The Gilded Cuff

by Smith, Lauren

  “Are you innocent, Sophie?” His question forced her eyes open.

  “What?” she asked, confusion mingling with pleasure as he bent to her breast again, but he blew a soft breath against it rather than putting his mouth on her skin.

  “Was everything about you a lie?” he murmured against her breast before he kissed his way up to her neck.

  “A lie?” She could barely string two words together because he’d slid his fingers between her folds again and she clenched around him.

  He shifted between her thighs, positioning the head of his cock at her entrance. The first few inches of him sank in easily but as he pressed deeper her body stretched, trying to accommodate him. They rocked together, the tie tightening around her wrists as she jerked when he thrust hard. A few seconds later he was fully inside her and his face loomed over hers.

  “You lied to me,” he whispered against her lips. The guarded expression on his face was gone. He was open to her, like a book open at the center page, revealing everything. Rage, hurt, desire, all because of something she’d done.

  Her heart stuttered to a stop. He knew. Fenn was alive and Emery knew she’d kept it from him.

  With aching slowness he kissed her, and she may as well have been outside the garden of Gethsemane after having kissed his cheek in betrayal. It went soul deep—the numbing, destructive feeling of her own powerlessness to explain why she’d kept Fenn’s existence from him. But Emery didn’t let her think long about it. He withdrew from her body only to plunge back in. They shared a moan of dark pleasure, but his trembling shoulders gave away his own lack of control. The dom inside him was demanding vengeance and she would pay for the hurt she’d caused him.

  “Is that all I’m good for? A fuck and a newsworthy story?” He slammed into her and she bit her lip at the exquisite sensation of him punishing her with pleasure. It was wicked, it was the worst thing she could do in that moment—enjoy herself while she knew he suffered, and he was forcing her to feel this way on purpose.

  “Emery…please, let me explain—” her words ended on a gasp as he pinched one of her nipples hard.

  “You. Betrayed. Me,” he hissed, each word punctuated with a thrust.

  She raised her head, glaring at him. “No!” Whatever he thought, she’d explain, make him understand.

  “You paid Cody off when you found out Fenn was alive. You didn’t tell me because you wanted the story.” His brows lowered, his lips parted on a snarl as he started fucking her hard and fast. He filled her and a rush of ecstasy stole her breath as she desperately fought to raise her hips to take him deeper inside her.

  He was making love to her differently. There had always been a gentleness, at least in his eyes, or lips when he’d made love to her before. This was purely animal, purely about domination and control. Pleasurable yes, but it was only physical. The intimacy they’d struggled to establish with each other over the past several days was destroyed. The devastation of this realization hit her hard and she fought to push him away. He was removing emotion from his passion and it didn’t feel the same; there was a hollowness to his actions that rocked her to the core.

  “Emery, stop!” she hissed, jerking her wrists, trying to free herself. He was off her in an instant, pulling out of her body, his face dark as a summer storm. They were both still, panting, frustrated. Finally he shoved a hand in his pants pocket and got out a handkerchief. He wiped himself clean and tossed the white piece of cloth into the garbage can by the desk as he fixed his pants. He wouldn’t look at her, and she couldn’t look away from him. Like watching a train wreck, she was seeing the man she loved spiral away from her, in a crash of black smoke and death.

  In that instant she had the strange sensation of being completely and utterly alone. He’d become nothing more than a trick of light, a play of smoke and mirrors, and she realized she’d been chasing a dream that was never going to be within reach. The flesh and blood man she’d come to love with every part of her soul was more shadow and illusion. Was she the same for him? Had they believed they could come together and make sense of the world they lived in? In truth were they merely dark silhouettes of ships passing through heavy fog in the night? Every kiss, every touch that had been shared between them would soon be blackened by betrayal.

  He reached for her wrists and in one swift tug his tie slid off her skin. He held the tie for a long second, staring at the expensive gold fabric before he dropped it in the trashcan, too. When he turned away from her, the world came crashing down. His shoulders slumped, his head bowed.

