A Secret Proposal

  Tara turned to look at him. "To see my mother."

  He laughed. "I guess I better go too. She probably got a good job for me to do."

  Three hours later, Tara and Ray walked into the Madam Lounge, a private club for men to enjoy their drinking and sex. Tara snorted in disgust. She couldn't believe her own mother owned such a despicable business establishment.

  She glanced at the handsome man beside her. She couldn't believe she was sleeping with her mother's right-hand man either. Yes, he was darkly handsome and he fit all the bills where looks were concerned. He was a combination of Sebastian and Darcy--tall, with black hair like Darcy and bright blue eyes like Sebastian. He swam, too. That toned, muscular body was very similar to the much-desired Princeton brothers. But unlike Sebastian and Darcy, Ray wasn't out of reach. Ray was attainable, and of course, bloody boring. Even now, she still ached for the Princeton brothers. Her Princeton brothers, especially Darcy and Sebastian.

  "Hey, Sarah," Ray said to the lovely blond greeting them. She winked at him and gave him a good, long kiss on the lips.

  "You haven't been to see me for a while, Ray darling," she said seductively, batting her long fake eyelashes.

  He laughed. "I've been busy. How 'bout later?"

  Sarah eyed Tara and said, "Okay, later, then. Hi, Tara."

  Tara sneered and told the woman with her eyes to piss off. She wasn't going to mix words with these lowlife bitches who sold their bodies for money.

  With her head held high, she marched elegantly up the stairs to her mother's office. Ray followed close behind her.

  "What's the emergency?" she asked the moment she stepped into the luxurious office.

  Julie looked up from her laptop, her face marked with fright and exhaustion. Tara was very surprised because she'd only seen the woman last week, and she'd looked as happy and young as ever.

  Julie indicated the two should sit before she began. Once they did, she said, "She saw me."

  Tara frowned. "What? Who saw you?"

  Julie fisted her hands into balls and snapped, "Sakura saw me."

  Tara blinked. "Come again?"

  "Sakura, that little bitch, saw me today. I was in the Princetons' hotel and--"

  "What?" Tara shrieked in outrage. "What the hell were you doing there? I told you not to go there. What if they recognized you? James and Brenda live there now."

  "It can't be helped," Julie defended. "One of my important clients was there. I was escorting one of my girls there for him."

  Tara looked heavenward and prayed for patience. "Screw your business and your girls!" she snapped. "So what? Sakura saw you. And what the hell was she doing there anyway?"

  "I don't know," Julie muttered. "But I bumped into her."

  "Wait?" Tara turned to stare at her mother. "You bumped into her?" At Julie's nod, she went on. "God, tell me she didn't recognized you."

  Julie sighed and said, "I think she did."

  "What the hell!" Tara swore.

  "I think she recognized me. She was looking at me strangely, and she reacted, like... reacted."

  "Like what?" Tara asked, her eyes large with fright.

  "Like she'd just seen a ghost," Julie explained.

  At this point, Ray was interested in what was going on. Mother and daughter looked like they were freaked out by this girl named Sakura.

  "Sounds like she recognized you all right," he commented.

  He received a frighteningly pissed off glare from both mother and daughter. He brushed the anger aside and said, "But really, why're you so afraid of her? She's just a girl, right?"

  "Yes," Tara said. "But Mom is supposed to be dead. That girl Sakura was one of the girls Mom looked after back at the orphanage. What if she goes and tells the police? What if the police dig up what really happened that night?"

  Ray laughed. "Okay, let me get this straight. So you're saying, Julie, you were the one who burned down that orphanage?"

  Julie sighed. There was no point in hiding it from Ray. He'd find out sooner or later.

  When she nodded, he chuckled. "Classic. You got balls, Julie, and I like that."

  Tara said, "Assuming she's going to the police, what then?"

  "We can't let her go to the police," Julie said.

  "Look," Ray said. "You two look like you need some help."

  Tara folded her arms across her chest. "What do you mean?"

  Ray said, "If she goes to the police, you two are screwed. The Princetons will find out eventually."

