MARRYING MR. RIGHT (The Brides of Hilton Head Island Book 3) (32 page)

                            Eyes spread wide, blood slipped from the cracks of Antonio’s lips. 

                            Smoke billowed from the hood of the Porsche as it now parked inside Antonio’s living room. The horn blasted. Potent scents of gasoline assaulted Zeke’s nostrils.

                            Injured, Zeke’s legs ached. Felt like his bones had shattered. Bleeding profusely, his arm stung.

                            Zeke pushed the door open, climbed out. He staggered over to Antonio, reached into his brother’s jean pocket, and grabbed his keys. Blood gulped from Antonio’s mouth.  Gasping for air, his blue eyes bulged, his head tilted.

                            Needing to see Antonio’s chest, Zeke grasped the top of his shirt and ripped it in half. The buttons flew off. Zeke yanked the material of Antonio’s shirt to the side.
SM.
The initials ‘SM’ were indeed branded on the sorry man’s chest.

                            “Help…me.” The barely audible words left Antonio’s mouth.

                            Zeke looked heavenward, then signaled a cross over his heart. “God…let Your will be done.”

                            “Bastard.” Antonio’s eyes rolled to white, then closed.

                            Numbness in regards to Antonio filled Zeke’s heart. He turned and walked away. 

                            Dragging his left leg behind him, Zeke halfway walked and halfway limped toward the garage. Holding Antonio’s keys in his fist, the loud whistling sound pierced Zeke’s drums. “Taylor,” he groaned out, grimacing in excruciating pain.

                            Standing at the rear of the car parked inside Antonio’s garage, Zeke’s arm stung like it was on fire. He took off his shirt, ripped it in half, and tied it around his bleeding arm where he’d been shot.

                            Pain rippled through Zeke. He inserted the key in the trunk of the car to find it empty. Hearing the whistling clear as day, he dropped to his knees and spotted a latch beneath the car.
A secret cave?
“Jesus Christ!” He ran and jumped inside the driver’s side of the car.

                            Zeke’s fleshy arm burned as he sat behind the steering wheel of the blue car, fumbling with the keys. He jammed a key in the ignition, but it was the wrong one. Then he jammed another one to find that it fit perfectly. He cranked the engine, put the car in reverse, and zoomed it out of the garage.

                            Heart about to jump out of his chest, Zeke hopped out of the car, grabbed the handle of the wooden door on the ground, and yanked it upward.

                            Taylor stood inside the dark cave, blowing on the whistle. “Zeke!” Taylor screamed. “Zeke!”

                            “Taylor! Hold on! I’m coming, baby.” Zeke ran over to the wall to retrieve the ladder. Standing over the dark hole, he lowered the ladder into the cave. “Climb up.” As Taylor hurriedly climbed up the ladder, it wobbled.

                            Reaching the top, Zeke grabbed Taylor’s shoulders and gently pulled her out. He cupped her neck. “Oh, God. Did he hurt you, Taylor?”

                            Crying, Taylor nodded. “Yes. He stomped his foot into my chest. I think my ribs might be fractured or badly bruised. But that’s it.”

                            “Well, he paid for it.”

                            “How?”

                            “I killed him.”

                            Police sirens blasted through the humid night air. Flashing red and blue lights lit up the forest. Chief Shelton Wallace jumped out of his unmarked sedan and ran up to Zeke and Taylor. “Looks like a damn war took place here,” Chief Shelton Wallace barked.

                            Zeke wrapped his arms around his wife’s shoulders, helped her to her feet, then hefted her into his arms. “I’m taking you straight to the hospital.”

                            Taylor’s fingers touched the side of Zeke’s cheek as he carried her. As he stalked across the ground towards the police vehicles, she pecked his lips. “Thank you for saving my life. I love you, Zeke.”

                            Zeke’s heart swelled. “Don’t thank me. It’s my job to protect and save you. I love you, too, my wife.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

                           
K
atherine stood at the sink inside her luxurious bathroom, brushing her long red hair. Admiring the long black nightgown she wore, Katherine’s lips curled upwards. She’d been on the phone with Antonio minutes ago, and he’d told her he’d thrown Taylor’s behind in the cave.

                           
Yes.
“Antonio finally killed Taylor. This calls for a celebration,” Katherine softly uttered.

