by Melody Anne
“Trenton, I know this looks bad, but it’s what we’ve always wanted. Bree’s supposed to be mine, and then we’ll be related. She just got messed up, being around Chad. It will be fine,” Charlie pled with his friend to understand.
“Charlie, let my sister go. We’ll sit down and talk. You’re hurting her, Charlie,” Trenton said as he took a few steps forward.
“You’re upset right now, Trenton. Bree doesn’t really know what she wants. Chad has her brainwashed,” Charlie said.
“Come on, Charlie. We’ve been friends a long time. You don’t want to do this. Let Bree go and we’ll talk. We can work this out.”
“No! You’re brainwashed, too. This man has gotten to all of you. Bree loves me, she does! She wants us to be together,” Charlie screamed. The hand that held the gun against Bree’s stomach was shaking. He was starting to really lose it and with Trenton distracting him, Chad moved closer. He had to move soon or he might lose Bree.
“This has gone on long enough. Let her go!” Trenton shouted. He stopped talking as a friend and spoke with power in his voice.
Charlie’s eyes widened at the tone, and Chad saw the shift in his expression. He was going to make a move.
“You can’t talk to me like that,” Charlie screamed as he lifted his arm and pointed the gun at Trenton.
“Get down,” Chad yelled as he jumped up, his gun aimed at Charlie.
The next few seconds slowed down as several things happened at once. Bree jerked against Charlie’s slackened hold and fell to the ground at his feet. Charlie’s gun fired, the bullet aiming straight for Trenton. Chad pressed his finger, his deadly aim slamming into Charlie’s chest.
Bree blacked out as her head slammed into a rock on the ground. She didn’t even have time to know if her brother or Chad were okay.
Chapter Eighteen
Chad ran toward Bree, too late to catch her fall. His insides clenched as he saw blood spread out from her temple. He had to make sure Charlie was down before he could tend to her, though.
He quickly approached the man and kicked his dropped gun out of the way. He knelt by him and placed his fingers on his throat.
Dead.
Charlie wasn’t going to hurt anyone else ever again.
“Bree,” Trenton called as he stumbled forward.
Chad looked at him, startled by the blood.
“Looks like his aim improved when he was aiming for me,” Trenton said, sweat beading on his forehead.
“Where the hell is everyone else?” Chad yelled. Trenton had been shot in the stomach. He needed to be admitted for surgery immediately and Chad still didn’t know how bad Bree had hit her head.
He knelt down next to Bree as he heard voices approaching. He gently lifted her head, relieved when he saw only a small cut. Head wounds always bled more than average. He knew it wasn’t too bad, but he still wanted her checked into the hospital.
He lifted her in his arms as several people arrived, shouts ringing out around them. Security personnel were there with their guns drawn, and several medical members were moving toward him. One stopped to help Trenton, ordering a stretcher be brought down right away. Another approached Bree.
“I’ve got her. I’ll bring her up to the hospital,” Chad insisted. He wasn’t letting her out of his arms until he released her into a hospital bed.
“Someone better start talking now,” the sheriff yelled as he approached the scene. One person dead on the ground, one passed out, and another bleeding, barely able to keep on his feet.
“This is Bree Anderson’s stalker. He was trying to abduct her. I was in pursuit. Her brother showed up, and the situation escalated. The perpetrator, Charlie, aimed and fired at Trenton Anderson, Bree jerked forward, so I had no other choice but to shoot. I don’t miss,” Chad explained.
There was no need to go into a further explanation at that moment; they’d do that once Bree and Trenton were patched up. He knew all about the paperwork involved when someone was killed, whether it was self-defense, or not.
“Everyone who is not immediately needed, get the hell off my crime scene. Deputy, tape this area off. The rest of you, get moving. Get the injured into the hospital and anybody who witnessed this, don’t even think about leaving. I want statements,” the sheriff commanded. Chad had instant respect for the man.
He nodded his assent, then moved quickly up the trail and walked with Bree into the E.R. She got admitted immediately, everyone was already buzzing about the shootout at their serenity pond.
***
Bree woke up in a hospital bed once again and immediately jerked forward. Chad! Trenton! She looked around frantically.
“It’s okay, Bree. Everyone is fine,” Chad quickly assured her.
“What happened?” she asked, calming at seeing Chad sitting next to her looking strong and assured.
Chad quickly filled her in, letting her know Charlie was dead. She lowered her eyes, feeling empathy for the man. She’d known him her entire life and hadn’t wanted him dead. He’d needed help, but she couldn’t fight the twinge of relief at knowing he wouldn’t ever come after her again.
“Trenton is fine. He was shot in the stomach, but it missed all major organs. He came out of surgery a couple hours ago and your family has been going back and forth between your room, your brother’s, and your father’s. The hospital is filled with Andersons,” he finished with a small smile.
“I feel sorry for the staff,” Bree said with an attempt at humor.
“Yes, they may go on strike at any moment if Joseph doesn’t calm down.”
“You’re awake,” Joseph said as he stepped into the room and nudged Chad out of the way so he could get closer to Bree. “I’ve been so worried about you. Your father is beside himself.”
