His Reluctant Bride (16 page)

Katie could hardly believe what she was hearing. Amber was his sister? But that made no sense. How could she be his sister when she was always hinting at a sexual relationship?

“I don't understand. I thought she was your mistress. She told me you were sleeping together,” Katie said and Tariq flinched.

“My daughter is a troubled young woman Catherine. She blames me for her life and for her abuse. You were kept safe and protected until Tariq married you. Amber was forced in to bed at the age of sixteen. Long before she left the school and believe me it was not a pretty way to be introduced to that world. She has been treated like a prostitute her whole life and she blames it all on me. She hates me. She hates my son. And I can't blame her. I'm sorry for everything. It's my fault that she's trying to cause trouble between you. My fault that she almost destroyed your marriage,” his mother explained and Katie breathed a sigh of both relief and horror.

“So there's nothing going on between you? But why did you send me away and take her side?” Katie asked and Tariq looked ashamed as he glanced between her and his mother.

“Amber was more troubled since our marriage. She thought I would forget about her and choose you over my family. She became unstable and was threatening to kill herself. How could I possibly leave my sister to die?” he asked and Katie finally understood. The reason he had sent her away wasn't because he didn't love her but was because he loved his family.

“Those children I heard on our honeymoon. They were real,” Katie realised and Tariq nodded grimly.

“I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. But I was sworn to secrecy,” he said pleading with his eyes for understanding and forgiveness.

“I understand Tariq. You didn't have a choice. I just wish I'd known what you were going through,” she said sadly as she realised just how many secrets they had been keeping from one another.

“I thought I was doing the right thing by giving Amber the life she deserved but I fear that I have only made things worse. She is unstable and I don't know how to help her. I did this. By trying to keep her I ruined her life. What am I supposed to do Tariq? Tell me what to do,” his mother pleaded and he paled at the expectations that she was heaping on his shoulders.

“There's nothing you can do mother dear,” said a voice and they all turned to see Amber standing there with a gun in her hands.

“Amber, sweetheart what are you doing?” her mother begged and Katie stared at the gun in horror.

“I thought it would work you know. I thought that living in the palace would bring me everything I desired. Everything that should have been mine. But instead she got it, that little tramp,” Amber snapped as she pointed the gun at Katie who swallowed nervously even as he hands fluttered over her stomach.

“Amber what are you doing? Put the gun down before someone gets hurt,” Tariq warned and Amber laughed harshly.

“You don't get it do you? That should have been me. My life. I should have been treated like a princess and doted on and everyone should have loved me. Not that little bitch who didn't even want to be here. She's a nobody. I'm royalty and she comes out of nowhere and steals my life,” Amber ranted and Katie really began to be afraid. Amber had lost it. She didn't even seem to see Tariq as her family any more. Maybe she'd really begun to believe the lies she'd been telling.

“Catherine hasn't stolen your life,” Tariq said soothingly but instead of calming her it just made Amber jerk the gun in his direction.

“Catherine? She stolen my life before she even met you. It should have been me that they treated with respect. Me that they married off. I should have been the one raised to be your wife. Not her,” Amber snapped and Tariq frowned.

“Amber you're my sister and I love you, but Catherine is my wife,” he said in that same soothing voice that still had no effect.

“I'm not your sister. I never was. I'm a nobody. I was bought up to be a nobody. Do you think anybody even gave me a second look? They used me and then they dumped me and none of them ever cared about my needs or my life,” she sobbed and Katie's heart went out to her. It was clear that Amber was a very troubled young woman who had never found peace and had only found hate and abuse wherever she looked for love.

“Amber it's not your fault,” Katie said softly and her head jerked up even as she aimed the gun back on Katie.

“No, It's their fault. And they're going to pay. They're going to learn what it means to lose everything they care about,” she said as she steadied the gun and Katie's eyes widened at the realisation that she was going to shoot her.

“Don't. Please, I'm pregnant,” Katie begged and Amber hesitated.

“I don't care. They deserve to feel the pain I felt every day of my life. They deserve to pay,” Amber shouted as her resolve became firm once again .

“Please Amber. It's not fair to kill my baby before it's even born. You're a mother. How would you feel if your baby was taken away?” Katie asked praying for a miracle and at her words Amber placed her free hand over her belly her eyes a little less wild as she felt for the life within her.

