Rising

by Laurelin Paige

  She swallowed, then ran her tongue tentatively across her bottom lip as she looked toward the couch then me at the desk. I could sense her thoughts whirring as she contemplated giving in.

  Once upon a time, she wouldn’t have deliberated at all.

  Once upon a time before that, I wouldn’t have given her a choice.

  Eventually, she shook her head. “It’s really not necessary. Nothing needs to be rehashed. I just…” She trailed off, her brow creasing deeply.

  Whatever was bothering her, it was pressing at her. I could feel her anxiety in the air, like it was a live thing with energy. It ripped at my insides, making me feel both like fire and mush. I burned to do something for her, to fix it, to figure it out, and I ached that she wouldn’t allow it, that she stood so far out of reach.

  “What is it?” I asked, standing from the desk. My mobile buzzed with a call, but I ignored it and took a step toward Celia, stopping when she shook her head.

  “Go ahead. Take your call.”

  I silenced it. “It’s not important. What are you worrying about? Tell me.”

  “Nothing,” she said too quickly. She paused. “Just...you haven’t done anything...have you? With Hudson?”

  “I don’t know what you’re asking.”

  “Like…you haven’t tried to bully him or, I don’t know. Terrorize him? In some way?”

  “No.” It rankled that she had to ask, despite knowing that I wasn’t forthcoming about a good deal of my agendas. “I’m trying to earn his trust right now, not destroy it. Why? Did he suggest that I had?”

  My mobile started to ring again. A quick glance said it was Hagan, likely wanting to know if he needed to follow up on my call with Sonovision.

  At the same time, the bell to the suite rang. “Take it,” Celia said, nodding to my phone. “I’ll get the door. It’s probably turndown service.” She headed down the hall.

  Cursing under my breath, I answered the call without saying hello. “There’s nothing to follow up on. I postponed negotiations until their next quarter reports come in.”

  “I heard. Toshiro’s assistant pinged me. They’re threatening to try to sell elsewhere.”

  “Fuck.” The deal was a good one, not one I wanted to lose.

  But the heated conversation that drifted from the front of the suite suggested it had not been turndown service.

  “Do you want me to call them back?” Hagan pressed.

  I tried to concentrate on the question. “They aren’t going to attract other buyers without the latest quarter reports,” I reasoned. “If they’re pushing so hard, especially. It looks like they’re hiding numbers.”

  “I can arrange some sort of temporary agreement based on quarter finals,” Hagan suggested.

  The tone of the voices in the background escalated.

  “Do that,” I said, knowing the decision was rushed. “I have to go.” I had already started toward the door, pocketing my mobile as soon as I hung up.

  I hadn’t expected the sight I came across when I turned the corner into the entry hall. Hudson Pierce holding back an angry brunette who was screaming at my wife and looking like she would tear out Celia’s throat if let to do so. “It was you!” she shouted. “You’re so fucking sick. Hudson said you’d changed, but you will never change. You have no heart. Manipulating and conniving. Does your husband know what…what a…dragon he married?”

  Celia protested defiantly, and knowing her as I did, I was positive that whatever she’d been accused of, she was innocent.

  False accusations thrown at my wife? In my hotel suite?

  I was immediately livid.

  “What the hell is going on here?” I roared, not so loudly that the baby would hear me in the next room, but forceful enough to be given notice.

  The room went abruptly silent, all eyes turned to me. Hudson loosened his grip on the rabid woman who I could only assume was his wife.

  And Celia, the woman who had been only strong and defiant in her interactions with me for more than a year now, went white, her eyes wide with fear.

  It would have been one thing if it seemed that her fear was directed at our guests. It was quite a different thing realizing that her fear was directed at me.

  “Edward,” she said, taking a cautious step toward me. “It's nothing. Hudson and Alayna are...old friends.”

  “Old friends, my ass,” the woman blurted out.

  I knew the relationship between these women was rocky at best. Pierce’s insistence that he needed insurance against Celia from going after his wife was proof that their past had been highly complicated.