“I’m fine, Uncle Joseph. Really, I am,” Bree assured him.
“You’ve been through so much. I’m sorry, baby girl.”
“I’m not a baby, Uncle,” she said, but there wasn’t any bite to her words. Joseph leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
“Chad, I don’t know how I could ever express my gratitude to you,” Joseph told him.
“You know that’s not necessary, Joseph. Your family has always been there for me, and I’m more than happy to do anything at all for you,” Chad responded.
“Does that apply to me, too? I have a few things I’d like for you to do for me,” Bree said with a wink. She got immense satisfaction at the look of shock on his face.
“I’d go to the ends of the earth for you,” Chad replied. Bree couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. At times, she just couldn’t read him at all.
“Thank you for saving my life. You are everything I’d ever wish for as a father to my child. Strong, passionate, fierce, and the greatest man I know,” Bree said. She loved him so very much. She still hadn’t had the opportunity to tell him she had her memory back, yet.
“Only because you make me that way,” he replied as he bent down and kissed her gently.
“I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?” he asked.
“I should’ve said something sooner, but everything has kept happening. My amnesia’s gone,” she finally said.
Bree watched as Chad’s eyes rounded. She could see the nervousness in him, but didn’t understand why. She would think he’d be happy she had her memories back.
“That’s great, baby,” he finally said, though he still looked upset.
“I have another confession,” she said, her stomach rolling over.
“There’s nothing you can say that would upset me,” he told her.
“I love you, Chad. I love you so much that the thought of not being with you kills me,” she whispered as she looked at him with rounded eyes.
Chad stared at her in wonder for several moments, before his face split in a huge grin. He leaned down and took her mouth with his, kissing her with all of his love and passion. He brought his hand up and caressed her face, loving her so much, he felt close to bursting.
/>
“I’m all for happy moments, but I think I’ll leave the two of you alone,” Joseph said with a chuckle, then they heard the door quietly close behind him.
“I love you, too, Bree. So much so that the thought of not having you in my life is unbearable. I can’t stand the thought of not being with you, not even for one night. You’ve slowly but surely carved a place in my heart, and now, there’s no going back.”
All talking ceased as he gently stretched his body out next to hers on the bed and kissed her so intensely, her monitors started going off.
They had to stop when the nursing staff rushed in, thinking something was wrong.
“This is highly inappropriate, Mr. Redington,” the nurse scolded while making him climb out of her bed.
“I’m sorry,” Bree murmured. The nurse gave her a stern look before leaving the room.
“That was mortifying,” Bree admitted.
Chad began laughing before he bent down and gave her one last gentle kiss.
“I’m going to find out how soon I can get you out of here. I want to take you home,” Chad said as he rushed from the room to find the doctor.
Bree laid there and wondered how something that had started out so terrifying could end so well. She’d gained her independence only to find she didn’t need it. She had a wonderful family she greatly loved and who would always be overprotective, which now didn’t seem so bad. She also had a wonderful man who had walked into her life and taken her by complete surprise. Her life had gone from one extreme to the other and that was just fine with her.
It didn’t take long for her family to rush through her doors, surround her bed and ask her dozens of questions about her health. She smiled, loving every second of it.
“We’ve been so worried about you,” Jennifer exclaimed as she bent down and gave her a hug.
“You have got to quit getting in shootouts,” Amy added with a smile.
“Yes, there are better ways to get a day of pampering other than getting admitted to a hospital,” Cassie added.
“I’m thinking a spa would be supremely more comfortable than in here,” Jessica joined in with a giggle.
“You know what? I think you’re all right. As soon as these people realize I’m fine, you can cart me away for a day of pampering. I think I’ve earned it,” Bree said. She adored her cousins and in-laws. They were wonderful women. She realized the men were starting to get outnumbered at least, with all the marriages and babies being born. She finally didn’t feel like the minority.
The men eventually left the women to chat and Bree felt herself relax, enjoying catching up on the latest family gossip.
A little while later, Chad stepped through the door carrying a huge bouquet of mixed flowers and a large bag of chocolate. Ah, a man after her own heart. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of the room full of women. Bree had to fight the giggle wanting to escape at his look of panic.
“I can come back in a while,” he said as he set the vase on her nightstand.
“Nonsense, you can be here, too,” Jennifer spoke up.
“I’ll wait. I want to talk to Bree alone.”
“You know she’s just going to tell us anything you say, so you might as well talk to her with us here. It saves time,” Cassie said with her trademark smile.
Chad looked at each of the women, then at Cassie. He squared his shoulders, then dropped to his knee next to her bed. Bree’s eyes widened as she realized what he was doing. The room became instantly silent as all eyes moved from Chad to Bree and back again.
“Brianne Lynn Anderson, I know I asked before, and not in the best way, but circumstances have now changed. I love you with all my heart and I want you by my side each and every day. I want to watch your beautiful body change with the growth of our child, and then I want to do it all over again as many times as you want. I’ll treat you like royalty, worship you day and night. I love you and it would be the greatest honor if you’d agree to be my wife,” Chad asked. His voice became a bit choked at the end.
