Deadly In Stilettos (42 page)

             
They always baked pies, cakes, and many other types of dessert during the holidays. People loved Aunt Charlotte’s desserts. Selling them generated extra income for Christmas presents and decorations. One year Aunt Charlotte surprised Demi with her own computer and a collection of books she had asked for years before. Demi knew that money was tight, and she appreciated everything her aunt gave her. One Christmas, all they had was food to eat. Demi was sad at first, only to realize how blessed they were when they went downtown to help feed the hungry. Demi had not known that so many people went without food and even a decent place to sleep, especially during the holidays. It broke her heart knowing how selfish she had been. Later that evening when they rode the bus home because Aunt Charlotte did not trust driving her own car downtown, Demi listened as her aunt explain to her the true meaning of Christmas. It was not about receiving gifts, but acknowledging the birth of Jesus Christ. Receiving the gift of Jesus in your heart was the most important thing Demi learned that day.

             
Demi was overjoyed by what she experienced and learned. After that Christmas, Demi never asked for anything again. She was nine years old. It did not matter to her when she returned to school after the holidays, and everyone else bragged about all the presents they’d gotten and then asked her what Santa brought to her. She got in trouble with some of the parents about ruining Christmas for their children. That day Demi simply kept most of the things she learned from Aunt Charlotte to herself. Now she wished she still had her around to explain why all the bad things kept happening to her.

             
Demi was startled by the opening of her hospital door. Makei walked in, smiling and holding a beautiful array of yellow roses and purple lilies. Despite the horrible mood she was in, Demi managed to smile back at him. Something inside her ignited. She suddenly did not feel lonely anymore. It was as if God was hearing all that she had remembered earlier. “I hope you don’t mind me being her. I just could not stay away. I know you said you needed space and time, but I really wanted to be here to see you home when the doctor released you today.”

             
Demi smiled again, assuring Makei she was glad to see him. Makei was truly a great person, and she was thankful he was still a part of her life. She feared that it would all turn the opposite once she confessed she was the one who had tried to kill him. Demi shook the thought away. She would deal with that when the time came. Patting the side of the bed, she asked Makei to sit next to her. He put the flowers in an empty vase and filled it with water before joining her. He kissed her forehead before taking a seat next to her. He seemed nervous.

             
“How are you feeling today? Are you all packed and ready to get away from here? Can I get anything for you before you leave?”

             
Placing her fingers tenderly over his lips, signaling him to stop asking questions and rambling, Demi looked into Makei’s eyes. He looked away. There was something he was not saying. “Makei, what’s up? You look as if you’ve just seen a ghost. Is there something you want to say to me?”

             
Makei stood up and paced. “Just say it!” she exclaimed. “What more can you say that will hurt me?”

             
Slowly he walked back over to the bed, sitting down next to Demi. He reached for her hand, eyes widening when he felt how cold it was. “Do you need more blankets? Your hands are like ice blocks.”

             
“I am fine. Just say whatever it is that you obviously want to say.”

             
Makei took a deep breath. “There is something very important that I think you should know.” Demi sat up in the bed, her face inches away from Makei’s. She searched his eyes for a sign of what was to come, but could read nothing in his expression. Why was everybody treating her like a kid instead of the adult she was?

             
“Demi, I have been speaking with the detective on this case. He knows your friend Greg. There are things about Greg that disgust me, which I learned from his colleagues. Anyway, the day you were attacked, I was following you in another cab. I had this strange feeling that something bad was going to happen to you that day I saw you in your condo in Las Vegas, so I decided to look out for you.”

             
Demi stared at him, astounded and angry.

             
“I know you are not happy with me for that,” he said, “but there is more.” Taking another deep breath, Makei continued. “I was right behind you the night you were attacked, when you were going back to the Plaza from Starbucks. My cab, though, got hung up in traffic. When I got to the hotel, I saw your friend Sidney leaving in a rush. She did not see me, but I could tell she’d been up to no good. When I heard all the commotion in the hotel lobby, I panicked. I knew she had done something horrible to you. When I got to you, I almost lost it. If I had been there, you would not be in this place. Sidney and Greg are working together, Demi. They both want you dead. The question that the detective and I want to know is why.”

             
Demi was infuriated. How could Greg betray her like that? Sidney and she had their problems, but never did Demi think she would try to kill her. That fact only fueled her rage. She would definitely get her revenge. At first, she had wanted to give Greg the benefit of the doubt. Now Demi felt stupid for trusting, loving and giving herself to him. No wonder he had not come to the hospital to check on her. He didn’t give a damn.

             
“Who else knows this?” she asked. She narrowed her eyes to slits at Makei. “That’s why you hired security for me, isn’t it? In case they found out I’m still alive and came back for me.”

             
“The police are keeping a watchful eye on Sidney and Greg as we speak. They are together right now, here in New York.”