“My babies would have a better chance without me. I can't give them what they need. And neither can you,” she said and before she could say another word the gun sounded and Katie watched in horror as the bullet flew straight at her.

It all happened so fast. One minute Katie had been certain that she was dead and the next she had been staring down at Tariq's limp body. She didn't even remember him moving in front of her, only that he must have for he was the one bleeding on the floor.

“Tariq,” Katie whispered in horror as she moved closer staring at the blood in shock.

“Noooo!” Amber screamed as she dropped the gun with a clatter and threw herself at Tariq.

“What did you do?” her mother asked as she stared at her son wondering how this could have happened.

“It wasn't supposed to be him, it was supposed to be you,” Amber screeched as she flew at Katie. Determined to defend her child Katie fought back and before she even realised what she was doing she had bought a heavy ornament down over Amber's head knocking her unconscious and leaving them all in a dreadful silence.

It was several days later when Tariq was declared fit to get out of bed although he was advised to rest plenty. It had been a terrifying few days for Katie who had been convinced that he was dying. Indeed if the doctor had not already been around from seeing to her then Tariq most certainly would have.

A lot had happened in just a few days and it was hard to believe that so much could change that soon. Katie hadn't realised when she left the village that the fight had been serious. She'd had no way of knowing when she broke from her bodyguards that there had been a breach in security and that Jai's brother-in-law had followed them to the village. She'd had no idea that he had seen them together in the pub or that he had been waiting for an opportunity to find where his daughters had been hidden.

Apparently he had tried to kidnap his youngest daughter and if Jai hadn't of been going back from their talk he would never have seen them and wouldn't have been able to save his young niece. Instead he had jumped in to action determined that the same fate as his sister would not meet her daughters.

Thankfully Jai had seen him and had saved his nieces from harm. The whole village had banded together to protect their own and Jai's brother-in-law was currently being sentenced to jail. This meant that Jai and his nieces were free to go wherever they wanted but Jai wasn't sure he wanted to leave any more.

Amber had been taken to a hospital where they could offer her more care and assistance. They were helping her sort through her issues though it would be a long time before she was well enough to have her own life back. Meanwhile her children were staying with their grandmother and she insisted on staying hidden. She had hated her life in the public eye and she didn't want to be thrust back in to it. Why should she when she could remain dead and live the life of an old woman doting on her grandchildren?

Tariq meanwhile was feeling much better and for once their relationship wasn't strained. They were being honest and open with each other and it was all they seemed to need. He had confessed to his jealousy and mistrust while she had confessed to her fears and panic.

It felt strange that night for Katie to be laid in bed with him knowing that finally there were no secrets or mistrust between them. Instead they were stronger than ever and looking forward to their baby who would make their life complete.

4 Years Later

Katie smiled indulgently at her twins as they came running across the desert towards her with grins on their boyish faces while their sister toddled along behind them.

“Mama, did you see that? We won,” Paolo said with a grin making her laugh with joy at the look on their young faces.

“We beat Daddy,” Pietro added and even his two year old sister burbled her excitement as she finally reached them.

“You did great. I'm so proud of you all,” Katie said as she lifted her daughter in to her arms and tried to settle her in to a comfortable position.

“They cheated somehow,” said a voice from beside her and Katie grinned at her husband as he bent to kiss her.

“We never cheat at football,” their sons stated indignantly and they both laughed at the expression on their young faces.

“You want me to take her?” Tariq asked suddenly and Katie rolled her eyes.

“I may be pregnant. But I think I can manage to hold my daughter,” she said firmly and he smiled as he leaned down to place a kiss on both of his beautiful girls and he gave her rounded belly a slow stroke grinning with delight as the baby kicked.

“How did I get so lucky?” he murmured and they both smiled indulgently at each other before the boys bought their attention back to the present.

“Look, its Grandma,” they shouted in unison and Carmen began to squirm until her mother released her back on to her feet.

In the four years that had passed a lot had changed. Tariq and Katie were closer than ever and they could barely even believe that at the start of their marriage there had been such hate and distrust between them. Their three children had bought them even closer together and with the fourth on the way Katie thanked the lord every day that her father had forced this marriage on her. She had even forgiven her parents and made an effort to let them in to her life.

