No Promises: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance

by Michelle Love

  “I object.”

  For a second, Noosh thought she had conjured his voice from her dreams. She didn’t want to open her eyes in case it wasn’t true, but something made her look towards the sound.

  Christo.

  He stepped towards the couple, his eyes never leaving Noosh’s face. “I object, your honor.”

  “On what grounds, Mr. Montecito?”

  The judge knew Christo? Noosh was confused. Christo smiled at her, and her heart soared. He was really here for her. “On the grounds, your honor, that the bride is in love with me. On the grounds that I love her more than my own life.” He paused and looked at Destry. “And on the grounds that this man is coercing the bride to marry him on threat of death. That over the last few years he has tortured, kidnapped, stalked, raped, and shot the bride because of his obsession with her. That he intends to kill her.”

  Destry, stunned into silence by Christo’s arrival, now exploded. “Get him out of here. Judge, he’s a crazy man, the son of a criminal.”

  Behind Christo the door opened, and a fleet of police officers moved into the room. With them, a pale-faced Gerry. Destry’s face drained of blood. “What the fuck is this?”

  Christo cleared his throat. “Judge, in two minutes, there will be a press conference that you will want to see. The police here will escort us all to your chambers to watch it. I promise you, Judge, I mean no disrespect to your courtroom, I’m just asking, please indulge me.”

  “Judge! Order these men out, for goodness sake!”

  But the judge was studying Christo, sizing him up, and then he nodded. “I’ll allow it, Mr. Montecito, but I must warn you. Should this be merely a ploy on your behalf to stop this wedding, I will hold you in contempt.”

  “Of course, your honor. Shall we?”

  Destry had no choice but to join them all in the judge’s chambers. He gripped Noosh’s elbow painfully. “Don’t even think about going to your criminal,” he murmured to her. “You’ll be dead the second he touches you.”

  But Noosh couldn’t take her eyes off Christo. I love you, she mouthed, and he nodded, a small smile playing around his lips. Noosh couldn’t help but feel hope for the first time in weeks.

  He came for me…

  But her parents were still in Destry’s custody, and there was no way she could risk doing anything until she knew what Christo’s plan was.

  The judge turned on the flat screen in his office. He glanced at Noosh. “Ms. Taylor, would you like to sit?”

  She smiled at him. “I’m fine, thank you, your honor.”

  He nodded and gave her a sly wink when Destry wasn’t looking. He’s on my side, she thought incredulously. There are good people in this world…I’d forgotten.

  She felt someone move behind her and knew it was Christo. Discreetly she reached a hand behind her and felt him squeeze her fingers. It gave her strength.

  The TV flashed on a podium set up in front of a bank of photographers. It was with a gasp of shock that everyone in the room saw Telly Wyatt, very much alive, step in front of the cameras. Noosh shot a look at Gerry, who was gazing at Telly with undisguised adoration and relief that she was okay.

  Destry was still, his eyes narrowing as he watched his ex-wife begin to speak. Telly’s voice was clear, and she didn’t look nervous at all.

  “Obviously, contrary to recent reports, I am still here, still alive. I apologize to those I hurt by faking my suicide, but as you will see, the ruse was necessary to protect me from my ex-husband. Your presidential nominee, the Senator from New York, my ex-husband Destry Tollhunt Papps is a monster, ladies, and gentlemen. He is a domestic abuser, a stalker, and will stoop to nothing less than cold-blooded murder to get what he wants. During our marriage, he frequently beat and raped me. I finally was able to escape when he became obsessed with a young English woman named Anoushka Taylor, his current fiancée. You might know her as Sarah Marsh. That’s the name Noosh picked so that she could hide from Destry, but it didn’t work. He hunted her down, and eight months ago, he shot and almost killed her.”

  Telly paused and blew out her cheeks. “Now, I can see the skepticism on some of your faces – am I just the bitter ex-wife? Sure you could think that, I wouldn’t blame you. So, I ask Ms. Taylor to come forward and tell her story. Except…she can’t. She is currently at City Hall, being forced to marry Destry against her will. Destry’s people, the kind of people you don’t see on the campaign trail, abducted her parents. They murdered her friend and co-worker. Noosh, if you’re able to see this, I swear to you, this will not go unpunished.”