  But except for Celia’s apprehension toward me, it seemed more like she was the one needing protection. Mrs. Pierce had both her claws and teeth out.

  I felt suddenly feral, ready to take her on. “Is there a problem?” I asked, coming farther into the space.

  Of course, the other issue was that my wife very obviously wanted me calm. “I didn't realize that you and Hudson Pierce had been friends, darling,” I said, because why the fuck was she using that term to describe him now?

  Celia’s shoulders sagged, her eyes lowering to the ground, an act of submission I hadn’t seen from her in months.

  “Actually, there is a problem,” Hudson’s wife said defiantly.

  “Alayna,” Hudson hissed, seeming to want her tempered. Cordially he addressed me. “Edward, you haven’t met my wife.”

  “No, I haven’t. And I hear we are about to be family.” I studied her in a way meant to put her in her place. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alayna.”

  “It’s really just a misunderstanding,” Celia said quickly, her eyes imploring.

  I knew what she wanted from me. She wanted me to turn around, let it go, walk away, the same way she’d wanted me to do so at Randall’s earlier in the night.

  I’d walked away then, against my better judgment. Because I loved her, and she’d begged, and I was trying to be the man she wanted me to be, one who listened and respected and yielded.

  I couldn’t be that man now.

  Not when it was clear that there was a battle that Celia was fighting alone. Not when I had every reason to doubt she was leaving me out of it for motives other than my own good.

  “I'd like to hear what Alayna has to say, if you don't mind?” I stared at Celia intensely, willing her to defy me. As often as she’d fought me in our marriage, she’d always obeyed my demand to heed me in public. For half a second, I wondered if that would change now.

  Then her eyes lowered, giving in, which was both a relief and emboldening. “Alayna?” I said, encouraging her to speak.

  She lifted her chin like a star student proud to have been called. “Hudson and I are being terrorized. We have reason to suspect the threats may be coming from your wife.”

  “That's not necessarily true," Hudson said immediately.

  Simultaneously, Celia piled on. “I haven’t done anything to you. I didn’t send a single one of those threats.”

  I put my hand up to silence her, noting her choice of words. Threats. She’d asked if I’d threatened Hudson. What the fuck was going on?

  “If she didn’t do it,” Alayna continued, “She could prove it, and help us find out who is threatening us, at the same time. It would be easy, if she’d let us see the journals that she kept from the time that she and Hudson…” She trailed off, but she’d said enough to start the pieces coming together.

  Celia’s journals documented the “games” she’d played on other people. With her partner. Did that mean her partner was—?

  Alayna plowed ahead suddenly, answering my unspoken question. “Hudson and Celia had a working relationship in the past. I don't mean to butt into your marriage. It would be truly cruel and devious to interfere with your relationship.” She threw a glare toward Celia. “And so I apologize if this is the first you are hearing about their former partnership. But my family’s safety is on the line, and this is truly important.”

  And there the picture locked in pl
ace, a second’s worth of time sharpening the image until it was crystal clear—Hudson Pierce was the man who taught her. Hudson Pierce was the man she’d been protecting. Hudson bloody Pierce.

  My mind wanted to follow each of the threads this discovery highlighted all at once, wanted to try to analyze whether I felt victorious or validated or irate or goddamned relieved, but of course, I couldn’t react at all. I had to keep it together for the moment. Protect my family. Stand up for my wife.

  “I see,” I said, careful to hide any trace of surprise. “I do know about Hudson and Celia’s working relationship, of course.”

  “You do?” Alayna sagged with disappointment, as though she’d hoped the news would put a riff in my relationship with my wife.

  She had no idea.

  “I do. Celia tells me everything. Don't you, darling?” I sidled up to my wife, putting my arm around her. Protectively? Threateningly? “Well, almost everything.” Admittedly, my clutch around her waist might have been tighter than necessary.

  Celia’s head lowered with guilt.

