He kissed her, her soft lips warm against his own. Her little face fit so perfectly in his big hands, she made him feel like a giant of a man, a hero instead of the screw up he really was. She pressed her insane body to his, and he felt his cock jump instantly, swelling and thickening with longing for her. He pressed his lips to her throat. ‘God, I want to fuck you so bad, right now, Quilla Chen.’
She gave a throaty chuckle. ‘Well, Mr. Mallory, I do believe you promised me a night on the balcony, and I’m going to take you up on that.’
He grinned. ‘Then let’s get a water taxi and go home right now…’
On the balcony of her apartment, there was a streetlight immediately adjacent, so Jakob threw a towel over it, much to Quilla’s amusement. Then slowly, he stripped her, his lips against the skin he revealed. He made her sit in on of the chairs while he went down on her, Quilla gasping quietly as his tongue lashed around her clit. He grinned up at her as he trailed his tongue up her belly and took her nipple into his mouth. She knotted her fingers in his hair and let her head fall back, her eyes close. When his lips found her throat, she murmured, ‘I want to suck you,’ but he just chuckled.
‘Not tonight, Miss Chen, tonight is all about you…’
He stood and peeled his clothes off quickly, his cock heavy, bobbing under the weight of the blood engorging it, ramrod straight against his belly. He fisted the root of it, smiling as he watched her admire him. ‘You like what you see, beautiful?’
‘God, yes.’
‘Show me.’
Smiling lazily, she slowly spread her legs, and trailing her hand between her breasts, down her belly, she stroked into her sex, parting the peachy folds to show him how wet she was, how red and swollen she was, for him, only him.
‘That is the most fucking beautiful sight on this Earth,’ he hissed and suddenly he was pulling her to the floor and plunging his cock deep into her, her legs curling around his waist, her eyes locked with his as they fucked, clawing at the other, both tender and animal, Quilla urging him deeper…
Jakob opened his eyes. There were so many emotions roiling around inside him. He would give anything, every penny he had, every material thing he owned to turn back time and go back to that day on the balcony. Or the day after when Quilla had suggested finding an empty gondola after night had fallen and they’d fucked in that, trying not to laugh or moan too loudly, having to hide hurriedly as two Carabinieri passed by, their flashlights sweeping over the line of silent boats.
But so much had happened between then and now. Gregor. If his end game had been to shatter Jakob’s psyche, he’d succeeded. And then there was the fact that Quilla had slept with him. Had been intimate with her would-be killer. Jakob hated himself for thinking it, but he couldn’t deny the torrent of jealousy, of betrayal he felt. He knew, he knew, it wasn’t fair, that she’d done it to save Hayley, to save herself…but he couldn’t get that image of her face on that video tape.
And now she was dying, and he might not get the chance to tell her he loved her, or to hear her tell him that she had hated every minute being with Gregor, that she loved only him, Jakob, that she was sorry…
Sorry? What the hell is wrong with you, man? He swore under his breath. Quilla had nothing to apologize for; she had made a huge sacrifice for the people she loved and what was he? A fucking idiot. He didn’t deserve her.
Many hours later, when he landed in Seattle, he got into a cab, but when the driver ask him where to, he choked on the word ‘Hospital.' Instead, after taking a deep breath in, he gave him an address across the city. One he hadn’t been to in over a year.
Flori, Nan, Hayley and Asia looked up as Marley came back, balancing hot coffee on a tray. The Mallory men were with the police, going through everything, Asia’s partner, Dr. Parker Thomas, was indeed the surgeon trying to save Quilla’s life – he’d flown into Seattle at the moment Grady had called Asia.
‘You know what’s weird?’ Nan said, quietly, ‘We’re back to the beginning. First time I met Joel, we were right here, in this room.’
Marley nodded. ‘I remember. Quilla had been stabbed by Gregor then too. What the hell is wrong with this world?’
Hayley, whose quiet devastation was written all over her face, sighed. ‘I can never tell you how much Quilla did for me in that prison. Even if I described every single minute, I couldn’t tell you.’
Nan started to cry at her sister’s words and gathered her into a hug. Flori wiped her face. ‘I just hope, somehow, she can fight this last fight.’
