Parker walked closer and ran the tip of the crop between my shoulder blades and down my back.
I moaned. “Oh, God, Parker. I don’t want to tell you other things that Stewart liked to do. Please don’t make me say it.”
The crop came down hard on my ass. I yelled, “Fuck!”
“Tell me. Tell me what you don’t want to say.”
I shook my head from side to side.
The crop came down again with a crack. “You’ll do as I say the first time.” Another crack. “Don’t fucking make me repeat myself.” The crop landed again. “Nod if you understand.”
Motherfucker! I nodded, and hurriedly said, “Stewart liked to tease me. He’d get me all hot and make me wait. He wouldn’t touch me, even when I begged.” I turned toward Parker, with real tears in my eyes, praying that he was really this dumb, and begged, “Please don’t tease me. I never thought I’d be back here but now that I am, I’m so fucking horny. I want you inside of me.”
Another strike. I felt the welts mushrooming on my skin as I fought to maintain my position. “My pencil dick?” Parker taunted. “You want my pencil dick inside of you?”
Crack. My ass was on fire.
“Yes, please, Parker. Please, I’m sorry I said that.”
Another crack and then another. As the crop teased my inner thigh, my cell phone rang out, penetrating our bubble.
I stood, my ass screaming, and raised my hands. “Parker, I’m sorry. I know the rules, but it could be about my mom. Please let me see if this is the hospital.”
I glanced at the screen: TRAVIS.
Sweeping my finger, I watched Parker’s eyes as I spoke into the phone, “Hello, this is Mrs. Harrington.”
The voice in my ear spoke low. “If that motherfucker hits you again, I’m going to jump the fucking banister and kill him with my bare hands.”
I let my head drop to my chest and turned away from Parker. “Oh, no! When did it happen?”
“I took care of the paperwork. Good job on the distraction, Victoria.”
Our plan had been to have Parker leave the birth certificates and contract in the kitchen and while I had Parker’s attention, Travis would steal the birth certificates and replace the contract with a new generic Dom/sub contract. If our plan worked, we didn’t want anyone going through his papers and finding something with my name.
I nodded. “Of course, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“Make sure he doesn’t touch you,” Travis cautioned as I ended the call.
I turned back to Pencil-Dick. “Oh, Parker, I’m sorry, but that was the hospital and it’s my mother. Something happened and they want all of us there. I can’t let Val and the boys do this alone.”
I watched the indecision in his eyes. Finally, he grunted, “Fine. We have forever to play my games.”
I sure as hell hope not!
While one gloved hand rubbed his little wood through his boxers, he added, “And some of Stewart’s games, too. Next time, you will tell me more.”
“I will,” I reassured as I grabbed my things and ran toward the bathroom. Once inside, I washed my hands for what seemed like forever. If I’d gotten any of the Cytoxan on them, it wouldn’t help. Nevertheless, it made me feel better.
Fully dressed, I reentered the large room and watched as Parker rubbed his hands together.
Securing my phone and my purse, I asked, “Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I liked the gloves. I think I’ll use those again.”
Not if the Cytoxan works like it’s supposed to. “Leave them here if you want. We’ll use them next time.” I lifted my brows up and down. “Unless you think Maura would like them.”
Parker scowled in my direction and growled, “We’ll use them again. Don’t ever mention—”
Walking briskly away from him and toward the stairs, I called back over my shoulder, “I’m sorry, Parker, but I really need to run along. Until next time.” I opened my eyes wide. “Lock up, won’t you?” Without waiting for his answer, I squared my shoulders and walked up the stairs and out the door.
I was fucking done with this place. Let it burn or crumble. I didn’t give a rat’s ass!
“TRAVIS?” I SPOKE through the Bluetooth of my car.
“Excellent job, Victoria. Are you all right?”
A tight-lipped smile graced my lips. Was it the sound of his concern or hearing him use my first name? “Thank you. Well, my ass hurts like hell, but if it’s one of the last things that motherfucker ever does, it’s worth it.”
“Tell me that he didn’t touch you with those gloves.”
