Colton’s mouth was grim. “You and I both know you have a bad temper. I wasn’t going to tell you in front of them to embarrass you; I was going to tell you in front of them so you could remain calm.”
“We’re not getting a divorce, Colton,” Katherine managed to reply through stiff lips.
Colton closed the distance between them and wagged a finger in Katherine’s face. “Yes, we are getting a divorce. You’ve been stealing from me, woman! Millions of dollars are gone from my account, and I know you took it. Took it without my permission.” Colton looked as if he could choke the life out of her.
A tremble touched her lips. “I shouldn’t need permission to withdraw money from our account. Your money is my money.”
“Not anymore! I’m divorcing you, Katherine the Thief.” Colton stormed past Katherine.
Terribly mystified, Katherine descended the staircase of their mansion. Feeling like getting her gun and shooting Colton, she marched inside the dining room, walked over to the bar, and poured herself a stiff drink.
Katherine held the glass of alcohol up to her lips and gulped. The bitter alcohol burned her throat as she drank it. If Colton Balfour thinks he’s going to divorce me and leave me out of his will, I’ll have him killed before I go out like that. Kill him myself.
Peeping around the dining room, Katherine’s anger got the best of her. Outraged, she waltzed inside the kitchen, pulled open the refrigerator, and took hold of Colton’s prescription bottle.
Standing at the sink, she reached into the pocket of her nightgown and retrieved the silver container containing the arsenic. She popped open Colton’s last two capsules, poured the cancer medication into the sink, then refilled the capsules with arsenic. She then dropped the tiny silver bottle containing arsenic into the pocket of her gown and replaced the prescription bottle back into the refrigerator.
Pissed beyond measure, Katherine picked up her drink and wrapped her lips around the edge. I’m going to make sure Colton dies before he changes his will. If he thinks he’s going to die and leave me nothing, he has another thing coming. Colton walked into the kitchen, looked at her, and just shook his head. When he pulled open the refrigerator and reached for his medicine, Katherine’s insides jumped with joy. Giving her the silent treatment, Colton grabbed a bottle of water and walked over to the cabinet carrying his medicine.
Standing at the sink beside her, treating her like a damn dog, Colton twisted the cap off the medication and retrieved the poisoned capsule. Tilting his head back, Colton held the medicine to his lips and—
Knuckles rasped harshly on the front door.
Take it. Take it. Swallow the poison. Katherine’s mind rallied for Colton to swallow the capsule touching his thick lips.
Knuckles banged brusquely on the door again.
Damn. Who could that be? Katherine thought, desperate for Colton to eat the poison.
Colton put the medication back into the prescription bottle. “I’m not going to take my medicine anymore. Are you expecting company?”
Damn, he didn’t take it. “No.”
Colton’s eyes traveled to the time on the microwave. “Me either. It’s kind of late for visitors.”
“Maybe it’s Antonio. I spoke with him earlier today, and he said he wanted to come by and apologize.”
Colton’s mouth thinned with displeasure. “Antonio should’ve apologized a long time ago.”
“Is there anything I can do to change your mind about the divorce, Colton? Please? I’ll do anything,” Katherine begged.
“I’m done with you, Katherine. Love don’t live here anymore. I’ll get the door.” Colton turned and stalked out of the kitchen.
Katherine’s eyes landed on the knives. Eager to see Colton dead, she envisioned herself stabbing him in his back.
Wondering who’d come to her home this late in the evening, Katherine walked to the end of the kitchen and peeped her head around the corner. Colton grasped the door knob and pulled open the door. Chief Shelton Wallace stood on their porch, along with two more officers.
Katherine’s heart pumped wildly in her chest. What is Chief Wallace doing here?
Chief Wallace said, “Sorry to interrupt you this evening, Colton. Is Katherine home?”
Colton nodded. “Yes. What’s this about, Shelton?”
Shelton held a sheet of paper up to Colton’s face. “I have a warrant for Katherine’s arrest, and to search the house.”
“Arrest? For what?” Shock resounded in Colton’s deep voice.
Shelton stepped inside the house and caught Katherine peeping at him from around the corner. Katherine’s heart dunked.
Shelton Wallace quickly closed in on Katherine while the other officers began searching the house. Now standing in front of Katherine, Chief Wallace pulled handcuffs from his security holster. Fear squeezed the breath out of Katherine as the Chief grabbed her arms, twisted them behind her back, and slapped handcuffs on her wrists.
