Exhaustion pulled at her but she refused to sleep until she found out about Ben’s condition. Peter left for a while when Jake forced him to have his arm bandaged. She didn’t even know he’d been shot, even if only a flesh wound.
When he returned, Peter paced restlessly behind the couch she curled up on. More time passed without a word.
"April?"
Rachel pushed to a sitting position at his whispered words. April’s slow gait and the sadness marring her face told the story. She buried her head against Peter’s chest. He held her tightly.
Pain welled up and threatened to crush her. What if Ben didn’t make it? All she could see when she closed her eyes was too much blood.
A bell dinged and the elevator doors slid open. She did a double take. Her parents and Ari stepped out. How did they know where to find her?
Ari gave a startled cry when she spotted her older sister and raced forward to hug her. Rachel staggered from the force of her embrace and then gave into the tears that had been threatening all night.
"Rachel? Is that you? What have you done to your hair?"
Her mother’s shocked gasp managed to staunch the flow of tears and she actually shared a choked laugh with Ari. She forgot about the perm and dye job.
"Oh honey, your face," her mother cried. She held her arms out and Rachel rushed into them. "Do you hurt? I just can’t believe this. We were so worried."
"Now don’t be hogging her, CeCe," her father said, nudging her mother aside. "Are you okay, princess?" he asked, stroking first the bruise on her forehead and then her cheek.
She could only manage to nod as her father’s gentle concern sent the tears flowing again.
He rocked her gently. "There, there, princess, don’t cry."
Ari wrapped her arms around her back and her dad opened one arm to allow her mother to join in the family hug. Eventually they made it to the seating area. She sat next to Ari on one sofa, her parents on another across from them. Always the perfect hostess, her mother handed her a snowy white embroidered handkerchief. Rachel dabbed her eyes.
"Molly’s dead."
Her mother reached over and squeezed her hand. "We know, dear. The man who called your father told us. We are sorry."
"There isn’t even a body to bury. She was butchered, mutilated and thrown into an incinerator like a piece of trash." A sob escaped. She would feel guilt for the rest of her life. Ari hugged her tightly.
Spotting Peter and April standing off to the side, she called them over. "I want you to meet some people," she said to her family as she introduced them.
Her father stepped forward. "Son, my brother is a renowned plastic surgeon. He can take care of that scar for you."
Rachel cringed. Leave it to her father to ignore social etiquette.
"He can?" Such hope filled Peter’s voice that a lump clogged her throat. Her dad draped an arm around his shoulders and they strolled away, chatting in private conversation. She used the distraction to hug April.
"I’m so sorry about your mother."
April’s smile was sad but resigned. "Me, too. But I got to speak to her before she died. She apologized for not listening to me and for believing the lies that man spouted. We made peace at the end." She grasped Rachel’s hands. "You saved my life, you know."
Puzzled, Rachel shook her head.
"The syringe," April explained. "If you hadn’t emptied it, I would be dead now."
Rachel hugged her again. "I’m so sorry I had to stick it in you at all but I had no doubt she would shoot you."
"She would have," April agreed. Scarlet stains appeared on her cheeks and she peeked at Rachel through her dark lashes. "I do have good news," she said, holding out her left hand. A plastic band encircled her ring finger.
"You are getting married?"
April’s smile was genuine this time as she nodded. "Peter didn’t have time to buy a real ring so he purchased this in a vending machine in the lobby." She twisted the ring and then looked at Rachel. "I know this is bad timing with Ben and all…" Her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat. "Would you, what I mean is, do you mind." April took a deep breath and tried again. "Would you be my maid of honor?"
"I would be honored," Rachel said, hugging her.
"Ben offered Peter a job."
"Oh April, that’s wonderful."
"I’m so happy we will be moving. I want to get as far away from here as I can."
"You’re moving?"
"The job is in Indiana."
Indiana. The job. With Ben. If he pulled through, he would be going back home. No, not if…when. When he got better, he would leave and she would be stuck here never to see him again.
