by Laura Burton
But to Catherine, it was much more confusing. What was his intention behind the lie? Had he been telling his family about her? She imagined them sat in a glass lake house, drinks in hand and laughing as he told them about Catherine Fisher, the world-renowned opera singer, thinking he was a mechanic.
“You’re rich.” Johnny said, breaking Catherine out of her thoughts, “Do you tell everyone?”
Catherine stared at Johnny for a moment as he scratched the back of his neck. Edward did that when he was nervous. Which he often was. Maybe his conscience had been weighing heavy but for some unknown reason, he thought he couldn’t tell her. Johnny had a point; money was not in short supply thanks to her singing career, but she was not a billionaire. Not even close. And she never tried to hide who she was. She even introduced him to her family, something she had never done with any previous boyfriend.
“I’m going to the bathroom, don’t steal money from the bank while I’m gone,” Johnny said with a wink as he got to his feet. Catherine chuckled as the doorbell rang. “Oh good. The pizza is here,” he added before disappearing down the hall. Catherine smiled to herself as she crossed the room and pulled the door open.
“Hello.”
A flash of red hair came into view, a white halo surrounded the figure is if they were a holy messenger. But the hairs standing on the back of Catherine’s neck told her if he was a messenger, he wasn’t sent from heaven.
“How – did – you?” Catherine could hardly speak as she backed away. A black boot stepped into the house, and the uninvited guest walked in.
“Nice house,” he said pleasantly, looking around. Catherine’s ears rang so loudly, it was like she had her head stuck in one of the bells of Notre Dame.
“You can’t come in,” she said, trying to add power to her wavering voice. Calvin appeared fully into view as he closed the door behind him.
“I saw you,” he said. His eyes were like ink, no warmth or love behind them. Just darkness.
Calvin Whitehead was a perfect gentleman when he met Catherine. He spoke with an air of confidence and paraded around like a man who owned the city. When he praised Catherine on her talent, she mistook his flattery for adoration. And when he offered her a job at his club it was impossible to say no. She could sense his penetrating gaze from across the dark room as she sang onstage. After every performance he took her to expensive restaurants, showered her with gifts. Made her feel special. She had no idea that those presents had strings attached. If it wasn’t for Calvin, she might not have been noticed by Louis, who then got her into one of the most prestigious theatres in America; Lincoln Center.
But there was a dark side to Calvin. Something dangerous and unnerving behind his polite smile. The same smile he was giving her now. All she could think about was how he could have found her.
“I’ve come for closure,” he said with a note of finality. Catherine held her breath as her eyes shot to the hall, praying that Johnny could somehow sense danger and stay locked in the bathroom.
All alarms were going off in her head, and every hair on her arms had risen. If Johnny came out and found Calvin standing there, she wasn’t sure what he would do. But she had a few guesses what Calvin would do, and it instilled enough fear for her to muster the courage to go against her instincts.
“Okay Calvin,” she said, reaching for her jacket. “Let’s take a walk.” Calvin’s thin lips curved upward as he gave a curt nod and followed Catherine out the door.
Chapter Twenty
Tactics and Alliances
Edward paced the room, his mind spinning as he glanced sideways at Anthony who was sitting on the couch.
“She’s not picking up,” he said with frustration, looking at Edward.
“You know what to do,” Charles said to Sam and David, they nodded back and called the elevator. As soon as the doors opened, a security guard appeared, he marched into the apartment and whispered into Charles’ ear, who hummed. Then he looked at Anthony.
“Can you give us the address for your aunt and uncle?” he asked mildly. Anthony shook his head.
“Oh no,” he said. “Catherine won’t be impressed if I told you that.”
“Does Calvin know?”
Anthony sucked in the air through his teeth and squinted.
“I don’t know about that,” he said slowly.
“Let’s consider this. A man who has made a direct threat, not only at my son, but at your cousin too, is walking around the city, a free man. His motives are clear. What move do you expect him to make now?”
