Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3

by Laura Burton

  “Can we help you?” Edward asked. Calvin’s face contorted as he looked wildly from Edward to Catherine.

  “In all the time we were together, you’ve never let me stay the night. You said you had boundaries. I respected that. But him. You let him sleep –”

  “It’s not like that,” Catherine cut in. “Not that it matters. When will you get the hint? We’re not together anymore.”

  Calvin shuffled his feet and held his head up high as if mustering the courage to argue.

  “Beat it,” Edward said, leaning towards him. Calvin was no match for Edward. Catherine imagined Edward picking Calvin up with one hand, and Calvin scrambling in the air like a bug.

  “Catherine. I came to bring you these,” he held out the bunch of roses with a shaky hand. The petals shivered at her.

  “She’s all set, thanks,” Edward said, gesturing to the two bunches of daisies sitting on the breakfast bar.

  “I need to speak to you. Alone.”

  Catherine looked back at Calvin, his eyes bored into hers and her heartrate quickened.

  “There’s nothing to talk about,” she crossed her arms. “If you keep showing up here, I’ll call the cops.”

  Calvin’s tongue slid across his thin lips and disappeared.

  “Are you serious?” He lowered the flowers and wiped the shine of perspiration from his upper lip. “You mean to say that you’re seeing this guy now? And what about me? Out with the old, in with the new?”

  Edward took a step forward, and Calvin backed down a step with his eyes wide.

  “Have we got a problem?” he asked. Catherine glanced down to see Edward’s tanned arm bulging and his hand balling into a fist. She brushed her fingers along his arm and as if by magic, his hand relaxed.

  “Just leave, Calvin. And don’t come back again,” Catherine said firmly. Calvin’s eyes glistened with tears as he hesitantly looked at the flowers in his hand, hanging face down to the floor.

  “So, this is it?” he said weakly. “You never speak to me again?”

  “It’s better this way,” Catherine urged. She reached out to touch his shoulder, but he flinched, and his face screwed up.

  “Fine.” He cast the flowers into the laurel bush with a growl. Catherine and Edward looked on as Calvin descended the steps with his shoulders slumped. As he reached the sidewalk he turned back.

  “Do you know what I left here?” he called up. Catherine shook her head, her arms crossed again. Despite the yellow sunshine, a crisp breeze made the hairs on her arms stand on end. Calvin dipped his head for a moment with an exaggerated sigh, then he looked up at Catherine again.

  “My heart.” He placed a pale hand to his chest and a single tear rolled down his cheek. “And you have crushed it.”

  Catherine dropped her arms and her mouth fell open as she watched Calvin walk away and disappear around the corner of the street.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Burning Bridges

  Edward wanted to feel bad for Calvin. Seeing the guy walk off in a sorry state, was almost enough to stir up some compassion. But he couldn’t get over the fact that he had behaved like a jerk towards Catherine, and the things he had said in the coffee shop made his blood boil.

  Good riddance. He thought. Then he turned to look at Catherine, only to see devastation plastered all over her face. She sniffed.

  “I’m a terrible person,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. Edward put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder.

  “You? Not a chance. Come on,” he guided Catherine back into the apartment and closed the door. Catherine collapsed onto the couch and hugged one of the cushions.

  Edward rubbed his stomach as the aroma of maple syrup came flooding back to his senses.

  “I’m sorry to drag you into all this,” Catherine said suddenly, staring at the carpet white-faced. “I did warn you I just got out of a bad relationship.”

  Edward joined her on the couch.

  “We all have baggage,” he said softly. “It’s okay.”

  Catherine looked up at him and her brows furrowed as if she was searching his eyes for information.

  “Really? What’s your baggage?”

  Now that’s a question.

  Edward scratched the back of his neck as he cast his eyes about the room nervously.

  “Really? You want me to lay out all the cards on the table?” he asked, studying her face. She nodded resolutely and wiped the corners of her eyes with a sniff.

