Angels & Sinners: The Motor City Edition (36 page)

The further she got from the house that had turned into an emotional vacuum since her father passed away, the easier it became to fill her lungs and settle her thoughts. There would be no peace until she removed the toxic woman from her life with scalpel precision.

It was a task that was
long
overdue.

CHAPTER ONE

October 2014

Nineteen days after catching her mother and former lover fucking, the woman who had contributed eggs to her creation arrived at Marcy’s building.

Carlo called when Victoria appeared in the lobby. “I’ll handle this however you wish, Miss Canfield.”

“Thank you, Carlo. Send her up. Alert security that she will have to be removed.”

“Immediately, miss.”

Standing in her open door, she watched the blonde step off the elevator as if she owned the place. Her apartment was one of the few things Marcy had purchased with her own money. The moment she turned eighteen, she wanted a home where her mother had never lived. Her father had given his blessing and released her trust fund.

He was the only parent who had ever been allowed inside.

The first words to leave Victoria’s lips were, “You’re being childish.” With a shake of her head, Marcy moved to close the door. In a rare show of emotion, Victoria slammed her hand against it. “You’re being a
sore loser
, Marcy. It isn’t like you. Why haven’t you answered my calls?”

Lifting her face, she stared into the blue-green eyes that were the only feature she’d inherited from her maternal side. “I haven’t answered them because I have nothing to say to you.”

“Stop this immediately. He’s just a
man
, darling.”

Marcy blinked. “Yes, like so many others in the world. Yet, you weren’t satisfied until you had the one that belonged to me.” She took a deep breath. “It no longer matters. What do you want, Victoria?”

“Aren’t you going to invite me inside? Where are your manners?” When she said nothing and didn’t step aside, the chic middle-aged woman sighed in annoyance and held out an envelope.

“What’s this?”

“It is
clearly
a formal invitation.” Their eyes met but Marcy waited, already knowing the words that would follow. “We’re getting married on Saturday.”

“Congratulations. I won’t be there.”

“You’re my daughter. You
have
to be there. What would people think?”

Leaning against the doorframe, she crossed her arms. “Considering you’re marrying the man I was known to be fucking three weeks ago, I can imagine.”

“Don’t be vulgar.”

“Don’t be a hypocrite.”

The silence drew out between them. Victoria’s eyes stayed on her and Marcy knew she was trying to decide which threat to use to make her cower.

Those days were long gone.

In a soft voice that had terrified her as a child, her mother said, “You
will
be there, Marcy. If you aren’t, I’ll shut down the shelter. You know how much I hate it and I know it’s your pet project. I have the leverage to have every man, woman, and child back on the streets by tomorrow morning.”

“You’re no better than a rat who eats its young, Victoria.”

Fury flashed in the other woman’s eyes. “You will
be there
, Marcy. You will walk into that hotel, sign your name to the guest book, and show the world how happy you are for me.”

“Here’s my counter-offer. If you leave now and never speak to me again, the press won’t hear a whisper about what my life has been like with
you
as a parent.”

“I’ll take everything you love from you, Marcy. Don’t start a fight you can’t win.”

For several seconds, she stared at her face without blinking. “Victoria, what you fail to realize is that I’ve never
attempted
to fight you. I’ve allowed you the freedom to be a grasping, greedy
thing
. Part of me was fascinated by your insanity. The rest of me knew I needed to reach a certain place in my life.” She smiled slowly. “I’ve arrived.”

“Don’t push me, daughter dear.”

Standing upright and tossing the embossed invitation over her shoulder, Marcy stepped into the hall, closer to her mother. Their gazes locked and Victoria’s insanity glowed.

“Grandmother signed over enough of her shares to make me the majority shareholder in the primary corporation, which trickles into the subsidiaries. When I explained your latest game, she was livid. She offered to do it when Dad died but I wasn’t ready.”

Tilting her head, she added, “You work for
me
, Victoria. Over the last week, I have removed every man . . . and woman . . . you fucked on the board. They didn’t inform you because I have a team of attorneys prepared to keep them in court for the next decade over non-disclosure violations and blatant misconduct. I’ll leave you the cash, the house in the Hamptons, and the investments my father was good enough to gift you despite your despicable behavior during your marriage. The rest is mine. It has
always
been mine.”

“No one will choose you over me, Marcy.”

She crossed her arms. “Naturally, you’d think that. I finally understand why Dad insisted I intern at Winters Enterprises before giving me my first position. He told me if I could survive there, I’d have the tools to run his company. It was brutal but I learned more in the first three months than all my years at college. Last week, Mr. Winters gave me an hour of his time to review my projections. He agreed to chair the restructured board.”

“He’s a cold bastard . . . ”

“Perhaps. However, he never fell victim to
you
and he’s considered the most calculating businessman on the East Coast.” She shrugged. “The board meets four times a year. Lola already put the dates on his calendar.”

“You did all this behind my back. How dare you?”

“You did far worse behind my back. I’m simply removing you from my life. Congratulations on your pending nuptials. Please be out of the brownstone by the end of the month.”

“You think you can dismiss me?” Victoria’s words came through gritted teeth.

“I
think
nothing of the sort. I absolutely
guarantee
it.” Glancing over her mother’s shoulder, she smiled at two of the security staff. “This woman was just leaving. Would you mind escorting her?”

The men nodded and gestured politely to the elevator.

“This isn’t
close
to over, Marcy.”

