Dangerous Beauty: Part One: Destiny

by Michelle Hardin

  “What about Mitchell. Has he been here?” Carter asked. She didn’t want him to know about this place. She was pretty sure the son of a bitch ran away because he was guilty of something.

  “Absolutely not,” Nathan said firmly. “My mother hated Mitchell so my father never brought him here. The only business partner my father let come to this house was your father,” he said as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

  Carter was happy that only close family knew about this location because she loved it. Nathan was right it would be the perfect place for them to start a family. They walked around the entire house while Carter made décor plans in her head. She absolutely loved the kitchen. The floor was polished hard wood, marble counter tops, the cabinets a deep cherry wood. It was stocked with all knew appliances that Carter couldn’t help but imagine herself using for the many meals she would cook for Nathan and their children, whenever they decided to have them.

  Carter couldn’t believe how much she learned about herself these past few months being with Nathan. She had absolutely no idea how domestic she was until she found herself with someone to take care of, Nathan. She honestly didn’t understand how he was surviving without her. He told her that before she was in his life he spent the majority of his time on private jets traveling around the world doing business for his father. Carter loved taking care of Nathan. She loved how much he needed her, it gave her a more fulfilling sense of purpose than work ever could. She walked around their future home with him dreaming about how wonderful their life together was going to be. She silently promised to be a good wife and mother, to devote herself to the type of family she always dreamed of having.

  She was surprised once again to find out that Nathan had packed them both an overnight bag. He had a bed delivered and everything else they needed to be comfortable for their first night together in their beautiful home. Carter loved looking around the house, but what she really wanted to see was the garden, their garden. She wanted to see the garden where she and her love spent their first day together, where he gave her first kiss, the beautiful garden that destined them to meet again.

  When they changed into more comfortable clothes, they decided to make some lunch and take it with them out to the garden. Carter could barely contain her excitement. Much to Nathan’s amusement, she bounced around the kitchen making their sandwiches while Nathan packed sides and drinks. She was so excited to be spending the day with Nathan in their garden.

  After nineteen years she never thought she would get to go back to the garden with her bubby, and the thought was enough to bring tears to her eyes as she continued searching for Nathan. After they had lunch Nathan had disappeared within the large garden. There were so many things that Carter didn’t remember about this garden. She couldn’t help but admire the small ponds and waterfalls that she spotted along the trail. This was the type of garden that people paid to see, and she had one right in her own backyard. She smiled at that thought —her own back yard. She never would have guessed her life would turn out like this. After her father was murdered she lost all hope at happiness. She stopped dreaming, hoping, she even stopped praying because she felt like no one would hear her.

  But here she was. Standing in this beautiful garden, behind a beautiful mansion, looking for a beautiful man, and they were all hers.

  All mine, she thought with a small smile on her face.

  “Nathan, stop hiding from me,” she yelled as she turned another corner on the long trail. She was okay with looking for him because it gave her a chance to look around. But then again, the thought of her never finding her way out of the garden made her start calling Nathan’s name again.

  She was continuing her search when she saw something in a bed of red roses that caught her eye. Carter squinted and walked toward the roses to see if she was actually seeing what she thought she was. Once she made it to the rose bed she picked up a picture and gasped, “Oh my God,” she whispered. She looked around behind her, “Nathan,” she called “I-I can’t believe it. It’s us,” she said staring at a picture of a three year old Carter, and a five year old Nathan sitting on a white plush swing smiling at whoever took the picture. Anya, Carter thought, it had to be Anya. Carter couldn’t believe it. She didn’t remember any pictures being taken when she came here that day, but then again she was only three, there was only so much she could recall.

  Carter looked up from the picture and noticed another lying farther within the bed of roses. She ran forward with anticipation. She leaned forward, picked up the picture, and laughed as her eyes began to fill with tears. The picture showed her and Nathan sitting at the picnic table with Carter resting her head on his shoulder. She had her thumb in her mouth and from the looks of it Nathan was filling her little spaceship plate with fruit. Carter looked up again hoping to see another picture and when she did, she darted for it eagerly. The next picture had her laughing louder and tears flowing down her face. Nathan had both hands on her face and his lips pressed against hers.

  “My first kiss,” she whispered pressing the picture to her heart.

  She found five more pictures featuring her and Nathan cuddling in different areas within the garden before she finally came upon the big white gazebo featured in many of the pictures.

  The most beautiful assortment of flowers Carter had ever seen surrounded the gazebo, and a big plush white couch swing sat in the middle. In front of the plush couch sat a small table with a gorgeous music box with dark wood and golden edges sitting in the middle of it. Carter looked at it wondering why it would be sitting in the middle of the gazebo, but when she noticed another picture sitting next to it she ran up the steps, excited to see another adorable picture of her and her love.

  In this picture Carter lay on the plush swing sleeping, with Nathan next to her and his little arms surrounding her small body protectively. Carter smiled at the way they were laying in the picture, it was the same way they sleep in their bed now, her cuddled close to Nathan’s chest and his arms wrapped tightly around her. She could feel the floodgates opening again, but before the first tear fell she spotted a small key sitting in the spot where the picture lay. She picked it up, and looked closely at the music box noticing for the first time, a small lock on the front of it.

