And my friend stood out of my way then, eyes understanding. Because no matter how hard or painful this was, a confrontation was necessary. I’d fallen in love with the alpha males … but evidently, this was nothing but a game to them.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Mason
A glance at my watch revealed we had fifteen minutes before the car arrived. Parking my suitcase by the door, I thumbed through emails on my phone absentmindedly. Shit, there was ton of stuff to get done, money doesn’t just make itself. My mind was already on business, churning away at the Dow, the markets, and the exchange rate.
Kane and Tyler were nowhere to be found. So I did a quick scan of the living room, making sure we weren’t leaving anything behind before calling out.
“Bros, let’s get a move on. The ride will be here soon.”
Two massive forms emerged, dragging bags behind them while studying their phones. One thing about new technology is that it’s fucking rude at times. Everyone’s always glued to this gadget or that, no eye contact, no real human interaction anymore.
But this wasn’t the time to say anything.
“No worries, we’ll make the flight,” Kane rumbled, still busy at his cell. He was more than likely checking the stock market, ready to start trading once we were back. After all, our vacation was at an end, the fun and games over. There would be no talking on the jet, each of us engrossed in our laptops, preparing for city life once more.
And whaddya know, but right on time the doorbell rang, its melodic chimes sounding out.
“It’s the bellhop,” Tyler grunted, still engrossed by his phone as he strode across the living room. “I’ll get it.”
But before the door was even completely open, it was forcefully pushed forwards, causing our heads to jerk up, surprised. What bellhop was this?
There was no bellhop. Instead, Katie stood in the entryway, flushed and quivering. But not in a good way. She looked unsteady, her hair a little frazzled, color high in her face. What the fuck?
“Katie sweetheart, is something wrong?”
I took a step towards her, one hand outstretched.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Tyler turned towards the female as well. “We’re leaving for the airport hon, so make it quick.”
But the girl wasn’t listening. Stepping back, she almost collided with the front door. That was weird. Sure, Katie’s not a ballet dancer, but she’s not a klutz either. What was going on?
Wildly, the female looked around the room like a caged animal. Her breasts quivered, the look on her face frantic. This was making me uneasy. Real uneasy.
Kane interrupted then.
“You want to tell us what’s wrong, sweetheart?” He stood from his chair, a third massive figure looming over the girl. “You want to tell us what’s going on? Spit it out, sweetheart,” was his firm command.
That spurred her into action.
“Sweetheart?!” came her voice. Her mouth curled at the edges, like the word was sour. What the hell? What was wrong with calling her sweetheart? We called her that all throughout last night as she moaned and trembled in our arms, spasming wildly. What was different today?
“I’m not your sweetheart!” she raged. “Tell me is it true? Is it true?” the woman demanded, her control hanging by a tenuous thread.
What was this all about? The three of us exchanged puzzled looks.
“Is what true?” I questioned smoothly, one eyebrow raised. “What are you talking about?”
But Katie wasn’t having it.
“Don’t play games with me! I know it’s been nothing but a farce. I just wanted to hear it from your mouths.”
Suddenly, the air changed. Katie’s anger deflated like a balloon going flat, replaced by sadness and hurt instead. Those sweet shoulders slumped, energy trickling from her curvy frame.
But she hadn’t said her part yet.
“I know I wasn’t the first. I know you’ve done this before.” Her voice was dull as she stared at the floor. “I know.”
At this point it was clear what was going on.
And no words came because what could we say? Katie wasn’t the first. This wasn’t the first time we’d gone to another town and gangbanged a girl, leaving her with gifts. The thing is, no one had cared in the past. No one had been hurt. Money talks, and the expensive presents took the sting from our hasty departures. Usually the women just sighed, gripping the furs and jewelry tight before moving on with their lives.
So yeah, this was unexpected. Because our little girl cared. Really cared, this wasn’t some passing fling for her. And it’s not that we don’t care about her, that’s too simplistic. Because we do, things are just complicated. After all, we’re billionaires with businesses in New York. We can’t just up and leave, re-settling in Knox, population one thousand.
But before any words were spoken, Katie broke down weeping.
“I’m nothing to you,” was her heartbroken cry. “Nothing.”
Oh shit. The sobs tugged at my heartstrings, which was unusual. Usually crying women make me go cold inside, I absolutely hate it. But this time, it was different and I leaned forwards, mouth opening.
Katie cut me off again, looking at the pile of suitcases.
“Were you just going to leave without saying goodbye?” The hurt in her gaze made shame course through my veins, entire body going hot. Shit, shit. But the thing is, we weren’t running from her or attempting to sneak off. It just looked that way right now with the luggage strewn about.
“I know it started out as a wedding fling,” she choked, wiping tears from her face before continuing, “But I thought I meant something. That what the three of us shared was something more.” She looked down at the floor, swiping at her cheeks again.
And then the worst part came with a crash.
“I didn’t know you were buying me off,” she said softly, voice strangled. “I didn’t know that things like that could happen.”
