Rival

by Penelope Douglas

  “Yeah, thanks, Tate.” He looked away like he had a bad taste in his mouth. “I’ll have to explain that now.”

  I swallowed, not sure I liked the sound of where this was going.

  But Jared seemed to read my mind.

  “No worries, Fallon,” he comforted. “Madoc was only trying to get Tate and me together. He just thinks the end justifies the means is all.”

  Yep, lawyer material, I laughed to myself.

  We finally found Katherine and Madoc’s dad, and we spent the next hour either hanging close or on the dance floor. Katherine looked stunning in a deep red evening gown, much in the same style as mine, except hers fell to the floor. Her espresso brown hair hung down and looked beautiful next to the rich color of the dress. While we were certain she needed moral support—what with these people knowing she was Jason’s mistress—it apparently was just fear on her part. Everything seemed fine, actually.

  I realized that even though my mother’s friends were the wives of Jason’s colleagues, and they may be on my mother’s side, they also knew what side their bread was buttered on. Their husbands followed Jason, and they followed their husbands.

  “Did you text Jax?” Jared asked Madoc as we lingered around the bar. “He’s not answering me.”

  Madoc took out his phone, looking through his messages. “Yeah, I texted twice. I’ve got nothing.”

  Jared shook his head, starting to look worried.

  Madoc pulled me into his side. “I’m going to the men’s room. Want to come?” he asked, waggling his eyebrows at me.

  “Mmmmm.” I put my finger to my chin, thinking. “Madoc Caruthers Caught Bending Stepsister over Bathroom Counter. Jason Caruthers Shamed in Front of All of Chicago,” I read the mock headline, smiling.

  He slapped me on the butt and walked away backward, mouthing, “You’re so hot.”

  He turned around and disappeared down the hallway, while Jared took Tate out onto the dance floor. I smiled after them, thankful Madoc wasn’t so inhibited about dancing. They kind of just did the hold-each-other-and-sway-from-side-to-side thing, but it was cute that he was trying.

  I stood around the bar waiting for Madoc, but after about five minutes he still wasn’t back. I tensed the muscles in my thighs, trying to ignore the proposal he’d made for me to join him.

  Taking out my phone, I noticed that Jax still hadn’t texted me back, either. It was strange for him to be out of touch. Where was he?

  I made my way through the small groups of people and stepped softly, afraid of tripping in my heels. When I made it into the much quieter hallway, I dialed his number and held the phone to my ear.

  “How badly do you want it?” I heard my mother’s taunting voice coming from the men’s room, and I looked over to the swinging door. She spoke in the soft, sultry kind of voice that only means one thing.

  I walked over and opened it just enough to peer inside. She and Madoc were standing there, and I winced at the sight of her leaned against the wall with her dress pulled up high on her thighs. He just stood there. Watching her.

  Why the fuck was he watching her?

  He rubbed his hand over his forehead. “You really are something else, aren’t you?”

  “I have a room at the Four Seasons, Madoc. Think about how good it would feel. One night with me, and you’ll get what you want. I’ll let go of the house. You wanted me that night, didn’t you?”

  That night? What happened between them? I could barely make out what they were saying, the thunder in my ears so loud that my eyes were watering.

  “Yeah,” he shot back, washing his hands. “I wanted you so much that I ran and screwed someone else right after I left you in the theater room.”

  Oh, my God. I clenched my fists, drawing breaths in and out faster and faster. My face in its anger couldn’t get any more tightened. My feet were anchored to the fucking floor.

  What the hell? I slammed my fist into the door, sending it swinging so hard that it hit the wall behind it. Both of them spun around to face me where I stayed rooted to the doorway.

  “Fallon!” My mother made a big show of fixing herself. Putting her hand to her chest, she looked at me with sympathetic eyes.

  “Fallon.” Madoc held up his hand and shook his head as if he was trying to stop my thoughts in their tracks. “Baby, it’s nothing, okay. Look at me.”

  “I told you, honey,” my mother started. “Madoc doesn’t care about you. He and I—”

  “There is no you and me!” he bellowed, turning his head and killing her with his eyes.