Anthony furrowed his brows in thought before he rubbed his forehead, then he picked up his phone again.
“Come on, pick up,” he muttered. Then he sighed and looked up.
“Fine. I’ll go over there and make sure she’s okay.”
“I’ll go with you,” Edward said quickly. Anthony looked at him as if he had been strangled.
“No,” Charles said simply. “You need to stay here. The team have set up a perimeter around the penthouse, you’ll be safe.”
Edward gawped at his father, hardly believing his ears. Then he clenched his jaw and nodded. There was no use in arguing with Charles Marks. They shook hands, then Charles made to leave.
“Where are you going?” Edward called out as Charles reached the door. He looked pointedly at his son with his silver brows raised.
“To clean up the legal mess you’ve created,” he said. Then he turned on his heel and left.
Anthony grunted as he tapped away on his phone, then he got to his feet.
“Well, I’m going to head off,” he said gruffly. Edward followed him to the door.
“I’m coming too.”
“But your dad –”
“Forget it, there’s no way I’m sitting in this prison while she’s out there with a crazy person on the loose.”
Anthony gave him a long hard look before he smiled.
“You really do care about her,” he said, as if he had unearthed a buried secret. Edward smirked and gave him a shove.
“Figured that out, all by yourself?” he shot back. Then the two gentlemen left the penthouse and headed for the garage.
The black Mercedes saloon pulled up on a quiet street in Jersey City. The tree-lined avenue was dark despite the glow from the city lights. Edward climbed out of the car and glanced at his watch. It was late, they had been talking for hours. He only hoped that they were overreacting, and Catherine was perfectly safe, having a visit with her family.
“It’s this one,” Anthony said in a hushed tone. Edward glanced at the convoy behind them. His security team insisted on joining them. But four men in dark suits getting out of an unmarked black car did not look inconspicuous. An uncomfortable sense of foreboding grew in the pit of Edward’s stomach as he followed Anthony down the garden path to the small one storey house. His heart skipped a beat, and his hands grew clammy as the door opened.
“Hey there Johnny,” Anthony said, as he hugged his cousin. Edward offered a sheepish wave as Johnny’s bright eyes lingered onto him.
“Edward Marks, the billionaire,” he exclaimed, reaching for a hug. Edward bent down and clapped him on the shoulder as Johnny hugged him round the middle. “Don’t worry about Cathy,” he said as they broke apart. “I spoke to her, and she’s not mad at you anymore.”
Edward couldn’t help but allow a grin to take over his whole face. He wanted to pick Johnny up and swing him around. Johnny turned to Anthony and raised a pointed finger at him.
“What you did was very wrong,” he said, sticking his jaw out. Anthony took a step back with his hands raised.
“What do you mean?”
“You hurt Edward. Cathy told me all about it. I’m not happy with you for that.” He jabbed his finger in Anthony’s chest.
Edward opened his mouth to argue but stopped.
“Did you hear that?” he said, looking around. An unearthly siren-like screech filled the air, but it was faint, as if coming from a distance.
“Never mind t
hat Johnny. Eddie and I are pals again,” Anthony said, ignoring Edward’s question. “Can we see Cathy?” A rumble in the distance grew loud, then faded as Johnny’s face fell.
“She’s gone,” he said. Anthony and Edward exchanged looks. Another faint scream filled the air.
“Don’t worry about that noise, they’re playing a movie in Hamilton park tonight,” Johnny explained.
“What do you mean Cathy’s gone?” Edward said slowly. Johnny shifted his weight from foot to foot and dragged his teeth across his bottom lip.
“We were playing monopoly. The doorbell rang and I went to the bathroom. When I got back, she was gone. She didn’t even leave the pizza.”
Anthony looked at Johnny quizzically then glanced at Edward, who looked back at the security guards standing at the foot of the drive. He nodded to them and all but one of them dispersed down the street.
“Anthony, stay here with Johnny in case she comes back, I’m going to look for her.”