                            Colton, ailed and pale, entered the bathroom. “Are you talking to yourself again?” he asked, on death’s bed. Hell, if she stayed around long enough and waited for him to die, she could end up a billionaire. Now with Taylor dead and gone, she’d decided that’s exactly what she’d do. Right after Colton died, Katherine had big plans for Zeke. She was going to toss him out on his head and make Antonio CEO of Balfour Enterprises.

                            Happiness burst inside Katherine. “Yes, darling. I’m talking to myself.”

                            Colton walked over to his side of the bathroom, looked in the mirror. He flattened his hands on the counter, dropped his head between his shoulders, and groaned. “This cancer is eating me alive, Katherine. I don’t have much time to live. We need to sit down and go over my finances and some other things before I die.”   Colton lifted his head from between his shoulders and turned to face her. Death embedded his pupils. “I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings about what my expectations are after I’m gone, so I’m calling an emergency meeting. First thing tomorrow morning, I want you, Bane, Zeke, and Antonio to report to Balfour Hotel.”

                            “I’ll be there.” Katherine strolled over to Colton, cupped his face, and gave him a kiss.

                            “What brought that on?” Colton asked, his lids drooping.

                           
I’m pre-celebrating your death
, Katherine thought, smiling. “I love you, Colton. I know I may not act like it sometimes, but I do. I’m going downstairs to have a drink. Do you want to join me?”

                           
Colton let out a groan filled with irritation. “No, thanks.”

                            Never happier, Katherine strolled to the doorway of the bathroom and paused. Perfectly manicured hand on the frame, Katherine swung her hair and looked over her shoulder at Colton. “Colton, if it’s still on the table, I’d like for you and I to get marriage counseling.”

                            Despair showed on Colton’s face. “Katherine, I’m going to be upfront with you. I’m not interested in saving our marriage anymore. When I die, I want to die a happy man. Being married to you doesn’t make me happy.”

                            Katherine whirled. Tilting her head, she put her hands on her hips. “What are you trying to say, Colton?”

                            “Well, I was saving this for tomorrow, but since you asked, I’ll go ahead and tell you now. I’m divorcing you, Katherine.”

                            Stunned, Katherine’s hand flew to her chest. Never did she think Colton would have the balls to divorce her–especially not while he was sick and dying with cancer. This man had bigger balls than she’d known or ever imagined. “So you were going to call me in a meeting on tomorrow and tell me you wanted a divorce in front of our children?”

                            Colton’s mouth was grim. “You and I both know you have a bad temper. I wasn’t going to tell you in front of them to embarrass you; I was going to tell you in front of them so you could remain calm.”

                            “We’re not getting a divorce, Colton,” Katherine managed to reply through stiff lips.

                            Colton closed the distance between them and wagged a finger in Katherine’s face. “Yes, we are getting a divorce. You’ve been stealing from me, woman! Millions of dollars are gone from my account, and I know you took it. Took it without my permission.” Colton looked as if he could choke the life out of her.

                            A tremble touched her lips. “I shouldn’t need permission to withdraw money from our account. Your money is my money.”

                            “Not anymore! I’m divorcing you, Katherine the Thief.” Colton stormed past Katherine.

                            Terribly mystified, Katherine descended the staircase of their mansion. Feeling like getting her gun and shooting Colton, she marched inside the dining room, walked over to the bar, and poured herself a stiff drink.

                            Katherine held the glass of alcohol up to her lips and gulped. The bitter alcohol burned her throat as she drank it.
If Colton Balfour thinks he’s going to divorce me and leave me out of his will, I’ll have him killed before I go out like that. Kill him myself.

                           
Peeping around the dining room, Katherine’s anger got the best of her. Outraged, she waltzed inside the kitchen, pulled open the refrigerator, and took hold of Colton’s prescription bottle.

                            Standing at the sink, she reached into the pocket of her nightgown and retrieved the silver container containing the arsenic. She popped open Colton’s last two capsules, poured the cancer medication into the sink, then refilled the capsules with arsenic. She then dropped the tiny silver bottle containing arsenic into the pocket of her gown and replaced the prescription bottle back into the refrigerator.

