Chapter 15 The Contract
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE CONTRACT
Devon
Harlow pulls her hand from mine and scrambles to her feet. “I can’t believe I just told you that.”
I stand and follow her to the edge of the pier where the water slaps against the wood with a rhythm that usually calms my soul.
But not tonight. I’m not sure what could calm me after what she just said.
I only thought I was obsessed with her before. The fact I allowed myself to touch her in the way I did might do me in. I move to her and wrap my hands around her bare shoulders. She doesn’t push me away but shivers and leans into my chest, giving me her weight as she looks up to the stars.
I pull her back tight to my chest as I fight my cock from hardening against the small of her back. There’s only so much I can do and the only thing that will help me win that battle is to focus on what she just told me.
I return to demanding. “If you think I’m going to allow you to give me the silent treatment after telling me that, then you haven’t been paying close enough attention to who I am. What do you mean you almost died?”
I feel her everywhere as she pulls in a deep breath.
“Everything has been a whirlwind since I met Albert. Our families have their separate empires. I’m not sure when it happened, but my father and his grandfather had a falling out decades ago.
Looking back, I wonder if that was part of my fascination with him.
We talked like we were forging a new path for the future .
.. righting the wrongs of past generations.
I felt it, but he did all he could to convince me to buy into that.
The first couple of months we were together, we didn’t tell anyone.
At least I didn’t. Knowing what I do now, I doubt that was the case for him. ”
She’s finally talking, but she’s taking the long way around the story when all I want is to sink my teeth into the meat of it. I want to know what the fuck he did to her.
“In the beginning, he was perfect, charming, and thoughtful,” she goes on.
“I hate that he was so easy to fall in love with. I should have known no one is that perfect. He made everything ... I don’t know.
” She shakes her head as if to rid the memory from her brain.
“He had a way of making everything easy. I jumped in with my whole heart and fell for it.”
I can’t take it any longer. I turn her in my arms but don’t let go. Her hands land on my pecs and mine press into the small of her back where my fingertips flirt with the curve of her ass.
It’s official. There’s no controlling my cock. At this point it would be cruel.
I’m too focused on controlling my rage when it comes to Albert Humphries, and I don’t even know what he did yet.
She doesn’t try to push away as I hold her tight. “What did that cocksucker make you fall for?”
I wait on bated breath hoping she finally tells me why she’s being the most cryptic yet enticing woman I’ve ever met.
Sure, she’s sexy as hell, but the mysterious side of her pulls at something inside of me as much as her beauty does.
Now that I’m right here with her in my arms, I don’t give a fuck that she was engaged just a few days ago and should be married to another man.
I want her.
And I’ve never wanted anyone. Not like this.
She breaks through my illogical thoughts.
“We were on a short getaway in the Maldives. We had a few days free in our work schedules, so Albert arranged it. We were getting ready to check out of our villa to meet the plane. He was in the shower when an email alert came across his phone that was sitting on the dresser next to where I was getting ready. The subject referred to the African safari, so I assumed it was our honeymoon. We both travel a lot, so we had decided to do something out of the norm for each of us. The safari was his idea.”
She’s talking and sharing. I could sit and listen to her talk all day. I have to fight for patience for the story to unfold as she wants to tell it.
“You opened the email,” I assume.
She shrugs. “I thought it was about our honeymoon. We were waiting on his travel agent to get back with us about the specifics. So, yes, I opened the email, even though it was from an account I’d never seen before.
Albert never gave me a reason to believe he was hiding anything from me.
He’d given me the passwords to his phone and his laptop.
He discussed everything with me—even his family business when our families were rivals in the worst possible ways. ”
It's everything I can do to keep my tone even and controlled. “What was the email about?”
“It was about the safari, but it was also about me and an accident—one that would end my life.”
I didn’t think it was possible for my hold on her to tighten farther. “What the fuck?”
“Yes, what the fuck, indeed. At first, I was confused. Hell, I was shocked. So shocked, I didn’t know what to do. The memory is still raw and painful.”