  “Tell her, then.” She pushed off the wall, face even and voice calm. “Tell her about the theater room, you kissing me . . .”

  “Shut up!” Madoc walked over to me, looking like he was in pain. “Fallon, look into my eyes.”

  What? I dropped my eyes to the ground, trying to make sense of this.

  “Ask him.” My mother’s voice drifted from somewhere behind us. “I told you he can’t be trusted, Fallon.”

  I closed my eyes, starting to feel my feet melt into the floor.

  “Fallon, nothing ever happened!” someone said. “I never touched her. She kissed me . . .”

  I hated turning corners. Closed doors.

  I could still hear them talking, but I had no idea what they were saying. My feet were gone. My legs up to my knees had faded away, and I couldn’t feel anything when I tried to tense my muscles.

  Your life doesn’t interest me, Fallon.

  You know what I used to call you? Pussy-on-the-Premises.

  I sucked in quick breaths, but they left me slowly as if my body might not have the strength to take in air again. In quick. Out slow. In quick. Out slow.

  How could he do this? How could she?

  You’re just a slut like your mother. Madoc’s words hadn’t cut before, because I knew they weren’t true. Why did I feel pain from them now?

  Did you really think he loved you? He used you!

  I squeezed my eyes closed even tighter and swallowed. Swallow it down. Swallow it down.

  I heard my name. Madoc. He was saying my name.

  “Fallon! Look at me!”

  Open your eyes! What do you see?

  My eyes snapped open, and I saw Madoc standing in front of me. His eyes were watery, and he was squeezing my shoulders.

  Who are you? My father’s smooth, Irish voice washed over me. Who are you?

  I tightened my fists again and again, blinking as Madoc kissed my forehead.

  I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.

  That’s what makes Madoc a good kid, Fallon. He picks up the pieces.

  I felt his hands on my face, his thumbs stroking circles on my cheeks.

  He picks up the pieces.

  Make that threat again. I will put you through a wall to get to her.

  Finish up, Father. She needs to be kissed.

  Madoc.

  My heart swelled. He was mine. He was always mine.

  Madoc. My Madoc.

  I looked into his eyes, seeing the love, the worry, the fear . . .

  And I held him in my gaze, filling my lungs with air.

  “Nothing that happens on the surface of the sea can alter the calm of its depths.”

  “Fallon, please,” Madoc begged. “Listen to me.”

  “No,” I finally uttered, dropping my hands and tilting my chin up. “Stop talking,” I said firmly.

  I walked around him and slowly—very slowly—approached my mother with my hands folded in front of me.

  I kept my expression flat and my tone low as I dove into her space, sucking the oxygen up around her. “Lawyer up,” I threatened. “Madoc and I want the house, and it is very lonely in your corner, Mother.” Leaning into her face, I barely unclenched my teeth. “Stand against me. And. You. Will. Lose.”

  I spun around before she even had time to react and sauntered out of the bathroom, grabbing Madoc’s hand on the way.

  “Fallon, let me explain. Nothing ever happened. She came onto
me, and I—”

  I halted in the hallway and turned to face him. “I don’t even want to hear it. I don’t need any reassurances where you’re concerned.”

  Taking his face in my hands, I took his lips that captivated my entire body the moment they touched. Madoc had me body and soul, and no one could stop us. Least of all my beast of a mother.

  I certainly didn’t give her the reaming she deserved, but it wouldn’t have done anyone any good. I would’ve wasted my breath. The only things that woman respected were money and power, and I just threatened her with both.

  Any more of my attention, and it would be at my cost.

  Never. Again. Madoc and I have a life to live.

  “I love you,” I whispered into his lips.

  He let his forehead fall to mine as he sighed. “Thank God. You had me scared.”

  I heard someone clear his throat, and I twisted my head, only to have my heart jump into my throat.

  “Dad!” I gasped and pulled free of Madoc to nearly knock my father over with a hug.

