Gabriella watched the officers bring Joseph into the room again. She knew that her reaction wasn’t what anyone expected. She didn’t smother Joseph in affection or worried over him. Instead, Gabriella sat there, her hands in her lap as she fidgeted. “Well? Why haven’t I been released? What’s going on Gabriella? How can I accomplish tasks while present?” Joseph asked. He demanded to know what happened and what caused the delay. He had to leave and continue the plan. “I’m sorry. Galen found his own trouble. Before he could give me the money he was arrested.” Gabriella said. She acted as if she’d collapse into a manic bout of crying. Unable to find words, Joseph shook his head at her. He found these events unacceptable. “Arrested what for? Why aren’t our friends helping us out?” He all but dragged the information out of Gabriella. She arrived and insisted on seeing him. Then she didn’t give him the information he needed to discuss what happ
Merina hadn’t noticed as Conner followed her into the lobby. Her goal was for Lillian to throw a tantrum, leading to her removal from the station. That way, Lillian could not gain Galen’s freedom. Then they’d leave without her interference. She saw this wasn’t as easy as it should have been when Conner stepped in, as if he were an avenging angel full of righteous wrath. His voice deepened a fraction, and his eyes flashed in an open display of his anger. Merina noticed he exaggerated his anger with a stormy expression and raised voice while talking to Lillian. It’s what he said to Lillian that had Merina stunned. She didn’t know if she’d ever become used to people defending her. Merina found it odd, wondering if he would correct himself to match her reality. He threatened her with an indirect threat. Nothing he said could cause Conner to receive any charges or being sued. But everyone knew Conner’s words weren’t said on a whim.
Merina watched as the officer’s patience ended. He stopped Lillian from continuing arguing Merina and Conner. She said nothing more. Because the officer’s supervisor took control. They took Lillian to an office, out of sight of the main lobby. She demanded to know why Merina and Conner didn’t follow her. The response surprised Merina when she caught it. “Mrs. O’Keefe is with her husband and she’s not screaming like a madwoman. It’s time to contact someone who has more authority and control.” The door slammed shut before the room heard Lillian’s response. “I don’t envy them.” Conner said. His words were for Merina alone. “My father won’t like that.” “Oh, he knows. As does the officer who took Lillian. They’ll detain her. Later, they’ll tell her your father refuses to help her. She’ll need to find another man to help her with Galen’s issues because they won’t speak with a hysterical woman.” “I’ve never had problems
Merina let Conner take her back to the hotel when he felt confident. They’d purchased everything they needed. When they reached the hotel, the front desk clerk gave Conner a note at the front desk from his father. Gabriella and Lillian were there, and they’d joined forces. When he mentioned it to Merina, she rolled her eyes before she spoke. “Marvellous. I’m glad we’re leaving in the morning. Lillian and Gabriella working together against me. I won’t have any peace.” “You? Why would they go after you Meri?” Conner asked. He now called her Meri again after the confrontation at the police station. She looked at him and avoided swearing aloud. “Conner, my father got his release from jail with a minor fine. Joseph and Galen are still in jail. Unbeknownst to them, I’m the target and the cause of both men’s incarceration. They will see the involvement of my father and me. I will be their first target, not my father. Today Conner acted as her protector an
Conner watched Merina walk into the bedroom. He would have followed her when someone banged on the door. “No, she couldn’t be here already.” He avoided Gabriella for now. He wanted to deal with his wife. Conner opened the door with too much force and frowned at Lillian. “How did you convince her to marry you? How dare you do that? Galen wanted to marry her. Why did you steal her?” Lillian asked Conner. She seemed conflicted about what she said. “Galen never wanted Merina. He liked the concept of fucking his stepsister. Galen never intended to marry her. Lillian, Galen isn’t you. He wouldn’t marry her because you married her father to get your hands on his money. He didn’t need to marry Merina. Your efforts almost worked. However, you didn’t realize how much of the MacGregor fortune came from Merina’s mother. When she died Andre lost access to that money. You didn’t know we knew, did you? Now you’re trying to play a player. How is that go
“I am not taking this lying down Lillian. Merina has somehow blackmailed her way back into Conner’s life or something. There’s no way they were married earlier. We would have heard about this before.” Gabriella said. She now paced her room. The hotel forced her to accept a downgraded room, because they’d had an earlier booking and needed the suite. “If we are talking about odd facts. Gabriella, what did Conner mean by Merina was seven steps ahead of everyone? Since when did Merina become a genius? Then he mentioned she’d done something with the money her mother gave her. Why haven’t I heard anything? It’s my first-time hearing about it. Lillian asked. She’d returned from confronting Conner with more questions than answers or actions. Both women were furious, and Merina was their target for their anger. “That’s my point. You must have dropped the ball. Ignored something she did or discounted something important.” Gabriella said. She waved her hand. T
Merina sat in her room and stared at her luggage. She wanted to know if Conner cared for her. Or was she dreaming? Why did she want him to care? Did he care because her actions might affect his family? Was she a means to an end? Conner chose that moment to enter her room through the bathroom. “What the hell Conner? I want some time alone.” “Oh, forget about it. You’ll complicate everything by overthinking.” Conner said. He complained about how she thought now. Merina sensed his disbelief as he entered, doubting her ability to have a single thought alone. “Complicate what? You’ve said I’m a problem. Or the problem.” She didn’t care right now what he thought of her. Merina felt offended by his invasion of her privacy and for that, she’d lash out at him. “I said your actions are problematic, and I said they were a problem for everyone. Don’t you understand what I meant?” Conner looked like he was ready to explode. “Meri, no one
Merina watched Conner step toward her the entire time they spoke. He didn’t touch her until he made his displeasure clear to her. Conner didn’t need to touch her; his mere presence held her in place. Merina’s memory of his hot command of her body and the erotic visuals he loved so much played in her mind. They were like a dirty private sex video and her body was there, aching for more. Her heart rate sped up and her breathing match it when she caught his scent. “Come on. You and I need a reminder of how its going to be between us. Merina, you aren’t in control anymore and you’re no longer abandoned. I won’t allow you to fall through the cracks.” “You won’t allow me to fall through the cracks. Conner, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” “Of course you don’t Merina. You’re protecting yourself from the disappointment your family has heaped on you. You don’t see you’re pushing everyone away before they can hurt you. Well, it’s too late to push me