  “Destry, if you’re watching…time’s up, and not a moment too soon.” Telly stepped from the podium, ignoring the barrage of questions coming her way.

  A man who identified himself as the head of the FBI New York field office stepped up in Telly’s place. “I can confirm that a warrant for the arrest of Senator Destry Papps has been issued, concerning some documents handed over to us by Gervais Noll, Mr. Papps’s assistant. In these documents, we have found evidence of not just coercion of government officials, but of multiple attempts to stalk, harass, and murder Miss. Anoushka Taylor, alias Sarah Marsh.”

  The room was frozen for a moment then Destry was up. “This is outrageous!”

  “Destry Papps, I’m arresting you for the abduction, assault, rape, and attempted murder of Anoushka Taylor.” One of the police officers, a fierce looking woman, stepped forward. “We found the gun, Mr. Papps. Or rather…we were led to it.”

  He glanced at Gerry who was staring at Destry with undisguised hatred. “You bastard,” Destry said, “you sniveling little creep.”

  Christo, seeing Destry was about to blow, reached out his hand to Noosh. She grasped at it – but Destry was quicker. He pulled her back against him, drawing yet another gun from his waistband and pressing it against her throat. His eyes never left Christo’s. “I’ll kill her without even thinking about it, Montecito.”

  “My parents…” Noosh, ignoring the pistol pressed to her neck, looked at Christo in desperation, not concerned for her own life now.

  “They’re safe,” Christo was edging closer to them now, his eyes locked on the gun. “My father’s men found them and released them. Papps, it’s over, give it up.”

  Destry laughed. “It’s not over, scumbag, until I say it is. Do you honestly think anyone will come after me while I have her?” He glanced over at the police officers. “I swear I will kill her unless you clear a path out of here.”

  Christo lunged for the gun, and Destry again was too quick. He shot Christo as Noosh screamed “No!” and struggled to get away from him, to go to the injured Christo who lay bleeding on the floor. Destry dragged Noosh out of the room, shooting his way out, helped by his security team as the police officers pursued them.

  Noosh was still struggling when Destry, cussing, growled in her ear. “He’s dead, bitch. He’s gone. Don’t worry, you’ll soon be joining him.” As she cried out, Destry brought the gun down hard on her head, and everything went black.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Bedlam. The judge and Gerry went to help Christo, who was trying to get to his feet to chase after Noosh. “Hey, hey, hey, slow down.”

  The judge pushed Christo to the ground. “Careful now, son, that’s a nasty wound.”

  “I have to get to her,” Christo said, struggling against the hands that were trying to stem the flow of blood. The bullet had smashed through his clavicle on his left side and was bleeding like crazy, but all Christo could think of was Noosh. Destry had nothing now except his bloodlust for her. If they didn’t get to her in time…

  Christo’s adrenaline was pumping, and he managed to push his way up from the floor. Gerry steadied him, his face pale. Christo turned to him. “Please. You know him better than anyone. Where would he take her?”

  Gerry wrapped his arm under Christo’s shoulder. “I’ll tell you on one condition – I’m coming with you. The second we get Noosh back, you’re going to the hospital.”

 
“Not without me.” Bertie was there then, and Christo felt relief as he was followed in by Telly and Fogliano. Fogliano took one look at his son and turned to speak to his men. “Find the Senator and kill him. Bring my future daughter-in-law back unharmed.”

  “No,” Christo gasped. “I need to do this. Dad, please…”

  Fogliano sighed, knowing Christo would not be told otherwise. “Judge, do you have someone here who can travel with my son, to keep him alive while he looks for Noosh?”

  In five minutes, on Gerry’s advice, several cars left New York City in different directions. Christo, his arm and shoulder heavily bandaged, was being driven by Gerry towards Westchester. “He has a small place that he thinks no one knows about. Details are buried deep in the documents I handed over to the FBI… If he’s going anywhere, it’s there, but it’s a good idea to have people go to all his places.”

