His Wicked Pleasure (Wicked #1)

by Christina Gallo

“Sorry it took so long before I came over to all of you.”

  “Here,” said Billy tossing his sister a small box. “Happy birthday.”

  Without hesitation, she opened the small box and pulled out a pair of diamond earrings. “Thank you so much. I love them.”

  Benny handed her a gift bag filled with clothes that she’d picked out. “Happy birthday Daniella.”

  Jason handed Daniella an envelope and said, “It’s what you asked for. Happy birthday.”

  Lorie and Kristie sat there ignoring Daniella’s stare and started a conversation between them.

  “Um hello. Birthday girl standing here.”

  “I’m guessing you want your birthday present then,” said Kristie as she handed Daniella a card first “Here you go. Happy birthday.”

  Daniella ripped open the card barely reading it and looked over at Kristie. “Thanks.”

  “I hope you know that I stood there in that store for hours searching for the perfect card. Happy birthday.”

  Lorie completely ignored Daniella and stood up. “Is it time to go home now? I’m exhausted.”

  “Hello,” said Daniella stomping her foot on the ground.

  “Hi,” said Lorie. “I honestly forgot about your birthday and was wondering if you’d accept a rain check?”

  Kristie looked at Daniella who was standing there with her mouth opened in shock. She could barely contain her laughter as she thrust a magazine into her hand. “Here, happy birthday from Lorie and I.”

  “A magazine?” she asked in confusion as she looked between Lorie and Kristie.

  “Yes. A magazine,” said Kristie moving closer. “Open it.”

  Daniella opened the first page and looked up. “Shut up. No way.”

  “It’s all yours,” said Lorie standing next to Kristie with a huge smile.

  “I can’t believe I have my own magazine. Thank you. Thank you so much,” said Daniella with excitement in her voice.

  Kristie turned to Benny and tossed him a gift-wrapped box. “Just a little something for you. It’s from all of us.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Declan pulled into Kristie’s driveway and helped her get out of his truck. “I had a great time tonight. You really have a great group of friends.”

  “I really do,” said Kristie opening the door and walking inside. “Do you want to stay for a little bit or do you have to get home?”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me Barbie Doll?”

  “Not at all,” said Kristie leading him upstairs. “I feel weird without having Ares with us.”

  “Not to worry. Tomorrow Paul is bringing him to one of the SEALs who specializes in dog training,” replied Declan following Kristie to her room.

  Kristie sat down on her bed and looked at Declan for a moment before she spoke. “Tell me a little about yourself.”

  Taken completely off guard, he sat down alongside her and asked, “Like?”

  “What’s your middle name? Where did you grow up? Tell me about your parents. How’s that for starters?”

  “Well,” said Declan reaching over and placing a kiss on her lips. “My middle name is James, after my grandfather. I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. My parents are still together and still live in North Carolina.”

  “Are you close with your parents?” asked Kristie. She wasn’t sure why, but she sensed a little discomfort and unease in his tone when he mentioned them.

  Taking a breath and letting it out in a huff, Declan replied, “My parents aren’t really the warm and cuddly type.”

  “Oh. I see,” said Kristie feeling the need to change the subject.

  “What about you? What’s your middle name?”

  “Marigold.”

  “Like the flower?”

  “Exactly like the flower. Mom said that when I was born, all she saw was gold hair and decided that would be my middle name.”

  “I like it. But you know what I like more?”

  “What’s that?” asked Kristie turning onto her side, as she got comfortable.

  “I like the fact that you’re all mine and the more time we spend together, the more I can’t get enough of you.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  September arrived with a bang and Kristie felt like her world was shattered apart. Rossi Co. was suffering daily. The numbers were always off with the financial reports and it was even broken into. To top it off, Kristie and her family were getting threatening emails every day. The email address was to an untraceable one and, so far, they weren’t able to find the culprit.

  Kristie’s nerves were on edge and Declan decided it was time to put an end to the insanity. Declan had his team investigate every single employee of Rossi Co. and once they all came to the same conclusion, with the help of Sebastian and the police, they set a trap.

  “Barbie Doll,” said Declan on the other end of the phone in a serious voice. “I want you to remember what we discussed. Don’t play hero and don’t deviate from the plan.”

  “Yes sir,” replied Kristie in a dejected voice. “I won’t do anything stupid so stop worrying and let me get ready for work.”

  “No matter what you think, Barbie Doll, I happen to love you and care about your safety.”

  “I’m aware G.I. Joe.”

  “I’ll be out of town for a few days. I’ll speak to you soon.”

  “Okay. Talk soon.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Kristie sat in her office going over the quarterly figures for Rossi Co. when her intercom buzzed. “Miss Rossi, Sebastian is on line one for you,” said her assistant Stefan in a monotone voice.

