Hot Coffee (The Hollens Book 1)

Preparations

I was now in my car heading home with only one person on my mind. When the guards saw my car approaching, they immediately opened the gate. I had an automatic voice recognition gate, like my Nana's, but when Emma was attacked, by my own mother, I had it changed and hired more security and more household employees, including a new chef.

I took the elevator, though I usually took the stairs; I was eager to see if Emma was around or if she had left. I opened the bedroom door and saw her talking on the phone. She was wearing a very sexy tight vest with a short shorts with part of her booty hanging out. She looked delicious. I was lost in my thoughts for a moment, but when she said the name "Roger" into the phone my mood changed instantly. That bastard couldn't just leave her alone?

I moved over to the bed, where she was sitting and I sat down besides her, listening in on the conversation.

"So when are you coming back?" I heard him ask. 

I had heard enough from this asshole.

I took the phone out of Emma's hand and yelled through the phone for Roger to mind his own business then hung up. I threw the phone aside. Emma eyes were wide and she looked scared.

Great, Linda at work, and Roger at home!

I had had it. I really needed a vacation. I lie back on the bed and heaved a sigh. I was happy she was home.

"Hey," she said softly to me, pushing her tiny fingers into my hair and rubbing my forehead. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," I answered shortly and pulled her onto me with a strong hug. 

She planted small kisses on my lips, which made me smile every time. She was so delicate and beautiful, like a flower. I was happy she was finally back.

"How was your morning?"

"It was alright. I went for a walk but the sky looked like it would rain so I didn't stay out long. I spoke with Halley, Chef made me a yummy breakfast, and I watched television."

I smiled because she was smiling. She seemed happy and that was the way I wanted her to always be. Happy.

I got up and changed into my exercising t-shirt and pants.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"The gym."

"How long will you be gone?"

"Um, one hour, maybe two. Why?"

"I'll miss you."

"Well, you wanna come along?"

"Yes!" she answered cheerfully and sprung from the bed like a tiger. 

She moved towards her closet like lightening. She changed into a less tight t-shirt and loose shorts. 

I shook my head and laughed silently to myself. 

She jumped over to me like a child getting candy. "I'm ready."

I took her hand and led her to the mansion's gym. She was amazed.

"I didn't know there was a gym here. I thought you were heading out," she said, sitting on the floor.

"I didn't give you a full tour of the mansion. There are rooms here you haven't even been in yet."

I set down my towel and water bottle and instructed her to come to a punching bag. I wanted to teach her how to punch, just in case she had to defend herself.

"Okay, put these on." I handed her a pair a boxing gloves. I didn't want her to hurt herself in any way. 

She put them on and I positioned her in front of me, my crotch area on her booty. I couldn't help myself; she looked sexy, like a warrior princess.

"Make your hand into a fist, like this. Make sure your thumb isn't on the inside of your palms or you could break it when punching."

She made a perfect fist.

"Okay, now I want you to shoot a straight punch into the center of the bag. Very carefully. Don't use too much power."

She punched the bag and threw a smile at me. It was a light punch but she hit it in the middle like I instructed.

"Very good. Now, I want you to do it again. This time, a little more energy."

She punched and punched again. Each punch with a stronger impact on the bag than the one before. I was rather impressed when she swayed the seventy pound bag around a bit.

"Okay, that's enough punching for today. I want you to relax now and watch your man do his thing." 

She took off the gloves and sat down on a floor mat. She seemed deep in thought and angry about something.

"Baby, are you okay?" I asked, dropping to her level.

"I was imagining the bag was Sharon's face. I swear my fist will meet her face if I ever see her again!

I didn't know how to respond to that. I didn't want her to be angry over the past anymore, and, also, I'd failed to protect. I should be blamed for what happened too. But, at the same time, I didn't want to talk her out of it because it might seem like I was trying to defend Sharon, which was the last thing I'd ever do.

______________________________
Somewhere in Italy

Sharon's POV

Finally, the new identities were ready. I had cut my hair and dyed it jet black and applied bronzer to my skin to make it appear darker. Ethan's Mother made basic changes to her makeup application. She said she was never cutting or dying her hair. She just looked the same.

"You have to do something to your appearance. You can't just waltz back into America looking almost the same. We're wanted!" I yelled at her, regretting it shortly after when she gave me a hard look.

"I've had it with you. I wouldn't of been in this mess if it wasn't for you. I wouldn't have been in some God forsaken shack in the middle of the woods! I want my life back. I want to visit my hotels around the world and just be who I've always been."

"You think I want this too? I didn't ask you to attack Emma! That was your idea. You were the one who insisted on killing her and dumping her off at a swamp. I went along because she screwed up my life! My life! And she's going to pay for it!"

"Sharon, why don't we just let it go? She's with Ethan now and he loves her. He will not come back to you, regardless of us hurting Emma or even killing that poor girl. It's over between the two of you!"

"No! It's not over between us!"

With anger and rage in my soul, and all over my body, the gun went off. 

There was a loud bang in my ears and I saw blood oozing out of her stomach. 

She fell onto the floor, gasping for air and calling to me. "Sharon. What did you do?" she asked. 

And those were her last words.

Her eyes remained opened and she grew pale. I, however, had no remorse. Though I didn't mean to do it, I pictured her as the little black bitch on the floor in front of me instead. That was exactly what I was going to do to her. Shoot her with Ethan's very own gun.