Absolute Love: A Hot, Romantic Suspense Series, Book 3 (The Carlisle Sisters) (15 page)

The two of them began to walk toward Stephon, intending to incapacitate him and take him back to the authorities; who, incidentally, were supposed to have been there by that time.
 
But as they neared him, Stephon quickly reached behind him and came back with a gun.

"You didn't think I was going to
wrestle
with you boys, did you?"
 
Stephon laughed.
 
"That's not my style.
 
That's for children.
 
This is big boy stuff we're dealing with here."

Grey and Blaze stopped abruptly and raised their hands out in front of them.
 
They began stepping backwards, moving closer to the Land Rover as they did so to form a barrier between the gun and the girls.
 
London, who was already standing in front of the vehicle, actually took a step toward Stephon.

"It takes a big boy to murder his wife?"
 
he asked, disgusted.

"Holy shit, you people are fucking stupid!"
 
Stephon said, genuinely perplexed by the lack of understanding.
 
"Especially you, Fairchild.
 
You may be a bleeding heart but you are one dumb motherfucker.
 
I'm not here for that useless
cunt
!
 
She means nothing to me.
 
She never
did
.
 
In fact, I can't believe my luck!
 
I had no idea she was even going to be here!
 
Or that she was going to get wrapped up with this asshole.
 
Getting to kill her is just going to be a bonus."

"You're after
me
?"
 
London asked.
 
"Why?
 
If you didn't even know I was with Jen why would you be after me?"

"It certainly wasn't out of jealousy for being with my ex-wife!"
 
Stephon laughed.
 
"No, believe me, I would have handed her off to you with a fucking bow tied to her head years ago if it meant getting rid of her!
 
Of course, I'm here for you!"

"Why?
 
Grey asked.
 

While Grey was, in fact, curious about the strange twist the situation had just taken, the real reason he asked Stephon to explain himself was to keep him talking.
 
The longer Stephon spoke, the better chance Grey or Blaze had for rushing him and gaining control of his gun.

"Holy shit."
 
Stephon said.
 
"You people are thick.
 
Listen, I'm sure Jennifer didn't choose to come to Tahiti because she hoped to run into me here but I
am
the reason she chose to come here."

"What the hell are you talking about?"
 
Jennifer yelled from the back seat of the truck, having swung the door open when she'd heard Stephon's ridiculous comment.
 
"I had no
idea
you would be here!"

"No," Stephon agreed, "of course not, but you are well aware that I'm involved in quite a few business endeavors here and have been for years."

"How would I know that?"
 
Jennifer asked incredulously.
 
"You never discussed business with me, Stephon!
 
You barely even talked to me!"

"You own part of my business, you idiot!"
 
Stephon screamed.
 
"Even if you never listened to me talking about my business interests, they are now
your
business interests, too!
 
How could you not know what
we
are involved in?
 
We own the fucking resort you're staying in right now!"

"Well, if I chose Tahiti because I'd heard you speaking about it then I did so subconsciously," Jennifer retorted.
 
"I certainly wouldn't have chosen to come here if I'd known it was because of you!
 
Thankfully, I met a
real
man here."

Stephon shook his head furiously and spat on the ground.

"That's what I think of you being involved in my business affairs!"
 
he continued.

"I guess I was always more concerned about your extra-marital affairs to worry about the business ones, you pig!"
 
she returned.

"Boy, I wish I killed you in that alley so I didn't even have to hear your horrible voice right now!"
 
Stephon said, shaking his head.

"So, that
was
you?"
 
Grey asked.

"Like I said, you're all idiots," Stephon said.
 
"If you would have just backed off when I sent that message to you, Fairchild, you all would have gotten to live.
 
But, because you weren't able to comprehend, six American's are going to go missing after they underestimated the wilds of the Tahitian jungle.
 
It's very sad, really."

Stephon lifted his gun.

"But why are you after me?"
 
London asked.

"What is this, Scooby fucking Doo?"
 
Stephon hissed.
 
"The bad guy is supposed to stand here and explain his motives?
 
Fine, if you really want to know, because of my business dealings here and my knowledge of Tahiti, I sit on the Council of Global Exportation.
 
We control what gets exported to places like Tahiti and, if you are an intelligent businessman like me, you tie your business opportunities to those things you control.
 
Your socialization program, as much as it warmed my heart, was going to tamper with my profits.
 
You had to be dealt with."

He laughed at his sarcastic comment and raised the gun, pointing it directly at London's chest.

"But enough talk..." he added.

The sound of the gunshot rang out, echoing all around them.
 
Before Stephon could pull the trigger again, Grey and Blaze had tackled him to the ground and removed the gun from his hand.
 
As Grey flipped Stephon onto his stomach, he noticed that the front of Blaze's shirt was covered in blood.

"Are you hit?"
 
Grey asked Blaze anxiously.

"I don't think so," Blaze said.

"Everybody remain calm!"
 
came a voice from behind them.

Blaze sat up and saw three officers coming toward them with guns drawn.