“He didn’t. Please tell me he hadn’t touched the bed with the gloves.”
“He hadn’t,” Travis confirmed. “I watched him like a hawk. He put the gloves on after he was undressed. After you left, he jacked off. The gloves were off, but one can only hope…”
“Jeez,” I said, scrunching my nose and fighting the mental image. “I thought seeing him in his boxers, shoes, and socks was bad. You’re going to need to scrub your eyeballs after watching the pencil dick get off.”
Travis laughed. “I’ve seen worse. I just kept thinking, that’s it, buddy, rub that shit in.”
“Now all we can do is wait. If it works like Val said, it should happen fast.”
“Where are you going?” Travis asked. “I don’t like you being out alone. This isn’t done.”
I blinked my eyes, working to stay focused on the traffic in front of me. “I’m headed back to the hospital. The boys should be there soon. I want to check on my mother.”
“I should clean this place up, but now that Craven left, I think I’ll leave it and meet you at the hospital.”
I agreed, “Fucking leave it and light a match on your way out. I’m done with that hellhole.”
“Oh, not so fast, I seem to remember a contract…”
If I hadn’t heard the hint of sarcasm in his voice, I would’ve crashed the damn car. “No fucking way!” I interrupted. “That will only see the light of day if Pencil-Dick lives to argue the contract he can’t find.”
“Victoria,” Travis’ tone was back to business. “I’ll see you at Memorial.”
“Yes,” I said, as I nodded and hit the END CALL button on my steering wheel. Seconds later, my cell phone rang. The screen on the dashboard flashed: BRODY PHILLIPS. I hit the CALL button.
“Hello, Brody.”
“Jesus, Vik, I can’t think about anything else. Are you all right? What happened?”
I bit my bottom lip. I couldn’t let him know… know what I was, what I’d done again…
I worked to lighten my tone. “He didn’t show.”
“What?” Brody asked, obviously confused.
“Parker didn’t show. He told me to be there at two. I was. I waited until a few minutes ago. I don’t know what this all means with the whole contract thing. I don’t know what happened.”
“So he didn’t touch you?”
“Brody,” I said, slowing my words. “Parker didn’t show up to the warehouse. I didn’t see him. He didn’t touch me.”
“Oh, thank God!” he exclaimed. “But now, now you’ve got that fucking contract with Travis.”
“Don’t worry about it. Nothing will happen with that.”
“Don’t worry about it? I’m fucking beside myself. I haven’t slept. I need you. I need to see that you’re all right.”
I thought about my ass. There was no way I could see Brody, not the way he wanted to see me, not for a day or two. “I’m fine. I’m on my way to the hospital to see my mom. Hey?” I had an idea. “You could come to the hospital. I mean, she’s been accused of driving while intoxicated. She needs an attorney. Come by to start representing her.”
“Vik, her blood alcohol level was almost four times—”
“I didn’t say you’d win, but maybe you can help her. Brody, I know it doesn’t make sense, but I don’t think she did this.”
“You think someone poured the booze down her throat and put her
in a car?” He didn’t try to hide his sarcasm.
I sat taller. “I do.”
“Vik, I’m not a miracle worker.”
“Fine,” my words were clipped. “If you don’t want to represent her, I’ll call Parker.”
“No fucking way. I’ll do it. I’ll see you there.”
I grinned. He was so easy to sway. “And when you do, you’ll see that I’m fine.”
“Oh, you’re fine all right. But a few glimpses of you at the hospital won’t do it for me. I spent half the night worried sick and the other half thinking about fucking rabbits. I need you alone.”
A laugh escaped my throat. How could I be laughing after what I’d just done? Maybe it was because as I eliminated these assholes one by one, my dream of a normal life in the mountains seemed suddenly obtainable.
“See you at the hospital,” I said as I ended the call.
ARRIVING BEFORE MY brothers, Val met me in the hallway outside of our mother’s room. “She’s waking up,” my sister said.
I nodded, knowing that by the look on my sister’s face, there was more.
