Savannah shrugged. “Haven’t seen her, sorry.” She slipped around Cody and slithered away to rejoin the party.
Cody ripped off his mask in frustration. There was no sense hiding now. If Savannah knew he was here, soon everyone would. Maybe that was good. Maybe it would flush Harrison out quicker and he could find Hannah and get the hell out.
42
Hannah found herself in the eight-bay carriage house that had been converted into a garage to house the Cohl’s precious collection of luxury cars. She rather enjoyed the manor tour so far, marveling at the amazing artwork and décor. Her favorite area had been the back garden, where she’d strategically dumped her champagne without Harrison noticing.
She found herself grateful to be away from the suffocating atmosphere of the party. It was funny how badly she’d wanted to attend and pretend she was part of the in-crowd. But now that she was here . . . she just wanted to leave. It was clear this lifestyle wasn’t for her. Harrison was handsome and flattering. He said all the right things and knew exactly how to make her swoon with subtle touches and kisses. But something was missing.
Her inner goddess berated her. Who wouldn’t want a guy like Harrison?
Hannah fully admitted she’d begun to fall for him when they’d been on their whirlwind yachting date. It was easy to get carried away imagining an adventurous life sailing to exotic places. But something in the back of her practical mind warned her that none of it was true. And it wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted more.
Who has more than Harrison Cohl? her inner goddess chided.
But that wasn’t the kind of more she meant.
More connection.
More depth.
More reciprocation.
Hannah realized that she’d been blinded by Harrison’s flashiness. And when all of his extravagance was stripped away, there was nothing left.
She found herself thinking of all the discussions she’d had with Cody over the past few weeks. How he’d asked her a million questions about herself. Many were embarrassing, but he’d genuinely wanted to know about her. Harrison rarely asked Hannah any questions, except if she wanted more champagne. He’d spent the entire night boasting about himself.
“This one’s my favorite,” Harrison announced, bringing Hannah back to the present.
They stood in front of an old-fashioned car. Its dove gray, high-gloss finish polished to a sheen that displayed Hannah’s reflection back to her with near perfection.
“1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Kellner Cariolet.”
Hannah smiled, though the words meant nothing to her.
“Father says it’s mine when I graduate.”
“It’s lovely.”
“Not as lovely as you,” Harrison purred, untying the ribbon on Hannah’s mask.
He pulled it from her face and leaned in to kiss her but Hannah turned her cheek. The evening had suddenly lost its sparkle after her sullen realization that Harrison was not the guy for her.
Unphased by her dismissive move, Harrison kissed Hannah’s neck, sending her senses into a tizzy that warred with her mind. He pulled off his own mask and clicked open the car door. “Wanna go for a test drive?”
“Um, actually I think I’m going to head home.”
“You just got here. The fun hasn’t even started yet.”
There was a dangerous current to the way Harrison was looking at her now.
“I told my dad I wouldn’t be out late, so—”
“Come on, go for a ride with me, Hannah. We can pretend it’s graduation night. I want to make sure we have enough room to celebrate properly.”
Hannah’s stomach dropped at his less than subtle innuendo.
“I really need to be going.”
Harrison’s hand firmly encircled Hannah’s waist locking her in place. “Do you want me to beg? I’ve been told I can be very convincing.”
“Harrison . . .”
“Get in the car, Hannah.”
“Please—”
The rest of Hannah’s words were swallowed by roughness of Harrison’s mouth on hers as he shoved her into the car. His powerful body pinned her to the leather while his hands harshly roamed her body, yanking her thin straps down.
“Stop!” Hannah cried out over and over but Harrison only laughed.
“Oh you’re going to be fun.”
43
Cody’s heart was pounding by the time he spilled out the backdoor of the Cohl manor. He’d gotten sick of waiting around and took matters into his own hands. He turned the house upside down looking for Hannah. All the while ignoring the whispers and stares he encountered in every room.
There was no sign of her.
He drank in the cool night air, scanning his surroundings.
Where the hell were they?
Cody’s eyes rested on the carriage house. He and Harrison used to sneak in there when they were younger to smoke weed. He remembered getting caught by the housekeeper. She threw a fit—the carriage house was off limits.
It was the perfect place to hide.
Cody’s nerves sizzled as he moved toward the carriage house with purpose. He could see the light filter through the windowpanes in the door.
Someone was in there.
Something in his gut told him to run. He was breathless when he reached the door but it was locked. He jiggled the handle hard calling Hannah’s name. It didn’t budge. He even rammed his shoulder into it with no results.
He ran around front to the keypad and prayed the code was still the same.
As he rounded the front of the carriage house his knees went weak. It happened right here. This was where he and Elena had their final fight. He pictured her beautiful face, tortured with hurt as she slung accusations at him. Her voice echoed in his mind. ‘Nothing will ever be the same.’
She was right. Nothing was the same after that night.
Cody doubled over, cutting his hands as he caught himself in the gravel of the driveway. He heaved up his dinner and let the tears come, wondering how the hell he’d ended up back here after all this time.
