Hold You Close

by Jessica Linden

  He pulled out bandages and wrapped her elbows. Every touch was torture for him. Ever since their kiss at the charity gala, he’d wanted nothing more than to have his hands on her.

  But not like this. Never like this.

  He turned his attention to her face.

  Motherfucker.

  Her black eyes had gotten worse in the twenty-five minutes since he’d opened his front door. And her lip had swollen up even more.

  He closed his eyes for a moment, needing to steady himself. Hatred and rage burned throughout him, and no doubt that showed in his eyes. And that’s not what she needed to see from him, not right now.

  He ran a washcloth under cold water and dabbed the damp cloth on the dried blood on her lip and chin.

  She grabbed his hand and pushed it away. “You’ll stain it.”

  He stared at her for a moment, glad to see some of the spark had returned to her eyes.

  He gently cupped her chin and lifted her face so that she was forced to look into his eyes. “I don’t give a fuck about the damn wash cloth. I care about you.” His eyes searched her face. “Got me?”

  She nodded and he continued cleaning her face, pleased to see that the cut on her lip was smaller than he’d originally thought. That was something at least.

  He brought her to the living room and told her to wait there while he grabbed two ice packs from the freezer. Luckily, he kept them on hand. He instructed her to lay down and positioned them on her face. She hissed at the coldness and once again he found himself apologizing.

  Barkov would pay for this. No matter what Ginny had to say about it, he would make Barkov pay.

  “You haven’t even asked me what happened,” she said quietly.

  “I don’t have to ask.” He kept his voice even, belying the rage he actually felt. “I can guess who’s responsible, and that’s all I need to know.”

  “Tony, you can’t go after Fedor. You just can’t.” Her voice was desperate and it tugged at his gut. What did Barkov have on her? Why was she so loyal to him? Though he didn’t know the whole story, he knew Barkov didn’t deserve her loyalty.

  “Tell me why. Tell me why I shouldn’t rip that fucker’s lungs out while he watches.”

  She sighed. “It’s complicated.”

  “It always is.”

  She was quiet for a few moments and he let her have the silence. He would give her anything she needed, as long as it didn’t require him to walk away from her. Because that wasn’t happening.

  She’d walked away from him several times in the last few weeks, and he hated himself for it. He should have tried harder. He should have found a way to make her stay. Maybe this could have been avoided.

  “Can we talk about it tomorrow?” she asked, sounding defeated. “I don’t want to get into it right now. I just . . . can’t.”

  “Sure thing, Ginny. Take all the time you need.”

  He could say that honestly because even if she didn’t tell him, he would find out one way or another. Deep in his gut, guilt struck for his pseudo honesty, but he quickly dismissed it.

  “Can I stay here tonight? I’m sorry, but I—”

  “Don’t,” Tony said. “Don’t apologize. I won’t have you being sorry for needing me.”

  “I’m not.” She paused and the air between them was thick. “I mean, I’m sorry for inconveniencing you.”

  He brushed a hair away from her face with his fingertip, wanting to do so much more. “You’re never an inconvenience.”

  She removed the ice packs and looked up at him, her eyes trusting. And vulnerable. How could they not be after what she’d just gone through?

  Barkov deserved to have his balls cut off and have them shoved down his throat. What kind of a man beat a woman like this?

  He glanced down at her left hand, frowning at the ring that was still on her finger. He picked up her hand to examine it. When she realized what he was doing, she ripped the ring off and threw it across the room. It hit the wall and landed behind the TV.

  “Bastard,” she muttered. “I can’t believe I ever agreed to that.”

  Tony couldn’t either, but he said nothing because anything he would say could be construed as being self-serving or a version of “I told you so.” He was just glad she was finally seeing the light.

  And that she’d come to him.

  “What happened?” Tony asked. She’d said she wanted to talk about the why tomorrow. She needed time to process, so he would have to wait to learn the whole story. But he needed to know the what now. He needed to know exactly how much pain to deliver Barkov.

