Everything She Wanted

by Jennifer Ryan

  She smoothed her free hand down her leg and over the black slacks for the fifth time in ten minutes.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “I didn’t pack very many clothes when you moved me to Haven House. I . . . Do you think this is okay to go to dinner at Decadence?”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “It’s just, I’d have liked to wear a dress, something pretty. For you,” she whispered, her words filled with a shyness he’d never heard from her.

  “Kate, while I’d love to strip you out of those tight black pants you wore to work out in, and see those stunning legs in a dress, that’s all for my selfish enjoyment. I really don’t care what you wear. You’re always the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  Her lips pressed together. She didn’t look at him, but stared at her lap. “I don’t think anyone has ever said I’m beautiful.”

  “Maybe they never said it, but it’s what they thought. Anyone with eyes can see how pretty you are. Anyone who’s ever spoken to you knows that beauty goes deep. You hide it well, but I see how deep you feel things every time you look at me.”

  Her head snapped around, her eyes went wide, and she stared at him. “You can’t know that.”

  “I think you feel things so deeply you try to hide it so you don’t have to feel it, but it’s there. It’s always there, isn’t it, Kate? Whether it’s your work, your sister’s death, Alex—­you take it all in and want to make it right and perfect. You work really hard to be everything to everyone. With me, you want something for yourself. It’s okay to take it. Accept it. It doesn’t mean you aren’t still working to make things right for Margo and Donald and providing for Alex.”

  “I want this to be over. I want to bury them with a clear conscience that the person responsible paid for what he’s done. I want to love and raise Alex and know he’ll have a happy life. I want . . .”

  “What?”

  She met his gaze. “To have dinner with you. And more.”

  He brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of hers. “Let’s go take care of this so we can enjoy the rest of our evening together.”

  Kate released him and got out of the car. He got out and went to the backseat to retrieve Alex, who smiled up at him. The little guy was really growing on him. He actually liked spending time holding and feeding him. His initial nervousness and awkward moves with the kid dissipated. The way the kid looked at him, so trusting and open, touched something deep inside of Ben. He’d never really thought of himself as a father. Not when he’d had the father-­fuck-­up-­of-­the-­year for a dad. He needed to stop looking at his life through that lens and picture himself as the man he’d become and how he’d be as a husband and father. The picture didn’t seem complete or worthwhile without picturing Kate and Alex with him. Maybe that’s the picture Morgan saw. He didn’t know, but he liked the one in his head. He liked the way taking care of them made him feel.

  “Ben.”

  God, that sultry voice did something to him.

  He turned to face her with Alex in his arms. “Hey.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine. Just getting my buddy out. Let’s go.”

  “I’ll take him.” She held out her hands for him to hand over Alex.

  Ben kept Alex in one arm and wrapped the other around Kate’s waist as he turned her to the door. “I’ve got him.” I hope I’ve got you too.

  Detective Raynott spotted them when they entered the building. He waved them over to his desk. “Figures you’d get the girl. Why did I even call you?”

  Ben smiled, ignoring the detective’s remarks for Kate’s sake. “What do you have to tell us?”

  “Is the woman with Evan in that office Christina Faraday?” Kate asked, her gaze locked on the two ­people sitting behind the glass windows past all the cubicles.

  “They arrived about fifteen minutes ago. They’re talking to my boss with their lawyer,” Detective Raynott explained.

  “Did you get the warrant for a DNA sample from Evan?” Ben asked.

  “No. Thanks to the lab results from the knife and kitchen floor, I won’t get a warrant for him at all.”

  “What do you mean?” Kate asked.

  “The blood is not a familial match to Donald Faraday. It can’t be Evan’s blood.”

  “Are you saying that Evan didn’t kill my sister and Donald?” Kate asked, shaking her head in denial.

  “That’s what it looks like.”

  “He may not have done it, but he was there,” Ben said. “I saw the guilt and remorse same as you when we went to the Faraday house.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I really thought we had him,” the detective admitted.

