Breaker's Point Bad Boy Billionaires Boxset (22 page)

R
iley lifted
his pounding head from the desk. The piece of paper that was stuck to his cheek obscured his vision before he ripped it away with a frustrated growl.

The empty bottle of brandy lay on its side on the desk as though mocking him for his idiocy the night before. But none of that mattered. It wasn’t the empty bottle that had awoken him.

He pushed to his feet. The room spun around him, unsettling the liquid contents of his stomach. He swore in that moment that it would be the last time he downed a bottle of anything as a means to dull his pain and anger.

Lurching towards the open office door, Riley gripped the doorframe as his stomach twisted, memories of the night before resurfacing. The stinging pain in the palm of his hand as he leaned against the doorjamb had him cursing aloud.

He was a fool to let Holly go, to let her leave with the monster that Marcus was. If anything happened to her, it would be all his fault. Constantly claiming that his hands were tied and that he couldn’t do anything unless she let him in was nothing more than an excuse.

The sound of cutlery shifting in the kitchen reminded Riley of what had awoken him and he hurried out into the hall.

Reaching the kitchen, he let out a relieved sigh as he spotted Stuart rummaging through the cupboards. From where he stood, Riley could just make out his brother’s mumbled irritation.

“Looking for anything in particular or just having a rifle through because you want to?” Riley said, crossing his arms over his chest, wincing once more as his hand burned.

There was probably still some glass lodged within it, and if he didn’t clean it out soon it’d just get infected and that was something he could do without.

If Stuart was surprised at Riley’s sudden appearance he didn’t show it.

“I’m searching for the coffee. I know you had it last time I was here.”

“Stuart, the machine is sitting right next to you on the counter. The coffee is already in it.”

“Not that—I think it’s broken. All it does is hiss and spit boiling water out at me. I’ve already burned myself on it this morning. I’m looking for the instant.”

“I threw it out since you last stayed. I didn’t think anyone was using it.”

Stuart sighed and let the cupboard door fall shut as he turned to face Riley.

“You look terrible,” Stuart said, surprised. “What the hell happened to you last night?”

Riley instantly bristled. He could practically feel his brother’s judgement as he studied him.

“You’re hurt—did Stark do that?” Stuart’s tone had suddenly turned grim and it took Riley a few seconds to catch up with his brother’s train of thought.

He unfolded his arms and stared down at his hand. The blood had dried into the creases in his palm and down his fingers. It instantly transported him to the last time his hands had been soaked in blood.

“Riley?” Stuart’s voice jolted him from the memory and he looked up at his brother in confusion.

“What?” he said, struggling to shake the chill that had descended down over his body.

“Are you alright? Jesus, Riley, what the hell happened to you?” Stuart’s voice was filled with concern as he crossed the kitchen.

Stuart reached out, his hand brushing against Riley’s shoulder, but Riley shrugged him off.

“I’m fine. I had a little too much to drink last night and cut my hand on a broken tumbler. It has nothing to do with Stark.”

Riley headed for the sink, determined to wash the rust-coloured blood from his hand. It was a memory he had buried down inside himself and he wasn’t about to let it surface just because his head was pounding with the after-effects of too much brandy.

Gritting his teeth as he ran his hand beneath the water, he pressed his fingers against the cut, searching for any fine shards of glass that might be still embedded beneath the skin.

Finally satisfied, he grabbed some paper towels and wrapped them around his hand before turning to face his brother once more.

Stuart had remained silent the entire time but Riley could practically feel his questions bubbling just beneath the surface of his calm exterior. He knew Stuart wouldn’t rest until he knew the details of his conversation with Holly. Not that it was any of his business, but that wouldn’t bother Stuart.

“So are you going to tell me what happened or do I have to guess?”

“No need for guessing games, but I need to feel a little more human before I’m willing to discuss what happened last night.”

“You know, Anderson isn’t particularly thrilled with you.”

Riley nodded and moved to the door. “And I’m sure Anderson’s ire will wait until I’ve had a shower.” He didn’t wait for Stuart to give him permission.

