The Intimidation Game (Game Series Book 1)

by C. L Stewart

  I know I look puzzled, but I’m also intrigued to find out what they know about him.

  “The police told us that for around a year before he started a relationship with you, Michael’s wife had filed and redacted six reports of domestic abuse. From what you’ve told us, it appears from the time he started his relationship with you, those reports stopped. There wasn’t another one until March this year.”

  “That’s when I came to Scotland.” As I say the words, I instantly feel awful. “He started abusing her again when I left.”

  “It appears so. This time when she reported him it was escalated because she is pregnant, and their younger child seems to have been hurt too.”

  I look at Dan and find his eyes ablaze with anger. He takes my hand and rubs my knuckles. “It’s okay,” he whispers.

  “There are family liaison officers with her now and she is being taken care of. Michael was under investigation and shouldn’t have been out of the country, so I assume there will be an investigation conducted in due course but as far as you are concerned, we won’t really take this case any further here. I highly doubt they will call on you as a witness or anything. It will more than likely be a fact-finding investigation. Had anything happened to you because he had been allowed to leave the country, we would be in a very different position right now. As I said before, please get some professional help. You can’t know how all this is going to affect you in the following weeks.” She nods at Dan. “You have an important role to play as a friend. Be there as much as she needs you.”

  “Absolutely,” he says and gives my hand a light squeeze.

  “We will keep you updated as much as we feel is necessary but, in all honesty, I don’t think you’ll hear from us again. I really think you need to put this all behind you and get on with living your life.”

  The door I’m trying to push open is jammed so I put my shoulder into it and force it. Something shatters behind it but it’s so dark I can’t see. I fumble for a light switch, but when I find it and switch it on it’s like a spotlight on a stage. Mike’s body lies under its beam, smashed into a thousand pieces apart from his mouth, upturned in a sneer and a horrible maniacal laugh echoes around the room. “This is all your fault Nikki,” the mouth says as the body starts to come back together around it, clinking and crunching as it does. I try to turn and run but my feet are sinking into sand. As I slip further and further down, Mike’s body takes its form again and as he reaches out to touch me, I scream and slam into something hard. Opening my eyes wide and fighting in a tangle of fabric, I try as hard as I can to breathe but it just won’t come. I can feel my head becoming woozy and I feel as though I’m about to pass out.

  “Nikki.” Dan’s voice is welcome in the haze of the nightmare I’ve just woken from. It’s only when he sits down beside me that I realise I’m on the floor. “It’s okay I’ve got you, just breathe. Take it slow, look at me.”

  I do as he says and watch as he takes deep steadying breaths and I copy him, eventually calming down enough to make sense of what’s just happened.

  “Are you okay?” Asks Dan, his face pale and his voice shaky.

  “No,” I cry and put my head in my hands. “I’m not okay. I’m glad he’s dead Dan. I’m a horrible fucking person. I am actually glad someone has died.” I’m crying so hard and loud that anyone listening from the outside would think I was being murdered.

  Dan pulls me into his lap, blankets and all and holds me against him until I’ve spent every tear that can possibly come out of me. My tears have dried but my body jerks involuntarily on a sob every so often.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

  “Don’t you ever apologise Nikki. You have nothing to be sorry for. I’ll tell you what I think. I think you inadvertently saved that woman and her children’s lives.”

  I lean back so that I can look at his face. “What do you mean?”

  “When he was with you, she was safe. I know you weren’t, but she was. It would be all well and good saying that she should have taken her reports further and allowed the police to investigate him, but you know better than anyone how hard that is. Your sacrifice kept that woman alive and in my eyes that makes you a hero.”

  I get up from his lap and pull the blankets round me as I walk to the window. The setting sun casts a warming orange glow over the sprawling gardens below. I sigh and my breath stutters as a sob escapes.

  “Dan I’m no one’s hero. I should never have been with that sorry excuse for a man. I thought being with him would get me a better job. That’s not heroic, that’s downright disgusting and verging on prostitution.”

  I feel Dan’s heat behind me, and he turns me to face him. The strip of sunlight coming through the window reflecting off his beautiful dark eyes gives him an ethereal look and I feel something that I haven’t allowed myself to feel in a long time. Hope.

  “It’s only natural that you would feel like that about yourself Nikki. I don’t think for one minute that you went into that relationship with the sole aim of getting a better job and I also know that at some point, whether misguided or not, you did fall in love with him. Don’t ever put yourself down like that sweetheart. You are worth a million times more than that scumbag ever gave you credit for and if you’ll let me, I’ll show you exactly how you should be treated. Like the beautiful, intelligent and kind woman you are.”

  I was wrong when I thought I’d cried the last of my tears as I feel my cheeks wet and my eyes go blurry. “Oh Dan,” I say throwing my arms around his neck and as he kisses me soft and tenderly, I know my life can only get better from now on.