  “If it’s not a familial match, then maybe Christina Faraday is the one who got stabbed,” Kate suggested. “They were in on it together. Both of them were at the house. Evan shot them, but Christina confronted Margo and her blood is on the knife and floor.”

  “If that’s what happened, it’s going to be an uphill battle to prove it. We have nothing that links her to the scene. I can’t get a warrant for her DNA without something to tie her to the murders. Yes, she’s got motive, but that’s not enough to compel a judge to sign a warrant.”

  “They’re still covering for each other, is that it?” Ben asked.

  “Lawyered up and sticking to their lame story. They’ve got too much to lose to slip up.”

  “Someone’s been trying to break into Haven House to get to Kate,” Ben pointed out. “That’s anything but smart.”

  “No, it’s not, but Evan has a temper. Let’s hope it lands him in more trouble, but not too much.” Detective Raynott eyed Kate, knowing Evan probably wanted her dead and out of the way, so the Faradays controlled Donald’s estate and Alex’s inheritance.

  “There’s something you need to know. Once Evan and Christina find out about it, it will make them even more dangerous.”

  “Here they come,” Kate warned, touching Ben’s arm to get his attention.

  “It’s Kate Morrison, right?” Christina said, stepping close. Too close to Kate for Ben’s liking.

  “That’s right.”

  “It’s terrible what happened to my husband and your sister.”

  “Yes, it is.” Kate bit out the words like each one tasted bitter.

  “Donald’s funeral is tomorrow at noon. Family and close friends. Although the circumstances of Donald’s death are unseemly, I’d like his son Alex there.”

  “Murder is unseemly?”

  “Their affair, dear. I mean, I want Alex there, but I don’t want to flaunt my husband’s indiscretion.”

  “Really? Which of your boy toys will be by your side? You never minded flaunting your affairs right under your husband’s nose. I’d think Donald’s friends would want to know that Donald died happy with the woman he loved in the home he shared with her and their son. I think they’d all like to know he asked you for a divorce the very day he died. I bet they all come to the same conclusion I did when I found them lying dead on the floor.”

  “You don’t know anything about my marriage and the terrible way he treated me.”

  And the Oscar goes to Christina Faraday. Ben didn’t believe the sheen of tears in her eyes. From the scoff Kate huffed out, neither did she. Evan stood beside his mother looking bored, though his gaze never left Kate’s beautiful face, pissing Ben off.

  “Donald and I were friends. He loved my sister. He was happy with her. Happier than he’d ever been he told me too many times to count. You stole that from him. From my sister. I won’t let you steal everything he left behind too.”

  “I’m his wife. I have rights.” Christina shot her lawyer a look.

  “Miss Morrison, I’m the Faradays’ attorney, Daniel Cagney.”

  “I know who you are, Mr. Cagney,” Ben interrupted. “Donald Faraday
fired you two months ago. I believe the termination letter stated he was tired of you sleeping with his wife while representing him.”

  Kate shot him a sideways glance. “Really? Wow, you do get around.”

  “Shut up, bitch,” Christina fired back.

  Kate opened her mouth to shout back, but Ben interrupted again. “What does your client want?” he asked Mr. Cagney.

  The man pulled a large envelope from his briefcase and handed it to Kate. She pulled out the papers. He read over her shoulder.

  “You want custody of Alex,” she scoffed, then let out a fake laugh. “Never going to happen.”

  “Mrs. Faraday feels that Mr. Faraday’s son should be raised with his brother.”

  “His brother is twenty-­five and not about to spend his time playing with a baby when he’d much rather be out drinking himself stupid and getting into fights.” Kate smiled insincerely at Evan with nothing short of revulsion filling her eyes.

  “Alex should be with his immediate family. That includes his brother, Evan,” Christina chimed in.

  “No, Alex should be with his mother,” Ben shot back.