“And what do I do about the coffee machine?” Stuart called after him as Riley climbed the stairs.

“You’re a smart man, figure it out,” he said, a smile curving his lips as he imagined the look on his brother’s face.

L
ifting
the steaming cup of rich-smelling dark coffee to his lips, Riley closed his eyes as it washed down the back of his throat. The caffeine instantly perked his senses and pushed back against the fog that threatened to swallow his brain whole.

“It wasn’t that hard to figure out, now was it?” he said to Stuart as he replaced the cup on the counter.

“No…” Stuart said, ducking his head so his gaze was trained on the cup in front of him.

Isla bustled into the room carrying a fresh bunch of flowers in her arms and realisation dawned on Riley.

“You didn’t figure any of it out, did you?”

“Yes… Well, no… I practically had it and then Isla arrived and she insisted on helping.” Stuart shot Riley a sheepish grin.

“Isla, you didn’t need to help him. If he can’t figure out a coffee machine by now, then he’s a lost cause.”

She smiled and shook her head as she pulled one of the cupboards open and lifted out a large crystal vase.

“I wanted to help. It’s so nice to see Stuart back here at all. There was a time when I’d lost all hope of him returning to us.”

Riley nodded but he didn’t say anything. Simply watching Stuart’s reaction to her words from over the top of his coffee cup was enough.

His brother hopped down from the stool he had planted himself on and grabbed the vase that was now filled with flowers from Isla.

“You should have known that I couldn’t stay away forever. I fought against it, but Breaker’s Point is my home no matter what.”

“Sit with your brother and I’ll make you both something for breakfast once I’m done with the flowers.”

“Don’t be silly, Isla. We’ll go into town and eat at the diner. And anyway, you’re not supposed to be doing anything. I gave you the managerial position so you wouldn’t have to do any of the heavy lifting around here. You’re simply supposed to oversee.”

She shook her head and grabbed the vase from Stuart once more, a look of stubborn determination crossing her face as she headed for the door.

“Sometimes overseeing means doing it right yourself—you know that, Riley,” she said, scolding him the way she used to when he was a young boy.

“She can still put you in your place, even after all these years?” Stuart said, picking up the cup he’d left on the counter.

“Only because I let her,” Riley said. But he knew it wasn’t strictly true. Isla had played a significant role in his life as he grew up. Her opinion mattered to him and he’d always sought her approval. After the death of his parents it had become even more important.

Stuart laughed, choking on the mouthful of coffee he’d taken. Standing, Riley drained the cup he held before putting it into the dishwasher.

“Let’s get breakfast and you can fill me in on how I’ve irritated Anderson,” Riley said, pulling the set of car keys he’d pushed into his pocket after his shower out into full view.

“No way are you driving. Cliff Road is dangerous enough without you careening down it after a bottle of brandy.”

“How’d you know I drank a bottle of brandy?” Riley said, reluctantly replacing the keys in his pocket. The thought of accompanying Stuart in whatever death trap he was currently driving didn’t appeal to him but the last thing he was going to do was give his brother access to his cars.

“You were passed out across the desk when I arrived this morning, the empty bottle beside you. It didn’t exactly take a genius to put two and two together.”

Riley nodded but he didn’t answer Stuart. There was certainly no point in denying it.

“Fine, you drive but that doesn’t mean I have to buy you breakfast,” he said, leading the way out into the hall.

T
he noise
of the diner crowded around Riley, causing his headache to return with a vengeance. His stomach twisted and it was suddenly a struggle to keep the coffee he’d drunk earlier down.

“So what happened with Holly? You two set tongues wagging last night. One minute you both looked all cosy on the dance floor and the next she’s running out the door.”

“She wanted something from me that I couldn’t give her,” Riley said, staring down at his hands on the diner table.

“Well, what was it? Did she say anything about Marcus, why he’s doing what he’s doing?”

“She wanted to know why I broke it off all those years ago.” Riley clenched his hands into fists until the cut across his palm burned once more.

