A Hostage to Delusion by M J Marlow (the reading list book txt) 📖

watched as her granddaughter fell asleep with a smile on her lips. If only she’d had access to the drug before this, she thought as she turned to go; Cassandra could have been well on her way to becoming a granddaugher worthy to take over her business.
“We’ll start your new lessons in the morning, darling,” Justine smiled from the doorway. “By the time I am through with you, my precious Cassandra, you will make me look like an innocent child.”
“That is never going to happen,” Grant Yates said as he came into the room. Two police officers were standing behind him. “Justine,” he said as he watched them take Justine into custody, “these gentlemen will take you downtown. Your associates have already been taken into custody.” He went to pick Cassie up in his arms. “The charges are kidnapping and attempTed murder.”
“You have no proof!” Justine hissed as she was put into cuffs.
“We had the house wired with a very high tech security system while you were gone, Justine,” Grant smiled at her coldly. “The moment you arrived, the security cameras activaTed and the security system sent out an alarm. The FBI has been monitoring you ever since.”
“And you waiTed until Cassie was here,” Justine said snidely, “before you moved in?” She shook her head. “I could claim that the kidnapper dropped her off here when I paid his ransom, you know?”
“You could,” Grant nodded. “But the FBI has a recording of the ransom demand originating from your home phone, Justine.” He heard Cassie whimper and held her closer. “It’s all right, kitten. Daddy’s here now and we’re going to get you well.” He glared at Justine. “This time an insanity plea is not going to work, old woman. You are going to spend the rest of your life in prison for what you did to my daughter.”
“Daddy?” Cassie opened her eyes as he carried her out of the house. “You came for me!”
“Yes, kitten,” Grant nodded, biting his lip to keep from crying. “And now we’re going home where we belong.”