Amber had gotten treatment successfully and now four years on she was happy. She had found a place for herself in the Village and had even hit it off with one of the men there. Her and Jai had married the year before and it seemed like they were made for each other. Katie still didn't completely trust Amber but even she had to admit that with the right help Amber had changed direction in her life. No more did she dwell on the past and all of its pain but rather on the present with her lovely husband and their seven wonderful children. Jai's nieces may not technically be hers but Amber had made certain to treat them like her own and maybe it was the way she was treated as a child but it seemed that she went to great lengths to make all the children feel special and to feel good about themselves.

Tariq's mother had still refused to come out of hiding although she had consented to allow the village to know of her existence. Especially when Tariq had told her that the real reason he had begun the village was because of the abuse he had watched her suffer through.

It was amazing, Katie thought as she watched her mother-in-law gather the children to her that such happiness could come out of such dark times. It seemed that there really was a purpose to things and that fate really could have a say in your future.

“I love you more than I can ever say,” Katie told her husband softly and he placed a kiss against her soft cheek.

“And I love you Catherine. You are my soul, my heart and my one true love,” he murmured back and drawing her to her feet he swept her in to his arms before retreating to their tent to show her just how much he loved her.

CHAPTER ONE

Gabby relaxed her head back against the headrest and allowed herself a genuine smile as the taxi headed closer to her house. This was probably the last time she would be heading back there and it felt like all her stress was melting away at the realisation that this time tomorrow her divorce papers would be ready and she would finally be free.

That was until the taxi pulled up outside the large house and she gave a gasp of dismay at the realisation that she had completely forgotten about the party that had been planned for weeks. It was supposed to be her anniversary party but was more likely a chance for her husband to make more business contacts under the guise of a party.

Nikolai Kostas was the only part of her plan that could go wrong. He was her husband but he was also a rich and powerful businessman who didn’t like to lose. Their marriage might be a sham but if he had any idea that she was planning on leaving him then she had no doubt that he would use all of that power to stop her. She just had to survive one more night under his roof acting like things were normal. She couldn’t do anything to arouse his suspicions which meant that she had to go in there and act the part of devoted wife.

Gathering herself together she realised she didn’t exactly look the part at the moment. Reaching back she removed the clip from her hair and shook out her long dark hair so it fell in waves across her shoulder. Digging through her bag she gave a triumphant smile when she found some lip gloss. Swiping a little over her soft lips Gabby spared a moment to be grateful that she had dressed up for her divorce lawyer and wouldn’t look out of place at the party in her black form fitting dress.

Gabby watched the taxi drive away and continued to stare after it for several moments before she straightened her shoulders and pinned a smile on her face. She forced herself to open the door and walked in to the middle of the party that was heaving with guests though most of them were strangers to her.

She made her way through the house and stopped to chat to a couple of people she recognised. With such a big party going on hopefully she would be able to avoid her husband altogether until it was over.

“There you are Gabby. We thought you’d forgotten us,” said a tall blonde with a stick thin figure who looked like she’d just stepped off the pages of the latest fashion magazine. There were several of these women at the party who all looked alike and Gabby had to wrack her brain to remember the woman’s name.

"You know me, I just lost track of time. But thanks for coming, Emily," Gabby replied in what she hoped was a regretful tone and when the girl smiled Gabby breathed a sigh of relief that she'd gotten the name right.

“It’s a wonderful party darling,” said a second skinny blonde as she approached their little group and Gabby sent her a smile.

“Thank you. I’m sure our party planner will be thrilled to hear it. She put a lot of effort in to this,” Gabby replied and the two blondes exchanged a look.

“Well I’m sure that you must be very busy what with all your charity work and such a high profile husband,” the second blonde said and Gabby simply smiled.

“You two are still the perfect couple even after a year of marriage. Shame your parents never got to see you get married but I expect they were thrilled when you got engaged. They did know before the accident didn’t they?” Emily asked and Gabby’s smile faded as she thought back to her parents who had been taken so tragically in a car accident just over a year ago.

Gabby had always been close to her parents and it had devastated her when she had lost both of them in one foul blow. She had been left all alone in the world and she hadn’t known how she would carry on without having them in her life anymore.

“Yes my parents knew. You could say it was down to them that Nik and I ended up together in the first place,” she said dragging herself back to the present.

How these society women would laugh if they discovered the only reason they'd married was because of a stipulation in her father's will. And wouldn't they be shocked to know that she had never even shared a room with Nik, much less a bed.

