Chapter 20 #2
That was my greatest shame, asshole, I think to myself. I’m down another button, then I walk to him. “And I’ve learned something about myself in the last couple of years, Simon.”
“Oh?” His eyes do not leave my cleavage. “What’s that, Love?”
“I am not a smart businesswoman. I’m a smart survivor. I’m resourceful. And I’ve learned some new skills.”
“Have you, now?” his eyes light up.
“You see, when you’re on your own, you have to figure things out for yourself. And I’ve done just that. I’ve met some interesting people along the way, too.” Just need to stall a little longer. I hope. “I’m sure you’ve met interesting people, too. Maybe a pretty girl? Or perhaps Quinn again?”
“Is that to say she isn’t pretty?”
“That’s not for me to say.”
He chuckles. “I told you, Quinn meant nothing to me. She has other, more valuable talents. You knew of my other trifles, I’d like to know, why did Quinn bother you so much?”
I want to scream at him. But I keep my voice measured. “She always seemed like she was up to something. Untrustworthy. Your other girls were obviously just for fun. Easy enough to forgive. Quinn wanted you.”
He smiles and rolls his eyes. “She was never going to get what she wanted. And you knew that. None of them were as pretty as you, Love. Just distractions from missing you. That’s all. Tell me about yours. Your gents, I mean. Unless there’ve been some pretty girls…?” He smirks.
“No girls, Simon, hate to burst your bubble. I remember you always hoped for that, but no.”
“You remember my fantasy?” he’s pleasantly surprised.
“I remember a lot from back then, Simon,” I smirk. “And maybe if you’re a good boy, we can explore some of your fantasies. Regarding my men, they were mere dalliances. Something to distract from all the confusion and chaos.”
He bites his lip for a moment, then asks, “None of them were special to you?”
“Hard to find someone special when your heart is somewhere else.”
He nods. “I know precisely what you mean, Love.”
“Did you really mean it when you asked me to join you?”
He grabs my shirt at the buttons and pulls me close to him.
“Do you want to come with me? We can have things the way they were, but this time in the tropics. I’ll run the guns, you run whatever adorable little business you want for the front.
Make us legit. It’ll be perfect. There’s no extradition in the Maldives, so bonus.
You don’t have to worry about anything with Witness Protection, no trials to worry about.
No more being on the run. No more being alone. ” He releases my shirt.
I stroke his lapel and ask, “And all I have to do…?”
“All you have to do is say yes. Say yes to the easy life in paradise, Love. Come with me.”
I smile. “Is that where you’re going after this?”
He nods. “Can’t think of a better place to spend my days. Can you?”
I shake my head. “A place better than the Maldives? No, not at all.”
“Then, say yes.”
If I say yes, then he’ll kiss me. If he kisses me, then I might throw up in his mouth. I softly say, “I’m not sure, yet, Simon.” I tilt my head down and coquettishly murmur, “Convince me.”
He grabs my shirt again and pulls me tight to him, forcing me between his widespread legs. “I could convince you like the old days. You remember how I used to make you tremble?”
“I remember everything, Simon. I promise you.”
He gently moves my head to the side, then licks up my neck. “I could make you scream like I did in the old days, but my boys will hear you in the hallway, and you’re rather shy.”
I shiver in disgust, but he seems to like it.
He murmurs, “You’re shaking like a leaf.”
“It’s been a long time, Simon. And the last few years have been—"
“Foreplay,” he says.
This is not going as slowly as I had hoped. He’s hard against my thigh. If I don’t stop this now, then this will go way too far, way too fast. God, I hope this works. I whisper, “Simon?”
He nibbles down my neck. His voice is heavy and deep when he responds, “Yes, Love?”
“Kowalski wasn’t the only reason I left.”
He peels my shirt from my shoulder, then kisses my collarbone. “That a fact?”
“Mm, hmm. That was just the catalyst.” I run my fingers into his hair and hold him tighter to me. “I knew you’d never accept me leaving you.”
He murmurs against my cleavage, “What’s that now?”
I press him to me tightly. Then I whisper into his ear, “Living a fake life in Witness Protection is better than faking my orgasms for the rest of a miserable life.”
Riker pushes me away, then backhands me across my face. I tumble back and land on my ass. He’s stronger than I remember. “You bitch! You never faked a thing with me!”
My lip is bleeding and swelling. “Every. Single. Time.”
“You’re a liar! You can’t fake that sort of thing, I—"
I moan, “Mm, oh my god, yes, Simon, oh yes!” Then I roll my eyes. “I can do anything I set my mind to, you said it yourself.”
His nostrils flare, and he stomps over to me. “You think pissing me off is a good idea right now, Stella?”
“I think making you understand what a pathetic piece of shit you are is a good idea.”
“It’s a long flight to the Maldives, Love, you don’t want me angry with you for the trip, do you?”
I laugh. “You think I’m going to the Maldives with you? I’d sooner die!”
“That can be arranged!” He pulls out his gun and takes aim at me. But I stand up. “Rather die on your feet?”
I blurt, “There’s something else you should know first, Simon.”
He laughs. “And what’s that?”
“Guns have a limited range of efficacy.”
His brow scrunches. “What?”
I push his gun hand upward and it goes off. Then I take the rescue knife and shove it into his neck. His eyes bulge and he kicks me backward. I fall and hit my head against the table. I’m dizzy and my vision isn’t great. But a blurry Riker raises his hand again. Two gunshots ring loud.