Fallen from Grace (22 page)

Ellis held up a finger as his phone rang. If there were anything he’d learned from Jack’s scandalous ways, it was to document everything. Judas carefully slid his phone from his pocket and held it out of sight next to him. He opened a voice memo as he watched Ellis out of the corner of his eye. He hit speaker and slid the phone back into his pocket.

Ellis’s lopsided grin faded as he ended his conversation and turned his turbulent glare onto Judas. “People can try to buy their way in, but money isn’t the key. You see Judas,” Ellis straightened his tie and motioned his driver to proceed forward, “it takes much, much more.

Charisma for instance. People love someone who appeals to their interests, and you see, I
appeal
to the public. I’ve proven to be able to take care of their needs, to be there for them, and that’s the goal. I’ll be the
people’s
president.”

“Really,” Judas scoffed.

“Yes.” Ellis smiled. “People believe I will answer to their needs.”

“Humph,” Judas grunted. “You won’t take care of shit.”

Half of Ellis’s mouth curved into an ominous grin. “Oh, Judas, you’re a pain in my ass, and I don’t do well with
pain
. I want you out of here. Out of Grace’s life, out of my life, and clear the hell out of New York.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“I thought you might say that.” Ellis pulled a manila envelope from beside him. “Maybe this will help you change your mind.”

Judas snatched the envelope and emptied its contents. He felt like he had been punched in the stomach as rage, anger and revenge made his body tremble.

Gripped between his fingers was a picture of him with Grace in a passionate embrace. Her ankle was hooked over his shoulder, and he was removing her stocking. Her hair was melted across the fur rug. A thick black line ran down her thigh, crossing the thin strip of underwear he’d ripped away only moments later.

A sick feeling of adoration sunk into his bones. “You son-of-a-bitch. I’ll fucking kill you.”

“Again with the language.” Ellis snorted. “I still can’t understand what she sees in you. You are absolutely barbaric.”

Judas clenched his fists. “I’ll show you just how barbaric I can be, you mother-”

Ellis waved his hand. “Hold your temper, caveman.”

Judas was seething. “You better have a point cause I’m about to rip your head off.”

Ellis laughed. “Trust me. I
always
have a point.”

“Then get to it,” he snarled. Judas body curled against his only exist and he stared. “What do you want, Ellis?”

Ellis’s chin flicked toward the photo in hand. “If that were to be leaked to the public, her career would be over. Imagine the headline.” He held his hands in the air, using his thumb and forefinger as the bulletin. “Congressman Randall’s Fiancé caught in an affair.” Dropping his hands to his lap, Ellis smiled. “Her reputation would be ruined.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because I had her first. She’s mine.”

Judas shook his head. “She’s not a toy, Ellis. This isn’t some playground scuffle. Grace is a good person, and she doesn’t deserve this.” He threw the photos onto the floor.

“You’re no saint, Judas, so don’t presume to judge me. You’ve done worse.”

“That’s debatable.”

“Regardless, this is what’s going to happen. You’re never going to see Grace again. Don’t call her. Don’t answer her calls. Erase her from your memory, or I’ll mail that envelope to every major news station.”

The car came to a stop outside of Judas’s apartment. “Have a nice life, Judas. Don’t forget to vote.”

G
RACE
’
S
STOMACH
WAS
GROWLING
BY
the time Ellis knocked at her door. He arrived an hour late, and he was never one to be tardy as if promptness were encoded in his DNA. He and his father had both served in the military, so punctuality had stuck with him.

He was wearing an unusual grin, and looked as if he were extremely pleased with himself. T
he cat that ate the canary.
True to the expression, his grin was mischievous and satisfied.

A bad feeling prickled down her spine. “What’s going on?” Grace asked.

“Oh, nothing.” He shook his head and kissed her cheek. “Sorry I’m late. I had a few loose ends to tie up. I have a surprise for you. Get your purse and jacket, it’s chilly out.”

Grace retrieved her jacket from the closet and turned to him. Slipping it over her shoulders, she started buttoning the black buttons of the red jacket and eyed him curiously while she pulled her auburn hair from beneath her collar.

“Where are we eating?”

“That’s part of the surprise.”

She grabbed her purse off the entryway table and dropped her keys inside, pinching the metal prongs shut. Following him out the door, down the stairs and through the lobby, she saw Robert standing next to the back door.

He opened it for them. “Afternoon, Dr. Winters.”

She smiled. “Hello, Robert.”

After they were seated inside, she looked at Ellis. “You know how much I hate surprises. Please, tell me where we’re going.”

His lips curled into his signature lopsided grin, and his green eyes shimmered with excitement. “I promise it’s nothing to be worried about. Just me, you and great food.”

She exhaled a sigh of relief—he knew her well. Grace had been worried they were headed somewhere where she’d have to deal with a room full of people. It had been a really long night, and she just wanted to relax and allow things between her and her fiancé to return to normal. He was a great man who didn’t deserve what she was doing behind his back.

She’d made up her mind—Grace wasn’t going to see Judas again. The thought of never seeing him again squeezed her heart, and she hated the reaction. She felt like a horrible person. A cheating, lying...

“What are you thinking about?”

“Trees,” she blurted.

Ellis’s brows furrowed. “Trees?”

