Page 63 of Stone Coast (Tyson Wild Thriller)
SAVANNAH
A fter dinner and a few cocktails, Tyson and I decided to roll around in the sheets again, just for good measure.
As we lay there in post-orgasmic bliss, I got a text from Xzavier. [Turn on the news.]
I told Tyson to turn on the TV, and he did. We lay in bed and watched the news.
Tessa Vaughn appeared on the screen. "In a shocking turn of events, CEO Alec Stratton has come forward to blow the whistle on his own corporation.
Stratton has implicated the company in a massive cover-up involving fraudulent data.
Their premier drug, Hemalogen, which has been long in development and much-anticipated, has been linked to increased rates of adverse events, including the progression and development of cancer.
Stratton said that Phaxelon is immediately halting all clinical trials and will reformulate the product.
He said they are also establishing a compensation fund for those injured during testing.
Stratton has surrendered himself to authorities and says he is willing to fully comply.
Phaxelon stock has dropped 90% in after-hours trading.
I'm Tessa Vaughn, and I’m exposing the truth. "
I smiled at Tyson. "See. All's well that ends well."
"You'll forgive me if I don't share your optimism. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
"Relax. This is a good thing. You can't argue with the results."
“I can argue with the method.”
"Don't give me that. You're just as ecstatic as I am. You just don't want to admit it."
"What I don't want is for either of us to spend the rest of our days in a jail cell for accessory to kidnapping."
"When did you get so uptight?”
Tyson laughed. "Give it time. You’re rolling on a month of life experience. You’ll be jaded, cynical, and uptight in no time.”
I frowned at him.
"I'm serious. I don't want you throwing in with those guys."
"They've come through for me every step of the way. You forget, I'm still facing a murder charge."
"I haven't forgotten.”
"Let's just celebrate the moment,” I said. “It's a victory. Take it. Right now, nobody's trying to kill me. That's a good thing in my book.”
"That's a good thing in my book, too. “
"I know what you’ve done for me. You’ve put your life on hold and crossed your own boundaries. You've done things for me that I didn't have a right to ask for. Don't think that doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated.”
A slight smirk tugged Tyson's lips. "I'm not uptight."
I laughed. "Well, I can always help relax you," I said in a sultry tone. I moved my lips on a collision course. I figured I could spark up one more trip around the sheets to show my appreciation. Tyson was good at what he did.
Alec Stratton would face the music. The attempts on my life would stop.
I was feeling good, though I wasn't out of the woods yet.
It seemed like all the puzzle pieces were coming together.
Maybe I could move forward without uncertainty or fear.
The murder charge was a weight over my head, but I knew I was innocent.
The truth would have to come out eventually, or so I hoped.
I let everything go and just settled into the moment.
It was a nice moment.
But that moment turned into a nightmare around 4:00 AM.
I had another nightmare or a prophetic vision—whatever you want to call it.
I woke in a sweat and sat up in bed, Tyson beside me.
My heart thumped my chest. The boat was dark and silent.
My eyes scanned the room, coming back to reality, trying to make sense of my dream.
I looked into the shadows of the stateroom, trying to make out shapes in the darkness. Was it all my imagination?
I nudged Tyson and whispered. "There's someone on the boat.”