  “I want to know.”

  Edward rose to his feet and puffed.

  “My parents got divorced when I was a teenager. My mother took half of my father’s… business.” He shot a furtive look at Catherine. It was not entirely true. It was his grandmother’s business. But she had given a portion to his father. When his marriage dissolved, his mother took half of those shares, along with two houses, the Rolls Royce, and several priceless paintings. But to divulge that much information would have blown his cover. Edward swallowed and began to pace the room. “He was devastated. I don’t think he’s ever gotten over it.”

  Catherine nodded along quietly as she watched him pace back and forth.

  “Go on,” she said softly. Edward dragged a hand across his forehead as his thoughts went deeper.

  “I’ve not allowed anyone to get to know me. The real me. Not even my own brother knows who I am.”

  “I’m sure he knows you better than you think,” Catherine offered kindly. Edward shook his head.

  “We’ve always kept things formal. Since the divorce, it divided us. David is too compassionate, you see. Too trusting. He had sympathy for our mother, and I took my father’s side.”

  Catherine tucked her feet underneath her legs as she curled up on the couch and nodded for him to continue. Edward took a breath.

  “My baggage? I guess it’s emotional. I don’t let people too close; I’ve never been in a serious relationship. My friends see what I want them to see. All because I –” Edward broke off. Suddenly overcome with emotion. His eyes grew moist and he blinked furiously.

  “You’re going to wear a hole in my rug,” Catherine said fondly as she got up and walked over to him. Edward stopped moving as Catherine took his hands. “Why won’t you let anyone know the real you?” she asked softly. Edward’s chest tightened.

  “I guess I’m…” he avoided Catherine’s gaze as he finished; “Afraid.”

  Saying the word aloud had Edward stripped back bare. He could have been on stage at Sam’s club butt-naked, with only a guitar to keep his modesty, and he would have felt less vulnerable than he did at this moment. Never had he ever opened up to anyone.

  “You’re afraid of turning into your dad.” Catherine brushed Edward’s hair from his forehead and reached up to clutch his bicep.

  “Not exactly,” he took a step back, breaking contact. “Look at Calvin…”

  “You’re not like Calvin,” Catherine said quickly. “I would never –”

  “Never what? Because you’ve been giving me pretty mixed signals. One minute you’re flirting with me, the next you’re either running away or telling your family there’s nothing going on between us.”

  “Edward, that’s not fair,” Catherine began as she reached for his hand. “We’ve known each other for what, a week? We haven’t made a commitment to each other, what is there to say? And they’re my family. If I tell them how I really feel about you then my mom will –”

  Edward inhaled sharply and looked at Catherine with wide eyes. A bubble of hope was rising to his chest. Catherine stopped and her hand flew to her mouth as her cheeks grew crimson.

  “How do you feel about me?” he asked, his heart thumping loudly in his eardrums. Catherine opened her mouth and closed it again. Then she hummed to herself, turning away.

  “I’m sorry. All this drama with Calvin. It really messes with my head. You could say it’s been a confusing week,” she turned back to him. “Why do you ask? Do you want me to feel something for you?”

  “Well, ye
s.” Edward laughed and took her hands gently in his, grazing his thumbs across her smooth knuckles. “I’ve never been able to open up like this. To anyone.”

  “Not even a therapist?”

  “Is that supposed to be a joke?” Edward raised his brows and looked at Catherine unimpressed. She snorted with a laugh.

  “Sorry.” Catherine’s lips parted, her eyes twinkled, and cheeks lifted. Edward relaxed and took her face in his hands.

  “You want to know how I feel about you?” he said in a low voice. Catherine bit her bottom lip with a grin. Edward grazed his thumb across her velvety skin and swallowed. “How about I show you?” he asked, leaning in. Catherine trembled in his arms as he reached the small of her back and pulled her in close. His nose pressed against hers and he tipped her chin up to meet her lips. They hovered barely a hair’s width apart, her breath tickling his upper lip, when it started to feel like the world was moving in slow motion.

