…maybe someone even worse.” Greg’s stomach roiled. He knew she would never give up her career for him or anyone else, but he’d hoped he was wrong. When would she understand that being in the spotlight was something he didn’t want for her? Especially for a wife. Being an actress meant she’d always have love interests in the movies, and he couldn’t bear the thought of her kissing another man. She’d assured him kissing others came with the territory. As much as he hated to do it, he had to stop seeing her.
Obviously, her career was more important to her than their relationship. He didn’t want to stand in the way of her happiness and making films made her happy.
It was time he stepped aside and allowed her to follow her dreams.
* * * *
SOPHIE WOKE UP IN an empty bed. She glanced at the bathroom. No Greg. She ran her palm over his side of the bed, expecting to feel warmth, but it was cold. She pulled back the covers and swung her legs over the side. “Greg?” No answer. “Babe?”
She padded across the bedroom into the living room. “Greg?” She shuffled into the kitchen. He must have gone to his office. She checked the closet for the extra pair of trousers and dress shirts he kept for times he spent the night. They were gone. When she checked the dresser drawer where he kept socks and underwear, it was empty. A lump formed in her throat.
“He left me,” she murmured. “He’s gone. This time, he’s really gone.”
Greg had removed every trace of himself from her apartment…and her life.
Chapter Fourteen
NEARLY A MONTH HAD passed since Sophie last saw or heard from Greg. Today, she was pac
king to leave for New York and he didn’t even call to say goodbye or wish her good luck.
Filming on the East Coast was a bonus. At least she’d be thousands of miles away from Greg, so she wouldn’t look for him around every corner, or search for his likeness in the face of every tall man with dark, wavy hair.
A fellow Pep Squad Girl, Tina, would stay in Sophie’s condo while she was in New York. Tina and her husband had just sold one house and were in transition until they found another.
Sophie lined up her suitcases on the bed and began packing. Filming, she was told, would take a minimum of three months. And even though her part was relatively small, she was in several scenes throughout the film.
Deep in thought about her brand new opportunity, a knock on the door startled her.
“Come in Tina,” she shouted.
When Tina didn’t answer, she turned to find Greg standing behind her. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him. “Hi,” she said. She glanced at her open suitcases. “As you can see, I’m getting ready to…leave. How did you know?”
He didn’t say a word, only stared at her, his eyes glistening.
Getting frustrated, she said, “Answer me. How’d you find out I was leaving today?”
“Your agent told me.”
Traitor. “Why would John do such a thing?”
“I called him because I missed you. And when I explained why I needed to talk to you, he told me when you were leaving.” His voice broke.
“You’re wasting your time and breath if you try talk me out of going. I have to do this. I signed the contract.”
She turned her back to him and continued packing.
“Just let me do this one film, for me. When the shoot is over, we’ll talk. But right now, I need to prove that I’m a better actress than—”
He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I know, babe.” His voice faltered, heavy with emotion. He cleared his throat and she turned to face him. “I’m sorry I gave you such a hard time about your acting. You’re good, real good. I don’t want to stand in the way of your dreams. Suddenly, I realized how selfish I’ve been…that our relationship wasn’t only about me…about what I believed was best for you…for us. Sometimes, we only get one shot at happiness and if we don’t grab onto it—or embrace it—it can get away. I’m not here to talk you out of going to New York. I’m here to ask your forgiveness, to beg you to take me back, and…” A weak grin crossed his face. “To accompany you to New York. I want to be with you while you make your movie.”
She glanced at his feet, looking for luggage. “Traveling kind of light, aren’t you?”
“My suitcases are in Tony’s car. I didn’t want to bring them up in case you told me to hit the bricks. Will you forgive me for being such a prick?”
She stared at him through a veil of tears. “Of course I forgive you.”
“I love you, Sophie, and the thought of you being on the other side of the country, tears me apart. I’d like to give us another try. How about it?”
“Yes.” She dabbed at her eyes.
He drew her into an embrace and kissed her. “I love you, Sophie.”
“I love you, too, but we’d better hurry, my…our shuttle will be here in less than an hour. When does your flight leave?”
“Haven’t a clue, I’m flying standby. I figure if I can’t get on your flight, I’ll take the next one out, or the one after that. Just as long as we end up in the same place.”
“The filming will take several months. What about your job? Will they hold it for you?”
“I work for a huge international company. I’ve been with them for over ten years. When I found out you were leaving, I took a chance you’d take me back, and requested a transfer to the New York office. There weren’t any permanent openings, but I found out about a temporary assignment on a task force in downtown Manhattan. So, I applied for the job and got it. I’m not sure how long the job will take, but—”
There was another knock at the door.
Together, they answered the door and greeted Tony, flanked by two suitcases, and wearing a backpack.
