Page 90 of Tangled Trust

Damn it! I don’t need Amanda gloating right now.

She arrives a few minutes later.

"Hi. Have you heard anything?"

"No."

"It’s odd. She and I were supposed to have lunch yesterday at my beach house, but when I got there, she wasn’t there."

"And you’re only telling me this now? What the hell, Amanda!"

"I’m sorry, Carter. I thought that she’d changed her mind."

"You could have called me."

"I know. I’m sorry."

I can’t believe this. How typical of Amanda to neglect to tell me something so important.

"How much do you really know about her, Carter? Perhaps she’s gone back to where she came from."

"I know plenty. Ella would never just leave like this. Something is wrong."

"I’ve had a bad feeling about that woman from the start, Carter. I told you not to get involved with her."

"Amanda, please. You’re not helping."

"Why? Because I care enough about you and Jagger to know when someone is totally wrong for you?"

"I think it would be better for both of us if you leave now, Amanda. Before I say something I may regret."

Her eyes are ablaze with rage.

"I love you, Carter! You and I belong together. This Ella woman is no good for you."

"Leave, Amanda!"

My ex moves in closer and grabs me in a passionate embrace. I practically have to peel her off me.

"Stop it. I told you, Amanda. It’s over. I don’t feel that way about you anymore. I love Ella. We’re having a child together," I yell at her while holding her firmly by her upper arms.

"You stupid son of a bitch!" she spits her words at me. "Fine! Run after your little whore. But I’m telling you, she’s done a runner. I’ll be shocked if you ever see her again."

"What have you done, Amanda?"

"I haven’t done anything but love you," she says, leaving in a huff.

26

AMANDA

I’m gutted. I was sure that Carter would understand that I did this for him…for us. On top of the pain and anguish of my soulmate’s betrayal, I’m now worried too. Something awful must have happened at my beach house because I found blood on the living room floor when I went there yesterday. Ella was nowhere to be found, but her car was still parked in my driveway.

I couldn’t leave it there. Carter would surely find it and know that I had something to do with his precious Ella’s disappearance. Shit! It’s all gone so wrong. This is not how it was supposed to go. What the hell is Sebastian playing at?

I drove Ella’s car to the mall, left it in the parking lot, and took an Uber home. It’s all I could think to do on such short notice.

I don’t know what Sebastian did to Ella, but the blood on the floor has me worried. I didn’t mean for anything bad to happen to the woman. I simply meant for Sebastian to talk some sense into her so she would leave Carter alone.

---