The Darkest Danger (Shattered Series Book 2) (2 page)

     Enraged, releasing a violent curse, Jarrod shoved the gear back into drive and took to the highway again. A mile or so later, the criminal’s words finally played out, and once more, a deep silence stole the space in the vehicle.

     Tense, gripping the steering wheel with a vice grip, he continued the drive. But, as the miles passed, his resentment and fiery anger rose.

     One thing was certain, he mulled, accelerating the SUV again.

    
There would be hell to pay.

Chapter 1

     A different world….

     At least that’s how the beautiful southern city of Atlanta was portrayed on the muggy Saturday evening.

     Olivia stared out the window from the eleventh floor of the condominium suite. Across the way and surrounding the deluxe apartment building all around, the lights shone from the other buildings and skyscrapers in the dark night.

     As she caught sight of her reflection in the large paned window, the strangled cry nearly pushed its way past her throat, and again, she found it almost impossible to control a broken sob.

     From the thick mane of dark hair that met her shoulders on down to the two-inch heels, she was the perfect package outwardly.

     A beautiful made-up doll with hardly any substance…

     The crimson-hued satin-crepe evening gown was stunning and met her feet. At the front, the neckline plunged daringly, revealing the smooth contours of her neckline and delicate skin. The fine draping at the hips only flattered her full-figure more eloquently and a subtle train flowed behind.

     Her entire dress matched the condominium.

     Extravagant elegancy---

     Every piece of furniture within the living space was ivory or white. From the carpeting, flood lights, kitchen, dining area, bathroom, sitting area, etc. It was almost unlivable because of its perfect sereneness.

     But, everything…all of it, down to the $500,000 engagement ring weighing her finger down---

    
It was nothing but a lie
.

    
She’d lost every part of herself.

     In the glass window, her eyes met the buffed bodyguard’s.

     These last several weeks, hadn’t he been privy to her open misery? Though he stayed silent most of the time, she’d seen evidence of some humanity within his stocky six feet frame. Pity had shone in his dark gray eyes more than once, and she’d considered the fact that at some point, he could become a weak link.

     But, perhaps, the man would never be, she thought with a sinking heart. And sadly, hadn’t she proven that she wasn’t good at reading people at all? She’d certainly been wrong in thinking that she could convince Matt of anything.

     Besides, wasn’t there only one obvious truth?

     
She was now his prisoner.

     Seven days a week, 24-7, Maurice was basically her shadow, hovering on the fringes while watching her every move. Sometimes, she pondered if it were even safe to breathe. Not only that. She had no access to a cell phone or any other technology---

    Again, she fought against the rising frustration.

    Fortunately, thank goodness, she sighed, at least, she had the privilege of staying at the condominium alone---except for the bodyguard. Still, it was the closest thing to real freedom that she had.

     She frowned.

     Naturally, Matt didn’t trust her to not flee.

     And he was right to, she mulled, breaking eye contact. There’d been countless nights where she’d contemplated running away---

     But, where would she go, she thought, blinking back the tears. She was penniless, destitute, and broke. If she fled, she probably wouldn’t get that far. And worse, she sniffled, Matt would carry out his loaded threats and hurt both Jarrod and Meghan---

     When the doorbell suddenly pealed, she jumped.

     Through the glass’s reflection, she watched as the bodyguard opened the door, and her heart sank as Matt materialized at the threshold. With a curt nod, he dismissed the bodyguard. As the door closed behind him, Matt strode across the expensively decorated living room.

     She couldn’t dispel her animosity as she turned to face him. Raising her chin, she summoned what little bravery she had left.

     “Despite the puffy face and streaking tears, you look absolutely smashing, Olivia,” Matt murmured with an icy smile, taking her hands in his as he stopped before her. “Everyone will be raving about how you’re the most beautiful woman there, as it should be, since it is our engagement party. I expect you to have your composure and act together when it’s time.”