  “Fedor got angry over something that happened right before at my parents’ house.” Her voice shook. “It doesn’t really matter. We were in the car on the way to dinner and he hit me.” She paused and her eyes focused on the ceiling. Her voice had taken on a mechanical tone. “I don’t know how many times he hit me. Then I was on the floor and he kicked me, too. I opened the door at a stoplight and ran away. He didn’t even try to come after me.”

  Tony’s hands shook from rage and he clenched his jaw. The man left her on the street, battered and beaten, like she was a damn piece of trash.

  She is worth everything.

  And by God, it was now his mission to make sure she believed it.

  “Where were you headed?” Tony asked casually. Her missed call was only about an hour ago, so the motherfucker might still be at their destination.

  “To dinner at—” She sat up and shook her head, realizing why he wanted to know. “No, Tony. No. You can’t go after him.”

  “Like fuck I can’t,” Tony growled. He stood up, his pent-up rage not letting him sit still any longer. “He can’t just do this to you and get away with it.”

  “I don’t want him to,” Ginny said dully, “but I don’t see any other choice.”

  He picked his keys up off the table. “You’ll be safe here.”

  “No, Tony, you can’t go after him. I’m serious.” Her voice was desperate. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

  Tony nearly chuckled. Actually, he did. She didn’t know that he’d done recon on Barkov. And he forgot that Ginny didn’t know about his MMA skills—no one in this part of his life did. She didn’t realize how deadly he was. It was time to put his skills to good use.

  “Trust me,” he said simply. “I’ll be fine.”

  “You can’t.” She shook her head adamantly. “Besides, if you confront him, he’ll know I’m with you.”

  Tony paused. Shit. Ginny had a point. Right now, Barkov didn’t know about their association, making his place the perfect safe house for her. If he went to Barkov, Barkov would know where Ginny was, and she’d have to leave.

  That was not happening. Goddammit.

  “Fuck.”

  “You got that right,” Ginny muttered.

  Tony cocked his head. “How did you get here anyway?”

  “Uber. I paid the driver extra to keep his mouth shut in case anyone comes asking,” Ginny admitted. “And I had him drop me off around the block.”

  Tony couldn’t help but smile. “Smart.”

  She let out a breath. “I’ve been so stupid lately.”

  “We’ll get it straightened out. I promise.”

  “Why? Why are you being so good to me?” She peered at him, the question hanging in her eyes. She didn’t know. She truly didn’t get it.

  He lowered to his knees in front of her so that their eyes were level and took her hands in his. “When you walked back into my life that night at the charity ball, you sparked something here.” He pressed her hand to his chest, over his heart. “And I think you felt it, too.”

  Her lips parted like she was going to say something but instead she swallowed.

  He wanted to cover her mouth with his, to show her the intensity of what she ignited in him. But that wasn’t what she needed right now.

  So instead he touched his lips gently to her knuckles. “Let’s get you ready for bed.”

  Chapter 12


  Ginny’s face felt like it had been hit by a truck when she woke up the next morning. Her body felt a little better, but not much—it felt like she’d fallen out of the truck.

  Or to be more exact, a car.

  She snuggled into her pillow. The sheets were soft and silky, the room cool and dim. How nice it would be to stay in bed all day, but she couldn’t sleep her problems away. And damn, she was in Tony’s bed. She wasn’t sure yet if that was another complication.

  Or her salvation.

  He’d insisted on taking the couch and tucked her into his king-size bed. She didn’t bother protesting—he was one stubborn man when he got his mind set on something. Plus, she didn’t have the energy. She had been physically and emotionally exhausted.

  Every time she closed her eyes, she was back in the car again, with Fedor’s hand raised. She’d never forget the incensed look in his eyes—it was only a shade short of being insane—and it would haunt her forever.

  If not for being surrounded by Tony’s scent on the bed—clean and masculine—she wouldn’t have slept a wink. But feeling Tony’s presence grounded her, made her feel safe, protected.

