Deadly Deception - By Andrea Johnson Beck Page 0,40

the way, even pictures of her and him on their numerous retreats to the Bahamas, Australia and Italy.

Anne brushed aside letters written in Chinese and English.

Mr.Leeds:

Upon our agreement regarding Mr. Sam Goodman, you will turn over 40% of the life insurance money that will be collected from his widow, Lien (Yang) Goodman. Once I receive my money and you have your 60%, Lien will be instructed to return to Hong Kong and continue her employment with me.

Mr. Cheng

“Oh my god!”

Carter had bought Lien in exchange for Sam’s life. Anne shuffled through pages of life insurance policies, bank account information, and email correspondence between Lien and Carter. He had promised her freedom when in fact he was planning to send her back to Mr. Cheng, a ruthless and treacherous sex trafficker out of Hong Kong. He was known for kidnapping women and selling them like meat on the side of the road.

Anne immediately thought of their daughter. What would happen to her? Would Mr. Cheng own her too? She had to turn all this over to Victoria. Her hands trembled, grasping the ghastly evidence against Carter. He was a monster. He betrayed a man that he called a brother for fifty million dollars. The moment Sam took Lien out of Hong Kong, his fate had been sealed. Sealed by Carter.

Anne’s erratic breath burned her throat. On the verge of hyperventilation, she watched the sheets of rain pounding the window. As a flash of lighting streaked across the heavens, a hand grasped Anne’s shoulder, clenching its dominant claws into her collarbone. The combination of her petrified scream and the growling rumble of thunder set off a deafening resonance throughout the building.

The undertones of the darkness and faint light revealed a disheveled Adam Whitney. Scruff weaved auburn and coffee over his face. His eyes were dark and firm. They burned into Anne’s. Without another word, she lunged into his chest. His comfort she once knew so well enveloped her. Silently he laid his cheek on top of her still-damp hair. The miniscule droplets stretched over his skin. Pulling back, Anne looked up at Adam for a heartening expression; all that she saw was anger and distress, while he softly brushed the bruises and scrapes that lined her face. Flinching at the bruise that had surfaced on her cheekbone after Carter and she tumbled around on the floor, she placed her hand over his.

“I know what you’ve done…and Carter,” she whispered, lowering her head. “But I also know you were trying to protect me.” Quiet tears trailed her face, salting her pale lips. Adam brushed them with his thumb.

“I’m not proud of what I’ve done in the past and who I’ve dealt with, but I will never regret falling in love with you. Carter will never take that from me.”

The stream of emotion continued down her face. A cry escaped her. She saw, lying at Adam’s feet, two large black duffel bags.

“What are you doing? This is a bad idea, Adam.”

“Giving Carter what he wants, and in exchange he lets us live.”

That’s all Anne was to Carter—a bargaining tool to reclaim his dirty money.

“And you trust him?”

Anne shook her head, turning her back from Adam. She was still holding the papers she had found.

“He contributed to the murder of his best friend, in cold blood. What makes you think he’s going to let us live?”

Anne shook the papers in the air, wondering when Adam had become so naïve.

“Sam didn’t have what Carter wanted. I do. I have all the evidence. I’ll destroy it, plus I have the money from a deal that went south a few years back.”

“Adam, he kidnapped me and he was going to kill me. What makes you think he’ll just let me walk away? Did you know he had me?”

His head hung low. Anne knew the answer. Her chest tightened and the pain flowed out of her like a river, again.

“I knew you would escape. Carter told me he had you and if I even thought about coming to you, he would kill you. Carter wants power, not you. He’s only doing this because he knew how to get to me. He’s not who you think he is. He’s not Carter Leeds, he’s…”

Something or someone stirred a few feet from outside the office, tracking them. Adam placed his index finger to his lips, hushing Anne before a scream could escape her throat. Quietly turning on his heels, Adam started to walk toward the noise. Anne extended her hand to stop