Anthony made to argue but the rumble of an engine caught their attention. A scrawny teenager hopped off his motorbike and walked up the path with a black bag at his side.
“Anyone order pizza?”
Edward and Anthony looked at each other.
“Wait, if you’re the pizza guy… then who was – ?” Johnny said, confused. Anthony stuffed a handful of bills in the boy’s hand and grabbed the pizza.
“Go,” he said to Edward, who dashed down the path.
“Where is Edward going? What’s happening?” Johnny’s voice trailed off as Edward ran along the street, his heart thumping. One of the guards caught up with him.
“A tall man with red hair was seen walking with a lady into Hamilton Park five minutes ago,” the guard said. Edward nodded as he pulled his phone out.
“David, Hamilton Park.” He hung up the call and ran as fast as his legs would carry him, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Chapter Twenty-One
Love Never Dies
Catherine decided she had lived a good life. She was happy with it and how far she’d come. She was close to her family, at the top of her game in her career and she had no doubt about who she was. Nothing would change that. Yet, she was not ready to die.
Calvin tightened his arm around her waist as he steered her along the path beside the giant projector screen in the park. It was movie night, and Catherine smirked inwardly at the ironic choice of movie. It was one of those cliché 90s horror movies, where the monster would walk slowly in pursuit of a blonde running through a graveyard. The suspenseful music quickened Catherine’s heart rate and she chewed the inside of her cheek as they walked off the path and into the hedge growth.
Run, Catherine. Run now. He’s going to kill you.
What else could he mean, when he said he needed closure? Why would he be taking her into a quiet part of the park, on a night when the sound of screams or gunshots would be entirely ordinary as far as the neighborhood was concerned? It was the perfect cover up.
“You enchant me,” Calvin said in a silky voice. He came to a halt, and turned. Now they stood face to face in the middle of a grove of trees. A blanket of leaves shrouded the moonlight from view and only the whites of his eyes glowed in the darkness.
“Save the flattery Calvin, just say what you’ve got to say,” Catherine said, with her fists clenched. She dug her fingernails into her palms, in an attempt to distract herself from her racing pulse.
“I think you forgot that I own you, darling,” he said acidly.
Catherine scoffed.
“Excuse me?” she shrugged away from his hold, marched to a tree and leaned against it. “You do not own me.”
“Oh, but I do,” Calvin said. “And do you know what happens when someone takes something of mine?”
Catherine laughed derisively.
“You’re not going to say something cheesy again are you? Like me breaking your heart?”
Calvin rushed forward, the leaves rustled and he grabbed Catherine’s wrists.
“Do not mock me,” he said in a violent whisper.
Fear is a funny thing, Catherine decided. The very idea of being in a dangerous situation would send her body into panic mode. But now that she was in Calvin’s clutches, entirely unable to break away, he had done something she supposed he didn’t expect. He had set her free. From panic.
There was no point being afraid anymore. With one sudden movement, he could break her neck and she would be dead. Or perhaps he would opt to strangle her instead.
After a couple of minutes, she’d pass out and then she’d die.
Calvin’s head was barely an inch away from hers and a tiny beam of moonlight illuminated his pale complexion as Catherine stared him in the eye. She made a decision in that moment, that she would not show Calvin he had any power.
“Or what?” she said, refusing to blink. A flash behind Calvin’s eyes made her smirk. This was not part of his plan. He expected a hopeless, screaming woman begging for his forgiveness. “How does it make you feel, Calvin?”
His brows furrowed at her question. “To know that a woman would prefer to die than go out with you?”
She knew it was mean. The venom in her words almost made her wince. But with her heart pounding faster than the hooves of a racehorse, and her ears ringing, she didn’t care. This man had tried to kill Edward twice. He deserved it. Calvin let go of her hands and staggered back. Then he growled.
