4 Bad Boys to take to Bed (4 Book Bundle Set!) (30 page)

Trinity leaned forward and gave him a kiss. Her lips curled into a smile. “Relax, Laszlo. There’s no other man I want to be with.”

“Oh, that’s comforting considering you can’t make up your mind about whether or not you want to be with me.”

She nipped at his bottom lip. “Smart ass.”

He laughed. Before he could say anything else the doorbell chimed through the house. He glanced at the clock. It was almost nine. Shit. He knew exactly who it was. This probably wasn’t going to work out very well for him. “I have to tell you something,” he said getting out of bed and pulling on his shorts.

“That doesn’t sound good.” Trinity got out of bed and put on her panties.

Laszlo took a moment to admire how great her ass looked in them, her cheeks hanging out of the bottom of them.  He walked around the foot of the bed and pulled her into his arms, his hands coursing down her back and gripping her ass. “It’s Natasha, my PR manager. She’s here so we can discuss how to handle the press tomorrow night.”

“She’s here late isn’t she?”

He cringed and swallowed the lump in his throat. How could he tell her that sometimes he and Natasha mixed work with pleasure? Not that he was going to do that anymore now that he was with Trinity.

“Oh, okay, I get it.” Trinity pushed him away and reached for her shirt.

“Hey.” He grabbed her wrist and turned her toward him. “It’s not like that anymore, Trin. It hasn’t been for a while now. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you.”

She laughed sarcastically. “Oh, even better. What? Were you two engaged or something?”

It was flattering and even a little entertaining how jealous she was. “No. She’s working to build a new image of me and I want to tell her about us and the baby.”

Trinity looked away from him, but he saw the smile on her face. “Will she tell the press?”

“Eventually, yes. Is that okay?” The doorbell chimed again. “Think about it, okay? I’ll meet you downstairs.” Laszlo left her to go answer the door. He hoped to god that she agreed to tell people about the baby. If he had his way he’d take out a billboard to announce it. He swung open the door. “Hey, Natasha,” he said stepping aside so that she could enter.

“Laszlo, darling, you’re looking as good as usual,” Natasha said giving him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

He knew it wasn’t an innocent friendly gesture. That was their code. If she embraced him like that then he knew he was getting laid. “Not tonight, Natasha,” he said taking a step away from her just as Trinity came down the stairs.

“Ah, I see,” Natasha said.

Laszlo went to Trinity and put his arm around her waist. “Natasha this is Trinity Collins, my date for tomorrow night.”

Natasha shook Trinity’s hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Trinity said.

“So, Lasz, about tomorrow night, I was thinking you and Ms. Collins could arrive a few minutes early so that you can talk to the press. You know, the usual. Pose for some pictures, answer a few questions, pretend to be a happy couple and then Monday we can start to work on a campaign that—”

“There will be no pretending,” Laszlo said.

“Excuse me?” Natasha looked back and forth between them. “You two are really dating?”

“Yes.” He gave Trinity a gentle squeeze and smiled at her. “Can I?” Trinity nodded. He averted his gaze back to Natasha. “Yes, Trinity is my girlfriend. In fact, we’re having a baby.”

Natasha laughed. “Oh, you’re serious.”

He was not amused by her reaction. Natasha had always hinted at the idea of him and her getting together in a more permanent way and he’d always brushed it off. It was evident by the look on her face that she was not pleased. Well, that was just too bad. “Yes, Natasha, I’m very serious.”

Trinity cleared her throat. “I’m going to go get something to drink and let you two talk. Can I get either of you anything?”

“No,” Natasha said.

Laszlo kissed Trinity on the cheek and whispered, “All I want is you, love.”

Trinity rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible.” Then she walked into the kitchen, her hips swaying seductively.

Laszlo felt his cock thickening as he watched her. God damn, she was sexy. Smiling, he turned his attention to Natasha. “Shall we sit?” He nodded toward the couch. They went to the couch and sat. Laszlo was at one end and Natasha was on the other. The sudden animosity she felt toward him was evident.

“So, Trinity, your secretary, you’re dating her?”

“Yes.”

“You knocked up your secretary? Do you realize how cliché that is? My god, Laszlo, the press is going to have a field day with this. What the hell were you thinking?” Her voice got progressively louder. She waved her hands in the air. “You said you wanted to portray yourself as a man in a committed relationship, that you wanted to get rid of the spoiled playboy persona and then you go and do something like this?”

His first instinct was to fire her and tell her to get the hell out of his house, but he refrained and kept his cool. He needed to keep her at least until after tomorrow night. “Watch yourself, Natasha,” he warned. “Trinity is having my child. Spin it however you have to.”

She sighed with aggravation. “Is she living here?”

“No, not yet.”