“Shit… Did you tell her?” Stuart said, catching Riley completely by surprise.

He jolted his gaze up to his brother’s face and stared at him.

“What do you mean? What the hell do you know about why I broke it off with her?”

“Come on, Riley, of course I know—I’m not stupid. I know what our parents wanted from you and I know they talked you out of proposing to Holly.”

Riley shook his head and closed his eyes.

“I was stupid to let them talk me out of it. I should have listened to my instincts but…”

“But you were young and our parents were expert manipulators. It’s how they succeeded at everything they turned their hands to.”

“If they were such expert manipulators then how did you escape them? You never once bent to their will, Stuart. Was I so weak that at the first sign of trouble I gave up the only woman I’ve ever truly cared for?”

“It’s got nothing to do with weakness. I escaped because I was unimportant to the plan they had. You were the eldest son—you’re the one who’s taken everything over. You carry the Reynolds name and it means something. For the rest of us…” Stuart trailed off and Riley waited impatiently for his brother to continue.

This was the most candid he’d ever seen his brother be about the behaviour of their parents. He wasn’t about to open his mouth and spoil it now by rushing him into confessing his true feelings on the subject.

Stuart shook his head and lifted his gaze to Riley’s face, a grin wiping away the look of contemplation that had creased his brow just moments before.

“And anyway, it was my main mission in life to always piss them off at every turn.”

“You were an expert at it,” Riley said wryly.

“Why can’t you tell her the truth? It’s all behind you now. Maybe it’ll help her to understand… How can she trust you, if she doesn’t know the full story?”

“Because now is not the time to dwell on the past. She’s up to her neck and I just need to figure out a way to get her away from Marcus without consequences.”

“What sort of consequences?” Stuart said, lowering his voice as one of the waitresses appeared at the table, her hands full as she juggled their plates.

Riley grimaced as she set a fully loaded plate in front of Stuart. It was practically swimming in grease, but, despite its appearance, it smelled amazing and Riley’s stomach suddenly grumbled in appreciation.

The waitress set his plate of scrambled eggs down on the table. A side of French toast accompanied it and Riley could feel his mouth beginning to water.

He waited to answer his brother until they were once more left alone. Riley suppressed a smile as he watched Stuart shovel a large forkful of food into his mouth.

“How does Ellie put up with you?” he said, reaching across for the salt and black pepper shakers that sat in the centre of the table.

“What?” Stuart said, shrugging as he continued to wolf down his food. Riley grinned before setting into his own food.

“The consequences are extreme enough to force me to proceed with caution. I have to find a way to extricate both her and her father from Marcus’ influence.”

“And you’re going to do that how?”

“I was hoping you might be able to help me with that. You’ve got to know someone who can set something up.”

“You mean, like kill Marcus?”

“No, I don’t mean like kill Marcus. Have you lost your mind? As tempting as that is, it’s not the answer to all of this. How could I ever face Holly again if I murdered someone?”

“You’d be doing it for her.”

“I don’t think she’d see it like that, no matter how noble my intentions. And if she got wind of it, she’d only do something to try and stop me, which would put her in even more danger.”

“Well, what did you have in mind, then?” Stuart said, his voice filled with curiosity.

“I’m not sure, but I have a feeling that once Marcus gets what he wants he’s not going to want to keep Holly around. She’s a complication he could do without.”

“You think he’ll kill her.”

Riley stared at his brother and nodded, his thoughts turning grim and putting him off the food in front of him.

“I think it’s a possibility and I don’t trust Marcus so the faster I can get her away from him the better.”

“I can contact one of the guys I used to work with. He’s never worked up around here so Marcus won’t recognise him and we can use that to our advantage.”

“Good, and I’d better meet Anderson, see what he found out from Marcus last night.”

“He’s pissed at you. I’m not sure how welcome you’re going to be up there. What did you say to him last night?”

“Nothing that I can remember, but whatever Marcus said to him was enough to get his hackles up.”

Riley pushed out of the booth and pulled his wallet from his pocket.

“I thought you said you weren’t going to buy breakfast?”