Breaker's Point Bad Boy Billionaires Boxset (21 page)

“You could have told me the truth. Even now, even after everything, you still haven’t told me why you really did it. We were in love, weren’t we? I don’t think I imagined that.”

“We were in love, Holly, you don’t need to ask me that.”

“Then why? Why leave me, with no explanation, nothing…? Just an, ‘I can’t do this…’ Was it me? Was it you?”

“Holly, please, I can explain but you need to give me time. I told you I was immature and stupid. I didn’t know what I wanted back then.”

“But you do now, conveniently when I’m unavailable.”

Riley tried to reach out once more but Holly shrugged him off. She was tired, tired of all the lies, the half-truths, and secrets. What did it matter now? Why couldn’t he just tell her the truth? How was she supposed to trust him when he couldn’t even tell her the truth?

“Don’t, Riley. Don’t touch me. Marcus is dangerous and I know given an opportunity he’ll hurt me but nothing he could do to me would ever hurt as much as the pain you inflict on me. You’re far more dangerous to me then he’ll ever be.”

Holly caught sight of the headlights of Marcus’ car as they cut across the parking lot, silhouetting both her and Riley in the high beams. The sound of the engine ticking over filled her with dread and still she turned and headed to the car, leaving Riley behind to stare after her.

R
ipping the suit jacket off
, Riley discarded it on the sofa as he strode into his office. Anger and confusion had clouded together, making it impossible for him to sort any of his jumbled thoughts.

Everything Holly had said was true. He knew he was a coward, but he just couldn’t figure out why. Why was it so hard to just tell her the truth? That all those years ago his manipulative parents had talked him into dumping the only woman he’d ever loved? Or was it the fact that he’d been stupid enough to listen to them?

“Why did you disappear?”

The sound of Anderson’s voice made Riley jump and he almost dropped the glass he’d grabbed from the desk.

“How the hell did you get in?” he said, whirling around to face his friend who stood in the doorway.

“You didn’t exactly make it hard, Riley. You left the front door open in your hurry to get in here and…” Anderson trailed off and waved his hand in the general direction of the glass tumbler Riley had started to fill. “I can only assume it’s so you can get wasted.”

“What does it matter, Anderson? Are you here to tell me what I can and can’t do in the privacy of my own home?” Riley said with a sigh.

He was tired, tired of always having to be the responsible one, the one who swooped in and picked up the pieces when a situation went to hell.

Not tonight.

Tonight he was going to sit here and drink until the ache in his chest was numb and the voice in his head silenced. Not that he truly held much hope of that actually happening. It was a stupid thought for a foolish man.

“I’m here to tell you what Marcus had to say, since it’s what you asked me to do.”

“I don’t want to know… I don’t want a part in any of it anymore. Holly made herself perfectly clear that she wants no help from me.”

“That never stopped you in the past. Something else has to have happened, Riley, what is it?”

Roughly grabbing the full glass of brandy he’d poured for himself, it sloshed over the edge and down across his hand. He didn’t care. He swallowed it down, wincing as it burned down through his throat and spread heat into his chest. Pouring another large glass, Riley kept his back to Anderson.

“I don’t want to talk about it, Anderson. All I want is a drink and some peace and quiet, which is why I came back here. If I wanted to
talk
I’d have stayed behind at the party.”

“She must have been pretty convincing to put you off so easily.”

Riley shot Anderson a look that would have made a lesser man cringe.

“I don’t want your lectures and I sure as hell don’t need your approval. She made herself clear, I’m merely respecting her wishes. Now if you could shut the front door on your way out, I’d really appreciate it,” Riley said, his voice heavy with irritation.

“Don’t come crying to me when this blows up in your face, Riley. If you really cared about her, then you’d do everything in your power to get her out of that bastard’s clutches,” Anderson said, his normally easy-going manner finally evaporating.

Riley watched from the corner of his eye as his friend strode out of the room, the slamming front door shaking the house to its very foundations.

The fact that Anderson had called Marcus a bastard hadn’t escaped Riley. For someone who was normally so laid back, Anderson had seemed particularly wound up about Stark, which meant whatever he’d learned while in conversation with him couldn’t be good.

Riley fought back the urge to chase after his friend. It wasn’t too late… But then the sound of Anderson’s car tearing across the drive told Riley he’d waited too long and his opportunity had passed.

Gripping the tumbler in his hand, Riley squeezed down on it until the glass shattered in his palm.

The cold shards sliced into his skin and he didn’t care. The two over-sized glasses of brandy had settled down over him, giving the room a comfortable hazy glow around the edges.

But even that wasn’t enough to quieten the voice in the back of his head. The voice that told him what a fool he was. The voice that spoke of missed opportunities and past regrets.

Slumping into the chair behind the desk, Riley scooped up the brandy bottle with his unhurt hand and took another burning mouthful of the amber-coloured liquid.

Perhaps if he finished the bottle it would help numb the pain of losing Holly. He drank, knowing deep down there was nothing on this earth that could ever take away the pain of losing the woman he loved.

M
arcus’ car pulled
up to the front of the house and Holly sat frozen against the back seat.