  “Sebastian? Okay, patch him through,” replied Kristie with a smile. Waiting for the office phone to ring a few times, she picked it up and said, ‘Hello.’

  ‘I hope I’m not bothering you but I need to talk to you. It’s important,’ Sebastian spoke clearly into the phone.

  ‘No. It’s okay; you’re not bothering me. What’s up?’

  ‘I need to speak with you.’

  ‘Right now?’

  ‘Yes. Right now. It’s very important.

  ‘Where?’ asked Kristie in a concerned tone as she sat at her desk and tapped her pen nervously on the file directly in front of her.

  ‘The Grill.’

  ‘The Grill? I’m so busy and there are so many people that know us and will see us together. By any chance can you come here?’

  ‘No. I need you to meet me here, at The Grill. Trust me, it’s important,’ replied Sebastian with conviction.

  ‘Oh, okay. I’ll be there right away.’ Kristie hung up the phone and frowned when her sister Lorie walked into her office.

  “Did I hear Stefan say Sebastian was on the phone for you?”

  “Yes. You sure did,” said Kristie standing up as she smoothed out her outfit. “How do I look? Is my hair and makeup okay?”

  Making a face, Lorie folded her arms across her chest and said in an aggravated huff, “Please tell me you’re not thinking of getting back together with Sebastian.”

  “I can’t answer that honestly Lorie. Sebastian and I have history.”

  “Yeah,” said Lorie as she walked out of Kristie’s office. She stopped in the doorway before she decided to turn around and face her sister. “He’s been toying with you since you were in grammar school. Aren’t you tired of the back and forth? The up and down?”

  “I want answers and, apparently, he has them for me.”

  “I think your wasting your time. Sebastian has hurt you over and over again. Don’t you think it’s time to get off the merry-go-round?”

  “I’ve been off the merry-go-round for a while and yet, he’s all I’ve been thinking about lately.”

  “Okay,” said Lorie. “I get it. I really do. He’s gorgeous, he’s got great hair, and great teeth.”

  “He’s not a horse Lorie,” Kristie laughed. “Although, never mind. I better get going. I really want to hear what he has to say. He’s been calling me for weeks now.”

  “Go. I’ll talk to you later,”
said Lorie as she walked towards Daniella’s office.

  With a million things going through her mind, Kristie got into her Jeep and drove to meet Sebastian with a sense of anxiety. Parking, she cut the engine and sat in her car a few moments before she got out. “Deep breaths. Breathe in and out. You can face this man.”

  Taking a few steps out of her car, she felt the damp August air surround her and looked up to the sky. It was going to rain soon. Not wanting to get caught in a downpour, she walked swiftly towards the entrance of the Grill, opened the door and walked inside. To her right was Sebastian pacing like a caged lion.

  “Kristie,” said Sebastian rushing towards her. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. I was beginning to worry.”

  Feeling her palms get sweaty, she rubbed them on her suit a few times while she remembered to breathe. Looking at him, she managed a shy smile and replied, “I know you have. What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

  Looking around nervously, Sebastian pulled Kristie off to the side. Taking a long breath and letting it out in a huff he said, “You know that tall guy you’ve been dating?”

  “Declan?” asked Kristie looking at Sebastian confused.

  “Yeah. Him.”

  “I don’t have time for games. Is he the reason you’ve been calling me like a crazy person?” Barked Kristie while she folded her arms across her chest and stepped away from him.

  “Come with me,” he said in an angry voice. “Look. Look to your left. What do you see?”

  Kristie looked to her left and saw Declan sitting in a booth for two with another woman, her complete opposite. The woman appeared tall, with short, jet-black hair, dark eyes and a muscular build. Kristie turned and faced Sebastian and asked in a sad voice, “How long has this been going on?”

  “Wait? No. This is the first time I’ve seen him with another woman.”

  Not wanting to hear anything else out of Sebastian’s mouth, Kristie walked over to the cozy little booth, leaned her hands on the table and said, “Isn’t this adorable?”

  Declan looked over at Kristie and was about to say something but Sebastian stopped him.

  “I told you he was a loser. Every move you’ve made since we broke up has been backwards and stupid.”

  Kristie looked at Declan and said, “I thought you were out of town? You’re a liar. And you Sebastian,” growled Kristie doing her best to keep her voice from cracking. “You lied too. You knew he was here with another woman and wanted me to see this. Have either of you have any shame? Any sense of loyalty?”

  Sebastian grabbed Kristie around the waist and pulled her away from Declan. “Come on. You know he’s not for you. I’m the one for you. We made a promise to each other a long time ago. Let me keep that promise and make things up to you.”

  Kristie moved towards the door and opened it. Looking back at Declan and Sebastian, she said in a sad voice, “I need to stay away from both of you.” She made her way outside. Walking towards her Jeep, she heard footsteps coming up from behind. Taking a zigzag path towards her car, she heard a click

  “Bitch,” called a female voice. “Don’t take another step. This time I won’t miss.”