The silence quivered in the air between us. Mutely, the woman lifted her tear-stained cheeks to stare at us, expression hopeful. Oh god, it broke my heart. The sweet girl was praying for a response, something that would make sense. But after a few uncomfortable seconds of silence, it was clear no explanation was forthcoming.
And then, quiet as a mouse, Katie was gone. That plump form let herself out, the door snicking shut, and Tyler, Kane and I stared at one another in the silence.
What the hell just happened?
It was like the silence after a storm, vibrating almost.
Had we screwed up? Misjudged in some way?
But there were no answers.
“Holy fuckballs, what was that?” Tyler ran his hand through his hair as he walked to the sofa, folding that massive frame into a seat.
“No idea, bro,” Kane shook his head and paced the floor. “No fucking clue.”
I lowered myself into an armchair.
“We’ve done this shit before, screwing women and paying them off, but damn, something went off the rails this time. Did you see the look on her face?” A heavy feeling settled in my gut as I recalled Katie’s expression. Holy shit, it tore at my conscience, making me feel about two inches tall.
“Don’t remind me bro,” Kane shook his head once more, still perplexed. “We should have known she was going to be different. This was the same female that didn’t want money, clothes or jewels, nothing for herself, just a fucking non-profit for kids.”
Mason and I nodded our heads. Kane was right.
“Yeah, she’s completely selfless,” I agreed.
“And shit! We just made her feel like she was nothing, dust beneath our feet.” Tyler exclaimed. “What the fuck is wrong with us? Are we really such assholes?”
It was a tough question. Because yeah, this is our MO, and we’ve done it a million times. But this time it was different because the girl actually cared. No amount of money was gonna buy her off. No amount of resources, no amount of cold hard cash. Katie wanted us, and yet we’d just kicked her in the teeth.
<
br /> “Fuck,” was Tyler’s curse.
“Fuck fuck,” added Kane.
“Shit,” I grunted. But them my tone became rhetorical. “Did we really just let the best thing that’s ever happened to us get away? Seriously. For real.”
That question rendered us thunderstruck. Because was Katie the best thing ever? Was she someone so different, so precious and rare, so blindingly beautiful that we hadn’t been able to see? Did we just bury a diamond in the mud like a bunch of idiots?
And Kane nodded then.
“Yeah, we fly around the world slamming chicks but it’s meaningless most times. I mean, hell, these women would sleep with anyone with a bulging wallet. He could be in the grave or have a dozen kids, and she wouldn’t care. So where does that leave us? What do we really have?”
The question hung in the air heavily. Forty years have gone by, half our lives over. Was this game gonna continue non-stop? Were we going to be three doddering Hugh Hefners, seventy with a boatload of chicks? Don’t get me wrong, Hefner is an incredible businessman, the head of a publishing empire. But did we want to be like him in our personal lives? Because shit, there’s something sad about an old man in a silk bathrobe, popping Viagra to keep up with his young girlfriends.
So yeah, there was something missing. Things had been pretty empty and pointless lately, and maybe Katie was the answer. Maybe the sweet brunette was what we needed in our lives. Ever since we’d met her things had seemed better. There was life, there was verve, there was a sense of goodness that permeated the air.
I stood then.
“Kane’s right,” came my slow words. “This girl has been amazing for us. She’s smart, she’s giving, and she genuinely cares, god help the woman.”
Tyler interrupted then.
“I could see in her in our lives bros. She would make us happy. How much is that happiness worth?”
Kane joined in as well.
“I dunno. But it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good. Like real good, not the fake high from drugs and women. This is the real thing, and all we did this week was go to museums, see sights, and be with our female. That’s gotta be worth a lot.”
And with that, it was decided.
“Let’s go find our girl,” was my command.
At that moment, the door opened to reveal a bellhop standing in the hallway, arm raised poised to knock. But before he could speak, Tyler issued an order.
“Tell them we won’t be checking out tonight. We’re here to stay.”
And with that, it was done. The charter would take off, our companies rolling on without us. Because there were more important things in the interim … the most important being our sweet angel, Katie.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Katie
“You were right.” I blew my nose into a tissue with a giant honk, the words catching in my throat. “They used me. They didn’t even say a word when I asked.”
The tears hadn’t stopped flowing since getting home. Elaine zoomed over the minute I called, crying into the phone. She could have said, ‘I told you so,’ but my buddy didn’t. Instead, my friend made some tea and tried to console me.
“You didn’t know you were being used. It’s not the same thing,” she comforted, rubbing my back. “Not the same at all.”
The warmth of the tea did nothing to quell the chill in my bones. Because I’d been betrayed by Kane, Tyler and Mason. All my hopes and dreams were dashed. Happily ever after? I don’t think so, not for a curvy girl like me.
Elaine had a point, but I shook my head, not wanting to let myself off the hook that easily.
“I was so blinded by their charm and the great sex and their sweet talk. I was so dumb,” were my bitter words.
Because only someone naïve and idiotic would have missed the signs. There had been no promises, no nothing from the get-go. The billionaires didn’t sign a contract. They didn’t shake my hand, or offer themselves as potential boyfriends. It was just one hot moment after another, dreams of love a figment of my imagination.