     “Have there been any developments or changes in the kidnapping case against Jarrod? And have you called your goons off, yet?” she asked, pulling free of his hold, and stiffened. Still, she fought against the sickening feeling at his brief touch. “You promised that you wouldn’t hurt him or Meghan. It’s the only reason that I agreed to come here in the first place. If you hurt either of them, I swear---”

     Matt’s face screwed in anger. “You pathetic little whore. Is that all you know to do---spend every waking hour pining after that lover conman of yours?” He blew an exasperated breath. “By some miraculous design, the bastard managed to make the $10,000,000 bail, and just how he did, I can’t fathom it. All that I can deduce is that he has friends in high places. But, he’s no longer on that hellhole island where they worship him at the altar. No, he’s back on US soils, and the good old American justice system will decide Sabatino’s fate.” His smile was lethal. “I hope he rots in prison for the rest of his miserable life. As for my ‘goons’ as you call them, they’re on him, and they’ll stay on him as long as he’s a threat. But, trust me---Sabatino won’t be a problem much longer.”

     She held her breath. But, still, the pain stabbed her heart like a jagged knife. “Where is he?”

     Matt released a frustrated breath. “Upstate New York and he’s hiding in that impenetrable fortress of his parents. The place is like Fort Knox, and it’d take a damn army to get in. But, when he does go out, my men are watching him like a hawk. Nothing that he does escapes my notice.” He gave her a long look. “Don’t his actions prove to you that he cares nothing about you? Why hasn’t he come to your rescue and saved you from my clenches?” His smile was cold. “No, the bastard cut and ran when he had the chance. Once the truth was ousted, he no longer had use for you. But, you don’t care about that, do you? And that makes you even more pathetic than you already are. Hate to break it to you. But, right now, he’s probably ramming his penis up some other broad’s ass.”

     “Damn you. Shut your filthy mouth,” she said coldly, feeling the brunt of his ugly cruel words. “Just say what you’ve come here to say and leave---”

     “Truth hurts?” Matt sneered. “Olivia, I could walk out that door right now and never look back, but it won’t change the simple facts. Within these walls, the truth of Sabatino’s deception breathes, and you have to inhale its nastiness.”

     She inhaled a sharp breath. “I told you to shut---”

     “You stupid fool! Nothing that you shared with him was real. He never wanted you…he never loved you. Don’t you get, Olivia? The only thing Jarrod Sabatino wanted was to get under my skin and nothing more. Time for you to accept the truth----you mean absolutely
nothing
to him.” A look of pure disgust covered his face. “Did you have to bring him up? I was certain that his name wouldn’t crop up this evening, especially with it being our engagement party and everything. Olivia, this is a celebration of us being back together---this is our chance to put things behind us. Why can’t you just be happy about it?”

     “Why can’t I be happy about it? I’ll tell you why. I hate the very ground that you walk on, and I can’t stand the fact that we’re even sharing the same air space.
I hate you
,” she said plainly, staring hard into his face, and suddenly the chills racked through her. “Does that answer your question?”

     “Jarrod Sabatino is responsible for all of this! He’s the very reason we’re not married now!” Matt shouted, raking a hand through his hair. “For Pete’s sake, Olivia, the man is a raving maniac. He is responsible for the church explosion where many were hurt, and it was just a smokescreen so that he could kidnap you. It nearly cost your life!”
     She shook her head in protest. “No, Jarrod would never do such a cruel and sadistic thing. Killing or harming innocent people in cold blood is something that he would never do. I know him---”

     “I’ll be damned…Sabatino really did a number on you, didn’t he?” Matt said, amazed, and then as if disgusted with the thought, he trailed away from her and onto the wet bar. He grabbed the chilled wine before pouring it into two champagne glasses. Then, he strode back to her before offering a glass to her. “Even now, after everything that I’ve told you, you’re still wearing those rose-colored glasses where he’s concerned. What will it take for you to see him for the monster that he is?” He blew an exasperated breath. “I don’t want to fight with you about this. So, let’s just have a drink and relax.”