“It’s not only over, it happened so fast that it will take you months to sort out exactly what I’ve done. If you don’t like it, I suggest you hire a lawyer. Dad recorded your adultery and other activities for years. Those recordings were part of my inheritance and I
will
use them to take back what I’ve been kind enough to let you keep.”

“You dare to threaten me!”

“Not a threat . . . a promise. Goodbye,
Mother
. Always unpleasant to see you.” Then she walked into her apartment and closed the door.

Leaning against the cool surface, she exhaled roughly. “You
finally
fucking grew a pair.”

CHAPTER TWO

As Marcy stepped from the car onto the curb later that night, she could see that
Trois
was packed.

Adam smiled. “You look lovely, miss. Call whenever you’re ready.”

In his late fifties, Adam had been assigned as her driver and personal armed security since she was twelve. She considered him family.

“Thank you, Adam. Turn in for the night and I’ll take a cab back to the building.”

“Miss Canfield . . . ”

“I insist. I won’t keep you waiting for me when I have no idea how long I’ll be here. It isn’t right and you’ve been working around the clock. Take a few days off and enjoy them, Adam. Please. You do so much for me.” She winked. “I know your lady love must miss you.”

The older man blushed. “Are you sure, Marcy?” She nodded. “Thank you.” He pivoted to walk around the car and paused, turning back. “You know, I remember the day you were born. Your father was frantic. He would be incredibly proud of the woman you’ve become, Marcy.”

“Thank you. Go before I start crying on the sidewalk. I’ll call you.”

With a jaunty salute, she watched as he rounded the front and slipped into the driver’s seat. Seconds later, he was pulling away from the curb.

Glancing in the opposite direction, she nodded at the car parked less than ten feet away that would continue to follow her. One man stood outside the car, the other was behind the wheel. There would be a second team posted at the rear entrance and a third in the alleyway.

No matter her age or level of power, a security detail around the clock was part of her life. It was an essential aspect to being the sole heiress of a fortune that exceeded billions in assets.

Both men returned her nod mechanically. They would have already cleared the club with the owner’s assistance before opening and it meant Marcy could relax inside without anyone babysitting her.
Trois
had been pronounced beautifully secure by every member of the security staff.

Taking a deep breath, she took the stairs to the entry. The bouncer at the front grinned. “Good evening, Miss Canfield. It’s good to see you again.”

“Thank you, Stav. Is it busy tonight?”

The huge man nodded. “Natalia is throwing a birthday party for Miss Hernandez. Have you met?”

“I don’t believe I have.”

“You’ll get along great. Enjoy, miss.”

She stepped into the foyer and felt better than she had in a long time.

When she’d interned for Hudson Winters after graduate school, she’d gotten to know his best friend Natalia Roman. Eventually, they’d talked about her club. Intrigued but unsure if she’d fit in, the statuesque blonde insisted on giving her a membership to the exclusive establishment that catered primarily to ménage couples.

“If you don’t use it, it doesn’t matter. Either way, you’ve lost nothing. Come by. There are no expectations. Hudson uses it regularly and he doesn’t share his toys.” Quietly, she’d added, “Your mother is not allowed inside and the security is above reproach. Consider the club your personal bolt hole, should you need one.”

Since then, the friends had coaxed her out for drinks several times. Despite their well-sculpted reputations, she’d liked and trusted them from the beginning. She often wondered why the two of them weren’t a couple but as a private person herself, she hesitated to ask.

Natalia had been right about using
Trois
to wind down. Though she didn’t interact with more than a few people, Marcy loved sitting with a drink and just
being
. The atmosphere was classy and the music was fantastic. For the last couple of years, she’d insisted on paying for her membership.

After the death of her father, she was kept busy not running the company and ensuring Victoria didn’t destroy what Pritchard Canfield built.

For six months following his funeral, her mother literally seduced board members to her side. With a majority vote, she could have altered core policies to increase her own checks. Policies that would have alienated their staff and investors—and went against everything her father represented.

Distracted and committed to eighteen-hour workdays, it had been too long since she’d had a moment to enjoy the club. It was good to be back, to take some time for herself. The number one feeling
Trois
always inspired was safety.

It was something she hadn’t experienced much of in her personal life.

While her statement that Victoria was a rat who would eat her young was meant to be sarcastic, part of her had always wondered if her mother would turn violent.

“Marcella! It has been far
too long
since I’ve seen you!” Natalia came from behind the podium and kissed both her cheeks. Leaning back, she held her shoulders and stared into Marcy’s eyes. “You look different, darling. Did something happen?”

Many would find the older club owner an odd friend for her to have but Marcy had felt a sort of kinship with her instantly. She filled her in on the latest happenings with Victoria. She was embarrassed at the way her voice shook during certain portions of the story.

When she told Hudson everything she planned regarding the board, she left out the personal aspect. Something told her he suspected the rest but when news broke of Victoria’s wedding to Marcy’s ex, there would be no doubt.

She confessed all of it to Natalia and couldn’t hide a certain level of embarrassment.

Her friend ran her palm over her hair and gripped her shoulder. “Your mother was always evil. I never understood what Pritchard saw in her and I’m glad you cut her off.” She grinned broadly. “Now you must meet someone, a close friend of mine and Hudson’s. She’s going to
love
you.” A small frown formed on her face. “Has it truly been more than a year since I’ve seen you?”

Marcy nodded. “Almost two. The company took every minute. It has quite a bit more to take before I can breathe again. Has very much happened?”