  Gerry looked over at Christo. “You doing okay?”

  Christo nodded. “Why didn’t I get between them? God dammit, I thought we’d won. I thought…”

  “Hey, all hope is not lost. Noosh knows you love her – I saw it in her eyes, she had hope again. She’s survived him once – she’ll fight like crazy to get back to you, I know it.”

  Christo looked at him gratefully. “Gerry, I still can’t figure out how you stayed with him so long.”

  “Would you believe me if I told you that in the beginning, he was a good man?”

  “Nope.”

  Gerry laughed. “Well, he was. He had vision, intelligence, and compassion. Ironic, that last one, considering what he’s become. There was no indication, you see, none. I’ve asked myself over and over what happened to change him, but I can’t figure it out. Hell, I never saw it coming. I was like one of those frogs in hot water.”

  “Huh?”

  “You put a frog in boiling water, it jumps out right away, right? But put a frog in cold water and gradually heat it up…it doesn’t know it’s cooking to death.”

  “Gotcha.” Christo sighed. “Hell, I’m not judging you, man. How could I, being the son of Fogliano Montecito? I knew what my father did for a living, I knew most of what his organization was involved in. Did I technically do anything illegal? No, but I was complicit.”

  “Yup, that about sums it up.” Gerry sighed. “By the time I realized what Destry was…I was in love with Telly. I needed to stay to keep her safe – I at least had influence in that way.” He looked over at Christo, his expression guilty. “I should have protected Noosh better. I’m sorry.”

  “Hey, you gave me her necklace, and you put your own neck on the line by going to the FBI. They give you a rough time?”

  Gerry laughed. “You could say that. At first, at least, but when I rolled over on Destry, they got sweet real quick. I gave them everything. The man deserves to be in prison, Christo.”

  “Hey, you don’t have to tell me that.”

  They drove in silence for a while before Christo’s phone began to buzz. It was Bertie. “Hey, you’re about ten minutes behind them.”

  Christo sat up. “How do you know?”

  “The FBI traced them to the road you’re on – we’re all turning around, but you’re the closest. The FBI is sending out helicopters now.”

  “Thanks, Bert.” Christo relayed the news to Gerry, who hit the gas.

  “Let’s go. Let’s go get your girl.”

  Noosh came around as Destry drove over the county line into Westchester. He had the radio on and Noosh heard the announcers talking about the car chase. She sighed – they were coming after them. In a way, she felt glad that this was happening – one way or another, it would be over tonight. She might die, probably would die, but so would Destry. If he was arrested…would she ever feel safe? Would Christo ever be safe?

  “What are you smiling about, bitch?” Destry had dropped all pretension of class now, reverting to the animal he was. He looked desperate, deranged.

  “Just that you’re fucked, Destry. Your chickens have finally come home to roost.”

  He was sweating profusely, his eyes darting to the rear-view mirrors. Above them, a helicopter could be heard, tracking them. “Fuck!”

  He spun the car off the road and into a wooded area. Noosh was thrown about in her seat – only the fact that her arms were tied behind the seat kept her from flying through the windshield, especially when the car slammed into a tree.

  Destry was raging. “They might catch me, but they won’t take this moment away from me, Anoushka.” He leaned over and rummaged around in the glove compartment, drawing out a lethal looking knife. He grinned then as her eyes widened. “Yes, Anoushka. They might catch me, might throw me in prison…but you’ll still be dead.”

  It was over. Noosh drew in a deep breath as he raised the knife. Suddenly his face, contorted with bloodlust, was highlighted as car headlights glared behind them. Noosh gasped as she heard Christo screaming for her.

  “Christo!” Her call was cut off as Destry drove the knife into her belly. God, no…please…not now…not so close….

  Destry stabbed her again and again, merciless, and Noosh felt herself dying. “Please stop,” she said weakly, “I’m already dead.”

  It had taken seconds to tear her open, but Destry’s maniacal grin was ripped from his face when Christo hauled him away from Noosh with every last bit of strength he had left. Noosh’s door opened, and Gerry was there, freeing her hands and pressing down on her wounds.

