Affairs & Atonements (23 page)

8 Months Later

“Have you got your lunch?” he asked JR.

“How many times are you going to ask me that?” His son rolled his eyes.

He chuckled and parked along the curb. “Best of luck at your speech then. Keep eye contact, loud audible voice and loads of confidence.”

“Yes, Dad. You do know that I don’t want to grow up to be a politician though?”

“Hey, public speaking is an integral part of life; not just politics. It helped me a lot in my job.”

“And not an advertising exec either,” the boy grumbled. “A vet doesn’t need to speak like some fancy politician or an ad exec.”

“Point taken.” Ashton threw up his hands in defeat. “But I expect you to excel in your class assignments if you want that German shepherd for Christmas.”

“Fine,” JR groaned.  He threw open the door. “Bye Dad.”

Ashton smiled, watching his son race towards his friends waiting for him in the distance.

A small beep of police siren caught his attention and he turned to find a police car alongside his vehicle.

The window rolled down. “Your ass is hanging over into a no-parking zone,” said Chad, his dark aviator glasses sitting at the end of his nose.

“I was just leaving.”

“Dropping off the kid, were you?”

“Yep.”

“How is he doing?”

“Good. He’s made it into the school basket ball team.”

Chad shook his head. “He sure takes his height after his dad. I hope he doesn’t play like him though.”

“I’ve been training. So if you want a re-match, you let me know.”

Chad laughed. “Be prepared to be embarrassed. I’ll call you.”

“Yeah, sure.” Ashton gave him a small wave as he drove away.

Half an hour later, after grabbing Margaret’s order of pastries from Smithies Bakery, he glided into the kitchen with them and laid the basket of baked goodies onto the table.

“Oh, that smells delicious,” Margaret said, looking eagerly into the basket. “Jane has started preparing the guest breakfast. I’ll call her to take these up to the lodge as well.”

He picked out a tart and bit into it. “Nice.” He nodded approvingly.

“The interior decorator’s  here again. She’s waiting for you at the office. She is beautiful, I tell you that. If she can design half as good as she looks, that itself will give the lodge quite a boost.”

“She’s experienced so we should be in good hands.”

“I hope. You better go talk to her. It isn’t good manners to keep her waiting.”

He walked out, stuffing the rest of his tart into his mouth. He brushed his jaw, clearing any crumbs that may be clinging to his day old stubbles. As he made his way to the lodge, he found her sitting on the bench, looking out into the forest. Instantly, he changed directions, eager to meet her.

In the light of the morning sun, her skin sparkled. All he wanted was to do was nestle against it, breathing in her fresh scent.

“Hey”, he said, alerting her of his presence.

“Hey.” She smiled.

He loved that smile. “You’re here early.”

“I was missing the view.”

He looked over at the forest. “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” He stood beside her, admiring her profile. “Not as beautiful as you though.”

She chuckled. “You’re such a charmer.”

“Perhaps. But it is true.” He gave her his hand to help her up. “I don’t know what I’d do if I hadn’t found you.”

“I’m glad you did.”

He tucked a wayward strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “How’s your legs?”

“Getting there. It doesn’t hurt as much.”

“We have another appointment with the physiotherapist today.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry that you have to do everything.”

“I’m not.  I don’t care if I have to shoulder the whole goddamn lodge on my own, so long as you’re here with me.  Do you know how lost I was when I thought you’d never make it? You’re the anchor in my life, Christy.” He wound his arms around her waist, holding her up against him.

“You don’t have to hold me so tight. I can pretty much stand on my own now.”

“I know you can. But I love that you can lean on me. I love you, Mrs. Pryor.”

She smiled back, caressing his bristled jaw line with the tips of her fingers. “And I love you.”

He lowered his head, his lips covering hers as he kissed her gently and patiently. She wasn’t going anywhere. She was here to stay…beside him…forever.

Winter’s End

Red Collar

Scent of Roses

Claimed

Captive (Short Story Series)

COMING SOON!

Clarissa Cartharn

She’s the dream he’s never had, and the love he’s always desired

When Eric Tanner, a contract killer, is targeted to be murdered by his former employer, he seeks refuge in the apartment of a blind woman, Anne Mullen.

Eric knows how to live in silence. He’s done it all his life. So when he discovers Anne is blind and living on her own, he thinks this would be his perfect hideout.

But then he makes the mistake of his life. He forms an attachment to her. And for a man in his profession, such attachments are a weakness. Now, Eric must do all he can to protect Anne from the very people who want him dead- to protect a woman who doesn’t even know he exists.

