Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 by Laura Burton (learn to read books .TXT) 📕

made a noise of frustration as they crossed the main road, more haunting sirens flooded the air as if the sky was swarming with banshees. The car jolted as the tires mounted the sidewalk and Catherine clutched her seat for dear life. She yelped as they crashed through a wire fence and interrupted a basketball game. Kids ran out of the path of the squealing car, the wired fence dragging along the cement, slowing their momentum.

Then, as if suddenly struck by an idea, Edward yanked on the hand brake so hard, the car came to an abrupt stop just inches away from an elderly woman and her walker. The old lady shook an angry fist at the two of them and Catherine and Edward sat, chests heaving, both staring in shock as the lady staggered away.

The police vehicles parked, a door opened and a man in blue uniform sighed.

“Sir, please step out of the vehicle.” He said, as if he had given this instruction a thousand times already that day, and he had not just been in hot pursuit. Edward raised his hands and slowly got out of the car.

“I’m sorry officer. There’s something wrong with the car,” Edward began, Catherine jumped as her door swung open and an officer bent down to look at her.

“Are you alright ma’am?” he said. Catherine nodded as she shakily got out of the car.

“I saw him trying to hit the brakes officer, it was like they weren’t working,” she said in a hollow voice. She glanced at Edward who was speaking to the other officer. A crowd of people stood and looked on; their phones raised like a silent group of paparazzi.

“I’m sorry but we can’t just let you go, look at this mess!”

Catherine walked round the back of the car and looked at the trail of destruction they had left behind. “Look, no one is above the law, I still have to take you in.” One of the officers mumbled into his walkie talkie as he squinted into the sunshine.

“One second, I just need to check…”

Catherine turned back to see Edward drop to the ground and disappear beneath the steaming car. The two officers shifted their weight and exchanged uncertain looks as they waited. Then Edward shuffled back into view.

“Brake lines have been cut,” he said grimly. “We need to report an attempted murder.”

Catherine’s mouth fell open in horror.

Chapter Eighteen

Pulling Out the Big Guns

“What do you mean, my car is in the pound?”

Edward rolled his eyes. He had called Sam from the police station, with Catherine close to freaking out, to tell him that someone had tried to kill him – twice. And the first thing he was concerned about was his precious Thunderbird. “Nice to see you’ve got your priorities straight.”

He glanced back at Catherine, who sat huddled in a corner of the police office, her hands cradling a cup as she stared vacantly ahead.

“What am I supposed to tell Anthony?” Sam asked, snapping Edward out of his daze.

“The truth, perhaps?” Edward shot back. He rubbed his forehead. “Listen, I need my place back.” Sam broke into a tirade of objections.

“We shook on it Edward. A deal is a deal.”

“Are you kidding me right now?” Edward growled into the phone, turning away from the room of officers. “Some idiot is after my head and you are still thinking about a stupid bet?” He looked up and his stomach fell as the last person he wanted to see walked into the office.

“Morning Johnson,” the man said, the silver hair he had gelled neatly to the side matched his crisp grey suit. An officer nodded to him.

“Mr. Marks,” he replied. Catherine’s head shot up and Edward inwardly groaned. There was no turning back now, the truth was about to be blown open spectacularly. And there was nothing he could do to stop it.

“Father, how did you know I was here?” he said, hanging up on Sam and stuffing his phone in his pocket. His father’s smile stiffened.

“You are all over the news,” he said, his lips barely moving. “Edward, do you realize how much of a mess you’ve caused?”

Before Edward could reply, Catherine walked over, eyeing his father warily.

“You must be Catherine Fisher,” Edward’s father said gently, his entire composure softening. Catherine smiled weakly as they shook hands.

“I think I recognize you from somewhere,” she said thoughtfully, tilting her head to the side in thought. Edward swallowed.

Here we go.

It was like watching a car crash, only in slow motion.

“My name is Charles Marks. I’m Edward’s father.”

Edward closed his eyes as he allowed the words to sink in. “Marks…” Catherine repeated thoughtfully. “Edward Marks.”

Edward swallowed and opened his eyes to see Catherine looking at him as if for the first time.

“You’re not really a mechanic, are you?”

Charles gave Edward a hard look.

“My dear boy, what have you been up to?”

Charles heaved a sigh and strode to the main desk to speak to the officers. This was not the first time he had to get Edward out of trouble with the law. Catherine cleared her throat, Edward looked back to see her eyeing him shrewdly with her arms crossed. He winced at her and offered an apologetic grin.

“Edward Marks… as in the Hotel chain?” she asked. Edward put his hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry I lied to you,” he began, looking at her earnestly. Catherine shrugged him off and backed away, shaking her head.

“They said I can leave now that I’ve made my statement.” She took the handle of her bag and turned for the door, but Edward stood in her path.

“Where are you going?” he asked, panicked. He thought she surely was not going anywhere on her own. Not with madman Calvin on the loose.

Catherine’s eyes grew wide as she studied him.

“I’m going to stay with my parents for a while,” she said determinedly. Edward frowned. He didn’t like the idea but could see there was no changing her mind on the matter.

“Right, I’ll call you later,” he said defeated. He stood, his