  He lifted her out and began to carry her to the car. Noosh, barely conscious, moaned. “No…Christo…”

  “He’s taking care of Destry, honey. We have to get you to a hospital. The Feds are right behind us.”

  Noosh opened her eyes and looked around wildly for her lover. She saw him struggling with Destry, bleeding heavily as Destry pummeled him. With only one arm in operation, even Christo’s rage and grief couldn’t compete. Destry kicked Christo in the head, knocking him back, then he lunged for his gun.

  Noosh’s eyes widened as Destry turned towards them and pulled the trigger. Gerry stumbled, bleeding from the hole in his chest, and Noosh screamed. Gerry’s eyes filled with pain. “Tell her I loved her,” he choked out before he tumbled to the forest floor, dropping Noosh.

  Pain wracked her body, and she moaned, clutching at her torn belly. Destry staggered over, aiming the gun at her head. “It’s all over now, Anoushka.”

  Noosh closed her eyes, but then heard a yell as Christo threw himself at Destry, forcing him to drop the gun. As Christo tumbled Destry away from her, Noosh summoned up every last bit of her strength and reached for the gun. She staggered to her feet, her free hand pressed to the stab wounds in her abdomen, and stumbled over to where the men were fighting. Christo was weakening, she could see that, and her resolve strengthened.

  When she was immediately behind Destry, she aimed the gun. “Destry, look at me, you son of a bitch.”

  Destry whirled around, and Noosh shot him between the eyes without hesitation. He stared at her incredulously for a moment before dropping. Noosh, feeling herself weakening from blood loss, gave him a humorless smile. “I’m glad you saw it coming, scumbag.”

  Destry slumped to the ground, eyes staring blankly. Noosh bent down and pressed the gun to his skull and emptied the rest of the gun into his head. She didn’t realize she was sobbing until she felt Christo’s arms around her, pulling her away from her dead tormenter.

  Christo, his face wracked in pain, wrapped his good arm around her, his lips against her forehead. “Hang on, baby, please. I can’t lose you now.”

  Noosh gazed up at him, her eyes no longer full of fear or pain, but soft with love. “You came for me. After those terrible things he made me say to you…”

  “Don’t think of that now.”

  She heard cars approaching – help on its way – and knew she had to try to hang on. “We get our happy ending, Christo.”

  He smiled down at her through his tears. “Yes, we do, baby. Yes we do.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven
/>   “Anoushka Taylor, would you please stop getting yourself into these situations? I just repaired you once already.”

  Beth grinned at her patient as Noosh was wheeled out of surgery, dopey from the anesthesia, but still managing to smile at her friend. Beth checked her vitals and swept a hand over her forehead. “You, young lady, are a very lucky girl. The knife missed your vital organs and your arteries. The scar tissue from your shooting actually deflected the blade on some of the wounds.”

  “Christo…how is he? Is he okay?”

  Beth smiled. “He’s fine, sweetheart, apart from being worried about you. His surgery went well, and he’s back in his room.” She chuckled. “Damn, girl, you know how to pick them.”

  “Are my mum and dad here?”

  Beth’s smile faded. “They are. They’ve been worried as hell about you. Your boss is here too.”

  “I don’t have a boss anymore,” Noosh said weakly, but Beth smiled.

  “That’s not what she says. Anyway, for now, just rest. You’ll see all of them real soon.”

  Noosh closed her eyes, the remnants of the anesthesia coursing through her veins, and sank thankfully into the darkness.

  She felt his lips against hers and opened her eyes. It was nighttime, the hospital quiet, but Noosh saw his face in the soft light and thought he looked like an angel.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Hey, gorgeous.” She reached up and stroked his face. “How are you feeling?”

  “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

  “I’m okay, more than okay. Is your shoulder broken?”

  “My clavicle is fractured, but apart from that, I’m dandy.”

  She giggled at his mischievous smile. “Why are you so cheerful?”

  Christo pulled his chair closer so he could lay his head next to hers on the pillow. “Because, against all the odds, we made it.”

  Noosh smiled. “We did?” Her smile faded. “Gerry?”