Chapter 24
"Let go of me," Sheridan screamed as Colin grabbed her wrists roughly and slammed her up against the wall. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Princess," he hissed. Throwing Luis's name for her back in her face. "How dare you. How dare you." Quietly controlled rage in his voice. His icy gray eyes were wild as he yanked her across the room. To the window and forced her to look outside. "You humiliated me in front of our guests, Dear," he spat venomously. Sheridan's blue eyes glittered with anger. "I didn't have to humiliate you," she said in a steely voice. "I think it's humiliating enough that you had to BUY me. Let.go.of.my.arm," she said in a carefully measured voice. "LET GO OF ME!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs a second later. Struggling against him. Biting the hand that attempted to cover her mouth.
"You little bitch!" he swore. Wincing in pain and holding his hand close to his chest. Sheridan backed up. Hitting the wall again as he advanced on her. She cried out when she felt the sting of his slap across her cheek. "Somebody needs to teach you a lesson," he growled. Twisting her arm until she paled from the pain. He shoved her backward. Causing her head to hit the wall so hard her teeth rattled. "But it'll have to wait until later. Your father and I have some very important papers to draw up," he said. Sheridan waited for the sound of the slamming door before she allowed herself to cry.
Ivy burst through the door seconds later. Her blue green eyes flashing first with anger, then filling with sympathy as she crouched in front of her. "Come on, Darling," she whispered softly. Holding out her hand. "We're going to get you out of here. Away from these madmen." Sheridan's chin quivered as she took Ivy's hand and pulled herself to her feet. Ivy slipped a supporting arm around Sheridan's waist as she pushed the door open again and led her to the staircase. "Now, I'm going to take you up to my room. Pilar's waiting for you. She'll take care of you while I make the arrangements. Tell me, Sheridan," Ivy attempted to smile. "Is there any place you've got in mind? Any place in particular you'd like to see?" she asked as they carefully ascended the steps and made their way to Ivy's bedroom. "You don't have to do all this, Ivy. Father will." Ivy waved her off. "I don't care about Alistair. I care about you," she said. Patting Sheridan's cheek affectionately. Sheridan hugged Ivy in gratitude. "I love you, Ivy." "I love you, too," Ivy responded sincerely. "Now.go inside."
Alistair grinned in satisfaction once Colin scrawled his signature on the dotted line. The fool. He didn't realize it yet, but he'd just handed over his entire paltry fortune. Oh, it was a considerable amount. But hardly the size of the Crane holdings. His blue eyes narrowed when he caught a glimpse of Ivy snagging Julian by the arm outside the library's slightly open door. ".Alistair," Colin repeated. Alistair jerked his head back. Fighting back the scowl that threatened to take over. This.peon. Daring to call him by his given name. Had he no respect? "Would you care for a drink?" he offered out of false politeness. Irritated when the man actually took him up on his offer. He poured the brandy into the heavy glass carefully and handed it to his new son-in-law. "You didn't answer my question," Colin said after seating himself on the leather sofa. "Exactly what do you have in mind for Lopez-Fitzgerald?" The corner of Alistair's lips curled up in a sinister smile. "All in good time," he answered. Gulping down the last of the brandy in his glass and looking past Colin. To Ivy and Julian.
"Julian!" Ivy hissed. "She's your sister! For once in your miserable life, do something worthwhile. Help me. Help me help her." Julian still looked uncertain. "You know his reputation. Don't tell me you aren't just a tiny bit concerned." Julian swallowed uncomfortably. There was the matter of. He shook his head. But the charges were dropped. The woman wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue. Who was he to trust gossip? But still. "Sheridan is young. With this wonderful, giving heart. He'll ruin that. He'll ruin HER. Forget it. It's useless. I used to think you had a heart somewhere in there," she said bitterly. Jabbing him in the chest with her manicured fingers. "I guess I was wrong. Your mother would be so ashamed of you. Katherine would." "Okay," he stopped her with a hand on her arm. Remembering his mother's weakly whispered words of so long ago. His promise. "I'll do what I can. What are just standing there for? You're wasting valuable time, Ivy. If Father catches wind of this." Ivy finally picked her jaw up off the floor. "Maybe there's hope for you after all," she murmured. Before turning on her heel and scurrying up the winding staircase.
"Hurry, Darling," Ivy told Sheridan as she kept watch outside the bedroom door. Sheridan stuffed clothes in her duffel bag hastily. Not caring if she wrinkled them or not. That was the last of her worries. "I can't find it. I can't find it," she panicked. Tearing through her closet. "He burned it. I knew he would. He throws away everything I love," she said tearfully. "I can't leave, Ivy. I can't leave Harmony and Luis behind. Father will.I have to stay and help him somehow. Protect him." "Mija," Pilar lay a calming hand on her arm. "Mija.look at me," she urged. "Look at me," she insisted. Cupping Sheridan's face in the palms of her work- hewn hands. "It's for the best." Sheridan shook her head 'no.' Tears spilling from her pained blue eyes. Wetting Pilar's fingertips. "No. No. I can't leave. I promised."
