But then, after the hit-and-run, I was left in charge of Abbot Enterprises. I found something that made me see things differently. That made me understand why Jonas wanted to keep our relationship a secret. And I know my father had never intended for me to find it. That’s when I’d understood his reaction to our announcement.
I broke off our engagement that same night.
Jonas had become angry to the point of violence. I’d never seen him like that before. It was like a switch had been flipped and to this day, I think the only reason it wasn’t worse was because I told him I knew what he’d done.
He tried to call the next night. The one after that. Every night for a month. Left apologies on voicemail. Sent flowers. Begged me to give him another chance. To let him explain.
When I didn’t reply, the messages got ugly until I finally threatened to go to the police.
“I can’t do this,” I say out loud. I step away from the door and force a deep breath in. I set my clutch on the counter, turn on the tap and wet a towel with cold water, patting it along my forehead and the back of my neck to cool myself. My face has gone a sickly white and I’m dizzy.
I sit on the velvet couch until the dizziness passes. There’s a knock on the door.
“Just a minute,” I call out.
I get up, force a deep breath in. I’ll slip away. Tell Hayden I didn’t feel well. Tell him he was right about the champagne. Anything to get out of this. Get out of having to see Jonas again.
The knock comes again, and I steel my spine. Picking up my clutch, I open the door and a woman gives me an annoyed glance before slipping past me into the lady’s room.
I quickly glance around for Hayden but when I don’t see him, I make my way to the exit. I pass the coat check and remember that Hayden has our claim tickets so, hugging my arms to myself, I’m about to step out into the icy night when a voice stops me dead in my tracks.
“Well, well.”
A chill runs down my suddenly rigid spine.
“You’re leaving early,” he says. “Without even a hello.”
I still don’t turn and for the number of people in here, it may as well be just the two of us.
Jonas Montgomery steps in front of me. I look up at him, at his bright blue eyes. Eyes that lie. That hide the real man inside.
He’s wearing a tuxedo like Hayden and runs his fingers through his dirty blond hair pushing it off his forehead.
The all-American boy. A boy all the girls look twice at.
They wouldn’t if they knew him. Really knew him. They’d see the shadow of his soul leeching into his handsome face, his bright eyes.
“Are you taking turns with the Montgomery men?” he asks, swallowing the last of his drink and setting the glass aside. I see from the way he moves that he’s already had too much.
“You’re drunk,” I say.
“Am I?”
I sidestep to get around him but he blocks my path.
“Get out of my way, Jonas.”
“No. Not until you talk to me.”
“I’m not talking to you.”
“On his order?” he snorts. Hate fills his eyes as they skim over me.
He splays his hand across my belly and walks me backward until we’re in an alcove just beside the exit doors.
“Is dad next? You always did behave like a whore around him. Or is he too old for you? Maybe Ares? Hell, maybe you can take Ares and Hayden together. A threesome. One up your tight ass and one in your big mouth. Can you even tell them apart?”
“If he sees you with me, he’ll kill you.”
“He’s busy.”
“What do you want?”
“You don’t return my fucking calls. You need to return my calls.”
“I don’t need to do anything. Leave me alone.”
He looks me over then leans close. “You look good. Sucking my bastard brother’s dick agrees with you.”
“Get away from me. I’m warning you.”
He laughs in my face and I wonder if he’s stoned too when I see how his pupils are dilated.
“You’re warning me?” He rubs the corner of his mouth with his thumb. “Warning me about what?”
“I can still go to the police.”
“You’re not going to do that.”
He’s right. I’m not. I can’t.
I straighten, steeling my spine. Jonas Montgomery is a bully. Always has been.
“Get away from me.”
“Don’t be like that, baby,” he says more gently, changing tactics.
“I’m not your baby.”
He leans in closer and I can smell his stale breath. “You won’t see me. You won’t let me talk to you. How can I explain when you won’t let me talk to you? I told you I was sorry. You just made me so angry that night.” He leans his weight into his hand which is still pressed to my belly. “Don’t you see how much I care about you?”
“If you really cared about me, you’d respect my wishes,” I try, knowing Jonas doesn’t care about anyone. I don’t know if he has the capacity to even if he believes he does. He’s sick. Twisted.
I push at his hand, but he shifts it higher, his gaze sliding to my breast that he’s almost cupping. When he returns his eyes to mine, there’s a meanness inside them, a cruelty I remember from the last night I saw him.
A cruelty that scares me.
“I don’t want to have to hurt you again,” he warns, and I force his words to give me strength, not steal it away. Not like then.
I can fight. I will. Even if he’s stronger than me, people will hear. He can’t hurt me, not here.
He brings his mouth to my ear, his cheek to my cheek and I squeeze my eyes shut.
“But I will.”
“Oh, I know you will. But remember one thing.” I set my hands on his shoulders, he grins. But he’s got the wrong idea. I force a cold smile and whisper my next words. “I know what you did.”
His blue eyes turn to ice, his body going rigid with rage.
With all the force I can muster, I bring my knee up hard because I want to smash his balls so hard, he can’t ever fuck again.
But he’s ready for me. Men like him must always be ready when a woman fights.
He catches my knee between his thighs and grips my neck hard.
“You’re a whore, you know that?” he sneers and squeezes his hand around my throat before I can make a sound.
I’m on tiptoe, hands desperately trying to pry his arm off, but I’m no match. I never was. I can’t even scream. He’s cut off my oxygen. All these people here, all the people milling around drinking their champagne just a few feet from us and no one to help me.
Jonas leans in close, his breath wet against my cheek. “Does my brother know?”
“Get…off.”
“Did you tell him?”
I try to shake my head, to mouth the word ‘no’.
“No one would believe you anyway. No one.”
Just as my vision starts to fade, I hear him. I hear Hayden. And an instant later, Jonas’ hand is gone from my neck and I suck in oxygen.
My knees buckle as I watch Hayden loom over his stepbrother, his hand around Jonas’ throat lifting Jonas off his feet.
“Did she tell me what?” he asks Jonas just before slamming him against the wall.