She looked out the window, at the passing trees encased in metal grates along the sidewalk. “They’re so bare and sad. I miss the colors and life of summer.”

“Fall and winter happen to be my favorite seasons,” Ellis replied.

Grace looked at him and forced a smile. “You’re in a good mood. You certainly have my curiosity piqued.”

He chuckled. “Good. We’re almost there.”

The car turned left on West 72nd Street. “Are we going to your apartment?”

His cat that ate the canary expression returned. “
Our
apartment.”

Her breath left her lungs in a whoosh. “I-” She laughed nervously. “What d-do you mean.”

Robert pulled the car through the private entrance of The Dakota, New York’s most exclusive apartment building. “I want you to move in with me,” Ellis answered.

When his door opened, he got out and came around to her side, then opened the door. He held his hand out to her, and she reluctantly took it. Stepping out, he laced their fingers together.

He nodded his head at the white gloved doorman. “Afternoon, Congressman, Dr. Winters,” the doorman greeted.

Grace was speechless. Ellis looked so...happy. They took the elevator to his top floor apartment that overlooked Central Park. The building gave Grace the creeps. John Lennon was murdered at the south entrance,
Rosemary’s Baby
, was filmed there, and the design hadn’t changed since its 1884 construction. Ellis said the board was pushing to make improvements, but he wouldn’t get involved.
Someone always has to complain about something,
he’d said.

The remark confounded her. He was a spokesperson for change
—
a
congressman—and she thought he might use his powers of persuasion to help his fellow tenants out. But his apartment was in perfect condition—fit for a president—and the tall ceilings and wood architecture were magnificent.

A butler took their jackets before disappearing. The fireplace in the main living room was lit, and the aroma of delicious food filled the air. As the busy sound of cooking came from the kitchen, a light classical piece played over the speakers.

Ellis led her to the dining room. A huge oak table that seated ten was the focal point, and beneath it was an enormous Persian rug. A chandelier and gold trimming circled the ceiling which accentuated the elegant atmosphere.

Ellis pulled the chair at the head of the table out for her. “I’ve had a delicious menu prepared.”

She took a seat, and he slid the chair closer to the table. “Thank you.”

He leaned down, swept her hair over her shoulder and whispered, “You’re most welcome, wife.”

Taking the closest seat in one of the four chairs to the left of her, he laid his hand on the table, and she took it. “What do you think?” he asked.

“Sounds great, I’m starved,” she replied, not addressing the wife comment.
We’re not married yet.
A smile that didn’t reach her eyes lingered while his gaze narrowed.

“You know that’s not what I was referring to.”

Her smile relaxed. “I know.”

“I want you to live with me, Grace. It would make me happy.”

“What about your campaign?”

His gaze softened. “Is that what you’re worried about? This is the 21st century, and we’re not virgins, Grace. I don’t think moving in together before we’re married would diminish the public’s impression of me.”

Ellis had given this a lot of thought. She knew that eventually they would move in together, but she’d thought it would be after they were married, and maybe in a house, not in this historic tourists attraction. There were always people and security guards on the grounds. The tenants were nosy and stuffy, and at times downright self-righteous, but they loved Ellis.

He was a very attractive man, successful, and possibly the next president. So why was she questioning this? She had a feeling the answer had something to do with he whose name she dare not reminisce.

J
UDAS
WAS
TRYING
NOT
TO
think about Grace, but he was failing miserably. Everything in his body was telling him that he was doing the wrong thing and that she needed to know the truth about Ellis. But at what price? If Ellis leaked the photos, her reputation would be ruined.

This wasn’t about love or her cheating; it was about something else. The look in Ellis’s eyes was vengeful and cold. Ellis would do whatever it took to get what he wanted; he was driven by his desire to be President, and the title and power that the position came with.

Judas stared at the layers of shattered glass on his bathroom counter and floor, and felt the overwhelming guilt of defeat settle in his chest. It’d been nearly forty-eight hours, and the cuts on his knuckles still hadn’t healed; they were fresh wounds—
fresh as the ones marring his heart.

Ellis was blackmailing him, and using his love for Grace as leverage. He suddenly remembered something his mother had said a few weeks before she’d died.

F
aith through grace, Judas. Believe in God’s plan. He has one for you, but you have to have faith.

Judas clung to the words that gave him strength. “I hope you have a plan, God, because I have no idea what to do.”

The heavy weight on his chest was replaced with hope. Judas cleaned the broken glass, then showered and shaved, and finally ate something. His mind refused to acknowledge hunger, and his taste spuds were shot, but he knew his body needed the nutrition.

While forcing himself to finish a turkey sandwich, he looked through his call log, and it triggered a memory.

Rebecca called at midnight…she met me at a bar where I was with...three women? Yeah, three women I picked up after I left Grace standing in the alley…

Judas shook his head. He had showed up at her engagement party, and then her house several hours later. Bless the woman for letting him inside her home instead of turning him away. As much as she tried to deny it, she had feelings for him, and she’d probably saved his life in more ways than one.

He swiped his finger across Rebecca’s name, but after several rings hung up. She was ignoring him.

It was three in the afternoon by now, and the last thing he wanted to do was sit alone in his apartment where all he could think about was Grace and how much he wanted to destroy Ellis Randall.