by Hannah Ford
He sighed and set his fork down. “It’s ridiculous not to eat when there is food right in front of you, Skylar.”
He sounded like he was chastising a child and I wanted to grab my crepes and throw them at his head.
“It’s equally ridiculous to treat someone like they’re disposable trash,” I snapped back. How had I ever thought that he was a caring human being?
A deep growl of dissatisfaction came from him and he narrowed his eyes on me. “I have never treated you like garbage. Didn’t I buy you expensive clothes…didn’t I make sure that every need of yours was taken care of before you even asked?” he said through a clenched jaw.
I lifted one eyebrow. Fury boiled in my veins at how dismissive he was being. “You had to create a fake engagement because you are so afraid that some stupid rumor is somehow going to tarnish your sterling image. God, are you really that arrogant to think anyone cares if you copied some paper in college? No one cares, Madden, so get over yourself.”
“Enough.” Steely undertones wrapped around Madden’s command and I hesitated. His eyes had gone black, but not from desire. “If you’re not hungry then we’re leaving.”
With barely restrained tension rolling off him, he stood and held out a stiff hand. I pushed back my chair and got to my feet without touching him. No way was I going to pretend that everything was okay. His jaw clenched. “Put your hand on my arm and walk out with a smile on your face or your not getting a damned cent, Skylar.”
I sucked in a breath. He was blackmailing me now? I laid my hand on the crook of his arm. “You’re an asshole.”
To my surprise, he laughed but the sound held no humor. “When I need to be, Skylar. When I need to be.”
We left the restaurant together and when we stepped outside, the cameras started clicking. I smiled until my cheeks hurt, and when the car arrived, I smiled until I climbed inside. As soon as the door shut, I yanked my hand away from Madden and pushed myself as far away from him as possible.
“Home Jeff,” Madden said.
I sat up straight. Did he actually think that we were going back to his place and do everything he’d whispered in my ear this morning? “No.”
Madden pinched the bridge of his nose and then exhaled. “I’ll give you your money tonight. There is no reason to draw this out until tomorrow. You’ve fulfilled your side of the bargain and you’re free to go or do whatever you want now. I’ve had your car brought there as well as your things from the hotel.” He turned so that he was looking right at me. The anger was gone, replaced by his usual mask of control. “I meant what I said earlier. You are free. I’ve put measures into place to assure that Jacob will never come near you again. I hope that at least, offers you a measure of comfort wherever you go.”
Emotion clogged my throat and my tongue felt thick. How could he be such an ass one minute and the next, act like a decent human being?
I hated the constant back and forth. I wanted to hate him, but he didn’t owe me anything. I pushed him at the restaurant because I thought there was a connection between us. A chance at something.
But whatever had been there between us last night—even this morning—had been an illusion created by a master magician.
It seemed a lifetime ago already.
We’d driven out of the city and I realized that I didn’t even know where we were going.
“You live outside the city?” Somehow I figured that he would be at the top of some high-rise in the penthouse apartment lording over the city.
“I have a place in town that I stay at during the week unless I’m traveling, but I have a place in Weston where my CO’s and their families come to spend the weekends quite often.”
“Why are we going there now?” The buildings grew further and further apart until we were on a long stretch of highway.
“I told you. So you can pick up your car and I can give you our agreed upon payment.”
“So that’s it, then. As simple as one, two…”
“Three,” he finished, his voice flat. He said it so matter of fact, like we were discussing matching Gucci luggage and not the end of everything we’d shared in this short amount of time.
The air inside the car grew thick.
“Well at least you’ll be rid of me very soon. I’m sure that will make you happy.”
Madden sighed. When he opened his eyes, they were softer. “Skylar…”
Before he could finish the car stopped in front of a pair of enormous iron gates. I wanted to tell Jeff to wait, to let me know what Madden was going to say, but the gates swung open and the car move forward.
Madden sat up straighter and I knew that he wasn’t going to finish what he’d been about to say.
Tall oak trees lined the driveway and when we rounded a bend, the house came into view. No, not a house, a mansion. The place was as big as the state house in Augusta.
“You live here alone?” I gasped.
The main building was three stories with huge pillars on either side of the front door. Two wings spread out from either side, both two stories and as big as their own house. It looked like it was right out of a southern living magazine.
“There is a full staff, but yes, this is my home.” He sounded so disinterested that my mouth fell open. How could anyone not be awestruck driving up to this every day?
The car rounded the circular driveway and stopped in front of the path leading to the front door. Jeff was out and had the door open before I could force my mouth closed. It would take me a month to learn my way around a place this large.
A good thing then, that I wasn’t staying longer than I needed to collect my money.
My stomach ached with raw disappointment.
Madden stepped out of the car, then offered his hand to me. I took it, basking in the warmth from his skin. This infuriating man had me running hot and cold and hot again with just a touch. I hated that I had no control of my emotions around him. He pissed me off in one breath, then made me breathless the next.
