Deadly In Stilettos (24 page)

             
“You really think you’ll get away with all you’ve done?” Anya said in her disguised voice. “You are such a loser. I will not stop until you are locked away forever. You disappoint me with your tactics.”

             
Demi listened, getting madder by the second. Anya was playing with fire and soon would get burned.

             
“When will you learn?” Anya continued. “Everything does not belong to you or owe you anything! You walk around in stilettos all day, every day, trying to seduce each man you see, only to make yourself look like a whore. You have everything, and I am going to ruin your life. If you do not want me to go to the police, you have to pay. I am sick of taking a backseat or turning away when you get to have it all.”

             
So that was what this was all about. Money! Demi should have known. Anya had always been money crazy, and it looked like that much had not changed. She continued listening to Anya’s demands, all the while watching as Devin left his table and walked toward her. Tired of hearing Anya rant, Demi simply told the other woman, where she could go. “I know who you are,” Demi said calmly. “Be afraid, be very afraid! What you don’t know is that I do not take too kindly to threats. So be careful and look around. I’m like a ghost in the night and trouble in the daylight. I can make you disappear without a trace, in a flash. I suggest that the next time you call, Anya, please do not insult my intelligence. And please use you own damn voice. This shit is becoming too childish for me. I am working right now, so I will have to call you back.” Demi paused. She wanted to take things up a notch. “On second thought, you’re probably somewhere near me right now, so why not come join me? I am at Charlie’s, but I think you already know that!”

             
Anya sat holding the phone, unable to breathe. Demi was on to her. She was in too deep. Now her life was truly in jeopardy, knowing all the things Demi was capable of. She looked across the restaurant to where Demi sat sipping champagne. A wicked grin slowly appeared on her face as if she knew Anya was looking at her. She needed to get out of Charlie’s and quickly. Her flight back to New York was in six hours, but Anya decided to go directly to the airport and take the next available flight out of Memphis to anywhere. She needed to think. Although she knew Demi was somehow responsible for her father’s death and possibly others, she did not have any solid evidence. Now she knew Demi would come for her, and there was nothing she could do about it now. Her partner in crime was now on her own, Anya thought, gathering her things. Why had she agreed to help in the first place?

             
Demi’s smile broadened as she saw Anya leaving the restaurant, her head down as if trying to hide her identity
.
‘Some people do not deserve to live
,
’ Demi mused. Especially when they envy the lives of others who suffered greatly without anyone knowing or caring, Demi sighed. Anya thought she knew everything, but she knew nothing. All the pain, heartache, and disappointment Demi experienced was below the surface. Anya only saw what others saw: confidence, success, and beautiful shoes. Demi glanced down at her shoes and instantly felt better. Her stilettos always helped her cope with painful memories. Some would call it lame, but she called it therapy.

             
“Deminis Bradshaw!”

             
Demi looked up. Devin had reached her table. She was amazed at how calm he sounded when he said her name. “Yes?” she said, as if she was having trouble placing him. If he wanted to play games, she would oblige him.

             
“I knew it was you when you walked in. Plus, the shoes were a total giveaway.”

             
Demi wanted him to get on with it, so she spoke bluntly. “What can I do for you Mr. Masters? Was there something you wanted or are you just going to stand there looking like a lost puppy?”

             
“Ah…well…I saw you and just wanted to say hello. I know it’s been a long time, Demi, but I have thought a lot about you over the years. Do you mind if I have a seat?”

             
He really did look like a lost puppy. Demi wanted to laugh but kept her cool. She just took another sip from her glass to keep from breaking it and slicing Devin’s throat with it.

             
“Yes, quite frankly, I do mind very much so.” Demi needed to be brusque with him. If she allowed him easy access, he might become suspicious of her. Besides, he deserved whatever treatment he received, considering all he’d put her though. “I’m not up for any company right now, Devin,” she added, “so if you have something to say, just say it.”

             
He spoke hesitantly, as if wary of upsetting her more than she obviously already was. “Is there any way we can go somewhere else to talk? I really need to speak with you. I promise not to take up much of your time, but there are some things I must clarify.”

             
‘
Bingo,
’
Demi thought. She had him just where she wanted him. All she had to do was continue playing hard to get before going for his bait. She knew he wanted something more from her other than to apologize. The look of hope that suddenly appeared on his face told her that much. This was turning out to be easier than she’d expected. Demi gave him permission to sit and ordered her favorite dish when visiting Charlie’s: crabmeat au gratin. Devin ordered nothing, saying he had eaten earlier. Her dinner was delicious, just as always. She savored each bite while watching Devin, as he searched her eyes for answers.

             
The special package in Demi’s purse was deadly. She needed to handle it carefully so that it did not harm her or any other innocent person. The liquid substance she carried could eat a hole into anything within seconds. A drop was all she needed to complete her task with Devin, but she planned to make him suffer as she had suffered when he kicked the life of their children out of her.

             
When Devin asked her again to join him somewhere more private, she agreed pretending that the champagne was getting to her. She watched his eyes sparkle, yet held some darkness she didn’t pay close attention to. He said they could take his car, but Demi insisted on driving herself. Before leaving, Demi gave the waitera generous tip for all of his services. He looked surprised and amazed at the three one-hundred dollar crisp bills she handed him. “Love those shoes,” he called out as she left the restaurant. Demi smiled
.
‘Oh, how she loved stilettos.’

