Текст книги "Wild Cards"

Автор книги: R.C. Stephens

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Текущая страница: 8 (всего у книги 23 страниц)

Chapter 9

Vicky

As he stepped into the elevator his lips are tugged up on each corner, revealing his dimples. It was those damn dimples that had made me drop my defenses the first time. His mixed features of male stud with his boyish grin had me thinking that he could give me a connection that I was dying to feel.

“Vicky…it’s been awhile…” he trailed off, flashing his dimples. I felt like my knees were going to buckle as sweat dripped down the back of my neck. I didn’t answer him. I just tried to keep my cool while keeping my eyes fixated on the elevator lights as it descended down. “Come on, if I remember right we had quite a night together,” he said, taking a step closer and running his finger down my arm. The contact made me cringe, and I wanted to turn and knee him in the groin. Only I didn’t turn to look at him or answer his request. I waited quietly for the elevator to stop on a floor and prayed for someone to enter.

Only the elevator continued its descent and Scott took another step closer to me, closing the space between us. My chest felt so tight I thought I might implode. “I’m staying not too far from here at a hotel, do you want to join me?” he asked with a low deep voice. He must think he was seducing me.

I couldn’t take it anymore and I snapped my head and said, “I’d rather die.” Then I snapped my head back and looked up to the numbers.

Scott began to chuckle. “I remember you were a feisty one.” He nodded his head as if remembering our night together. Clearly it meant different things to both of us.

“Come on, Vicky, don’t be so tough, you liked it last time,” he said with a devilish grin. Then he pushed himself into me so I was pressed against the elevator wall. What the hell would give him the impression that I liked it?

“Are you crazy? Get the hell off me,” I gritted out.

“Listen, you stupid bitch…” he snapped, revealing his true nature again. “You better come back to my hotel with me now or else I will show your father that little video we made together back in Canada…” he hissed into my ear. “What would the big man think of his little girl liking it hard and dirty…just think how much money I can get for it?” He shook his head as bile rose in my throat. “Shit, I didn’t know you were his daughter but now that I do…wow, that video can turn into a real gold mine for me.”

As his breath lingered on my neck I felt frozen in my spot. How was this happening? Why now? Everything was so good only moments ago. What would Bryce think of me if he saw the tape? I couldn’t go anywhere with this man though. Yes, I enjoyed sex at parties but I can’t willingly allow him to beat the shit out of me. It took me months to dig myself out of the dark hole he had put me into. Nessa was a huge part of my recovery, but I couldn’t do it again.

Suddenly the doors dinged open and we had stopped in the lobby. Scott pulled away from me quickly, but it was obvious he had just been pressed up into me by the look on the faces of the people waiting to get on the elevator. I was shaking so badly that my brain felt muffled. As I stepped out of the elevator I saw Luc standing in front of me with his head cocked to the side and hurt crossing his features. Had he seen Scott pressed into me? Was he reading this wrong? Why did he even care? Maybe he can help me…maybe he can save me…

“Vicky… you’re back at Tyson?” he asked with a hint of suspicion in his tone.

“Yeah, I went to see Bryce…” I explained even though I’m sure he wanted to know more.

I noticed Scott waiting off to the side looking irritated that I was taking my time talking to Luc.

Luc looked at me then at Scott. “Sorry to run off after lunch yesterday. It was a busy day.”

“No worries, Luc, it was nice talking,” I answered as my heart beat rapidly in my chest. I needed to get away from Scott but I couldn’t take the chance of him revealing something to Bryce.

“Where are you headed now?” Luc asked, looking between Scott and me again. I felt like I’d been holding my breath for far too long. I wondered if Luc could see I wasn’t breathing.

I shrugged my shoulders.

“Did Bryce offer you the internship?” he asked, as if he is looking for reasons to talk, for reasons to not let me go. I was grateful.

“Yes.”

“And did you accept?” he asked, waiting expectantly. Even though he had this calm demeanor about him that said, I’m too high and mighty and I don’t fluster.

“Yes, I did,” I answered, but I could barely smile as my eyes drifted over to Scott and my face probably paled even more. Then I drew my eyes back to Luc, hoping that by some miracle he would understand my distress and save me.

