Breaker's Point Bad Boy Billionaires Boxset

by Morgan, M. G.

  The room was awash with men in suits, impeccable and expensive suits, that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the catwalk of some Italian tailor’s show. But that wasn’t what had Stuart so utterly shocked.

  A pretty redhead passed him, her smile wide and inviting as she paused and pressed a glass of sparkling champagne into his hand.

  “Is this your first time at one of these parties?” she said, her green eyes flashing with interest as she let her gaze slide down over his suit. “I haven’t seen you here before.”

  She purred before taking a step closer and pressing her hand against his chest, as though she was about to smooth away some lint. Her hand lingered for a second longer than it should have and Stuart found himself taking a step backward, away from her touch.

  He found himself utterly speechless as she turned and stalked away, casting him a cheeky smile over her shoulder.

  Stuart’s eyes scanned the crowd, coming to rest on Riley. He moved in his direction, placing the champagne glass down on the first polished surface he came into contact with.

  “What sort of party is this?” he whispered to his brother as soon as he caught up to him.

  Riley’s smile remained fixed in place as he turned and spoke to Stuart.

  “This is the kind of party you get when you have a whole lot of boys with more money than sense. Here are where all the most powerful men in Breaker’s Point gather. They throw a party like this once or twice a month, each one more extravagant and extreme than the one before. I have my suspicion that a lot of the money they get to spend on it comes from public funds. One of these days they’re going to go too far and the people from town will find out. As it is I’m surprised they don’t already know.”

  Stuart’s eyes caught the gaze of someone vaguely familiar. He had the odd feeling of seeing her at the diner but he wasn’t sure why. The only woman at the diner Stuart had eyes for was Ellie and there was no way she would come to something like this.

  “Are you sure the people in town don’t already know?” Stuart said as the blonde weaved through the crowd, smiling and nodding appreciatively as men patted her ass and tried to rub her breasts through the small piece of gauze that did little to hide her. She didn’t try to stop them either, which surprised Stuart.

  “What makes you think they already know?” Riley asked, following Stuart’s gaze.

  The blonde came to a stop in front of him and gave him a coy smile.

  “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “I could say the same for you. The diner, right?” Stuart said, trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible.

  She giggled and pressed her body up against him.

  “Yes, I’m Kelly. Well, isn’t this a happy coincidence. Perhaps we should celebrate it?”

  She angled her body into his and tried to drape herself against his hip and shoulder. She leaned in and whispered into his ear.

  “I’m sure we can find somewhere a little more private? I don’t normally do the public shows but if you’re into it, I’m sure I can make an exception.”

  Riley intervened, his hand clamping down on Stuart’s arm as he tried to extricate him from Kelly’s grip.

  “I’m not interested, Kelly. I’m here for business.”

  Stuart side-stepped her as she tried to move against him once more, making her pout.

  “Everyone is here on business. It doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself while you’re here.”

  Stuart shook his head and moved into the crowd. The more distance he could put between himself and Kelly, the better. She was attractive and Stuart could imagine the men that would trip over themselves to get close to her. He just wasn’t one of them.

  He spotted a set of doors at the far end of the room and headed straight for them. The room was becoming a little too crowded for his liking.

  His eyes scanned the crowd and he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed that Grey was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that a broken nose was enough to keep him away from such a gathering.

  Stuart pushed through into the room and paused. Tables were laid out with trays and piled high with food. Several of the girls in gauze milled around. Stuart contemplated turning on his heel and walking back out the way he’d come. The last thing he wanted was to draw more attention to himself.

  Spying some doors that led outside he made a beeline for them, ignoring the girls that watched him with interest.

  Stuart stepped outside and paused, the night air washing over him. He drank in the salty air and scrubbed his hands across his face. The party had not turned out to be what he’d expected at all. He’d always known that the rich had a propensity towards debauchery but what was going on inside was beyond his comprehension and he could only imagine it getting worse as more alcohol flowed.

  “I said, no!”

  “And I said yes. It’s your job to give me whatever I want…”

  The sound of fabric ripping had Stuart moving in the direction of the other side of the patio.

  The voice had been so very familiar and yet his mind refused to put the puzzle pieces together. This wasn’t the type of party Ellie would attend. Hell, as far as Stuart could see, women weren’t invited.

  The sound of a slap rang in the air and a muttered curse made Stuart smile. Ellie strode towards him, a look of disgust on her face, the front of her black dress ripped across the neckline.

  A man appeared and grabbed her roughly, pushing her against the wall of the house as she cried out.

  Stuart saw red, his hands balling into fists as he launched himself forward.

  Chapter 14

  Ellie had left the kitchen to get some air, stepping out onto the dark patio and breathing in the salt air.

  The smell of the sea air was always something she’d loved but ever since her father’s body had washed up on the shore she hadn’t been able to bring herself to go to the beach.

  It was probably stupid but she couldn’t help it. The thought of looking at the sea, the waves crashing against the shore line, filled her with unimaginable sadness.