  Kristie stopped and held her breath. A slight sense of nausea suddenly came over her as she felt her stomach flip flop over and over. Fear of being shot suddenly hit her like a ton of bricks as the sound of her pounding heart was echoing in her head. Letting out her breath, she called without turning, “Bitch? I’m confused. How’d you know I was here?”

  “Confused? My office is three doors away from yours Miss Rossi; I heard Sebastian’s name and my ears pricked up,” scoffed Delores in an angry growl. “I’m so sick of you. Everything about you screams sunshine and happiness. I’m here to take it all away from you.”

  Kristie’s entire being quaked with fear, as the thought of bullets piercing through her suddenly became even more of a reality. Her voice cracked as she asked, “Take what away from me exactly?”

  “Come on Ms. Rossi, you’re not that stupid. You know exactly what I took away from you. Don’t you remember my face when you caught Sebastian with his pants down not too long ago? Was my disguise really that good?

  Thunder echoed in the distance as lightening flashed in the sky. Kristie turned slightly being sure to keep her emotions masked. “That was you? You sure fooled me.”

  “I’m so sick of every guy in the neighborhood drooling over you and your stupid sisters’. Without all that makeup and money, you’re just another worthless whore.”

  Feeling the sting of her words, Kristie sucked in air as she attempted to control the shaking of her entire body. “I’m really sorry,” was all she was able to say. Her voice completely failed her.

  “If you were smart, you would have stayed away from Sebastian. He was mine. I called dibs on him from the moment I met him,” barked Delores in an insane growl. “He was mine. But no you had to shake your tits and ass at him every chance you got. Now I have your company’s money and your man. How does it feel to be robbed and cheated on by a so called friend/employee?”

  Tired of the anticipation, Kristie turned to her left and started to walk to her car and as she took her third step, two shots were fired.

  ~*~*~*~

  At that moment, everything around Declan seemed to go in slow motion. The sound of Kristie’s scream ricocheted from every angle as all blood drained from his head. Standing up straight, he pulled himself together and ran towards Kristie. “Are you all right?”

  Letting out the breath she was holding, she looked around and noticed police officers surrounding her. Managing to find her voice, she replied, “I’m fine. I think.”

  He watched her with intensity for a moment but before he was able to speak to her, the police sergeant walked over and pulled him away.

  “Hey Kristie,” said Sebastian walking over to her with a look of concern. Reaching out and pulling her into an embrace, he asked, “Are you all right? Want me to call your family?”

  Pulling out of his hug, Kristie looked at Sebastian for a moment before she spoke. “Thank you. Thank you for going out of your way for me. This whole thing couldn’t be easy for you.”

  “It wasn’t,” said Sebastian with a frown. “Heads up. That lady cop that was sitting at the table with your man is headed over here.”

  Kristie turned and nodded towards the female officer. “Officer Joseph,” she said in a soft voice.

  “That was quite the performance,” said Officer Joseph with a slight smile. “I thought Sebastian was going to kiss you.”

  “I was but didn’t want my ass kicked,” replied Sebastian rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

  “It took a lot of courage for you to come to the police about Delores Maxwell, it gave us enough information to set this trap. Thank you for working with us. We can finally put this case to rest,” said Officer Joseph staring at Sebastian with a proud look on her face.

  “How could I not? Dolores bragged about her promotion and let it slip how she tried to kill Kristie and wanted her dead. What was I supposed to do?” replied Sebastian feeling sick. “She’s always been jealous of Kristie.”

  ~*~*~*~

  It had been a week since everything had happened with Dolores. She’d fired at Kristie and the only thing that had saved her was the Kevlar vest she’d been wearing. Despite everything, Kristie had moved on with her life. She’d needed to. Focusing on Dolores would have killed her.

  Although she was busy with her business, Kristie was extra busy with making plans for Declan’s birthday. She sat back in her office and let out a loud sigh of relief once everything was figured out.

  “Miss Rossi,” called Stefan through the intercom. “There’s a Mary Kavanagh here to see you. I can send her away if you’re busy.”

  “Not necessary. Please send her in,” said Kristie while tidying up her desk.

  Her office door opened, and in came a tall woman in her early fifties with medium brown hair cut short, dark brown, almond shaped eyes, and a prominent nose. He
r build was on the cusp of not thin, not chubby, giving her a soft appearance. Kristie stood up and smiled, “Welcome Mrs. Kavanagh. Thank you so much for accepting my invitation.”

  “Please dear, call me Mary,” said Declan’s mother as she walked over to Kristie and hugged her tight. “Thank you so much for reaching out to my family. We absolutely love our accommodations.”

  “I’m so happy to hear that,” said Kristie with a warm smile. “Come, let me show you around.”