Chapter 35 #9
He stops before a set of French doors and glances back at her, as if waiting. Lila unlatches them and steps out onto the terrace, the cat slipping past her. The door closes softly behind her, muting the music and chatter of the holiday soirée inside.
Beyond the terrace, she can make out the faint, rhythmic crash of waves from the distant Long Island Sound, hidden behind the dense rows of trees that surround Max’s childhood home in Greenwich.
The last traces of sunlight have vanished behind the foliage, and soon it will be too dark to see much of anything.
The December air bites at her cheeks, leaving her skin tingling, yet she isn’t ready to return inside. She watches Little Eddie arch his back in a long, lazy stretch before beginning his meticulous grooming routine.
A small smile tugs at her lips as she takes in his calm presence. She crouches to watch him more closely, admiring the sheen of his coat as he tends to it. For a brief moment, she thinks that perhaps being here isn’t so bad, as long as she can spend the rest of the evening with him.
However, she knows she needs to return soon, or Max will come looking for her.
He’s likely already restless, fingers drumming against his glass as he waits for her to reappear—to resume her place beside him, the obedient captive he parades before Lydia’s holiday guests.
The thought of him smiling politely, drink in hand, while quietly keeping track of how long she’s been gone, sends a shiver down her spine.
“Are you ready to go back in, sweet boy?” she coos.
Little Eddie only swivels his head away, ears twitching, as if expecting someone.
“Well, you’re not supposed to be here.”
Startled, Lila shoots upright, her heart skipping a beat as she realizes they are no longer alone. A few feet away, half-veiled in shadow, stands Matt by the doorway, watching her with an amused expression that never quite reaches his eyes.
She meets his gaze with pursed lips, unsure how to respond. The last time she had seen him, he had been shouting at Max, furious over the video footage of—
A bright flush rises to her cheeks as the details of that night come rushing back. She wishes a hole would open beneath her and swallow her whole.
“Sorry,” she manages, forcing a small smile, her voice barely concealing her unease. “I just wanted to see the yard.”
“Don’t mind me. Just checking to make sure you weren’t taking inventory,” he replies, his tone even and detached.
“I’m sorry?” she asks, her brows lifting in surprise.
His gaze lingers a moment too long, studying her with an unreadable expression. A faint smile flickers across his lips before he suddenly bursts out laughing.
“I’m just kidding,” he says with an easy chuckle as his laughter fades. “I meant Little Eddie shouldn’t be out here. Lydia doesn’t want him outside with the recent coyote sightings, but we can keep this between us.”
Lila glances down at the stone bench where the silver-haired cat has perched gracefully, his tail curling neatly around his paws.
“Well, thanks, but I’m done now, and I’ll take him inside. If you’ll excuse me,” she says quickly. She isn’t sure she should be talking to him alone. Max would not be pleased to learn she’d been speaking with someone who recently threatened him in his own home.
Before she can take another step, Matt’s voice stops her cold. “Do you love him?”
His eyes are fixed on hers with unnerving calm.
“What? I…” she stammers, her pulse quickening. The question is simple, yet it feels like a trap. “Um…”
Matt doesn’t press her to finish.
A slow smile spreads across his face, a flicker of amusement lighting his sharp eyes as if to tell her she has already said more than enough.
“No resounding yes? That’s different,” he says, his tone dripping with mockery.
“You know, the last one… what was her name again? Kylie? Maybe Carrie. Or was it Kayla? She couldn’t stop telling anyone who would listen how madly in love she was with him.
Every little detail. Every secret. She made everything everyone’s business. ”
Lila swallows hard, her discomfort growing more apparent, which only seems to delight him.
“I wouldn’t worry if I were you. She was just some stripper from Jersey he picked up,” Matt continues with a slight shrug. He strolls to the edge of the balcony and leans casually against the railing.
His eyes sweep over her from head to toe, lingering just long enough to make her squirm under his gaze. “But he definitely has a type. I can see that now.”
“What do you mean?” she asks warily.
“Well, for one, she had long dark hair. Just like you. There are other similarities I could list, but I’m sure you don’t want to hear them.”
He lets the words hang for a moment before continuing.