“Perfect, so you should come up so I can show you around, I’m actually headed up to Bryce right now,” he said with an easy smile. Even though I noticed he hadn’t taken his glare off of Scott. Luc was suspicious and I was thankful.

“Ah sure, let me just tell my friend not to wait.” I forced a nervous smile.

I strutted over to Scott, knowing that Luc would have his eyes on me. “Scott, I can’t come with you now I have to go up, this is work related,” I explained carefully, hoping he would accept my explanation and let me go. Scott looked over to Luc and then dipped his lips to my ear whispering, “This isn’t over, Vicky, but now I know where to find you, I will be seeing you soon. Maybe you should give me your number, I’m in town a while longer, we could hook up,” his words were cold and held the bite they meant to give. Scott was a cruel bastard and as his mouth withdrew from my ear, a crawl of goose bumps ran up my body causing my arm hairs to prickle.

I forced a smile to Scott, since Luc was watching. I didn’t want to give him my number. I didn’t want him to have a way to track me down. I was at a loss. I looked back to Luc and he made his way over to us. “Vicky, are you coming for that meeting?” he asked. Scott glared at the two of us suspiciously.

“I best be going,” I said looking to Scott.

“Make sure to be in touch.” He smirked like the smug asshole he is.

With those parting words, Scott disappeared through the front doors of Tyson, and I exhaled a long breath. My chest ached and I felt a little dizzy as I stared at Luc wide-eyed. It didn’t take long for him to register my distress.

He wrapped his arm around me, and I wanted to bury my face in his chest. I felt so lost and scared, but I wouldn’t break down. I didn’t want people watching. I took a few slow breaths and straightened up my shoulders. “I’m okay.”

“You are not okay. What did he want from you? I’ve seen him here before. He’s trying to get into Bryce’s circle, he runs a company in Canada…” The minute Luc finished his statement it’s as if a light had gone off in his mind. “You know him?” he asked warily.

“Not exactly,” I answered hesitantly. Luc had been nice to me. He gave me a ride home after the party, he took me to lunch yesterday, and told me more than I ever needed to know, but we agreed to keep things simple. Me telling him about Scott would un-simplify things to say the least.

“Vicky, I mentioned to you yesterday that I was groomed to be a mob boss, that means I can read people, and I just saw fear in your eyes. Why was Scott Wellington waiting for you? If you are in trouble I want to help you…” he said softly.

The truth was I wanted to break down and cry. Remembering that awful night back in Toronto made me remember things that I wanted to bury. I had gone for the weekend with Nessa, needing a breather from taking care of Mama. I had been held up in the house for a month straight and I was beginning to suffocate. Papa had just started drinking and I was so lost. Joe came home for the weekend from London, Ontario where he went to university. He took care of Mama so I could get away. She was already in pretty bad shape and it had been a huge dose of reality for him.

I just wanted some fun and to feel, I wanted to feel so bad, but I was naïve. I never expected what Scott would have in mind for me, and I never expected my mother to die before I made it home.

Luc took his thumb and brushed it along my cheek. “Don’t hold it inside, pretty girl, you need to talk and I want to help.”

As I stared into his eyes wishing that I could, wondering how he could help me out of this mess. I did something I didn’t even expect from myself. I talked. “He’s blackmailing me,” I said, looking to the ground in front of me. I felt ashamed and I knew it was because Scott Wellington made me into a helpless victim that night.

“What does that mean, Vicky?” Luc asked. His question was harder to answer than he thought but I guessed since Bryce had been open about my paternity he might as well know too.

“Bryce is my father, Luc,” I said and Luc exhaled. I didn’t understand and I crunched my eyebrows together.

He held onto his heart. “You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that.”

“What? Why?”

“For now, it doesn’t matter why, Vicky. We are both not ready to discuss why, but please tell me what this has to do with Scott.”

“I was going to meet Bryce as Scott was leaving his office. Bryce surprisingly introduced me as his daughter. The problem is that I knew Scott from before,” I explained as I felt a darkness descend over my body.

Luc put a hand over my shoulder, guiding me over to the side of the lobby, so that we were not in the center of all the busy people strutting by. “I met Scott at a sex club…I went home with him…” I paused because the next part is too embarrassing to admit. Luc will think I am a nutcase.

“It’s okay, Vicky, after all the things I’ve done and seen you won’t be scaring me…talk, pretty girl.” He urged me forward looking at me with reverence. My heart clenched. I felt too much for him after meeting him only days ago.