  “I gave you everything, Sophie. Everything that I had, everything that I am.” He moved to the wall, resting one palm flat on it as he leaned against it. “Get the hell out of this house, leave town tonight. Hans will mail you your things first thing tomorrow. Don’t ever set foot on my island again. Do you understand?” Her banishment was done with the barely controlled fury of a wronged king. He spun around and walked back over to where she still sat on the edge of the desk.

  Sophie had no breath to utter a sound. When she didn’t respond he gripped her throat, not squeezing, but the gesture was clear. She was at his mercy and he was tired of playing the game he thought she was playing. But there was no game, and she’d have to leave him forever.

  Emery dropped his hand and stepped back, the space between them large enough to fill an entire galaxy.

  “Get the fuck out. Now!” he bellowed. The shout had her moving fast, her body trembling with sexual frustration, her heart shattering as she tugged her skirt down and fled the study. She had to leave, but she couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. All she felt was the splitting of her ribs as she tried to suck in air and the implosion of her heart in her chest. He hated her, never wanted to see her again.

  Shock pulsed through her, numbing her to everything as she stumbled down the hall. Her purse…She needed to find her purse so she could get out of here.

  Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. There would be a time and place to grieve, but now wasn’t it.

  Be strong. Have to be strong. Or she’d never make it out of the house.

  “Sophie? What’s wrong?” Hans was there in an instant, wrapping an arm around her shaking shoulders. She couldn’t get the words out, only turned into him and shook with silent sobs.

  Never in her life had she felt so cheap, so used. Emery had screwed her and tossed her out like a whore.

  “What happened? Where’s Emery?” Hans demanded.

  Finally she had the strength to say what she couldn’t before. “He used me, Hans. He said hateful things and he used me…I need to leave right now.”

  The shock in Han’s black eyes quickly turned to anger. “I’ll take you back to town. We’ll get your things first. After that I’ll beat the shit out of him for being an ass.” The last was more a muttered growl to himself than one meant for her ears.

  “No, please don’t. He isn’t worth the bruised knuckles you’d get from hitting that rock hard head of his.”

  Hans laughed but it came out forced and rusty. She touched his arm, squeezing slightly.

  “Please, don’t do anything. I mean it. Just stay here and keep an eye on him. He’ll need you more than ever.”

  Hans gripped her shoulders when she turned to leave.

  “Hang on. What do you mean?”

  “Cody…Cody found out that Fenn is alive. When Antonio held him hostage, Cody got into the man’s files from his computer. He gave them to me when he was in the hospital. We agreed not to tell Emery, not until we were sure Fenn was alive and especially that he was safe. Antonio is looking for him and was planning on going for him after he’d killed Emery. I looked through the files Cody gave me and found Fenn’s location. He’s in Walnut Springs in Colorado. We sent Wes Thorne to find him.”

  “And Emery knew nothing of this?” Hans asked.

  “No. I wanted to tell him. But I know him. He’d be reckless. He’d go running off to Colorado and get himself killed by Antonio. And we
didn’t tell you because you’d either have to tell him or lie to him and we didn’t want to put you in that position. You’re too important to him. He has to trust you when he can’t trust anyone else.”

  Hans’s dark eyes were full of worry but he seemed to understand.

  “How did he find out? Is that why he was cruel to you?”

  She nodded. “I don’t know how, but he found out.” She closed her eyes, took a breath, opened her eyes and met Hans’s gaze. “I have to go. Please take care of him. For what it’s worth…I still love him. I’ll always love him and I don’t want him to get hurt.”

  The usually stoic bodyguard cleared his throat. “Love is worth a lot, Sophie, especially from a woman like you. I’ll keep him out of trouble for you.”

  “Thank you.” She stood upon tiptoe and kissed his cheek. The smile she summoned trembled at the corners. She retrieved her purse from the coat check and left through the front door. The world was quiet outside. The noise of the party was muted. It was early yet, only just past six, but the skies were black with night. A color that matched her aching soul and battered heart. It managed to beat a steady rhythm, even though the pain.