She wouldn’t let that happen.
April was called away to make arrangements for her mom’s remains. Exhausted, Rachel collapsed on the sofa where Ari was curled up with her eyes closed.
Her parents sat down across from her. "Eddie is very worried about you," her mother informed her.
Eddie. Not once had he entered her mind. "How did he find out?"
"The story is all over the national news," her dad said.
"You’re famous," Ari bragged without opening her eyes.
"Eddie called in a panic when he heard your name mentioned," her mom continued. "He couldn’t believe you would be involved with such a scandal. He’s on his way here from Boston."
Dread filled her instantly and she blurted, "He can’t come." She wasn’t ready for her two worlds to collide. She was too worried about Ben to deal with Eddie.
Her mother cocked her head to the side. "Of course he should, dear, he is your husband, or will be soon. Now, he knows you want the big, lavish wedding that will take months and months to plan, but after this unfortunate ordeal, he’s worried sick about you."
Unfortunate ordeal? What a cold way to describe Molly’s murder, dozens of additional deaths and Ben’s critical injuries. Rachel thanked fate for stepping in before she became that cynical.
"Eddie doesn’t want you any more stressed. He thinks you should just have a smaller ceremony so you can be married sooner."
Oh he does, does he? What about what Rachel thought? And why did they think she wanted a big lavish wedding? She didn’t. She would rather get married on a beach at the ocean with just her closest family and friends present. She didn’t need all the pomp and circumstance. She just needed the man she loved at her side.
Ben.
Now was as good a time as any. "Mother, Dad, I have something to tell you. I’m not marrying Eddie."
"Yay." Ari smiled, her eyes still closed.
"Of course you are," her dad insisted simultaneously.
"The announcement has already been made," her mother admonished. "What will people think?"
"Frankly mother, I don’t care what people think. I’m tired of living my life according to someone else’s plans."
"You are just tired, period," her mother clucked. "You need rest, dear." She stood and tugged Rachel’s hand. "Let’s go home."
She jerked her hand free. "I’m not going home. The man who saved my life is fighting for his right now. I am staying right here."
"We can call and get updates," her father said, sliding his jacket on. "You don’t need to stay. Get up, Ariana," he said, shaking her shoulder. Ari grumbled.
"I am not leaving," she maintained.
"You need rest," her mother raked her with a critical eye, "and to put on decent clothes." Crinkling her nose, she added, "And a shower. Really, Rachel, what will people think?"
"They will think that I am staying with the man I love."
"Well yes," her mother said absently. "Eddie will be here soon and you can stay with him, but now—"
Frustrated, her fists clenched. "I do not love Eddie. I love Ben."
Her dad’s brows slanted in a frown. "Who the hell is Ben?"
"I just told you, the man I love."
"Fine, you don’t love Eddie. You don’t need love for a successful marriage," her father contended.
Her mother looked at her as if she were a truculent child. "What has gotten in to you? Before this," she waved a dismissive hand, "situation, you were such a sweet, agreeable girl."
"No, I was a doormat, Mother. I’ve changed. This," she made air quotes, "situation taught me that I am a strong, capable woman. It’s time I lead my life the way I want to, and that means making my own decisions and standing up for myself."
Her father studied her through narrowed, assessing eyes. "Fine. We will do this your way, Rachel. We’ll go to the hotel and when you come to your senses, we will talk."
Clearly distressed, her mother hugged her and then let her father lead her away. Ari engulfed her in a bear hug. "I’m proud of you, Rach."
"Thanks," she said with a smile for her younger sister.
Ari suddenly stopped and glanced over her shoulder. "Ben sounded hot over the phone." With a jaunty wave, she skipped away.
"He is," Rachel whispered, watching her sister disappear into the elevator. "He is."
