Hot Coffee (The Hollens)
Chapter 56 (Rising Heights)

Ethan's POV

It's true what they say: play with the Devil and God will make you pay.

I should've gotten rid of her a long time ago. Now she was here tormenting my life, hurting my love ones, and corrupting my household. Some people really knew how to bring out the worst in others. I had done right by her and never made her feel bad about being with me. I was good in every way possible, but I guess some people just can't be satisfied and appreciate shit.

That's why I love Emma. I could be broke today or tomorrow and she'll still be around because she doesn't care about my money.

She wouldn't stay with me if I did her wrong; she was not in it for the money. She was here because she loved me and I loved her too. I promised her that I would be there for her. I promised her that nobody was going to hurt her and the unborn babies again. I didn't break my promises. I didn't care if I would have to climb mountains and walk on water; I would replace Sharon and put her where she belonged.

I was in my study, boiling with rage and anger, thinking about the note she left me. She knew damn well that it was over between her and I.

"Ethan, are you in there?" a voice asked outside the door. I opened it and Emma walked in.

"Emma, it's late. You should be in bed resting."

"How can I rest when I'm not comfortable in my own bed?"

"Baby..." I began and raked my fingers through my hair.

"Baby, I know you want her found. I want her found too, for my peace of mind and the babies. But there's something I didn't tell you earlier. I went for a walk with Halley about a month ago and there was this woman who is living at The Heights. She was looking at me like she was ready to kill me. There was something familiar about them. She made me so uncomfortable, just looking down at us like she was God." "What did she look like?" I asked, knowing Sharon could change her appearance.

"Tall, slim, black hair cut in a bob."

"Did she have the body of Sharon?"

"I guess, but I don't want to sound paranoid."

"I'll check it out in the morning. I believe she's close by too. Lets go back to bed."

The next morning, I gathered some of my security and we went to The Heights, an area with residences on a flat top hill, hence the name. There was a particular house that had been vacant for years— the previous owners had moved away and no one else moved into it. I knew Sharon loved that house; she always said so whenever we drove past it. But she would have to be a fool to occupy a house so close. Brad rang the doorbell; I waited in the car.

A woman came to the door and I recognized her immediately. I got out of the car and went up to the door. The woman's eyes filled with fear as I made my way closer to her standing figure in the door way. "I don't believe this shit. What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I moved into the neighborhood. You don't own this neighborhood, you know."

"Where is she?"

"Where's who?"

"Sharon!"

"Your first fiancee? How the hell am I supposed to know that Ethan?"

"I don't know what kind of game you and Sharon are running here, but I'm not interested in either of you. Stay the hell away from my house and my fiancee. If you try anything, I will personally deal with you myself. Am I clear, Linda?"

"You really have a bad edge Ethan, and you're going insane. That little fiancee is so bad for you, you can't even see it."

"Linda, don't even go there."

"Look, I'm sorry for what I did, and I'm sorry for trying to get between you and Emma. I'm sorry Ethan; I never meant for that to happen. I don't know what came over me. Ethan, I'm sorry!" She was in tears, ruining her makeup and causing herself to look like a zombie.

"It's too late for 'sorry'."

"But I love you as a friend and I don't want to see you get hurt. I'd do anything for you. I can even tell you where to replace Sharon and who has been giving her information. She's at the supermarket getting groceries; and that little maid you recently hired, Hannah, she's Sharon's sister. And your father has been screwing Sharon all this time behind your back!

"She found me. I don't know how she did, but she wanted me to help her in getting rid of your pregnant fiancee. I wanted to because you fired me. But I can't have anyone's blood on my hands, and, in this case, three bloods. I can't do that Ethan. You have to believe me."

Talk about blown away. I couldn't even process what she was even saying, especially after she told me that my dad had been screwing Sharon behind my back. What the fuck!

"Ethan, if she replaces out that I told you, she'll kill me. She has a gun. She'll kill me! I have to go to your mansion for safety."

I couldn't trust her fully, but what if there was some truth to what she was saying? I didn't want her at the mansion around Emma and my grandmother. What if she was lying just to get in and kill my fiancee behind my back-shove her down the flight of stairs or something. I wasn't taking that chance. I didn't trust outsiders.

"You're not going at my mansion. Go back to your house. I'll replace Sharon."

"Okay," she sniffed.

I rallied up my men and we drove in groups to the three supermarkets around the neighborhood.

I was walking down an aisle when I saw her pushing a cart and scanning the canned foods section. She was still wearing my ring. As I got closer I noticed she was humming "Halo" by Beyonce. "Any help with your groceries?" I asked, getting her attention and flashing a bright sly smile.

She froze, mouth formed an "O" and the canned foods fell from her hands. She took off to run but I snatched her by her hair, pulling her back to me.

"Why the rush? The cashiers are in the other direction."

"Get your hands off me. I don't know who you are!"

"Save the act Sharon. You're going behind bars where you belong. You won't see the inside of another boutique, and I'll make sure of it. You're not a smooth criminal; you're a shell. And I'm ashamed of ever having you in my life. Give me back my fucking ring!" I snatched the ring off her finger and she broke into tears.

"Ethan, I'm so sorry. I never meant to do it. It was your mother's idea. I was stupid because I went along with it. I'm sorry, Ethan. I love you."

She fell to the floor as other shoppers were looking on.

Detective Sam and his team arrived.

"We'll take it from here Ethan," he said as he slapped the handcuffs on her wrist.

"Ethan, Ethan! Ethan please! I'm sorry. I never meat to hurt you! I didn't mean to do it! Ethan, don't let them take me away! Ethannnn!" She begged as she was pulled out of the supermarket and placed in the back of a police vehicle.

I walked out to make certain that she was taken away.

"Baby, we found her," I said with relief as I walked into the bedroom.

But I came face-to-face with an image that would haunt me forever. There, was a motionless Emma on the floor with a pool of blood circled around her head.0000