I didn’t dare tell him of my plan to talk to Ellie, because if I did, he’d keep me locked in the apartment. This was something I needed to do on my own terms, without his knowledge.

“I have to go to the club tonight to check on things. I won’t be gone long. I want you to stay inside this apartment and don’t go anywhere. Do you understand me?” he spoke.

“I’m not going anywhere. Do you have to go tonight?”

“Unfortunately, I do. I’m sorry, but I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” He kissed my lips. “I love you, Angel.”

“I love you too. I’m just going to take a nice hot relaxing bath and then watch a movie until you get home.”

He gave me a small smile, kissed my forehead, and left. I took my bath, tried to relax, poured another glass of wine, and watched a movie. Three hours had passed, and Andrew still wasn’t home. I picked up my phone and sent him a text message.

“Are you still at the club? I thought you would have been home by now.”

Fifteen minutes passed and still no response, so I tried to call him, and it went straight to voicemail. Now I was starting to worry. About a half hour later, I heard the elevator and I let out a breath. Getting up from the couch, I walked into the foyer just as the doors started to open.

“What took you so long? I was worried.”

“Sorry, Angel. There were a lot of problems.” He wrapped his arms around me.

“You didn’t respond to my text, and when I called, it went straight to voicemail.”

“That’s because my phone died. I’m sorry I made you worry.”

He picked me up, carried me to the couch, and set me on his lap.

“You doing okay?” He brushed a strand of my hair from my face.

“I am now that you’re here.”

He leaned in and softly brushed his lips against mine. Our kiss turned passionate and the desire to make love to him was strong. I wasn’t going to stop him this time. I needed him inside me. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. He broke our kiss and looked at me.

“Who the hell would be here at this hour and why didn’t the lobby call first?” he asked.

I got up from his lap and tightened my black satin robe as he got up and answered the door.

“Mr. Andrew London, you’re under arrest for the murder of Ellie Grant.”

“What?!” he shouted.

I ran to the foyer as they put Andrew in handcuffs.

“What is going on?” I shouted to Detective Ginn.

“Ellie Grant was murdered tonight, and your fiancé is a suspect.”

“I didn’t do it!” he shouted as his eyes burned into mine. “Addison, call Luca Russo. His private number is in my office. Call him now!” he shouted as they took him away.

My heart was racing, and tears were falling down my face as I ran into his office and searched for Luca’s number. Once I found it, I composed myself the best I could and called him.

“Luca Russo,” he answered.

“Mr. Russo, my name is Addison Belle. My fiancé, Andrew London, told me to call you. He’s been arrested.”

“Arrested? What charge?” he asked in shock.

“Murder. The police came to our home and just took him away. Please help him.”

“Fuck. I’m on my way to the station.”

“Thank you. I’ll meet you there.”

I ran to the bedroom, threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, and hailed a cab to the station. When I walked inside, I saw a man and a woman at the counter asking for Andrew.

“Luca?” I walked up to him.

“Are you Addison?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you under the current circumstances. This is my wife, Ariana. She’s a partner at my firm.”

“Nice to meet you,” I lightly shook her hand.

“Don’t worry, Addison. Luca and I will get this straightened out,” she spoke.

They were called back to the holding room, so I went and took a seat on the bench. I needed to talk to Charlie, so I reached in my purse for my phone, but it wasn’t in there.

“Shit!” I spoke to myself. I must have left it in Andrew’s office at home.

I sat there for what seemed like hours. Finally, Luca and Ariana walked out and sat down next to me.

“How’s Andrew?”

“His bond hearing is tomorrow.”

“What? A bond hearing? What fucking evidence do they have?”

Ariana reached over and took hold of my hand.

“The victim died from a blunt trauma to the head. The weapon was a stone paperweight that Andrew kept on his desk. His fingerprints are all over it,” she spoke.

Tears filled my eyes, and within seconds, were streaming down my face.

“He didn’t do it.” I looked at Luca. “There’s no way.”

“I know, Addison, and Ariana and I are going to do everything in our power to prove his innocence. I’ve known Andrew a long time and I know he’s not capable of murder.”

“Can you come by our office tomorrow at nine o’clock so we can ask you some questions?” Ariana asked.

“Yes. Of course I can.” I wiped my tears.

“His hearing isn’t until one o’clock, so that’ll give us plenty of time to start putting our case together.”

“Can I see him?” I begged.

“I’m sorry, Addison, but no. They’ve already taken him to his cell. It’s just a holding cell and he’ll be okay,” Luca spoke.

The three of us got up from the bench and left the station.

“Try to get some sleep,” Ariana spoke as she patted my shoulder.

I gave her a small nod as I climbed into the cab that Luca waved down for me.

****

The minute I stepped into the apartment, I collapsed on the bed. This was a nightmare and I wanted to wake up. I didn’t have the strength to call Charlie, Emma, or Jasper. And God forbid, Madeline. She’d freak out and stress me out even more.

I lay there, looking at Andrew’s side of the bed. Tears fell down my face as I ran my hand across the empty space.

“Please come home to me, Andrew,” I spoke in a soft voice as I closed my eyes.

The next morning, I was up at the crack of dawn after tossing and turning all night. I picked up my phone and called Andrew’s secretary, Maria.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Maria, It’s Addison. I’m so sorry to call you this early, but Andrew and I are both home with the flu, so we won’t be in today.”

“Oh dear. I hope the two of you feel better.”

“Thank you.”

“If you or Andrew need anything, please call me.”

“I will. Thank you, Maria.”

I hopped into the shower and as I was getting dressed, there was a knock on the door and I freaked the fuck out.

“Hey, Andrew, it’s Philip,” he spoke.

Letting out a deep breath, I opened the door.

“Philip. Thank God.”

“Addison, what’s wrong?”

“Andrew was arrested last night.”

“What? For what?”

“Ellie Grant was murdered.”

“And they think Andrew did it?”

“They found the murder weapon. A stone paperweight that he kept on his desk.”

“For fuck sakes. He hated her, but he would never murder her.”

“I know. I just can’t believe any of this. I need you to drive me to Luca Russo’s firm.”

“Sure. Are you ready now?”

“Yes.”