Breaking Bedrock (Book Two) (6 page)

Penny Greyer showed up with cash, a disposable phone,
details as to Addison’s whereabouts, and a shared goal to mentally drive her to
the brink. She made harassing that little bitch easy. Little did Penny know, Scott
Hammons had so much more in store.

He was going after her instead of that varmint Hartmann, who had
not only taken the business that HE’D built but who had driven his family away
and sucked the life right out of him. William Hartman should’ve been smart
enough to know that if you play with fire you get burned. Mess with the wrong
person and eventually it will catch up with you.

His defense team had assured him that their defense strategy was
foolproof. In his favor was the fact that he had no ties to Addison. He was
brilliant in that way. He’d never been in any sort of trouble before because he
was too much of a genius to get caught. Seeing that there were no ties to the
dumb whore, it was going to be really hard to prove motive, further proving his
brilliance. He hadn’t done anything wrong but was merely a client of the whore’s.
He’d much rather have the world think of him as someone with no morals than a
monster.

So, yes, for the time being, he was fine with this ridiculous cat-and-mouse
game Penny wanted to play. But the good news was that, thanks to her dime, he’d
be off of house arrest soon. Then all would be fair game. And he was finished
playing. It was high time to settle the score.

Six

The last thing Patrick needed right now was for his
boss and mistress to return to the States. In China, he could manage her. A few
phone calls here and there and several emails a day were all he had to offer to
keep her at bay. Michele knew Patrick needed to stay Stateside right now due to
the unfortunate situation with his wife. He had explained that Addison had a
long recovery ahead of her—even though that was mostly a lie—and that he
couldn’t just leave now. Michele had taken it better than he’d expected, which
made her return visit home all that more worrisome. Things had been going just
as he’d planned. Now she’d urged him to take a weekend and go away with her
just the way they once had.

At first Patrick refused, knowing not to let Michele get the best
of him. She was also so good at that. It had been a little over a month since
he’d returned home, and he was desperately trying to save his marriage. Patrick
had been buying flowers and cards for his wife on a regular basis ever since he
walked out on her at dinner that night. He’d done everything he could think of
to try and win her favor, to try and change her mind. So after two weeks of
trying to seduce his own wife for Christ’s sake, Patrick felt he deserved a
little something.

Addie certainly wasn’t giving him any, and it didn’t appear that
she was going to budge anytime soon. “A man has needs,” his father had always
told him, and Patrick was no different. After the incident with the lawyer and
all the talk of divorce, maybe a weekend away would do him some good. He needed
to show Addison that he was secure enough that things were going to work out
that he was stepping away. They both just needed a cooling off period. Just as
he’d predicted, it wasn’t the cards or flowers that did the trick. It was his
wife seeing that he was taking the lead. For the past few weeks, especially
ever since they’d run into that asshole, William Hartman, Addie seemed
indifferent and a little sad until the morning he told her he was going away
for the weekend. The moment he said it she changed into the sweet, encouraging
girl he’d remembered her to be. For a moment, he almost wanted to call the
whole trip off, but she seemed so happy about his “fishing trip” that he
considered that maybe it was all going as planned. He’d go and see Michele and
end things once and for all.

Patrick packed his bag as Addie sat in the chaise lounge,
pretending to read. He knew she wasn’t actually reading because she hadn’t
turned a page in ages. Patrick couldn’t quite place the look on her face.

“Earth to Addie . . .”

Addie looked up.

“Hey, are you sure you think this is a good idea? For me to leave
right now? With Scott Hammons on the loose, I really think maybe I should stay.
I’m pretty sure he won’t try anything. You know . . . The more I think about it
the more I wonder if everything that happened between you two wasn’t just a bad
misunderstanding.”

Addie shifted, pulling her legs out from under her and glared at
him. “Wow. You’re serious?”

Patrick glanced at Addie and resumed packing. “I don’t know,
Addie. I was hoping we could put all of this behind us sooner rather than
later. So what do you say? Should I stay? I mean I haven’t even gotten to say goodbye
to the boys. I hate to call from the road. What do you think?

“You should go, Patrick. We’re fine here.” Addie replied flatly.

“Yeah, I know. But I was thinking maybe when I get back you and I
could go away together and leave the boys with my mom like we used to in the
old days.”

“I don’t think so, Patrick. Nothing has changed for me. I still
want a divorce.”

Patrick rolled his eyes and wheeled his luggage towards the door
before slowly turning back. He walked to Addie, leaned down, and kissed the top
of her head. “You just need time. I think this weekend will do us both some
good. Tell the boys I love them and that I’ll call them from the road, okay?”

Addie placed her book down on the chair and sat up straight.
“We’re moving out, Patrick.”

Patrick halted abruptly just inside the doorframe. “Addison, come
on. Right now isn’t the time for this.”

“This isn’t about timing. I wanted to let you know.” Addie
sighed.

Patrick turned and started down the stairs. “Take this weekend
and think it over, all right? I think a little breather will do you some good.”

Addie shrugged. “I’m sure. Have a good time. We’ll talk when you
get back.”

Patrick stopped at the front door and glanced over his shoulder
at his wife. “Now, that’s the girl I know and love.” He turned the knob and
hesitated just a second before walking out the front door, not quite realizing
that life as they both knew it was about to drastically change.

William showed up for his second session of the week,
five minutes late. Sondra knew William; she knew this wasn’t good. He stopped
just inside the door of her apartment and leaned against the wall, waiting.
Dressed in his usual three-piece business suit, Sondra couldn’t help but notice
how worn down he looked. In the past, this would’ve been one of those times
that Sondra invited him to her bedroom following their session, but this time
she wasn’t so sure that even that would help. In addition, she no longer wanted
to get involved with William in that way. They’d both grown beyond being each
other’s lover. There was too much animosity there. He needed her for one thing
and one thing only. And Sondra knew better than to turn a powerful man like
William away.

