Alexander’s face tightened he was expecting this reaction to the news. There was no way he was going to let Chase do that.“No. No fucking way, Chase. You’re not going to change your plea. You’re upset. Let me speak to Christine first before you make any rash decisions.” His hand closed over Chase’s balled fist. His son pulled away from his touch.“Dad, as your attorney you have to do as I say.” Chase let out a deep breath.Alexander slapped a fist on the table, “And as your father I forbid you!” He got up from the chair, stalked away from Chase and leaned against the wall, trying to calm his breathing and the pain in his chest.“I can’t handle anymore betrayal, Dad.” Chase said, his voice sounded tired and unemotional.Alexander round on him, his grey eyes flashing with anger. “Did I raise a coward? Hmm? Did I raise a weak individual who just goes belly-up without a fight? Damn you! I have not raised you like this.” He raised his hand to slap Chase but caught himself just in time. In
Mason held Christine in his arms while she sobbed on his chest. She wanted to run after Alexander to try and speak to him, but Mason stopped her.“Leave him be. I’ll go to his office later and clear things up. No sense in talking to him now. He’s too upset.” Mason reasoned.Christine lifted her head and looked at him with tear-filled eyes. “How did Chase find out where I’m staying, Mason? I didn’t want to upset him.”Mason shrugged. “It could be his sister or his mom.” He wasn’t particularly concerned that Christine would find out it was in fact he that told Chase. He would make sure she’d stay away from the prison and the Wards.“Even so, it doesn’t matter now.” Christine sniffed. She removed herself from Mason’s arms. “Mr. Ward is never going to speak to me again. He’ll probably dismiss me too.” If Chase was changing his plea to guilty, he would be imprisoned for life or would get the death sentence, Christine mused. She had to move quickly. There had to be some kind of evidence th
Christine waited until she was sure Mason had gone to bed when she snuck down to his small office space. She needed information. Anything. His laptop was there on the desk. But he wouldn’t leave it lying about if he didn’t have a password protecting it, she thought. She didn’t bother to check it.Using the torchlight on her cellphone she rummaged through the desk drawers. Some bills, nothing of importance. A letter from the institution about his mother’s medication. At least she now had the name and address of the place.Christine sighed. Disappointed that she didn’t find anything worthwhile she put everything back as they were. Then she noticed a scrap of paper sticking out from base of the last drawer. Carefully she pried it loose. The lights went on.“What are you doing here Darlin’?” Mason drawled.Christine snuck the scrap of paper into the pocket of her nightgown.“Oh! Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you. I couldn’t sleep. Came looking for something to read.” She held her breath
The week seemed to drag on forever. Christine felt frustrated. Mason never left her alone for a minute. He was suspicious of her that much was clear to her. She needed to get away from him before she did something she would regret. Like when he called her ‘darlin’ she wanted to scream into his face that she wasn’t his damn anything – she was Chase’s.He even went along to her OGBYN appointment, and she couldn’t refuse.“It’s a boy,” the doctor smiled at her. “Daddy must be so proud.” The doctor winked at Mason who grinned back at him.Before she could hold herself back she snapped, “He’s not the father.”“Just a friend. The daddy couldn’t make it.” Mason said mildly and Christine felt like killing him right there.Instead she focused on the monitor, looking at her son kicking and moving his tiny arms about. A boy. Tears pricked at her eyes. Somehow she wanted to get the message to Chase that he had a son. She decided to send Alexander a message.It was two weeks before Christmas. This
Alexander read and reread the email from Christine informing him of her resignation. He shook his head, what in the hell was she thinking? There was no way he was allowing her to disappear and taking Chase’s boy with her. He started to type a reply only to discard it seconds later.No, if he sent a reply now it would be scathing and could alienate her further. Alexander couldn’t risk it. He would talk it over with Erica. She would know how to handle Christine. Maybe he overreacted when he saw her and Mason together, he scratched his chin. Something about the whole scene was bugging him, but he just couldn't place a finger on it.He still hasn’t spoken to Chase yet to tell him about the news. Chase was admitted to the psychiatric Hospital for evaluation and Alexander had to wait for permission to consult with him. Wait. It seems like all he had to do these days, he thought bitterly.In the meantime he managed to obtain the warrant for Gerald and had it sent to him. The suspense was kil
“Well Mr. Ward, you will stay here in our facility for a while.” The doctor finally said after a grueling hour of questions. Chase felt drained, stripped and exhausted to the bone. “A while?” “Yes, and I’ve prescribed some antidepressants for you to take while you are under our care here.” She smiled slightly at him. “What? I don’t fucking need pills! I won’t take it.” Chase frowned at her. “I just need you to find me competent so I can have my trial and get it over with.” “Mr. Ward, you are on suicide watch at the moment, and you either take the antidepressants willingly or…” “Or what Dr. Jordan?” his grey eyes challenged her. “Or I will have you sedated and restrained. You have quite the temper, Mr. Ward.” She said her voice cold like a December wind. “You are a danger to yourself as well as the other inmates.” Chase uttered a bitter laugh. “This is ridiculous. This is my father’s doing. I am not suicidal.” “Yet you bashed your head on the concrete floor until you were uncons
Christine’s only hope fled like a frightened bird from her mind. She was trapped, there was no escape from him. He was insane. Why else would he do this?“Mason…” her mouth was bone-dry. “Please…”“Please what, Christine?” Steely fingers closed around her throat. “Please don’t hurt me?” he mimicked a feminine voice and laughed. His fingers pressed harder, watching her eyes tear up.Christine felt helpless, as helpless as she felt on the island when Imran groped her. And she hated that feeling. She brought her knee up into Mason’s groin. He let go of her with an oath, doubling over. She shoved him aside and ran for the door.She made it to the stairs. Mason came thundering after her. She screamed as he lunged for her. Trying to side-step him, she twisted her ankle and tumbled down the stairs. Her head collided with the wall and the world greyed out. The last thing she saw was Mason bending over her.***“Stupid girl. Think you can run from me?” Mason picked up the unconscious Christine
“Mason! Mason, I need the bathroom.” Christine yelled at the top of her voice. She heard him come through the apartment’s door a while ago. But he has been ignoring her on purpose.“Alright, alright. We don’t want to make a mess on the bed, do we.” Mason bent over her to unlock her wrist. “Now be a good girl and don’t try anything stupid. I don’t want to hurt you, but I will.” His amber eyes locked with hers and she knew he meant it.She nodded. Her bladder was fit to burst. She rushed to the bathroom and was about to close the door when Mason said, “Leave it open.”She left the door slightly ajar. When she finished Mason grabbed her at the back of her neck and pushed her against the wall. Roughly he pulled her arms to the back and locked her wrists together.“You’re hurting me.” she hissed at him.Mason pressed his body against hers. “I can do a lot worse. Now you listen to me, Darlin’, you and me, we’re getting out of here soon. Ward is asking about you and pretty soon he’ll contact