‘She will,’ Marley said gruffly, her voice breaking. Asia put her arm around the woman.
‘Look, I’m a great believer in positivity. We need to tell happy stories about Quilla, or about our lives or whatever. Send good energy out into the ether.’
‘Good idea,’ said Hayley suddenly, then she looked at her sister. ‘I’m marrying Skandar. Soon.’
Nan grinned. ‘Really? That’s amazing, congratulations.’
Hayley looked comically disappointed. ‘What no ‘you’re too young?’ No ‘Are you knocked up?’ Darn it; I was hoping for some drama.’
The others laughed, and Nan shook her head. ‘No way – although I had better be your Maid of Honor.’
Hayley shook her head, and Nan’s face dropped. Hayley kissed her cheek. ‘I want you to give me away, Nan. I know it’s a traditionally male role but fuck the patriarchy. Will you do me the honor of giving me away?’
Nan colored and burst into tears, smiling through them. ‘Of course…oh god….’ She sniffed, trying to stop crying as Hayley rolled her eyes. Nan wiped her nose. ‘Just to check, though – you’re not knocked up, are you?’
‘No, don’t worry.’ Hayley smiled but Asia, whose face was scarlet, put her hand up.
‘Um…I am.’
They all gaped at her, and she laughed, her face returning to its normal color. ‘Afraid so. It wasn’t planned, but Parker and I both want kids, but we also don’t want to get married yet.’
Flori gave a dramatic gasp. ‘I am clutching my pearls! This new-fangled way of living…oh hell, I can’t even be bothered to make fun of you, congratulations, I’m so happy for you both.’ She hugged Asia, who chuckled.
‘Thank you, boo.’
Marley went to the window and gazed out into the gloomy light of the evening. She desperately wanted to join in with the women, but she felt distanced from them, even though, technically, she was the only one of them married to a Mallory. It was her best friend on that operating table – again, and she wanted to scream and curse and punch something.
What she couldn’t believe mostly was that finally, Gregor Fisk was dead. Although they didn’t know exactly what happened, it looked like Quilla had killed him, and that’s what worried Marley as much as the hideous injuries Quilla had received while escaping. Knowing she killed another human being would change Quilla – possibly irretrievably. Marley knew her too well – sweet, sweet Quilla would grieve for the man who abducted, raped and stabbed her. That she was the wife of Jacob Mallory would only exacerbate and fire up the press stories – Marley could see the headlines now: Killer Quilla.
Christ…
‘Marley?’ Nan’s voice was soft, and she felt her hand on her back. ‘This must be even worse for you, I know, but we’re all here for you, sweetheart.’
Marley smiled and turned back to the group, flushing when she realized they were all looking at her. She drew in a deep breath. What the hell? ‘I married Ran. A few days ago. We also didn’t want to wait,’ she smiled shyly at Asia, who beamed.
‘I’m so glad, Marley, you make such a wonderful couple.’
The rest of them murmured their assent, and Marley felt a tension leave her. ‘I love him, so very much, and it’s weird, it’s not the mad, crashing love you think you’ll find. It’s just….right and solid and adoring.’
Flori smiled at her. ‘You’re such an old soul, Marley, or what I mean is, you are mature beyond your years. You’re right; it makes so much sense for you to
be with Ran.’
‘Thank you, Flori…and what about you? What’s your news?’
Flori smiled. ‘Nothing new to tell…except I think I loved Grady Mallory, even more, each day. Since we’ve been able to…’ She trailed off flushing, shooting a look at Grady’s former lover, Asia, but the other woman nodded encouragingly. ‘Well, since then, it’s just gotten better every day. I have, to be honest, I’d been living under fear, that Gregor would find me again or do what he did to Bo Kennedy, and take Grady away from me. I’m so glad he’s dead.’
‘You bet your butt he is,’ they all looked up as Grady came back into the room with the others. Skandar immediately pulled Hayley into his arms; Ran slid an arm around his wife’s waist, Joel, planting a kiss on Nan’s forehead.
Grady smoothed Flori’s hair. ‘And the police just confirmed: Quilla killed him.’ He looked at Hayley. ‘They think she used the tile fragment to slash his throat, but it wasn’t enough to kill him. He went after her, stabbed her, but she managed to grab the gun and shot him. She emptied the gun into his head and then tried to reach help. She collapsed in the snow, but luckily the people from the cabin across the way found her and called it in.’