“He’s blackmailing me, he made a tape of our time back in Toronto…I didn’t know he was taping me….now he said if I don’t sleep with him, he will show the tape to Bryce or even better, he said he will sell it to the media for a good dollar since I am Bryce Andrews’ daughter.” As I finished speaking I could see that Luc’s posture had become rigid and his jaw was ticking.

“I can go kill the bastard,” he said with clenched fists by his side.

“Luc, please…you told me that fighting isn’t for you and I don’t need to get you into trouble. I will find a way out of it,” I explained, hoping to calm him down. He was clearly larger than Scott and probably trained to inflict pain, but I didn’t want to put him through the exact thing he had been trying to escape from with his own family.

I realized that Bryce’s driver should be waiting for me outside. I wondered if he had left. I was supposed to leave for the motel. “Vicky, I need to keep you safe, Scott Wellington is a scum bag.”

“You have no idea,” I huffed out, rolling my eyes.

Luc’s face constrained. “What does that mean? Did he hurt you?”

“Luc please…” I bowed my head to the floor.

He held onto my arm gently as if he was scared I would run. “Vicky, tell me, I need to know, did he hurt you?”

“Luc, I told you, I was messed up. Trust me when I say that I am doing you a favor, you don’t want to know the likes of me.”

“Vicky, stop it…right now…whatever this is that you are running from, I can handle it. You are in trouble and I’m not walking away so, please….” The irritation in his voice died down. “Please talk to me,” he whispered softly as his eyes pleaded with me.

I closed my eyes remembering the pain. “I can’t say it, Luc…but Scott Wellington is a bad man.”

“Okay, I’m not going to push you. You will be safe with Bryce’s driver, he is trained… but please give me your phone number, so I can call you and make sure that you are okay.”

“The driver will be taking me to one of Bryce’s apartments, but he didn’t say where.” After exchanging numbers with Luc, I left out the front door and a kind man that was waiting outside of a black SUV greeted me.

“Ms. Molino?” he smiled.

“Yes.” I smiled back.

“Derek. I’m Mr. Andrews’ driver. Where to?” he asked as I got in the car.

“Motel Lafayette,” I said as a light pink crawled up my cheeks.

“Of course,” he smiled again and moments later we were merging into another Manhattan traffic jam.

Chapter 10

Vicky

Bryce’s driver insisted on following me into the motel and ensuring my safety, per Bryce’s orders. The truth was I couldn’t argue with him. Not after what had happened with Scott. I was still shaking from the inside out. As Derek walked into my motel room, I knew he was trying to be polite and help me pack, but I could see the disgust in his eyes at how gross this place was. That was why I had to take Bryce up on his offer for the apartment. If I was going to spend some time in New York, it couldn’t be living here. I never unpacked my duffle, so Derek and I made it back to the SUV in record time. When he insisted on paying my motel bill, I declined politely but he insisted on paying, per Bryce’s orders.

Back in the SUV I watched the bright lights of the big city come into view. I already knew we were headed for the nicer part of town. Looking at my watch I realized it was already seven o’clock. It was already nighttime, my loneliest time of day, when everything was quiet and I had plenty of time to drown in my past.

As the driver pulled off to the side of the road, he stopped in front of a brown building with stone facing. The two large entrance doors in the front were clear glass and the view of the extravagant lobby could be seen from outside. My heart sunk into my stomach when I realized that this building looked too much like the one that Luc lived in. I quickly rummaged through my purse, looking for the address from the sex party that I had scribbled onto a random piece of paper.

“This is it, Miss Molino,” the driver looked back at me through his rearview mirror with a kind smile. Then he stepped out of the car, I’d assumed to open the door for me. I finally found the crumpled piece of paper and opened it up. Fifteen Park Avenue, I swiftly glanced to the address written in cursive writing at the top of the glass. Shit, it’s a match…

“Miss Molino?” the driver asked, almost questioningly as he stood holding the door open for me, probably wondering why I had not exited the SUV. I was going to be living in the same building as Luc? How was I supposed to resist this man when I was living and working in the same place as him? “This way ma’am.” The driver motioned to me with my duffle bag thrown over his shoulder. The doorman held the door for both of us.