About to puke, and sweating, Katherine flinched. “Ouch! Take these handcuffs off me!”
Shelton stated, “Katherine Balfour, you’re under the arrest for kidnapping, murder, and attempted murder.” Shelton began reading Katherine her Miranda rights.
Hot flashes surged through Katherine. “Kidnapping?! Murder?! Attempted murder?! Why, this is absurd!”
Colton gripped his chest. “Kidnapping? Murder? Attempted murder? Are you sure, Shelton?”
Shelton yanked on the cuffs slicing into her wrists and nodded. “Colton, you and I have known each other for years. I’m sorry to have to do this, but your wife broke the law. The police have proof that your wife, Katherine here, had your daughter-in-law and grandson kidnapped. Not only that, Katherine shot Don McQuade and killed Bridget. Police found Mildred and Kelvin in Missouri, and they’ve since confirmed Katherine’s involvement.”
Colton clenched his chest. His knees buckled. “Is this true, Katherine?”
Tears flooded Katherine’s eyes. “They’re lying, Colton. Please call our attorney. Go call Gar now. Gar can fix anything.”
The other officer walked up to where they all stood. “Look what I found hidden inside the fireplace,” the cop said, holding up the knife she’d used to kill Bridget.
“Antonio killed Bridget! Not me!” Tears dripped on Katherine’s robe.
Shelton’s eyes rounded with concern. “Speaking of Antonio…I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your son is dead.”
Katherine’s heart burst into millions of tiny pieces.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Months later
The piping hot sun shined down on the glistening blue ocean behind Zeke and Taylor’s white stucco mansion. Waves crashed against the edges of the beige, sandy beach. A hot summer breeze rolled off the ocean and brushed Taylor’s skin as she walked along the beach, looking for shark’s teeth.
“Zavier, I don’t think we’re going to find many shark teeth out here. How about we look for seashells instead?”
Wearing a white shirt and white shorts, Zavier held up his beach bucket. When Zavier bedazzled her with a handsome smile, Taylor’s heart melted. Just wilted like a flower in the blazing sun. God, she loved Zavier. “But I already have enough seashells,” her precious son exclaimed.
Deep chocolate skin, Jaheem’s mouth split into a white grin. Taylor’s heart tingled from that handsome smile of his. Man oh man, she loved Jaheem so much. Although she didn’t give birth to Jaheem, she loved him the same as she loved Zavier.
Wearing white shorts and a white shirt, too, Jaheem said, “Collecting seashells is for girls, man. Throw them back into the water, Zavier.”
Zavier shook his head. “Collecting seashells is for both girls and boys. Isn’t that right, Mom?”
Having a great time on the beach with her boys before their coming-together-as-a-family celebration took place, Taylor snickered. “He’s right, Jaheem. Both girls and boys collect seashells.”
Jaheem said, “Okay, if you say so.”
“Taylor! Ja
heem! Zavier! Our guests have arrived.” Zeke shouted, standing on the back deck of their home.
“Last one to the deck has to do the dishes for a week,” Jaheem said.
The boys took off running toward the back of the estate. Walking slowly along the beach, Taylor grabbed the locket draped around her neck and opened it. The right side of the locket had finally been filled with a picture of Jaheem and Zavier smiling. She’d always known deep down inside the right side of the jewelry would be filled with a picture of Zavier one day. Lucky for her, she got two boys instead of one, and she couldn’t be happier with her outcome.
Taylor finally had everything in life she ever wanted. A husband—her Mr. Right. Two sons. Good friends. A great modeling career. But most importantly, she had God. God had done so much for her, and if it hadn’t been for Him, she wouldn’t be where she was today.
Taylor extended her arms toward the sky. “I never could have made it without You, God. Thank You. Thank You for allowing me to see this day with my husband and children.”
Smiling, Taylor mounted the steps to the back of her deck. Zeke draped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. “Did you find any shark teeth?” Zeke asked.
“No. We can look again tomorrow.”
“You look beautiful in your all short white dress. You’re gon’ let me make love to you in the dress after our guests leave, right?”
Taylor playfully hit Zeke’s arm. “Is that all you think about, Zeke?”
“Stand in front of me. Hurry.” Facing the sliding glass door, Zeke clenched Taylor’s hips and hurried to place her in front of him. “Don’t move. Stay there for a second,” he said.