  Or fear.

  Fear that I now understood.

  Fear that was justifiable.

  First, there was the matter of threats that the Pierces had been receiving, not altogether surprising considering the shit I’d read they’d done. I could imagine there were plenty of people who wanted to see him hurting. Celia, too, which was why it was important to help find the bugger.

  “I can guarantee you that Celia is not behind this,” I said, intent on clearing up any thoughts to the contrary. “And to prove it, we will have the journals flown here from London. They can arrive here by Tuesday. You may come back then. Now, if you don't mind, Celia needs to get some sleep. Our baby will be waking up in about five hours for her feeding, and you are correct, Celia really is a dragon when she hasn’t gotten enough sleep.”

  Alayna appeared both shocked and relieved as I ushered her out the door. Hudson managed to hide any emotion, but I sensed his gratitude.

  Good. He’d best remember that feeling when I talked to him next, and I would talk to him again. Soon, in fact. Very soon.

  Tonight, though, I had my wife to deal with.

  Twelve

  Celia

  I’d been afraid of my husband on many occasions. Many times it was even a turn-on, as he’d so often pointed out.

  Tonight, though, as he closed the door behind Hudson and Alayna, the quiet that filled the space between us was thick with dread that I’d never felt before. A kind of foreboding that made my bones feel cold and my stomach feel like it was carrying a cannonball.

  After the door had shut all the way he still didn’t turn around. He just stood there, one hand braced firmly against the wall, the other on the knob of the door.

  “Edward…” I said tentatively.

  “Don’t.” His voice was tight but controlled.

  I gave it a beat, watching the muscles in his back expand as he breathed in deep then let it out. Then breathed in deep again.

  Apprehension got the best of me. “What are you going—?”

  He whipped around to face me, his eyes blazing. “I mean it, Celia. I’m not ready for you to talk yet.”

  I clammed up. While I was desperate to know what he planned to do to Hudson now that he knew who he was, I sensed it was probably best not to push him right now. I had no doubt I’d find out soon enough anyway.

  I just had to hope that, whatever he planned, it wouldn’t be devastating. Or that I’d be able to talk him down.

  My silence seemed to settle him somewhat. His next breath came easier. Then he said,

  “Living room. I need you to be sitting down for this conversation.”

  He also appeared to need a drink for it because he stopped at the minibar on the way and filled a tumbler of cognac before following into the living space where I’d perched myself on the edge of the couch.

  I’d left plenty of room on both sides of me, thinking he’d sit as well or take the armchair or his desk, but instead he stayed standing. It made me feel small, and perhaps that was his intention. It also made me irritated because it was obvious he was going to handle this with a heavy hand instead of like a reasonable adult.

  That meant I had to be the grown-up. “Look,” I said as soothingly as possible, “I can imagine what you’re thinking—”

  “You cannot possibly imagine what I’m thinking. If you could, you would be scared to utter a single word until I asked you to.”

  A chill ran down my spine. I shut up and waited as he paced the room, back and forth, taking small sips of his brandy, each second adding to my growing apprehension.

  He’s processing, I told myself. Instead of acting rashly, he was actually thinking it through. That was a good thing.

  Wasn’t it?

  “I think it’s safe to say we’re clear now about who A was,” he said, finally. “Who A is. Is that correct?”

  “That’s correct.” I added “Sir” as an afterthought, hoping a show of deference would help my cause.

  “Oh, that’s cute. Thinking you can earn points now with subservience. It’s too little too late, I think, don’t you?”

  So much for that idea.

  I thought the question was rhetorical, but when he waited, his eyes stabbing into me, I felt compelled to respond. “I’m not sure if you want me to actually answer that or not.”

  “No. I don’t.” He took one more swallow of his drink before setting it on the desk. He clapped his hands together. “So. Hudson Pierce.”

  I nodded once.

  “Hudson bloody Pierce.” His fist pounded against the desk, causing me and the liquid left in the tumbler to jump.

