Deadly Deception (Deadly Series) by Andrea Johnson Beck Read Free Book Online Page B

me!”
    Carter bent down and pressed his lips firmly against hers. Anne yanked away, almost losing her balance.
    “No! I want answers!”
    Carter looked down at Anne’s exposed neck, releasing her hands.
    “You still wear the pearls I gave you.”
    She looked down and touched them with her hand which revealed the diamond perched upon her finger. Carter’s face twisted with anguish as he backed up against the wall.
    “You can’t marry him, Anneliese. You don’t know him like I do,” Carter begged.
    “What does that mean? How do you even know Adam?”
    “Sit down please,” he instructed.
    Anne hesitantly took a seat at the black bistro table, and Carter followed suit. This better be good , she thought.
    “My father’s business was heading into financial ruin. The banks wouldn’t give him any more money so he became desperate. He asked the Montgomery family who are, well, let’s just say very influential in the illegal activities arena and extremely powerful. When I found out about it, I threatened to go to the feds because the Montgomery ’s were already under investigation for extortion, credit card fraud and jury tampering. They caught wind of my intentions and told my father that I was a liability and needed to be taken care of. My father refused, so they decided to send over their own guy to take me out—Adam Whitney.”
    Anne couldn’t believe her ears. Bile rose from Anne’s stomach when Carter said Adam’s name in the same context as a murderer. The room was spinning.
    “So you’re telling me that Adam was contracted to kill you?”
    “Yes, I knew too much and the Montgomery’s knew who to send. I faked my death so they wouldn’t come after us. That day I vanished only two peop le knew I wasn’t really dead—my father and Sam.”
    “Sam knew about this? He’s the one that called me and told me you were dead! And what’s this ‘us’ business? Why would they come after me?”
    Anne was trembling. He leaned toward her, placing his hands on top of hers. This time she didn’t pull away.
    “He’s the one who delivered the note and pictures to you. I couldn’t take that risk of being seen. Once I heard Adam made his move, I couldn’t hide any longer from you. He has been using you the entire time. The Montgomery family suspected my death was a sham, even when my father showed them the death certificate. They sent Adam to you in hopes to lure me out and to see if you knew anything.”
    “Oh my god!” Anne whispered looking around the room as it faded in and out of focus.
    In the midst of Carter’s shocking revelation, Anne’s phone began to ring. They stood up simultaneously. It was Adam’s ringtone chirping at them. She didn’t know what to do. What would she say? Could she even believe anything Carter was saying? 
    “Don’t say a word to him about me,” Carter whispered, motioning her to answer it.
    Swallowing hard, she tapped the screen that revealed Adam’s gentle smile. 
    “Hey babe,” Anne pushed out in a tight exhale.
    “Hey, I’m so sorry. I hadn’t expect to be running so late and I couldn’t get away to call you back. I’m leaving right now so I should be there in about an hour.”
    There was a slight pause then Anne replied.
    “Um, it’s all right. I’ve just been relaxing by the fire.”
    Clearing her throat she continued to maintain her composure. Carter watched her, coaxing her to wrap it up.
    “Are you okay? You sound funny,” Adam inquired.
    “I’m just tired, you know? That drive is exhausting plus I’ve had a couple glasses of wine.”
    She awkwardly giggled.
    “You don’t have to wait for me, just go ahead to bed and we’ll have a nice breakfast in town tomorrow morning.”
    “Sure, that sounds great. See you in a bit.”
    Anne began twisting the string of pearls around her shaky index finger.
    “I love you, Anne.”
    She closed her eyes and blurted out those words that she knew would rip through Carter’s chest.
    “I love you