“Miss Molino,” the doorman smiled brightly. “I am Tim, I take care of security around here, if you need anything, there is an intercom in your unit. Don’t hesitate to give me a shout,” he explained, while his eyes roamed my body quickly before landing back up on my face.

As I followed the driver up to the apartment my stomach flip-flopped wondering if I would bump into Luc. I was glad to hear this place had tight security, even though I doubted that Scott would be stupid enough to show up here. As the elevator rose, I noticed the driver had pressed the twenty-third floor, one floor below Luc. Holy crap.

“Here’s the key,” the driver said, passing me the key to open the door. He had his hands full with my oversized duffle. As I opened the door my mouth opened into a large O. This was not a small apartment by any means. Yes, it looked smaller than Luc’s apartment that had two floors but, holy shit, this place was massive and modern, with dark wood floors and intricate trim on the ceilings and walls. The walls were a pristine white and all the furniture was white, everything was white except for the very colorful modern paintings that adorned the walls.

“Ah! Miss, where can I put your bag?” the driver asked, pulling me from my daze. I couldn’t believe I would be living in a place like this.

“Just over there is fine.” I motioned, waving him off. “And please call me, Vicky,” I mumbled.

“Are you sure, Miss? I should take it to the bedroom, it’s very heavy,” he insisted with a pained expression, it must be weighing on him.

“I can take it myself, no worries,” I continued to mumble awestruck. I would be living in this place. It was huge. It was beautiful. I wanted to shriek from excitement.

“Please, Vicky, I was told to make sure you are settled in, can I please take this to your room,” he said as his face reddened by the moment. The duffle really was heavy.

“Sure, sorry go ahead, the bedroom must be back there.” I motioned to the back of the apartment.

“I know, ma’am, I mean, Vicky,” he mumbled.

A few moments later he stepped back into the main room huffing and puffing. “Bryce wanted you to have this, he said feel free to use it for whatever you need.” I had no idea what he was referring too until he placed a platinum colored credit card in my hand. My eyes went wide.

“Oh no, thank you, that won’t be necessary,” I said passing the card back.

Derek lifted his hands up, making it difficult to place the card in his hand. “I’m sorry, Vicky, I am only following the boss's orders.”

“Of course, I am sorry. I will talk to Bryce,” I said holding up the card. I was going to have to stop by his office tomorrow morning, we agreed to no special treatment. I wanted him to keep his end of things, even though this apartment was definitely special. I assumed Bryce had lots of properties and this one was probably sitting empty so it was no big deal anyway to him.

“Thank you,” I said to the driver. He nodded his head and smiled, making his way to the door.

“You should lock up, take care, Miss,” he said, closing the door behind him.

I felt like a little girl at Christmas as I danced through the apartment, twirling around while checking out every little thing from the main bathroom to the walk-in closets. The luxurious kitchen was set up for a sous chef and the two bedrooms were massive and modern. I stopped in the master bedroom, assuming I would claim the largest room. Then I hopped onto the bed dancing and thrashing my head around. Feeling the need for some music I flicked through my playlist on my phone and put on My Sharona by The Knack and continued to jump and squeal like a teenager. I felt free, happy, and out of breath by the time the song ended. I fell back on the bed and stared up to the white ceiling blowing out a breath. My smile quickly faded the minute Scott Wellington came to mind. All this could be taken from me in the blink of an eye if Bryce knew how messed up I was, and if the video Scott took of me released to the world, disgracing his name.

My happy mood quickly fell into a familiar pool of despair. I needed some advice so I called the only other person who knew about that awful night. She had been there to pick up all the broken pieces that were left of me once it was over.

After a few rings she picked up. “Hello,” she answered hesitantly into the phone. She was always on guard when she picked up her phone. As if she was hiding something.

“Nessa, it’s Vicky.”

“Vicky? Vicky who?” she cackled.

“Very funny, Ness. How are things back home?”

“Oh, you know the usual run of the mill. Ed is Ed. I serve drinks and that’s about it. I’m starting to go stir crazy though. When are you coming home? I need to have some fun…we should definitely hit the scene in Toronto when you get back.”

“Actually, Ness, that’s the reason for my call. I’m not coming back so soon…” I trailed off because I heard a loud gasp into the phone.

“Vick, you can’t leave me,” she huffed desperately.

