CHAPTER NINE
TATE
I stormed into grandfather’s office. He shot out of his seat and pounded his fists on the desk.
“How the fuck did you escape?”
I grinned. “Sheer determination. I had plenty of time to learn the guards routine. Who cares about all of that? Let’s discuss you trying to marry my woman off to my brother to line your fucking pockets,” I roared, stalking closer.
“How dare you use my brother and Chelsea? You are a sick son of a bitch.” I tilted my head.
“It’s over.”
Matt stepped beside me, pointing his weapon at my grandfather. “You strangled Chelsea tonight. You don’t deserve to walk the earth.”
My eyes widened and my body vibrated. I ran around the desk and wrapped my hands around his neck .
“How dare you lay a hand on her. You thought it was ok to abuse her because she’s a woman,” I bit out through gritted teeth.
“Hit a man, asshole.” I shoved him back and slammed my fist into his mouth. He stumbled back, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand. Deep laughter poured out of his throat. “You are indeed from my DNA.”
I grabbed his lapels and gave him an uppercut. He staggered, then swung at me. I stepped back. He pulled a Glock from the small of his back. “Pointing it at my head.”
“Put the gun down,” Matt yelled.
“Nope, I’m walking out of here.” He turned the Glock on Matt.
“No,” I roared, tackling him to the ground. The Glock fired.
We rolled on the floor, gripping the gun. “Let it go. You aren’t walking out of here a free man. You are going to prison.” I growled, trying to pry the gun from his hands. I turned the gun away from me, pointing it at him. I tried to remove his hand. The gun fired. His eyes widened. I glared between us. The crimson blood, pooled on his shirt .
“Why did you have to do this?” I roared. My heartbeat against my chest at top speed. The air caught in my throat. What have I done?
The life seeped from his eyes and his lips parted.
I fell to the side gripping my hair. “This didn’t have to happen. I never wanted this,” I shouted.
A hand stretched toward me. My mouth hung open. “You’re alive.”
“Quick reflexes.”
He pulled me to my feet. “I’m so happy you’re alive.” I threw my arms around him, slapping his back. He returned the hug.
“Tate, this wasn’t your fault.”
I leaned against the desk.
“Feels like it was.”
“If you wanted to truly harm him, you could have. The Glock resting against the small of your back is the only one loaded with real bullets. Thank God you didn’t draw your weapon.”
“But he did. On his own grandson.” I gruffly ran my fingers through my hair.
“Tate,” Chelsea stood at the door mouth gaped in tears.
I ran toward her. She fell into my chest.
Her watery blue eyes bore into mine. “What happened?”
“We tussled over the gun and I shot him. ”
“Tate, the police are on their way inside,” Chris stated.
“We have a long night ahead of us. I won’t leave your side while they question you. Before they get in here, let’s talk in private. I need to know exactly what happened.”
I nodded.
Chelsea stepped back.
“Tate, baby.” Mom gripped my face. “I love you. We’ll get through this ordeal as a family.”
A hand slipped around my neck. “All of us together, son.”
Christmas day was a blur. I went through every stage of grief while I was detained by the police.
I was shocked the grandfather I knew and loved tried to murder me. Denial hit me. He wasn’t dead. He couldn’t be. Especially, at my hand. The pain and guilt ate at me second after second. Maybe if I never flew to London, this wouldn’t have happened to me and Chelsea. Pounding my fists against the cement walls, I begged. “Please make the pain stop.”
Depression wrapped me in its mitts. I wanted someone to put me out of my misery. If we wouldn’t have followed Mason up the hill at the lake house, grandfather wouldn’t have ever helped him seek revenge .
Then my emotions took an upward turn. If grandfather hadn’t come to the hospital that day my brother would really be dead.
Chris approached the holding area. “Time to go, Tate. The police have concluded the part of the investigation that involves you.”
He was a disheveled mess. His tie was undone and one half of his shirt was tucked into his slacks.
“Thank goodness.”
We didn’t return to grandfather’s estate. Chris said the family was staying at a luxury hotel in London.
He placed a room key in my hand. “Try to rest.”
“Oh, I will.”
“Yeah ok,” he stated, as he strolled into his suite across the hall.
Once inside the room, my mouth fell open. The beautiful sight lying in my bed made everything I’d gone through worth it. The lamp across the room partially illuminated the dark room. Her hair was pulled up into a cute little bun. She had a death grip on something against her chest under the blanket. I walked over and lightly ran one finger over her soft porcelain cheek.
“Tate,” she whimpered in her slumber.
The sound of her voice made my cock twitch. Shit .
I peeled the blanket back a hair. Chelsea was clutching one of my T-shirts. I turned my head to the ceiling, desperately attempting to bury all the evil feelings that swept through my entire body at the moment.
A piping hot shower should tame some of the negative energy coursing through my veins.
The unsupervised shower felt indescribable. I massaged the soap deep into every inch of my skin. Turning my face to the ceiling, the water poured over my skin removing any signs of soap. Clutched hands braced the wall. Then a single shiver of emotion ripped through my body. The water hid the tears thudding my skin. How could one’s family be so despicable? Selfish.
Last but not least. Greedy.