             
That fact saddened Demi. Greg was heartless like the rest. Sidney had always had her crazy side, but Demi would have never guessed Sidney wanted her dead. Why did she hate her so much? They had been the best of friends, taking vacations together, talking on the phone weekly, so what happened along the way that made Sidney hate her? Or was it all a ploy from the beginning? Whatever it was did not really matter now. Demi mentally placed two final names on her list. In due time, they would meet their demise. The only thing she wanted to do was get out of this hospital and as far away as she could from New York. She needed time to heal, and being in the city with two people who wanted her dead was not an option for her. Makei must have read her mind. He smiled one of the most beautiful but mischievous smiles at her. Before she could ask what he was thinking, in walked the doctor.

             
“Ms. Bradshaw, how are you feeling today? Are you ready to finally get out of here and go home?” Music to her ears, she thought, smiling at her handsome doctor. “Yes, I most certainly am.” The doctor checked her chart, nodding. “I will get the nurse to check your vitals one more time, and then I will have someone bring your release papers if everything checks out.” Everything did check out, and in an hour Demi was leaving the hospital with Makei.

             
“I have a little Christmas surprise for you,” Makei said, helping her into the backseat of a limousine. Two hours later Demi and he were on a private jet heading to someplace warm and exotic. Demi was enjoying a glass of champagne with fresh strawberries in it. The strawberries kissed her lips and she sipped the champagne slowly. Makei was asleep. He must have been exhausted. She knew from the nurses that he hadn’t left the hospital but a few hours while she was there. Demi felt blessed again to have him in her life. Maybe she would just keep her secret. She did not want to lose him again. Plus, she did not know what Makei was capable of when it came to revenge.

             
When the jet landed, Makei woke up. He opened his eyes and admired the lovely woman sitting across from him. He knew she was the one who had tried to kill him, but there was no way he would ever tell her that. He felt as though he deserved it for all the hurt he caused her. He loved her and wanted to spend his entire life making it up to her. When she had been released from the hospital in good health and strength, Makei made a plea with God. He told God that if he ever got a second chance with the woman he loved, he would not mess it up again. Makei certainly did not plan on reneging on his part of the deal.

             
As Demi looked out the window of the jet, she smiled. She was alive, with the man she loved, and now about to bask in the beauty of wherever they were. Life was getting better by the minute for her. She only wished Tabitha and Brian could have joined them with Christmas coming up. A much needed vacation was a true gift from God, which all of them needed.

Chapter 32

THE SUN was shining, penetrating the earth with its warmth, when Demi and Makei got off the jet. The sky was bluer than the ocean peeking in the distance. Demi felt an immediate
sense of renewal. The change in weather would help her get her strength and peace of mind back. Also, she would be able to form the perfect plan of destruction for her two new frenemies.

             
Makei walked up behind Demi, placing his arms around her tiny waist. Since being in the hospital, she had lost way wore weight than she should have, since she was already so slender. She had gone from a perfect size six to a size two. Makei told her she still looked beautiful, but Demi was not comfortable in her own skin. She needed her weight back to its normal size. All of her curves had lost their appeal. She looked like a twelve-year-old girl.

             
During their vacation, she would eat as much as she wanted without feeling guilty about it. She also planned on getting her once perfect suntan back. Being in New York for months during the fall and early winter caused her skin to become pale. The huge Chanel sunglasses she wore hid the dark circles and sadness that filled her eyes as she noticed all the beautiful people at the airport. Makei brought her some new clothes to wear when she left the hospital, since nothing of her own fit anymore. The yellow Chanel sundress hugged the few curves she had left, and Demi admitted that she loved the way it looked on her. He’d also brought her a pink, yellow, and purple silk scarf. She put her hair up in a bun and wrapped the scarf around it in an elegant and classy style. But the greatest part of her outfit was her shoes. The yellow gladiator Manolo Blahniks were just the lift she needed.

             
Makei led her to another limousine, which was filled with all kind of exotic and sweet fruit. Demi was starving, so she grabbed a mango and bit into it, savoring the sweetness. She smiled. Never had she tasted anything so delicious, other than Makei. Why was she thinking naughty thoughts? There would be none of that on this trip. She was there to recover and nothing more. Makei was happy Demi looked so comfortable and excited about their trip. At first, she had been hell-bent on returning to Las Vega. It took some persuasive talking on his part to finally convince her to go away with him for some much needed relaxation. He looked at her eating the mango, glad he had not let her go back to Las Vegas, alone. He would make sure she had a great time. He also wanted her far away from New York while his plan was being carried out. Greg Stanley and Sidney Kickass would no longer be in the land of the living once he and Demi returned.

             
As they rode in silence admiring the amazing view, Demi looked at Makei. He was so handsome. His boyish looks and piercing brown eyes gave him an exotic look. His smooth caramel-colored skin looked better as the sun beamed down on it. He was a picture of perfection. His chiseled features and five o’clock shadow were the perfect combination, pure beauty. For the first time, Demi saw her soul mate. All the things she longed for in a mate sat right across from her, smiling at their magnificent surroundings. Just as she was about to look away, Makei moved over to sit next to her. He took a strawberry from the bowl of chilled fresh fruit, popping it into his mouth. “This fruit is delicious,” he said giving her a seductive look, with a promise to taste her sweet nectar in the near future.