Three Years Later

Cassie sat in the pew with her family, holding her newborn nephew in her arms as they waiTed for the music to begin. It had been three years since she had finally made her way back to them. All the threats were gone: Justine Dekker and Jonathan Garrison were in jail. Howard Grayson had turned state’s evidence and was living somewhere with a new life and Cassie had just graduaTed from college. The only sad note was that before Justine had been caught she had ordered the deaths of Steven and Amy Parker and Adam had died from the bullet he had taken to protect his brother, Eric.
“Andrew Yates!” her sister-in-law’s voice hit her ear. “Sit still!” She turned to Cassie. “Can’t you do anything with your son? He’s an instigator!”
Cassie looked to the end of the pew where her own son. Oliver was crouched in the foot well playing with his toys and teasing his cousin Andrew. She handed the baby, Jason, back to Belinda and snapped her fingers. Oliver looked up at her with his deep blue eyes and golden blond hair and her heart caught in her throat. He was Adam all over again.
“Oliver,” she shook her head and held out her hand. “We’re in church.” Her son came to her and stood at her knees, his head down. “We talked about how people behave here, didn’t we?”
“Yes, Mommy,” Oliver nodded seriously.
“I don’t recall saying anything about teasing your cousin,” Cassie said patiently. “This is your Uncle Eric’s big day. We need to be on our best behavior.” She patTed the pew between her and Belinda. “Come sit here.”
The music starTed as Oliver took his place and they watched as the bridesmaids and groomsmen came down the aisle. Angela smiled as he passed them on the arm of her husband. Cassie nodded and caught Oliver before he could go to his aunt. Then the bridal march began. They all rose and watched as Delia Evans Grant came down the aisle on her older brother Henry’s arm.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this,” Belinda leaned over and touched Cassie’s arm.
“How can I not be?” Cassie asked her. “Eric was my first love, not the love of my life. He and Delia belong to each other.” She looked at her brother-in-law and they smiled at each other in complete understanding. “I’m truly happy for them.”
“Your time will come,” Belinda smiled and turned back to watch.
Cassie didn’t disagree. She was convinced that her time had already come and her husband had been taken from her before she could tell him that. She thought of Adam then and wished he was here to see his twin getting married. She caught Oliver as he starTed to take off and sighed.
“I’m taking Oliver out where he won’t disturb people,” she whispered to Belinda. “Do you want me to take Drew?”
Belinda nodded and Cassie got the boys and Oliver’s toy bag and went down the side aisle. She saw a man near the back of the church and her heart did a strange flip. Just before he had turned to go, she had caught sight of his face. He had dark-hair and his eyes were brown, but something about him had reminded her of Adam.
“Mommy,” Oliver yanked on her hand. “If we be good, will you get us some scream?”
“All right, Oliver,” Cassie nodded. She looked away and when she turned back the man had left. Just a trick of the light, she sighed. Adam was gone now; no amount of wishful thinking was going to bring him back.
They went out of the church and around to the back. The tent was already set up for the reception. The caterers had been warned and they had two small cups of chocolate ice cream with marshmallow sauce waiting. Cassie set the boys at a table and looked out at the park. She froze as she saw the man. He was looking right at her and the boys and there was an expression of longing and regret on his face.
“Rocky road,” Oliver’s voice cut through her shock.
“Rocky road!” Andrew repeaTed, giggling.
“Without the bumps,” Cassie smiled and turned back to the boys.
“If only life came without those,” a familiar voice sounded in her ear. She whirled around and saw the stranger standing nearby. “Handsome boys you have there, Mrs…”
“Garrison,” Cassie finished for him. “Only one of them is mine,” she continued as she felt herself drowning.
“You don’t look old enough to have children their age,” the man continued as he maintained a polite distance. He did not introduce himself to her and she wondered why.
“I am,” Cassie answered. She felt something cold hit her hand and looked down to see a glob of ice cream. “You’re supposed to be eating it, boys; not using it for missile weapons.” She took the cups away from them. “Bad boys don’t get scream.”
“We’ll be good, Mommy,” Oliver’s lower lip began to tremble. “Sorry.”
“Please, Aunty Cassie?” Andrew looked about to break. “We sorry.”
Cassie set the cups down and turned away to get control of herself. How could she have been so hateful? Her grandmother used to do that to her and she had sworn she would never act that way if she ever had children of her own.
“Bannister!”
The man nodded to her and turned away. He had a radio to his ear as he ran. Cassie was confused then. This man had made her feel like she was with Adam; had reminded her of Adam. How could he not be Adam? She turned back to her task and did not see the man who had been taking photographs of her and the stranger.
“Do you think it’s him?” the man said as he sent the photos over the wireless connection to his unit and made a call.
“It would be good if it was,” the man at the other end said. “We’ve been watching his ‘widow’ for three years now.” There was a pause. “I’ll check the name Bannister and see what comes up.”
“Should I keep an eye on the girl?” the camera man asked. “Don’t mind. She’s really easy on the eye.”
“Look but don’t touch,” the other man replied tightly. “We’re after the husband not her.”
“Gotcha, Boss,” the camera man said. He heard the bells ringing. “I’d better move. I need to take some shots of the happy couple coming out of the church and at the reception or my cover is blown.”
He moved away from the tent and Cassie finally noticed him. One of the photographers, she sighed. Maybe he got a picture of the man she was talking to. She made a note to ask him about it when she got a chance and watched the boys take their empty cups to the trash can. They were going to be good men. Her smile died as she saw the Mayor of Garrisonville coming towards her.
“Mrs. Garrison,” the tall broad-chesTed man nodded to her as he stopped by the table. He looked at Oliver. “He’s looking more like his Daddy every day.”
“I assume you have a reason for crashing the wedding, Mr. Tremont?” Cassie said tightly. “Oliver, don’t go far.”
“Yes, Mommy.” Oliver nodded and took Andrew by the hand. She watched them as they went to watch the caterers set out the desserts.
“I’d better watch them,” Cassie said as she rose, “or they’ll get into the cake.” She looked down at his hand on her arm. “Don’t do this here, Mr. Tremont,” she told him. “I’ll meet you at the fountain in fifteen minutes.”
Tremont nodded and left the tent. Cassie sighed and got herself under control. She had hoped that when Adam died, she would never have to think about Garrisonville again. But Eric had been disowned, so she was the sole heir of her father-in-law and her late husband. That left her with certain obligations that she was certain Tremont was here to remind her of.
“Whoa there,” she heard Dekker’ laugh as he caught his nephew and son reaching for the cake. “Not until after dinner.” He saw their faces and he was stern. “No,” he shook his head. “You’ve already managed to talk your way around one adult.” He looked at Cassie and she blushed and lowered her head. “We’ve got pizza for you two and we’ll bring some cake home for you.”
“Pizza!” Andrew cheered. “Molly is coming to play with us?”
“Molly is here,” the tall lanky teen with thick red hair and a face peppered with freckles laughed. She crouched down and the boys ran to her screaming. “So jelly bean pizza?”
“Silly Molly!” Oliver laughed. He wiggled loose and went to hug Cassie. “Bye Mommy.”
“You be good for Molly,” Cassie called after them as they took off with the teenager. She sank back in the chair with a sigh. “Dekker,” she said as her brother joined her. “Tremont is here.”
“I can run him off, Cassie,” Dekker frowned as he heard the news. He put his hand over hers. “You don’t have to go there. Find someone to act as your agent.”
“That won’t work,” Cassie shook her head. “I need to go, Dekker. It’s not going to be a closed chapter in my life until I can face it.” She saw his frown. “I’ll be taking David with me.”
“He’s your personal security force now?” Dekker teased. He saw her blush. “He’s certainly been spending a lot of time finding ways to be useful to you.” Cassie shook her head and he knew she was still hanging on to the past. “It’s been three years, kitten. You have a right to move