  And drove her wild. Even now as she pressed her face into her pillow, she felt tingles running through her body. How could that even be possible after what she’d gone through?

  Any doubts she’d had that going to him was the right choice vanished the second he’d enveloped her in his arms.

  He’d come through for her last night and she didn’t know that she deserved his caring treatment. How many times in the last few weeks had she pushed him away? Brushed him off when he said he wanted to help her? She hadn’t needed the help, hadn’t wanted it. Because she had it all under control.

  What a joke.

  She was in so far over her head that she hadn’t even realized it. Stupid—that’s what she’d been. But she didn’t have time to focus on that now.

  In a way, what had happened with Fedor changed nothing. The family business was still in trouble and Veronica—well, there was that problem to contend with as well. If it was just the money, she’d walk away.

  She knew now, though, that’d she’d been fooling herself this whole time. There was no way she could marry Fedor—promise to love, honor, and cherish him—if it was all a lie. Even if he weren’t a scumbag, it would just be wrong because she didn’t love him. But of course only a scumbag would blackmail her the way he did. She recognized him for exactly what he was now. How could she ever think she could be remotely happy with someone who resorted to blackmail? That was her first red flag, but she’d ignored it because she had to—too much was at stake and she didn’t have any choice other than to give in. True, she could have gone to the cops about the blackmail, but that would also mean handing over Veronica, and that wasn’t an option. No matter how much of a brat Veronica was, Ginny could never give up her sister.

  But she couldn’t go along with Fedor anymore. She would have to find another way out of this mess. There had to be one. The alternative was unthinkable.

  “Coffee?”

  Ginny sat up straight at the sound of Tony’s voice. He stood in the doorway, two steaming mugs in his hands.

  “Yes, please.”

  Even if he wasn’t holding coffee, he would still look like a dream come to life—chiseled features, intense eyes, taut muscles. His baby-blue dress shirt hugged his chest and biceps. When he sat down on the bed next to her, his powerful thighs filled the legs of his slacks. He looked every bit the part of the capable CEO—slick, dynamic, and exuding masculinity

  Her body reacted to him, her nipples hardening and heat pooling between her legs. She tried to tell herself part of her reaction was due to their location—they were on his bed—but that was a lie. It was all him.

  She pulled the sheets up higher, worried he’d see her tight nipples through her borrowed T-shirt. She’d tossed her dress in the trash. There was blood on it, but besides that, she wouldn’t be able to wear it again without remembering Fedor striking her.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked. Concern shone in his eyes and her heart beat a little faster.

  “It hurts,” she admitted.

  “I’m sorry.” Fiery anger flashed in his eyes. It was funny how his eyes could change in a matter of seconds. Just moments ago his eyes had showed tenderness.

  But now she was looking at a dangerous man. She believed Tony could rip Fedor apart, limb by limb, and not lose sleep over it.

  Yet, he didn’t scare her, not like Fedor did.

  “I’ll heal. It was a really tough lesson, but I definitely learned it.” She paused. “I guess you want to know why I agreed to marry Fedor.” After everything Tony had done for her—and would still probably do for her—she owed him this. The truth.

  Tony didn’t say anything, just gave her time to collect her thoughts. She appreciated that about him, especially because what she was going to reveal was tough. She wasn’t proud of her actions, but they had seemed necessary. Except now she feared she’d made the problem worse.

  “Fedor approached me several months ago about a merger of sorts.”

  “Like a business merger.”

  “Kind of. He has money but wants into high society. Our company is failing, but the Fraziers are established and respected, so . . .” Ginny trailed off, realizing how shallow this made her seem. She didn’t care what most people thought about her, but Tony’s opinion mattered, perhaps more than it should.

  Tony’s lips thinned. “So Veronica was right.”

  “She talked to you about me?” For a split second, Ginny was shocked, but nothing her sister did any more surprised her. It just disappointed her. “What else did you two say about me?”