A gun shot fired and Catherine flinched, wide-eyed. She stood frozen for a moment and wondered if she was in shock. Slowly, she patted herself down to check for a wound. But she remained unharmed. Instead, she squinted through the darkness and caught sight of Calvin’s gun glinting above his head, facing upward.
“You can sing like a canary, but you’re not too bright, are you?” he said with a sigh. Catherine wasn’t sure what to do. Run and scream to the hundreds of people sitting on picnic blankets watching the movie? Or stay and listen to Calvin’s monologue? Before she could make up her mind, Calvin started to speak again.
“Did you know he was just playing a game?” he said. Catherine frowned. “Didn’t you think it was odd, that Edward Marks would show interest in you?” He laughed darkly. “Oh Cathy, you’re so naïve.”
Catherine trembled with anger. He was toying with her.
“I know who he is,” she said quickly. “I’ve known all along.” That was a lie. But there was no point letting Calvin know the truth.
“Right, and I’m sure you know all about the deal he made with that friend of his… Sam was it?”
“How do you know Sam?” Catherine asked, despite herself. She bit her lip in retribution. Talking back was only going to fuel his ego.
“Oh, Sam and I had a nice little chat at the climate change event. He likes to drink, doesn’t he? Turns out, he can be quite talkative when he’s had a few.” Catherine inhaled sharply.
“What did he tell you?”
Calvin laughed wickedly now. Catherine could tell he was enjoying himself, but curiosity got the better of her. Edward had mentioned a deal back at her apartment. Was Calvin telling her the truth?
“Turns out, your new friend Edward, is a gambling man.”
A woman on the movie screamed, interrupting their conversation for a moment. Roars and rumbles followed.
“Where was I?” Calvin said. “Sam challenged Edward to get a woman to fall in love with him in ten days, without telling her he’s a billionaire. Quite a funny thought, if you think about it.”
Catherine frowned.
“Why ten days?” she asked.
“How should I know? I didn’t make up the rules,” Calvin burst out. Then he settled down again with a chuckle.
“He doesn’t really care about you. Don’t you get it? You were just an escapade. It turns out, Edward is a casanova with the ladies. He’s always buying his way into their… hearts.”
Catherine swallowed against the lump in her throat, unable to speak.
“I guess he got worried that no one would
love him for who he was––you know, without the multi-million-dollar yacht.”
Another gunshot fired. Catherine jumped and let out a breath. Her hands were clammy and her nerves were racing back. Her moment of bravery had long passed, and this new information had her rattled. Had Edward been playing her all along? A twig snapped as Calvin stepped forward and he leaned in close to her ear.
“Now scream,” he whispered, raising the gun to her jawline. Catherine obeyed. Not because she was held at gunpoint, and not because Calvin told her to. She screamed out of fury and humiliation. Her whole being seemed to be on fire as she thought about the last week with Edward. Here she was, stuck between two men who thought so little of her, they treated her as a plaything.
“Good,” he whispered. Then, the gun clattered to the ground by Catherine’s foot and Calvin staggered back with his hands raised. Flashes of light flooded through the trees and Catherine shielded her eyes.
“She’s all yours,” Calvin shouted, laughing maniacally. A resounding whack echoed around the tree growth and a moan followed.
“Catherine, are you okay?” Edward’s baby blues shone in the LED lights as he reached out his hand for her. Catherine shakily took it. A flood of men entered and two of them had Calvin detained.
“The cops are on their way pal, say goodbye to freedom.”
Edward stooped down and picked Catherine up in his arms. Cheers and applause filled the air as Edward carried Catherine out of the hedge growth and back onto the path. Catherine looked up to see the credits rolling on the big screen and people were clapping.
“How did you find me?”
“We heard the gunshots, and then you screamed… do you know that even your scream is musical?” Edward explained, lowering her down. Catherine looked around bewildered, her arms still trembling. It was as if nothing untoward had taken place. It was just another movie night in Hamilton park and the local residents were making their way back to their houses. Catherine looked over to the historical band stand near them and pointed to it.