Grandfather wanted Mason and I to impregnate and marry our girlfriends, all so he could continue his extravagant lifestyle. Like I said, selfish bastard.
“Fuck,” I roared in a low growl.
In that moment, I wish I did purposely kill him.
Hands swept along my chest. My eyes popped open. “Chelsea, you shouldn’t be in here.”
“Yes, I should,” she shouted. Her eyes were wild. She was on the brink of losing it like I was.
My fingers traced over the bruises on her neck. “I’m so sorry, Chelsea. ”
“Why? For being locked away because you refused to do your grandfather's dirty work? Because you didn’t know you were walking into a trap? I think rather you came to London or not he would have found a way to get what he wanted. He was a spiteful, evil man.” Her eyes were cold.
“And now he’s gone.” A devilish smile lit her lips.
“I have you back. That’s all I wanted.” Then her eyes dimmed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Mason, said you wouldn’t want me after he married and impregnated me,” she cried.
I gripped her face. “That’s bullshit. Pregnant with my brother’s child and all, I would have kidnapped you. I won’t stop saying this. You are my woman. No one comes between us.”
She nodded. “He didn’t touch me.” Her eyes darted to the floor.
“I had to kiss him in public to go along with the farce. He threatened to hurt you if I didn’t play along. I didn’t know what else to do,” she cried.
“Look at me.”
Those beautiful blue eyes stared into mine. Nothing else mattered. “The day we are to finally marry I’ll sign a prenup. My family’s broke I suppose. But I don’t want you to ever think...”
She placed one finger over my lips. “Shut up. I want to feel you so deep inside me. Live in the moment with me. I have you back.”
I snickered. “You were a total badass. You know, coming to my rescue and all.”
She threw her head back in laughter. “I guess I was.”
I lifted her up into my arms.
She peered into my eyes. “You are all mine, Tate.”
“You better believe that, baby.”
I swept my lips across hers. Chelsea massaged my head.
She smiled against my lips. “It’s really you.”
My brows rustled together. “What?”
“I thought I was kissing you on Halloween. The moment I ran my fingers through your hair, I felt the raised scar. That’s when I confirmed Mason was alive.”
I will handle my brother.
“I know it's you because the faint mustache too.” She smirked.
“Carry on, baby. I know another way to ensure you it’s me.”
“And how’s that?” She pulled her lower lip into her mouth .
“Making love to you like only I can.”
I slipped my fingers within her slick folds as our tongues tangled.
Our lips unlocked. Chelsea’s back fell against the cold wall. Her fingers caressed my face. I slid two fingers inside her tight walls. I leaned down, twirling my tongue around her pink pebbled nipple.
“Tate, fuck me,” my greedy princess begged.
I ignored her and sucked her other nipple. I licked the underside of her breast as I lined my cock up with her pussy. For weeks, I dreamed about being in between these soft legs. I planted soft kisses along the bruises circling her neck. Her anchored legs shivered around my waist. Her sobbing drew my eyes to her face.
“Chelsea, it’s all right now.”
She shook her head, telling me she agreed, but I didn’t buy it. The ordeal that occurred over the last several weeks would hang in the air like dirty socks for months to come. She almost married my brother for Pete’s Sake. How could she turn a blind eye to all that happened recently? I knew I couldn’t either. At that moment, we needed to get lost in each other.
Clutching her thighs, I slid inch by pleasurable inch inside her warmth. A place I knew as home.
“Oh, Tate, I missed us being together as one. ”
What she said registered, but I was comatose with each long thrust.
“Fuck...baby.” My eyes hooded. I was a babbling fool for her.
I felt her smile against my eyelids.
She knew she had my nose wide open. Only she could ever have this effect on me. Chelsea was always mine.
“Tate, oh, don’t stop.” She gripped my neck for dear life. Her hair cascaded around us.
“Kiss me, Chelse.”
“I-I can’t.”
Squeezing her ass, I circled inside her walls.
“Yes,” she screamed. Her legs slipped from my waist. I caught her shaky legs in my hands, keeping her steady. I captured her lips as I stilled inside her, releasing every ounce of come I had to give.
“So good, Chelsea,” I grunted.
“Anyone who attempts to come between us again, I’ll make an example out of them.”
She slipped her wet hair behind her ear. “That’s what I love to hear.”
I placed Chelsea on her feet. Her face immediately fell against my chest. “Do we have to leave this room? ”
“Yes. I need to help my dad clean up the mess at the Forrester estate. We need to distinguish what we can salvage of the company.”
“I’m staying with you.”
“You shouldn’t spend your Christmas vacation cleaning up my families bullshit.”
“I will not leave here without you. Period,” she growled. Terror filled her blue eyes. “Don’t make me go. Do you have any idea how strong I’ve been during the course of the catastrophic events? I organized the meet ups with Matt and Rocco to rescue you. And I haven’t cut myself one time. Despite how badly I wanted to.” Chelsea gripped her arm.
I placed my hand over hers. “Sweetheart, I am so proud of you. You’ve come so far. You stood up against Mason and my grandfather even if that decision was dangerous. I’d love to have you right here by my side.”
She exhaled. Her shoulders relaxed and her starry-eyed gaze held mine. “We’ll get through this together, Tate.”
“We sure will, Chelsea.”