  Her curiosity sparked. She stuck the key in the lock and turned. There was a click right before the box began to open on its own. The top came up slowly, the sides dropped, and back of the box fell flat.

  Carter stood frozen. Her eyes locked to the big diamond ring sitting in the middle of a picture of Nathan and her on the plush swing. Nathan held two yellow roses in his hand and Carter looked at him with tears running down her face while he placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

  Carter’s hand came up to her mouth as the tears began to flow freely down her face.

  “My beautiful rose. I knew you would find me,” a deep loving voice said behind from her.

  Carter turned around and saw Nathan walking up the steps of the gazebo with a yellow rose in each hand. He stood directly in front of her, towering over her, his striking gray eyes so sweet and full of love. Carter looked up at him unable to stop the waterfall of tears coming from her eyes.

  Nathan placed both roses in one hand, and gently wiped the tears from her eyes. “Don’t cry, beautiful girl,” he said placing a kiss on her cheek. “Make a wish with me,” he said softly against her skin, putting a rose in her hand. Nathan rested his forehead against hers, kissed his rose softly, and dropped to one knee in front of Carter.

  A soft sob escaped Carter’s lips as she watched Nathan reach for the diamond ring. He sat his rose down and took Carter’s left hand in his. He looked into her eyes.

  Oh my God…

  “Nineteen years ago I made a thousand wishes, prayed a million prayers, and the object of each one of those wishes, every one of the prayers is standing right in front of me, in all her regal beauty. After my mother,” Nathan cleared his throat and began again, but Carter could see the pain in his eyes at the mention of his m
other. “After my mother was taken from me, I stopped believing that there was anything beautiful in this world. I stopped hoping, dreaming…praying. I was lost, angry, and alone. That was until I was convinced not to go to Russia this year, but to a little “housewife city” called Hope Beach,” he teased, and Carter giggled through her tears. “What I found in that little “housewife city” changed me, or I should say who I found. Carter you have given me happiness, peace, hope…love, things that I thought I’d lost thirteen years ago. Your beautiful heart humbles me, your smile warms me, your laugh…it’s the sweetest music. Make my wish come true, baby. Carterina Anastacia Stone, will you be my wife?”

  Yes!

  Carter’s heart soared. She didn’t know it was possible to love a person as much as she loved Nathan Alessandro Salerno. Leaning forward, she kissed Nathan’s soft lips. “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Yes?” he asked.

  Carter smiled. “Yes.”

  Nathan arched an eyebrow. “You sure?”

  Carter giggled. “Positive.”

  “Wow, positive huh? That’s really sure. I could give you a little time if you want it.”

  Carter laughed. “I don’t want time, Nathan, I want my ring.”

  “This ring?”

  “Yes, Nathan,” Carter said rolling her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

  “I just want to make sure because if you put this on—”

  “Nathan!”

  “Fine, fine. Damn, you’re bossy,” he said in a playful tone as he slipped the ring on her finger and chuckled. “Well, there it is. Now you’re stuck with me forever.” He gave her a big smooch on her lips.

  Carter bounced up and down gazing at her ring as Nathan stood to his feet.

  “Nathan, it so beautiful. Ahh!” Carter screamed when Nathan picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. He started down the gazebo steps “Nathan, what on earth?” she said and Nathan slapped her behind. She squealed. “Where are we going?”

  “What do you mean ‘where are we going?’ You just said that you would marry the heir to The Salerno Empire, Carter. We have obligations baby, responsibilities. It would be out of my way, but I guess I could devote the rest of my day to starting on that whole heir thing,” he let out an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose I’ll spend all day and night locked up in a room making sweet, sweet multiple orgasm inducing love to you. Making sure that by time we leave the room you’re pregnant with my son,” he said feigning exasperation.

  “Wow, you’re so giving. How can I ever thank you?” Carter said dryly, trying not to laugh.

  “Don’t sweat it, baby. You know me, I’m a giver,” he said with a shrug.

  Carter laughed. There was no way she was getting pregnant today. Little did Nathan know, Carter had emergency condoms in her purse.

  20

  Temper, Temper

  “Ahh! I know he’s so sweet. I love him so much.”

  “Have you set a date yet?” Jenna asked over the phone.

  Carter and Jenna had been screaming over the phone since Carter and Nathan got back to the city. She didn’t get to tell Jenna about the engagement in person because she couldn’t wait.

  Carter chuckled. “Jen, he just proposed yesterday,” she replied.

  “Omigod! I am going to look so hot in my maid of honor dress.”

  “You are. We decided we were just going to have a small ceremony in our garden with the people we love.”

  “Aww. That’s so sweet, Carter. I can’t believe you’re getting married! Call me later so that we can cry together,” Jenna said.

  She sounded like she already had tears in her eyes and Carter knew she better get off the phone with her before the damn flood gates opened again. “Alright Jen, I’ll call you later.”

  “Love you, hun.”

  “Love you too,” Carter said as she hung up the phone and caught up with Nathan.

  “Nathan, stop walking so fast,” she said running up the side walk to catch up with him. The three security men behind her sped up, as she did.