Baffled, Taylor asked, “Why can’t I move? And why can’t you turn around?”
Zeke drew his lips into a sexy smile. “Because my dick is hard and I don’t want the guests to see me like this.”
Taylor’s eyes lowered to Zeke’s white pants. His erection pushed hard beneath the zipper of his pants. “Oh, my. You’re as hard as a brick.” Taylor giggled. “I haven’t even touched you.”
“You don’t have to. Just seeing you look so damn fine gets my cock hard.” Peering out at the ocean, Zeke kept quiet for a few seconds. He sucked in a deep breath. “It’s going down. Okay. I’m good.”
“I’ve never been this happy in my entire life.” Taylor reached down and squeezed his shaft, then burst into laughter.
“Taylor!” Zeke chortled. “I’m going to get you for that.”
Taylor touched Zeke’s lips with her index finger. “I can’t wait ‘til you make love to me tonight.”
“Keep playing with my shaft like that, and I’m gon’ send everyone home so I can bend you over and make love to you right now.” With a flaccid penis, Zeke pulled open the sliding glass door.
Taylor stepped inside to find all of her family and friends there to celebrate Jaheem’s adoption and Zavier’s safe return. Glee filling her, Taylor’s eyes roamed over all of her guests standing inside her den.
“About time you two came inside,” Richmond joked.
Veronica, Bane, Colton, Willa, Drake, Sandella, Braylon, toddler Logan, Richmond, Kayla, baby Richmond II, and Leslie all were inside the family room, dressed casual.
“Thanks for waiting. Zeke had a little issue he needed to take care of,” Taylor snickered.
Chuckling, Zeke nudged Taylor. He then stated, “Anyway, thank you all for coming here today to help us celebrate the reunion of our family. As you all know, Taylor and I are thrilled to have Zavier and Jaheem become a permanent part of our lives. Jaheem, Zavier, come stand beside your mother and me.”
Jaheem went and stood by Zeke, and Zavier stood on the other side of Taylor. Clad in all white, in Taylor’s mind the four of them looked like the perfect family. Zeke continued. “In life, what matters most is family. I cherish my family. Everyone here today is family to me. Thank you all for coming to share in our beautiful reunion celebration. I love each and every one of you.”
Loud applause filled the room. After the pastor said a prayer and blessed their family, the photographer snapped photos of them dressed in all white attire.
“Now let’s eat!” Jaheem said, laughing.
Zavier exclaimed, “I can’t wait to tear the ribs up!”
Now with the kidney transplant successful and the adoption with Jaheem behind them, Taylor felt like for once in her life she had total peace. Yeah she was wealthy, and yeah she had a great career. And yeah she had the most gorgeous man in the entire world by her side. But it’d all mean nothing if she didn’t have love, respect, and most of all peace.
There’s nothing like peace, Taylor thought, hugging each and every single guest.
The doorbell rang. Taylor pried herself away from Kayla’s tight embrace, walked toward the living room, and pulled open the door. He heart dropped past her knees.
“Pierre! You came!”
Dressed in a hot pink sheer shirt and summery green pants, Pierre was working his outfit. “Honey, I sure did come. Francois is coming, too. His slow behind is getting out of the cab. The company jet Zeke sent for us was something else. Just fabulous.”
Taylor threw herself in Pierre’s arms and squeezed him tight. “I love you, Pierre!”
“Pierre loves you, too, honey. Now let me go so I can tour this mansion.” Pierre chuckled.
THE END
The Brides of Hilton Head Island series
MARRYING THE MARINE
(Braylon & Sandella)
MARRYING THE MILLIONAIRE
(Richmond & Kayla)
Coming soon
MARRYING MR. WRONG
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SINFUL SEDUCTION
THE PROPOSAL
WANTED
BEDDING THE BOSS
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Sabrina Sims McAfee is your writer of women’s fiction, romantic suspense, and contemporary romance. She loves writing about strong men and sexy strong women, and the adventurous journeys they travel. She lived in Florida for most of her life, but now she’s a current resident of Myrtle Beach, SC. She lives there with her husband and two teenage children. In her leisure time, she likes spending time with her family, reading, traveling, and watching reality and suspense TV shows.
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MARRYING MR. RIGHT (The Brides of Hilton Head Island Book 3) Page 27