“I’m not leaving you, Ness, but I want you to come here. I have an apartment for both of us to stay in, rent free,” I began to explain.

“Are you crazy, Vicky, I can’t do that. I have no money and…”

“I’m sending you a bus ticket and you are coming to live with me. We can figure things out when you get here. Please, Nessa,” I practically begged her. I knew she was alone back home and now she didn’t even have me as her partner in crime, which probably made things even more difficult for her.

“Okay, I’ll come. Just send me your address. I’ll buy the bus ticket no worries.”

“I want you on a bus tomorrow, seriously, there isn’t anything for you to do in Thunder Bay anyway,” I insisted.

“Okay, pretty woman, I’m coming…relax yourself. Have you hit any parties there?” she asked. She had been the one to introduce me to the lifestyle.

“Yeah, I have. Nessa, I have some trouble…”

“What kind of trouble?”

“You remember the guy that beat the shit out of me two years ago when I left….”

I didn’t even finish my sentence when Nessa cut in. “What is it, Vicky?” she asked frantically. “I know who you’re talking about but what happened?”

“Nessa…he knows Bryce…he was at his office today. His name is Scott Wellington, he’s a CEO…of something, anyway he threatened me…he says he has a video of our time together, and he said he would show it to Bryce if I didn’t sleep with him again.”

Nessa gasped harshly into the phone. “That stupid mother fucker, how dare he? I will go to Toronto and kick his ass for you….”

“He isn’t in Toronto, he’s here in New York, I don’t know for how long…but I got away from him yesterday, but now he said he knows where to find me. I’m freaking out Nessa, that man is pure evil. There’s something psycho about him.” I huffed out and then I contemplated telling her about Luc. Should I ask her if I should confide in Luc and get his help? I already knew the answers, she would tell me that I can’t trust men. She doesn’t trust any man. Then she would want me to wait for her to arrive so she can kick Wellington’s butt herself. Only it’s not a plausible solution.

“Vick, I am getting on a bus tomorrow and we will figure things out.”

“Thanks, Ness, I’m glad you are coming. My father is a nice guy and he wants to get to know me…so I wanted to stay, but I know I would have had a hard time staying without you.”

“Thanks, Vick…thanks for not abandoning me…” she sighed.

“Never, Ness, you and I are a team. I just hope that this Scott won’t go running to the press or Bryce before I have a chance to think of a plan.”

“Did he give you his number or something?”

“No and I would be too scared to call him anyway. I froze at just the sight of him. I can’t deal with him on my own.”

“I’m coming, Vick. Just watch your back until I get there.”

“Yeah, I will. This apartment has security and in the morning Bryce sends a driver, so I should be okay…I better go now Ness, I don’t know how much this call is costing me. I will text you the address for this place. Have a safe trip and leave ASAP.”

“Yeah, yeah. See you soon, Vick. Watch out for yourself.”

“Bye, Ness.”

Once I hung up with Nessa, I noticed I had a message from Luc and butterflies swirled in my stomach. What was happening to me? I was the schoolgirl with a crush. I hadn’t been that girl since Jamie and I first hooked up. The thought of falling for him sent a jolt of panic through me, my guard was deteriorating and my heart was vulnerable. The thought scared me to death.

Vicky send me your address I will pick you up for dinner.

The message made me laugh because I never agreed to dinner and he was being presumptuous.

Actually I’m one floor under you, I replied, feeling my cheeks flush. Why was I embarrassed about this? It was completely out of my control. And saying that I was under him…mmmm….it made my inner thigh muscles contract deliriously.

Luc: Really? I shouldn’t have been surprised. Bryce sold me my apartment. He owns many in this building. When will you be ready?

Me: Give me twenty minutes.

Luc: Are you tired? We can order in?

Me: That sounds perfect.

I was feeling the effects of a long night and day catching up with me. I was also a little nervous because I knew he would want to know more about Scott, and I wondered if Scott could find me.