                            Pissed beyond measure, Katherine picked up her drink and wrapped her lips around the edge.
I’m going to make sure Colton dies before he changes his will
.
If he thinks he’s going to die and leave me nothing, he has another thing coming.
                            Colton walked into the kitchen, looked at her, and just shook his head. When he pulled open the refrigerator and reached for his medicine, Katherine’s insides jumped with joy. Giving her the silent treatment, Colton grabbed a bottle of water and walked over to the cabinet carrying his medicine.

                            Standing at the sink beside her, treating her like a damn dog, Colton twisted the cap off the medication and retrieved the poisoned capsule. Tilting his head back, Colton held the medicine to his lips and—

                            Knuckles rasped harshly on the front door.

                           
Take it. Take it
.
Swallow the poison.
  Katherine’s mind rallied for Colton to swallow the capsule touching his thick lips.

                           
Knuckles banged brusquely on the door again.

                           
Damn. Who could that be
? Katherine thought, desperate for Colton to eat the poison.

                           
Colton put the medication back into the prescription bottle.
“I’m not going to take my medicine anymore. Are you expecting company?”
                           

                            Damn, he didn’t take it.
“No.”

                            Colton’s eyes traveled to the time on the microwave. “Me either. It’s kind of late for visitors.”              

                            “Maybe it’s Antonio. I spoke with him earlier today, and he said he wanted to come by and apologize.”

                            Colton’s mouth thinned with displeasure. “Antonio should’ve apologized a long time ago.”

                            “Is there anything I can do to change your mind about the divorce, Colton? Please? I’ll do anything,” Katherine begged.

                            “I’m done with you, Katherine. Love don’t live here anymore. I’ll get the door.” Colton turned and stalked out of the kitchen.

                            Katherine’s eyes landed on the knives. Eager to see Colton dead, she envisioned herself stabbing him in his back.

                            Wondering who’d come to her home this late in the evening, Katherine walked to the end of the kitchen and peeped her head around the corner. Colton grasped the door knob and pulled open the door. Chief Shelton Wallace stood on their porch, along with two more officers.

                            Katherine’s heart pumped wildly in her chest.
What is Chief Wallace doing here?

                            Chief Wallace said, “Sorry to interrupt you this evening, Colton. Is Katherine home?”

                            Colton nodded. “Yes. What’s this about, Shelton?”

                            Shelton held a sheet of paper up to Colton’s face. “I have a warrant for Katherine’s arrest, and to search the house.”

                            “Arrest? For what?” Shock resounded in Colton’s deep voice.

                            Shelton stepped inside the house and caught Katherine peeping at him from around the corner. Katherine’s heart dunked.

                            Shelton Wallace quickly closed in on Katherine while the other officers began searching the house. Now standing in front of Katherine, Chief Wallace pulled handcuffs from his security holster. Fear squeezed the breath out of Katherine as the Chief grabbed her arms, twisted them behind her back, and slapped handcuffs on her wrists.

                            About to puke, and sweating, Katherine flinched. “Ouch! Take these handcuffs off me!”

                            Shelton stated, “Katherine Balfour, you’re under the arrest for kidnapping, murder, and attempted murder.” Shelton began reading Katherine her Miranda rights.

                            Hot flashes surged through Katherine. “Kidnapping?! Murder?! Attempted murder?! Why, this is absurd!”

                            Colton gripped his chest. “Kidnapping? Murder? Attempted murder? Are you sure, Shelton?”

                            Shelton yanked on the cuffs slicing into her wrists and nodded. “Colton, you and I have known each other for years. I’m sorry to have to do this, but your wife broke the law. The police have proof that your wife, Katherine here, had your daughter-in-law and grandson kidnapped. Not only that, Katherine shot Don McQuade and killed Bridget. Police found Mildred and Kelvin in Missouri, and they’ve since confirmed Katherine’s involvement.”

                            Colton clenched his chest. His knees buckled. “Is this true, Katherine?”

                            Tears flooded Katherine’s eyes. “They’re lying, Colton. Please call our attorney. Go call Gar now. Gar can fix anything.”

                            The other officer walked up to where they all stood. “Look what I found hidden inside the fireplace,” the cop said, holding up the knife she’d used to kill Bridget.

                            “Antonio killed Bridget! Not me!” Tears dripped on Katherine’s robe.

                            Shelton’s eyes rounded with concern. “Speaking of Antonio…I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your son is dead.”

                            Katherine’s heart burst into millions of tiny pieces.