Dead Presidents (An Aria Raymond Thriller Book 3) by Thomas Ransom (that summer book txt) 📕

her so dependent on him that it was impossible for her to think that she could make major decisions herself.

Years of working on herself, struggling and falling, and getting back up again. It wasn’t easy to break from the person Mark had made her. Now that she was in a better state and doing so well for herself, fighting for the things she believed in, it seemed unfair that her past would come back like this. And it brought with itself all the uncertainty and doubts that used to surround her all the time back then. She never thought this man would still have that impact on her. She had learned to ignore seeing him on the news. She pretended he wasn’t the person she knew. That Mark was someone else, not the one she would read about or hear news about.

“Nicole…”

“Mark! What do you want from me? Forgiveness? I forgave you a long time ago. Not for you. For myself because it was how I could move on. I had to heal from it. It took me years, but I did it. I am over you. Completely! I am doing well in my life. In my career.”

“I know that. I saw the news. Seriously, Nicole, I am so proud of everything you have achieved. I was worried sick when the news reached me that you were the lawyer on that case and that you had been kidnapped. I was planning to come here and find you myself if I could. Thank God you were able to get yourself out of there!”

“You… you were coming here?”

“Of course! I had already made so many calls to so many people to try to do something. The police there had no jurisdiction here. I couldn’t do anything, which is why I was planning to come here myself and then we heard the news that you were back and that you were safe. I didn’t want to draw attention to you as it could have proved dangerous at that point. You see, I had been following that case ever since I found out you were that girl’s lawyer. I am impressed by how you managed all that. I always knew you were destined for greatness.”

“That’s why you dumped me?”

Mark sighed, “That was the biggest mistake of my life, Nicole. I can’t tell you how much I regret it. I was ashamed. Ashamed to face you. Why do you think it took such a long time for me to reach out to you? I just… I couldn’t… after what I did…” Mark stammered.

Diaz noticed the tears in his eyes before he blinked them away and turned to face her.

“I want you back, Nicole. I want us together. Please. Please, give me another chance. I will do right by you this time. Please?”

Diaz was taken back at this. She wasn’t expecting this. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted this now.

“Please, Nicole,” Mark gazed at her intensely. “I know I am asking too much. But please. Please give me another chance. I will prove to you that I am a changed man now. Let me make it up to you. I have never been more in love with anyone ever. I will keep you happy. You know that. Come on. One more chance.”

Diaz felt her heart melting and her defenses breaking down. She cleared her throat, “I … I will think about it, Mark. I honestly… I don’t know.”

“I know. I know. I understand. Take your time. I am willing to wait for you. Take as much time as you need to decide. But you and I both know that we belong together. Don’t you remember how happy we were? I know I lost my way before. But I have come back to you. And I will wait for you to come back to me.”

Mark kissed Nicole’s forehead and stood up, “I know you need space right now. So, I am going to give it to you. My car is waiting downstairs. You take your time and let me know when you are ready. I will be waiting.” He smiled, picked up his things and with one last look at Nicole, he stepped out of the apartment, leaving Nicole in a rather indecisive state of mind.

 

Chapter 7: The Attack!

Wayne stared at the papers in front of him, completely baffled. His heart was racing. His hands shook as he sorted through the papers and read through them. He knew he would get in so much trouble because of what he did, but the minute he opened the files, all those thoughts vanished as he got more and more invested in what was on the papers. He was right. There was something big going on, and he now had the evidence in his hands. This thing was certainly big. It was overwhelming for him. What the hell was he supposed to do now? No one knew for now that he knew so much, but the moment they found out, he would be a dead man!

Suddenly all that fear came rushing back to him. They are bound to kill him if they find out. He knows way too much. Shit! He thought. Why didn’t he just let things be? Why the hell did he get involved in this! He can’t just sit with this information. But he also can’t do anything about it, especially if he wants to stay alive. He thought of Aria and how much she had to endure, simply because she was in the wrong position at the wrong time. She didn’t even know what was happening, and this is what they did to her. He couldn’t even fathom what kind of torture they would put him through.

“Shit!” he called out in frustration.

Wayne’s heart was beating fast now, and he could feel his throat closing up. What the hell!