The door closed and Jeff climbed back behind the wheel. The car rolled down yet another driveway to the right and disappeared.
“My things?” I asked.
“He’ll bring them in through the back entrance. Are you ready?”
I nodded and we started toward the door. A shadow moved off to the left and then another. Two men stepped out from behind one of the pillars. Madden stiffened and moved between them and me.
“Go inside,” he said to me, his body suddenly tense and his voice strained. Even last night in a fight that could have ended with someone dead, he’d never looked like this.
One of the men laughed. “Oh come on now, we don’t get to meet your new fiancé? Hello love, let me get a good look at you.” I peeked around Madden and saw a short man in a black suit staring at me. There was a scar running along one side of his face and he had on a hat that was pulled halfway down over his eyes. The air around him vibrated with danger.
The other man stood silent. He was taller, thinner than his pudgy companion, but I got the immediate impression that he was the one to be afraid of. His dark hair was combed neatly back and he had on sunglasses so I couldn't see his eyes, but I had the skin crawling feeling that he was looking at me too.
Madden had to know them. Everything about how he behaved told me that he knew them very well, somehow.
“Hello,” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Madden shot me a glare then swung back around. His body was stiff and I saw his hands clenching at his side. “What are you doing here?”
“How’s that any kind of welcome. We thought we ought to drop by and see an old friend, after all it’s not everyday that you get engaged,” the short man said. He was grinning like there was some kind of inside joke going on and I shifted uncomfortably.
“We should celebrate,” the other one said.
“Get off my property,” Madden growled. He took a step forward and the tall man held up his hand.
“Your property, Alex?” he said.
My gaze shot to him.
Alex? Had I heard that right?
Except I knew that I had heard the man right. And he wasn’t denying it.
“Madden?” I asked through a slowly constricting throat.
The short man threw back his head and laughed. “Oh Alex, you haven’t told your beautiful fiancé about all this yet? You know, any good relationship shouldn’t start out based on lies.”
“Enough,” the taller man said. “We need to have a talk with you Alex, and since your fiancé is here, then she’s invited to join us.” He waved his hand toward the door. “Shall we go inside?”
Madden growled. “She has nothing to do with me. It’s all just a ruse. I paid her to pose as my fiancé, and our business is done. She leaves now.”
My body started trembling. What was happening? I needed Madden to tell these men that they were crazy and he was Madden Cross and that they were wrong. He said nothing.
“I’m sorry Alex, but she stays.” The tall man moved to my side and held out his arm. He smelled like cigars and expensive cologne. “If you would be so kind as to let me escort you inside.”
I looked to Madden but he wouldn’t meet my gaze. His jaw was hard and he clenched and unclenched his fists, but he didn’t move. I seemed to have no choice. I put a shaky hand on the man’s arm and he reached out and patted it. My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
“Very good,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
The short man went first and opened the door. I could feel Madden behind me, though he didn’t touch me.
I hadn’t seem him back down from anyone in the short time I’d known him, yet he wasn’t questioning the decisions that these men were making. He wasn’t standing up to them at all.
That scared the ever-loving crap out of me.
As I stepped inside, my arm firmly held by the tall man, I told myself that Madden had taken care of everything thus far, and he would take care of this situation too.
But a moment later, I wondered if I really knew anything about Madden, whom I’d trusted so quickly and so deeply.
And suddenly I knew that I didn’t.
I didn’t really know this man at all.
End of Book Two
Part III
Wicked Good
(The Billionaire’s Fake Fiance, Book 3)
Chapter 1
The two men who’d ambushed us outside Madden’s home were now escorting us inside, making sure to stay as close to us as possible.
The air was thick with menace, and I knew something terrible was just moments away from happening.
As soon as we stepped inside the two-story foyer, Madden moved his body between me and the tall man, physically pushing us apart. The man glared at Madden but Madden didn’t back down this time.
“Go upstairs to the bedroom,” Madden half-whispered to me.
I looked at the grand staircase twisting upwards to a second floor. It was open all along one side, but I had no idea where to go. “I don’t know where it is.” My voice came out low and a little hoarse.
The air in the room vibrated with hostility and my heart pounded in my chest because I had no idea what was going on. One thing was for sure though, these men were dangerous.
“She stays,” the tall man said.
“She has nothing to do with this,” Madden growled.
“You know,” the tall man said, lifting one eyebrow at Madden, “it’s a shame that a billionaire such as yourself couldn’t even bother with a simple ring for his beloved fiancé. You’ve been given so much, so don’t you think she deserves a symbol of your commitment? To show you believe in your promises?”
Madden’s jaw hardened. I looked from him to the tall man who had purposefully emphasized those words. What did he mean? Had there been some kind of agreement between them? I couldn’t imagine someone like Madden needing anything from men like these.
“You’re not getting a cent more out of me,” Madden said in a low voice. I’d never seen him so cold, so completely emotionless. He stared at the tall man, but neither backed down. Then the man started to laugh and the sound of it sent chills down my spine. If I had any doubt before, I now knew that this man was evil.