I made my way into the master bedroom and dropped my phone on the bed before sauntering into the shower. Turning on the shower tap, I squealed and jumped as five shower jets hit me with cold water in all directions. I quickly jumped out of the shower. Then I turned the knob trying to figure out how to get the hot water running. I finally stepped back inside, enjoying the warm massage of the jets as it ran over my head, my stomach and even between my thighs. I placed the jet so it was squirting my clit with hot roughness and it got me all worked up. I felt a little taken aback when my first thought was to find a random hot guy and fuck him. Tim the doorman perhaps… I know there’s something very wrong with that. I hadn’t always been this promiscuous. Sex was never an escape for the old me. I had spent four years in a committed relationship with Jamie. The sex had been intimate and a way for us to feel close to one another. That was until everything got shot to hell, and I didn’t realize what a douche he really was.

Guilt swarmed its way up my throat as I thought about the fact that Luc would be arriving soon. He had been kind and caring toward me since we met. Surely he didn’t expect me to go fuck the first guy I saw after everything we'd shared. My thoughts terrified me because I suddenly realized that something was really wrong with me. The parties had been a coping mechanism for so long now that my old life seemed to be a lifetime ago. The old Vicky had died along with my mother and the innocence I lost along the way. Now I feared I wasn’t even capable of committing if I wanted to. I quickly removed the water streaming directly in between my thighs and repositioned it to hit my belly. After lathering shampoo in my hair and washing my body, I stepped out of the shower panicked about my evening with Luc. Was I capable of trying to have something with him? Maybe he didn’t even want me. He said he wasn’t looking for a relationship. He was clearly coming because he was worried about the Scott situation, and he wanted to watch out for me. He was broken and I was a mess. It would never work anyway. I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt him more.

I sauntered over to my duffle bag and slipped on a pair of black yoga pants and a grey long sleeve t-shirt. I also decided on no make-up and considering the t-shirt was a dark color, I nixed the bra since my tits weren’t that big and the t-shirt wasn’t see-through. If I was already making those calculations, I had to be honest with myself that it didn’t really matter because Luc had seen me naked at the party a few nights back. As I stepped out of the bedroom toward the main area of the apartment there was a buzzing sound from the intercom at the front door. Then I hear Tim’s voice say, “Press the button.” I did as he said and I say ‘hello.’

“There is a floral delivery for you, Miss Molino.”

“Oh okay,” I responded, wondering who would send flowers. It couldn’t be Luc; he would be down here any minute.

“Okay, I am sending him up,” Tim responded cheerfully. A few minutes later I heard a light knock on the front door. I opened the door to a colorful bouquet that was perfectly arranged. The colors of the flowers were vibrant with blues, purples and fuchsia pink making up most of the arrangement. I almost gasped at their beauty. I took the arrangement and thanked the delivery guy, noticing there was a card on top. I continued to close the door and turn the lock. As I made my way to the kitchen to find a vase I read the card, Vicky, now I know where to find you. Don’t take too long coming to me, or else I will have to come to you. The card didn’t have a name on it but I knew it was from Scott. I wondered if he followed me here this afternoon. Maybe he saw me exit Tyson soon after he left and followed me. How else would he know where I was? I don’t even understand what he wants with me anyway. Can’t he find some woman that is into his game? I clearly wasn’t. Didn’t it register in his head when I was screaming no, that he didn’t turn me on? There’s another light knock on the door but this time I flinched. My body is now super alert and scared. I sauntered back to the door and looked through the peephole to see Luc waiting with his hands in his pockets. A part of me was relieved. He made me feel safe.

I opened the door to a laid back Luc with his wet hair falling on his face, wearing a white t-shirt that hugged every inch of his muscles and a pair of black lounge pants that hung low on his waist. The smell of fresh masculine shower gel wafted into the apartment as he entered, causing my body to thrum with excitement. Only I am too shaken up to appreciate him in that way now.

He didn’t say anything as he stepped inside and his gaze roamed the apartment quickly, “What’s wrong?” he asked with a concerned tone. It amazed me how he could read me so well, after knowing me a short time. I realized that it probably wasn’t something special about me and that he was trained to be this way. My pale face and my shaking body probably gave away my fear.

“He knows where I am. He sent flowers with this note,” I held the note up in my hand and Luc took it and read it. A moment later he growled then cussed in French. He stalked back to me and embraced me in his strong arms.

“I’m sorry you have to experience the likes of this man,” he said. Then he buried his face in my wet hair. I could smell his shampoo and despite my nerves, his touch sent those butterflies flying around my stomach again. I didn’t know if I should run away or dive into this headfirst.