  Tara's face flared with terror at that very thought. She couldn't possibly let the Princeton brothers find out about her mother and her being involved in something like this. She couldn't possibly let Sakura ruin her chance with the brothers. Not again. Not ever. She was going to get Sebastian or Darcy, one way or another.

  She stood. "I have a fashion shoot in Hawaii this week." She clutched her hands when once again she remembered only last week, Mr. Tachibana had called her and Alaina into his office, informing them of Sakura, a new model, the main one. And all along, Tara had thought she was the supermodel who got to wear Mr. Tachibana's most expensive and desirable items, as well as Lady Haruka's jewels. Of course, it didn't dampen her anger either, even though Mr. Tachibana had informed them the Princeton brothers were the rest of the male models.

  She said, "Sakura is one of the female models for Mr. Tachibana's summer collection."

  Julie glanced up and managed a tentative smile. "That's good."

  Ray knew the two were up to no good, and he was actually looking forward to playing with them.

  *

  CHAPTER 26

  The Nightmare Returns

  Eighteen Years Ago, St. Joseph Island

  Little Sakura woke herself up with a soul-piercing scream that shook her wee body by the force of fright. She flashed her eyes open, praying the monster Mrs. Byrd wasn't there in her room, about to whip her with a belt. Her eyes were dark and wild as she scanned around the cold, bare surroundings. Once she was convinced the woman wasn't present, she clutched the thin blanket against her person and began to whimper.

  "I wish I had a mama to hug me," she cried, tears flowing down her cheeks. Instead, she hugged herself into a small ball to ease the icy coldness in the room and tried to go back to sleep.

  The thought of that ruthless, mean Mrs. Byrd and her daughter, Tara, however, kept her awake. They were no doubt very comfortable in their warm beds right now. She had only wanted another blanket to top this thin one to keep her warm at night. When she'd asked that morning, however, what she received in turn was a slap on the face and then ten whips on her backside. She was still sore from the punishment but tried not to think about it. Instead, she thought about the Princeton brothers, of the boy named Darce with jet-black hair and beautiful lavender-gray eyes. It was only then she felt a sense of calmness settling within her as a smile formed on her lips.

  "Darce," she whispered softly between her lips. "Darce."

  He'd stroked her hair and suggested they call her Snow. She liked the name very much. It was a beautiful name. Better than Sally, of course. Sakura wasn't a Silly Sally. She was Sakura, and to Darce, she was Snow.

  Then she thought about the beautiful boy named Sebastian. The one with golden-blond hair and sky-blue eyes. He'd been curious about her, smiled at her, and talked to her. He was nice and kind. Oddly enough, he made her happy. Oh, how she wished they were her siblings. How she wished they'd play with her like they'd played with Alaina and Tara.

  She turned on her side, wiping tears from her cheeks. Then she cupped her hands together and began her prayer, her wee heart aching with loneliness.

  "Dear God, please hear my prayer. If you are out there, please listen to me. I've been a good girl, haven't I? I mean, I've studied really hard and I did all my chores. I didn't complain when Mrs. Byrd whipped me. That ought to account for something, right? So please hear my prayer. I want a nice family to adopt me. I want them to love me. I want a mama and a papa who love me and hug me when I have night
mares. Most of all, I don't want them to be angry at me all the time and whip me. I mean, they can be angry at me sometimes when I'm being silly or stupid. But I'm not stupid or silly. That name, Sally, is a silly name and it just doesn't suit me, you know. Anyway, please, please, please do something soon because I'm beginning to think you don't exist anymore. You're so slow at working this out. Anyway, please help me find a nice family. The Princetons would be nice. No, not just nice. They'd be perfect. Please? Okay, that's all. I'm going to stop bothering you now. You can go back and make people's wishes come true, but just don't forget mine."

  She sighed after having expressed her wishes to the Almighty and then closed her eyes.

  Ten minutes later, she still couldn't sleep and felt awfully thirsty. She sat up and got out of bed, praying very hard it was still too early for anyone to be up.

  She quietly opened the door, slipped out, and silently made her way across the dark corridor, down the stairs, and then toward the kitchen.

  There, she reached for the knob and turned. Slowly and quietly, she cracked the door open while she glanced behind her shoulder in case anyone saw her. All she wanted was a glass of milk, but Mrs. Byrd would slap her again if she were to take milk without permission.