Harlow relives the nightmare and admits why she did what she did, why she’s still here, and how I came to be holding the billionaire heiress in my arms.
Harlow
About seven weeks ago...
Mr. Humphries,
I have tried to reach you by phone for two days, but couldn’t get through, so I’m writing to let you know we received your wire payment.
As I said, we do not usually do business with Americans, and never American banks, but since this is from the Caymens, we’re allowing it.
I appreciate your discretion and generous compensation for our services.
Arrangements have been made, and as per our phone conversation, cannot be reversed once payment has been received.
Once you and your wife arrive in Tanzania, plans will be carried out on day three of your stay.
While you are away to manage your business crisis, the security team detail will change shifts.
Crime is not uncommon on the roads to and from town.
It will be tragic, but also common enough no one will question that the event is anything other than an accident.
Consider this our last form of communication, as the arrangement is set.
We are good at what we do and never miss a mark.
I can assure you, Mr. Humphries, you will get what you paid for and leave Africa as a widower.
One last reminder, I trust you to protect my identity if you want this transaction kept private.
Those who have tested me in the past did not fare well.
Regards,
Jaco
“Sweetheart?” Albert calls from the bathroom. “I forgot a towel. Grab me one, will you?”
I jerk and almost drop Albert’s cell to the tile floor. A cold sweat breaks out over my skin and my fingers tremble.
Shit.
“Harlow?” he yells louder. “Are you out there?”
“Yeah,” my voice cracks, and I clear my throat as my fingers tap over the screen as fast as I can force them. “Hang on. I’m on FaceTime with Chrissie. We finally got service back.”
My ass hits the edge of the bed. I swallow back emotions I’ve never experienced before.
“It’s about fucking time. I’m expecting an important call. I have so much to catch up on.”
An important call.
I’ll say.
I hear the water of the shower flip off.
My heart speeds to a mile a minute as I go back to the inbox.
Not one other email. I do what I need to do, delete the email I just forwarded from his account and mark it as unread, pray it’s enough, and put the cell to sleep before I place it exactly where he left it.
I look into the mirror at my shocked, pale face and drag a hand through my hair.
Get your shit together, Harlow. You can make it one flight back to the States before you fall apart.
I turn in my flip flop and go straight to the bathroom to peek around the corner. I plaster a smile on my face and hope it comes across as natural. I don’t remember what a genuine smile feels like even though just one minute ago everything in my life felt right.
“Sorry, Chrissie couldn’t wait. You know how she is. You found a towel?”
Water spots the tile floor in a trail to the linen rack as I watch the man I’m set to marry stand naked while toweling his light brown hair. “Yep. You packed? I’ll call for a porter to collect our suitcases.”
I feel flushed and cold and fear I may hyperventilate. “All packed. I think I need something to eat before we leave. I’m going to walk up to the main building and get a smoothie. Do you want anything?”
He frowns. “Do we have time for that? We can do it on the way out.”
I glance at my watch even though I can’t comprehend time or love or any reasoning at this point. It’s not like the pilot will leave us. “We’ve got time. The walk will be good since we’ll be sitting for hours today. I’ll be right back.”
Albert wraps the towel low on his hips as he turns to the mirror to focus on himself. “Get me one of those acai bowls. And hurry. I don’t want to be late.”
I give him a nod since I can’t form words, not that he notices. He’s focused on his skincare regimen, which is almost as complicated as mine.
Something I’ve always loved about him.
I hurry through the open-air bungalow and grab my cell before I get to the door.
I put enough distance between me and my fiancé before I glance back to make sure no one can hear me.
I push go on the number I call more than any other. It’s no surprise she picks up immediately. She always does.
“There you are!” Chrissie exclaims. “I thought you died in paradise. The resort website said lines were down from a storm. Was it bad?”
“Chrissie.” Tears prickle the backs of my eyes as I hurry down the long dock to land.
The line goes silent before her tone switches from teasing to severe. “What’s wrong, and who do I need to castrate?”