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The horror of Jonathon being brutally killed a week after they announced their engagement might never leave her. The perpetrator had never been found but she’d found a note on her pillow one night:Nobody but me will ever have you. Keep our secrets and stay away from other men or their remains will be desecrated worse than Jonathon’s.
Luckily Treven had gone to prison shortly after Sunny was born, for accomplice to the murder that Hattie Ballard committed. Miss Ballard had first murdered a young lady named Jane Presley. So sad. Nobody knew at the time of the murder that Hattie was even involved. Most assumed Treven was making up some female murderer. To think it wastheHattie Ballard who’d killed the young tourist Jane. It was mind-blowing to believe—gorgeous, smiling, adventurous, world-traveling, billionaire heiress Hattie Ballard—a cold-blooded murderer. Recently Hattie had stabbed and killed another person, some Polish man named Franz Wengreen. Poor guy probably had no idea who he’d gotten involved with.
Sophie couldn’t do anything about Hattie Ballard, only be grateful the murderous woman was dead and even more grateful that Treven was back in prison, this time on kidnapping charges.
The most important thing was Sunny was safe and happy. The sacrifice of Malik’s love was a vicious one to pay, but she knew firsthand Treven’s tentacles could reach far beyond prison, especially with friends and parents like his. William and Naomi Rindlesbacher appeared benevolent, wealthy, and classy, but they were every bit as evil as their son and only lived for their own self-serving interests.
Sophie had watched them destroy her friend Livvy Moser’s life and career. The accomplished pianist had once starred on the top stages in the world, now she quietly taught piano lessons from her home, and prayed just like Sophie did that Treven wouldn’t get released and she could stay off the Rindlesbacher’s radar.
William and Naomi had started grooming Livvy to be Treven’s wife from the time she was a young teenager. Livvy’s mum was a sister to Duke Burton and the Rindlesbachers imagined they were royalty. Sadly, Livvy and her parents didn’t recognize the danger, and the truth about the Rindlesbachers, until it was too late.
She shuddered to think what the Rindlesbachers would do if they figured out Sunny was Treven’s daughter. Pushing all these ugly thoughts away, she let herself focus where she always wanted to—Prince Malik August. The fun and carefree time they’d spent together as innocent eighteen year olds were memories she savored and pulled out occasionally. Not too often or she’d wallow in depression that she could never be with the man she loved. They’d separated for advanced schooling, only seeing each other on holidays.
The following spring Treven attacked her and her entire world was flipped. The fear of Treven’s evil threats touching Malik ruled her life. It had been horrific to pretend all was well over text and phone calls and then, when she discovered she was expecting and her world flipped again, to blatantly lie to Malik when he came home for summer holiday. She would never forget the anger and disbelief in his eyes, and the agony as she watched him walk away without saying a word.
At least he’d believed that she’d fallen in love with another man and was pregnant with his child. Later he’d probably assumed it was Jonathon’s baby. It was impressive he’d walked away without getting upset at her, but that was Malik. He was a defender and protector of women and he would never, ever hurt a woman, even with an unkind word. He especially would never hurt Sophie. She’d never known Malik’s equal.
It was grueling to hear about or glimpse on the telly or social media posts Malik flitting from woman to woman, charming them all, but seemingly not committing to any of the many accomplished and gorgeous women who pursued him. Sophie had broken his heart with her ‘infidelity’ rather than risk Treven fulfilling his threats or Malik going after that scum-ball to revenge Sophie. She feared Malik’s playboy lifestyle was all because of her supposed cheating on him. He’d been the farthest thing from a playboy when they’d been together. Sadly she had no idea how to change either of their paths now.
“Miss Pederson,” Marci, one of the teenagers serving for her tonight approached her, “There’s a man waiting behind the tent who wants a word with you.”
A man? Her heart fluttered and all her resolve to watch Malik from afar and not get close enough to talk to him, flirt with him, touch his hand, look into those blue eyes … What if he kissed her? There was nothing she could do but respond if he instigated a kiss. Right?
“Miss?”
“Thank you, Marci.” She tugged off her apron and her gloves, fluffing her hair, smoothing her dress, and sliding on some cinna-mint lip gloss before stashing it back in her bra with her phone.
Malik had come for her. Oh my! She could never be with him but just a stolen moment to talk to him, look in his blue eyes, see how he was truly doing. Her nerves tingled with anticipation. Would he still be devastated and angry with her? Was over five years enough time for him to forgive her? It couldn’t matter as she’d never be able to confess her love, but just to be close, maybe give him an impulsive hug …
Gliding out of the tent, she eased around to the back, unable to hide a smile of joyful anticipation.
She stopped dead in her tracks and lost her smile completely, looking into the evil gaze and eerily familiar bluish-gray eyes of none other than William Rindlesbacher, Treven’s father, her angelic daughter’s grandfather. She shuddered with revulsion.
“Miss Pederson.” The man looked like a smooth, wealthy, aristocrat but Sophie knew he was as foul and brilliantly manipulative as his son. The only person more underhanded, sneaky, and seemingly-benevolent than William was Naomi Rindlesbacher. William’s wife and Treven’s mother was like a modern-day Lady de Winter, evil and deceptive and beautiful. Just ask Sophie’s friend Livvy.
Sometimes Sophie and Livvy quietly mused if Hattie Ballard had truly murdered Jane Presley or Franz Wengreen, or if somehow Treven and his father had framed the infamous woman. Treven and William were each witnesses to the murders and from the vile threats Treven had made to Malik, Sophie assumed he was more than capable of cold-blooded murder.
“Mr. Rindlesbacher.” She tilted her chin, needing to appear in control and unafraid, even as she backed into the canvas material of the tent, clutching her hands behind her so he couldn’t see how badly they shook. She wanted to cut a hole through the canvas and escape to her safe space of preparing and serving delicious food. Truly she wanted to run home, hold her daughter close, and be reassured this man would never touch his granddaughter.
“If you’ll pardon me,” she said in a cold, and she prayed confident, voice. “I have a very important wedding reception to cater.”
He clamped his hand around her hip, right at the fold of her dress. It was weird and creepy for him to grab her like that but at least he wasn’t touching her skin. He had a vice grip. His smile was as smooth and snake-like as ever. “You have something of mine, Miss Pederson, and my wife and I would like you to return it.”
“Excuseme?” She yanked herself away from his touch. Her heart beat high and fast. William couldn’t mean …
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. A beautiful child my son created. Sunny Pederson, though soon it will be Sunny Rindlesbacher.”
“You st-stay away from my daughter,” she stuttered out, her tongue thick and her hands clammy. They knew. She was afraid that jerk Treven would connect the dots and tell his parents, but it had been over five years and nothing. Even Jonathon’s death hadn’t seemed to be associated with her baby. Why now? How had they found out? How could she escape and protect Sunny?
“She is my granddaughter.”
“Jonathon Lathum is the father of my baby,” she insisted.
William only laughed at her, an ugly, knowing laugh. Then he edged in closer.
Sophie wanted to back away, no, she wanted to run away, but this predator could smell fear. She tilted her chin, narrowed her eyes, prayed desperately for help and strength and most of all protection for Sunny, and clenched her hands into fists to hide the trembling.
“My lovely wife saw the child out at the Open Green with your mother. She was stunned to see the little one wasn’t as dark-skinned as you and peculiarly has the very grayish-blue eyes that I share with our son, Treven.” He arched an eyebrow. “Naomi asked Treven at our most recent visit when he had last spent ‘time’ with you. What a pleasant surprise to realize that the dates add up perfectly.”