  Sakura thought she was safe and let her guard down. She stepped into the kitchen and didn't look at where she was going. She came to a complete stop and gasped in fright the moment she saw Mrs. Byrd. The woman had her back to Sakura. She was busy pouring a big can of liquid around the room.

  Sakura frowned, her nose twitching at the odd scent. "What's that smell?" she said softly without thinking.

  Margaret Byrd jumped and twisted around, her eyes large in horror. Then she gritted her teeth and snapped, "What are you doing here at this time of night?"

  Sakura shrugged back. "I want a glass of milk. I'm thirsty."

  Margaret dumped the large can of gasoline and marched to Sakura. Heaving with frustration and anger, the woman raised her hand high and then swung across, smacking her plump, hard fist against the little girl's face, throwing her small body back and landing her backside against the cold floor and her head against the cupboard.

  Sakura became limp and whimpered as the pain screamed in her body. She was shaking from head to toe as she stared at the large woman heading toward her. She was so afraid that tears burned in her eyes, and she automatically protected herself by hugging her body into a small ball.

  Margaret wouldn't have any of it and roughly grabbed the girl by her long hair, yanking her up as she said, "You didn't see anything of this, you hear? You didn't see me here. I'm dead. Do you understand?"

  Sakura recoiled, tears pouring down her cheeks. She didn't really understand anything. All she wanted was for the woman to let her go and leave her alone.

  Margaret, however, did none of those things and shook Sakura hard. "Listen here, you little brat, I'm dead. You understand. Margaret Byrd is dead. If anyone asks, say I died in the fire."

  Sakura shook her head. "Please," she begged. "Let me go. Please."

  Margaret tightened her hands on the little girl, her eyes large with madness. "Look, Sakura, I promise I won't ever hurt you again if you just tell everyone I was dead in the fire, all right?"

  Sakura blinked and, tentatively, she nodded. She wanted the woman to stop hurting her.

  Margaret smiled. "Good girl." Slowly, she let Sakura go and took a few steps back. She fumbled her hands into the pocket of her dress and took out a lighter.

  Sakura watched, her eyes large as the woman started flicking the thing, again and again, her hand shaking, until a small flame was born. Then she threw the light onto the countertop, and instantly, it was engulfed with fire.

  Sakura gasped in fright and shouted, "Fire!"

  Margaret opened a drawer as the fire spread faster, devouring everything in its sight across the kitchen. The woman took out a rolling pin. With the thing in hand, she turned her attention to Sakura.

  "Sakura?" She smiled at the little girl. "Remember what I said, yes? Tell everyone I'm dead in this fire."

  Sakura, her body stiff in shock at the sight of the burning fire surrounding her, nodded.

  "Good girl," Margaret said. Then she raised the roller high and sent it down toward Sakura's head.

  Little Sakura watched in horror as the pin flew toward her in one forceful blow, smashing against her face. She landed on the floor, her small body in a mangled position. She felt numb all over and all she could see was darkness. Her instincts, however, told her she was in danger, and she tried to open her eyes. Her whole body shook as she reached her hand out for the woman who'd just hit her. She was crying and knew she was going to die here in the fire if she didn't get help soon.

  Through the haze of her vision, she watched as Mrs. Byrd opened the door, a heavy bag in her hand. With a smile on her face, she walked out.

  Alone and surrounded by fire, Sakura closed her eyes and blackness eventually took her.

  *

  Sakura woke up with a start, her heart pounding fast and furious and her head aching. Her whole body was shaking like a leaf as she sat there staring into space.

  The nightmare of that night had returned, and the look of Mrs. Byrd's face was etched deep within her mind.

  Sakura shook her head as she willed her tears to remain at bay.

  "She's not real," she said softly to herself. "She can't be real. I was hallucinating." But even as she said that, she knew she wasn't hallucinating. She knew for certain Mrs. Byrd was still alive. She'd just met the woman yesterday.

  Toby sensed her disquiet and awoke, his eyes large with concern. He came to her and begged to be hugged. Sakura obliged and embraced her dog tight against her chest as she lay there under the thickness and warmness of her duvet. So unlike eighteen years ago.