Bree didn’t even try to stop the tears that were falling down her face. He was everything she could have ever wanted and so much more. She’d never let him get away. From his pocket, Chad retrieved a small box and opened it, showcasing a beautiful solitaire diamond nestled in an exquisite setting.
“Yes, nothing would make me happier,” she answered.
Chad gripped her hand, his own slightly shaking as he slipped the ring on her finger. She looked at their joined fingers and knew that’s how their life would be.
There was a round of applause and many congratulations as everyone beamed at the happy couple.
“Did I just hear we have a wedding to plan?” Joseph said as he stepped in the room. Bree turned stunned eyes on her uncle. He could be a thousand miles away and hear the word wedding if it was spoken by one of his family members.
“Yes, Uncle Joseph, we’re getting married,” Bree said as she beamed at him, then lifted her hand to show him her beautiful ring.
“Ah, that makes me so happy,” he said. “I’m going to go see your father. We have much to do… much to do,” he muttered, his head already in planning mode. Bree laughed as he exited the room.
“Do you want to run to Vegas?” Chad asked, only partially kidding. He knew what Joseph was like.
“We could never start our marriage that way. You’ll just have to deal with my family,” she said, knowing he was man enough for the challenge.
Epilogue
“I knew we could do it, even with your daughter fighting us the entire way,” Joseph said as he filled his brother in on Bree’s upcoming nuptials.
“I hate being confined to this stinking bed. These doctors are being ridiculous,” George pouted.
“I’m with the doctors on this one, brother. You gave us all a good scare,” Joseph said with suspiciously bright eyes.
“Don’t you start in on that,” George choked.
“We’ve only had our family back together for a couple years. I don’t want anything happening now. We have a wedding to plan,” Joseph said while taking his brother’s hand in his.
“And we still have one child to marry off,” George added, the twinkle back in his eye.
“I have a feeling that will be an easy task. Cassie’s friend, Kinsey has been here all day, and sparks are still flying between her and Austin. I think the two of them just need a little push. They’re running scared, and I think I have the perfect plan in place to give them the shove they both need,” Joseph said with delight.
“Don’t keep me hanging, Joseph. I need something to do other than watch this terrible television and stare at my monitors,” George demanded.
Joseph leaned in and let the planning begin.
See an Exert from The Tycoon’s Revenge
Chapter One
Derek Titan looked around the crowded room and had to force himself not to yawn. He couldn’t stand attending events where everyone drank too much, laughed too loud and tried far too hard to impress each other.
Derek knew he was what women considered a real catch. Hell, a stupid magazine had done a write up on Seattle’s most eligible bachelors and placed his picture as number one. He’d been furious and tried to have himself taken out of the article but his attorney had spouted some crap about freedom of speech. Since the article, he was being approached by even more materialistic females.
The magazine listed his net worth as equal to Bill Gates. They’d also said he was tall, dark and handsome. He stood over six feet, with broad shoulders and muscles that rippled throughout his entire body. He hated gyms but he ran every morning and sometimes in the evenings too. He’d discovered at a young age running was a great form of relieving his stress.
He knew the second best way to relieve stress was to take a woman to bed. The minute he was done with her, he walked away, though. There were many women who tried to get him to stay but no one held his interest longer than it took him to button up his pants.
After his heart had been shattere
d by Jasmine, he wasn’t interested in any other woman. He figured once he got his revenge, he’d think about settling down.
A woman breezed by him wearing entirely too much perfume and he snapped back to reality. He sighed as he grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter.
These parties were all about who had the most to offer. The women were on the prowl and the men were fishing. He wasn’t interested. If he wanted a woman, he could have one at any time. He wasn’t interested in superficial, wanna-be socialites.
He watched as a couple of ladies passed by, dripping in diamonds and low cut gowns. They were trying to catch his eye and normally he’d make their day by flirting a little, giving them the impression they stood a chance but today wasn’t that day. He had a raging headache and he was pissed he’d been summoned.
“There you are, boy. What are you doing hiding in the corner?” Daniel Titan, his father, walked up and questioned him.
“I’m wondering why I’m here when I’d rather be home with a scotch and my feet up,” Derek replied.
“You’re here because you received a request from your father. I have some things to discuss with you later,” Daniel said in his no nonsense voice.
“And it couldn’t wait until later?” Derek questioned.
“Oh live it up a little. You’re always so busy adding a few more million to your bank account you don’t stop to smell the roses,” his father admonished him.
“I live it up plenty, hell I was in Milan last week.”
“You were in Milan on business, that doesn’t count,” his dad told him, a bit exasperated.
“For me, the ideal time is mixing business with pleasure,” Derek told his father, with a waggle of his brows. Both men relaxed.
“Seriously, Dad I do have a headache. What’s so important it couldn’t wait until morning?” Derek asked. Once Derek had made his first million he’d moved his father to the city and Daniel was the Chief Financial Officer of his huge corporation. His father was brilliant and had helped the company grow further. His dad may have had several hard times while Derek was growing up but he was essential to Derek’s company now.