Rescue Me (Dark Desires 3)

Hannah and Andy were both apprehended by the police and taken downtown, where they were thrown in jail. Despite feeling exhausted, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to sleep. So I went to a bar downtown and drank most of the night, then slept it off. Now I was on my way to pick up June from the hospital and take her home.

I couldn’t believe it, but I was actually nervous at the thought of seeing June again. Obviously, I had some major explaining – and apologizing – to do. I swallowed a lump in my throat and pulled up to the hospital carport.

June was waiting outside with a nurse. She looked pale and tired, but otherwise just as beautiful as ever. She was still wearing her dress from the night before. As she climbed into the passenger seat of my car, I noticed she was avoiding my gaze.

After a few torturous moments of silence, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“June, please, talk to me.” I said as I pulled away from the hospital.

June’s shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“For what?” I narrowed my eyes and reached a hand into her lap. June stiffened at my touch.

“You hate me now,” June said flatly. “And I don’t know what I did, but I’m really sorry, Thomas.”

I sighed heavily. “I don’t hate you at all,” I said. “I…I love you, June.”

That got her attention. June’s head snapped up. She pushed her black hair over one shoulder.

“What?”

“I said, I love you,” I repeated. “I really do, June. I love you so much.”

A tear rolled down June’s cheek. “Then…why did you act like that last night?” She asked softly. “Why did you treat me like that, Thomas?”

I sighed. “There won’t be an excuse good enough to justify how horribly I treated you,” I said. “And I can assure you that it had absolutely nothing to do with you, June. You’re perfect, just the way you are.”

June sniffled.

“Please don’t cry,” I said. “I’ll explain everything. Do you want to come home with me, or your apartment?”

June let out a hiccupping sob. “My apartment,” she said softly.

“Okay. Then that’s where we’ll go.” And if my Porsche gets ruined again, fuck, I deserve it , I thought as I turned towards Brooklyn.

Thankfully, Angela wasn’t home. I waited patiently in the living room while June showered and changed into yoga pants and a loose-fitting shirt. She still looked adorable as ever. When she was through, I gestured for her to crawl into my arms.

“So, the other day, I did a background check on Hannah,” I said slowly. “After I fired her, I noticed that almost all of my longtime clients wouldn’t speak to me.”

June sat up and narrowed her eyes. “Why not?” She asked softly. “What happened?”

I ran my hands through my hair and sighed. “Because Hannah wasn’t who she said she was,” I said. “She was actually impersonating someone else. Her real name is Megan Callahan, and she’s been gunning for billionaires since she was a teenager.”

“I don’t understand,” June replied.

“I don’t either,” I said. “But Megan was linked with the deaths of Richard Moss and Archibald Kramer.”

“Those were…”

“Two of the richest men in New York,” I said grimly. “Hannah, or should I say, Megan, had been chasing after them and trying to get married rich. She lied about her age – I thought she was in her early twenties, but she’s actually been doing this for over ten years.”

June swallowed. “And she hated me because she thought I stole you?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I’m so sorry, June. When I got to dinner last night, I’d just gotten the results back about Hannah’s true identity.”

“How did she know Andy?”

I sighed. “I’m guessing she stalked you,” I said. “And as soon as she realized that there was someone interested in you, she made him an offer. I’m guessing she probably paid him to try to take care of you. Andy, although what he did can’t be forgiven, was just a pawn in all of this.”