Page 201 of Hidden Ties

He turned his attention back to the Ashwoods. “Do you remember when I told you that I didn’t want to kill you because I didn’t want it on my conscience because of the girls?”

The car came to a stop in the garage. Victoria and Bradford stared out the back window as the garage door electronically closed.

Creed waited patiently for them to turn back to face him.

“I’ve decided I can live with it.”

Creed ranhis hands through Sage’s hair as she lay on the couch in their bedroom suite with her head on his lap. They were watching the news before going to bed when a news bulletin flashed across the screen.

Sage jerked to a sitting position as a picture of the Ashwoods appeared on the TV.

Local couple founddead at their residence this afternoon. The police are investigating it as amurder-suicide.

Sage lookedat him when the news switched to the weather. “They’re dead.” A mixture of emotions crossed her face before the expression of relief won out. “I don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

“No, baby”—Creed reached out to pull her into his arms—“you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

FORTY-NINE

“Mr. Bryant, if you don’t need me for anything else, I’ll be leaving for lunch.”

“That’s fine.” Creed looked up from the mound of paperwork he was filling out for Glory to file against the Ashwood estate and said, “Take your time.”

“Would you like me to bring you lunch?”

“No, thanks.”

“Mr. Bryant?” Mrs. Boward looked at him worriedly. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

“I’m sure. Thank you, anyway.”

Completing the paperwork, he placed them in his briefcase to take home.

For the last four evenings, he had managed to make excuses for his late nights as well as the early morning meetings to dodge Sage. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep making excuses for staying away from her.

Having caught up on his paperwork, he had nothing left to occupy his mind from the thoughts racing through his mind. After lunch, he would have Mrs. Boward check if any of the other attorneys needed any help with their cases. Anything was better than going home to have Sage tell him what he had beenexpecting to hear after the Ashwoods’ deaths made the news five days ago.

The ping on his cell phone made him check his messages … and there it was.

We’re leaving the house. I’ll be home after 8. We need to talk.

Sage’s message sent his heart diving.

Leaving Mrs. Boward a message that he would be taking the rest of the day off, with his briefcase in hand, he left, taking the elevator to the parking garage. There was no need hiding out at his office if Sage wasn’t going to be home.

For the last three months, he had known this day was coming. He had held out hope he would have more time but, realistically, he’d been on borrowed time from the moment he had married Sage.

When he arrived home, the silence struck him at once. Placing his briefcase on the kitchen counter, he went to sit down on the couch, not bothering to turn the television on. He took out his cell phone to dial the only person whom he thought could understand what he was going through. He held the phone to his ear, only for it to go immediately to voicemail.

“Call me when you get this message. I need to talk with you.”

Disconnecting the call, he laid the cell phone on the couch cushion, only to have to pick it back up.

“I had to check the caller ID to make sure it was you who was calling. What’s up?”

“Dad, Sage is going to leave me …” The words came out thick with the emotions he was no longer capable of holding back.

“It’s been a long time since you called me Dad.” Creed heard the thickening of emotions in Twister’s own voice. “Why do you think she is going to leave you?”

---