  What began as a high pitched screech, turned into a smash and something flew past Edward’s head. A gust of cold wind knocked him back and he stared at Catherine in shock as she let out an unearthly scream.

  Edward looked to the large pane window that was now almost entirely shattered. He dashed to the ledge and caught sight of Calvin; face red and shoulders rising and falling at a rapid rate. Abruptly, Calvin turned and marched off.

  “Edward.” Catherine’s grave voice prompted Edward to turn back. His eyes lingered on Catherine, who picked up a brick with a note taped to it. She held it out with a shaking hand and looked at him with so much devastation, Edward wanted to scoop her up in his arms and take her away from this nightmare.

  “What does it say, I can barely read the writing.”

  Catherine cleared her throat and looked at the note again.

  “It says, ‘If I can’t have you. No one can.’”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chasing Dreams and Running from Demons

  Catherine’s stomach lurched and suddenly the morning pancakes were threatening to make a reappearance. Sweat formed across her brow as she stared at the brick in her hand.

  “Right. Pack a bag, I’m taking you out of here,” Edward said, pulling out his phone. Catherine dropped the brick to the carpet and took slow deep breaths, in a vain attempt to calm the rising nausea from her stomach.

  “Is that supposed to be a death threat?” she asked weakly. Edward didn’t respond but looked grim as he lifted the phone to his ear.

  “Jerry, I’m sending you an address. Have your team meet me there in an hour.” His voice trailed off as Catherine staggered down the hall to her bedroom. She muttered to herself as she dragged a bag out from under her bed and threw it open.

  What am I packing for? A weekend? A week? Forever?

  Thankfully, a pile of freshly laundered clothes lay on a fabric chair by the window, waiting to be folded. She rolled everything up and stuffed it into her bag, expertly fitting her socks into her boots. Within minutes, she had a fully packed bag, bursting at the seams. Had she remembered to pack all of her essentials? She wasn’t sure. Was it likely she had forgotten her hairbrush? Absolutely. But this was an emergency. Calvin just threw a brick through her window. It had barely missed Edward’s head. Did Calvin plan to miss? Or did he genuinely want to hurt Edward? The thought made Catherine sick to her stomach. Now she had a broken front window and her apartment had become a crime scene. She needed to get out. By the sound of Edward’s steady voice from the other room, he seemed to have a plan. She rolled her bag across the hall and returned to the kitchen to find Edward stooped over the breakfast bar, his right hand rubbing the back of his neck until his skin was red raw.

  “I know, I know. But this is an emergency. Forget about the deal. I already told you, I don’t care anymore,” he said in a hushed voice. Catherine cleared her throat and Edward turned back to face her with surprise. “I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later,” he said quickly and ended the call. “That was fast,” he said charging forward with his hand stretched out to take her bag.

  “Thank you,” Catherine said, shaken as he took the handle. Catherine picked up her keys from the counter and scratched her temple in thought. “What deal?”

  Edward’s head snapped up, and he looked at her with fake innocence.

  “Huh? Oh, don’t worry about it.” He waved a hand aside and gestured for her to follow him. “And don’t worry about your window, I’ve already called someone to come and fix it.” They hurried out of the apartment and Catherine fumbled with her keys in the lock as Edward descended the steps with her luggage.

  “Good thing I drove here,” Edward shouted up to her as the lock clicked. She dropped her keys in her purse and looked out to see Edward stuffing her bag in the trunk of a red Thunderbird. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.” He closed the trunk and held out his hand for her. Catherine took it, looking warily around. Clusters of onlookers were standing by and muttering to each other; some even had their phones out. Presumably taking photos of the broken window. Edward coaxed her into the car and closed the door as she fastened her seatbelt. She rubbed her clammy hands on her pant legs and did yoga breaths, trying not to let panic take over.

  Everything will be fine. You’re safe.

