by Marie Force
“I told no one.”
“And did Mr. Rogers tell anyone?”
“After I was seen at the Golden Globes with my now-husband, Flynn Godfrey, Mr. Rogers sold the information to the Hollywood Starz TV show. They published it.”
“What happened to you when your connection to April Genovese was made public?”
“I lost my job, my new identity, my anonymity. My husband and I were relentlessly pursued by the media, which threatened our safety.”
“Is it safe to assume the loss of your anonymity was traumatic for you?”
“Extremely. I’d worked very hard to establish a new life for myself after mine was ruined by Oren Stone when I was a teenager. Losing that hard-won new life was like being assaulted all over again.” Emmett had suggested I say that last part if I got the chance. I’m glad I could get it in there. “To know that he did it for money was the worst part.”
“When you heard your father had been accused of murdering Mr. Rogers, were you surprised?”
“Not at all.”
“Can you elaborate?”
“My father would’ve been incensed that Rogers had dragged Stone’s name through the mud and resurrected the story of Stone’s downfall, which my father blamed me for causing. When Stone attacked me, my parents sided with him.”
A loud gasp comes from the juror’s box, and I revel in that sound. They ought to be shocked.
“Why did they side with him?”
“He was my father’s closest friend and his employer. My father chose to protect his relationship with his friend and to protect his job over his own child.”
“Objection,” the defense attorney says. “Hearsay.”
I shrug. No, it isn’t. It’s the truth.
“Sustained,” the judge says.
“Why do you think they sided with him over you?” the prosecutor asks, reframing the question.
“I believe it was because my father cared more about Oren Stone than he ever did about anyone else, including me, my mother and my sisters.” My sisters wanted to be here today to support me. I begged them to stay away. I want none of this to ever touch them. I’m thankful they heeded my wishes.
“Nothing further,” the prosecutor says.
The defense attorney stands, and my stomach clenches. Other than the possibility of having to see my father, this is the only part that makes me truly nervous. “Did it ever occur to you that your father might’ve killed Rogers to get justice for you?”
“No,” I say.
“Not for one second?”
“Not for one instant. It wasn’t about me. It was about Oren Stone. It was always about Oren Stone for him.”
The defense attorney seems rattled by my certainty. Apparently, that wasn’t what he expected me to say. “Nothing further.”
I take a deep breath and release it, flooded with relief. I came here and did what I needed to without it costing me anything but a day away from home and my work with the childhood hunger foundation Flynn and I have started.
“You may step down, Mrs. Godfrey,” the judge says.
I stand and leave the witness seat, heading directly to my love without sparing my father so much as a glance or another second of my time or attention.
Flynn puts his arm around me and leads me to the door where two of Gordon’s men are waiting to escort us back to the car.
We’re on our way to a clean getaway when I hear my mother calling me. “April, wait. Please wait.”
“You don’t have to,” Flynn says low enough that only I can hear him.
“Please,” my mother says again. “Wait.”
I stop, take another deep breath, release it and then turn to face my mother. She’s aged in the nine years since I last saw her. Her once-dark hair is streaked with gray, and her face bears the ravages of the choices she made.
Her eyes, the same green as mine, fill with tears. “It’s so good to see you.”
I can’t say the same, so I don’t say anything.
Flynn’s fingers dig into my shoulder, letting me know how difficult it is for him to stand there and allow this to happen when all he wants to do is get me the hell out of here, away from these people who hurt me so badly, who turned their backs on me when I needed them most.
“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everything. I left him. I wanted you to know…”
“I know that already. Livvy told me.”
“You… You’re back in touch with them?”
“I have been for quite some time.”
She seems truly surprised to hear that. Whatever.
“I have to go.”
“April…”
“My name is Natalie. April is long gone.”
“Natalie… I know it doesn’t matter now, but I have to say it anyway. I was wrong to let him convince me to abandon you. I have no explanation other than I was afraid of him for most of the time we were married. That’s not your problem, but it’s the only excuse I have. I was afraid of what he would do to me and the girls if I defied him. It broke my heart to leave you in that hospital, and I’ve regretted it every minute of every day since then. I just wanted you to know that.”
“If that’s the case, why haven’t you tried to get in touch with me before now?”
“I didn’t think I’d be welcome.”
She wouldn’t have been.
“I wouldn’t blame you if you aren’t able to forgive me,” she says as tears run down her face, “but I wanted you to know how truly sorry I am for letting you down when you needed me most. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
I have no idea how to respond to that. I never expected her to say these things to me.
“We need to get going, babe,” Flynn says, squeezing my shoulder.
“I won’t take any more of your time,” my mother says. “Thank you for listening.”
We start to walk away, heading for the door and our great escape. I want out of there so badly, I can taste it, but something stops me.
“Wait,” I say to him.
He releases his tight hold on me so I can turn back to my mother, who is still standing right where we left her.
“Give me a couple of weeks,” I tell her. “And then call me. Candace and Livvy have my number. I’ll tell them it’s okay to give it to you.”
