Graham
T he smell of freshly baked croissants swirls in the air, making my stomach growl loudly as I walk down the stairs to the second floor. The echo of my steps is drowned out by the shrill voice of a soul-sucking fuck hole throwing a tantrum. The door is wide open, and every word from her mouth is laid out for the entire staff to hear. Not that it matters at this point. The media has latched onto her story like the leeches they are.
A smile spreads across my face as I think about the latest headlines because they have not bought her story of it being an accident. They’ve painted her as the psychopath she is. People who have worked for her have come forward with stories of abuse. A few disgruntled wives have let the world know how much of a slut she is. There have even been a few anonymous tellings about less-than-legal propositions she’s made. I’m not shocked about any of it.
I hate it for my dad, but I’m not sorry she’s been outed for the bitch she is. She’s made him a laughingstock. He keeps his phone turned off lately, and he seldom leaves the house because reporters follow him everywhere. He doesn’t deserve it, but he was warned about her repeatedly throughout the years. He never listened until she got pregnant last year.
Casey is the one I’m most concerned about. Her name hasn’t been mentioned, but she must see the headlines. I know it hurts her to see everything about her egg donor splashed in the headlines.
I lean against the door frame, trying my best to ignore the hideous abstract bullshit hanging on the walls and the monstrous electric blue furniture that looks like it’s meant to be a torture device spread across the room. I watch her hands flailing in the air, and she paces back and forth in front of the glass and gold desk as she throws her fit.
“They want me to take a plea deal, Maxwell!” she screeches. “Their job is to get me out of these ludicrous charges. It was an accident!” I snort because only Krista would think accidentally running over your ex-husband isn’t a punishable offense. It doesn’t even occur to her she fucked herself when she not only refused to stop but hid the damn car for weeks. She spins, realizing I’m here. Her blue eyes narrow with venom. I have no doubt she’d stab me in the face if she thought she could. “Get out!”
“Nah. I’m good. Please continue explaining how the charges are ludicrous.” I wave for her to carry on.
Her face turns crimson, and she raises a finger, pointing at me. “Maxwell, I told you I want him out of this house. Either he goes or I’ll…”
I push off the door frame, and my steps echo over the marble floor as I stalk toward her until I’m right in her face. “Or you’ll what, Krista? Leave? Where are you going to go?”
“Do you think I have nowhere else? I’ll take Noah, and you will never see me again.” The corner of her mouth turns up with the threat.
“Please, Krista. You’re a liability. No one will touch you.” I turn and gesture toward the door. “But feel free to extract yourself from our lives. No one will miss you. I’ll help you pack.”
“,” Dad says with a warning. I’m calling Krista’s bluff. Dad is terrified she’ll leave and take the baby that he’s devoted himself to for the last six months, but I know she’s not going anywhere. “That’s enough.”
“I want him gone, Maxwell. He has no reason to be here.”
“I could say the same for you, Krista. Why are you here? Oh, wait. That’s right. The alimony got cut off when your buddy admitted she set Dad up. That he never cheated on you. But you couldn’t say the same, could you? You didn’t even know who the father of your baby was, did you? And then he’s born, and you’ve used that baby like you used Casey because it’s my Dad’s grandson, and he can’t stomach not ensuring he’s cared for even if Jagger wants nothing to do with it, you, and now his own father because you raped him.”
“I did not!” she screams. “You can’t rape a man. He was hard. He wanted me.”
“He was drunk and rolling, trying to sleep it off in a pitch-black room. But you knew that, didn’t you? Even though you weren’t even supposed to be there. It’s why you tied him up. I just can’t figure out why in the fuck you did it?” The question makes my brain itch, but I’ve refused to scratch it. “But then you got pregnant and knew when Dad found out what happened, he’d kick you to the curb. So you tried to set up the one guy you knew would step up. Especially when rumors were swirling his friends owned the label now. How am I doing so far?”
I found all this out when I left Casey’s apartment and went to check on my little brother. After we left the club, he fell into his own drunken bender. When I got to his apartment, he was still drinking and rambling nonsense, but after a little while, I finally realized what he was saying. It was the pieces I was missing, and I still feel like I’m missing a huge piece of information. Something I already know in my gut, but I don’t want to acknowledge.
“Then there are the legal fees. Who will continue paying the five thousand dollar an hour attorneys you need?”
She lets out an ear-piercing scream as she raises her hand, slapping me across the face. Blood trickles from where her talons break my flesh. Great, now I’ll need rabies and tetanus shots. She demands I be removed from her house. Threatens to take Noah if Dad doesn’t comply.
