The Rebel's Redemption

by Kira Sinclair

  Stone answered her anyway. “No.”

  They were looking for information.

  Or for her.

  But most likely information since she couldn’t for the life of her guess what anyone could gain from taking or hurting her.

  “You realize this was probably some paparazzo hoping to find a juicy secret they could sell to the highest bidder,” she murmured.

  “Probably.”

  “Too bad my sex toy collection is stashed inside a locked box in the back of my closet.”

  His chest pressed against her back, where he’d taken up a protective position in case she needed his physical support—which she did. Piper felt Stone’s stunned reaction. And then the slide of his body against her as he melted into silent laughter.

  Well, that was something.

  Leaning into him even more, Piper said, “There’s nothing there for them to find.”

  “I didn’t think there would be.”

  Together, they watched until the video froze on the darkened picture of her empty foyer.

  “Anything?”

  She really wanted to say yes. To provide some detail that could help figure out who had violated her personal space and put a stop to the invasion of their lives. But nothing about the figure had seemed familiar.

  “No.”

  “It couldn’t have been the reporter you spoke to?”

  Piper heard the echo of Stone’s anger and the censure in his words, but chose not to address them. They’d already been over that argument. More than once. And nothing new could come from having it again. What was done was done.

  “It could have been. But it could be anyone, Stone. I mean, I can’t even judge their height.”

  Frustration poured off him as he paced away from her. “Gray has someone running calculations to see if we can figure out height.”

  “You can do that? Even though they’re crouching?”

  “Forensics and mathematics are both amazing fields. You’d be surprised what you can estimate with a few strategic measurements. It’s just not something that happens quickly.”

  “That’s amazing. And a little scary.”

  Stone laughed, a sharp edge to the sound. “Tell me about it.”

  “Why do you know so much about this stuff?”

  “Let’s just say I developed an interest inside. And have cultivated friendships with people who know how to use the information to help those who sometimes can’t help themselves.”

  There was a story there, but one Piper instinctively knew Stone wasn’t in the right frame of mind to share with her at the moment. There’d be plenty of time for her to ask later.

  Stepping close, she rolled onto her toes so she could cup his face. His arm automatically wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his body.

  “Why doesn’t it surprise me?”

  “What?”

  “Do you think I don’t see you, Stone? That I don’t know you down to your marrow? Only you could spend ten years in jail and pick up all this knowledge with the intent of helping people who can’t help themselves. You have a savior complex, Mr. Stone. And while there are days that reality rubs me the wrong way, there are more days when I’m thankful for the selfless, honorable, caring man you are.”

  He stared at her for several seconds before using his leverage to bring her mouth to his. The kiss was comfortable and deep.

  They stood together, soaking in the moment. Piper pulling strength, comfort and support from Stone even as she gave it back to him in the form of her acceptance and understanding.

  And then he had to go and ruin the moment.

  “You know I’m going to remind you of this the next time you get mad at me for doing something without asking you.”

  Thirteen

  “Where are you taking me?”

  And here, he’d hoped Piper’s pleasant, accommodating mood would last more than a few hours.

  Stone supposed he really shouldn’t complain considering they’d had the best sex of his life last night. He’d never felt so connected to anyone as he’d felt when he’d been buried deep inside Piper’s body as they’d come together.

  Fifteen minutes inside the car that had met them at the airport and that malleability was toast.

  “We’re going to my place,” he said.

  “No, we’re not.”

  “Piper, someone broke into your place.”

  “I’m perfectly aware of that, Stone. You were with me as we watched the video. Several times.”

  He stared at her, truly at a loss. “So, what did you expect me to do?”

  It was an honest question. Piper was a brilliant woman. He didn’t understand how she couldn’t have come to the same conclusion he had—which was that her home wasn’t safe right now, so there was no way on God’s green earth he was taking her there. But especially not taking her there and dropping her off by herself since he had a meeting to go to.

  “Nothing.” Piper huffed. “Dammit. Exactly what you’re doing.”

  Stone blinked and watched as Piper’s ice-blue eyes flashed fire at him. Maybe silence was the smart choice here.

  “But you have to start talking to me about things that affect my life, Stone. You can’t keep making decisions without discussion.”

  Tilting his head, Stone studied her. Nope, she was absolutely serious.

  “Piper, you’re one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.”

  “Flattery will not solve this, Stone.”

  “That’s good, but my statement wasn’t flattery. It was fact. It never occurred to me that you’d come to any conclusion other than you couldn’t go home. If you couldn’t go home, then of course you’d come to my place.”

  She threw her hands up in the air. “Because we haven’t talked about me coming over and staying. I’ve never even seen your place. I could stay with Mom and Morgan.”

  “We might have only been sleeping together for a few days, but we both know this isn’t a brand-new relationship. There’s no way I’d let you out of my sight—or my bed—under normal circumstances, let alone knowing someone is hell-bent on invading your privacy. And I don’t think your mom would appreciate me having a go at you on her kitchen counter.”