  “I’m sorry, baby. I wasn’t watching. My father said we need to hurry, it’s something urgent,” he said grabbing her hand and pulling her along with him.

  “Is it Mitchell?”

  “I don’t know, but we’re about to find out,” Nathan said as they walked into The Salerno Organization building.

  “Nathan!” Kyle called walking over to Nathan and Carter. “Where the hell have you guys been? You won’t believe who’s upstairs!” he said.

  Carter and Nathan stopped walking and looked at him waiting for him to say.

  “Andrew Reeves. He said he has information about Mitchell. He’s using it as a peace offering.”

  “What?” Nathan asked shocked.

  “Wow,” Carter said. “Reeves is such a pussy,” she said shaking her head in disgust.

  “Carter. Don’t be so crude, baby. You need to stop hanging out with Mickey, you’re starting to sound like him,” he said and Carter smirked.

  “Mickey’s not bad,” she defended, then she spotted him on the elevator and she let go of Nathan’s hand. “I’m going to go up with Mickey,” she said and Nathan nodded.

  She saw Mickey exit the elevator and walked quickly over to him, happy to see her partner in crime.

  “Carter, hey, just the legs I wanted to see,” he said with a sly smile.

  Carter laughed. “Where are you headed?” she asked looking up at his smiling face.

  “I was actually looking for you and your boyfriend. The Russian one, not the one that’s full Italian,” Mickey teased. “Angelo sent me to see if you two finally made it in. You know where he is?”

  Carter turned her body around. “They were just—”

  Her words were cut off when two loud gun shots rang through the large lobby of the building and Mickey doubled over screaming in pain.

  Carter whipped around just in time to see Mickey fall to the floor holding his thigh and knee.

  After that everything went in slow motion, as Carter turned to the direction of the gun shots and saw a man in a hood walking away with a gun at his side.

  Carter. Saw. Red. She kicked off her heels and darted in the direction of the shooter.

  Carter was so far gone that she completely ignored the screaming people running passed her, trying to get out of the building. She faintly heard men yelling her name, but she was passed the point of thinking straight. There was only one thing going through her mind at that point. Capture and kill the motherfucker that shot her Mickey.

  As if the shooter knew she was coming, he turned around, and saw her running at lightning speed and he began to run. This only made Carter speed up her pace as rage continued to fill her. She wanted blood, and she wanted it right now.

  The man quickly ran into the door where the stairs were located on the far side of the large lobby. Carter ripped her skirt up her thigh so that she could have easier access to her knives. She’d been running so fast that she entered the stairwell only seconds after the shooter, and once she walked in, she discovered she had walked into an ambush.

  Shit!

  Carter had time to register that three men were standing in the stairwell, and they all had guns pointed directly at her.

  One man stood to her right legs spread apart. Another man stood in front of the downward stairs. And the last man stood on the first step of the upward stairs.

  Carter took a deep breath, did what her father trained her to do. She slowed down their movements, and moved at the speed of light.

  The gun shots rang in the acoustic room. Carter dropped to the ground and scrambled through the legs of the shooter on the right of her.

  She pulled one knife from her holster, stood quickly, and stabbed him in the back of the neck twice. The man let out a loud howl, and before he lost his balance, Carter pushed him hard into the man standing in front of the downward staircase. Both men tumbled down the steps.

  The man on the upward staircase made a mistake and looked at his
two accomplices falling down the steps. Before he even thought to raise his gun again, Carter threw two knives, piercing him in both eyes.

  Carter ran down the stairs quickly to the man she knew was still alive. He was panicking and trying to push the now dead man off of him. He frantically grabbed for the gun that had fallen from his hand on the fall down the stairs. Carter jumped the rest of the stairs, and kicked the gun. She pulled out one of her remaining knives quickly and stabbed his hand. He howled in pain and Carter grabbed both sides of his head and slammed it against the floor effectively knocking him unconscious.

  ***

  Nathan had only heard two gunshots and Mickey scream in pain before he looked up and saw Carter running fast through the large lobby after a man in a hood with a Glock in his hand.

  His heart stopped, but he managed enough breath to scream her name before he took off running after her. He heard Kyle shout something behind him, but Nathan didn’t look back. He ran passed Mickey where he had fallen to the floor and saw him pointing frantically in the direction Carter ran out of the corner of his eye.

  The lobby was in chaos. People were running, screaming, and as the crowd became more frantic. Nathan lost sight of Carter.

  He turned in every direction looking for her, hoping she would appear.

  “Carter! Carter, goddammit,” he shouted feeling dread in the pit of his stomach.

  Kyle ran up next to him. “Where is she?” Kyle asked frantically looking in every direction hoping to see Carter’s face.

  “I don’t know. I fucking lost her,” Nathan yelled. He was hysterical at this point and his heart was pounding. If anything happened to Carter, he would kill everyone in this fucking lobby. “I can’t see passed all these fucking people.”

  “Carter!” Nathan and Kyle ran around the entire lobby calling out her name as men from upstairs began to pour into the lobby and join in on the search. They all continued looking until they heard something that made each of them turn and run in the direction of the sounds at the same time.