Chapter Seventeen

They decide to give Angelina a little shock. Sunday would wait until Angelina was settled, talking to Berry and River before making herself known. “I cannot wait to see the look on that bitch’s face.”

River chuckled. “I love the mischief in you.”

Sunday grinned at him. “Stop looking at me like that, or we’ll be still fucking when they get here.”

“Now I have a semi.”

“Bat it down, player.”

Sunday marveled at their ability to joke around in the face of what was about to happen, but she had learned that it was their way. Losing your ability to see color and you’re an artist? Joke about it. Facing your abuser? Kid around. Stalked by a maniac? Act like you don’t give a rat’s ass.

But it was in their hands clasping, the touching of their bodies, the meeting of their gazes that everything was said. You are mine, and I will die to protect you. Sunday saw that in River’s eyes now and hoped he could see it in hers.

Carmen came to find them. “Vampira’s here.”

Sunday snorted and she felt River relax slightly. “Who’s Vampira?” Berry came into the room, and Carmel made a face.

“Vampira is Carmen’s pet name for Angelina,” River picked his daughter up. “Because she’s not a nice person.”

Sunday was surprised at River’s honesty. “But you shouldn’t tell Angelina that Carmen calls her that,” she said hurriedly.

Berry shrugged. “Okay.”

Sunday went to wait out of sight while Carmen took Berry back to her bedroom. The first time she heard Angelina’s voice, she felt white-hot rage. How dare this woman keep intruding on River’s life like this, after what she had done? She heard the voice of Brian Scanlan, greeting River politely. Who was this dude?

She waited until they sat, and then she heard River speak. “So, after our last discussion, I should let you know things have changed. I will be applying for full custody of Berry, and I will ask the judge to issue a lifelong restraining order against you. You will never see her again.”

There was a stunned silence. “This is not what we discussed.”

“No, but it’s what I’ve decided, Angelina. There is no way I will let a pedophile have access to my child. Are you crazy?”

Unseen, Sunday made a victory salute with her hand. Go get her, baby. She heard Scanlan clear his throat. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what he’s talking about, Angelina.”

I’m on. “What he’s talking about, Mr. Scanlan,” she said, coming into the room, “is that your fiancée, Ms. Marshall here, abused and raped River from when he was fifteen years old until he was eighteen. She not only sexually abused him, but verbally and emotionally made his life hell.” She looked at Angelina, who was staring at her in hatred. “Hello, Angelina, how absolutely horrific to see you again.”

Angelina’s lip curled. “My God … Marley Locke.” She didn’t seem surprised.

Brian Scanlan blinked. “I’m sorry, who is this woman?”

“My name now is Sunday Kemp, Mr. Scanlan, but before I was Marley Locke, a journalist and news anchor in New York. And Ms. Marshall and I have history. I’ve been working deep cover to get Mr. Giotto’s story about you, Angelina, and believe me, the evidence is incontrovertible. We have written testimony from his father and some of the staff Ludo employed and we’ll be handing it over to the authorities.”

She squeezed River’s shoulder, hoping he would know she was making this up. “You’re finished, Angelina,” she said, her voice like steel. “We’ve already handed the evidence over to the police. I expect you’ll be arrested when you return to New York.”

“You bitch,” Angelina was shaking, clearly rattled. “You think you coming here, spreading your legs for my son …”

“Not your son. Not ever your son.” River stood now, his height imposing. Even Scanlan couldn’t match it. River’s rage was white-hot as he stepped towards Angelina, who skittered to her feet and backed off. “You raped me … you really think I would ever, ever let you near my child? And don’t paint yourself as a victim, although I know that’s your favorite position. Our Lady of Perpetual Victimhood. You’re scum, Angelina.” He looked at Scanlan. “I don’t know your deal but run. Get out. Get away from her. She will suck the life out of you.”

“Angelina, I think we should go.” Scanlan gripped Angelina’s arm, but she ripped it away and lunged for Sunday. Sunday was ready for the attack and deftly side-stepped Angelina, kicking out the back of her knee and sending her sprawling on the floor.

Angelina scrambled to her feet and tried again but Sunday, who was ready for a fight, waved her on. “Bring it, bitch. River can’t hit a woman but I sure as hell can. Give me the pleasure, Angelina.”

“That won’t be necessary, Ms. Kemp.” Scanlan seemed rattled. He hoisted Angelina to her feet and nodded at River. “Forgive me, Mr. Giotto. I had no idea.”

Angelina made a disgusted noise but Scanlan practically dragged her from the house. Angelina was still screaming as Scanlan pushed her into the car. Sunday and River watched them drive away and then looked at each other.

“Did that just happen?” River said incredulously and Sunday busted out laughing.

“It sure did, cowboy. You nailed her.”

“You nailed her. God, that was so hot.”

Sunday kissed him. “Come show me how hot.”

“Ahem,” said Carmen, a grin on her face, returning with Berry. “Children present.”

She looked at River, who swept his daughter up into his arms. Berry kissed his cheek. Carmen put her hand on his arm. “You all right?”

“I am,” he said. “I told her. I fought her. I feel … better.”

Carmen and Sunday both grinned at him. Sunday had tears in her eyes. “Never been prouder.”

“Why don’t I make us all some lunch? Any preference?” Carmen asked, the grin on her face showing she knew what they would all say.

“Pizza.”

“Pizza!”

Carmen chuckled. “Come on then.”

River took Sunday’s hand as they followed Carmen back to the kitchen. “Thank you, baby, for being there for me.”

Sunday smiled up at him, her eyes full of love. “Any time, gorgeous man. Any time.”

Angelina didn’t stop screaming at him the whole drive away from River Giotto’s place and finally, sick of her shrill voice, Scanlan cold-cocked her with a punch to the temple. Her head made a satisfying crack as it bounced off the side window and finally, she was silent.

Scanlan sighed with relief. He wanted to think about Marley, about how she hadn’t a clue who he was, what he was to her life. How beautiful she looked. Her hair, back to its natural chocolate brown, her big dark eyes, that full, pink mouth …

He was surprised she hadn’t looked more scared, that she had been so open about who she really was. If she had come here to start a new life … well … clearly, she was sleeping with River Giotto. No matter. Let her think she was happy.

Scanlan drove out into the mountains and parked at an overlook. He stared out at the snow-covered ground. What now? Angelina hadn’t told him about her abuse of Giotto and he marveled at her stupidity in trying to go up against him. So, he had lost his ‘in’ with them … or had he? He looked at the unconscious woman in the seat next to him. Angelina knew his secret … but if he ended up dead now, he would be the first to be arrested. That didn’t mean he couldn’t threaten her if she attempted to break her silence … He would have to tread carefully.

All he cared about was getting Marley—Sunday—into his life and away from Giotto. Maybe if he promised Angelina she would get River back when he took Sunday away … of course, he would never let that happen. He would kill Giotto, frame Angelina, and leave her to the consequences while he began his life properly with the woman he loved.

He wasn’t stupid enough to believe Sunday would fall for him straight away—she would be too busy grieving for her dead Italian bastard—but slowly, she would realize his death meant she would finally be where she belonged.

Scanlan had abandoned his first plan of taking her to his upstate New York compound. No. He would have to take her out of the country, somewhere the FBI couldn’t find them. He bought an island, a tiny, private place in the Leeward islands. Somewhere she had no chance of escaping him.

Somewhere, if it came to it, her murder would go unnoticed, her body undiscovered.

Angelina gave a groan and he waited until she opened her eyes and focused on him before he smiled at her. “Wakey, wakey, Angelina. I have some good news for you.”