"Luis will understand," Ivy told her. Taking her hand in both of hers and squeezing it reassuringly. "Your safety is most important to him, and he'll feel better knowing you're as far away as possible from this place." AND your father and Colin, she thought silently. "But I don't want to leave him," she cried. "I never told him.what if I never see him again?" "Mija," Pilar scolded. "You mustn't think that way." "Pilar's right, Sheridan," Ivy murmured. "You WILL see Luis again. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day.but you WILL." A terse knock at the door startled them all. "Time is running out," Julian hissed. "No," Sheridan protested as Ivy and Pilar steered her out into the hall and down the servants' stairs. "I don't want to leave you," she cried as Julian pulled her out into the cloak of darkness. The sounds of 'celebration' dwindling in the far corner of the gardens. "No." Pilar and Ivy held each other as they watched the two figures fade and gradually disappear.
Julian glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as they sped along the Coast Road. Further and further from the Mansion. Further and further from Father. Colin. Further and further from Luis. Her slim shoulders shook, and tears coursed down her cheeks unheeded. He felt terrible denying her the chance to say goodbye, but he knew time was of the essence. And if this had a snowball's chance in hell of working, they couldn't afford to take chances. He was doing it for her own good. Despite the fact that it did NOTHING to win points in his favor. She'd begged. Pleaded. And he was dismayed to discover his rusty heart was apparently in perfect working order. He'd almost caved. But then all.this.would be for naught, and Father would have won again. He couldn't let that happen.
The breeze ruffled her blond hair as he stood before her awkwardly. Not knowing what to say. Not sure if he could find the words. "Why are you doing this, Julian?" she finally asked. Suspicion evident in her voice. "Why now, Julian? What makes now so different?" He placed a guiding hand on the small of her back and steered her toward the private jet. "I thought you were a firm believer in second chances, Dear Sister. Well.this just happens to be my LAST chance. The LAST chance to keep a promise I made an eternity ago. You're my sister," he said. His quiet words drawing her full attention. "And it's high time I started treating you as such. I just hope I'm not too late." Sheridan gazed up at him with shimmering blue eyes. "Perfect timing, Julian," she muttered. "You're NOT too late," she assured him when he refused to meet her eyes. "You're just in time. I love you," she whispered into his ear as she hugged him goodbye. "Thank you." He shrugged her gratitude off. The words stuck in his throat as he watched her climb the steps and disappear. He got into his car and turned the ignition. Leaving without a glance behind. And she was but a tiny figure in a tiny window. Hugging the teddy bear close with a sad smile on her face.
"Let go of me," Sheridan screamed as Colin grabbed her wrists roughly and slammed her up against the wall. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Princess," he hissed. Throwing Luis's name for her back in her face. "How dare you. How dare you." Quietly controlled rage in his voice. His icy gray eyes were wild as he yanked her across the room. To the window and forced her to look outside. "You humiliated me in front of our guests, Dear," he spat venomously. Sheridan's blue eyes glittered with anger. "I didn't have to humiliate you," she said in a steely voice. "I think it's humiliating enough that you had to BUY me. Let.go.of.my.arm," she said in a carefully measured voice. "LET GO OF ME!!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs a second later. Struggling against him. Biting the hand that attempted to cover her mouth.
"You little bitch!" he swore. Wincing in pain and holding his hand close to his chest. Sheridan backed up. Hitting the wall again as he advanced on her. She cried out when she felt the sting of his slap across her cheek. "Somebody needs to teach you a lesson," he growled. Twisting her arm until she paled from the pain. He shoved her backward. Causing her head to hit the wall so hard her teeth rattled. "But it'll have to wait until later. Your father and I have some very important papers to draw up," he said. Sheridan waited for the sound of the slamming door before she allowed herself to cry.
Ivy burst through the door seconds later. Her blue green eyes flashing first with anger, then filling with sympathy as she crouched in front of her. "Come on, Darling," she whispered softly. Holding out her hand. "We're going to get you out of here. Away from these madmen." Sheridan's chin quivered as she took Ivy's hand and pulled herself to her feet. Ivy slipped a supporting arm around Sheridan's waist as she pushed the door open again and led her to the staircase. "Now, I'm going to take you up to my room. Pilar's waiting for you. She'll take care of you while I make the arrangements. Tell me, Sheridan," Ivy attempted to smile. "Is there any place you've got in mind? Any place in particular you'd like to see?" she asked as they carefully ascended the steps and made their way to Ivy's bedroom. "You don't have to do all this, Ivy. Father will." Ivy waved her off. "I don't care about Alistair. I care about you," she said. Patting Sheridan's cheek affectionately. Sheridan hugged Ivy in gratitude. "I love you, Ivy." "I love you, too," Ivy responded sincerely. "Now.go inside."