  Epilogue

  The July sunshine beating down on my face is glorious as I lie on a tartan blanket with my head in Dan’s lap. We’ve been properly dating for just over two months now and I’m happier than I’ve been in so many years. If I’m completely honest with myself, and my counsellor has made me realise this, I haven’t been truly happy since my sister left home when I was twelve. I was at an age where I really needed her because, although my parents love me to the ends of the earth, they never really had time for me. My dad’s job kept him extremely busy and my mum was too busy being the dutiful wife of the diplomat. Looking back on my life in South Africa I wish I had followed my sister and come to Scotland earlier but then I wouldn’t be where I am today, with this wonderful man and his beautiful daughter.

  A day out to see the Kelpies in Falkirk is just what the doctor ordered today. The sunshine and happy carefree mood it brings out is glorious. Dan has decided it would be a good idea to get out and about with Olivia this summer because she’s starting her new school in August. A private school not very far away from the country estate. I was right about her not being with other children and after discussing it with Dan one night he agreed that it would do her good to be with her peers and get the social skills she so clearly craved.

  “Daddy look at me,” squeals Olivia.

  I sit up as Dan and I look in the direction of the swings. Olivia is flying through the air, her brown curls bouncing as she is pushed back and forth by her nanny Nessa. Her giggle is infectious and we both smile at her.

  “Woo hoo, you go my little sweetheart,” he shouts to her and her response is to demand that Nessa push her higher. Of course, she obliges. Who couldn’t resist that beautiful girl?

  “You know something Nikki?” Says Dan.

  “What?” I turn to look at him and take off my sunglasses.

  “I dreamed of this. Of feeling this sense of happiness. I couldn’t be more grateful that you came into mine and Olivia’s lives. You gave me a new perspective on things and that little girl has benefitted greatly from it.”

  It’s true that Dan has changed a lot about his life in the last few months. Since Mike’s suicide in May we’ve both gone on a life cleansing mission. Dan gave up his final share of SecuriSoft. Only the Glasgow office mind you, because his solicitor found a loophole in the trust fund deeds that meant he got to keep control of every other arm of the business. The on
ly part they got to control was the part they gave him money to start. Every single other office was set up using money that had no links to the original business. Dan opened those with money he made through investments when he was nineteen, before SecuriSoft was even an idea. He didn’t become Scotland’s youngest billionaire by relying on the profits of one company. As soon as he was free of the business, he changed the name of the rest of the business and the nature of the company so that it didn’t have anything whatsoever to do with SecuriSoft.

  He doesn’t make security software anymore; he’s now working on developing computer games and has his brother sharing the business with him. It’s something they’ve always wanted to do and as I understand it Scotland is already at the forefront of the video games industry so it’s already a strong market to be in. Most importantly though is that he doesn’t have a board of directors to answer to anymore. Dan and Jason are the owners of this new business and the only directors. It’s given them both piece of mind that no one can take it from them. SecuriSoft won’t last long without Dan at the helm, his name is too well known and as soon as it starts to go down the tubes his plan is to buy it back at a reduced rate and carry on where he left off. It’s risky, but if it works his business will be colossal. If it doesn’t work, it’s no great loss. Both Dan and Jason are also taking steps to contest the trust and try and get the money their mother was always entitled to. Their solicitor has said it can be done. The sooner he is free of them the better.

  As for me, well, I have a new job. I’m now my own boss. I decided, after a lot of soul searching to do something I’ve wanted to do for years. I am in the process of finalising my own tech based online magazine. It’s geared more towards women in the industry because I have always felt it to be a very male dominated business. There are some really intelligent, forward thinking women in I.T but they always seem to be overlooked or disregarded for their male counterparts. It was when Dan decided that he was going into video gaming that I really took notice of that fact. Out of the hundreds of video game developers in the UK only a handful are led by women, and it is the same regardless of which branch of the I.T industry you take a look at. I got myself into a rut in the security software game and every decision I made seemed to make me hate it a little more every day. The day I decided I wanted out of it all together was the day I truly felt free and I have seen a huge change in Dan. He no longer carries the day to day worry that his company could be taken away from him, he’s called the shots on that front and I know it’s the best thing that could have happened to him and Olivia. He has invested heavily in my new business venture, although I had the reimbursement of his investment written into the contract. No matter what happens with our relationship, I will never be financially tied to anyone. Mike’s death didn’t only free me from the constant fear and anxiety that he could still hurt me, it gave me back my independence. Yes, from time to time I get flashbacks to some of the violent incidents that were inflicted upon me, and I still have the odd nightmare here and there, but I’m slowly getting myself back with the help of a great therapist. She is a survivor of domestic abuse and chose to go into therapy to help others suffering the same. When you know you’re not alone and that you were in no way to blame for what happened to you, it’s easier to heal.

  “So, do you want to come back with us for dinner tonight? Valerie is making Olivia’s favourite, mince and tatties. She always makes enough to feed an army so you’re more than welcome.” Dan’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

  “I’d love that. My mum used to make us mince and tatties when we were younger, but I haven’t had it in years.”

  “Excellent, Olivia will be so happy, you’re her new favourite person,” he laughs as he watches the little girl laughing and playing with Nessa.

