Page 143 of Death Wish
Ember covered her mouth with one hand and closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, Simone. So very sorry.”
“Why did you betray me?”
“You don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand because this isn’t like you at all. What happened, Ember?”
She gave a bitter laugh then. “Trevor White happened.”
“You dated him, too?”
“No.” Ember shuddered. “Never. I hate him, especially after what he did to you before you left San Francisco.”
“Then why did you feed him information?”
“He threatened my mother.” Simone’s friend cried. “Trevor said he would hurt her and make Mom suffer for a long time before he finally killed her if I didn’t cooperate. I didn’t want to do it, Simone. I swear. I never would have done something so hideous if I wasn’t terrified for my mother. Please, you have to understand. Forgive me.”
“Why didn’t you tell Simone?” Jesse asked. He could understand feeding White information under duress. What he didn’t get was why Ember didn’t call or email Simone to let her know, to give her time to escape before Trevor landed on Simone’s doorstep again.
“He said he had someone watching every move I made, that he’d know if I warned Simone he was coming.”
“And you believed him.”
“Yes, I did. You don’t know him like Simone and I do, Jesse. He’s vicious. If Trevor found out what I’d done, he would have killed me, tortured my mother, and found someone else to do his dirty work of tracking Simone.”
“Did you profit from the work?”
Ember’s face appeared almost translucent. She swallowed hard. “He paid me. I didn’t want the money but he made me take it. I dumped it all into an account. I haven’t touched a penny of that blood money, and I won’t.”
She wiped her wet face with her hands. “So, what now? How can I make this up to you?”
Simone shook her head. “You can’t. It’s done. You don’t have to worry about Trevor anymore. He won’t hurt you or your mother ever again.”
Ember stared. “He’s dead?” she asked faintly.
“In the hands of the FBI,” Jesse said. “He won’t get out of prison until he’s old. You and your mother are safe.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, relief flooding her face. “Thank God.”
Simone stood. “We know you have to get ready for work. We’ll leave you to it.”
“Are you going to be in town for a while? We could have dinner together. Mom would love to see you again.”
She reached for Jesse’s hand as she shook her head. “We appreciate the invitation but we have a flight to catch.”
“Will I see you again?”
“Perhaps. We’re busy these days.”
Ember opened the door. “Is it all right if I call you sometime?”
Simone smiled. “Of course. We’ll talk.” She hugged Ember who clung to her for a long minute. “Tell your mother I said hello.”
“I will.” Ember watched them walk to the SUV.
Jesse unlocked the vehicle and helped Simone inside before circling to climb behind the wheel. “Where to, Simone?”
She looked at him. “Home. I just want to go home and start my life with you.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “June can’t come fast enough for me,” he murmured. “But I’m going to enjoy romancing you over the next few months.”
Simone beamed at him. “Just so you know, I’m planning to romance you as well. Get prepared to be treated like a prince.”
He laughed. Yeah, he was going to enjoy life with this woman. Simone Kent was full of surprises and she loved him. Jesse couldn’t wait to see what life held in store for them. Perhaps someday, they’d share their love and home with children and more pets.
Life was good, and it would only get better from here. “Let’s go home.”
