Beast (Happily-Ever-After: The Illegitimates Book 1)

by Trisha Grace

  “Of course not. Your family is cut-throat. I don’t intend to die as collateral damage in your family’s fight for money.”

  “I knew he was lying.” Bobby’s chest rose as he sucked in a breath. “Regardless, he’s painted a target on your back. They’re sure that you are. I told you to stop talking to him, but of course, you never listen to me.”

  Helena waved it off. “Nobody knows where I am.”

  “Is that what you think?”

  She walked over to her bedroom door, dragging Liam along. “No one knows I was at Liam’s place. No one knows where I’m staying now, either.”

  “Where were you anyway? You weren’t at that rotten place. You weren’t home.”

  “Somewhere,” she said.

  Bobby strode forward and shoved Liam. “Where did you take her?”

  Liam pushed Bobby back. Trevor shifted in his chair, but only watched.

  “Boys!” Helena cut between them, her back facing Liam. “Stop it.”

  “Where did you go with him?” Bobby asked.

  “None of your business.”

  Bobby clenched and released his fists, and Liam pulled her back. “You think I’d hurt her?” Bobby demanded.

  “I know what you did to me,” Liam said.

  Helena pressed a hand to Liam’s chest. “It’s okay.”

  Bobby stared at her hand. “You always find a way to care about everyone but me.”

  Helena swallowed a sigh. “Bobby, I’m safe with Liam.” She moved forward. “Your family won’t be able to find me.”

  “They’ve been watching you!” Bobby grabbed her hand and jerked her forward.

  Liam hand immediately reached for hers. Unlike Bobby’s, Liam’s grip remained gentle as his fingers curled around her wrist.

  She thought, as Liam pulled her back, that she would be stuck in a tug-of-war between them. But Liam only cocked a brow, as if he was letting her make the decision.

  Helena shook off Bobby’s hand. “Watching me?”

  Bobby exhaled heavily through his nose. “Remember you told me a couple of weeks back that you thought someone was following you? The others have private investigators watching your every move so they can report when and where you meet my grandfather.”

  She stepped back beside Liam, and Bobby again poked his tongue against the inside of his cheek. “You want to do it this way? Fine. Either you come with me or you can forget about me bailing Nigel out.”

  “I’ll bail him out,” Liam said and let go of her wrist. “If that’s what you think would be best for him.”

  Bobby laughed so hard he bent over. “You think my grandfather will give you two and a half million?”

  “Unlike you, I don’t need a grandfather to pay my way.”

  Bobby’s laughter faded and he gave Liam a head to toe scan, seemingly trying to judge if Liam was telling the truth. Slowly, he nodded. “Sure,” he straightened, “show her the money now.”

  “He doesn’t need to prove anything to me.”

  Bobby rolled his eyes. “You know how my family can get. You really trust this monster to take care of you?” He locked eyes with her. “He hasn’t been out in the real world. You think he can handle the Eolenfelds? I’ve always protected you from them.”

  “Obsessive, isn’t he?” Trevor said from the dining table.

  Helena licked her lips. None of them—not even Liam—had outright accused Bobby of being her stalker. Not to her, at least. “And you’ve never lied to me, right?”

  “Come on.” Bobby took her hand. “Let’s go.”

  Liam didn’t react. For someone who wasn’t going to let her go, he sure didn’t behave that way.

  And Helena wasn’t sure why she was disappointed. “Then answer me.” She remained rooted. “Did you get someone to hack into my computer? Were you behind the stalker who recorded me?”

  “Recorded you? Stalker? What are you talking about?”

  Helena studied Bobby’s expression. He seemed genuinely surprised. “Someone hacked into my laptop and recorded me through the camera. Someone’s been stalking me.”

  “How long has it been happening?” Bobby’s brows drew together. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I didn’t think it was serious.”

  “You didn’t think it was serious that someone was recording you?” Bobby yelled at her as his grip on her hand tightened.

  “I didn’t know he was recording me until a few days ago.” She tried to pull her hand from Bobby’s, but he was clutching so tightly it was beginning to hurt.