“Well, are you two engaged?”

“No.”

“I swear you live to make my job more difficult.”

Laszlo sat back and extended his arm along the back of the couch. “If you feel that this job is too much then I’m sure I can find someone else to do it.” It was a veiled threat and from the look she gave him, he knew that she knew that.

“No. I can do it,” she snapped. “You of all people should know what I’m capable of.”

He smiled with satisfaction. “Good. Keep the pregnancy quiet tomorrow night. I don’t want to have the press harassing Trinity about it. I know it’s unavoidable, but for the time being I prefer to keep it between the three of us. No one else knows.”

“Okay, whatever you want. I’ll work on a press release and have it on your desk Monday morning. I have your word that you’ll be there early tomorrow?” She stood and smoothed her hands down her waist.

Laszlo stood and walked her to the door. “Yes, we will arrive early. I give you my word.”

“Good.” Natasha stepped outside and then turned back to him. “I guess congratulations are in order.”

He smiled despite the fake sincerity of her voice. “Thank you.” When she got in her car and pulled away, he closed the door and turned to find Trinity standing a few feet behind him.

“I don’t think she likes me.” She approached and put her arms around him. “Or the fact that I’m having your baby.”

“Don’t worry about her.” Laszlo kissed her softly on the mouth. “Stay with me tonight, Trin.” It wasn’t a request. And he was pleased that she didn’t try to argue with him.

Trinity spun around in front of her full length mirror one final time. She’d chosen to wear a floor length, strapless royal purple gown with sequins on the bodice. It was a dress she’d fallen in love with the moment she’d set eyes on it, but tonight was the first time she’d had a chance to wear it since she bought it six months ago. Smoothing her hands down her sides she smiled. Tonight was the charity ball and she was excited. Last night she’d spent the night with Laszlo and it had been the best night of her life. And not just because the sex had been mind blowing, but because he’d held her all night. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d simply been held by a man. He was insisting she stay with him again tonight after the ball and she was seriously considering it—especially if it had the potential to be as amazing as last night.

She put her hand on her stomach and smiled. It was still hard to believe that she was pregnant, that there was a baby growing inside of her. It was scary, too. Having Laszlo by her side made it manageable. Never had she dreamt that he would be so excited. It made the idea of sticking around much more plausible—if only she hadn’t chickened out when it came time to tell him about Jason and her awful past. Tonight. She would tell him tonight after the ball.

There was a knock on the door. She smiled again. “You’re early,” she called as she walked toward the door. “Do you miss me all—” Trinity froze.

“Why, yes, Trinity, I have missed you,” he said in that familiar ice cold voice that gave her nightmares.

She tried to shut the door but he shoved it causing her to lose her grip on the doorknob and fall to the floor. She cried out as pain shot through her tailbone and up her back. Scurrying backwards she scrambled to her feet. Her heart was racing and adrenaline flooded her veins. He’d found her. How the hell had he found her? She’d been so careful this time. “What do you want, Jason?”

“You know what I want.” He closed the door and stalked toward her, a deadly look in his eyes. “The same thing I wanted last time I came to visit you.”

Trinity licked her lips and tried to think.
Okay, she had mace in her purse. Her purse was in the living room. There was a knife in the kitchen. No, he’d get to her before she made it to the kitchen. There was a handgun in the stand next to him. No, that wouldn’t work either. Damn it!
All right, she had to keep him talking until she figured out a way to get out of here. “How’d you find me?”

“It wasn’t easy. You’re getting better at hiding…taking your mother’s maiden name…that was clever, Trinity.” He smiled and waved his finger at her.

He took a step toward her and she backed up. The urge to vomit overcame her senses. She inhaled and exhaled through her nose until the nausea passed. “I’m glad you approve,” she said dryly.

“Going somewhere?”

Jason raked his gaze over her body and her skin crawled. What the hell had she ever seen in that man? Everything about him was slimy. “Yes.” She stiffened her back and stuck out her chin defiantly. “In fact, he’ll be here any minute.” Maybe the threat of someone showing up would convince Jason to leave. Jason had never been the type to make his actions known to anyone. She doubted he would start now. 

“He?” Jason cocked a brow and took a few more steps toward her. “I thought I’d made it clear to you. You. Belong. To. Me,” he said each word a staccato, his jaw clenching as he spoke.

“I was never yours, Jason. You’re disgusting.” She never saw it coming, but she sure felt it. Jason backhanded her across the face hard enough to make her fall again. Tears stung her eyes and she prayed to god he’d stop with just one hit. He didn’t. His hand made contact with her other cheek. “Please,” she cried.

Jason stood over her, his bourbon breath wretched and hot against her face. She whimpered and turned away from him. He grabbed her chin and yanked her face toward him. “You always were a whore.”