  Piper blinked at him. His lips twitched as he watched the conflicting emotions chase across her face. Her pupils dilated with the memory of him doing just that in the kitchen at the house on the island.

  But she was also still irritated with him.

  After several seconds, Piper let her body sag against the soft seat. “God, I hate it when you’re right.”

  Snagging her, Stone pulled her against him. “I know. Trust me, the feeling is mutual when that big brain of yours puts me in my place. But you know one of the things I love about us is the way you challenge me. Not many people do.”

  “Bull. I’ve seen you and Gray. He challenges you.”

  “Which is why he’s my friend.”

  Pulling up outside his building, Stone brought her upstairs to his penthouse apartment. The property had come on the market while he was still in prison, but he’d wanted it so he’d bought it a couple years ago. The building had history, built in the early turn of the twentieth century. The space was massive, but the wraparound terrace with unobstructed views of the entire city were what sold him.

  The place had been too big for him, something Finn had delighted in pointing out. But Stone hadn’t cared. And as he watched Piper’s reaction, he realized the decision had been right.

  She immediately walked through his living room to the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in the view of Charleston. Looking over her shoulder, she breathed, “This is beautiful.”

  “And close to your office.”

  She just shook her head and tossed him a crooked smile, letting him win that point without comment.

  �
��Make yourself at home. The kitchen should be stocked and your bag already in the master bedroom. I won’t be long. Back in a couple hours.”

  His meeting with the parole officer shouldn’t take more than one, but he wanted to swing by and check in with Gray while he was out.

  From the doorway, Stone took her in. She looked so perfect in his home. No, she made it a home. Before, it was just an expensive piece of property. Crossing the space, Stone tried to swallow down his heart, which had somehow managed to jump up into his throat. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her body against his.

  “Promise me you won’t leave.” He felt her body stiffen, but he didn’t wait for the expected protest. “Just until I have a chance to talk with Gray and Morgan’s security team. I’m still not satisfied with the answer for how the intruder got past them and into your place.”

  She stood in the circle of his arms for several seconds before finally letting out a sigh. “Fine. I won’t leave.”

  Fingers under her chin, Stone tipped her head back and pressed his lips to hers, murmuring, “Thank you.”

  * * *

  Piper prowled Stone’s house. She called it that because as beautiful as it was, it didn’t feel like a home. Yet. Not that he’d really had time to make it his own. But the space was gigantic, perfectly decorated and barren of anything personal that stamped the place as his. It was clear to her someone else had picked out the furniture and accessories...and not simply because he’d been unavailable when the property was purchased.

  Once the hoopla died down, she’d help him make it his own.

  In the meantime though, she was going bananas stuck in the ginormous space. Her footsteps echoed off the walls for God’s sake. So when her phone rang, Piper snatched it up and answered without looking. Even a telemarketer would be someone to talk to for a few minutes.

  “Piper! I’ve been worried sick about you. Where have you been? Even your mom didn’t know.” Carina’s lilting voice had an edge of accusation Piper probably deserved.

  “I’m sorry. Everything happened so quickly. I’ve been with Stone.”

  “What? What do you mean? Where were you and why didn’t your mother know?” Carina’s rapid-fire questions shot down the line.

  Carina was asking questions that Piper couldn’t fully answer without raising more. It would be like pulling a single thread and unraveling an entire sweater, especially with Carina. Her friend liked to dig.

  Right now, Piper had a decision to make. She could lie to her best friend and continue to keep her in the dark. Continue to keep details secret about an event that had impacted not only Piper’s life, but Carina’s, as well. Or she could tell her the truth. But in telling her the truth, she was going to have to be fully honest with her.

  She was going to have to share the secret she’d been keeping for so long.

  On one hand, Carina had a right to know. Blaine’s death had affected her life in so many ways. She deserved the truth.

  But would sharing it with her destroy the memory she had of the man she loved? Was it right for Piper to do that?

  But how could Piper look Stone in the eyes and tell him that being honest with the world was the right thing to do if she wasn’t ready to be honest with the people who were closest to her?

  Piper was so tired of living with the secret. Of letting Stone shoulder the blame and responsibility when it wasn’t his to take.

  She understood his need to keep the information out of the media, even if she didn’t agree with it. But sharing her own truth with Carina didn’t mean they had to tell the world if Stone didn’t want to. Carina was family. This was her decision, but that was his.

  “It’s a long story,” she finally answered. “Too long over the phone. Why don’t you come over and I’ll explain everything?”

  “Where are you?”

  “Stone’s place.”

  There was a long pause before Carina said, “I’ll be there in twenty.”

  Piper texted her the address and then spent the next twenty minutes opening a bottle of wine—something told her they were both going to need it—and pulling out some snacks that she was too nervous to actually eat.

  But she needed a task to occupy her mind.

