Chapter Thirteen
Sharon’s cheek stung where Cooper had struck her, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of reaching up to touch it. Outside the study windows, snow fell gently against the darkness, Christmas lights from neighboring estates twinkling in the distance, mocking reminders of holiday cheer.
“You were always stubborn,” Cooper said, straightening his custom Italian suit jacket with manicured hands. “It’s what I loved about you.” His voice carried that familiar smooth cadence that had once fooled her, but now sounded hollow, rehearsed.
“You never loved me, Cooper. I was simply a pretty toy, a possession you wanted. I don’t think you’ve ever loved anyone your whole life.”
Cooper’s eyes blazed, and his face turned a mottled red before regaining his composure, that practiced smile decorating his lips. Ever the consummate professional, he’d charmed hundreds of people with his charisma, and he could turn it on and off at will.
“You’re wrong, of course, Sharon. I do—did—love you. We could have had a happy life together, if you hadn’t been foolish enough to try and cross me. Just like Vincent did and look what happened to him.”
Sharon winced at the memory. It wasn’t like she needed a reminder of how Vincent had died at Cooper’s hands, how he’d forced her fingerprints on the gun.
Had called his friends at the police station, claiming to have witnessed Sharon’s attack on the unsuspecting and innocent man.
As if. Vincent had been the one who’d gone to the FBI in the first place.
A whistleblower, intent on bringing down Cooper and his empire, one that Vincent helped him build, so he knew where all the skeletons were buried.
He’d planned on making a deal to escape prosecution, after which he’d leave the country with all the money he’d socked away in the Cayman Islands.
The enormous Douglas fir in the corner of the library dripped with expensive ornaments, professionally decorated to perfection like everything else in Cooper’s life.
He never settled for anything less. A fire crackled in the marble fireplace, casting dancing shadows across the room.
The elegant holiday scene made a grotesque backdrop for what was unfolding in real time.
Cooper’s eyes skipped over her to Lennox, who’d just entered the library. He’d practically frog-marched her from the entryway to the library, his grip on her arm tight enough she knew she’d have bruises by morning.
If I’m still alive in the morning.
“I double-checked with the men. They searched the barn high and low and didn’t find anything. She didn’t have the evidence when we found her in the barn with that guy.”
Cooper took a step toward Lennox before catching himself and smoothing a hand over his suit jacket again. “What…guy?”
Lennox swallowed. “Um, she was with a man when we found her. Same one she was with at the women’s shelter in San Antonio.
He was driving. Definitely has some experience with defensive driving, because Ollie tried a PIT maneuver, and he was able to avoid it.
My guess, he’s law enforcement of some kind, though I didn’t peg him for a fed. ”
“And where is this man now?” The edge in Cooper’s voice had Sharon straightening in her chair. This wasn’t good. When Cooper got that emotionless tone, somebody was going to pay. Hopefully it wasn’t her.
“I knocked him out. Dude’s probably got a concussion. He’s been shot too, so he’ll probably bleed out. Brought Sharon to the airport and came straight here.”
Cooper spun and walked to his desk, and Sharon kept her gaze on his every move.
He was already angry with her, and now he knew about Dusty.
Luckily, it didn’t sound like Lennox had done his homework, because he hadn’t mentioned Dusty by name yet.
He’d known Dusty’s name when they’d barged into the barn, but maybe he didn’t know that Dusty was a sheriff’s deputy, or that he was from Shiloh Springs.
She’d love to be able to keep Dusty out of her drama, and the way her life was spinning out of control.
That would be one final small mercy she could accomplish.
“Let me get this straight. You found Sharon in San Antonio, after Tara and her team had found her in that little town, what was it again?”
“Shiloh Springs,” Lennox sputtered out.
“Ah, yes, Shiloh Springs. Yet, you found her in San Antonio. How fortuitous. I won’t question your methods since they yielded results, but let’s continue.
You missed your opportunity to bring Sharon back from San Antonio, and this man,” Cooper practically spat out the last word, “not only helped Sharon elude you, but managed to get away.”
“I put a tracker on his pickup, so we knew where they were. They managed to get about a half hour ahead of us, but we found them quick enough.” He sounded like an eager puppy, seeking his master’s approval, and Sharon wanted to tell Cooper exactly how they’d managed to catch up with them.
