The Punk and the Plaything (When Rivals Play Book 3)

by B. B. Reid

  “And what makes you think I’m going to prison?” There was no anger or worry in his tone as he continued to toy with me. Well, he wouldn’t be having his fun with me much longer.

  “Because I found the emails between you and your CFO. I also took the liberty of sharing them with the board and the investors you robbed.”

  This time, when he paused, rage filled those blue eyes that I’d inherited. “I don’t believe you.”

  I shrugged. “So what if you don’t? I’m sure the SEC and the Feds will when I tell them about all the money you stole.” I smirked, making his face turn reddish-purple.

  “Oh, I assure you that won’t happen. Even if I have to keep you bound and gagged until it’s time to say ‘I do.’” He charged toward me, and I knew that this was it, the last stand I’d ever have against my father.

  I dove for my bag.

  My hand was still blindly searching inside when I felt my father’s harsh grip in my hair. Ripping the bag from my hand, he tossed me to the floor, and I scrambled away when he charged for me.

  “The first thing I’ll do,” he spoke harshly as he removed his leather belt, “is give you a sound beating, and this time, I won’t stop until you bleed.”

  After folding the belt in half, he raised it over his opposite shoulder, preparing to deliver a punishing blow. Before he could, I raised my arm, pointing the gun he hadn’t noticed me holding.

  “One more step and I’ll shoot.”

  Slowly, he lowered his arm, but his gaze turned from shock at seeing me holding his gun to mocking. “You won’t kill me.”

  I almost scoffed at the notion that my dad thought I still loved him enough to care if he lived or died. Or maybe he just thought I didn’t have the guts? Maybe I didn’t but killing him wasn’t the only way I could finally be free.

  “I never said I would.” Removing the safety, I turned the gun on myself, pressing the muzzle against my right temple. The last thing I wanted to see was my father’s face. I wanted to close my eyes and picture Jamie’s smile one last time, to see the look in his eyes when he’d said he loved me for the first time. But what if I did, and I couldn’t go through with it? The alternative was just too horrible to consider.

  “You expect me to believe you’ll shoot yourself?” His gaze narrowed, seeing the truth in my own. “Why?”

  Lifting my chin, I curled my finger around the trigger. He needed to know that I was completely fucking serious. “Because if I can’t have me, no one will.”

  The silence that fell over the room as my father and I continued to face off was so heavy that I could swear I heard his heart skip a beat. I’d left him with no choice. We both knew it. If I died, he’d get nothing. If he let me walk, there was always the chance he could come after me later.

  Wanting to get as far away from him as possible, I stood before cautiously collecting my bag. My grip on the gun remained firm. Our identical blue gazes never once parted.

  “This isn’t over,” he spat. “I’ll be seeing you real soon, Barbette. Make no mistake about that.”

  I almost choked on the sheer hate I glimpsed in his eyes. It doesn’t matter now, Barbette. You’re free.

  “Well, Father, if you happen to escape the hard time you’re looking at, I’ll be waiting.”

  I could barely see where I was going as tears clouded my vision and soaked my cheeks. I pedaled my old red Huffy as fast as it would go as I raced down the drive for the open gates. For freedom.

  My father had let me go.

  It didn’t matter that it was because his back had been against the wall. I stopped pining for his affection long ago. I’d been searching for love in all the wrong places when I had it all along. And Jamie had given it to me freely.

  I reached the end of the drive, prepared to fly through the open gates when several vehicles turned in, blocking the entrance.

  Panic speared my chest, thinking it had all been a lie. I hadn’t won. My father only made me think I had to play some sick game.

  I heard car doors opening and footsteps running my way as I quickly dashed at my tears. I rushed to climb from my bike so that I could fight, but strong hands were already circling my waist and lifting me.

  I pounded my fists against the hard chest, locking me in like a wall, and struggled against the harsh grip holding me hostage.

  “Jesus, kitten. Calm the fuck down!” a familiar voice barked.