I shouldn’t do it. Now is not the time to divulge the truth. I want to keep Krista close so I can monitor her, but I will have to put outside eyes on her. I lift my hand, running a thumb over the dripping blood, then reach out to wipe it on her latest Versace dress because I am done. I’m done with her polluting my mother’s house, sucking the life from everything she touches, and draining my dad of what’s left of his life. “Krista, why don’t you ask my dad whose house this is?”
Krista looks at him, waiting for a response. Dad clamps his mouth shut, glaring at me, but enough is enough. “You drained him. He filed for bankruptcy years ago. That’s why all the other properties were sold. The only reason this house is still ours is because I bought it. I keep the lights on. I keep food in the fridge, and the staff compensated because Dad can’t do anything. If I had any sense, I would’ve cut all that off too because while I was paying the bills, you were spending what little he has left to buy clothes you don’t need.”
Her mouth falls, her face turning an interesting shade of red. “Th-that’s not true. Maxwell has plenty of money. Y-you don’t own this house.”
“Oh, but I do, and your daughter was the only reason I allowed you to exist in it, but I’m done now. You can pack your shit and get out. But don’t even think about taking Noah. If you try, I will make your life hell.”
“,” Dad’s shocked voice is almost a whisper as he stares at me in disbelief.
I look at him, glaring hard. “I said I’ve had enough. She is to be out today. If you choose to keep forking over the money for lawyers for an open and shut case, I can’t stop you, but I want her out of Mom’s house.”
I don’t wait for either of them to respond because now I’m pissed. I don’t even remember why I went in there.
My steps thunder through the house, and anger coils in the air like a tangible force. When I reach the kitchen, Mrs. Lovitt spots me, her gray brows dipping in concern. I go to wave her off when her mouth opens to speak, but then those worried brows hit her forehead as her gaze drifts behind me.
I turn, looking over my shoulder to see a seething Krista. With a nod of my head, I tell Mrs. Lovitt and the kitchen staff to leave us. She ushers everyone out until I’m alone with the vapid shrew.
“You shouldn’t cross me, ,” she sneers. “I’m not the person you want against you.”
My mouth tugs and twists in amused disgust. “Is that so? What is it you think I should be afraid of, Krista?”
“What would your precious Sunflower think if she knew about all those secrets you’re keeping from her? Casey hates secrets, you know?” She walks across the tiled floor, her expensive stilettos clicking against the polished surface as she gets closer to me. “Don’t send me away, and I won’t tell her who her little brother’s daddy is.”
“You should watch your step, Krista. That secret doesn’t benefit you if she finds out because, trust me, it won’t be Jagger or me she’s angry with. Not that I expect you to care if your daughter is hurt. You’ve done nothing but hurt her since she was born. She’d be better off if you stopped breathing. Permanently.” I smirk and lift a shoulder. “Fortunately, in a few weeks, you’ll be in prison for quite some time. I hear you’re the perfect type to become someone’s bitch.”
The cool, confident fa?ade drops. Her eyes flame with anger for a moment before a cruel grin slips across her face. “Don’t worry, son . I have all that well and truly handled. I won’t spend a minute in jail.” She reaches for my face, but I grab her wrist, not wanting her to touch me. “Turns out, becoming a mom was the most lucrative thing I could’ve done. Enjoy her while you can.”
Without conscious thought, my hand whips out, grabbing her by the throat and squeezing tightly. Red doesn’t just tint my vision, it consumes it. A little voice in my head tells me to stop, but I can’t. I will fucking kill her here and now before she can get near Casey again.
Her nails scratch at my wrist. She struggles in my grasp. I watch as her eyes dim with each passing second she’s deprived of oxygen.
Suddenly, two arms wrap around me from behind, but I don’t let go. I can hear voices yelling, but they’re muffled through the fog of fury possessing me. Then she’s no longer in my hold. My fingers itch, needing to finish the job as I lunge for her again.
Her coughs and sputters break through the haze as I stare at her wide-eyed, surprised face. “Go near her, breathe the same air as her again, and I will fucking kill you.”
“Calm down,” Will’s gruff voice whispers in my ear.
“I’m pressing charges,” she cries from the floor.
“No. You won’t,” Will tells her. “Because we saw you do it to yourself after you attacked him, didn’t we, Mrs. Lovitt?”
“That’s exactly what I saw.” I turn to where Mrs. Lovitt stands by the door. She must’ve gone to get Will when she left the room.
