Taming the Carefree Billionaire - Marie Higgins Page 0,78
jacket,” Garth instructed, “and pray that she’s wrong.”
“It’s in my car. I’ll get it and show you.”
Thomas didn’t need to have Cole tell him that this was when to barge into the room and save the woman he loved. He tightened his grip on the gun and barreled up the remaining stairs. Just as he reached the top, he heard the cop sirens in the distance. Perfect timing.
Thomas moved toward Garth, who was taken unaware and stumbled backward. Joslyn shrieked and tried to run past Thomas, but Cole stopped her. Morgan’s arms were tied behind her on the chair, but her feet were free, and she kicked toward Garth’s hand, knocking the gun to the floor. Thomas quickly bent and picked it up before moving behind Morgan to untie her.
Suddenly, another man darted away from them. Cole fired a warning shot, and the man stopped, holding up his hands.
As recognition struck, Thomas lost his breath. He’d know the back of that man’s head anywhere since he’d been driving Thomas and Darion around in the limo for years. Antonio?
Thomas moved toward the man he’d once considered a friend. His mind was filled with confusion, and his heart was breaking. The driver didn’t turn, and Thomas knew why. Of course, he wasn’t prepared to look the man in the eyes, either.
“Why, Antonio?” Thomas asked with a shaky voice.
Slowly, the man lowered his hands and turned. Anger filled his eyes as he straightened his shoulders.
“My father is dead. Did you know that?”
Thomas shook his head.
“Chemicals used on the grapes were what killed him.”
“No, Antonio. My father told you over and over that everything was tested, and those chemicals are not the reason your father was dying from cancer.”
“Then tell me why my father died?” Tears filled Antonio’s eyes. “My father was a dedicated employee, but he still died. I want justice for my father’s death, and I’ll get it any way I can.”
Thomas shook his head. “You can’t sue us, Antonio. We’ve had everything tested, and there is no proof that they are dangerous.”
The police sirens were louder, and just outside the house. Soon, everything would be wrapped up here, except for the bitter sting of betrayal that Thomas and Darion would always feel toward a former employee.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Antonio, but setting fires to vineyards is not going to bring him back.”
“No, but it might prevent someone else from being sick.”
“Then why haven’t you set fire to Garth’s vineyard yet?”
Antonio’s glare narrowed. “I wasn’t setting the fires. They were.”
Thomas shrugged. “But you have been planning this the whole time, haven’t you?”
The Powers’ former driver tightened his mouth, but didn’t move his scowl from Thomas. It didn’t matter anymore. They would all go to jail, and Thomas hoped they’d learn what justice really was.
“All of you,” Thomas said, moving aside until he could look at all of them at once, “have different motivations for what you did. But the fact of the matter is, if you break the law, you go to prison.” His gaze stopped on Joslyn. “Hopefully, you’ll look good in orange, because that’s what you’ll be wearing for the next ten or more years.” Thomas moved closer to the frightened woman whose tears made her makeup streak down her face. “And if I find out that you were the one who bashed a baseball bat over my father’s head, I’ll slap an attempted murder charge on you so fast it’ll make your head spin.”
She shook her head and pointed at Garth. “He hit him with the bat. All I did was set the fire to distract everyone from the grafted vines he stole from the shed.”
“Shut up, woman!” Garth shouted, glaring viciously at Joslyn.
Thomas marched toward Garth, and without a second thought, slammed his fist into the man’s face. Immediately, the man fell to the floor, unconscious, as blood poured out of his overly-large nose.
Morgan moved beside Thomas, wrapping her arms around his waist. He held her closer, but couldn’t take his eyes off the man on the floor.
This was what Thomas considered justice. Well, at least a taste of it.
EPILOGUE
Morgan held her hands over Thomas’ as he covered her eyes and led her toward her surprise. She’d told him so many times in the past two months of dating, that he didn’t need to buy her love. He already had it. But he would always tell her that he wasn’t buying her love, just buying her entertainment.