Embrace Me (33 page)

“
Charlie…” I said his name slowly, trying to get him to come back to me. He was lost somewhere, worrying about all the possibilities of what could go wrong. “I have to do this. Nothing is going to happen to me.”

“
How do you know that, Shan?” his voice was weak as he searched my eyes.

“
Because I know you won’t let it,” I smiled.

“
Charlie, it’s the only way. I hate this idea as much as you do, but Shannon will be safe. I would never put her in harm’s way,” my mother called.

“
I know that, Jennet.” He exhaled, pulling me closer to him. “I guess losing Shannon the first time has left its mark on me.” He spat the last words, turning to glare at the Fields.

“
I thought you were over that, Charlie,” Megan snapped. “You got the richer daughter—the only heir to a fortune. You should be so proud of yourself.” I had to hold onto Charlie tightly. I was sure if I let him go, he would have thrown himself over the table in rage.

“
You heartless bitch!” my mother snarled. “After everything you and your family have put my daughter through, you have the nerve to insult the only person who loved Shannon before she found me?” My mother’s voice was deadly, and I enjoyed watching Megan squirm back behind her father. “Charlie is like a son to me. If I ever so much as hear you offending him again, I’ll have you for slander.”

“
That’s enough, Jennet.” Sir Phillip held his hand up. “I know my daughter was in the wrong, but I thought we had moved on from this.”

“
We will never move on. I just want these bastards after our children behind bars.” I had never seen my mother so raw with emotion before.

“
That’s what we all want. I want my daughter back.” Sir Phillip looked towards Will and Megan. “I know now the pain I caused you all those years ago.”

“
Don’t you dare!” my mother fumed, throwing her arms around in the air. Charlie held me tighter as I tried to go to my mother. “Maisy being kidnapped is
nothing
compared to what you did. YOU TOOK MY DAUGHTER…MY
ONLY
DAUGHTER! And for what? Control! How could you do that?”

“
Charlie,” I whispered in his ear.

He looked at me reassuringly before stepping over to my mother. “Jennet,” he said calmly, touching her arm. “Perhaps we should just go over the plan. All this arguing won’t help either party.”

“
You’re right, I am better than this,” she smiled, turning to look at me. “Sorry, Lizzie. I didn’t want you to ever see me like this.”

“
I understand,” I smiled, walking over to take her hand in mine. “But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.” As we embraced each other, I noticed the longing in Megan’s eyes when I looked over my mother’s shoulder. Megan had never had this closeness with her mother.

After a moment, we turned to the Field family, finally taking our seats at the boardroom table.

“
So,” my mother asked firmly as Frank came into the room, “how are we going to make this work?”

Chapter Twenty-Five

The plan was straightforward. Frank had identified one of the Field’s security men who he believed was working for the Russian mafia. Plans had been made for a charity event that both families would be attending due to the pretend merger. Because it had been a while since I had attended anything public, there was no question that the abductors would try their hand.

“
You’re going to wear out our carpet if you keep pacing around like that,” I teased, watching Charlie closely.

“
How can you be so calm about all of this?” he stressed.

“
What choice do we have? If we want a lead, there is no other option.”

“
Anything could go wrong. What if the abductors get their hands on you? Shannon, I
won’t
lose you…not again.”

I stood up, grabbing his hand and pulling him to me. “Nothing is going to happen. You will be my side the whole night, for one thing. Not to mention Frank and his team will be everywhere. He knows when the abductors will attack. It will be flawless.”

“
I love you, Shannon.”

“
I know you do. I love you, too. More than you could ever comprehend.”

“
I realize it’s wrong, but sometimes I wish we had just run away when we were in New York. We could be living happily on a small island with a few children by now knowing all we would ever need is each other.”

“
I know what you mean, but once all this has died down we can finally get some peace.”

“
Peace…you really think that?” he smirked.

“
Well, it will be a little quieter, and we won’t have to work with the Fields.”

“
You do have a point,” he smiled, running his hand down my back.

“
Mac is coming to the charity event.” Charlie inhaled sharply, trying not to show his emotion, but I knew him too well. “I thought you would want to know rather than just seeing him there.”

“
Why can’t he just leave? The world is a big place. He could go anywhere.”

“
I think he’s holding out, hoping that one day you will talk to him.”

“
He’s going to be waiting a long time.”

“
Don’t get angry, but why do you hate him so much? You were both innocent in all of this.”

“
For a start, he has brainwashed my girlfriend,” Charlie glared, letting go of my waist. “Mac is a womanizing prick. I can’t believe you’re still falling for his crap.”

“
I can’t believe you won’t even speak to your own brother. You are all he has, Charlie. How many times do I have to tell you it’s not
me
Mac is interested in?”

“
I don’t want to fight about this again. You know we never agree.”

“
We’re not fighting. You are just being stubborn,” I huffed, crossing my arms.

Charlie’s face turned into a smirk. “You look so sexy when you’re angry,” he smoldered.

“
You’re not winning that way,” I snarled.

“
Are you sure about that?” he teased, leaning down to kiss my lips. I was powerless when he kissed me this way. All consuming, I gave in within seconds.