Tears continue to stream down her face as she nods, and I realize right then and there that she’s as much a victim of my father and Oren as I am. “Thank you.”
I take hold of Flynn’s hand. “Let’s go.”
A crowd has gathered outside the courthouse, people wanting a glimpse of Flynn and maybe me, too. He tells me they’re much more interested in me than they’ve ever been in him, but I don’t buy that. He’s the star. I’m just along for the ride.
They call out to us, but we get into the backseat of the black SUV and the door closes behind us.
It’s over. I did it. And now I’m free.
He wraps his arms around me. “I’m so fucking proud of you right now, I can’t even find the words to tell you how much.”
I lean into him, absorbing his love and support the way I have from the day I met him.
“You were amazing in the courtroom and just now with your mother.”
“You probably don’t agree with me allowing her to call me.”
“Baby, that’s up to you. I want what you want.”
“I want it to be over.”
“It is. It’s over now.” He caresses my arm and kisses the top of my head. “How do you feel about what she said?”
“I believe her when she says she was afraid of him. That explains a lot. She was always a good mother to us before everything happened, so it never made sense to me that she let him drag her out of the ER that night.”
“Fear is a powerful weapon.”
“Yes, it is. I don’t expect I’ll ever be close to her again, but forgiving her frees me from having to carry that shit around with me. I’ve carried it long enough.”
“You certainly have.” He tips
my chin up to receive his kiss. “I love you so much, my fierce, beautiful wife.”
“I love you, too. Thanks for being there with me. Being able to look at you rather than him made all the difference.”
“The only place I ever want to be is wherever you are.”
“Take me home. That’s where I want to be.”
“With pleasure, my love.”
Thank you for reading Outrageous! I hope you enjoyed Leah and Emmett’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I always knew the irreverent Leah’s story would be full of laughs, and she did not disappoint me! If you enjoy this book and the series, please make sure to leave a review at the retailer of your choice, at Goodreads and on BookBub. I appreciate every one of them! If you aren’t on my newsletter mailing list, please join at marieforce.com so we can keep in touch about new books, sales and other news.
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I’m planning to write one more book in the Quantum Series, featuring Marlowe. The book will be called Famous and will be out in 2019.
As always, thank you to my husband, Dan Force, and the incredible team that supports me behind the scenes, including Julie Cupp, Lisa Cafferty, Holly Sullivan, Isabel Sullivan, Nikki Colquhoun, Jules Bernard, Jessica Estep, Kristina Brinton, Anne Woodall, Kara Conrad, Linda Ingmanson and Mila Grayson. I couldn’t do what I do without their help and support.
Thank you to my faithful readers who make this the best job I could ever hope to have. You’re the best!
xoxo
Marie
Keep reading for a sneak peek of FAMOUS, Marlowe’s story!
Famous
Chapter 1
Marlowe
I’ve planned this night for weeks, down to the last detail. I want it to be perfect. Bringing someone new into my private life is not something I do lightly, having learned the hard way over the years that celebrity has a dark downside that I go out of my way to avoid whenever possible. But Rafe is different. We’ve been together for months now, and I feel ready to take this next step with him. In the dungeon that’s accessible only to Quantum partners and our guests, I take a careful look at the items I’ve set out—a blindfold, a flogger, the smallest plug, a bottle of lubricant and a cock ring. I’m starting him off easy until I can get a sense of whether he shares my appreciation for the lifestyle.
I have a feeling he will, if our “vanilla” sex life is anything to go by. He’s endlessly creative and sensual in bed. When he whispers to me in French, I can nearly come from that alone. It’s been a very long time since anything vanilla appealed to me, but then again, the lifestyle hasn’t been doing it for me lately either. While I’m satisfied by the sex I have with Rafe, I feel like it could be “more,” and thus the reason I’m trying to add a little spice to an already satisfying relationship.
Before I met Rafe, I had confessed to my closest friends and business partners that I was feeling out of sorts and off-kilter. Spending time at the clubs we own here in LA and in New York City had become boring, especially since my buddies found love and more or less gave up the clubs. Getting naked in public lost its luster for each of them after they found “the one.” In our world, we’re always one tabloid photo away from disaster, so I get that they feel the need to protect their significant others from that kind of exposure.
We go to enormous lengths to protect the members of our clubs, including the requirement of a one-million-dollar entrance fee for new members and airtight nondisclosure agreements. But that didn’t stop someone in Devon Black’s equally exclusive club from taking photos of our partner Jasper Autry that were later used to blackmail him. We’re all a little gun-shy after that episode.
Rafe understands the celebrity culture because he works in our industry. As an executive for the company that distributes Quantum films—and many others—in France, he travels frequently between Paris and Los Angeles, hobnobbing with celebrities and working deep inside the business. From the beginning, I’ve felt comfortable being myself around him, because he understands the pressures I face. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way about a guy, and even though I can tell my friends don’t love him, I do, and that’s all that matters.