“I got tired of waiting. Am I correct in assuming you took his sorry ass back?” he asked Sophie.
She giggled. “Not only did I take him back, I’m taking him with me to New York.”
Greg drew her into his arms and kissed her soundly. “God, I love this woman.”
Tony slipped out of the backpack and dropped it on the floor. He moved Greg’s luggage inside. He shook hands with Greg and clapped him on the shoulder. He gave Sophie a hug. “I’m glad Greg finally came to his senses. He couldn’t have found a better woman. Good luck to both of you.” He said good bye and left.
“This is it, Greg. This is a big step.”
“A huge step.”
“Are we ready?”
“There’s no one I’d rather be with than you, Sophie. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life by your side.”
“Is that a proposal?”
“If you want it to be.”
She shrugged. “You know, I kind of like the idea.”
“So do I.” He dropped down on one knee and pulled a black ring box from his jacket pocket.
THE END
About the Author
Linnea Alexis
Linnea Alexis stopped stirring up trouble in the corporate world a few years ago and now satisfies her appetite for mayhem in the fictional world. She used to write only horror stories until someone invited her to a Romance Writers of America chapter meeting. She was hooked and has been writing about happy endings ever since. Although she loves the Romance genre, she still writes stories about things that go bump in the night. Only now her vampires are “kinder and gentler”. She can usually be found hanging out with her family in Southern California.
Learn more about Linnea:
Website: http://linneaalexis.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004597394902&fref=ts
Twitter: @linneaalexis
Other Books by Linnea:
Green Book of Grown-up Fairytales
Heart Strings
He never expected to find paradise in the arms of
Rio
by
Sabrina Sol
Dedication
To my sister Yolanda
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my friend Louisa Bacio for thinking out loud and sharing this plot bunny with the rest of us. Thank you to Irksome Rebel Press for turning a “what if” idea into a real published book. Thank you also to Tamara Eaton and Kim Carmichael for herding all of us authors together.
A Note from the Author
I chose this song because it’s one of Duran Duran’s biggest hits and also one of my favorites. And because I write romance novels featuring Latina heroines, I jumped at the chance to give Rio her story.
~ Sabrina Sol
Chapter One
AM I GOING TO DIE?
That should’ve been his first thought, but even in possible death, Chase’s mind went to business.
Fuck, who’s going to finish payroll now?
Chase stared at the ceiling from his prone position on the conference room floor. Voices rumbled above him and faces appeared and disappeared from his point of view. Time passed and the voices and faces drifted away until all he could hear was the extreme pounding of his heart.
As the room began to fade to black and it became harder and harder to breathe, a second thought crossed Chase’s mind before he closed his eyes completely, quite possibly for the last time ever.
I should’ve bought the silver Lexus instead of the blue one.
A shock of light blasted through the darkness and jolted Chase to open his eyes again. The volume of the room rose as excited whispering turned into full-blown chatter. Someone called out his name from the distance.
“Mr. Simon? Can you hear me?”
He could. The ball of light danced away and a man’s face hovering over his came into focus.
“Mr
. Simon, try to say something for me,” the voice called out, this time sounding closer than before. “Can you do that?”
Chase concentrated on what he wanted to say and then opened his mouth: “Payroll.” The word came out rough and hoarse, not at all like his voice. For a second, he wondered if someone else had said it. Then he heard the laughter followed by George’s booming voice.
“Payroll? Chase, you asshole! He’s fine everyone.”
The single dot of white disappeared and was replaced by the glare of the recessed lighting that lined the conference room ceiling. The other man, whom Chase deducted belonged to the unnamed voice, turned out to be a paramedic. He offered his hand and Chase took it and sat up. He blinked a few times until the room stopped spinning.
“Take your time, Mr. Simon. You’re probably still a little disoriented. Your colleagues said you hit your head pretty hard when you fell. I’m going to take a look for any cuts or contusions now, okay?”
He nodded and his head immediately throbbed with pain. “Ow,” he said again in the weird, hoarse tone.
And then the blackness came back.
* * * *
THE NEXT MORNING, Chase sat on the edge of the hospital bed scrolling through the 400 emails he’d received on his Smartphone since passing out at the office. His head still hurt like a motherfucker and his chest felt like he’d been hit with a 4x4, but he’d had enough of the crappy hospital food, enough of the poking and prodding by Nurse Ratched’s uglier and meaner sister and enough of this “taking it easy” crap.
It was time to go home and get back to his job.
“I heard you were going AWOL.”
Chase looked up from his phone.
His buddy, John Rhodes, stood in the doorway, looking amused, but also kind of pissed since his friend was also his doctor.
“Yeah, well I still don’t think it was necessary to keep me overnight. I’m fine, John. Really. You can give this bed to someone who really needs it.”
Come Undone: Romance Stories Inspired by the Music of Duran Duran Page 55