  She repeated the mantra as Edward got in and started the car. There was a thunderous roar as the engine came to life and the sound sent Catherine’s heart racing. This car had power. Her whole seat vibrated as it idled. Edward tapped her knee and gave her a reassuring smile.

  “I’m taking you to my place, and we’ll sort this out, okay?” He pulled away and drove the car as if they were on a race track: overtaking traffic, using the racing line around bends. Catherine half expected to see a line of police cars behind them and a helicopter in the sky.

  “Hold on,” Edward said gruffly, stomping on one of the pedals. The car maintained speed and he jerked the wheel left and right, weaving in and out of traffic.

  “Hey, watch out!” Catherine gripped the bottom of her seat, as Edward sped through a red light and narrowly missed a car transporter. The resounding drone that followed rang like a hollow bell in Catherine’s ears. A Mercedes collided into the back of a Chevvy, as the car darted across the oncoming traffic.

  Yellow and blue lights flashed in the corner of Catherine’s eye as the familiar squeal of a siren filled the air. Yet, Edward did not slow down.

  “Are you crazy? Pull over.”

  Catherine looked at Edward, drips of sweat clung to his temples as he puffed, and his foot pumped the pedal as if he was trying to blow up an inflatable bed. With a shake of his head and his eyes darting to the mirror, he jerked the wheel and the car swung into a side street. The tires screeched and the stench of burning rubber flooded Catherine’s nostrils. She watched the side mirror to see not one, but two cops were on their tail now.

  “Can’t you slow down?”

  Edward made a noise of frustration as they crossed the main road, more haunting sirens flooded the air as if the sky was swarming with banshees. The car jolted as the tires mounted the sidewalk and Catherine clutched her seat for dear life. She yelped as they crashed through a wire fence and interrupted a basketball game. Kids ran out of the path of the squealing car, the wired fence dragging along the cement, slowing their momentum.

  Then, as if suddenly struck by an idea, Edward yanked on the hand brake so hard, the car came to an abrupt stop just inches away from an elderly woman and her walker. The old lady shook an angry fist at the two of them and Catherine and Edward sat, chests heaving, both staring in shock as the lady staggered away.

  The police vehicles parked, a door opened and a man in blue uniform sighed.

  “Sir, please step out of the vehicle.” He said, as if he had given this instruction a thousand times already that day, and he had not just been in hot pursuit. Edward raised his hands and slowly got out of the car.

  “I’m sorry officer. There’s something wrong with the car,” Edward began, Catherine jumped as her door swung open and an officer
bent down to look at her.

  “Are you alright ma’am?” he said. Catherine nodded as she shakily got out of the car.

  “I saw him trying to hit the brakes officer, it was like they weren’t working,” she said in a hollow voice. She glanced at Edward who was speaking to the other officer. A crowd of people stood and looked on; their phones raised like a silent group of paparazzi.

  “I’m sorry but we can’t just let you go, look at this mess!”

  Catherine walked round the back of the car and looked at the trail of destruction they had left behind. “Look, no one is above the law, I still have to take you in.” One of the officers mumbled into his walkie talkie as he squinted into the sunshine.

  “One second, I just need to check…”

  Catherine turned back to see Edward drop to the ground and disappear beneath the steaming car. The two officers shifted their weight and exchanged uncertain looks as they waited. Then Edward shuffled back into view.

  “Brake lines have been cut,” he said grimly. “We need to report an attempted murder.”

  Catherine’s mouth fell open in horror.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Pulling Out the Big Guns

  “What do you mean, my car is in the pound?”

  Edward rolled his eyes. He had called Sam from the police station, with Catherine close to freaking out, to tell him that someone had tried to kill him – twice. And the first thing he was concerned about was his precious Thunderbird. “Nice to see you’ve got your priorities straight.”

  He glanced back at Catherine, who sat huddled in a corner of the police office, her hands cradling a cup as she stared vacantly ahead.