  “It happened just when she moved into Liam’s place,” Trevor added. “What a coincidence, isn’t it?”

  Bobby peered over his shoulder at Trevor, then turned back to her. “You think I’d do something like that to you? You’d trust them more than you trust me?” He threw her hand aside and stormed past her.

  “Bobby.” She went after him. “I didn’t …”

  He stopped in front of the door and waited for her to continue.

  “I’m sorry. I—”

  Bobby wrenched open the door and left the apartment without another word.

  She sighed, guilt eating at her.

  “Do you want to go after him?” Liam asked.

  “If you do,” Trevor said, looking at her, “he’ll just think he stands a chance with you.”

  She didn’t want Bobby to think that, but she wanted to apologize.

  Liam put his hand on her shoulder. “Go on. Talk to him.”

  She studied Liam’s face, trying to gauge how serious he was.

  “Go.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He hesitated for a moment. “You’ll come back?”

  “Of course.”

  He nodded slowly. “Then go.”

  Helena rolled forward and kissed him on the lips. “Thank you.”

  Helena caught up with Bobby at the elevators. “Bobby, I’m sorry. I really am.”

  He spun to face her. “You always find space in your heart for everyone but me. Why?”

  “That’s not true.”

  “Isn’t it?”

  “I’ve been a friend—a good friend—to you. I never pushed you to tell me anything you didn’t want to. I’ve always opened my door to you, even with all the nonsense you and my brother drag me into.”

  “Friend.” He clenched his fists. “I don’t want to be your friend, Helena. Isn’t that obvious? I’ve been in love with you my whole life.”

  She licked her lips.

  “I’ve protected you my whole life.”

  “And I’m grateful for what you did for me.”

  “I’m not talking about Richie.”

  She frowned.

  “You think I’m always dragging Nigel into trouble.” He laughed once without humor. “If I hadn’t been with him, he would’ve probably been dead a long time ago.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He waved it off. “What’s the point? As if you’d believe me.”

  “I’ve always believed you, Bobby. I know you don’t lie to me. If you said something, I believed it.”

  Bobby stared at her and shook his head. “I hate it when you do that.”

  “Do what?”

  “This.” He opened his hands and pushed them toward her. “Making me think you care!”

  “I do—as a friend.”

  Bobby clenched his fists. “You can love that beast in your apartment, but you can’t love me.”

  “He isn’t a beast.”

  “But I am?” Bobby shook with anger, and Helena inched back. “He told you I was the one who did that to him, right?” Something sinister lurked behind his light green eyes as he took a slow step forward.

  She forced herself to remain right where she was, refusing to cede any space to him. “Are you saying he’s lying?”

  He took another step, glaring down at her. “I’m saying you should be careful.” He breathed the words out in an ominous tone. “I may just do the same to you.”

  Anger rose, and Helena j
utted her chin forward. “Don’t threaten me.”

  Bobby grabbed her shoulders and shoved her back against the wall.

  He had moved so quickly that Helena couldn’t even gasp.

  This wasn’t the first time Helena had seen one of Bobby’s outbursts, but she’d never been the target of one. The one time he hurt her was when she was trying to break up a fight between him and Nigel. Bobby had shoved her aside in the middle of it all, and she’d fallen and scraped her elbow on the blacktop of the road.

  Bobby had immediately stopped fighting with Nigel and run over to her, all apologetic. He wasn’t sorry now, and Helena realized it had been naive of her to think Bobby would never hurt her.

  “Let go of her, or I’ll break your arms.”

  Helena sighed at the sound of Liam’s voice.

  Bobby saw her reaction and pulled his fist back. Helena shut her eyes as his fist moved forward. She held her breath and braced for impact, but nothing happened.

  She cracked one eye open, then the other.

  Liam’s hand was on Bobby’s wrist. Bobby’s fist was next to her. If it had continued its trajectory, it would have pounded into the wall instead of her face.

  Maybe that was why Liam didn’t do anything besides pull her behind him.