William cleared his throat, knocking Sondra out of her reverie.
“I apologize for being late.”

Sondra noticed the redness around his eyes and the soft lines
forming across his face as he squeezed at the bridge of his nose. “Is everything
all right, Mr. Hartman?”

“Yeah. Why are we standing around out here? Hey, look, no marks
above the neck today. I have a business dinner following our appointment.”

Sondra frowned. “William, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to try
something different today. I think you’re ready for it.” Sondra hesitated,
pointing towards her living area. “What if we start out here this evening just
talking?”

William rolled his eyes. “I’m not fucking here for therapy,
Sondra. If therapy was what I wanted, that’s where I’d be right now. But, no,
I’m here. So let’s just get to it, all right? Cut the shit, and don’t hold
anything back today. I need this.

Time for a different approach.
Sondra perched herself on
the edge of her sofa. “Have you heard from Addison?”

William looked surprised. “No. Why do you ask?”

Sondra patted the sofa. “Mr. Hartman, please, sit.”

“What is this about, Sondra? I haven’t got time for any BS today,”
William replied without budging.

“Have I ever bullshitted you, William? Now, look. You’re in my
home, and it’s my understanding that you’re here for a session. So from this
moment forward, I expect you to show me some goddamned respect or get out. Do
we have an understanding?”

William ran his fingers through his jet-black hair, which was a
little longer than he usually kept it. All signs pointed to the fact that
William Hartman was falling apart. Most of the time men like William could
function in the real world. Many of them were successful, powerful even. But
under extreme stress and without proper care, they quickly unraveled, which was
exactly what had been happening with William when he’d found Sondra and they’d begun
working together.

William eyed the sofa and sat down. “Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Tell me what’s going on, William.” Sondra asked, studying his
face.

“It’s just been a rough week. We’ve had issue upon issue, trying
to close on a few deals.”

Sondra cocked her head to the side. “Is that all? Are you having
flashbacks? Have the nightmares returned?”

William sighed. “Why are you asking all of this?”

“It’s my job. I need to know if what we’re doing in our sessions
is working. Judging by the looks of you, it isn’t.” Sondra replied.

“Yeah. All of it. I’m not sleeping. I can’t concentrate. She’s
all I think about, and I just don’t know what to fucking do about any of it. I
thought if I just got her back to the office that I could win her back, but
it’s not working. Sure, I could resort to my usual tactics, but you know what?
With her, it’s different. I don’t want to hurt her. She asked for space, so
I’ve given it to her, even though it’s killing me. She’s leaving him, and yet
she still doesn’t want me.”

“What is it about her that’s different, William?”

William stood and walked to the window. “Everything. She cares.
She’s not like me, Sondra. Hell, she’s not even like you. She really fucking
cares about people. She’s leaving him, but she won’t let me help her. God, why
can’t she see that I just want to help? I want to make her life better.”

“Would you respect her if she came running to you? Or is part of
what makes her different the fact that she’s never asked you for anything?”

“Yes. Maybe? I don’t know.”

Sondra lowered her voice. “What makes you think that people like
you and I
don’t
care?”

“Because we don’t. We do whatever it is we need to do to get what
we want. It’s as simple as that. But Addison, she wants to do the right thing or
at least whatever it is that she thinks is the right thing.”

“Do you think it is? The right thing?”

William turned and stared Sondra dead in the eye. “The right
thing for whom?”

“For you?”

“It’s complicated. That’s what I think. And it’s selfish of me to
want her. I mean . . . Look at me. I can barely take care of myself. Until I
get my shit straight, how can I possibly take care of anyone else?”

“I don’t think you really believe that though, do you, William?”

William squared his jaw. “No. Not really. Hell, I don’t even know
what I really believe. Is that what you want to hear? What is it you want from
me, anyway? What are we doing here?”

“We’re talking.” Sondra said as she stood and walked into the
kitchen, returning with a glass and a bottle of whiskey. “Make me a drink,
William. Then get on your knees.”

Williams’s demeanor changed as he did as he was told.

Sondra ran her fingers through his hair, grabbing a handful. “Do
you have anything against talking, William? Tell me why such a simple concept
is so hard for you to understand.”

William glared at the floor. Finally, he shook his head.

“Now, we’re going to play a little game. Do you understand?
You’re used to getting your way. But guess what, pretty boy? Not here and not
now. I’m going to ask the questions, and you’re going to answer. Is that fair?”

Sondra tugged on his tie, cutting off his air supply. “Are we
clear?”

“Yes, Mistress.” William choked out.

Sondra pulled his hair tighter as she whispered in his ear.
“Good. So you love this girl. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“And what do you think she would say if she saw you like this? Do
you think she would care then?”

William grinned through the pain. “Yes.”

Sondra loosened her grip on his hair and tugged his tie tighter.
“That’s it. Now we’re getting somewhere. You see, Mr. Hartman. You’re smarter
than you give yourself credit for.” Sondra backhanded William as hard as she
could.

William brought his hand to his face and wiped the blood from his
nose. “What the fuck, Sondra? I told you nothing above the neck.”

“Oh, please, stop being such a pansy. For heaven’s sake, do you
really think the girl would be ripping apart her family if she weren’t in love
with you? I mean seriously, William, where are your balls? Quit having a
fucking one-person pity party and do something!”