  "Thank you for being with me all these years," she said to the pup. If it hadn't been for Toby, it would be just like all those nights, sleeping alone and crying her heart out after the nightmares.

  Toby rubbed his head against her chest, telling her it was his pleasure.

  "What am I going to do, Toby?" she said. "She's back, and I know nothing good is going to come of this."

  The dog whimpered and licked her chin.

  "I can't let her get away, Toby. I just can't. I'm not that child anymore. I won't let her scare me. I won't let her torture me anymore." She chuckled brokenly. "She's a bitch and a child abuser. Who knows what else she could be?"

  She rolled on her back and stared up at the ceiling, wondering how she'd go about dealing with this new information. Mrs. Byrd's presence and crimes needed to be brought to the attention of the police, and the incident of eighteen years ago needed to be investigated properly. But would the police believe her? She'd merely been a seven-year-old little girl at the time. It would be her word against Mrs. Byrd's if it were to be brought public.

  Sakura rolled to her side again, conflicted. Suddenly, she sat up, her mind reeling with dread.

  "I know she recognized me," she said under her breath. And of course, Sakura had no doubt the woman would do her worst to make sure Sakura kept her mouth shut.

  Suddenly, she just didn't feel safe anymore, not even in Lady Haruka's apartment with the Princeton brothers one floor above.

  She sat up, searched for her cell phone near her bedside table, and dialed the number that belonged to the man she knew she could trust.

  "Hello?" came James Princeton's voice.

  Sakura heard Brenda's voice in the distance. "Honey, who is it at this time of night?"

  Sakura took a deep breath, hoping like hell she didn't sound like she wasn't going to die any second now. She didn't manage that. Her voice came out shaky. "Daddy James? I need to talk to you. Can I come see you now?"

  A short pause and then he replied, "Sure. I'll come pick you up."

  "No. No," Sakura said quickly. "That's all right. I'll take a taxi. I'll be there soon."

  She was about to hang up when James said, "Sakura, sweetheart? Be careful."


  "Yes, I will," she replied and then hung up. Quickly, she slipped out of bed and got dressed in a pair of jeans and a warm pullover. Then she grabbed her bag and keys and silently headed out toward the door.

  Toby rushed quietly after her, not wanting to be left alone. She sighed. "Fine, but behave yourself, all right?"

  Toby licked her chin in reply. Before she departed, she wrote a note for Lady Haruka that she was out on a personal errand in case she was late and the woman got worried about her. That done, she locked the door and rushed to the elevator.

  Outside the building, she signaled for a taxi and instructed the driver to take her to Princeton Hotel. Some twenty minutes later, she headed in through the front door. She was about to greet the sole receptionist there when James, still in his pajamas and robe, called out to her.

  Sakura rushed into his open arms and buried her face against his chest, Toby between them. James stroked her head fondly, and once Sakura lifted her face to look at him, he felt his gut wrench with sickness. He'd seen her looking like that many times when she'd been young. It was usually after the nightmare.

  He tightened his arms around her and said, "Come on. Let's get you comfortable."

  At Sakura's nod, he led her into the elevator. Not long afterward, they reached the top floor and headed into the penthouse. Brenda greeted Sakura by pulling the girl into her arms. Husband and wife understood something had happened; otherwise, Sakura wouldn't have come to them at such an hour.

  Once Sakura was comfortably sitting on the sofa, a hot chocolate in hand, James began. "Tell us."

  Sakura turned her gaze from her hot drink, which had soothed her a little, to her adoptive father.

  James was stroking Toby, who was comfortably asleep on his lap.

  "I saw Mrs. Byrd," she said softly.

  James and Brenda looked at each other. Then Brenda said, "Are you sure, sweetheart?"

  Sakura nodded.

  "But she was killed in the fire that burned the orphanage," Brenda stated, confused.

  Sakura put her mug on top of the coffee table and sighed. "There's something I haven't told you." She added, "Haven't told anyone."

  James watched her carefully. "You can trust us, sweetheart."

  Tears suddenly brewed in Sakura's eyes and flowed down her cheeks. Brenda rushed over and pulled the girl into her arms.