“She isn’t speaking coherently, which isn’t unusual. However, it’s what she is saying that has me concerned.”
“Why? If it isn’t coherent?”
Val leaned closer. “She keeps saying no and begging someone to stop. Then she starts to cry. Vik, I asked them to give her a tranquilizer. They did. In a minute or two she won’t be talking at all. I didn’t want Marcus and Lyle to see her like that.”
“Isn’t it good that she’s talking?”
“It is,” Val agreed. “I just kept thinking about what you said. Maybe she didn’t do this herself. Who would? Who would do this to our mother?”
I straightened my neck and inhaled. Looking each way down the hall, I saw no one except the nurses at the large circular station, too far down to hear. “I don’t know, Val. I really don’t. And I know I’ve never been a Marilyn cheerleader. Hell, I’ve been the exact opposite—Stewart could have attested to that—but I don’t think she’d suddenly throw away almost twenty years of sobriety. She was too proud of what she’d accomplished.”
Val nodded as we both turned down the hall toward the sound of our brothers’ voices. She squeezed my hand and whispered. “Let me go back in and make sure she’s calm. I’ll come out and get you.”
I nodded as she disappeared behind the door and Marcus and Lyle flanked my sides. Plastering on my signature smile, I turned and wrapped my arms around each of their shoulders. They were both so tall that I had to reach up. My little brothers were men. “Hi, I’m glad I made it here for your visit. Val said…”
It wasn’t long after the boys and I were allowed in Mom’s room that Travis knocked and entered. “Mrs. Harrington, I wanted to let you know that I’m right outside.”
“Thank you, Travis.” It surprised me how the tension eased from my shoulders at the sound of his voice. Nothing had happened since I’d left the warehouse to raise my suspicions; nevertheless, with Parker’s promise of friends and the whole Albini-Durante world all happening outside of my bubble, having Travis near eased some of my anxiety. It wasn’t until later, after the boys had left, that my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Harrington, this is Trish from Craven and Knowles.”
I looked at my watch: nearly six. Questions came faster than answers. Where had the day gone? Why hadn’t I heard from Brody? And what had they done to get this stupid woman to work past five? The only answer that came to me was the one to my last question: perhaps she was too busy under someone’s desk to realize the time. Suppressing the smile from my voice, I answered, “Yes, Trish.”
“Ma’am, I’m sorry to bother you. Mr. Craven would like you to come to the office right away.”
I glanced at my sleeping mother. “Trish, I’m currently in the hospital with my mother. This is not a good time. Mr. Craven will need to wait.”
“Ma’am, he said it’s urgent. He said it’s about your husband’s will.”
Fucking asshole! My shoulders once again went rigid as my spine grew taller. What the fuck was his deal? After exhaling, I conceded, “Fine, tell Mr. Craven I’m on my way.”
“Yes, Mrs. Harrington. And…”
I waited; finally, making no attempt to hide the irritation in my voice, I asked, “And what, Trish?”
“I don’t think Mr. Craven is feeling well. If you could hurry—please.”
I couldn’t have suppressed the smile if I’d wanted. “Perhaps he’d like to reschedule.”
“No, I asked him and he said this was urgent.”
“I’m on my way.”
Gathering my things, Travis and I started down the long corridor toward the elevator. We were almost there when I noticed two men standing to the side of the hallway talking. As soon as the younger one turned, I felt the rush of déjà vu. He was someone who I knew, or had known. My mind searched as I unsuccessfully tried to look away. When he turned, our eyes met. Immediately, I knew that I was seeing my brother. The ramification made my stomach twist. I no longer saw the handsome young man I’d dated. There was so much more.
“Victoria?” Wesley’s voice echoed through the hallway, deeper than I remembered. As I scanned him up and down, I assessed that he too had indeed matured from a boy to a man. His dark hair was now tamed and trimmed, and his shoulders were broader. He’d grown up well, and even more handsome than I remembered. I had the sensation of looking at Marcus and Lyle as I’ve seen them over the years. There was nothing remotely sexual about my feelings toward this man. The fact that I’d ever had those types of feelings made me slightly nauseous.