  “Hey, little girl,” he said, grunting from the impact.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, pulling back to get a good look at him.

  His light brown hair was slicked back, and his face—usually clean shaven—was scruffy as hell with his usual patches of gray showing. He was wearing a black Armani suit, favoring the necktie like Jared and Madoc instead of the bowties everyone else wore.

  “Fine.” He nodded, rubbing my arms. “Sorry that I worried you.”

  I wanted to ask him questions, but I knew this wasn’t the time or place, and he generally didn’t tell me much, anyway. He trusted me, but I think he thought it was better that his daughter not know about his seedy business, as if I didn’t pick up things on my own anyway.

  “Sir, I’m Madoc.” My husband reached his hand out. “In case you don’t remember.”

  They had only met once, that I know of. But my father would definitely remember him. Especially after everything that had happened.

  He hesitated only a moment and then took Madoc’s hand. “I remember. And I know everything.” His look was a warning. “This is the wrong place to talk about this, and there are things I want to say to both of you, but for now, I’ll just say this.” He narrowed his eyes on Madoc. “You are aware of the burden of this marriage, right?”

  Madoc grinned down at me. “Fallon’s not a burden, sir.”

  “I’m not talking about Fallon,” my dad shot out. “I’m talking about me. You do not want me as a pissed-off father-in-law. It would be safer for you if my child stays happy. Got it?”

  Wow. Awkward.

  “She’ll be happy,” Madoc asserted, looking my father in the eye.

  I smiled at both of them. “I’m already happy.”

  I could tell it was hard for my father. He’d barely had me growing up, always contending with my mother and his risky business. Neither let him be the dad he wanted to be, but those were his choices, and I wasn’t going to feel sorry for him. I loved him. But I chose Madoc. And I would choose Madoc forever.

  “Congratulations.” My father kissed me on the cheek. “But please tell me you were married by a priest.”

  Madoc snorted, and I told my father all about it as we walked to the table.

  By the time we got there, we saw that everyone else was seated. Jared and Tate together, an empty seat for Jax next to Jared, then Katherine and Jason, followed by three empty seats for Madoc, my mother and me.

  But there’s no way in hell she was sitting at this table, so I sat my father down, and Madoc and I took the two remaining seats.

  I made introductions for my father to Tate, Jared, and Katherine. But Jason didn’t wait for me when it was his turn.

  “Ciaran.” He nodded, placing a napkin in his lap.

  “Jason,” my father responded.

  And that was about as much as they talked. Jason defended guys like my father, but he didn’t necessarily want to be seen hobnobbing with them, either.

  And he definitely feared for his son being attached to the Pierces.

  I was loyal to my father, but I understood where Jason was coming from.

  Waiters started coming out with trays of the first course, and everyone started relaxing more. Katherine and Jared were talking, probably still wondering where the hell Jax was, and Tate relayed to my father and me the story of how Madoc asked her to Homecoming senior year. With totally unromantic motives, I was assured.

  If not, I may have had to stop their runs together.

  The band hummed with a soft jazz tune, and since the appetizers were circulated while everyone socialized and danced, the seven-course meal started off by moving right into the soup. An excellent creamy white asparagus soup was served, and although it was good, I still couldn’t believe people paid ten thousand a plate to get in here tonight. Well, not per plate exactly. Per meal. But that’s high society charity, I guess.

  “I hope everyone’s enjoying the evening.”

  My mother came up behind us, and I warmed at the feel of Madoc’s hand at my back.

  “Ciaran, Katherine,” she greeted. “Certainly not the crowd I anticipated this evening. You’ve got some nerve.”

  I couldn’t see my mother. And I wasn’t going to look at her, either.

  But I saw Katherine’s eyes widen and then drop. “That’s enough,” Jason intervened. “I notified you that I’d be bringing Katherine.”

  “Your whore is sitting in my seat.”

  Jared shot out of his chair, nearly knocking it over as it rocked on its legs. “If you don’t stand up and control that bitch,” he warned Madoc’s dad, “then I’m taking my mother out of here.”