  Sophie took a few steps down the long gravel path leading to the main gates where the valets could call a taxi for her. The crunch of gravel behind her made her stop abruptly. A hand clamped down over her mouth. She dropped her purse and clawed at the gloved hand. Another arm hauled her back into a muscled body.

  “Hello, sweetheart. We meet at last.” The prick of a needle stung her neck like an angry wasp.

  Her muffled cry went unheard.

  “We’ll set a nice little trap for our boy Emery.” Something sharp sliced her arm and blood dribbled down onto her purse and the ground around it. The spot where the needle pierced her began to burn. Black spots bloomed over her eyes and heaviness stole through her arms. She struggled to stay awake, but it didn’t matter.

  Every nightmare she’d ever had, every horror she’d faced when she closed her eyes, was there.

  She was back on the playground with Rachel. Rachel. Her small body was an easy target as the man grabbed her by the waist, hoisting her up and covering her mouth with a cloth. Sophie couldn’t move, couldn’t scream. She was rooted to the spot in terror. The man laughed, the sound grating in her ears.

  “I’ll be back for you, little girl, when I’m done with this one,” he’d jeered, the crooked teeth and soulless eyes a sight she’d repressed in the blackest part of her soul.

  “Rachel!” Her scream was too quiet, her voice hoarse as the man ran to his gray van and threw Rachel’s limp body into the back. The tires screeched as he pulled away…

  She’d never left that playground. She was trapped with the guilt and the fear, left alone as darkness closed in.

  Chapter 20

  EMERY LOCKWOOD, THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF A KIDNAPPING THAT OCCURRED TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO WHICH CLAIMED HIS TWIN BROTHER’S LIFE IS ONCE AGAIN THE SOURCE OF NEWS IN WESTON, LONG ISLAND. RUMORS ABOUND REGARDING LOCKWOOD’S MEMBERSHIP TO A NEWLY FORMED PRIVATE CLUB ON LONG ISLAND. MEMBERSHIPS TO THE GILDED CUFF CLUB COST IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS PER YEAR AND STRICT ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS KEEP MOST OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM GETTING INSIDE TO GLIMPSE THE HANDSOME BILLIONAIRE WITH THE TRAGIC PAST.

  —New York Times, October 31, 2014

  Emery sat in his father’s study chair, slumped over the massive desk. He dug his fingers into his scalp until it hurt. His chest felt as though it was on fire, as if some angry god had thrust his fiery hand deep into Emery’s chest and ripped his beating, bleeding heart out and cast it into the flames. Breath didn’t come easy, and his temples throbbed as he desperately tried to find some balance in his head. Only one thought pierced the gloom: Sophie was gone. The wound she left behind would never heal. Hell, it might kill him now, and he had done it to himself.

  He was a fucking asshole and he knew it. He’d just screwed her and sent her packing. He should never have touched her, never gotten close to her. Even hating her, he still loved her, and he’d been cold to her just to have one more second of heaven. He had enjoyed it, been aroused as hell, but it wasn’t the same, not like all of the other times he’d made love to her. Perhaps that was the difference. This time had been sex, just a quick fuck to get her out of his system, but she was deeper under his skin than ever. Already he missed her and wanted her back in his arms so he could apologize.

  The door to the study crashed open. Hans was a black silhouette before the light from the hallway.

  “Get out, Hans, I need a minute—”

  His bodyguard moved fast, throwing a punch so hard that Emery crashed back in the chair and it toppled over. Pain exploded in his jaw. He groaned as he struggled out of the over-turned chair.

  “What the hell, Hans?” He wiped a palm over his mouth, tasting blood from his split lip.

  “Ms. Ryder just left here in tears…” Hans’s reply was like a wolf’s growl. It would have scared anyone but him.

  Emery leapt to his feet. “Good—” Another blow popped his eye and he staggered back into the bookshelves behind him. Several heavy tomes crashed to the ground.

  “Stop that!” he snarled, raising his fists in defense. If prepared he knew he could get the drop on Hans. He was the better boxer of the two, but if Hans’s strength was coming from anger, Emery would likely get his ass kicked.

