Chapter 14 #2
Geoffrey? She had nothing to do with Geoffrey’s business dealings. She moved in front of the windows now, too low to the ground to be seen by the partygoers but bathed in the light that spilled from inside. Vitalie now had a clear shot.
“What is going on out here?”
Brielle swung her head around to the far end of the patio. Geoffrey and Nila stood in the light. Staring. Their faces pale with shock.
“Well look who’s here,” Vitalie said, the whites of his eyes vivid in the darkness. “Your fiancé and new owner of the Vitalie School and, of course, his little red-haired charge. Glad you two could join us.”
So was Brielle.
“What the hell are you thinking, Anston!” Nila blurted. “Put the gun down!”
“Nila, this has nothing to do with you,” Anston warned.
“And this has nothing to do with Brielle,” Geoffrey said. He took a step toward Brielle but a flick of the gun toward him pushed him back. “Our business transactions are our own. Anston. Let her go.”
A small crowd formed as more people came out to the terrace. Brielle kept inching along the ground trying to make it to the shadows.
“Geoffrey has been lying to you, Brielle! He wants to replace you with Nila. Tell her about how you’ve broken deals with Brielle’s sponsors and made them for Nila instead.”
“He’s lying,” Geoffrey spat. “Brielle, don’t listen.”
“Don’t you see? I am doing you a favor. Everyone has betrayed you. Your father, Geoffrey.”
Suddenly she found her voice. “And now you, Anston?”
With speed and coordination Brielle didn’t know Anston possessed, he grabbed her by her hair, the gun still in his hand.
The crowd collectively gasped, watching as he raised the barrel of the gun to her temple. “There is nothing left for you. If I put this bullet in your head, you’d be better off.”
“Drop it, Vitalie.”
Callum. His voice was strong and confident, like the man himself. From the corner of her eye, she could make out his silhouette in the shadows. He was on one knee, a gun poised at Anston’s head. “You pop her, I pop you. Let her go.”
Sobs bubbled in Brielle’s throat. She looked at him, more scared than she had ever been in her life. In the distance, sirens wailed. Red and blue lights flashed in the night sky.
“The stabbing was an accident, Brielle,” Vitalie blurted. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, but now, I think you might have deserved it.”
Brielle screamed when she heard the shot. She fell to the stone, hiding her face in her hands and curling her knees to her chest. She waited for the pain, but there was none. Just a paralyzing numbness and silence. Maybe that’s what it felt like.
Maybe that’s what it felt like to die.
Clinging to cold stone beneath her, she lay there motionless. Not even breathing until someone brushed the hair from her face. “Brielle, are you okay?”
Slowly she opened her eyes. “Leslie?”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Don’t worry, you’re safe. The police are here and so is the ambulance. Why don’t I help you up?”
Leslie pulled her to her bare feet. Clearly, more time had passed than the seconds it felt like. Had she fainted?
She looked around her. The police had already taped off the area and were talking with some of the guests. Brielle shivered despite the heavy wool blanket that was thrown around her.
“Callum wants me to take you back to his house.” Leslie told her, walking her over to the edge of the patio. “He wants you out of sight until the match tomorrow.”
“Darling, are you all right?”
Brielle looked up at Geoffrey. A weak smile pulled at his lips and her instinct was to smile back. But then she remembered what he’d done. Was it true?
“Thank God you’re okay.” He touched a clammy hand to her cheek. “I was so scared.”
“Get away from me.”
“Brielle, don’t tell me you believe what that crazy man was saying.”
“It makes sense. You book Nila for endorsement deals that should be mine and now you have enough to pay for this place.” She straightened, looking him dead in the eye. “It’s always about the business isn’t it, Geoffrey?”
He smoothed down his lapels, then glanced around nervously at the small crowd around him. “Darling, we can talk about all this later. Right now, I’m just glad all this is over.”
His words jarred something in her brain, clicking her mind’s eye into focus. He was right. Regardless of Anston and Geoffrey’s business dealings, it was over. Vitalie said himself he was the one who attacked her, and now he was gone.