He hadn’t said a word to her for the entire ride back home but she could feel his rage rippling from his skin and filling the interior of the car with a stifling tension. The fact that he hadn't said a word to her told her that whatever was coming would be extremely unpleasant.

Victor pulled the car door open and Marcus climbed out. Holly hesitated. She could stay in the car, refuse to get out and enter the house. Of course that was an utterly ridiculous idea and Marcus would probably just have Victor carry her into the house anyway.

No, there was no point in putting off the inevitable. Whatever was coming was going to happen whether she wanted it to or not.

With a sigh, Holly slid to the door and stepped out onto the drive. Victor stood holding the car door, his shadow falling over her like some sort of nightmarish ghoul. She could already imagine the pleasure he would get from watching Marcus take his revenge.

Without looking at him, Holly climbed the steps to the house and moved in through the front door. Marcus stood waiting for her just inside the door and before Holly had the chance to react, he grabbed her by the hair, his fingers digging painfully in against her scalp.

She yelped, pain coursing through her as he dragged her down the hall and into the living room.

Holly's heart pounded, the vibration echoing through her body as she fought against the grip Marcus had on her.

"Get your hands off me!" she yelled, twisting against him, but it was no use.

Reaching the living room, Marcus pushed her ahead of him, the force causing Holly's legs to tangle in the skirt of her dress.

She stumbled. The ground raced up to meet her before she had the chance to catch herself. The carpet burned against the skin of her arms.

"Get up, you worthless whore!" he screamed, his face turning a bright shade of crimson.

Holly crawled across the floor in an attempt to get away from his rage that flooded the room, burning through the oxygen in the room, making it impossible to take a deep-enough breath.

"Who the hell do you think you are? The thought that you could show me up like that? Did you plan that with him? Plan to humiliate me in front of the entire town?"

"Marcus, I didn't, I swear. You know I wouldn't risk something like that. I knew how angry you'd be..."

"So, what? I'm just supposed to believe that you played no part in my humiliation? The people I work for aren't going to be very happy, Holly, they aren't going to like this one bit."

The mention of the people he worked for instantly sparked Holly's curiosity. He'd never given her any indication that he was involved with anyone else, or that his need to gain the respect her name provided was linked to anything other than his own selfish motivations.

"I'm sorry, Marcus, can't you just tell them this was a terrible mistake?"

He shook his head as he began to pace the floor, his movement making Holly dizzy as he strode up and down the living room.

"I don't think they'll be interested in petty excuses."

"But it's not an excuse..." Holly's voice trailed off as she caught sight of the wicked glint in his eyes.

Marcus stopped pacing and crouched down in front of her.

"If you're not behind this then that means that your little boyfriend planned this whole thing."

Holly didn't say anything. Her heart began to pound against her ribcage.

"And you know what that means, don't you?"

Holly shook her head. Deep down she knew what he would say, but a small, childish, part of her hoped that if she didn't say anything at all then maybe it wouldn't happen.

"Of course you do, Holly. You're not stupid. I told you the people you cared about would stay safe as long as you kept your mouth shut and no one found out. Riley Reynolds obviously knows something and I have a sneaking suspicion that you're the reason."

"You're wrong. He doesn't know anything. He just thinks you're a pompous ass."

She knew that what she said would inflame him, but Marcus was normally the type to be easily distracted. If she could throw him off track now, perhaps he'd forget all about what Riley did or didn't know.

Marcus lashed out, his hand catching Holly across the side of her jaw. A pained whimper escaped her as he wrapped his hand around her throat and raised his hand to strike her again.

But the blow never came.

"Marcus, you need her, so don't let her distract you." Victor's voice surprised Holly.

She hadn't noticed him enter the room and his intervention was utterly unexpected.

Marcus froze, his hand still raised above his head.

"Did you just interrupt me, Victor?"

"Yes and if I hadn't, you'd have beaten her to a bloody pulp. I know what your temper is like, Marcus. Remember what George said."

Holly's ears pricked up as the colour slowly drained from Marcus' face.

He dropped his hand and released his grip on Holly's neck, brushing his hands down over the front of his suit as he straightened up.

"Of course, you're right, Victor. What was I thinking?"

"Just follow the plan and George won't care about tonight's slight hiccup."

Marcus nodded, a smile curling his lips as he turned to Victor.

"Holly, you owe this man your life tonight," Marcus said, gesturing to Victor to come forward. "Without him, I'd have killed you. I'd have enjoyed it, but your death isn't going to get me where I need to be."

Holly didn't say anything, a fine tremble running through her as she nursed her bruised cheek.

The moment Victor was within reach, Marcus punched him, the turn of his mood so sudden that Holly let out a startled scream.

Victor didn't attempt to fight back as Marcus beat him, the much larger bodyguard simply taking each blow as though it was something completely normal and exactly what he expected.

Marcus finally pulled back, his fists bloodied and bruised. Victor was on his knees, blood dripping from the side of his mouth. As he stood, Holly noticed a slight flinching around his eyes as though he was in far more pain than he wanted to admit.

“Take her to the basement,” Marcus said, his deep heavy breathing causing a strain in his voice.