“The story of how they met was pretty cute, actually. Two party animals in the middle of their supposed sobriety, meeting at a party, bonding over their shared love of getting high or whatever the hell, and falling in love at”—he raises his fingers in air quotes—“first sight.”
Matt chuckles darkly, as if the very thought amuses him.
“I’m sure they bonded over how society had wronged them, or daddy issues, or whatever else made them who they were. She swore up and down it wasn’t about the money, even though no one asked. That’s a glaring red flag, if you ask me.”
Matt grinds his teeth. Yet again, another underwhelming woman with a pretty face has completely captivated his brother.
How did the shallow fucker get a one-up on me? he wonders, relaxing his jaw.
“No matter what we said, Max was convinced it was the real deal. As long as he kept performing at work, Dad didn’t care who he was fucking.
Still, anyone could see they were bad for each other.
Then the drug bingers got out of hand, his judgment went down the drain, and Dad finally had to fire him. She ditched him right after. The end.”
“Why are you telling me all of this?” Lila asks, her discomfort unmistakable. Was he trying to make Max look bad to her?
“I wonder what he would do if you left him, too?”
Matt reaches out and gently takes a lock of her hair. His fingers brush her shoulder as he lifts it, examining the strands as though studying something fragile and rare. He holds the ends up to the light above them, the gesture strangely tender and deeply invasive.
Matt remembers how devastated his brother had been when his ex left him. It’s nowhere near enough to make up for what Max has done, but knowing he can get in a jab—any jab—makes him feel infinitely better.
When she doesn’t respond, he continues.
“A quarter of a million to disappear doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”
She scoffs.
What is it with these brothers and their habit of throwing money at people?
“I understand what you’re going through,” he says softly.
“I don’t think you actually do,” Lila replies, her voice hollow.
It’s not like she can leave, even if she wants to. The fact that she hasn’t really thought about escaping lately hasn’t been lost on her either.
“No, I do. You didn’t look particularly pleased in the video,” he says, his gaze unwavering as it locks with hers.
She stays silent, glaring at him with open contempt at the mention of the video. The smug satisfaction curling at the corners of his mouth tells her he doesn’t need an answer. He already knows. “Did I hit the mark?
“I don’t know your life story, and frankly, I’m not interested,” he continues, dismissively waving a hand. “All I can think is, if it’s money you’re after, there must be easier ways to go about it.”
“I’m not exactly here because of money,” Lila says icily.
“It’s pretty crazy how much you resemble the previous one… at least on the outside,” he replies, a smirk playing on his lips as if he doesn’t quite believe her. “Though hopefully, you’re a whole lot smarter.
“This offer won’t be on the table forever,” he adds.
“What I really want is to take away everything that’s near and dear to him.
Time may heal all wounds, but I’d rather strike while the iron’s still hot.
If you need help getting away, I can arrange that too.
You’ll leave richer than you ever could on your own. ”
“A hundred million.”
His brow arches, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face, but she speaks again before he can. “With a few other stipulations.”
Matt’s expression hardens, his jaw tightening. “You’re ridiculous. I thought you weren’t dating him for money.”
“You offered.” She lifts a shoulder, her voice smooth and detached. “Someone once told me that if I don’t set my own price, someone else will.”
Thankfully, as if sensing her need to escape back inside, Little Eddie begins scratching at the door to be let in. She takes a small step back until her hand brushes the doorframe behind her. “Let me know what you think.”
Matt studies her for another moment, his expression unreadable. Then, just as quickly, his demeanor shifts. The smirk returns. “Of course. Don’t let me keep you. Happy holidays.”
Little Eddie has bounded off somewhere else, leaving her to make her way back downstairs alone, where the party continues in full swing.
Her legs feel heavy, and all she can think about is leaving as soon as possible.
Everything seems too bright, too loud, as if the world around her is spinning faster than she can keep up.
As she reenters, she immediately feels the weight of Max’s gaze settle on her.
He stands among a cluster of well-dressed colleagues, the golden light from the chandelier glinting off the rim of his champagne flute.
His expression is unreadable, yet the sharpness in his eyes makes her pulse quicken.
Even from across the room, she can tell he’s been waiting for her.