  Blinking, I finally cleared my vision enough to notice the green tie I’d picked out this morning. Now that I wasn’t panicking, I even recognized the smell of the aftershave soothing my senses.

  It was Jamie standing in front of me.

  “Jamie?” I gasped as I looked around. It was his car, along with Ever’s and Wren’s car and Four’s bike blocking the entrance. I could see the apology and worry in her eyes as she watched us. Had she called them? I looked to Jamie for answers. “What are you doing here?”

  “Funny,” he bit out, “I was about to ask you the same.” He looked furious, afraid, and relieved all at once. I could understand why. The very thing that he’d been afraid of had almost happened. The outcome, however, was worth the risk. Jamie was worth the risk.

  “I was going to run away,” I admitted and felt his grip tighten on me. “I thought it was the only way I could be free of my father, but…” I swallowed the words, unsure if I should go on.

  “But?” he prodded almost desperately.

  “But you gave me something to fight for. That’s why I came back here. To fight for you.” Although I knew this wasn’t what he’d meant when he said as much on graduation day, his emotional outburst had never once stopped ringing in my head.

  His throat bobbed as he pressed his forehead against mine. “You didn’t have to do it alone. God, Bee. I thought I’d lost you forever.”

  “Yes, I did. It was me who let him turn me into a coward. I had to face him alone.” I dug my fingers into his chest, wanting to get as close as possible. “And you don’t ever have to worry about losing me again. I’d never let you. I love you.” I felt a fresh bout of tears, remembering his sorrow from this morning. “I always did. I didn’t want to tell you until I was sure my father couldn’t come between us anymore. I couldn’t break your heart again, Jamie. Please believe me.”

  Jamie took a deep, shuddering breath before standing up straight and looking toward the house. “Where is he?”

  “Inside.”

  Meeting my gaze, the muscle in his jaw began ticking as he looked me over. “Did he hurt you?”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I felt Ever and Wren press in closer, eager to hear the answer as well. I knew what it would mean for my father if he had. Lucky for him, he never got the chance.

  I quickly shook my head. When his gaze narrowed, I knew he was looking for a sign that I was lying. “He’s not going to be a problem anymore.”

  The steel in my tone made his mouth purse with reluctant amusement. “What did you do?”

  “I beat him at his own game,” I boasted as I fiddled with the tie I’d helped him put on this morning. It felt like such a lifetime ago. “I also found evidence that he’s been stealing from his investors and ratted him out.”

  “I’m sure it’s a lovely story,” Wren snapped. “Can we go now?” He was looking around as if expecting men with guns to jump out at any moment. Given his background, I suppose it was a very rational fear.

  Jamie nodded at him. He then stared in my eyes for a few seconds as if trying to convince himself that I was real before kissing me deeply. When he pulled away, he pointed to his Jeep, his voice was sharp when he spoke. “Get in.”

  IT WAS AMAZING THE THINGS Barbette could do to my heart.

  Like how she could make it come to a complete fucking stop without ever lifting a finger.

  It had been five days since her little standoff with her father, and I was still pouring and obsessing over the printed emails she’d given me. Even after seeing the proof with my own eyes, it was still impossible for me to believe that Elliot
could be so vulgar and dismissive of his daughter. Her well-being had been the least of his concerns, and to think I’d left her alone with that monster for five fucking years.

  I wasn’t sure what kept me from going over there and wringing his neck, but I figured if Barbette wanted him dead, she would have used that pistol I’d glimpsed in her purse. The only explanation she’d given was that it was his, and I hadn’t bothered questioning her more. I was still tempted to wring her neck, too.

  She’d told me she loved me.

  The most coveted words I’d ever wanted to hear spill from her lips, and I… I choked. I didn’t expect that. I’d been holding my breath, waiting for her to say it back, and when she did, I fucking choked. I knew Barbette meant it, but I also knew she loved me then, too. Yet she still broke my heart. I guess the why doesn’t matter when all you can remember is the fucking pain. She said she’d waited to tell me until she was sure she wouldn’t break it again, but I was scared as hell to believe her.