She might later, if she needed to distract attention from her.
She’d have no trouble throwing Lennox under the bus.
“I see. My question is, why did you leave this man alive? Is he not a witness to you taking Sharon from the barn against her will? Some people might consider that kidnapping, Troy. Yet you not only left him alive, to testify against you, but you don’t have my evidence!”
Sharon cringed at the vehemence in Cooper’s words, the way his voice had raised at the last few words. In all the years she’d known him, she’d never heard or seen him lose his composure, but now she was seeing a whole new side of the man she’d been engaged to.
“I’ll fix it, boss. He’s a dead man.” Troy raced from the room, his hand going straight to his pocket. Sharon knew he was going to call someone who’d go after Dusty.
“I’m afraid I’ve been a terrible host. Can I get you something to drink?”
She stared at Cooper, wondering if he’d lost his mind. He’d just ordered the murder of the man she loved, and he was asking her if she wanted a drink?
“No.”
Lennox returned to the study, sliding his phone into his jacket pocket.
“It’s done. Found out he’s a sheriff’s deputy, so we need to eliminate him.
Can’t discredit his testimony, that’s for sure.
Our contacts will be watching for this deputy, if he’s still alive.
I hit him pretty hard. If he heads back to Shiloh Springs, we’ll have him.
Flights from Texas are delayed due to the weather, but we’ll have men at O’Hare and Midway just in case. ”
Sharon’s heart sank. Dusty would come for her—foolish, brave Dusty—flying straight into a trap. She had to think quickly, figure out a way to stall until she could come up with a plan, one that would save his life.
“Cooper,” she said, softening her voice, shifting strategies as her mind raced. “This doesn’t have to end badly. Remember when we used to talk about Christmas in Aspen? The plans we made?”
Cooper’s eyes narrowed, but she caught a flicker of something—nostalgia, perhaps—in their depths. “Trying to manipulate me now, Sharon? That’s beneath you.”
“Not manipulation,” she said, taking a calculated risk by standing and stepping closer to him.
“Remembering what we had. Before all this got so…complicated.” She gestured vaguely at the gun in his hand, still aimed loosely in her direction.
“How about we have dinner? Talk like civilized people. For old times’ sake.
” She gave him a sad smile. “The least you can do is give me a good meal if it’s to be my last.”
Cooper studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “You think I’m a fool? That I’d fall for this transparent attempt to buy time?”
“I think you’re a businessman,” Sharon replied carefully. “And businessmen understand negotiation. I have something you want. You have my life in your hands. We both know how this ends if we can’t come to terms.”
Troy Lennox shifted uncomfortably. “Boss, we should handle this quickly. We don’t know who else might be—”
“Shut up, Troy,” Cooper snapped, his eyes never leaving Sharon’s face. “The deputy is a problem for later. Tonight…” He paused, something calculating in his gaze. “Tonight, we’ll have dinner. For old times’ sake.”
Sharon forced a smile, though her insides twisted with dread. “Just like we used to.”
Cooper nodded to Lennox. “Have Maria set the dining room table. The formal service. And keep two men at every entrance. If she tries anything…” He didn’t need to finish the threat.
Lennox appeared ready to protest but thought better of it, exiting with a curt nod.
“You’re stalling,” Cooper said again once they were alone, sliding the gun into his jacket. “But I’m curious to see how far you’ll take this charade. And I’ve always enjoyed seeing you in evening wear.”
Sharon swallowed her disgust. “In that case, I’ll need to freshen up.” Oh, how she wished Lennox hadn’t found the burner phone in her pocket when they got to the airport. Her heart ached, not knowing if Dusty was still alive.
“Of course,” Cooper gestured toward the door. “Your things are still in the guest suite. I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them.” His smile turned predatory. “I always knew you’d come home.”
As a maid escorted her upstairs, Sharon’s mind whirled with desperate plans.
She thought of Dusty, battling weather and distance to reach her, unaware of the welcome his arrival would receive.
She thought of the evidence safely hidden where Cooper would never find it.
Troy’s men had groused when they’d been unable to find it, even after tearing apart the barn.
Guess they hadn’t looked that hard after all.
Dusty would know what to do with it. He’d make sure Antonio got the evidence to the right people—people who weren’t in Cooper’s pocket.