Holly scrambled back across the floor, out of Victor’s reach. The last place she wanted to end up in was the basement. She could still remember the first three days she’d spent there after Marcus had first arrived and she’d questioned him.

“I…” she started to speak, the fear plain in her voice. Holly hated herself for it.

“Don’t you want to spend the night down there?”

Holly shook her head, afraid that if she opened her mouth again nothing but fear would spill out.

“Then beg, Holly. I know you can do it and if you do it just right, then I’ll let you stay upstairs, let you sleep in your own bed…”

The thought of begging Marcus for anything filled Holly with such revulsion that she had to fight the urge to gag in front of him. She wouldn’t ever beg him for anything, not even if it meant saving her life.

“The basement is just fine,” she said, forcing her voice to remain steady.

“Suit yourself.” Marcus smiled, the look in his eyes turning the blood in Holly’s veins to ice.

Victor didn’t wait for her to get up from the floor. He simply bent down and jerked her upright, the grip on her arm enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Holly bit down on her tongue, holding all the pain and emotion within. She wouldn’t give either of them the satisfaction of knowing just how afraid or upset she truly was.

Closing her eyes, she tried to swallow the tears back down, her mind instantly conjuring an image of Riley.

She’d been a fool to question him. If she’d just left it alone and enjoyed the little bit of time they had together, then she’d have something to hold onto during the long dark hours in the basement. This way she had nothing but Riley’s hurt and anger to keep her company.

The moment they were clear of the room, Holly noticed Victor’s grip on her arm loosening. Pins and needles rushed down her arm as the circulation returned and she grimaced at the uncomfortable feeling.

“How badly hurt are you?” Victor’s whisper was gruff but that didn’t conceal the concern that lurked in his voice.

“I’m… I’m fine,” Holly said, stammering over the words as she tried to wrap her head around Victor’s sudden concern for her wellbeing.

“You don’t have to lie to me. I saw how hard he hit you. It’d be enough to leave most people seeing stars.”

Victor paused and swung Holly around to face him, the sudden movement causing the room to spin around her.

She flinched as he reached out, his large rough fingers brushing against the side of her face. Holly had no idea what to expect from Victor. He’d always appeared aloof and only too happy to land her in trouble with Marcus, so the sudden switch in his personality left her reeling.

“I’m not going to hurt you. You don’t need to shrink away from me.”

Holly opened her eyes slowly and stared up into his grey eyes. There was a tenderness lurking within them that she hadn’t seen before.

“Thank you for stopping him,” she said. Holly swallowed back the uncertainty that lurked inside her. If Victor cared for her then maybe he could help her.

Holly had seen enough cop programs to know that if Victor saw her as a human being with real feelings and thoughts, then he wouldn’t be so willing to let Marcus hurt her. If she could make him care for her, then he wouldn’t want any harm to come to her at all.

She smiled up at him, the movement making her wince as the bruising on her face stretched.

“He shouldn’t have done that.” Victor’s voice dropped lower as his fingers continued to caress the side of her face. “George won’t like it if he finds out.”

“Who’s George?” Holly said, as she fought to hold still beneath Victor’s touch.

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll get you some ice for your face,” Victor said, his voice returning to normal as he started to move forward once more, forcing Holly to follow him.

He pulled the door to the basement open, the air circulating around Holly and making her shiver as the smell of damp and mould flooded her senses. It was difficult to keep moving forward, each step taking her farther down into the bowels of the house.

Reaching the bottom step, Holly dug her heels in and Victor shot her a puzzled look.

“Can’t you just pretend you left me down here? He’s not going to notice anyway. By the time you get back upstairs he’ll be halfway to drunk and keeping himself entertained with one of the girls he hired for the night.”

“I have to follow orders, Holly, you know that. Anyway, you need to learn your lesson. Your actions have consequences. You need to understand that.”

“I’ve already had my lesson for the night. The bruises on my face and neck are proof enough of that.”

Victor shook his head. “I can’t risk it. He said down here for the night, so this is where you’ll stay. I might disagree with what happened but it’s not up to me to set him straight.”

Holly sighed in frustration as Victor started back up the steps, leaving her to stand in the middle of the basement alone. She scanned the area, searching for something she could use during the night to keep warm but the space appeared to be empty.

Marcus had cleared the space out after her last stay, probably just to make it an even worse environment to spend time in.

Victor’s boots disappeared out of sight and Holly held her breath as she waited for the light to go off.

“I’ll get the ice and leave the light for tonight. It’ll be our secret,” Victor said from the top of the stairs.

The sound of the door slamming and the lock sliding home filled Holly with a sense of despair. Moving to the back wall, she did her best to huddle in on herself, wrapping her arms around her body in an attempt to keep some of the heat in, but it was no use. The dress she wore was far too flimsy to provide any real coverage and the stone was so cold that after a few seconds of being propped against it Holly could feel it seeping into her bones.

She finally let go. The tears she’d held in check were now dripping down her face. With her eyes closed she tried to imagine Riley’s arms around her but in the damp and freezing basement her memories betrayed her, leaving her to face the night alone.