  A shadow suddenly darkened the wrinkled pages I’d read so many times. Looking up, I found Uncle Thomas standing over me. The circles darkening his puffy eyes were even more pronounced than the day before. Covering up so many lies must be hard work.

  “You can go home,” he announced before pushing away from my cubicle to leave.

  I stood from my chair and called his name.

  He faced me with a complete lack of interest. “Yes?”

  “When you told me I’d be the one running the company because your blood runs through my veins, you also told me I’d have to start making decisions that were best for more than just myself. Do you remember that?”

  He sighed. “Of course.”

  “Well, I think I’m ready to start now.” I smiled at the wary look he was giving me now. “For my first decision as head of the family, I’ve decided not to take the job.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Actually, that’s not true. I will take the job, but only if your son knows exactly why he was passed up.”

  “That’s none of your business, Jameson.”

  “It is when you force me to look my best friend in the eye every day and lie to him. I won’t do it a second longer. Tell him the truth, or I walk.”

  “Everson doesn’t even want the job. He wants to be an architect.”

  “Of course, he doesn’t want the job.” I fumed. “Who’d want to sit at a table where they’re not welcome?”

  “So…” My uncle frowned, suddenly looking very disturbed. “He knows?”

  “You’ve been showing me off as the future face of the company for months. He’d have to be an idiot not to. Besides, I think he’s known for a long time.”

  “Does he know—” He seemed unable to speak the words.

  “That his sperm donor is alive?” I finished for him. “I doubt it, but you should tell him. Sean isn’t behaving like a man content to stay in the shadows.”

  My uncle was a foolish man, but he wasn’t an idiot. He knew he couldn’t keep Sean at bay for much longer. After eighteen years, he suddenly wanted to play daddy, and nothing on earth was going to stop it.

  Unless we somehow found something that Sean wanted more.

  “It was my fault his mother left,” my uncle announced, which sent me reeling, even though it wasn’t much of a surprise. “Ever thinks it was because of him, but it was me all along. She wanted to tell Ever the truth about his father. I didn’t. I raised Ever. I was there for his first words and his first steps. I was the one who taught him to catch.” In an explosion of anger, he slammed his fist on top of the cubicle wall. “He’s my goddamn son!” I silently watched my uncle’s chest heave as he tried to regain control of his emotions. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. His voice, though still laced with anger, was much calmer when he spoke. “We argued about it for months, and when she found out that Sean was still alive, she sought him out. I’m still not sure if it was because she thought he’d be a better father or because she still loved him.”

  I decided not to point out the obvious fact that they all seemed to be making decisions that were best for themselves and not for Ever.

  “What about you?” I asked, instead. “Do you still love him?”

  By now, I’d lost count of how many times I’d managed to shock my uncle in a single conversation.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about this weird little sex triangle you’re in.” I waited for him to admit it, but he simply stood there… blinking at me. I sighed. “I’m going to take an educated guess and say that you and Sean found each other early in life. You were best friends until one of you realized you wanted more. Since I already know Sean is Crow, I’m also going to guess that you hit a fork in the road. Only his path was much darker than yours. Years pass before you see each other again. By now, you’ve met a nice, wholesome girl. You think you’re in love. And because fate is cruel, here comes your old flame. With your heart in one hand, he steals hers with the other. Knocks her up too before he disappears again, leaving you to pick up the pieces.”

  My uncle looked like a fish out of water, probably wondering how I possibly pieced everything together. Sticking my nose where it didn’t belong was a favorite pastime of mine. The sound of clapping had me spinning around. Sean was making his way toward us, looking like a thief in the night dressed in all black. The feeling that he was fucking bad news just wouldn’t dissipate. I couldn’t say if he was an evil man or simply mischievous. Good morals and bad intentions aren’t always mutually exclusive. I should know.