Chapter Thirty
Ben felt like he had been trampled under the thick hooves of a stampede of runaway elephants. His chest hurt, his head throbbed, his arm burned. He forced his heavy eyelids open and the first thing he saw chased every bit of the pain away.
Rachel.
Curled up in a chair next to the bed, she cradled his hand in her lap. He was content to just watch her sleep.
She stirred, stretched and shoved a handful of hair away from her face. Blinking, she spotted his open eyes and gasped with joy. Her face lit like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
"Hey."
She jumped to her feet. "Ben, you’re awake."
She leaned down and kissed him gently. Pulling back, she brushed hair from his forehead. "How do you feel?"
"Like roadkill."
"Well, you are going to live." She smiled.
"Good to know." He smiled back. It quickly turned into a frown. "Your face," he said softly, reaching up to trace the bruises. "I’m so sorry, babe."
"I’m fine. They don’t even hurt." Her gaze turned serious. "Ben, I can never thank you enough—"
"He’s awake."
Whatever Rachel was about to say was drowned out by the crush of people filling the room. Ben groaned. The Colton family in full force.
His baby sister Kaitlyn rushed in first, followed closely by his brothers Luke and Grant, his brother’s business partner Logan, Jake and Peter. He was engulfed in a cloud of well wishes and kisses and questions. A flash of movement by the door caught his eye and he watched as Rachel quietly slipped away.
A sickening thought struck. She only came to thank him for helping her then she would walk away, straight back to her rich girl life and her supercilious fiancé.
God, he was a fool. How could his traitorous heart do this to him again? He had fallen in love with another woman who worshiped the almighty dollar more than him.
"Hey, are you feeling okay?" Kaitlyn asked, placing her palm across his forehead. "You look pale."
"Just a little tired," he lied. He felt sick alright, but it wasn’t from the bullet. It was from betrayal.
#
Ben groaned when the door opened again. He just managed to get rid of his well-meaning family and friends so he could have a few minutes to himself to brood. A sharply-dressed man swaggered in, his gait confident as he strolled up to the bed. "Oh good, you are awake," he said with perfect Ivy League educated pronunciation. Ben eyed him warily.
The man extended a hand. "My name is J. Edwin Farnsworth," he said unnecessarily. Ben would know that face anywhere. Reluctantly, he shook his hand. What the hell was he doing here? Although weak and hooked up to every beeping machine known to man, he was pretty sure he could take the guy.
"I wanted to thank you."
Thank him? For what? Screwing his girlfriend?
"The authorities told me you saved my fiancée’s life."
Ben started. Had he been right? Rachel still planned to marry this guy?
He was suddenly painfully aware that he was lying in bed half naked, unshaven, hair a mess, tubes sticking everywhere and a damn pee bag attached to the bed, while this man—Rachel’s soon-to-be husband—looked like he stepped out of a freaking GQ ad.
His heartbeat pounded. He had no idea what the man blathered on about. The guy hadn’t even noticed the expression of pure contempt on his face.
"So, if there is ever anything I can do for you," he reached into his breast pocket and withdrew a card, "feel free to call. I’ll just leave this," he held the card in the air for Ben to see and then placed it on the nightstand.
He shook Ben’s hand again and he had to force himself not to crush every bone in the man’s hand.
"Thank you again. I’m sure Rachel will invite you to the wedding so I will see you then."
"Be there with bells on," he muttered, when what he really meant was "Not in this lifetime."
#
Rachel stepped off the elevator and smoothed a strand of straight, blond hair from her face. It took longer than she thought to transform herself, but she wanted to look good for Ben when she confessed her love. The purple splotches marring her cheek and forehead didn’t help matters, but she applied a light coat of powder to tone down the color.
It had been hours since she saw him and she couldn’t wait any longer. She pushed open the door to his room and heard a familiar voice. Daddy? What would he be doing in Ben’s room? She eased the door closed and eavesdropped.
"I have already hand-picked my future son-in-law. So how much will it take for you to leave my daughter alone? Will a hundred grand do?"