"Aww, isn't that just so sweet? Your parents bought you together and here you are a year later, still together and happier than ever and still so much in love," a third blonde woman said and Gabby gave them all a forced smile but before she could offer a response she felt a familiar tingle spread its way through her body an instant before an arm wound itself around her waist and pulled her back against a hard male frame.

“More in love than ever,” Nik confirmed as he placed a tender kiss against Gabby’s slender neck and tightened his grip warningly around her waist. Like she wanted these airhead socialites to realise that their marriage was a complete sham.

“Absolutely. I was helpless against Nik’s charm. He’s just such a sensitive guy,” Gabby said as she leaned her head back to give him a mocking glance that made his nostrils flare in anger.

“Excuse us ladies. I have a present for my wife that I just can’t wait to give her,” Nik said silkily and the women practically swooned beneath his charm while Gabby fought the urge to scowl. Instead she pinned a smile to her face and allowed herself to be led away from the party and in to his private office where he finally released her as he locked the door behind them. The room was soundproofed and it felt odd for all the music and chatter to stop the instant the door closed. But she simply glanced back at him before sashaying her way across to lean against his desk where she sent him a curious glance and a faint smile. She hoped that by acting as though she had nothing to hide that he wouldn’t suspect anything.

“Your present couldn’t have waited until after the party?” she asked as she flipped her hair back over her shoulder and glanced at the locked door as she tried to hide her nervousness. She wasn’t a very good liar and she knew it wouldn’t take much pushing for Nik to discover the truth, which meant that she had to throw him off the scent and act like nothing was different.

“You’re late,” Nik said and she found his dark gaze trained firmly on her.

“I was having drinks with a friend and lost track of time. Not that I have to explain myself to you!” Gabby lied as she ran her fingers gently over his desk and a smile played on her husband’s lips.

“A friend that isn’t at our anniversary party?” he asked innocently and Gabby inwardly winced but kept a smile on her face as she rolled her eyes at him.

“Take a look at the party Nik. Hardly any of those people are my friends,” she told him and he frowned at that.

“Didn’t you give your guest list to the party planner?” he asked and she shrugged one shoulder.

“It must have slipped my mind,” she said softly and his eyes narrowed.

“So, what else did you do today?” he asked and Gabby’s eyes widened at his curiosity. They had been married for a year and he never asked what she did with her day. He had always accepted her vague explanations without question. She didn’t like that he was suddenly asking questions when she least wanted to answer them.

“Oh, you know. Just a bit of this and a bit of that,” she said vaguely and Nik moved closer so he was standing directly in front of her forcing her to tilt her head back in order to see his face.

“What bit of this? What bit of that?” he asked and she could hear the steely undertone of his voice that demanded an answer.

“I don’t see that it’s any of your business,” Gabby told him equally firmly and his nostrils flared again though they were the only thing that betrayed his anger and frustration.

“Everything about you is my business,” he told her and Gabby swallowed nervously before offering him a stunning smile as she slid from the desk and took a couple of steps towards the door.

“And on that note I think we should be getting back to the party. If you’ve finished your interrogation that is,” she said.

“Just one more question Gabriella,” he said from behind her and she spun round to face him.

“Can it wait until after the party? I don’t think we should be just leaving our guests,” she told him with a sigh and his eyes narrowed on her.

“Tell me Gabriella, why did you meet with Mr Cartwright today?” Nik asked and she froze in place. He couldn’t know about her meeting.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she told him in a haughty tone that she hoped would make him back off.

“This isn’t you then I suppose?” he suggested as he held something out to her. Gabby reluctantly took it from him and glanced down at a photo of herself exiting Cartwrights and Sons looking nervous.

“Where the hell did you get this? Were you spying on me?” she demanded as she looked up and found her icy gaze caught by his flame filled one.

“I am a very wealthy man and it is my right to hire protection for my wife,” Nik informed her and Gabby glared at him. How dare he spy on her and take away her privacy? It wasn’t like she checked up on what he was doing all the time and she had a lot more reason to, after all he was the one who was always away on supposed business. And it wasn’t her who had frequently been pictured in gossip magazines with a different model or actress every month. How dared he spy on her and then call it protection?

“Don’t you mean to spy on me?” she hissed angrily and he gave a long suffering sigh as though she were acting the drama queen.

“I’m assuming from your reaction that you were at a divorce lawyer for exactly that reason,” Nik said and Gabby glared at him.