She expelled a breath, one she was sure she’d been holding since the day it happened. At this moment there was no longer a reason to look over her shoulder. The danger was eliminated.
“How about we get out of here, now?” Leslie coaxed, gesturing for the row of police cars lined in the estate entrance. “You need a good night’s sleep.”
“Callum killed him, didn’t he?”
Over Leslie’s shoulder she could see the huddle of uniformed police staring down at Anston Vitalie. Callum stood nearby, talking with Earl Dibbs.
Leslie nodded. “He didn’t have a choice.”
She bit her lip, afraid her gratitude would manifest in a torrent of sobs. She took a step toward him, but Leslie stopped her, resting her hand on her shoulder. “You shouldn’t be over there. He has to work with the police.”
“I have to talk to Callum.”
“But now isn’t a good time.”
She shrugged her off, her bare feet stinging as she walked across the stone. His back was to her, so she tugged on his tux jacket, now torn, blood-stained and wet from the rain.
Callum turned fast, and for a split second, the control she’d come to expect was gone. Fear crossed his face, followed by a flash of anger and something else she couldn’t read. His eyes swept over her. He ran a hand through her tangled hair.
“Jesus, Bri,” he breathed.
Relief hit her all at once. Her knees weakened, and when he reached for her, she went slack against him, letting his arms hold her up.
“Can we get her out of the night air, please?” she heard him say. “And get the medics back over here. I think she’s still in shock.”
Gathering her in his arms, he carried her through the crowd to the small room just inside the far terrace door. He lay her down on a couch, tucking the blanket in around her.
“Sweetheart, you’re okay,” he whispered, stroking her hair as it fell across her face. “Just relax.”
“I am relaxed,” she said. “And grateful.” She slid her hand around his neck, cupping his cheek with her palm. “You look terrible.”
“Don’t worry about me.” He took her hand from his face and discreetly held it between his palms. “I just need to do my job, okay?”
“Excuse me, Miss Riley?”
Brielle was suddenly aware of the other pair of eyes on her. Earl Digg’s dark face was in front of her, but when he stood back she saw he wore a Bonita Springs police uniform. “Remember me? I’ve met you a few times before.”
“Sure.” She swung her legs over the couch and sat up. “From the bar and the hotel. Good to see you again Mr. Diggs.” She held out her hand for him to shake.
“Mr. Harrison, the coroner is here. And the medics are waiting too if Miss Riley needs looking over.”
“I’m fine.” Brielle held her hand in the air. “Callum’s friend, Leslie, is going to take me home.”
“I’ll be out there in a minute,” Callum said to Diggs.
“No problem,” Earl said, heading for the door. “Oh, by the way, Miss Riley, we’re trying to hold off the press. It’s no guarantee that what happened tonight won’t get out, but it might spare you the headline in the morning paper.”
Brielle nodded. “Thanks for the heads up.” She waited for the door to close behind him before turning back to Callum. “Why is Diggs wearing a police uniform?” she asked.
“It’s his cover. You’re the only one who knows who I really am, remember?”
She smiled. “Yeah, I remember.”
“You scared me to death, you know that. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you go out with Anston by yourself.”
“It was my fault, Callum. I insisted.”
Voices drifted closer beyond the closed door. “I want to stay with you, but I have to get back outside and do my job. It has to look like I’m giving my statement to the police.” He stood up and asked, “Do you know where Anston’s office is in this place? I need to check it out.”
“Upstairs third floor. Why?”
“Just want you safe is all.”
The worry clouding his face confused her. “Wait a minute? I am safe now, aren’t I?”
“Of course, just let Leslie take you back to my house.” His voice was gentle as if talking to a child.
“She’ll keep you company until I get there.
I also told her to tell Geoffrey you needed to be in a safe house until tomorrow’s match.
” He glanced back at the closed door, then back at her. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Before she could answer he was gone. Was it over?
“Please be careful,” she whispered, to no one but herself.