  Her feelings were mixed when it came to Tony engaging in the conversation. He’d tried asking Ginny questions directly and she’d brushed him off, so she could hardly blame him for seeking information elsewhere. Though she was still perplexed why he cared so much. A man like him could have almost any woman he wanted. After the way she’d brushed him off, why did he bother with her?

  Tony shrugged, not even having the decency to look chagrined. Then again, Ginny didn’t guess he embarrassed easily. No, he exuded confidence.

  And it was sexy as hell.

  Tony had always been hot, but when he’d been with Veronica, he was sleeker, more polished. Now he was rough, dangerous, the type of guy who could handle a man like Fedor Barkov.

  It was an intriguing shift, and she couldn’t help but wonder what caused it. Perhaps in the days to come, he’d tell her a little about his own secrets. Something about the constant guarded look in his eyes told her he definitely had some.

  A self-conscious blush rose to Ginny’s cheeks. Tony looked like he belonged in a Calvin Klein ad while her face looked like it’d been put through a meat grinder. In addition to the bruises, her makeup had been smeared all over her face last night. She’d done her best to get it off, but without proper makeup remover and with her face hurting like it did, she wasn’t completely successful.

  “Veronica had her suspicions about why you would marry him.” He took a big sip of coffee, somehow making even that seem sexy. “She knows he’s not your type.”

  “That’s fair, I guess.” It still pissed Ginny off that Veronica had the gall to discuss her with Tony. Veronica had no room to pass judgment, not with how she’d treated Tony. And then Barry—but Ginny put that out of her mind. She didn’t know the truth. Honestly, she was scared to know the truth about what really happened between Veronica and Barry. If it turned out Veronica really had—

  No. She refused to even think it. Veronica could certainly be a bitch and her loyalty was definitely in question, but she wasn’t evil.

  If Veronica knew the real reason Ginny had entered into that marriage contract, would she be more loyal? Somehow, Ginny doubted it. Veronica was always her own number one priority.

  “But I told her that couldn’t be the only reason,” Tony said. Something inside her swelled at the fact that he didn’
t believe the worst of her even when evidence pointed in that direction.

  “It’s not.” She sighed. It would be such a relief to confide in someone, but she couldn’t take that risk, not while her agreement with Fedor was on shaky ground. She needed to secure Veronica’s safety first. Plus, Tony already hated Veronica, and his reason was justified. If he knew the truth . . . no, she couldn’t tell him. “I can’t tell you the specifics. Not yet. But I can tell you that Barkov has the power to ruin Veronica’s life. But he won’t do that if I marry him.”

  Tony cursed and clenched his fist. “Why am I not surprised your sister is somehow involved in this?”

  “She’s my sister,” Ginny said quietly. “I can’t just let him ruin her.”

  Tony’s eyes met hers. “Does she deserve to be ruined?”

  Ginny pulled her gaze away from his and squeezed her eyes shut. It was a question she’d been asking herself ever since Fedor approached her months ago. It was why she didn’t confront Veronica herself and demand answers.

  Because she didn’t know the answer to that question, and she couldn’t handle it if the answer turned out to be “yes.”

  The bed shifted as Tony stood. “I hate to do it, but I need to go into the office for a few hours today.”

  “Of course,” Ginny said, glancing at the clock. It was already almost ten. On a normal day, he’d probably already have been at his desk for several hours by now. “Do what you need to do.”

  “I’m going to get out of there as soon as I can, and I’ll work from home the rest of the week. Do you want me to swing by and pick up some stuff from your apartment?”

  “I gave up my apartment.” Ginny looked down at her hands. “My lease was up, so I moved into my parents’ place because soon I’d be moving anyway. Plus, it saves money. I haven’t taken a salary from the company in a while.” It pained her to admit that.

  Tony stared at her for a second but didn’t comment. “The offer still stands. I don’t think you should go home right now, not until everything gets straightened out.”