And it was as much my fault as theirs. Because I’d told myself to have fun and go with the flow, to break free and be the new Katie. But now, look what had happened. I was sitting on my sofa crying my eyes out over a trio of men that didn’t give a damn. The revelation just made me sob harder.
Elaine clucked again.
“So you’re not a good time girl, Katie. Some chicks can do it, they can waltz off and not care after a session of hot sex. But that’s not you, okay? Remember that the next time temptation comes around.”
My head shook sadly, voice tremulous once more.
“The thing is, I was so determined to see them as knights in shining armor. You know, three alphas who rode into town who made me feel sexy and attractive. Doesn’t happen to someone like me,” was my piteous explanation. The hot tea stung as I tried to swallow. “Should have known it was too good to be true.”
“Stop beating yourself up,” Elaine soothed. “What happened is natural. You’re a young, innocent girl who was overwhelmed by three much older men. That’s all. Could have happened to anyone.”
But it got worse in my case.
“I was a complete idiot though, because I fell in love!” came my frustrated cry. Burying my face in the throw pillow, the tears started pouring then, drenching the fabric, sobs wracking my frame. God, how could I have been so dumb?
Elaine had nothing to say, merely wordlessly rubbing my back in circles. Finally, I sat up, a sobbing mess.
“I shouldn’t have, but I did,” my eyes met hers. “Who falls in love with three men? What sane person does that? Tell me.”
My friend’s expression was kind and she shot me a sympathetic smile.
“It’s okay. Stop worrying. You’re just inexperienced and new when it comes to guys. You thought that sex meant love, that the physical and emotional are one and the same. It happens to everyone at first, mixing up these two. You’ll learn, sweetheart, you’ll learn.”
But that didn’t make me feel better. Because right now, I had a broken heart and how were words going to help? How was anything going to help, for that matter?
But before either of us could say more, a loud banging sounded at the door.
“Should I answer it?” Elaine looked at me concerned. Clearly, I was in no state for visitors. But maybe it was the FedEx guy with a new shipment of much-needed Kleenex, given the balled wads strewn all around. So I nodded, still lost in a personal pity party.
And then I felt, rather than heard them. A shiver ran through my spine, every hair standing up on my arms.
“Katie,” bit out Elaine, an edge to her tone. And as I turned, there they were. Kane, Tyler and Mason loomed large in my tiny living room, devastatingly handsome, dark and possessive. Of course, Elaine was glaring daggers but they ignored her, calmly cool and collected.
“Do you want me to stay?” my friend spat, glaring like a hellcat. “Seriously honey, I don’t mind. Someone needs to make things right.”
But I shook my head, hollow and numb on the inside. After all, how much more could they hurt me? My emotions were a wasteland, my heart a blackened piece of coal.
And after grabbing her purse, Elaine pushed past the men, giving each a dirty look on her way to the door.
“Call me if you need me Katie,” she called, still bristling at the intruders. “I’ll be over in a jiff.”
And slowly, the door swung shut behind my friend’s form. Oh shit, did I make a mistake? Should I have kept reinforcements close? It wasn’t too late to ask Elaine to come back.
But the men locked the front door then, turning to look once more at me, blue eyes clear and penetrating. I swallowed hard, unsure how to start. But why did I need to start? They were the ones who’d come to find me.
Finally Tyler spoke.
“Sweetheart,” he began.
Bile rose in my throat again, literally making me nauseous.
“Don’t call me that,” I snapped. “Don’t ever call me that again. I al
ready told you once.”
Tyler held his hands up to placate me.
“Okay, okay,” he said quickly. “Just listen, okay? We know you’re angry, but we want to make things right.”
But like a she-cat with a score to settle, I leapt to my feet, hissing wildly.
“Make it right, how? Are you going to seduce me again? Stroke my boobies and touch my asshole? Are you going to buy me off? Give me money to start a second non-profit, wiping your conscience clean? I don’t think so,” were my furious words.
The billionaires looked at each other, stricken.
“Naw honey, that’s not what we had in mind,” said Mason quickly.
“Then what?” I screeched, uncaring if I came off like a hyena. “Then what? What’s going to make this okay? You were going to take off without saying goodbye! If that doesn’t sum up the state of things, I don’t know what does!”
This time, Kane stepped in.
“We never should have done that,” he apologized. “I’m sorry, that was wrong.”
But my hurt was so great that I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t even look at them right now, the pain still so fresh, so raw.
“Katie?”
They waited for me to turn their way. Slowly, I raised glaring brown eyes to meet theirs.
“We’re sorry Katie, for everything, and we want to make it up to you. We want to try,” Kane offered. For a minute, I could only gawk before snapping once more.
“What makes this time different? You just stood there before when I confronted you. You’ve done this with other girls before, you can’t deny that. So what’s different this time? What makes me different?” I crossed my hands over my chest, waiting for an explanation.
Silence. I was met with nothing but silence again.
Oh god, no.
Please let them say something.
Please let them make it right.
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