  Bobby shrugged off Liam’s hand and moved toward the stairwell.

  “Bobby,” Helena called out. “Thank you for saving me from Richie.”

  Bobby stopped, but he didn’t turn around.

  “I’ll always be grateful to you for that, but we’ll never be more than friends.”

  He let go of the door and let it swing closed behind him.

  Helena closed her eyes and turned to Liam.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “Thanks for not hurting him.”

  “Hurting him would hurt you.”

  She tipped her head back to look at him. “I’m sorry, Liam.”

  “Stop apologizing.” He kissed her forehead. “I don’t want you caught between us. I’m not going to force you to choose. You’ll always have the choice to do whatever you want.”

  “What about you?”

  He shrugged. “As long as you’re safe, as long as you’re happy … as long as you come back to me, I can wait.”

  She closed her eyes and bit down on her lips. She knew how difficult it must be for Liam to say all that, and she loved him for it.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “You said everything right, did everything right.” She curled her hands into his shirt and pulled herself up. She pressed her lips to his.

  Liam snaked his arm around Helena’s waist. He kissed her back, sweeping his tongue into her mouth.

  When he set her back down, she cupped his cheeks and gave him another peck. “Thank you, Liam.”

  “For the kiss? Anytime.”

  She laughed again. “Look at you, Mr. Black. You’re joking.”

  He grinned.

  “Would I be pushing it if I said I’d like to see Edward Eolenfeld?”

  Chapter 19

  Helena had faced the Eolenfelds before. She didn’t expect a welcoming party, and she’d always tuned out the snide remarks.

  She was still worried. Not for herself, though.

  She unbuckled her seat belt when Trevor stopped the car in front of the massive Eolenfeld mansion. She was tempted to tell Liam that she could do this on her own, but she didn’t.

  As much as she wanted to protect him from whatever the Eolenfelds had planned, she thought this would be good for him. He’d stepped out of the mansion that served as his cage. It was time he faced the man who put him there.

  That was if he was ready.

  “I’ll wait in the car,” Trevor said. “Call if you need backup.”

  Liam nodded and stepped out. He opened the passenger door for her and held his hand out to help her out.

  She slipped her hand into his. “Are you okay?”

  He looked over at the mansion in front of them. “It’s a lot smaller than I remembered.”

  “Miss Helena.” David, Mr. Eolenfeld’s chauffeur and butler rolled into one, strode forward. “Mr. Eolenfeld has been expecting you.” He glanced over at Liam and dropped his gaze immediately. “Please follow me.”

  Helena intertwined her fingers with Liam’s. “Shall we?”

  He nodded once, and they trailed David into the house.

  Helena glanced his way once more before they got to the main door, and Liam lifted her hand to his lips.

  “I’m okay.” He smiled against her hand. “Your skin’s so soft.”

  “Liam.”

  “You’re distracting.”

  She chuckled and pulled their hands down. “If—at any time—you want to leave, we’ll leave, okay? I can always tell him off another time. Even when he’s six feet under.”

  David chuckled. “I can record a message for you, Miss Helena.” He stopped in front of the door. “That’s if Master Black doesn’t want to go in.”

  Liam’s brows rose.

  “I’ve been serving Mr. Eolenfeld for a long time.”

  Liam nodded once. “Open the door.”

  Helena leaned against his arm as they stepped into the mansion. She sighed softly as they entered the crowded living room. Nothing could gather the Eolenfelds like a threat to their inheritance.

  “Don’t worry. Mr. Eolenfeld said he would cut off anyone who spoke to you.”

  Her brows rose.

  “Except Master Bobby Eolenfeld, I’m sure. I thought for sure you’d show up here with him.”

  “How did you know I was in the car?”

  “I didn’t. I have been checking every single car that drove through the gates.”

  Helena nodded slowly. “How’s he doing?”

  “Well enough to create a commotion.”

  She smiled at that.

  David stopped outside the door when they got to Mr. Eolenfeld’s room. “Miss Helena, may I know if you’ve seen Master Eolenfeld.”

