NORAH TURNED WHEN Clayton pushed the door open to her room. “What do you want?”
Clayton walked around the bed and came to stand next to her at the window. “I trust I don’t have to tell you to be good tonight.”
“I’m not a fucking idiot, Clayton.”
His eyes widened in amusement. “Seems that cop is not such a good influence.” He traced his finger over her mouth. “You have such a dirty mouth now. I can’t wait to see what else it’s capable of.”
“I would rather die than let you touch me.”
“My, how things have changed!” He backed her against the wall, and Norah was more than prepared to knee him where it hurt.
“You used to beg me for it, don’t you remember?”
Bile rose in her throat. “That was before I knew what a bastard you were.”
“Oh, come on, Norah, are you seriously that na?ve?”
“Had I known who you truly were, I would have slit your throat while you were sleeping.”
“Like you did Gio?”
Images of the death poured into her mind, and she shook her head to get them out. She had to keep a clear head.
Clayton backed away from her.
“Why me?”
“Huh?”
“Don’t play dumb, Clayton. Why pick me that night at the banquet? Did you ever care for me?”
Clayton laughed. “You had contacts and I needed them. We made a pretty impressive couple, and the media liked us, which brought in more donors, which in turn made me more money. Which reminds me, anyone asks about your ‘panic attacks,’ you just tell them you are doing much better. That was our little excuse for your disappearing act.”
She ignored his last statement. “So you used me from the beginning.”
“So na?ve,” he said again. “Be good tonight, Norah. I don’t have any problem reminding you what’s on the line if you don’t.”
He turned and left the room, and Norah balled her hands into fists at her sides. His was a life she wasn’t sure she would feel guilty about taking.
She doubted he realized that he had just sealed his own fate.
18
Norah stood staring at herself in the floor-length mirror. From the outside looking, in she supposed you would see the fiancée of a wealthy charity benefactor. Someone who gratefully stood by her partner’s side and assisted him in his noble work.
This was not the truth, though. The truth was that she was trapped in a hell where she had to act the supportive fiancée to a man who would see her dead without a single hesitation if it suited him. A man who she envisioned driving a knife into.
Norah ground her teeth and smoothed the soft fabric of the red gown she wore and touched up her lipstick in the same color. She would play the part as long as it took for her to break free and get to Harley. For as long as it took for them both to break free.
The knock at her door had her turning and plastering a smile across her face.
“Atta girl.” Carl grunted appreciatively. “Keep that up and the boss will see to it that your cop is free.”
Norah fought the urge to roll her eyes as she walked past him. They both knew that was a lie. The second he didn’t need her cooperation anymore, Clayton would have Harley killed. Probably would make her watch, she thought, disgusted. Her goal was to get them both the hell out of there before that day came.
Clayton waited for her at the end of the hall, and she bit back the bile that rose every time she saw him.
“You look beautiful, darling,” he said, kissing her cheek lightly.
“Thank you.”
He fastened her bracelet on her wrist and then held his arm out. “Shall we? I am just dying to show you off tonight.”
Too bad that’s not literal, she thought to herself, and took his arm.
They descended the stairs, and as soon as they were in view of the guests, cheers broke out through the room. She plastered another fake smile on her face and moved to the edge of the crowd with Clayton.
A woman shoved a microphone in her face. “Tell me, Miss McNamara, how does it feel to be back in the open after that horrid attempt on your lives?”
“Surreal,” she said with a smile. “I’m just beyond grateful that the man I love wasn’t harmed.” She referred to Harley, but she knew that anyone watching her performance would believe she was speaking of the man next to her.
“How is your anxiety now?” a man asked. “Do you still have panic attacks?”
“I feel more calm and clear-headed than I have in a long time,” she answered kindly. At least that was the truth. She had a plan forming in her mind, and the idea of seeing the bastard next to her die had her smiling again.
“Have you picked a date for the wedding yet?”
“Not just yet,” Clayton answered for her. “We are taking our time and just enjoying being together right now. You never know how long you have left.” Clayton looked at her, and she recognized the threat in his words. He cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers in a kiss that had the reporters gushing about how perfect they were.
He pulled away and Norah smiled at the crowd, trying not to throw up all over them.
She answered questions and scanned the crowd until her eyes landed on an incredibly angry-looking Zach. He shook his head at her and downed the rest of his drink. Apparently he believed her performance as well.
Hope filled her, and she took a deep breath. Everything was going to be all right. He must have come with his captain as a show of faith. She was going to find him and explain everything as soon as she could. It looked like she and Harley might have just caught a lucky break.
* * *
NORAH FOLLOWED CLAYTON through the crowd, stopping to talk to various reporters and donors. Everyone was so happy to see them safe, grateful that they had managed to stick together during the tough times, blah, blah, blah.
All she could think about was finding Zach and getting herself and Harley the hell out of Clayton’s house.
She spotted him over by the bathroom and then turned to Clayton.
“Excuse me, honey. I need to use the restroom.”
“Hurry back,” Clayton said with a smile, and Norah rushed towards Zach. She walked past him to the end of the hall and turned, waiting for him to catch up.
“It must be exhausting to play two sides for as long as you did. Tell me, did Harley discover which team you were truly playing for? Did you kill him?” Zach spit out at her.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Norah said in a loud whisper.
“Well then, future Mrs. Charitable Bastard, want to fill me in on what in the hell is going on?” He crossed his arms.
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Then what the hell is it, Norah? Because from where I’m standing, you missed the money and status so damn much that you turned Harley over and went running back to your psychotic ex.”
Anger flashed through her eyes, and she ground her teeth together.
“Clayton’s men found us when we were trying to find a way in. He forced me to bring him the bracelet, and he said he is going to kill Harley if I don’t marry him.”