  Even though she was expecting it, she jumped when the front desk buzzed up to let her know Carina was there. Telling Dennis to send Carina up made her stomach jump into her throat. And no matter how often she swallowed, it simply wouldn’t go down.

  Was she making a mistake?

  But the minute she opened the door and saw her friend standing there, an expression of concern on her face, Piper was certain this was the right thing to do.

  Reaching out, Piper wrapped Carina in a warm hug and pulled her inside. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

  Pushing back, Carina stared at her for several seconds before saying, “You’re worrying me, Piper. What’s going on?”

  Ushering her over to the massive sofa, Piper handed her friend a glass of chilled wine, waved to indicate Carina should sit and then settled her own body into the corner of the soft leather couch. Taking a single sip, Piper set the glass aside and folded her hands into her lap. She definitely wasn’t used to being the one talking in these situations and it left her feeling uncomfortable and out of her element.

  “Stone and I were at his family’s Caribbean island.”

  “Are you seeing him?”

  Piper shook her head. Because she wasn’t just seeing him. “I’m in love with him.”

  Saying the words out loud for the first time released a band of pressure she hadn’t even realized had been constricting her chest.

  She was in love with him.

  Had been for as long as she could remember. And no matter what happened between her and Stone, nothing would ever change that truth. And she didn’t ever want it to.

  Carina’s face flushed hot. Piper waited...expecting consternation or an accusation of betrayal. But none came. Instead, Carina took a slow, deliberate sip of her own wine and then followed suit by placing it on the glass-topped table beside them. “I don’t know what to say. There’s a huge part of me that’s upset and hurt. But I recognize that isn’t entirely fair. With anyone else I’d say this is fast, but something tells me it really isn’t.”

  “No, no it isn’t.”

  “You were close. Before.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact. One that Carina had already known through her relationship with Blaine. Piper and Carina hadn’t socialized together before, but they’d been aware of each other.

  “Yes.”

  “Help me understand how you can love a murderer. What happened? Did Blaine’s death cause problems between you?”

  Piper swallowed. Part of her wished for the glass in her hand again, but it probably wouldn’t help her desert-dry throat anyway. And she needed a clear head.

  “Yes, and no.” She licked her lips, a surge of uncertainty and fear rolling through her belly. Was this the right thing to do? Yes, it was. For Carina, for her and for Stone. Piper opened her mouth and let the rush of words she’d been holding back for ten years finally flow free. “Stone walked in on Blaine raping me ten years ago. He accidentally killed Blaine protecting me.”

  Carina blanched, her face going ghost white. Her eyes bugged wide. And then they began to glitter with the sheen of tears.

  Piper waited as she watched emotions chase across her friend’s face—disbelief, anger, pain, sorrow. Finally, Carina whispered, “I’m so sorry.”

  Piper had half expected an explosion of anger, denial. Had been emotionally prepared for it. What she’d never anticipated was this.

  Piper shifted, moving next to Carina so she could place a comforting hand on her knee. “Sorry? You have nothing to apologize for.”

  “Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, knowing you went through something so traumatic.”
>
  “I know you never saw that side of Blaine. I also didn’t want to ruin your memory of him...but you deserve to know the truth. To understand what really happened.”

  Carina glanced away, focusing on the plants and foliage on the patio just outside the door. Piper let her take all the time she needed to gather her thoughts. After several minutes, Carina shifted, her gaze locking once more onto Piper’s.

  “No, what you’re describing doesn’t match the Blaine I knew. But I’m aware he wasn’t always the same with other people as he was with me. I never would have anticipated he could do something like you’re describing. But he wasn’t always a nice man.”

  Piper processed her words, letting them sink in. None of what Carina said came as a surprise. Piper had always known Blaine was an expert at showing people the face he wanted them to see. A master manipulator.

  But Piper had to ask, “You believe me?”

  “Of course I do. You have no reason to lie to me. And, this answers so many questions. Things I never understood finally make sense.”

  “I’m so sorry for keeping this from you for so long, but I wasn’t ready to talk about it and Stone didn’t want me to share the truth. Morgan doesn’t even know.”

  “Are you going to tell him? Your mom?”

  Piper wanted to. A tight knot formed in the pit of her belly at the thought. But again, the decision was hers.

  “Yes, I plan to.”

  Carina nodded. “Why now?”

  “Because I’m tired of living like I’m ashamed of what happened. I’m tired of people judging Stone when all he was doing was protecting me. Saving me. I need to do this so the two of us have a shot at moving forward and making our relationship work. I’m afraid if we don’t, the poison that Blaine put into both of our lives will eventually kill what we have. And I won’t let Blaine take anything else from me.”

  * * *

  Stone was in a fantastic mood, despite the fact that Gray’s contact had no leads on how to kill the media circus or identify who had broken into Piper’s place. None of that mattered when he walked through his front door to find her standing at his windows, holding a glass of wine and staring out across the city.