Chapter 15 #3
"All right." Joel eased back and nodded.
"I said I would never hurt you; I never said anything about not hurting your wife.
" He shrugged carelessly. "Women are dispensable, don't you agree?
You can get another wife, but where would I get another son?
" He looked at Kady, his face hardening.
"You have that look about you, one of a whore.
Your mother has that same look-" he told Landry.
"She strung me along, made me believe that she loved me.
And what did she do? As soon as a richer man with a better standing in society came along, she dumped me for him. "
He giggled, a high-pitched sound that had Landry's heart shuddering.
He was unhinged, that much was clear. Landry figured he could try and lunge for the weapon, but he could not risk anything that would endanger Kady's life.
All he could hope and pray was that they found a way out of this nightmare.
Kady had been watching the man while he was talking and had noticed something significant.
As much as he claimed to hate women, she realized that he had been unable to stop looking at her bosom.
Thinking desperately of finding a way for them to get the gun away from him, she pressed her fingers against Landry's.
"Mr. Massey? How about that champagne you suggested? I'm sure my husband would love to pop the cork. After all, we're supposed to be celebrating."
She tensed and held her breath when he turned to stare at her with a hint of suspicion.
"I think that's a very good idea." Landry, taking the hint from her, rose slowly and reached for the bottle. "We only had one glass each at the ceremony. What do you say?"
The man beamed at Landry and nodded.
"Of course, I'd do anything for you. I hope you know that."
Landry wanted to beg him to let Kady go but thought better of it. Taking a deep breath and praying that he could keep his hands steady, he popped the cork and poured champagne into the two glasses. "I'll share mine with Kady," he said, handing Joel the glass.
Keeping his eyes on Joel, Landry took a sip and then another before passing it to Kady.
"This is expensive business. I suppose the man who thinks he's your father wanted to make an impression. The honeymoon will have to wait a bit; I have a place picked out for us to live." His gaze flickered to Kady, who was now sipping the champagne Landry had handed her.
And then Landry saw it. His body went rigid when he noticed where Joel's gaze had landed. He was about to say something when he caught his wife's eyes and the subtle shake of her head.
Understanding dawned when she deliberately spilled the wine down her bosom.
"Oh! Look what I've done."
Landry took the cue. Joel's eyes were transfixed on the rise of Kady's bosom. She made a production of using her fingers to wipe at the moisture, slowly. Deciding he had no margin for error, Landry lunged.
Grabbing the man's hand, he wrestled for the gun. His heart failed him several times when shots rang out. He had no time to wonder if any of the bullets had found their target. With his heart rapping against his ribs, his survival instinct kicked in.
Kady was not idle. Leaping off the bed, she jumped on Joel's back, her hands wrapped around his neck. Landry finally managed to get the gun away. Panting from exertion and fear, he trained it on the disheveled man who was doing his best to wriggle free from a very determined Kady.
"Darling, it's fine. I got this," he told her. "Let go of him and ring the security desk. Don't move!" He issued the warning sharply when Joel started to stagger to his feet.
"The bitch scratched my face. I'm bleeding," he cried.
"You're going to be doing more of it if you call my wife a bitch again. Stay where you are. Darling, dial the security."
Shaking the numbness from her limbs, Kady did as she was told and, on an impulse, called his parents' room as well as Kathy's and her brother's. They needed to be here for this.
"I loved you!" he screamed at Landry.
"Your kind of love I could do without." Holding out a hand, he reached for his wife. As soon as she placed her hand in his, he gripped hers. His parents, his sister, and her brother got there before security.
"You caused this! You whoring cunt!" he screamed just as they entered the room, his fevered eyes zeroing on Jessica. "And you?" He swiveled to glare at Lincoln. "You were my best friend, and you took her away from me."
"If you'd been half the man you claimed to be, she wouldn't have looked twice in my direction," Lincoln responded coldly.
He got just the reaction he expected. As soon as he lunged, Lincoln caught him with a stiff uppercut to the stomach that had him doubling over.
"That's for calling my wife those names and terrorizing my children. "
The guards rushed in just then, and everything happened at once. Landry was relieved of the gun, and Joel Massey was taken into custody. As soon as he handed the gun and prisoner over, Landry went to fetch a robe and draped it over his wife's shoulders.
As soon as the guards trickled out with their prisoner, Landry grabbed her and held her tight.
"You okay?" he asked hoarsely.
"Yes."
"Good." He hugged her again. "It's over."
"Yes." Closing her eyes, she held him for a minute more.
Then it was Lincoln who held her. "Thank you," he whispered.
She hung on until they left. As soon as the door closed behind them, she broke down, the adrenaline that had fueled her before draining away.
"There now, baby." Sweeping her into his arms, Landry carried her over to the sofa and held her while she sobbed into his chest.