  Automatically, my mouth opened in an anxious need to try to clear up whatever needed clearing, but the warning look he gave me caused it to close again just as fast.

  I wasn’t just scared of him, though. My irritation had escalated to pissed. Because shouldn’t he be happy now? He’d finally gotten what he wanted. Finally discovered my secret. Shouldn’t he be gloating? Why was he angry?

  Yet he definitely was. I could feel the anger radiating off him hotter than the fireplace burning in winter.

  “Let’s go through this,” he said curtly. “If you don’t mind, just so I can have a clear picture.”

  “Sure.”

  He glared at me, as though my speaking had been out of turn.

  “You asked if I minded,” I said with hostile bravado. “If you expect to get anything from me at all, you better treat this like a civil conversation, Edward. I am not your property. I am a human being, and whether you feel like I deserve it or not, I will not sit here if you’re going to do nothing but belittle and terrorize me.”

  His gaze narrowed. “If you’d rather be treated like I would treat any rival who had crossed me, then I can do that. Granted, I don’t think you realize the privileges you gain from your status as my wife.”

  You’re being an asshole right now.

  It was what I wanted to say, but his threat reminded me that although I knew without a doubt that Edward would never do anything to really harm me, that wasn’t the case with someone he wasn’t married to. Someone like Hudson.

  And so my capitulation was about protecting my one-time friend, nothing else. I lowered my eyes to my lap, signaling my submission.

  “Good. We’re on the same page here, at least. How about you help me confirm the rest.” It wasn’t a question. “You grew up with Hudson, your mothers were friends. You developed a bit of a crush on him that he proceeded to take advantage of. Correct so far?”

  It had been more than a crush but less romantic than he suggested. I’d been in the aftermath of Uncle Ron, needing some assurance of my value as a woman. As a person. Hudson had been the one I’d turned to.

  But Edward wasn’t interested in any of that right now, and honestly, he already knew. And the ending was accurate. Hudson had taken advantage of my feelings. So I answered simply. “Yes.”

  “He played you, then you took
the betrayal badly—”

  “Is that really necessary?”

  He ignored my interruption. “—and got back at him by sleeping with his father. Honestly, did you need Pierce to teach you anything? You seemed to already have retribution down pat.”

  He was being mean, and it hurt.

  But I could handle betrayal better these days, and I knew how to be mean back. “If you’re going to look at it that way, then the person I didn’t need to teach me was you. Hudson never aimed for retribution. That was always your angle.”

  He smirked, as though I’d shot him with an arrow that had long missed its mark. “Right. Because the people Hudson taught you to manipulate were innocent whereas the ones I’ve encouraged you to go after were not.”

  “This is pointless.” I stood up, ready to walk out of the room when his sharp tone cut through the air like a whip.

  “Sit. Back. Down.”

  That rage would have to find an outlet somewhere. I’d come this far making sure Hudson didn’t receive it. I couldn’t stop now.

  I sat back down.

  “So. The score was settled.” Was that what he was doing? Keeping tally, back and forth? Trying to decide who deserved to punish whom? “Until you got pregnant with a child that, had the true father been implicated, would have potentially destroyed Pierce’s family.”

  “I didn’t get pregnant on purpose,” I said when I could see him mentally adding that as a point against me. Though, after I said it, I realized it was helpful to Hudson if the marks weighed in my favor.

  His expression grew colder. “Forgive me for not jumping to believe that’s true. You should understand why I might have trouble believing your conception had been unintentional.”

  My anger heated like molten lava nearing eruption. “I didn’t try to get pregnant. Believe it or not, it’s the truth. And fuck you for comparing that situation to Cleo who was very much wanted and conceived in a marriage after my husband had outright said that we could have a child together at some point.”

  The mention of Cleo, whom I knew full well that he loved, did nothing to settle him. “Regardless, you got pregnant. Then you bullied Hudson into taking responsibility? Showed up and threatened to disrupt his life unless he did?”