  “What can I say, I’m adorable.”

  “That you are sweetheart, that you are,” he says as he kisses the top of my head.

  I close my eyes and bask in the warm glow of affection and glorious sunshine, safe in the knowledge that I am finally truly loved and cared for.

  The End

  Information

  If you have been affected by any of the issues in this book there are excellent organisations worldwide designed to help. These can be readily found with a quick search on the internet.

  Here are a couple for the UK and US to keep in mind:

  UK: Women’s Aid

  USA: National Domestic Abuse Hotline

  It’s okay not to be okay, and sometimes it helps to talk.

  Cx

  Acknowledgments

  First and foremost, I offer a huge thank you to my family and friends who’ve been my rock throughout this journey. Your continued support and love keeps me motivated

  My immense thanks to Liz, my wonderful friend and maker of magic. I’ll forever be amazed at how you take my words and help turn them into something beautiful.

  Thanks to my beta readers, in particular Samantha and Rukaiya. You guys are fabulous. Your no-holds-barred approach to the book made it even better in it’s final edits and I thank you for keeping me on the right track.

  To all the bloggers, fellow authors and readers who took the time to share the cover reveal and release for this book. I was blown away by the support and I’ll always be forever grateful.

  To my new ARC team. Thank you for taking the time to read my book and I can’t wait to work with you all again on future projects.

  The cover for The Intimidation game was produced by Natasha Snow and OMG she blew my socks off with the final design. Isn’t it stunning? Thank you Natasha you are an absolute pleasure to work with.

  And last but by no means least, my thanks has to go to you, my readers. Without you there would be no other books and I’m so happy to see so many people loving my stories.

  I hope you loved reading Nikki’s story as much I loved writing it.

  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

  Claire x

  Also by C.L Stewart

  The Soul Series:

  Shattered Soul

  Saviour of The Soul

  Heart and Soul

  The Game Series:

  The Intimidation Game

  War Games

  Standalone Novella:

  My Summer at The Pink Flamingo

  Prologue

  BEING WOKEN UP IN the middle of an already restless night is bad enough but now I’m looking at these two people, two police officers, on my doorstep. What the hell are the police doing here at this time of night? Christ, it’s after one in the morning. I’m willing myself to wake up. It must be a bad dream. Yes, just a dream, their faces are going blurry…I must be waking up.

  “Mrs Connor, I’m PC Stanton and this is my colleague PC Davies.”

  I can’t see anymore. Where am I? I can hear voices, but I can’t see. The voices sound like they are coming from the end of a tunnel. Oh God, I’m so scared. Where are you Aiden?

  “Mrs Connor, Mrs Connor are you ok? Jesus… Mike radio control and get some medical help.”

  Who is Mike? There is only blackness now. I think I will sleep. Yes, sleep. Just sleep. See you in the morning Aiden.

  “Hello ma’am, can you hear me? It’s okay you’re in safe hands.”

  Light flutters through my eyelids. This is one seriously weird dream.

  “Can you open your eyes?” The voice sounds sweet and calming, female, not from around here. My eyes sting as they open and my head thumps.

  “There we are. Can you tell me your name love?”

  I see a mass of red curly hair as I take in my surroundings and realise I am in my own hallway. A flashing blue light emanates from behind the angel in green.

  “Hey love, focus here.” I hear clicking fingers and I follow the sound until I am looking into a beautiful set of jade green eyes.

  “That’s better, now what’s your name?”

  I can feel my mouth opening but the words don’t come out. Gina Connor. Gina Connor. GINA CONNOR. My throat is so dry, I need wate
r.

  “...ink,” I try to ask for some, but it comes out wrong.

  “Daz can you get the lady a drink of water?”

  I hear footsteps.

  “Right love we’re getting you a glass of water. Do you know your name? Just signal with your head.”

  I nod. Northern Irish, that’s her accent. Her voice is lovely, and she is very pretty.

  “Right, here we are, take a drink of this.” She holds the glass up to my mouth. My hands are shaking as I try to hold the glass and the water sloshes everywhere.

  “It’s alright I’ve got it. Try and take a few sips.”

  The cool water slides down my throat easily. As I close my eyes to savour it the glass is gone, and the snapping fingers return.

  “Better?”

  I nod.

  “Right darlin’ let’s try again. What’s your name?”

  “Gina.” Although a little croaky my vocal chords actually work and produce a viable sound.

  “That’s great Gina. What’s your full name?”

  “Gina Connor.” I am aware of movement all around me, but I can’t take my eyes off this woman.

  “Right Gina. My name is Ava and I’m going to help you. Do you know where you are?”

  “At home.”

  “That’s great Gina. I’m just going to check you over. You fainted and have a wee bump on your head. I need to make sure you don’t have a concussion or anything serious. Is that okay?”

  “Yes. Why did I faint, what happened?” I’m so confused, why are there all these emergency workers in my home? Where is Aiden?

  “Where is my husband?” I ask Ava. The sympathetic sorrowful look on her face says it all. I know in my heart that something is wrong.