  “His mother is dead,” Christina spat out.

  “No, she’s not. Kate is Alex’s mother.”

  “She’s his aunt,” Mr. Cagney pointed out. “Just because her sister died, doesn’t make her custodian over Alex.”

  “No, but the fact Kate gave birth to him does.” Ben smiled when Christina, Evan, and Mr. Cagney exchanged confused looks. “You really should get your facts straight before you start filing papers with the courts about custody. Kate and Donald are the biological parents of Alex Faraday. Alex was conceived by artificial insemination because Margo was unable to conceive and carry a child. Kate loved her sister very much and had Alex for them.”

  “Then she gave up her rights to the child when she turned the child over to Donald and Margo to raise,” Mr. Cagney pointed out.

  “No, she didn’t. She never signed her rights away. Donald had the papers drawn up, but they were never filed with the courts. Margo never officially adopted Alex.”

  “This can’t be,” Christina said. “She can’t gain control of Alex’s inheritance.”

  “She can and she will,” Ben said, handing Alex over to Kate. Alex fussed and cried, feeling everyone’s upset.

  Kate bounced Alex and he settled against her shoulder, his face pressed against her neck.

  “No judge will side with you and take Alex from his mother.” Ben hoped this would be the end of it. Should have known better.

  “Alex isn’t even named in the will,” Christina said in a desperate attempt to hold on to the upper hand.

  “You mean the will your lover Mr. Cagney drew up years ago?” Ben asked. “No, Alex isn’t named in that will, but he is in the will Donald set up nearly a year ago after Alex was conceived and updated weeks before his death. Your prenup is in place. Donald filed for divorce and served you the papers. We will go to a judge and ask him to uphold both the prenup and Donald’s will.”

  “I want to see this new will. You can’t do this. I’m still his wife.”

  “He made his wishes perfectly clear the day he died. He didn’t want to be married to you anymore. He invoked his right to execute the prenup. His new will has been in place long before he asked you for a divorce. His estate goes to Alex.”

  “No way. He may have left my mother out of it, but Alex and I will share it, right?” Evan asked, speaking up for the first time.

  “He set up a trust fund for you with a set amount of money.”

  Evan’s hands fisted at his sides. “How much?”

  “One million. You are unable to touch the principle. You’ll receive a monthly income from the investments on a quarterly basis. Upon your death, the money goes to Alex in full.”

  “That little brat gets my money.” Evan took a menacing step forward.

  Ben stepped in front of Kate and Alex and planted his hand on Evan’s chest. Evan didn’t step back, but glared down at Ben’s hand, then back at him.

  “Get your hand off me.”

  “Back off.”

  Ben waited the ten seconds it took Evan to decide that throwing a punch in the middle of a police station might not be a good idea. Detective Raynott stood close, eyes trained on Evan, waiting for him to be that stupid.

  “Those were your father’s wishes. I will work with Donald’s new lawyer to see that the will is upheld.”

  “We’ll fight it,” Christina vowed.

  “Try it and Evan gets nothing.”

  “What about the business?”

  “That will depend on what a judge decides about the prenup and the divorce Donald asked for but didn’t live to see through. Alex is his sole heir for the bulk of his estate. Kate is Alex’s mother and guardian, so she will be in charge.”

  “No fucking way.” Evan shook his head, his eyes filled with hate and disgust.

  “Did you really think you’d get away with this?” Ben asked, meaning the murders and trying to take everything Donald left behind. He shook his head. “You did all of this for nothing. Had Donald lived, he might have softened his stance and paid you off to keep you away from the family he really wanted to be with and protect. Now he’s gone and Kate and I will do everything possible to see that Donald’s last wishes are carried out and Alex gets everything his father left him.”

  “I will see that you pay for killing my sister,” Kate vowed, staring down both Evan and Christina.

