From Roses To Thorns - Sequel To "From Nanny To Wife" (12 page)

Ryan arched a brow. "He tortured you and you don't think he deserves to suffer?"

"I want him to pay for what he did to me, but not like that, Ryan. No one should ever have to go through something like that."

"I see." Anger rising within him, Ryan got to his feet and turned his back on Hope. "I'm sorry, honey, but we're just going to have to disagree on this. I'm not as softhearted as you are. I believe when a person does something to someone they should be made to suffer in the same way."

"Ryan, are you…are you planning something?" Hope asked tentatively.

"I don't know what you mean?" Ryan lied.

"Please, look at me."

Showing no emotion, Ryan turned around and looked at Hope.

"Are you planning to make Seth pay for what he did to me?" Hope said softly. "Are you going to do to him what he did to me? If that's what you have in mind, then put it from your head."

Ryan stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "And if I can't?"

Hope cleared her throat. "Then we can't be together anymore."

Ryan's breath caught in his throat. "What are you saying? Are you saying that you will leave me?"

"Yes," Hope whispered.

His eyes blazing, Ryan stared at her. "You swore that you would never leave me."

"Do you think I would want to?" Hope said with tears in her eyes. "It would break my heart to leave you, but I couldn't live with you…couldn't look at you knowing what you did. If you did it, you would be no better than Seth and Laura. And even if I could get past it there's a chance you could get caught. Do you think I could stand to see you go to prison? What about Zoe? What do you think it would do to her to lose her daddy? There is no way in hell I would bring her to the prison to see you. Think long and hard about this, Ryan. What you're thinking about doing is wrong."

"I think it's time for you to go home," Ryan said coolly.

Hope reached for her crutches and awkwardly got to her feet. "I love you, Ryan. Nothing will ever change that." She moved toward the door, opened it, and walked out.

Chapter 16

Long after Pam had gone home for the day, Ryan sat at his desk deep in thought. He was thinking of Hope and the words they had exchanged in anger. What stood out more than anything in his mind was when she told him she would leave if he went through with his plan to torture Seth. The idea of Hope walking out on their marriage scared the hell out of Ryan. The last thing he wanted was to lose her and what they had together.

"You look like you lost your best friend," Harvey said, strolling into the office.

"Not yet, but I could," Ryan said.

Harvey arched an eyebrow. "Care to explain that to me?"

Ryan sat back with a heavy sigh. "Hope knows what I want to do to Andrews. She said if I do it she will leave me."

Harvey whistled softly. "What are you going to do?"

Ryan glanced at his wedding ring. "I love Hope. I can't stand the thought of living without her. So I'm going to do the right thing. I don't want to, but I will do whatever it takes to keep her."

"As your lawyer I think you made the right decision," Harvey said.

"Do you have the name and address of the motel where Andrews is staying?" Ryan asked.

"Sure do." Harvey reached into his pocket and took out a slip of paper. He tossed it onto the desk.

Ryan pulled his wallet out of his back pocket, opened it, and removed a business card. He leaned across the desk and picked up the receiver, dialing the number that was on the card. "I'm calling Joe Tucker," he explained.

"Good," Harvey said. "Someone needs to pick up Andrews before he disappears again."

"Tucker," Joe said, coming on the line, a minute later.

"Joe, its Ryan Kendall. I have some news regarding Seth Andrews."

"I'm listening," Joe said.

"I hired a private investigator to track him down," Ryan told him. "Last night he found Andrews at a small motel outside of town. Grab a pen and paper. I will give you the name and address."

"I'm ready," Joe said after a brief silence.

Ryan read the slip of paper aloud. "I have a favor to ask."

"Let me hear it," Joe said.

"I want to talk to Andrews," Ryan stated. "I have a few questions that need answered."

"I think I can arrange a little sit down," Joe said. "Stop by the station in the morning."

"Fine," Ryan said.

"I have to go. Tell Hope hello for me," Joe said.

"I will." Ryan dropped the receiver in the cradle.

"What now?" Harvey asked.

"I'm going home," Ryan said. "Hope and I need to talk."

"Good luck."

Hope lay in the dark, staring at the glowing numbers on the clock radio. It was after eight and she wondered when Ryan was coming home. She thought about what they said to each other. Could she really leave him? He was her world and then there was Zoe. The thought of leaving the little girl she had come to think of as her daughter was enough to bring tears to her all ready puffy eyes. Sniffing, she heard the door close and reached out to switch on the light. Ryan turned and she locked eyes with him. He moved toward the bed and Hope sat up.

"Can we talk?" Ryan asked softly.

"I think we better," Hope said.

Ryan sat down on the side of the bed. "After Joe told us it was Seth that kidnapped and tortured you, I had Harvey hire a private investigator to find him. All I could think of was finding him and making him pay for what he did to you. The anger was eating away at me. Harvey called me earlier today and told me the investigator located Seth. He's staying in a motel outside of town. I was on the phone to Harvey planning my next move when you showed up."

Hope swallowed hard. "And now? What are you going to do? Are you going through with it?"

"No." Ryan took Hope's hand. "I have a wife that said she would leave if I do. I can't live without her. Well I can, but I don't want to. I love you, Hope. Please forgive me."

"Ryan," Hope breathed. She leaned in close and kissed him on the lips. "I love you, too, and there's nothing to forgive."

