CAITLYN
I’m still a little shaken up by the revelation that David showed up at Josh’s work, and knows about the two of us being together, but I won’t put my life on hold.
I’ve already missed so much time at the kennels due to morning sickness.
I have a meeting this afternoon with someone from the Braddock Resort security, but before then, I need to go to the kennels and see that the renovations have all been completed correctly.
Then I need to reschedule my meeting with Amy, so that the two of us can discuss breeding our chow-chows.
When I arrive at the kennels, the contractor Will Davis, is waiting for me.
“Good morning, Miss Jackson. I hope you’re feeling better now?” Will asks with a smile.
I smile back. “Much better, thank you. I’m excited to see the work you’ve done on the building.”
“Let’s get started then.”
I follow Will into the kennels, where the main reception room and staffroom are unchanged, but once we reach the area where we keep the dogs, I’m pleased to see it’s been renovated and extended.
Will and his team have doubled the size of the dog care room, and there is now plenty of space for me and Amber to breed multiple dogs at once.
Additionally, there’s room for treatments, and grooming, so that Amber and I can start expanding the business into other dog-care avenues.
It’s exactly what we wanted.
“Thank you. It’s perfect,” I say, unable to keep the grin off my face.
Will grins back. “I’m happy you’re pleased with the results. Your partner, Miss Henderson gave her approval yesterday, so all we were waiting on was your approval.”
“Well, you’ve certainly got that. I couldn’t be happier. Thank you again, Mr. Davis. I will process your full payment right now.”
I lead Will back through to the reception area, load up my computer, and transfer the payment for the renovations from the kennel’s business account to Will’s account.
“I’ll be sure to let you know if we ever need any more work done, and I’ll be recommending you to anyone who is looking for a contractor.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
After Will leaves, I take another look around the renovations, admiring the new work, and then, I call Amy to arrange a meeting for the following day.
Once all my business is taken care of, I’m feeling quite tired thanks to pregnancy fatigue, and decide to head home for some lunch and a quick nap, before my meeting with the security company.
I’m just locking up the main door to the building when a dark shadow falls over me, and I turn to see David standing right behind me.
I suck in a breath and try to keep myself calm. I won’t let him scare me.
“What do you want, David?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Just to talk,” David replies in a soft, low voice. At one time, the tone of his voice would have made me swoon, but now, I can hear the danger in it.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
I try to move away, but David presses me up against the door. My heart hammers in my chest, and I breathe deeply, trying to keep calm.
“Well, I have plenty to say to you, Caitlyn. I know all about you and Joshua Braddock. I should have guessed; he was always chasing after you like a sad puppy.” David’s tone has morphed from husky to threatening, and I suppress a shudder.
Trying to put on a brave face and remain strong, I say, “Joshua is a good man. He treats me a million times better than you ever did.”
David sneers. “Does he make your heart race like I do?”
My heart is racing now, but for all the wrong reasons. Any love I had for David evaporated when I caught him with that other woman, and since then Joshua has shown me what real love is.
I stare at him definitely. “Yes, and not only that but I can trust him. I know Josh would never cheat on me like you did.”
David leans in closer so his breath is hot on my skin and runs his hands up my arms. This time I can’t suppress the shudder, and David smirks. “You’ll get bored of him soon enough, and then come running back to me. Why don’t you save everyone the trouble and agree to come back to me now?”
“Never,” I practically spit, pushing David off me. “It will be a cold day in hell before I ever go near you again. Joshua and I love each other.”
David’s eyes widen for an instant -- did he not expect that I would have moved on so quickly? -- but then the expression swiftly changes to one of cold calculation.
“Exactly how much do you love him, Caitlyn? Enough to die for him. Enough to risk your life for him?” David says in a low growl.
“You don’t frighten me, David. I’m leaving, and if you ever contact me again, I’m calling the police.”
I push past him and try to reach my car, but he grabs my wrist, and pulls me to him.
“Break up with Braddock and move back in with me--”
“NEVER!”
David’s eyes gleam dangerously. “Do it, or I’ll use my contacts to have him killed.”
My eyes widen, but I won’t fall for his lies. “Don’t try to corner me with your fake threats.”
“It's not a fake one, Caitlyn.” David drawls. “You know Lorenzo Esposito is a regular at the club.”
I’ve never met Lorenzo Esposito personally, but everyone in East Hampton is at least aware of the Mafia boss. It doesn’t surprise me that David and his family are friends with him.
Trying to keep my tone even, and not show any sign of weakness, I say, “So what? If I don’t do what you want, you’ll have one of Esposito’s men kill Josh?”
David smirks. “That’s exactly what I’ll do. With the trouble his younger brother has been in recently, it wouldn’t be much of a jump to connect Joshua with the Mafia, and make it seem believable that they’d target him. No one would ever know I was involved.”
“I’d know. I’d tell everyone.”
David grabs my chin between his thumb and forefinger, holding me like a crab’s pincer, and stares into my eyes. “You do that, and I’ll have them all killed. Every single Braddock Brother. Their wives. Their children. I’ll see the whole family is wiped out.”