Or so I tell myself.
Truth is, their opinions matter to me, even if I wish they didn’t.
Especially Flynn and Hayden, who have been my closest friends for years. It’s so rare for me to be out of sync with either of them, let alone both, but from the outset, they’ve been rather obvious in their dislike of Rafe. I wish I knew why, but they won’t even give him a chance. Flynn’s wife, Natalie, and I talked about it over the holidays when we were all together for four memorable days in St. George, Utah, of all places.
As I light the candles in the dungeon, I think about that conversation as I have so many times since then.
“It’s not that he doesn’t like Rafe,” Natalie had said. “It’s more that he doesn’t like him for you.”
“Why?” I’d asked and immediately hated myself for the question as well as the desperate-sounding tone in which it was asked. I’m Marlowe fucking Sloane. What do I care if Flynn Godfrey or anyone else doesn’t like my boyfriend? Except… I care, and I hate that I care.
I could tell Nat chose her words carefully. “It’s just that he thinks you can do…better.” She cringed as she said that last word, and I realized I’d put her in a terrible position by bringing it up at all. The guys had gone off to find a Christmas tree for Aileen’s kids and had grudgingly invited Rafe to join them. That’s what had led me to ask her what the fuck Flynn’s problem was with him.
Be careful what you wish for. Flynn thinks he’s not good enough for me, which means Hayden, Jasper, Kristian, Emmett and Sebastian probably agree with him.
“Does everyone feel that way?” I’d asked Nat.
“I’m not sure.” She’d rolled her bottom lip between her teeth, which is a “tell” for her. She knows but doesn’t want to say. Fair enough. None of them like him.
“Does it matter to anyone that I like him?”
“Yes! Of course it does. That’s all that matters. If he makes you happy, we’re happy. You know that.”
I’d eyed her skeptically. “I’m happy with him.”
“Okay, then.”
“Okay.”
We’d changed the subject, but the uncomfortable conversation had stayed with me ever since. Natalie had tried to be diplomatic, walking a fine line between not betraying Flynn and trying not to hurt my feelings. She’d failed in the latter account. My feelings were hurt, and they still are. It’s been five freaking years since I dated anyone seriously, so I sort of feel like the guys could at least try to give me a break with Rafe.
I glance at the ornate clock on the wall. He’s going to be here in fifteen minutes. Time to get changed and stop thinking about why my friends don’t like him. They can go fuck themselves.
I remind myself again that they’re not in this relationship. Only Rafe and I are, and we’re the only two who matter. I’m the only who needs to like him and trust him and love him. It’s my life, and no one else is going to live it for me, no matter how much I love my friends. They’re wrong this time, and I am going to prove it to them by making this relationship work.
I’ve decided it’s time to bring Rafe into my lifestyle because I know we can’t succeed long term unless I let him all the way in. Each of the guys has had to do the same with their significant others and did so with stunning success if their happy, dopey grins are any indication.
That’s what tonight is all about for Rafe and me. Taking that next step. Depending on how this goes, I might be ready for what comes next, whatever that may be for a couple juggling a transatlantic relationship.
I’m nervous about tonight because I’m not entirely sure how he’ll
react to my desire to dominate him. But I won’t know until I broach the topic with him. He already knows that I’m adventuresome in bed, but he has no idea just how adventuresome I can be. Tonight, he’s going to find out, and I’m excited as well as nervous.
I dart into the women’s changing room, take a quick shower and dress in one of my favorite outfits—a red leather bustier with a matching thong and sexy stockings with a flower pattern running through them. I’ve cut myself short on time, so I put my hair up in a bun and go with a smoky cat eye for my makeup. By the time my phone buzzes with the text I’m expecting from him, I’m ready.
After donning a red silk robe and black stiletto Louboutins with the fabulous red bottoms, I give myself a quick once-over in the full-length mirror and take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Here goes nothing…
In the lobby, I press the button for the elevator and take it up one floor to the main entrance to the Quantum office building. Most of the people who work here have no idea what’s in the basement. When the doors open, Rafe is facing away from me, looking out at the parking lot.
“Hey.”
“Why’d you want to meet here?” He turns to face me, his eyes widening when he sees me in the silky robe and heels. “Is this some sort of office fantasy or something?”
“Not quite.” I extend my hand to him. “Will you come with me and keep an open mind?” He’s absolutely beautiful, with thick wavy dark hair and brilliant blue eyes that crinkle at the corners when he smiles, which is often when we’re together.
He seems hesitant, but he takes my hand, links our fingers and kisses the back of my hand. “I shall happily follow wherever you lead, darling.”
Now imagine that said in a sexy French accent. I’m not one to swoon, but that accent does it for me.
He watches as I place my palm on the scanner that opens the elevator to the basement. “This all very cloak and dagger,” he says as we descend.
“Not really.”
We step out of the elevator, and the first thing we encounter is a reception desk. “This is where I have to ask you to sign a nondisclosure agreement that says you won’t disclose anything you see here.”