     With a frown, she pushed the glass away. “No, I don’t want anything to drink, and certainly not with you. Besides, you probably spiked it with something---”

     “What’s up with you---you’re not making even the smallest effort to fix things between us. Face the facts, Olivia. It’s you and me, together again as distasteful as the thought may be to you.” A sneer passed along his face. “At some point, you’re going to have to accept that we’re going to be married, whether you want to or not,” Matt said, placing the full glass of champagne on the perfectly squared white table. “Forget about Jarrod Sabatino. The bastard played you like a fool, and you’re still standing here pining away for him.” Exasperation filled his tone. “Why can’t you see what’s right in front of you? I love you, Olivia, and I always have. Give me a chance.”

     “A chance? Are you really being serious? Have you not heard the words that I’ve said? I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want any part of you,” she retorted sharply, returning his cold look with her own. “Why is that such shocking news to you? Let’s not forget the big reason why I abhor you so much. You’re threatening to harm the two people that I love most in this world---”

     “And I will go through with the threats! Especially if you insist upon harping on it every second! And you’re doing it again!” he shouted, advancing towards her threateningly, and then stopped short of her. The pure violence radiated from his long form, and the thunderous expression on his face spoke volumes.

     Rather than shrinking back from his anger, she held her ground. The wrong thing to do would be allowing him to think that she was afraid of him, although she realized that the danger was there. Forcing herself to hold his stare, she asked, “What do you mean?”

     “The day of our last wedding,” he spat, flexing his hand slowly into a balled fist. Yet, it didn’t take the edge off his temper. “You were doing the same thing---telling me how this was going to be a loveless marriage and how you’d never love me. Trying to find excuses to leave me.”
     She studied him closely.

     Just what was he
not
saying?

     Like
why
she was desperate to flee…
     “I’m taking it that history is repeating itself, and I’m behaving in the same manner,” she probed further. “What happened before the wedding? Why was I so against the idea of marrying you like I am now---”

     “Come on Olivia---can’t you just cut the crap, already? You
know
why I would say such a thing. I’m still not buying this amnesia act that you’re putting on. It’s a convenient escape so that you don’t have to face reality. And that reality is that you know my father is in control of you, me, and everything.”

     She fought to keep the confusion from her face.

     But, perhaps, she was getting to the actual truth…

     “You’re right, I am aware of your father’s influence on things,” she said, lifting her chin, and decided to play along. How else would she get to the bottom of things? “I don’t know what your father will do next----”

     “If you cross the line, he’ll make you pay, and because you’re directly tied to me----Why’d you have to snoop around and put your nose where it didn’t belong?” Matt whined, and suddenly seemed younger than his thirty-two years and more like a child. “If you hadn’t violated my trust and collected evidence against me and my father, this wouldn’t be happening.”

     “Evidence---what kind of evidence and where is it exactly?” she hedged cautiously.

     Matt raised a brow. “Tucked away somewhere in that amnesiac mind of yours, I suppose.” Then, he shook his head in irritation. “That’s not important. Just know that because of your actions, Father has enough ammunition to keep your damn mouth shut. Shouldn’t everyone be as lucky as me---to have a father with such power and influence? Although he’s a ruthless and proud man, he’s willing to do anything to protect me,” Matt claimed, eyes glazed over, and they seemed almost feverish. It’d be easy to fathom that he existed along the fringes of insanity. Then, he looked at her directly. “If it weren’t for me, you’d be a dead woman right now. So, you have me to thank for being alive.”

     Alive
, she mulled, looking away from him.

     She didn’t even feel her heart beat anymore.

     It’d died the moment that she’d been separated from Jarrod and Meghan. She defined the phrase dead-woman-walking. Inside, down to the deepest depths of her soul, she was dead emotionally.

     As Matt spoke, her thoughts moved to the present again, and she started.