I try to swallow around the lump in my throat, and feel a cold, hard ball forming in the pit of my stomach. Still, I say, “You wouldn’t dare do that. Keep your threats to yourself.”
David arches an eyebrow, his lip curling to reveal his pointed incisors. He looks like a wolf about to strike its prey. “Is that a risk you’re willing to take? Either you come back to me now or later, or you’ll only have yourself to blame for getting them all killed.”
“David, there is nothing left in our relationship and there was never a bond between us. You were the one who was always cheating on me. I can’t lead a life with someone like that.
So, please understand that our relationship is a closed chapter, and you should get over that fact and not hurt anyone for that. ”
“I’m not asking what you feel. You’re my girl and I will just not let anyone stand in the way even if it means hurting or killing people. Do you get it?”
My mind swirls with possible scenarios, as I try to work out if David is being serious. Would he really have someone killed? Have someone’s whole family killed?
As I feel David’s fingers digging into my arms, no doubt leaving bruises, the horrifying truth dawns on me.
David would go to any lengths to force me to return to him. I have no choice. To save Joshua’s life, I must agree to David’s terms.
“Fine. I’ll go with you but...”
“Excellent. I knew you’d see sense eventually.” David smirks, his grip on my arm not loosening. “Come. We’ll go back to your old apartment and have your stuff packed up straight away.”
I have no choice but to get into my car and follow David as he drives across town to my place.
When we arrive at my apartment, and I open the front door, Bella sees David and growls.
“That beast has to go,” he snarls, looking at my dog with disgust.
“But you know how much I love Bella--”
“More than your precious Joshua? Get rid of the animal, or Joshua will pay for it.”
A cold feeling washes over me, and I nod obediently.
I look down at Bella, my eyes welling with tears. “Fine. I’ll ask Amber to take her.”
“That’s another thing. I don’t like your friendship with Amber. She has to go too.”
“She’s my business partner,” I insist fiercely.
I can’t believe he’s trying to isolate me from everyone I care about.
“I’ll buy her out,” David says like it’s nothing. “Oh, I can speak to Esposito to have her removed too.”
“You bastard!” I cry, and David just chuckles.
“Come on, pack your things.”
I don’t say anything else, knowing how pointless it is to try arguing with David. He has an answer to everything, and I won’t risk the lives of anyone I love. For now, it’s best to do what he wants, while I figure out a way out of this mess.
I start packing my stuff when the buzzer for my apartment rings. My throat goes dry as I remember I have a meeting with the Braddock Resort security scheduled for this afternoon. This could be my way out. All I have to do is tell them about David’s threats, and they can help me.
“Whoever it is, get rid of them.”
“It’s someone from the Braddock Resort’s security. After you showed up at the gym yesterday, Josh worried you’ve been following me or something. He set up this meeting, so I’d be protected.”
Before I can reach the door, David blocks my path, a sneer on his lips. “Too little too late. But we don’t want to arouse any suspicion. Tell them you’re sick or something. Make some excuse.”
David opens the door a fraction and pushes me forward. He conceals himself just out of sight, but I know he’s listening to everything I say. I don’t think I can get a coded message to the security guard without incurring David’s wrath, and thereby putting Joshua and his whole family in danger.
“Hey, I’m Jacob Thompson. Joshua Braddock said you’d be expecting me. I work for the resort as a security guard.”
“Yeah, hi, sorry Jacob I should have called Josh earlier. I’m not feeling great today. Can we reschedule?”
Jacob offers me a reassuring smile. “Yeah, sure. Just have Mr. Braddock call me whenever you’re feeling better.”
“Thanks. I will.”
I close the door hastily, and turn back to David, who presses a finger to his lips, indicating I should remain quiet. Neither of us move or speak until we hear Jacob get into his car and drive away.
“You know, as soon as Josh finds out I canceled the meeting, he’ll be calling to see if I’m okay.”
“Well then you better call and put him off.”
I bow my head and pull my phone out of my pocket. But I can’t bring myself to call Joshua. If I hear his voice, I’ll only break down, and then God only knows what David will do. I start typing a text message when David snatches the phone from my hands.
“Let me see that,” he demands.
He reads what I’ve written and shakes his head. “No, no. This won’t do. I don’t want Braddock thinking you’re still his.”
David deletes my message, and then types a message of his own.
His words are designed to leave no doubt in Joshua’s mind. “Canceled security. This isn’t working. Don’t call me.”
As the icon on my phone tells me the message has been received, my shoulder’s slump. Will Josh just accept what I’m saying? Or will he try calling on something?
A moment later, I get my answer, as my phone starts to ring.
David snatches it from me, ends the call, and then takes out the sim card.
“You can’t do that! All my business contacts are on there.”
“Your business doesn’t matter. In fact, instead of me buying Amber out, I will buy you out. You can tell her tomorrow that you’re leaving.”
“What? You can’t force me to leave my job too. I’ve worked too hard to build the kennels up, and we just had it renovated.”
“Do you want Joshua Braddock to live?” David asks, his eyes narrowed.
I heave out a breath. “Fine. I will tell Amber tomorrow that I’m leaving.”
“Good. Now get packing. I want to get out of this dump.”