  “You’re a real piece of work, Emery. Sophie and Cody were saving you. They were going to tell you about your brother once Wes had found him and made sure he was safe. D’Angelo told Cody he was trying to find Fenn and kill him. If they’d told you, we both know you would have rushed off and gotten both Fenn and yourself killed. Is that what you want?”

  Emery lowered his fists a few inches as Hans’s words sank in.

  “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  His bodyguard’s glare knocked his feet out from under him.

  “She loves you and she was only protecting you from yourself. She wanted to tell you, but had to wait until you and Fenn were safe. Whatever you did to her, whatever sins you’ve added to that long list, you’d best get on your knees and pray she’ll forgive you. Now get your shit together and let’s go find her before she gets too far away.”

  Emery swallowed hard and followed Hans outside. The party was still in full swing and there was no sign of Sophie in the crowded room. Emery led the way as he and Hans pushed through the mass of dancing people. When they reached the front door Hans pointed to something at the bottom of the steps.

  Sophie’s purse lay on the ground, with a spray of blood over it. “Is that—” Emery’s words died on his lips as he reached the purse.

  A cell phone, one that he didn’t recognize, was next to the purse. The screen lit up as an unknown number called.

  “I’m beginning to hate cell phones.” Emery said as he snatched up the phone and answered the call.

  “I’m guessing you’ve discovered my little fib. I couldn’t resist, you see…” Antonio chuckled. The sound brought back horrifying memories, ones he tried to shove back in the dark. Pain and fear always followed that sound.

  “Where have you taken her?” His body trembled as adrenaline and rage swept through him in devastating tidal waves, but he forced himself to calm down as he put the phone on speaker. As he listened, he got into the cell’s settings to locate the number and flashed it to Hans. Hans was already on his phone, texting Cody the number on the cell Emery had, no doubt asking if it was possible to put a trace on the call. He waved his hand to tell Emery to keep him talking.

  “You don’t need to trace the call,” Antonio said matter-of-factly, as though he knew exactly what they were up to.

  Emery glanced around, suddenly wondering if Antonio could see them. But the gardens seemed empty.

  “I do need to, because I want to find you and put a bullet through your skull.”

  “I was wondering when you’d grow a pair of balls. I thought maybe you’d always be a sniveling little coward like you were when I had you.”
The way he said ‘had you’ made Emery’s skin crawl, as though hundreds of spiders trekked along his flesh.

  “Name the place and I’ll meet you there. We’ll finish this.”

  “Indeed we shall. The way I like, of course. My rules. Leave your rent-a-cop at home. No one but you and me.”

  “Fine, I’ll come alone. Cops would only stop me from killing you.” He had every intention of stopping Antonio’s heart and he’d do whatever he had to in order to make that came true.

  “You know where to find me. The place where I owned your soul. I’ll be waiting.” Antonio hung up.

  The place where I owned your soul. Emery’s fingers curled into fists. The abandoned mansion where he and Fenn had been held as children.

  Hans cursed. “Shit, only a few seconds more and Cody said he would have been able to at least get a ping on a cell tower to narrow down a possible location…”

  Emery shook his head. “No need. I know where he is.”

  “Where?” Hans’s black brows rose in surprise.

  “The old Carlton mansion. It’s ten miles from here.”

  “How do you know where he is?”

  There was a long pause as Emery forced his heart to slow from its galloping pace. “It’s the place where Fenn and I were held when he took us. He thinks it will rattle me, being back there.” Emery dug his hand into his pocket for the small handgun, thankful for the reassurance it provided.

  “Will it rattle you?” Hans’s tone was quiet.

  Emery smiled bitterly. “I guess we’ll find out, won’t we.”

  “Thank God. You’re letting me come. I thought for a second you might let that bastard control you.”

  “He has Sophie. My Sophie. We play by my rules, whether he knows it or not.”

  Hans’s smile was grim.

  “Then let’s get to it. We have a woman to rescue,” Hans said.

  And my soul to save. Emery knew that he’d never survive losing Sophie. He loved her and he’d wounded her, put her in the path of danger. This was not going to end with her dying. He wouldn’t let it. He wouldn’t allow Antonio to steal another life that mattered ever again.