Alistair grinned in satisfaction once Colin scrawled his signature on the dotted line. The fool. He didn't realize it yet, but he'd just handed over his entire paltry fortune. Oh, it was a considerable amount. But hardly the size of the Crane holdings. His blue eyes narrowed when he caught a glimpse of Ivy snagging Julian by the arm outside the library's slightly open door. ".Alistair," Colin repeated. Alistair jerked his head back. Fighting back the scowl that threatened to take over. This.peon. Daring to call him by his given name. Had he no respect? "Would you care for a drink?" he offered out of false politeness. Irritated when the man actually took him up on his offer. He poured the brandy into the heavy glass carefully and handed it to his new son-in-law. "You didn't answer my question," Colin said after seating himself on the leather sofa. "Exactly what do you have in mind for Lopez-Fitzgerald?" The corner of Alistair's lips curled up in a sinister smile. "All in good time," he answered. Gulping down the last of the brandy in his glass and looking past Colin. To Ivy and Julian.
"Julian!" Ivy hissed. "She's your sister! For once in your miserable life, do something worthwhile. Help me. Help me help her." Julian still looked uncertain. "You know his reputation. Don't tell me you aren't just a tiny bit concerned." Julian swallowed uncomfortably. There was the matter of. He shook his head. But the charges were dropped. The woman wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue. Who was he to trust gossip? But still. "Sheridan is young. With this wonderful, giving heart. He'll ruin that. He'll ruin HER. Forget it. It's useless. I used to think you had a heart somewhere in there," she said bitterly. Jabbing him in the chest with her manicured fingers. "I guess I was wrong. Your mother would be so ashamed of you. Katherine would." "Okay," he stopped her with a hand on her arm. Remembering his mother's weakly whispered words of so long ago. His promise. "I'll do what I can. What are just standing there for? You're wasting valuable time, Ivy. If Father catches wind of this." Ivy finally picked her jaw up off the floor. "Maybe there's hope for you after all," she murmured. Before turning on her heel and scurrying up the winding staircase.
"Hurry, Darling," Ivy told Sheridan as she kept watch outside the bedroom door. Sheridan stuffed clothes in her duffel bag hastily. Not caring if she wrinkled them or not. That was the last of her worries. "I can't find it. I can't find it," she panicked. Tearing through her closet. "He burned it. I knew he would. He throws away everything I love," she said tearfully. "I can't leave, Ivy. I can't leave Harmony and Luis behind. Father will.I have to stay and help him somehow. Protect him." "Mija," Pilar lay a calming hand on her arm. "Mija.look at me," she urged. "Look at me," she insisted. Cupping Sheridan's face in the palms of her work- hewn hands. "It's for the best." Sheridan shook her head 'no.' Tears spilling from her pained blue eyes. Wetting Pilar's fingertips. "No. No. I can't leave. I promised."
"Luis will understand," Ivy told her. Taking her hand in both of hers and squeezing it reassuringly. "Your safety is most important to him, and he'll feel better knowing you're as far away as possible from this place." AND your father and Colin, she thought silently. "But I don't want to leave him," she cried. "I never told him.what if I never see him again?" "Mija," Pilar scolded. "You mustn't think that way." "Pilar's right, Sheridan," Ivy murmured. "You WILL see Luis again. Maybe not tomorrow or the next day.but you WILL." A terse knock at the door startled them all. "Time is running out," Julian hissed. "No," Sheridan protested as Ivy and Pilar steered her out into the hall and down the servants' stairs. "I don't want to leave you," she cried as Julian pulled her out into the cloak of darkness. The sounds of 'celebration' dwindling in the far corner of the gardens. "No." Pilar and Ivy held each other as they watched the two figures fade and gradually disappear.
Julian glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as they sped along the Coast Road. Further and further from the Mansion. Further and further from Father. Colin. Further and further from Luis. Her slim shoulders shook, and tears coursed down her cheeks unheeded. He felt terrible denying her the chance to say goodbye, but he knew time was of the essence. And if this had a snowball's chance in hell of working, they couldn't afford to take chances. He was doing it for her own good. Despite the fact that it did NOTHING to win points in his favor. She'd begged. Pleaded. And he was dismayed to discover his rusty heart was apparently in perfect working order. He'd almost caved. But then all.this.would be for naught, and Father would have won again. He couldn't let that happen.
The breeze ruffled her blond hair as he stood before her awkwardly. Not knowing what to say. Not sure if he could find the words. "Why are you doing this, Julian?" she finally asked. Suspicion evident in her voice. "Why now, Julian? What makes now so different?" He placed a guiding hand on the small of her back and steered her toward the private jet. "I thought you were a firm believer in second chances, Dear Sister. Well.this just happens to be my LAST chance. The LAST chance to keep a promise I made an eternity ago. You're my sister," he said. His quiet words drawing her full attention. "And it's high time I started treating you as such. I just hope I'm not too late." Sheridan gazed up at him with shimmering blue eyes. "Perfect timing, Julian," she muttered. "You're NOT too late," she assured him when he refused to meet her eyes. "You're just in time. I love you," she whispered into his ear as she hugged him goodbye. "Thank you." He shrugged her gratitude off. The words stuck in his throat as he watched her climb the steps and disappear. He got into his car and turned the ignition. Leaving without a glance behind. And she was but a tiny figure in a tiny window. Hugging the teddy bear close with a sad smile on her face.