  “Yes. Bobby probably won’t be speaking to me for a while, though.”

  David nodded once. “I’ll let Mr. Eolenfeld know you’re here.” He knocked twice on the door, then entered, softly closing the door behind him.

  Helena glanced over at Liam. “Do you want to go in with me? I don’t think there will be anyone in there besides Mr. Eolenfeld.”

  Liam’s brows twitched.

  “I’ll be safe. I’ll scream for you if I’m in trouble, but I’m certain I won’t be.”

  He nodded slowly. “If there’s no one else in there, then I’ll wait out here for you.”

  David opened the door, and the two nurses inside came out. “He’s ready to see the two of you.”

  “Just me.” Helena glanced over at Liam. “Any time you want to leave, just come in and get me, okay?”

  “Go.”

  She stepped into the room. “Hey, there.”

  “Come in, come in.” Mr. Eolenfeld waved her in. If she hadn’t been at the hospital she wouldn’t believe that he had just returned from it. “No one harassed you, I hope.”

  “No.” She stopped behind the chair next to the bed. “You look good.”

  “Did you think I would die too?”

  “I had no idea. You’re old, and you were suddenly admitted to the ICU.” She went around the chair and sat. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’ll be better if I can get away from the parasites. Are they all still downstairs?”

  “Seems like it. I didn’t take attendance.”

  Mr. Eolenfeld quirked a corner of his lips. “I heard what happened.”

  “So did I.”

  “I just wanted to scare them a little.”

  “By putting me in the middle of it all?”

  “I was sure Bobby would keep you safe from them. He always has.” Mr. Eolenfeld glanced over at the door. “It seems things changed while I was in the hospital.”

  Helena gave Mr. Eolenfeld a summary of what had happened over the last week.

 
“I would never take that place back from the boy.”

  “He isn’t a boy anymore, and he doesn’t want the place anyway.”

  “Bring him in,” Edward said.

  Helena glanced over her shoulder at the closed door. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  “Bring him in, my dear. I’m sure you want him to get some closure, as you did when you stormed into this mansion to berate me.”

  Her brows rose. “If you’re sure you’re up for a round of chastisement and guilt.”

  Edward Eolenfeld laughed. “I missed you, Helena.”

  “You sure have a funny way of showing it.” She got up and went over to the door.

  “Someone grew up well.”

  Helena frowned at the coy voice. She opened the door and found Liam pulling his arm away from one of the Eolenfelds.

  Liam’s eyes immediately found Helena’s when the door opened.

  “Keep your hands to yourself, Lynette,” Helena said.

  Behind him, standing further down the hallway, were several Eolenfelds. Though Mr. Eolenfeld had made it clear that they were not to speak to her, they clearly weren’t going to completely leave her alone.

  She didn’t understand what they were thinking. What was the point of hanging around? If she was seriously trying to steal the money from them, their loitering wouldn’t help in any way.

  Besides, it wasn’t as if she could have hidden Edward’s lawyer in her pocket or something.

  Lynette opened her mouth, seemingly ready to retort before thinking better of it.

  Ignoring them, Helena turned her attention back to Liam. “He wants to speak with you.”

  “I have nothing to say to him.”

  “Then just listen,” Mr. Eolenfeld said from inside the room. For an old man who was supposedly dying, his lungs were healthy enough.

  She didn’t think it was a big deal to listen to what an old man had to say, but it didn’t matter what she thought. Liam would have his choice too.

  Helena peered at the Eolenfelds behind him, at the space between Liam and that money-grubbing bunch. Her heart ached at the thought of the isolation and hurt Liam had endured under this roof.

  A wave of protectiveness rose in Helena when she saw Liam’s foot twitch toward Edward Eolenfeld’s room while his hands curled into tight fists. If he didn’t want to speak or listen to Mr. Eolenfeld, he shouldn’t have to. “You don’t have to listen to him.” She ran her hand down his tense, hard arm. “You don’t owe him anything.”