  The sound of someone exhaling and the red glow of the tip of a cigarette surprised her.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t think anyone was out here.”

  She moved to the other side of the patio, heading further into the darkness and away from the party and the man standing near the open door.

  “Are you a part of the party?”

  He moved after her, his dark hair slicked back so forcefully Ellie imagined if she touched it, her hand would come away wet.

  “I load the tables, that’s it…”

  Ellie felt it necessary to make the distinction. She wasn’t one of the girls. They’d made that pretty plain but part of her was glad. She knew she could have made more money. Kelly had already been in twice and had waved around a wad of bills in Ellie’s face that would have solved her money worries for the next six months. But Ellie knew she couldn’t bring herself to don the barely-there outfits, the thought of just anyone touching her the way the men at the party touched the girls filling her with fear and revulsion.

  “I haven’t seen you inside… Where’s your outfit?”

  He dropped his cigarette on the patio and stubbed it out with his highly polished shoes. He moved in against Ellie, his hands automatically sliding down over her ass.

  “Is it underneath this thing?”

  He tugged at her dress and Ellie stepped away from him.

  “No, now if you’ll excuse me I have to get back inside. I have work to do.”

  He grabbed her arm and Ellie felt panic rising within her.

  “I can give you some work.”

  His words were a little slurred as he leaned in towards her and Ellie could smell the alcohol on his breath.

  “I said, no!”

  “And I said yes. It’s your job to give me whatever I want…”

  He grabbed the neckline of her dress, his large hand ripping the delicate fabric as he tried to force his hand inside.

&nb
sp; Ellie drew back and slapped him with enough force to rock him back on his feet and make her own palm sting. She took her opportunity and strode away, disgust and fear quickening her pace.

  When his hand closed around her upper arm and he slammed her back against the wall, Ellie knew she was in real trouble. She fought against him as he tried to pin her hands over her head.

  Stuart moved up behind him and through her tear-blurred eyes Ellie was sure she was imagining that he was coming to her rescue. The grip her drunken attacker had on her disappeared as Stuart spun him around, his fist slamming into the other man’s face.

  She watched as her attacker slumped down onto his knees, blood dripping from his nose. Shock washed over her and Ellie stared up into Stuart’s rage-filled expression.

  “What are you doing here?” she said, her voice trembling as he reached out and dragged her away from the wall.

  “What am I doing here? I could ask you the same thing, Ellie. What the hell are you doing at something like this? What were you doing out here in the dark, with that slime ball?”

  Ellie paused and jerked free of his grip.

  “I’m here to work, Stuart. I got a job loading the trays from the kitchen out into the refill room.”

  She watched as he pushed his hands back through his hair.

  “But at something like this? You have your job at the diner. You don’t need another job.”

  “And what would you know about what I need? If I don’t work and earn more money like tonight then how the hell am I supposed to pay the bills? How the hell will I pay the mortgage on the house and keep my mother at home where she wanted to be instead of in a hospice?”

  Stuart stared at her, surprise etched on his face.

  “Ellie, I…”

  She shook her head and stalked past him. Colour flooded up her face as she suddenly became embarrassed that she had shared so much with him. She’d always been taught to keep her problems to herself so what was happening to her now that she couldn’t even keep that to herself?

  Ellie’s cell phone started to buzz just as Stuart caught up to her and she pulled it from her pocket.

  The home number flashed on the screen and Ellie was suddenly filled with dread. Why would Selena be calling her? The only reason she would call was if there was something wrong…

  “Ellie, I…”

  She cut Stuart off and pressed the call answer button, lifting the phone to her ear.

  “Ellie, you need to get home…”

  “Selena, what’s wrong? What happened?”

  “It’s Rosalind—she had another seizure but this was far worse than anything I’ve seen… Ellie, she stopped breathing, I’ve been doing CPR on her but I can’t get a response…”

  Ellie didn’t even wait to hear the rest of what Selena had to say because she was already moving for the door.

  Stuart followed her as Ellie battled her way through the crowded ballroom, loud raucous laughter drowning out anything Selena was saying to her on the phone.

  By the time Ellie made it out to the front her hands were shaking hard enough to make her almost drop the cell phone on the ground.

  “Selena, where are you? What hospital is she going to?”

  “James Memorial. Ellie, you need to get here as fast as you can. I have to go… The paramedics are…”

  Selena cut off and Ellie was left holding the phone in her hands. She fumbled in her purse, her fingers refusing to cooperate with the rest of her as she struggled to find her car keys.

  “Ellie, what happened? Talk to me?”

  It suddenly dawned on her that Stuart had been trying to talk to her the entire time. Sound rushed in around her as he spun her around to face him.

  “I have to go. It’s my mom, she’s…”

  Ellie didn’t know what to say. What could she say? Her mother wasn’t dead; she wouldn’t die on her, not now. Despite the fact that Ellie spent all of her free time looking after her mother, or working to pay for her care, she knew in a way she needed her mom as much as her mom needed her.