“It’s none of your business where I was or what I was doing. I don’t ask you what you do when you’re not home so why should you care what I do?” she said furiously and his eyes narrowed.

“Be warned, my sweet Gabriella. I won’t allow a divorce and it would be wise of you not to even try,” he warned her firmly and she stared at him in disbelief. Just who the hell did he think he was? Things would have been different if they had a real marriage and actually loved one another but they didn’t and she resented him prying in to her business.

“You won’t allow it? I hate to break it to you Nik but you can’t control what I do and I don’t need your permission to leave this farce of a marriage,” Gabby informed him furiously which did not appear to make any difference.

“I wouldn’t ignore my warning if I were you,” Nik warned silkily and Gabby glared at him as she tossed her dark hair back.

“I must have missed the warning. All I heard was you ordering me around,” Gabby said sweetly and Nik let out a frustrated sigh as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Gabriella, I just want to protect you. Your father wanted us to marry so you would be safe from those that might hurt you and I’m just trying to look out for you,” he said and she glared at him.

“Well my father’s dead and so is our marriage. I don’t need anyone protecting me. I’m a grown woman and I can look out for myself,” she told him firmly but Nik looked sceptical at that claim.

“Honey, you have no idea what the world is really like. You’ve spent your whole life being protected and if you were on your own you would be an easy target,” Nik warned her but Gabby was in no mood to listen. She was sick of people always telling her who she should be and what she should do. She was an independent woman and she didn’t need some man telling her what to do.

“That’s great but you let me worry about that and you just concentrate on enjoying the party. If we can ever get back to it that is,” Gabby said.

“I’ll let it drop for now but remember what I said,” he warned as he unlocked the door and she offered a faint smile.

“If you’ll excuse me I have guests to mingle with,” Gabby informed him but he stopped her before she could leave.

“Don’t forget your present,” he said handing her a jewellery box. Gabby hesitated then lifted the lid and gasped at the stunning diamond necklace that nestled within. It was gorgeous and she knew it must have cost a fortune. But then she remembered that Nik was a very rich and very busy man who wouldn’t have wasted his precious time shopping for his inconvenient wife. That could only mean that his assistant Carli had been the one to buy her the necklace.

“Carli outdid herself,” Gabby said in an effort to prove herself right.

“Come on Gabriella, don’t make this in to a thing,” Nik said and she grimaced at the realisation that she had been right. It just proved that she was right to want out of a marriage where her husband couldn’t even buy her a gift without his assistant.

“Happy anniversary to us!” she said as he put the necklace on her and she flashed him a stunning smile before slipping past him and back in to the party unaware that Nik stayed where he was for a moment watching her as he wondered where he’d gone wrong in his plan. He was supposed to have been giving Gabriella time to adjust to a marriage with him not letting her simply bide her time until she could go back to life before him.

The party was supposed to be a celebration of a new start. Nik wanted to celebrate their first year of their forced marriage by beginning their marriage properly. He had known that Gabby wasn’t in any sort of emotional state to deal with a brand new husband and their new life together. Her parents had just died and she had found herself forced in to a marriage with him that was never going to work as long as she resented him for it. Nik had thought that giving Gabby a year to get used to everything would give them chance to develop some sort of friendship before they started their real lives as man and wife. He had thought that a year would be enough time for her to grieve for her parents and begin the process of moving forward with her life. He had wanted to be the person that she could count on no matter what and had foolishly believed that their marriage would become a reality as they grew closer. Instead his wife was quiet and secretive and barely shared anything. He hadn’t wanted to push her for things she wasn’t yet willing to share and so he had simply let her grieve in her own way. It had been so hard keeping his distance and not taking advantage of the fact that she was now his wife, it was one of the reasons that he had travelled so much. But Nik had really thought that today would be the start of a whole new chapter for them. He had been certain that after tonight they would start their marriage properly and had planned the whole thing out so that after the party they would talk and laugh like they used to and she would realise that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Instead he had discovered that his wife had not been spending the last year trying to get to know him but had actually been planning their divorce. It was a painful realisation that Gabby had no intention of giving their marriage a chance and trying to form a lasting bond with him. It also made him realise that he couldn’t simply let nature take its course anymore. If he didn’t want to lose her then he couldn’t wait for he to realise they could be happy together but instead he would have to prove to her that they were meant for each other even if she didn’t like the paths he took to show her.