“This isn’t over, ,” she wheezes and hisses.
“I want you out before I get home today.” I jerk out of Will’s hold and face him. “Make sure there’s not a trace of her left.” If I don’t leave now…
I storm out the door before she can say anything else. Once I’m in the garage, I roll my neck, trying to alleviate the tension and bring my blood pressure down. I feel like a bomb ready to detonate. The Bentley is already running. Not surprising. Will is nothing if not punctual, but I need him here to make sure the thunder cunt is out of my house before I get back. I’ll leave the Bentley for him and take my Ferrari.
The black door opens, and I slide into the soft, dark leather. When it roars to life, I peel out of the garage because I still want to go back in there and kill the bitch.
Her words—her threat dances in my mind as I try to figure out what she meant—what she’s up to. I don’t like unknowns. Krista has never felt like a wild card to me. The bitch is crazy, but I always found her boring and predictable. So, her comment has me unsettled.
My fingers wrap tightly around the steering wheel as I weave through Manhattan traffic, making my way toward Sin Records. The knots in my stomach won’t loosen. This shit is going to eat away at my sanity. It already is, and it’s only been a few minutes.
I hit a snarl in traffic and decide I need to get in front of the problem. First, I call Will. I fill him in on what she said and ask him to do some digging with his contacts. Then I call my own, telling them to keep watch on her phone calls and texts. I don’t give a fuck if it’s illegal. I’m more concerned with Casey’s wellbeing than the legal system.
Traffic begins moving as I make my last call. The line rings twice before it’s answered. “You are lucky my foot isn’t shoved up your fucking ass,” he growls.
“I don’t have time for your overprotective bullshit right now. I have a problem.”
“Before I decide if I will help you or not, did you fuck her?”
“Would you want to know if I did?”
He breathes deeply, a low rumble passing through the line. “No,” he grunts with a loud exhale. “You know I like you, , but if you fucking hurt her, I will rip your asshole out through your throat.”
“Henry, if I hurt Casey, I’d let you. You know how I feel about her.”
“That’s why your asshole is still intact.”
“Do you want to fill me in on why your buddy is suddenly so determined for me to stay away?”
“No. You’ll have to ask Casey that. Now, why did you call?”
I flip my blinker, check my mirrors, and merge into the left lane, preparing to turn into the private parking for the office when a horn blares. Jerking the wheel back to the right, I barely miss being hit head-on by some asshole who used the southbound lane to pass. A slew of curses leave my mouth, and my blood pressure is right back where it began. This is not a good frame of mind for the office.
“Damn, it sounds like you’re having a rough morning.”
I turn into the building parking garage and make my way to the spot I like to use closest to the elevator. “You have no idea.” I don’t turn off the car. Instead, I lean back and fill him in on Krista’s threat.
“What made you finally put her out and without the kid.” He is suspicious. He’s probably working it out as we speak, but he wants confirmation I won’t give him. Not right now. When he realizes I’m not telling him, he continues. “That bitch needs to fucking fry, and it’s about time you came clean about saving your dad’s ass. She’s acted like a goddamn untouchable queen for too long. I’m assuming you’ve got people to watch her?”
“I do, but I want your guys on it, too. No expense spared.”
“Oh, I planned on it as soon as you told me what she said. I’ll make some phone calls myself.”
“Henry, I put Krista out. She’ll run straight to Casey, so I need to keep her out of her path.”
“That won’t be hard. Casey hasn’t spoken to her in months.”
“Maybe,” I hum, knowing that means nothing to Krista, and wondering how Henry doesn’t realize that. “I don’t want Casey to know I’m the one who’s been funding her life for the few years. Let her keep thinking Liam is doing it all or whatever. Krista will be quick to tell her if for no other reason than to create drama.”
“Why would you hide it now?”
I lift a shoulder even though he can’t see. “Just don’t say anything. I’ll tell her eventually, but not yet.”
“If that’s what you want, but she won’t care.”
That’s where he’s mistaken. She will care. The truth is, Casey she’ll misunderstand why I did it. She will see it as me fulfilling some imaginary role she thinks I have stepped in, but even before she flipped my world on its axis, it was never about obligation or playing a doting big brother. Not to mention, she doesn’t even want her own father helping her because it makes her feel like a burden, but I won’t tell him that.
“Thanks, Henry. I’ll let you know if my people find anything.”
“Yep. I’ll do the same. And I assume this is just between us?”
“Yes.”
I end the call and lean my head against the headrest. Hopefully, this day gets better because it couldn’t possibly get worse.