44
“You’re just like her you know,” Harrison goaded, stroking Hannah’s hair as she flailed beneath him. “Not the hair of course, but the eyes and feistiness. Cody certainly has a type.”
Hannah’s heart iced over. “Oh my god.” She stopped fighting and stared up at Harrison. “It was you. You’re the one Elena was cheating on Cody with.”
“Ever the little genius, aren’t you, Hannah.”
“You disgusting pig! Did you force her too?”
Harrison grinned. “Come now, you know you want me.”
“Is that what you told Elena?”
Anger dissolved Harrison’s smug exterior. He glared at Hannah, gripping her wrists tighter. “I didn’t have to. The little slut begged for it. She was frustrated and needy, so disappointed that her sweet boyfriend wanted to wait. I gave her what she wanted.” He laughed. “Right in this very car, actually.”
“Get off of me!” Hannah screamed trying uselessly to fight Harrison’s solid body off of her.
“I did learn my lesson about protection though,” he said holding up a condom.
“Cody will kill you when he finds out.”
“I doubt that. Especially once I show him our little flick.” Harrison gestured over his shoulder to a blinking red light mounted on the seatback. “Did you know I’m studying film at Harvard next year? It’s incredible what you can do with editing programs these days.”
“You’ll never get away with this,” she sobbed as his hands slithered under her dress.
“Sure I will, Hannah. I always do.”
Hannah closed her eyes and screamed as loud as she could, but she knew it was useless. Harrison would win. He always did.
45
A scream ripped Cody from his darkness. It was Hannah. He knew it surer than he knew his own name. He scrambled to his feet, screaming her name.
“Hannah!”
Cody found the keypad and punched i
n the code with shaking fingers—Harrison’s birthday. He’d always been his parents’ favorite.
Relief flooded him when the door softly groaned open.
“Hannah!”
Her voice rang out clear as day. “Cody! Help!”
He ran toward her voice through the maze of cars. Rage nearly blinded him when he spotted her—Harrison pinning her in the back of his Royce.
One minute Harrison’s weight was crushing Hannah and the next he was gone. He disappeared as if sucked through the fuselage of an unpressurized aircraft. Cody’s furious voice filled the air as he slammed Harrison onto the hood of the car.
“You piece of shit,” Cody screamed as he pummeled Harrison’s face. “I’ll kill you if you hurt her. Do you hear me? I’ll kill you.” Cody rained down punch after punch into Harrison’s face until blood was pouring from his nose and mouth. “Don’t you ever touch her again!” Cody growled, slamming Harrison into the hood of the priceless car with disgust.
His initial fury drained, Cody turned his attention to Hannah. “Are you okay?” he asked softly. But Hannah didn’t get to reply.
Harrison dove onto Cody. “She wanted it,” he screamed as he swung at Cody. “All your girls want me!”
“Shut up!” Cody scathed landing a sickening punch to Harrison’s face.
Harrison spit blood and smiled before slamming his head into Cody’s face.
The battle had begun.
Hannah righted her dress and tried to crawl from the car but was knocked back in by the war that was raging in the garage. She had a front row seat as Harrison and Cody wrestled each other to the ground, punching and kicking.
This fight had been brewing for ages and all Hannah could do was sit by and watch, trying to not become a casualty.
“I love how easy your girls are,” Harrison jeered unable to resist taking verbal jabs at Cody as well as physical. “They’re all backseat sluts. Hannah couldn’t resist anymore than Elena could.”
Cody’s face turned white and Harrison took advantage of his shock, throwing Cody off of him and getting to his feet.
Harrison circled Cody with predatorily focus.
Get up! Hannah willed as she watched the scene unfold. Get up!
But Cody didn’t get up. He stayed on his knees, blood dripping from his face. He looked up at Harrison with more hurt than Hannah had ever seen.
“I always knew it was you.” Cody’s stunned voice was barely above a whisper.
“The truth hurts doesn’t it?” Harrison mocked.
“Why?” Cody yelled finding his voice again and climbing to his feet.
“Who cares? Just admit that you’ve lost and get the fuck out of my life!”
“What the hell did I ever do to you, Harrison?”
“You were born.” Harrison screamed, the vein in his neck looking like it was going to burst. “You are what’s wrong with me! Your existence is a constant reminder of my ruined family and I won’t stop until I’ve destroyed you, the way your mother destroyed us.”
“What are you talking about?”
Harrison cocked his head, puzzled. Then he unleashed hysterical laughter. “You really don’t know, do you?”
“Enlighten me.”
“This is too good to be true.” Harrison clasped his hands behind his back and paced like a professor giving a lecture. “Where to start, where to start. Ah, how about at the beginning, dear brother?”
Cody looked like a fighter about to go down. He wobbled on his legs and Harrison caught him. He wasn’t done toying with him yet.
“That’s right,” Harrison hissed. “Haven’t you ever wondered why our parents divorced the same year? Or why my father’s always been so kind to you? Even going as far as to have his legal team represent you to get your sentence reduced? It should have been manslaughter, but Daddy couldn’t let his youngest end up in prison, could he?”