             
She followed Devin’s car out of the city, and when he turned down a long road leading to what appeared to be nowhere, Demi got alarmed. Maybe Devin had his own plans for getting rid of her, but she really wasn’t afraid of him. As the road went on and on, Demi wanted to turn back but thought better of it knowing that this was her last chance in getting revenge on Devin. Suddenly, she saw one of the most beautiful sights in the world, and Demi had traveled all around it.

The road led to a clearing that showcased a lake, a tr
ail around it, and a profusion of flowers, many that she could not recognize. On one side of the lake stood a beautiful cottage, it looked straight out of a picture. Behind it the sky was painting in the breathtaking colors of the sunset. Demi could have stayed there forever. The beauty of the place was gratifying, washing from her mind all the horrible memories she held inside. In the middle of the lake was a fountain, and as Demi walked closer she saw there were many exotic fish swimming in it. The breeze felt good against her skin. She looked around, taking it all in. Why had Devin brought her there? Who owned this piece of land? Devin?

             
He walked over to her, and she could not help but smile at him. Without saying a word, he grabbed her by the hand and led her to an area near the lake. There stood a table covered with linen, tall white candles, a bottle of her favorite champagne, and crystal goblets. How had he pulled all this together? When? It was not at all what she had been expecting.

             
“What is all this?” she said. “You didn’t have to go to any trouble for me. I don’t plan on staying long, so can we just get to the real reason you brought me out here?” The words came out like venom. Demi was surprised at how rude and cold she sounded. Even Devin looked taken aback. “I just wanted to do something special for you. You deserve the world and so much more, Demi. I took you for granted before. I want to make it up to you. Can you ever forgive me for the terrible things I’ve done? The pain I caused you?”

             
Demi could not believe how nonchalant he sounded, how emotionless his apology suddenly was. He appeared different while they were alone, something she was starting to pay close attention to.

             
“Maybe if I knew what really happened with us,” she said, “then we might be able to be friends. You do owe me that much, Devin!”

             
Devin rubbed the back of his neck. He was getting tired of hearing Demi ask about what happened, or constantly accuse him. “Why don’t we sit?” he said. He pulled out a chair for her and then walked around the table and sat. Studying him, Demi thought she had never seen someone look so ill at ease. Before he began, she knew he was full of shit.

             
“When we started dating,” he said, “I had just gotten out of a long-term relationship with this very self-centered, snobbish woman, who had a very wealthy and powerful father. She cheated on me, brushing it off like nothing. I ended things immediately and that’s when I met you. When she found out I had moved on, she tried to ruin my career before it starting. I couldn’t afford for that to happen, Demi. Her father even paid some men to kill me, but when they came for me, I wasn’t at home. My family was scared that something would happen to you, so they went along with everything. I should have been straight up with you, but I was a coward then.”

            
 
‘Still is
,
’ she thought. Demi nodded in agreement, but kept her comments to herself. Devin continued his story, while she tried to keep from rolling her eyes.

             
“When you moved here, I should have told you, but she told me that if I left her, she would destroy me. I tried to play both sides until she demanded more of my time. When she told me she was pregnant, I had to let you go, even though I wasn’t happy about it. I promised myself that if and when I ever had kids, I would be there and they would grow up in a two-parent home.”

             
‘You see, I grew up in a two-parent home and I wanted the same thing for my children. Anyway, I didn’t handle the situation correctly. The day I last saw you, I just lost it. I thought it was her I was punishing for all the things she’d put me through. All my rage just overtook me, and I didn’t even see you anymore. Instead, it was her. I never meant to hurt you or our babies, Demi. You have to believe me. I relive that day every time I close my eyes. The nightmares get worst and worst each time. I wanted so badly to come back and help you, but when the police showed up, I panicked and never looked back in fear that you gave them my name and they would come for me.”

             
The tears in his eyes almost touched her heart, but the pain would not let that happen. He seemed genuinely sincere, but Demi still did not let her guard down. As he talked, she saw the hurt and pain in his eyes. Still, why had it taken so long for him to find her and apologize? Even if he was married and his wife was expecting, he could have been up front with her and told her everything. She hadn’t wanted to destroy his life. All she’d wanted was her children to get a fair chance, and they didn’t. And how did he know she was pregnant with twins? She never gave him that bit of information. No one knew other than her doctor and nursing staff from the hospital. A red flag went up. Demi was no fool, anymore. If Devin Masters wanted to play games, she would beat him at each one of them.

             
Devin touched her hand. This time Demi let him comfort her. The tears flowed down her cheeks faster than she could wipe them away.

             
“I never meant to hurt you, Demi. You have to believe that. I just could not let anything happen to you if she found out where you were. She would have killed you. I will do anything to make it up to you.” Demi doubted that very seriously. She knew how to take care of herself.

Demi took a deep breath. Looking down at her stilettos, she managed to smile. She felt revived. H
er shoes always helped her feel better in any given situation. It was now time to put an end to all the chitchat. Devin had still stolen her life’s most precious treasure. It was her time to steal something from him…his life.

             
“Do you think we can go inside?” she asked. “It’s getting a bit chilly out. I need to use the ladies room anyways.”

             
Devin got up, walked over to her, and helped her from her seat. Before Demi knew what was happening, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the cottage. Once inside, he placed her on the sofa in front of the fireplace. He made a fire and the cottage some became cozy and warm, but there was still eeriness about it. Despite Devin’s little performance, she still managed to admire the beauty of the decorated space. It was simply divine design. Candace Olson would have been proud of whoever the interior designer was.