  “I’m impressed, Jameson.”

  “And what a waste of your time since I don’t give a fuck.” I started past him toward the bank of elevators when I stopped and spun around. They were both watching me. “Either you two tell Ever everything and let him hate you for a little while, or I tell him, and he hates you forever.”

  I didn’t stop this time when I turned to leave. The moment I stepped onto the busy New York street, I reached inside my vest and removed the carton that had been burning a hole in my pocket all day.

  When was my last smoke?

  I couldn’t recall. I just knew I couldn’t go another minute without one.

  I could always quit again tomorrow.

  When I flipped open the top, my brows dipped at the slip of paper I found inside. Every single of my little sticks of heaven were gone. Plucking the paper from the pack, I unfolded it and found a note. Or rather…

  My heart skipped a beat.

  All I ever wanted was to pick wildflowers with you

  To swim in the ocean, to run in the sun

  To write fumbling poetry while you strung your clumsy notes

  Being bad was the only thing we were good at

  All I ever wanted…

  I frowned even harder.

  What? What was it that she wanted?

  I practically snatched my car keys from the valet before racing home to find out. My heart pounded as my mind raced. There was nothing I wasn’t willing to do for her, but what if what she wanted most was for me to let her go?

  Damn you, Bee.

  “Jameson, a word?”

  I sighed, staring at the stairs longingly. Bee was up there, and I knew she was waiting for me. However, I also knew my mother wasn’t about to let me blow her off. For the last two weeks, I’d been either missing in action or blowing off my family. My mom would be heading back to Ireland soon, and we’d hardly spent any time together after not seeing each other for a year.

  “What’s up?”

  “I’d like to know what you and Barbette think you’re doing? She’s been staying here for almost a week.”

  I frowned, not expecting that. “Is that a problem? I didn’t know you had an issue with her.”

  “Did I say that?” my mother snapped as she propped her hands on her hips. “I love Barbette—you know that—and she’s more than welcome here, but that doesn’t mean you’re allowed to move her in without an explanation.”

  I scrubbed a h
and down my face. My mother was right, but I didn’t know how much I should reveal to her. “Barbette isn’t… safe… at home. Her father was abusing her,” I said, telling only part of the truth. “I saw him slap her with my own eyes at graduation. That’s why we missed the ceremony.”

  I realized only part of the truth worked fine when I watched my mother’s hand cover her trembling lips. Or maybe the reality Barbette had been forced to live in was so horrid it could only be handled in small doses. It was a testament to how strong Bee was even if she couldn’t see it yet.

  “Is she okay?”

  I nodded, even though I wasn’t entirely sure. Barbette had risked everything so that we could be together when it would have been easier just to run. And how did I thank her? By ignoring her for three days.

  God, I’m such an asshole.

  “What is she going to do?”

  I shrugged, feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. I hadn’t bothered to talk to her about that, either. Barbette was once again in control of her life, and I’d been too angry to ask her what she planned to do with it.

  My mother gave me a reproachful look. “It sounds to me like the two of you need to spend a little less time in each other’s pants and a little more time talking. I hope you’re using condoms.”

  After I assured her that I was, she ordered me upstairs but not before demanding to be kept up to date. My mother just loved reminding me that while I may be legally an adult, I was still her child.

  The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside my bedroom was the clean floor. My clothes no longer covered the plush carpet, and I looked around, wondering where they could have gone. My desk had also been cleaned off and organized, the ashes in the tray on my nightstand dumped, and my bed made. I could already tell by the crisp lines in the sheet that they had been cleaned. I frowned, wondering if my mom had cleaned up. Mrs. Greene stopped bothering a long time ago. I checked the bathroom for Bee, but when I didn’t find her, I headed back downstairs.

  Where could she be?

  I checked every room downstairs before heading out back. My heart was beating a mile a minute, wondering if she’d left me. Could I blame her if she had? Could she blame me when I tracked her down and dragged her back?