  Jason stood, trying to squelch the situation. “No one’s leaving. Patricia. You’re making a scene. Stop.”

  “Stop? But I’m already out.” She crossed her arms, her small bag dangling from her wrist. “Why would I care about making a scene? In fact, I’m just getting started. I may lose this battle in court, but your slut will sink down into the mud in front of everyone. I haven’t even started.”

  Just then, two cell phone ringers sounded, and everyone pulled their attention off Jason and Patricia.

  Unsure whose phones were going off, everyone reached for theirs.

  But then a few more ringers went off until we were all getting messages.

  I heard Tate groan, “This can’t be good,” and I wondered what was going on.

  Jason arched a brow at my mom before he paused their argument to check his phone as well.

  “Oh, boy,” Madoc let out, looking at his phone. “Is that Jax?”

  He looked confused, so I hurriedly opened up my messages, and my goddamn eyes just about popped out of my head.

  My father leaned over to see, and I tucked the phone to my chest in horror. Looking around the table, I saw everyone frozen, each with a different emotion plastered on their faces as they watched the video.

  Jared. Angry.

  Tate. Disgusted.

  Katherine. Hurt.

  Jason. Dismayed.

  Patricia. Dread.

  Madoc. Disturbed.

  “Fallon,” he breathed. “Is that Jax with your mom?”

  I slowly brought my phone away from my chest and looked at it again. It was unmistakable. Jax sitting on a bed. His ponytail hanging down his back. My mother on top of him. The camera cut and got to the part with her climbing off of him and walking into the bathroom. He threw a white sheet around his waist and walked up to the camera.

  Not a single person breathed at the table.

  “Hi.” He smiled at us. “I’m Jaxon Trent. And I’m seventeen.”

  And then he was gone. The video went black, and every heartbeat at the table was probably rushing as quickly as mine.

  All eyes started shifting to my mom who stood there, still staring at the phone she held up with a shaking hand.

  “Hi, everyone.”

  We all jumped. Jax walked up to the table and pulled out his chair.

 
; He was dressed just like Jared, minus the tie. His hair was braided in three rows above each ear and brought back to his usual ponytail at the back of his head.

  “What is this?” my mother whimpered. She looked about ready to cry or die.

  “Sit down,” he ordered, gripping the back of the chair. “Now.”

  Her eyes widened, and I could hear her heavy breathing. Was she thinking of running?

  Jax held up his phone. “This video is ready to go out to everyone in this room. Sit. Down.” His growl was deep, and like I’d never heard from him before.

  My mother walked as if in a daze to the chair and sat very softly, not looking down but not looking at anyone, either.

  “Jason. The papers?” Jax held out his hand.

  Jason had one hand on the back of Katherine’s chair. “That was you that texted me?”

  “I told you to trust me,” he said with a cocky tone.

  Jason reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and withdrew what looked like legal papers.

  “Sit down, everyone,” Jax commanded. “You’re drawing attention.”

  Only Madoc’s dad and Jared were standing, but they didn’t take their eyes off of him as they lowered themselves into their chairs.

  I didn’t know why any of us weren’t saying anything. No one asked questions. No one voiced concerns. We just all shut up, watching Jax take control of the table.

  “Jaxon?” Katherine piped up, panic wafting off of her like perfume. “How could you have done this?”

  He looked at her with innocence. “I’m the victim here.”

  And then the corner of his mouth turned up, and he set the papers down in front of my mother with a pen that he retrieved from his jacket.

  “Here’s your revised divorce agreement,” he said, leaning over my mother’s shoulder. “A nice amount of cash, no house, and no alimony. Sign,” he ordered.

  “If you think—”

  “Oh, no,” he interrupted her. “Don’t issue empty threats now. That’s my mom for all intents and purposes.” He pointed to Katherine. “And you’re fucking with her happiness. That ends now.”

  I blinked, my eyes burning from watching the scene in awe.

  Jax reminded me of my father in demeanor. Controlled and smooth. My dad always knew the score when he walked into a room, he was always prepared, and he didn’t hesitate.