"Don't ever leave me," Ryan whispered. "I want us to adopt children and grow old together. I want a lifetime with you."

Hope searched Ryan's face. "You want to adopt?"

"Yes," Ryan said, "but only if you want to."

"I do," Hope croaked with tears in her eyes. "When I was told I couldn't have children I wanted to adopt, but Luke refused to even consider it. He said he didn't want to raise someone's mistake. It doesn't matter to me. I just want a child to love."

"We'll start the adoption process later this year," Ryan said. "I don't think right now is a good time."

Hope nodded. "Have you called Joe and told him you found Seth?"

"Yes," Ryan said. "He's going to pick him up. I'm going to the station in the morning to talk to Seth."

"I'd like to go with you," Hope said.

"I don't know if that's a good idea."

Hope shifted on the bed, trying to find a comfortable spot. "I'm not asking to go in the room with you. Maybe Joe will let me listen in from another room."

"All right," Ryan sighed. "Is there anything else you want?"

"Yes," Hope mumbled. "Hold me, please." She moved into his arms and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I hate it when we argue," Ryan said, caressing her back.

"We wouldn't have to argue if you would just learn to be a good boy." Hope felt him shake and knew he was laughing. She turned her head and pressed her lips to his ear. "I'll keep you anyway, my love."

The next day found Ryan waiting in a small interrogation room for Seth. On the other side of a large mirror was an observation room where Hope sat, watching. Ryan could feel her eyes on him and wished he could see her. He walked past the mirror and tapped the glass.

"It won't take long, sweetheart and then we will get out of here."

At that moment, the door opened. Joe entered the room with a shackled Seth. "Before you start," he said to Ryan. "I want your word that you'll control yourself."

Ryan jerked his head slightly. "You have my word."

"How honorable of you," Seth sneered.

"Shut it, Andrews." Joe pulled out a chair and shoved Seth onto it. "Ask away, Kendall."

Ryan stepped closer to the table, his eyes cold as ice. "I'm not going to ask you if Laura was behind this. I all ready know the answer to that. She wanted me to suffer."

Seth smiled. "Have you suffered?"

Ryan ignored the question. "Why did you kill Laura? Not that I mind. You actually did me a favor."

Seth stopped smiling. "The bitch was cheating on me. When I-"

Ryan smirked. "She cheated on me, too, Andrews. I didn't kill her. I wanted to many times. I'm glad I left her for you. You two deserved each other. Now finish what you were going to say."

"When I got back from taking care of your wife I heard Laura talking. She was on the phone telling her lover that she was done with me and that they could finally be together. I served my purpose was what she said. After everything I did for her, she was going to get rid of me. I decided to get rid of her instead."

"What does the "R" you branded on my wife stand for?" Ryan demanded to know.

Seth grinned. "Revenge. Fitting, wouldn't you say? The branding was my idea. I wanted Hope to have something to remember our time together. How is the beautiful Hope?"

"That is none of your damn business," Ryan snarled. He placed his hands on the table and leaned down until he was eye to eye with Seth. "I had plans for us, Andrews. What I had in store for you made what you did to my wife seem like child's play, but she begged me not to hurt you. Someday you will pay for what you have done. Sadly, it won't be by me. When that time comes, I hope to hell you suffer so much that you beg for death. I'm done here, Joe."

"Then it's back to the cell for you," Joe told Seth.

"Laura hated you," Seth said to Ryan's retreating figure.

Ryan glanced over his shoulder. "The feeling was mutual."

"Her original plan was to kill you," Seth confessed. "I convinced her the best way to make you pay was to get at you through Hope."

Ryan gritted his teeth. "May I have a word with you out in the hall, Joe?"

"Of course."

Ryan led the way out into the hall and waited for Joe to close the door before he spoke. "You have Hope's account of what happened to her. You have the video tape and clothing Seth wore. You also have Seth's confession."

"Your point is?" Joe said.

"My point is, Hope is not going to court over this," Ryan declared. "She has been through enough. You have everything you need to put that piece of garbage in prison. Leave her alone and let her get on with her life. Don't try and contact her."

"Ryan," Hope said, appearing at his elbow. "Let's go home, honey."

"Sounds like a plan." Ryan slipped his arm around Hope and steered her in the direction of the exit. He never looked back.

Chapter 17

Epilogue

2 years later…

"Bedtime, sweetheart," Hope said from the family room doorway.

Zoe, who was lying on the floor, watching cartoons, jumped up and ran toward the door. "Come on, Bob," she said to the dog.

"Did you pick out what you want to take to show and tell tomorrow?" Hope asked as they made their way upstairs.

"Yep," Zoe said. "I'm taking the seashell Pam gave me."

"Everybody will like that," Hope said. "They can put it to their ear and listen to the ocean. Daddy's in his office. Let's say goodnight."

They stopped outside Ryan's office and Zoe knocked on the door.

"Come in," Ryan called out.

Zoe opened the door and entered the room. "I have to go to bed, Daddy," she announced.

Ryan checked his watch. "Is it that time all ready? Well you had better give me my goodnight hug and kiss. I can't sleep without them."

Zoe moved toward her father and held out her arms.

Ryan gathered her close and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Good night, baby girl. I love you."