  “I don’t know what to do…” Ellie said, her hands finally closing around the keys in the bottom of her bag. She pulled them out and stared down at them.

  On one hand she knew she needed to find her car, she needed to get to the hospital, and she just hoped that she arrived in time.

  In time for what, exactly?

  Tears filled Ellie’s eyes and she refused to finish the thought. Everything would be fine, it would all be fine.

  “Ellie, you can’t drive. Give me the keys. I’ll take you.”

  Stuart’s voice cut through her tumultuous thoughts as he pulled the keys from her hand and gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

  Ellie was barely aware as he walked her to her car and helped her into the passenger seat. It wasn’t until he slid in behind the wheel that panic really set in.

  “James Memorial, Stuart. We need to get to James Memorial. I should drive, I know a short cut.”

  Ellie fumbled with her seatbelt in an attempt to slip it off and climb into the driver’s seat but Stuart’s hand over hers stopped her.

  “I’ll get you there. I promise.”

  Ellie stared into his dark eyes and found herself nodding. He would get her there on time. If anyone could do it, it was Stuart.

  “I can’t be too late…”

  “You won’t.”

  He gunned the engine and Ellie slumped back in her seat as the car pulled down the drive.

  * * *

  The drive to the hospital seemed to take forever and with each minute that ticked by Ellie felt certain she would simply explode. The pressure built in her chest and in her lungs and as soon as Stuart pulled the car to a halt outside the hospital she was already moving.

  Reaching the front desk, Ellie paused. This wasn’t the first time she had done this. The memory of her mother’s stroke froze the air in her lungs and Ellie struggled to force the words past her tongue.

  “Dear, are you alright?”

  The nurse at the desk stared at her with concern and Ellie could feel the world slowly beginning to spin around her.

  “Rosalind Blair. She was brought in here tonight—we need to see her.”

  Stuart appeared at Ellie’s elbow, his voice calm as he spoke to the nurse at the desk.

  “Are you relatives?”

  “I’m her daughter!”

  The words burst from Ellie and she gripped the counter as though it was the only thing holding her steady in the world.

  The nurse shot her a sympathetic look and tapped away on the keyboard.

  “They’re currently working on her. If you go down to emergency room four they might be able to give you some information.”

  Ellie moved away from the desk and started down the hall. She knew the hospital, knew where all the emergency rooms were, and she followed the hall down to her destination.

  The emergency section of the hospital was a hive of activity. Doctors and nurses coming and going, patients moved from room to room. And then every so often an emergency would burst in through the door, people shouting orders as they tried to save a life.

  Ellie sat and watched it all, her body numb as she waited to hear what the doctor had to say. Was this her fault? Had she caused it? Would her mother have been better off in a care facility?

  So many questions—questions that Ellie didn’t have the answers to, and it hurt to think about them.

  Selena dropped down in the seat next to Ellie, taking her hand and wrapping her fingers through Ellie’s.

  “I know you’re blaming yourself, I can see it on your face.”

  “What else am I supposed to think, Selena? If I’d listened to you this wouldn’t have happened.”

  “Ellie, you can’t think like that and you know it. Your mom was exactly where she wanted to be and this could have happened anywhere. It has nothing to do with where she was.”

  “But you said she’d be better off in a care facility, Selena, and you were right. If I’d j
ust listened… Why do I always have to be so stupid?”

  Tears gathered in a lump at the back of Ellie’s throat and she struggled to breathe around it.

  “Miss Blair, can I have a word, please?”

  A doctor appeared at the end of the hall near the doors that led through to emergency room four.

  Ellie nodded and stood, the world spinning uncomfortably as she struggled to get her bearings.

  “Are you alright? Do you want me to come with you?”

  Stuart was suddenly just there, his strong hands holding Ellie steady as he walked her down the hall.

  Ellie knew she should say no. This was something she was supposed to do alone, something she should have been stronger about but she wasn’t.

  “Yes…”

  She nodded and stared up into his brown eyes, the emotions she saw there surprising her. Ellie looked away, focusing on the floor beneath her feet and each step that took her towards whatever the doctor would tell her.

  They stepped through the swing doors and he gave her a pitying look.

  “Is she dead? Was I too late?”

  The doctor shook his head but Ellie could tell by the look in his eyes that whatever he would say wasn’t good news.

  “No, we’ve stabilised her but the seizure she suffered starved your mother’s brain of oxygen for far too long. I’m afraid the damage it caused is far worse than we’d anticipated and the only thing keeping her stable at the moment is the life support.”

  The world seemed to crumble away at the edges of Ellie’s vision and she imagined herself standing on the edge of a precipice. Each breath she took only seemed to make the situation more precarious, more of her reality crumbling away, tumbling into oblivion.

  Ellie had watched these types of situations in films, read about them in books, but she’d never expected to be faced with it.

  “Your mother is what we consider brain dead.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Ellie knew deep down what it meant but she needed to hear the doctor say it to her face.

  “It means that if we switched the machines off, your mother’s body would be unable to function on its own. Her organs would shut down and physical death would occur.”