Rachel’s hand flew to her mouth in shock. How dare her father do this behind her back! This was the exact thing Ben’s ex-father-in-law tried. He didn’t deserve the same scenario happening again. Planning to spare him from turning down the offer again, she straightened her spine, put her palm on the knob and started to enter when Ben’s words stopped her cold.
"Make it five hundred grand."
Sharp pain lanced through her. Ben wanted money instead of her? And only five hundred thousand?
He turned down a million for his old girlfriend.
Stifling a sob, she fled down the hall.
#
Really, what were the odds? Ben couldn’t believe he had to suffer through the same scene again, but here stood Rachel’s pretentious dad offering him money to stay away from his precious daughter. Man, talk about a hit to the old self-esteem.
"Will a hundred grand do? Of course, you will have to sign a contract agreeing to stay away from her and to not extort me for more money."
Of course. "Make it five hundred grand." He should really just take the damn money. Instead, a glutton for punishment, he added, "And I still wouldn’t take it."
Her dad’s silver eyebrows raised, pen poised over a checkbook. "You drive a hard bargain. We’ll make it a million."
Ben shook his head. "Not even for ten million. Hell, not even for all the money in your bank account. So you can take that checkbook, shove it up your snooty ass and get the hell out of here." He didn’t care who he offended. Almost dying had that kind of effect on a person.
Judging by the look on the older man’s face, he had clearly shocked him. He wasn’t finished. If his voice came out low and menacing, too damn bad. "I love your daughter, Mr. Bancroft. I don’t know how she feels about me, but there you have it. She is worth more to me than any amount of money."
Rachel’s dad sighed, clicked the pen shut and stuffed the checkbook into his pocket. A wide grin broke over his face and he extended a hand. "You are just the kind of man I hoped Rachel would meet."
"Huh?" His drugged mind couldn’t keep up. Didn’t this man just try to buy him off?
"I hated to do it, but that was a test, Mr. Colton. My wife and I are exceedingly wealthy, and in turn, that means Rachel is as well. You are the first man who hasn’t accepted the offer."
&n
bsp; "Huh?"
Rachel’s father smiled approvingly. "You care more for her than you do money. You were a decorated federal agent." Noting Ben’s scowl he added unapologetically, "Yes, I had you checked out. You couldn’t be bought, so you have integrity." He indicated the bullet holes. "And I know you will take care of her."
Ben nodded dumbly. Hell, he’d die for her…and almost had. But, "She’s engaged."
The man waved a dismissive hand. "Please, Eddie is all wrong for her."
"She said you pushed the engagement from the beginning."
"I knew from the first time I met Eddie he wouldn’t make Rachel happy. But he was smitten. I figured if I encouraged it, she would put her foot down."
"But she didn’t."
Her father chuckled. "No, she thought it would make me happy, so she agreed. I was about to do something drastic but then she took off on this expedition, and found herself. Though I don’t approve of her method, I couldn’t be happier."
Ben liked the man, his damn test notwithstanding. He loved his daughter and wanted her to find her own way in life, make her own decisions. Not a bad man to have as a father-in-law.
"If she will have me, I plan on marrying her," Ben informed him.
"You have my blessing."
Words stuck in his throat so all he could do was shake the older man’s hand, which was what he was doing when the door slammed against the wall and a fuming Rachel stormed in, hair fluttering behind her like a long, shiny blond cape. Her eyes snapped green-fire below pale brows that met in an angry V. Twin red flags stained her cheeks and her nostrils flared.
Ben knew he had a goofy grin on his face, but he couldn’t help it. She had never looked prettier.
She stomped right up to the bed. "How dare you."
He really hadn’t seen that slap coming. "Ow." Damn, that stung.
"And how dare you, Daddy."
Ben’s tone was incredulous. "He just gets a finger pointed in his face but I get a slap?"
"Shut up or I’ll make the other cheek match that one."
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