“Jason, please…” The only thing she could think about was her baby.
Dear God, please don’t let him kill me. Don’t let him hurt my baby.

“Jason, please…” he mimicked, spittle spraying from his mouth.  “Where are my pictures, Trinity?”

“I don’t have them.”

“You lying bitch!” He pinched her jaw so hard she swore she heard it crack. “Where are they?” he shouted as he slammed her head on the hard wood floor.

Stars clouded her vision and the room started to spin. “They’re not here, I swear, they’re not here.” She sobbed.

“Where are they?” he repeated.

It was hard to talk with him pinching her jaw, but she knew if she didn’t he’d only become angrier and that meant more beatings for her. “In a safe place.”

“Are they in this house?”

She hesitated. If she told him they were upstairs he might go look for them and when he did she could escape. But if he chose to make her go with him to look for them and she couldn’t produce them, he’d kill her on the spot. “No,” she finally said.

Jason straightened and tugged on the lapels of his jacket. “Twelve hours, Trinity. I’ll give you twelve hours to get my pictures and give them to me. If you don’t, I will come back here and I will kill you. Then I will kill your brother.”

Oh god! He’d found her brother too? How the hell had he managed that?
Tears blurred her vision. “Leave my brother out of this.” She’d left her brother once to fend for himself and she regretted it every day. She had to protect him from this, from Jason. 

“Do not tell me what to do, Trinity!” He hauled off and kicked her in the side.

She heard her rib crack at the same time she felt it. She clutched her side and screamed in pain. “Okay, okay, if I give you the pictures will you leave us alone?”

He laughed a laugh that could only be described as pure evil. “The pictures in exchange for your brother’s safety.”

Trinity groaned in both pain and fear. She was afraid to ask, but she knew she had to. “And what about me?”

Jason once again leaned down to her and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling it with enough force it made her whole upper body jerk up. She yelped. “The only way I will guarantee your safety is if you’re with me.” He kissed her roughly on the mouth.

“No,” she wailed. She would rather die before going back to him.

“Such a shame.” He slammed the back of her head on the floor and then kicked her twice more. The first kick landed in her shoulder and the second landed in her ribs again. “I’ll see you soon, Trinity.”

She curled up in the fetal position, barely aware that he’d left. At least he hadn’t kicked her in the stomach. That was something to be thankful for when everything else seemed hopeless. Her last thought before the world went black was of Laszlo and the future she knew they could never have.

***

Her eyes fluttered open and then closed against the bright light of the room. She had no idea where she was, but based on the sounds and smells around her, she guessed she was in a hospital. The steady beep of a heart monitor, the rhythmic drip of an IV, the hushed tones of the voices around her—yup, she was definitely in a hospital. She had no idea how long she’d been there or how she arrived. The last thing she remembered was lying on the floor, crying and in pain. Jason had found her. Fear struck her hard and fast. Jason was going to kill her brother if she didn’t give him back the pictures she’d stolen.

Trinity lifted her hand and was startled when a sharp piercing pain shot through her hand and up her arm. The IV. Forcing her eyes open, she pulled the needle from her hand. “Ouch.” Her voice was raspy and her throat was dry. She heard a male voice in the distance. It was loud and he was shouting.
Oh, god! Was that Jason?
Her eyelids felt like lead. Why was she so tired? And why did it feel like her arms and legs were in mutiny against her? Flinging the cover off, she sat up. Her eyes were still droopy and she was having difficulty focusing. Everything looked so blurry.

“Hey, what on earth do you think you’re doing?” A pair of large strong hands was on her shoulders, pushing her back down onto the bed. “Lie back down. You’re in no shape to be up walking around.”

“No, I have to get out of here. He’s going to kill my brother.” She pushed the hands away. “Stop, no! He’s coming back! You have to let me go!” She kicked her legs and swung her arms, thrashing and screaming. A debilitating pain in her chest caused her to cry out.

“Nurse!” shouted the man who was holding her down. His voice sounded familiar, but her brain was fuzzy and at the moment, she was solely focused on getting out of there and making sure Jason didn’t kill her brother.

“What’s wrong?” It was a woman’s voice.

“She removed her IV and she’s insisting on leaving.”

That voice…she knew it. “Laszlo?” she muttered as her body went limp. 

He brushed the hair from her face. “Yes, it’s me.” He kissed her forehead. “Now please lie down, love, and let the—”

“No! I can’t. He’s coming back. If I don’t get out of here he’s going to kill me. I have to leave. Please. Please, Laszlo you have to let me go!” she shouted as tears coursed down her cheeks.

“Who, Trinity? Who is coming back?”

“Jason,” she whispered. There was a pinch in her arm, a needle, and then the room went dark.