‘Has Parker given you an update?’ Asia asked him, her eyes wide.
Grady shook his head. ‘Not yet.’
Ran cleared his throat. ‘The police say her injuries were life-threatening. The cold may have slowed her heart down so that she didn’t lose as much blood, but still. It’s touch and go.’
Marley gave a little sob, no longer able to hold it in. Ran wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. Asia glanced at them sympathetically but not knowing what to say.
‘Where the hell is Jakob?’ Skandar, who had been in shock for days now, and had not let Hayley out of sight for long, glanced at his watch. ‘His plane got in a couple of hours ago.’
‘I’ll call him,’ Joel got up and went out into the corridor to use his phone, Nan went with him.’
All them sat in silence for a few minutes. Hayley, exhausted, burrowed into Skandar’s arms, and he pressed his lips to her temple, his own eyes full of sadness and fatigue.
Asia got up as her boyfriend, Parker, came in, still in his scrubs. He looked grim-faced, and Marley felt Ran’s arms tightened around her.
‘We’ve managed to stop the bleeding,’ Parker said, ‘but she’s very, very sick. I wish I could give you better news, but it is a waiting game now. The knife nicked her abdominal artery, and it was leaking, but we’ve managed to stabilize it, for now. She just needs time now for her body to do its job and heal.’
‘Can we see her?’
‘She’s in recovery, and I wouldn’t advise too many of you go in, she might get overwhelmed if she wakes up. For now, I think Jakob…and Marley?’
‘Jakob’s not here yet,’ Marley said, a hint of annoyance creeping into her voice.
‘I’ll go in with you,’ said Hayley, quietly, ‘I need to see her.’
Just before Marley pushed open the door to Quilla’s room, she balked. Hayley looked at her with surprise, then, understanding. She linked her fingers with Marley’s. ‘Together.’ Marley nodded, and they went in.
Quilla was, as expected, surrounded by machinery, wires, and tubes all over her body, the hiss and click of the breathing equipment the only sound in the room. Quilla was paler than pale, her usually honey-colored skin wan and tinged with yellow. Dark purple bruises on her skin, cuts and welts, her abdomen heavily bandaged, blood seeping through in some places.
‘God,’ Marley felt her legs give way, and Hayley hurriedly steered her into a chair. She went to Quilla’s head and stroked the matted hair away from her face.
‘I love you,’ she whispered and kissed her friend’s forehead. Marley watched the young blonde woman, a growing fondness inside her. Whatever Quilla and Hayley had been through had forged a bond as unbreakable as her own with Quilla.
Quilla, deeply unconscious, was so still, Marley and Hayley could only watch the rise and fall of her chest as the machine breathed for her. They each took a seat either side of her, took one of her small, cold hands in their own.
Marley didn’t know how long they sat there, but she glanced over at Hayley and was appalled to see tears pouring down the younger woman’s face. ‘Hayley…’
‘I keep watching her chest go up and down and thinking that the next time, it won’t move. That she’ll just go, and we won’t get to say goodbye.’
‘Oh, sweetheart…’
Marley could not think of anything else to say to comfort her friend. She glanced at her watch and wondered again: Where the hell is Jakob?
Joel had not been able to get hold of his brother on the phone, but he’d called the airline. ‘He definitely got to SeaTac, and he definitely got off the plane.’
None of them knew what to do next. Ran rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Look, why don’t you all go home? I’ll wait for Jakob and the girls, but there’s obviously not much you can do here.’
Grady nodded. ‘Asia, why don’t you come back with us?’ Flori nodded and took Asia’s hand.
‘Yes, do come, you need looking after.’
The men looked confused. ‘I’ll explain another time,’ Asia waved away their questions. ‘I will, thank you both.’
Joel and Nan followed the others out, but Skandar shook his head. ‘I’m not leaving Hayley.’
Ran smiled at his grandson. ‘Well, then, I’m grateful for the company.’
It was another hour before Hayley came to find them. She looked red-eyed and upset. ‘They’re checking her at the moment, asked us to step out. Marley’s gone to find more coffee.’ She smiled at Ran. ‘You might have to go home without the missus tonight.’