A JAR OF DREAMS

Clarissa Cartharn

Loud music blared through the club. Eric Tanner slithered through the mass of bodies swaying to the rhythm of the music.

Ten years ago, he would probably have been found amongst the drunken mob, dancing without a care in the world. But he was thirty-three now. He was a whole lot more mature and with a deadly agenda on his mind. Even as he maneuvered his way through the crowd, his focus didn’t shift from the short, pudgy man seated across the room, cavorted by two beautiful scantily dressed women.

There was everything crass about Johnny Dimmick. Right from the twenty-two carat chains dangling around his neck to the diamond rings on his fingers. He was the epitome of the pimp from the ghetto who struck it rich.

His eyes shifted to the three men flanking him. They would be a barrier to get to him. Had there been one, he would have managed him without much work. But three were a task.

A young woman pressed her body seductively against him. He took the opportunity and placed his hands on her hips, moving in tune with her. He needed to stay close to Dimmick as much as possible and there could be no better cover than to pretend he was another punch-drunk patron of the club.

The woman moved her hands down his pants and he frowned. Should he catch it before she went any further?

“Wanna go to the alley?” she whispered into his ear.

“How about a little later?” he said. This wasn’t the time to indulge in a free fucking session; not that he enjoyed it any more. He preferred women with a little more class, and more dress than the one rubbing against him. When had his tastes changed? In his younger days, he would have snatched up her offer and given her the fuck of a lifetime.

She pouted her lips in disappointment and straddled his leg. He could tell she was eager for a fuck. Unfortunately, she would have to get it elsewhere.

She rubbed her crotch against his thigh and she moaned. “Oh come on. You know you want it.”

“I do, babe.” He pretended. “But let’s have some foreplay first, okay?”

“I love a little foreplay. Oooohh, is that a gun in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?” She quoted Mae West as she let out another moan

He wished he could tell her that it was certainly not the latter sticking into her wet pussy. And for safety’s sake, he pushed her away slightly. He didn’t want her setting off the trigger in his pants.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Dimmick slipping out of his chair and he immediately made a move to follow him. But the drunk Mae West got in his way, trying to keep him from leaving.

“Don’t go without me,” she pleaded.

“I’ll be back, babe. Just give me a minute,” he said. He didn’t want her creating any attention. Once he was gone, he knew she’d latch onto someone else.

“Don’t be late.”

“I won’t,” he replied quickly as he leaped into the direction in which Dimmick had disappeared.
He’s leaving the club.
He moved as swiftly as he could. But no matter how hard he tried, there was always someone bumping into him or dancing in his way.

Finally finding a clear path to the exit, he raced out of it and down the stairs of the club. He saw them strolling to the side of the club building and into an alley. He walked hastily towards them, making sure he wasn’t being noticed and then pulled his gun out of its holster and cocked it

Standing by the corner of the building, he knew he had to be fast. Those three men were trained bodyguards. They were going to be swift and accurate. Unlike him. He had trained in abandoned buildings, shooting at cans.

He grasped the grip of his hand gun tightly and pulled in a deep breath. He only wanted Dimmick. But if he had to hurt the others to get him, then it was a step he had to take. In this game of death, he couldn’t allow anyone to recognize him. He was an unknown. A man without a face, without an identity- except to those who hired him to rid them of people they didn’t want.

He swung around the corner, ready to fire if necessary. He froze, staring down at the dead bodies laying about the alley. Someone had taken all six down, including the two women.  What had happened?  He stepped carefully around them, checking to make sure they were indeed dead.

He bent down to put two fingers on Dimmick’s throat. His pulse was faint and slow, indicative of fresh death. His breath was completely gone. He swore silently. Even though Dimmick was dead, he couldn’t claim any right to the contract money. Someone else had beaten him to it. But who?

He noticed an empty bullet casing by Dimmick’s foot and instinctively leaned down to pick it up. A bullet whizzed past him, almost clipping his ear. He ducked for cover. The assassin was still around and he was deliberately aiming for him. That wasn’t just a rogue shot.

Another silent bullet struck close to him and he immediately raced back towards the entrance of the alley. The man was a professional. Each shot was accurate and would have hit him had it not been for pure luck. Was he a rival contract killer? Whoever he was, he wanted him dead. And he certainly wasn’t going to stay to find out why. At least, not just yet.

END OF SAMPLE CHAPTER