Travis and I both stopped walking at the sound of my name. As I kept my expression in check, I innocently replied, “Yes?”
“You’re Victoria Harrington?”
“I am.” I allowed my eyes to widen. “Wesley? Wesley Albini?” Through my peripheral vision, Travis grew inches taller and suddenly broader. Without a word he’d made his presence known.
“When my uncle asked me to…” Wesley shook his head. “…I’ve been out of the country, and I didn’t realize.”
My head tilted to the side. “Niccolo is your uncle?”
“Yes, he asked me to watch you.” Wesley nodded toward Travis and extended his hand. The two men silently shook, until Wesley turned back to me. “I can see you’re in good hands. We didn’t mean to insinuate otherwise. It’s just that when my uncle asks, there’s usually a good reason.”
“I’ve learned it never hurts to have an extra layer of protection. Please tell your uncle I said thank you, and I hope this won’t be necessary for long.”
The taller man beside Wesley turned. He was older and very looked very distinguished. His fine black hair had a hint of gray. The family resemblance to Niccolo was undeniable. My heartbeat quickened as I looked into my father’s eyes for the first time. You were never supposed to be born. My mother’s words rang through my head. Extending his hand, my father said, “Mrs. Harrington, it is a pleasure.”
I gave him my hand and replied, “I’m sorry? Have we met?”
He bowed slightly, with my hand still in his, and kissed the top. “Mrs. Harrington, it is I who should apologize. Your husband was very important to our family. I was wrong not to have introduced myself to his lovely wife before his sad passing.” Releasing my hand, he continued to speak, sincerity emanating from each well-planned word. “I’m sorry for your loss. I was at your husband’s funeral when I saw you for the first time. You were with your family.” His dark eyes softened. “It wasn’t until I saw your mother…” He shook his head. “…I didn’t want to intrude.” Squaring his shoulders he said, “Mrs. Harrington, I am Carlisle Albini.” He glanced toward Wesley and lightened his tone. “It sounds as though you know my son.”
I looked back to Wesley. “We did, sir. Years ago.”
Playfully, Carlisle pushed against Wesley’s shoulder. “Before she was married? And you let her go? What’s wrong with you?”
/> Crimson graced Wesley’s cheeks.
Carlisle looked back to me. “Perhaps one day you’ll forgive my son. We all make choices when we’re young that we regret with time.”
“I’m afraid, sir, it wasn’t that serious. Wesley and I were friends.”
“Pity,” Carlisle said. “A beautiful woman like you would be an asset to our family.”
My chin rose indignantly. He knew. I knew he knew. However, his words didn’t feel like a threat, more like a show of support.
Before I could respond, Wesley said, “Victoria, please forgive my father. He seems to think the family name is dead. I’ve told him that twenty-eight isn’t that old, but he married my mother young.”
Finding my voice, I smiled. “Please, Mr. Albini, since I’m only twenty-eight, I hope you don’t consider that age too old. As you know, I’m now a widow.”
He nodded and looked down. When our eyes met, the spark I’d seen only moments ago had extinguished. “Niccolo tells me that your husband’s passing will not affect our business? I wanted to discuss it with you myself.”
“Your brother is correct. I have no plans to make any rash changes. I’d be glad to discuss it further; however, I’m on my way to a meeting.”
Both Wesley and Carlisle nodded. “Another time. Good day, Mrs. Harrington.” Carlisle reached out and gently seized my arm. Quietly, he whispered, “Your husband’s passing opened a few doors that were better left closed. Please know that your allegiance to our family is appreciated. I’m sorry about your mother. I believe that was meant for me. The two of us…” he nodded toward Wesley. “…were also friends a long time ago. Rest assured, those doors I mentioned will soon be closed and you have nothing to fear.”
“Thank you, Mr. Albini.”
“Carlisle,” he corrected.
I nodded as I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. “Carlisle.”
Reaching into the breast pocket of his silk suit coat, he handed me a card. “Mrs. Harrington, this is my personal number, one I rarely share. If you need anything, call.”
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