"Back away from the suspect," said the man who was clearly in charge.

Grey and Blaze did as they were told.
 
As they got up, they saw that Stephon shirt was soaked in blood and that he was unconscious.
 
They looked at London and were surprised to find him holding Jennifer, unscathed.

"Perfect timing," London said.

"I am sorry we didn't get here sooner," said the constable they'd met with.
 
"We were hiding out in field house, as planned, waiting for your arrival when we heard screaming.
 
One of these ladies has a very loud voice.
 
It saved your lives!"

Everyone looked at Jennifer.

"You're welcome," she joked.
 
"I guess I had a lot of pent up frustration to let out!"

Once Stephon was handcuffed, the head constable evaluated his wound while the others moved on to his henchmen.
 
Two of them were still unconscious while the other two had been left so incapacitated that they'd simply remained where they'd fallen while Stephon held the group at gunpoint.
 
They didn't even try to escape when the officers headed toward them with guns drawn.

Meanwhile, Grey and Blaze went to Beth and Tracy while London looked into Jennifer's eyes.

"I'm so sorry," he said.
 
"This was all my fault, after all.
 
I wish I'd never put you in danger."

"Don't be ridiculous," she returned.
 
"He may have been after you but it was still Stephon who was to blame.
 
But, while I may sound as crazy as he obviously is, I still hope he'll be ok."

"That's not crazy," London said.
 
"It just shows your true nature.
 
You are kind and caring.
 
And beautiful."

He kissed her and held her tight.

"He will be alright," the constable said aloud to the group.
 
"It is just a flesh wound.
 
And once he is healed, despite being an American, he will be tried here in Tahiti.
 
He will be in our prison for a very long time."

"Thank you," London said sincerely.

"You are very welcome," the constable returned.
 
"Now, why don't you all go home and allow us to take it from here.
 
We will get in touch to interview each of you regarding what happened but that is a mere formality."

The three men ushered their ladies into the Land Rover and drove off, leaving Stephon and his gang in the capable hands of the local law.

Chapter 7

The three couples spent another few days in Tahiti, relaxing and enjoying a real vacation.
 
It was the best time Jennifer had ever spent as an adult with her sisters.
 
They had resolved all of their issues and were able to look to the future without any of the pain from the past getting in the way.
 
And it was made even better by the fact that she had the man of her dreams by her side.

The group was having a picnic on the beach when Tracy spoke of her pending wedding.
 
She and Blaze constantly spoke of their future together and the children they wanted to have.
 
Jennifer was truly happy for them yet she still found herself a bit wistful, wondering if she and London would travel that same path one day.
 
She had fallen completely in with him and wanted to be his wife with every cell in her body.
 
But she didn't want to force anything either and wanted to be sure it was real for both of them before taking any further steps.

"How about a swim?"
 
Grey said.

Tracy, Beth and Blaze quickly agreed.

"I think I'll stay here," Jennifer said. "I'm am loving the feeling of this sun on my skin."

"Then I guess I'll just have to keep you company," London grinned.

Jennifer watched her sisters and their men run off into the water and smiled wanly.

"A penny for your thoughts," London smiled.

"They are worth way more than a penny," Jennifer joked.

"I'll pay any amount you want," he countered.

She turned her head to look at him.

"For you they are free," she said softly.
 

"Then talk to me," he urged.

"I think I'm a little envious of my sisters.
 
Don't get me wrong," she said quickly.
 
"I am deliriously happy for them but....."

She trailed off and looked away from him.

"But you wonder if you will find that same kind of joy," he finished for her.

Jennifer had grown used to him reading her mind.

"Yes," she said simply.

"Yes," he said.

Jennifer frowned.

"Yes what?"
 
she questioned in confusion.

"Yes, you will know that same type of jubilation.
 
Ecstasy.
 
Bliss," he said quietly.
 
"All you have to do is say you will be my wife."

She laughed mournfully at his joke.

"I'm not joking, Jen," he repeated.
 
"Not even a little bit."

She swiftly turned to look at him.

"What do you..."

She trailed off when she saw what he was holding.

"Will you marry me, Jennifer Carlisle?"
 
he said.
 
In his hands was an open box containing a ring, its brilliant, round-cut diamond perched high atop a braided platinum band.
 
"I love you to distraction, Jen.
 
I love you completely.
 
Absolutely.
 
Say you will be my wife."

Jennifer squealed with delight as she threw herself at him.
 
He chuckled as he embraced her tightly.

"Yes, I will marry you!" she replied earnestly.
 
"I love you so much it hurts.
 
I think I would curl up and fade into nothingness if you walked away from me."

"You don't have to worry about me ever leaving you.
 
You are my life, Jen.
 
My heart beats only for you," he pledged.

She dropped her head and their kiss was beautiful and sacred. When they broke apart they smiled as they gazed into the other's sparkling eyes.

"Get a room, you two," Grey joked, bending down for his towel.

Jennifer and London quickly stood and faced their family and friends.

"We're getting married," Jennifer cried.