Cody shoved Harrison off him. “You’re lying!”
“I wish. But your whore of a mother couldn’t keep her legs closed around my father. God knows how she lured him to bed. Probably got him drunk. Alcohol has always been the choice weapon in your family.”
“Don’t talk about my mother!”
“Why? She never wanted you. She wanted my father. You were just a misfortunate byproduct of their affair.”
Cody staggered back from Harrison’s cutting words. Shock and disbelief warred on his face.
Hannah couldn’t take anymore of this nightmare. She slipped from the backseat of the car and edged her way toward Cody, slipping her hand into his. He looked at her, momentarily dazed, like he’d forgotten she was even there.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Hannah begged pulling Cody toward the open garage door.
“Think about it, Cody,” Harrison called. “Deep down you’ve always known it’s true.”
Hannah tugged relentlessly at Cody’s arm, making progress one foot at a time. They were almost out of the garage. Cool air brushed her skin with the promise of freedom, but Harrison wouldn’t stop. He just kept taunting.
“Too bad everyone always chooses me,” Harrison goaded. “Elena, Hannah, Our Father. He knew the truth about Elena, ya know? He knew I got her pregnant, but he wasn’t going to let my record be tarnished. That’s why he let you take the fall. You’re illegitimate and you always will be.”
“What’s to stop me from going to the police about this?” Cody snarled as Hannah clung to his arm, holding him from falling to pieces.
Harrison laughed. “Like anyone would believe you.”
Hannah had enough. She’d tried to stay quiet, but this was too much. She spoke in a deadly calm voice staring directly at Harrison. “But they might believe me.”
“That’s sweet. But you don’t have any proof.”
Hannah slowly reached into her black clutch and pulled out the camera she’d stolen from the back seat of Harrison’s car.
His eyes widened and his nostrils flared with hatred. “You little bitch.”
“Run,” Cody yelled, pushing Hannah out the garage door.
She heard him scuffling with Harrison behind her as she ran as fast as she could toward the house. The sound of gravel crunching behind her made her turn. Cody sprinted after her. But just steps behind him was Harrison.
“Keys,” Cody shouted, throwing them at her. “Get to my car and get out of here.”
She caught them and nodded, not hesitating for a second. She spotted Cody’s Range Rover parked in front of the manor. She got in and started it up. The seat remembered her, boosting her forward as she pushed the clutch into drive, speeding back toward the garage.
Cody and Harrison were rolling around in the gravel trying to kill each other. Hannah laid on the horn and skidded to a stop as close to them as she dared. It had the desired effect. Both boys separated, launching themselves out of the way thinking she was going to run them over. Cody jumped into the car and Hannah hit the lock button, leaving Harrison chasing after them as they sped off into the wild wooded darkness.
46
Hannah careened down the driveway and out the gate, fishtailing wildly on the soft dirt road. Cody was breathing hard, his arms cradling his head as he rocked dangerously close to the dash.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” he mumbled.
“Just breathe, Cody. I’m right here,” Hannah murmured.
She wanted to rub his back soothingly but she didn’t dare take her hands off the wheel. She was driving at a breakneck pace and each bump threatened to send them hurtling toward the trees.
“Those things he said . . . it’s all true isn’t it? He’s my brother. He got Elena pregnant. And his father . . . our father covered it up?”
“It’s not all true, Cody.”
“What part?”
“The part about everyone choosing him. I didn’t choose him. I’m choosing you.”
Cody looked at her for the first time. His face was a bloody mess but he smiled ruefully, reaching his hand over to take hers. They laced their fingers together an
d squeezed. “Thank you,” he whispered.
They finally reached the main road, but Hannah still didn’t feel safe. She glanced in her rearview mirror repeatedly, expecting to see Harrison tailing them.
“Where to?” she asked.
Cody laughed. “I don’t know. Where do you go after learning your life has been one big lie?”
Hannah squeezed his hand affectionately. “I know just the place.”
Hannah pulled up to the grassy ridge overlooking the stables. It was almost more beautiful at night. The frantic pounding of her heart finally began to slow. There was nothing around them for miles. They would be safe here. She looked over at Cody. His eyes were closed tightly, as if he was wrestling heavy demons.
“Wanna get some fresh air?” she asked.
He opened his eyes and visibly relaxed once he realized where they were. “I like your choice of location.”
“Someone once told me this place makes everything better.”
Cody tried to smile. “At least some things are still true.”
“Come on, let’s get some air.”
They exited the car and walked to the front, leaning back against the warmth of the grill.
“The stars look beautiful from here,” Hannah remarked.
Cody remained silent, staring off into the distance.
“Nothing has to change unless you want it to,” Hannah whispered, slipping her hand into Cody’s.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight. “But I want things to change. I want this . . . us . . . to be real,” he said with resolve.
Hannah gazed up at him, watching the starlight that danced across his dark eyes. His face was bruised and bloodied, but he’d never looked more beautiful to her. Cody inched his face closer to hers, his breath catching when it mixed with hers.
“I do too,” she whispered, stretching to her toes, closing the distance until their lips touched.
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