I was nervous as Charlie and I made our way to the charity event. I tried to hide it, but he knew me too well.

“
We can go back home right now if you want to,” he whispered in my ear as the car pulled up outside. Flashing lights came from every direction.

“
No,” I smiled, touching his face. “You’re here. What could go wrong?”

“
I’m not letting go of you all night.”

“
I wouldn’t want you to,” I beamed, kissing his lips softly before getting out of the car.

I ignored all the calls and flashing lights. I needed to stay focused, and as Charlie wrapped his arms protectively around me, I relaxed a little. If the abductors were to get their hands on me, I knew they would have to take him, too.

When we made our way into the main hall, all eyes were on us.

“
How does it feel being this popular?” Charlie teased, squeezing my waist.

“
Wonderful,” I sighed as my eyes met with Megan and Will in the distance. I guess now was the time to pretend the truce between the Downings and Fields was real.

“
Here goes nothing,” I muttered, watching them make their way over towards us.

“
This is going to be impossible,” Charlie groaned. I turned to him, stroking his face before I spoke.

“
It will be fine…just don’t let go of me.”

“
Never,” he beamed, pulling me even closer to him.

“
Shannon, it’s so wonderful you could make it.” Megan was forcing her words out, and as she embraced me, I could feel the tension in her body. She hated this as much as I did. “You look…lovely.”

“
Thank you.” I wasn’t prepared to offer my compliments to her. I’d given her enough in the years we had been friends. Megan knew how beautiful she was. She had clearly gone all out tonight, choosing to wear a red silk gown that pulled her perfect figure in, in all the right places. I felt a little underdressed in my deep purple gown as I stood next to her.

“
Your mother is at the bar, Shannon,” Will commented, staring at me. I still felt uncomfortable in his presence; I couldn’t help it. The lengths he went to to claim me like some prize were too unreal.

“
Have all the precautions been taken?” Charlie snarled at Will.

“
Yes. Frank is with our security team as we speak. He has his eyes on the suspects.” I glanced around the room, realising my abductors were probably already watching me.

“
I think we should get a drink,” Megan chimed in. “I’m sure Shannon needs one.” I had to smile at that. She still knew me in a small way.

Charlie and I mingled through the crowds of people with Megan and Will.

“
What are you thinking?” Charlie asked while Megan and Will were talking to an old family friend.

“
How strange this feels…we are at a party with the Fields,” he chuckled, kissing my lips softly.

“
It’s only one night, and I
never
plan on doing it again.” I was still giggling at Charlie when Megan and Will turned back towards us.

“
Something funny?” she asked, obviously annoyed.

“
Charlie was just making me laugh,” I sniggered, looking up at him.

“
Yeah, he used to make
me
laugh, too,” Megan smirked, looking him up and down. “You do look very handsome tonight, Charlie.” I saw red as she licked her lips.

“
Megan,” Will scowled. “Behave! This is for Maisy, remember?”

“
Maybe Shannon and I should do our own mingling for a little while,” Charlie replied, pulling me away from Megan.

“
She can’t help herself, can she?” I replied irately.

“
Just ignore her. I do.”

“
How can you be so calm around her?”

“
All I care about tonight is keeping you safe,” he smiled, taking my hand. “Shall we dance?” He gestured to the dance floor, and I smiled as he led me towards the soft music.

With Charlie’s arms wrapped around me, I forgot where I was. All that mattered was being in his arms.

“
I can’t wait until we go away next week,” he whispered in my ear.

“
Are you going to tell me where you’re taking me?”

“
No, it’s a surprise.” I pouted. “You’ll love it, Shan. Trust me.”

“
I don’t even know what to pack.”

“
You can buy clothes there if you need to. It’s not as if you can’t afford it.”

“
So there are shops where we’re going?”

“
Stop digging,” he teased, ticking my waist. I laughed, looking up at him. Something had caught his attention, and as I turned to look in the same direction, I saw Mac on the edge of the dance floor watching us. “I’m not speaking to him,” Charlie snarled, looking down at me.

“
You don’t have to.”

“
You’re going to speak to him, aren’t you?”

“
I have to, Charlie. Mac works with me. It would be rude to ignore him.”

“
Can we at least finish this dance?”

“
You’re coming with me?” I questioned, surprised.

“
I have to. I told you I wasn’t letting go of you all night…even if that means I have to stand in front of my
big brother
.” I was thankful Charlie loved me enough to put me first. Truthfully, I didn’t want him to let go of me at all, either.

When the song came to an end, Charlie took a deep breath before we made our way towards Mac, who was watching us with wide eyes.

“
He better not think I want to talk to him,” Charlie growled in my ear.

“
Just relax,” I soothed before we reached Mac.

“
You look beautiful, Shannon,” Mac smiled, moving to kiss my cheek and hug me. Not once did Charlie release his hold on me.

“
Thanks, Mac. How have you been?” I asked once I noticed his gaze turn towards Charlie.

“
Good thanks. Hello, Charlie,” he greeted, looking at his brother.