When she finally approaches, his posture barely shifts, but his gaze follows her every step.
“Where have you been?” he asks, taking a measured sip from his glass, his voice low, meant only for her.
“The bathroom,” she replies, forcing her voice to stay steady even as her heart pounds against her ribcage.
He excuses them from the group, guiding her into a dimly lit corner away from the hum of the main hall. “What took you so long?” His tone is deceptively casual, but his eyes scan her deliberately, as if searching for something she’s trying to hide.
“You’re not supposed to ask a girl that,” she says, crossing her arms defensively.
Max’s brows knit together, and he reaches out, brushing his thumb lightly against her cheek. “Your face is all red, and your skin’s ice cold. Did you go shit outside?” he sneers.
“Max!” she squeaks, her face flushing even deeper. “I just needed a moment to myself, okay?” She can feel his gaze pressing into her, dissecting every word, every flicker of expression.
He moves closer, and she instinctively steps back, pressing against the cold wall behind her. After everything that’s happened tonight, his presence feels suffocating, more than usual.
“Tell me the truth, Lila.”
She meets his gaze, refusing to look away. Being sweeter to him hasn’t bought her any freedom, and the thought, tangled with everything tonight, boils over until she finally erupts.
“Or what? Will you threaten me with Jake again? Fuck Jake.”
Max’s eyes darken, burning into hers. “What happened?”
“Your brother offered me money to leave you,” she says coolly.
Max’s expression barely shifts, though his eyes narrow slightly. “How much?” he asks, low and steady.
She doesn’t answer, holding his gaze, sizing him up in silence.
“How much?” he repeats, louder, his tone darker, more menacing.
“Why? Are you going to double it? I’m warning you. I asked for a lot.”
He steps closer, gripping her chin. The muscle in his jaw twitches with restrained anger, a quiet warning of the storm simmering beneath the surface. She can feel the heat of his breath, steady yet strained, each slow exhale a battle to keep his fury in check.
After a brief moment of assessment, he leans down until he’s at her eye level. “Careful. Just because I like you doesn’t mean I don’t have my ways of making you bend,” he says, releasing her chin. He straightens, and she finally exhales the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“Poor, poor Matty, lashing out when things don’t go his way. I ought to teach him a lesson… And if you’re even considering taking him up on his offer, don’t bother.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” she replies, surprising him.
“Good,” Max says, leaning even closer, his breath warm against her skin. “You’re mine until I say otherwise.”
“When would that be?” she asks quietly, her voice trembling beneath the strain of holding back her anger.
Max shrugs. “Could be a week… a month… maybe a year,” he says. “Or you might be waiting until your very last breath.”
She exhales deeply, the anger draining as fatigue takes its place. “Max?”
“Yes?” he asks, peering down at her with one raised brow.
“You need to stop being mean to me whenever you’re hurt. I don’t like it.”
He pauses, a flicker of something like regret crossing his eyes before he mutters, “I’m sorry.”
She takes a slow breath, trying to steady herself. “I’m also not… Kylie, or Kayla, or whoever your ex was. I’m my own person. You can’t see me as her replacement.” Matt’s mention of Max’s ex had bothered her more than she realized.
Max’s eyes soften. “Her name was Kayley. And no, you’re not a replacement. I never thought you were. You’re better. You’re perfect.”
“I don’t like it here. Can we go home?” she asks, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
Her shoes pinch, and the satin of her dress clings to her skin in a way that feels unbearable, as if even the fabric is pressing in on her.
She folds her arms, not from the cold, but from the uneasy prickle creeping up her spine. She feels oddly exposed.
“Of course,” he says softly, a small smile forming as his eyes warm with something she can’t quite place.
His voice is calm, reassuring, yet there’s an undertone that makes her pulse quicken.
He reaches out and draws her close, his hand resting at the small of her back, pressing just enough to guide her against him.
The fabric of his suit feels cool beneath her palms, crisp and smooth, and the faint scent of his cologne wraps around her, filling her lungs.
The chatter and laughter from the other room blur into a distant hum, muffled and far away. His thumb traces slow circles along her back, steady and rhythmic, claiming. The warmth of his breath grazes her skin.
“Let’s go home,” he murmurs.