  “I’m sure you’ve heard. We had nothing to do with their murders,” Christina said. “The blood on the knife isn’t a match to Evan. You’ll stop accusing him of this heinous crime.” Christina turned to Detective Raynott. “Maybe now you’ll start looking for the real killer.”

  “I’m staring right at them.” The hate in Kate’s voice made even Ben turn to look down at her. “We don’t have the evidence yet, but we will find it.”

  Christina glared at Kate, then locked her gaze on Alex. “I see Donald in him. Too bad he’ll never know his father. Let’s hope the person who killed Donald doesn’t go after him.”

  Christina reached out to touch Alex’s head. Kate smacked her hand away.

  “You scratched me,” Christina shouted, holding her wrist, the diamond tennis bracelet sparkling in the light.

  “Don’t you dare touch him.” Kate held Alex close and turned him away from Christina.

  “Let’s go,” Christina ordered Evan and Mr. Cagney, walking away without another word.

  Ben waited for them to leave, brushing his hand up and down Kate’s back to soothe and reassure her.

  “What a piece of work,” Detective Raynott said when the group was out of earshot.

  “Yes. But she gave me just what I wanted,” Kate said.

  “What are you talking about?” Ben asked.

  Kate held up her hand. “Her DNA. I scratched her.”

  “I’ll call one of the lab guys to come up and collect it.” Detective Raynott went to a desk and picked up the phone to make his call.

  Ben smiled down at Kate. “Nice work. I’d have never thought to do something like that.”

  “She made it easy. Now we’ll know exactly whose blood is on the knife.”

  Ben cocked his head and stared off in the distance. “I don’t understand. I really thought it belonged to Evan. I mean, he had the bruises on his torso and face, a limp I thought meant he’d been cut or stabbed in the leg. Christina doesn’t have a mark on her. She doesn’t exhibit any signs she got hurt.”

  “Blood will tell.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  KATE SAT ACROSS from Ben in the elegant restaurant suddenly wary after their encounter with the Faradays at the police station. What she thought would be easy to prove turned out to be a complicated mess.

  “I feel like I’m missing something.”

 
; Ben reached across the table and covered her hand. “We’ll find the evidence and put him behind bars.”

  “I thought the blood would be the last nail in his coffin. We know he did it.”

  “Christina had a lot to do with it too.” Ben frowned. “I’m not so sure she was actually there.”

  “But the blood?”

  “It could be hers, but it doesn’t make sense. If they both went there and Margo kicked Evan’s ass, why doesn’t Christina seem to have a mark on her?”

  “Did you see the odd look in her eye when Evan was cleared because the blood didn’t match him? It’s like she got something over on us. I could almost hear her taunting us that they got away with it.”

  “We’ll figure out how.”

  “Maybe she paid someone off in the lab to falsify the results.”

  Ben linked his fingers with hers and squeezed. “Maybe. Let it go for now. You need to eat and get some rest.”

  “Let’s hope it’s uninterrupted. I swear, between Alex getting up in the middle of the night and the security alarms going off at odd times I’ve barely slept.”

  Ben frowned and looked away before turning back to look her in the eye. “Now that they know Alex is Donald’s sole heir and you control everything, or at least you will once everything is settled, they’ll come after you even harder. I’m worried.”

  “They can’t get into Haven House. They’ve tried. I’ll be fine.”

  “If something happened to you or Alex . . .” Ben’s gaze fell on Alex sleeping in his car seat atop a high chair beside the table.

  “Ben, you’re sweet to worry about us. I’m worried, but I can also take care of myself. I’ve been doing it a long time.”

  “I’ve seen your skills. Well, some of them. They didn’t help your sister.”

  No, they hadn’t. That thought turned her insides cold. A man determined to see another person dead would stop at nothing. Evan knew how to fight. He’d been in enough skirmishes to not be deterred by her abilities. He’d come after her. He’d keep coming to get back what Donald gave to Alex and not him.

  “He won’t stop, Kate,” Ben said, echoing her own fears. “Besides . . .”