Both Ran and Skandar looked up. Ran, a slight flush on his face, grinned. ‘She told you?’
‘She did, and we’re all very happy for you,’ Hayley grinned at Skandar’s surprise, ‘those of us who know. You have a new step-Nana, Skan.’
Skandar actually smiled for the first time in weeks and congratulated his grandfather, who nodded gratefully. ‘Well, look, you two should go home and get some rest. I…’
He stopped as someone knocked and FBI Agent Carter James stepped into the room. ‘Hey folks, how’s Quilla?’
Hayley made a face. ‘Not out of the woods, yet.’
‘Sorry to hear that. Ran, could we speak privately for a second?’
Randall followed the agent out into the hallway. He looked grim-faced and awkward. ‘Ran, there’s no easy way to tell you this…Jakob’s been arrested.’
Ran felt like a sledgehammer had slammed into his chest. ‘What the hell for?’
Carter blew out his cheeks. ‘He was trying to buy cocaine. The trouble was, we were in the middle of a sting and Jakob was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Look, the arresting officer knows of your family and the case but says his hands are tied. Jakob’s at the county lockup. He’ll be arraigned in the morning; I’m pretty confident bail will be set.’
‘Charges?’
‘Probably possession. Look, I’m sorry. I haven’t seen him but I guess he’s pretty messed up about Quilla, which is why he spiraled down. I’ll let you know where he’s been taken.’
Ran went back into the relative’s room and told Skandar and Hayley what had happened. Skandar cursed and shook his head, furious, but Hayley put her arm around his waist. ‘Skan…if I was Quilla, what would you feel like right now?’
Skandar’s jaw clenched, a nerve flickering in his cheek. ‘Yeah, okay,’ he muttered eventually. Hayley kissed him. Ran sighed.
‘Go home, the both of you, get some sleep. When Agent James comes back, I’ll go see Jakob.’
Quilla slid back into consciousness but didn’t open her eyes for a moment. She could tell the hand holding hers wasn’t Jakob’s – it was too small, but it was familiar. Marley.
She opened her eyes to see a darkened room and her oldest friend, her head laid on the bed, turned towards her, her eyes closed. Quilla tried to s
mile but the tube in her throat was so bulky, she couldn’t. Her throat was scratchy, a terrible thirst raging inside her.
And the pain…god…the lightheadedness she felt she knew was from morphine, but it wasn’t touching the burning ache in her belly.
She squeezed the hand that held hers, and Marley sat up instantly, blinking her eyes. ‘Quils?’
Quilla tried to nod her head, and Marley burst into tears, smiling through them. ‘Oh god, honey….welcome back?’
She tried to hug her but with all the wires and tubes, it was difficult. Quilla couldn’t speak but pointed to her throat. Marley understood. ‘I’ll go get a nurse, darling, hold on.’
Alone, she listened to the silence being broken by the machines keeping her alive. She tried to move any part of her body, but everything screamed in pain. At least she could move her arms, write things down, like…
Where the hell is Jakob?
Her husband, locked in a cell, had his head in his hands. This is the lowest you’ve ever been, Mallory, he told himself. In a strange way, he was glad he hadn’t had the chance to take the coke – that would have been infinitely worse than this. Still…he felt incredibly guilty – he should be with Quilla right now. How was he going to explain this to her, to his family when he didn’t have an answer for himself?
‘Jakob?’
Carter James looked at him, and Jakob could see the empathy in his eyes. It didn’t help. Jakob got up and went to the door. ‘How are you doing?’
Jakob shrugged. ‘Okay. It was a dumb stupid thing to do.’
Carter nodded, gave him a half-smile. ‘Yeah, it was. Look, your dad’s on his way – no, don’t worry, Quilla’s doing not great but okay – but your dad wants to see you. You’ll be arraigned in the morning, and I’ll be putting in a report to the judge. Bail should be set, and under the circumstances, I think you’ll be out pretty soon after that. What possessed you?’
Jakob sighed. ‘Stupidity. Wanting to escape. Not having to face the fact my wife is dying.’
Montgomery Billionaire Series Page 123