“It’s time for a little reminder of who you really are, Alex,” the taller man said. “And since you refused to listen to us the first time we sent our request, we thought a little incentive might help you.”
Before his words even stopped echoing in the marbled foyer, the tall man grabbed my arm and yanked me toward him.
Madden shouted and lunged at the man, throwing a devastating punch that hit the taller man on his chin. The tall man fell down in an unconscious heap as I stumbled backwards and knocked into a table, sending a vase crashing to the floor in pieces.
The tall man was lying on the floor now, body twitching, jaw hanging open and blood pouring from his bloody lips. His eyes were rolled back in his head.
Madden had done that to the man with one punch.
One punch.
“Are you okay?” Madden rasped at me.
I nodded because my lips suddenly would not move. That’s when I saw the shorter man moving from the corner of my vision.
“Behind you,” I cried out.
He spun around just as the short man pulled his arm back and then darted forward in an attacking motion, and there was a flash of silver in the smaller man’s hand that caught the light from a chandelier above.
Madden grunted and stumbled back a few steps. He was right next to me now. When he looked up, I saw pain in his eyes and then...I looked down.
A knife handle protruded from his side and blood already seeped through his jacket, dripping onto the white marble floor.
All sensation drained from my body. I was numb.
“Oh god.” I lifted my hand but didn't know what to do.
“It’ll be okay,” he said, his voice filled with pain.
Madden wrapped his fingers around the hilt and yanked. I screamed. He swayed on his feet but then seemed to regain himself, dropping the bloody blade to the floor with a clatter.
The short man was watching him with black, cold eyes, like a snake waiting to see if it’s prey was ready to die or not.
Madden suddenly reached out and grabbed the shorter man by the lapels of his coat, pulled his arm back and drove his fist into the man’s face, sending him to the floor. Madden turned toward me. His chest rose and fell with each harsh breath.
“Get out of here,” he said, his breath wheezing. “I’ll handle them.”
The smaller man was trying to get up. His cheek was swollen and his eye was closing already.
I shrieked and pointed when I saw him getting to his feet, terrified of what he might do next.
Madden jumped on top of him and began raising his fist and bringing it down, again and again, crashing into the smaller man’s face.
I screamed again, covering my face to hide the sound and vision of the violence I was seeing.
Finally, it was over.
Madden had collapsed atop the small man and they were both motionless.
There was a pool of blood beneath them, sinking into the edges of the Oriental rug. I moved slowly toward where Madden lay, unconscious now.
My ears rang, and my hand shook as I reached down and pressed two fingers to Madden’s neck.
His skin felt warm but clammy and there was a heartbeat.
Carefully I rolled Madden off the smaller man and onto his back. Madden’s breath was shallow and his eyelids flickered open and closed. His jacket was now soaked with blood.
He needed help or I was afraid he’d die. I had no experience with this sort of thing and the only thing I could think to do was put pressure on the wound like they always did on TV.
I pulled off my cardigan and balled it up, then pushed his jacket aside and set it over his blood soaked shirt. He grunted but his eyes didn’t open. I gingerly reached into the inside pocket of his jacket where I knew he kept his phon
e. My fingers were coated red when I pulled it out and I wiped them across his jacket while trying not to vomit.
“911, what’s your emergency?” a female voice asked.
“There’s been a stabbing. I think he’s dying,” I babbled. “We need an ambulance. Oh god…there’s blood everywhere. He won’t stop bleeding.”
Madden finally opened his eyes and groaned. “No police,” he murmured before his eyelids fluttered closed. My heart leaped into my throat and I pushed two fingers against his neck again. There was still a pulse.
“Ma’am, what’s your address?” the woman asked.
I froze. Panic built inside me. I had no idea where I was.
“I...I don’t know.” What if Madden died because I didn’t know where he lived? A frustrated sob broke from between my lips. “I don’t know.”
“Do you see a landmark or a street sign?” she asked.
“I’m inside...a house. His house, the man who was stabbed.”
“Does he have ID on him?” she asked calmly. “Something with his address? A driver's license?”
I fumbled inside his pocket again until I found his wallet. Once more blood coated my hand when I pulled it free and lights danced in my eyes. I sucked in several gulps of air. If I fainted, Madden could die.
There were a dozen credit cards and a thick fold of cash inside, but I ignored it all and fished out his license. In his DMV photo, his lips were quirked up in a smirk and my stomach tightened. What if I never saw that arrogant ass smile again?
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Ma’am? Are you still on the line?” the calm voice asked.
“It’s...552 Hemlock Grove,” I said quickly.
“Perfect. I’m sending an ambulance now. Is there anyone else who’s hurt?” she asked.
I looked at the two men lying unmoving on the floor next to Madden. God what if they were dead? What if Madden killed them? It was self-defense. They attacked him. If I had to I’d testify to that.
“Yes, there are two others. Men. They attacked my…my fiancé…with a knife and he fought them off, and they’re not moving.”