Saved by the Blizzard: A romantic winter thriller (Tellure Hollow Book 2) (8 page)

That did it. His jaw clenched. He wheeled towards me, looking like a bear ready to attack. He shook his head. “She wouldn’t dare.”

It was my turn to laugh. “Are you serious? After everything you’ve done to her, even in the last couple days, you think she’d hold out for you?” My lip curled in amusement and disgust. “You should be thanking me. I’m pretty sure at this point she would’ve thrown it to any guy who looked twice at her.”

“Thin ice, man. You’re walking on some very thin ice.” His teeth glimmered in the firelight, adding to the animalistic posturing.

I should’ve been satisfied but part of me thought if I’d been able to push him to this point, I might be able to get through on another level. I cocked my head and grinned. “I took your advice and told her everything. God, fame is such a panty dropper, even if you just
used
to be famous.” I tried to look at him as if he weren’t ready to rip my head off. “Wait, you haven’t forgotten who I am, have you?”

“You’re a dead man, that’s who you are. I’m gonna fucking kill you.”

I took another sip of my beer and smiled as if the whole situation was comical. Inside, I was quivering with a potent mixture of anxiety and rage. I hated the things this guy had done to Liz but if I could keep it together long enough, I might be able to make him go away for good.

“
Tsk tsk
,” I said shaking my head. “Threatening bodily harm with all these people around. What would Officer Dylan have to say about that?” I turned to face him, lifting my chin and meeting his gaze dead on. “I know all about the...arrangement you made with Liz. Can’t say as though I approve, but I’m not going to tell a man what to do with his money. But now that the investment has been spoiled...” Rick’s teeth audibly gnashed together as he grabbed a fistful of the front of my jacket. I didn’t flinch. “Hey now, I’m in the position to compensate—no,
reimburse
you.”

“The hell are you talking about? You can’t unring that bell and so help me, if you rang her bell...” His fist tightened, pulling the collar closer to my chin.

Morgan let out a loud cheer. I glanced towards the pond to see her jumping around with a hockey stick thrust in the air, celebrating a goal she’d made with a crumpled beer can. Rick was also distracted by the sound, the break in eye contact just enough to weaken his grip. I knocked his hand away and took a step back.

“If you’re interested in actually talking numbers...” I said, gesturing to the back side of the shed. “I’d prefer if this weren’t done in public. The whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth as it is. I have a reputation to uphold.” I hated how easily this shit was pouring from my mouth, almost as if someone else inside me were using my voice. It was working so I decided not to fight it.

He took a step towards me in anger, fist balled at his hip, but paused.
Ah money, that’s what really makes this guy tick, huh?
I thought. Money and control, but mostly money. He loosened his fist as he scratched at the stubble on his cheek and chuckled. His dark eyes remained constant on mine. “Something tells me you’re full of shit but I’ll hear you out.”

It was a risk dipping further into the shadows with him.
No risk, no gain
, my dad’s voice said in the back of my mind, though I doubt my dad ever had this particular scenario in mind. I’d broken through and exposed Rick’s soft spots. Now, I had to find a way to summon the worst of The Blizzard and strike a bargain.

I crossed my arms and swallowed the bile rising in my throat. The only time I’ve spoken about the accident was in the safety of my therapist’s office. I hadn’t been able to bring it up to Liz, someone who I could see myself seriously falling for. Now, I was about to lay it out to this creep.
All for her
, I reminded myself. We stood with our backs to the shed, facing the fire.

“So you say you know who I am?” I began, my tone filled with arrogance.

He shrugged. “Noah said you did some skiing. So what? Everyone out here skis. You’re a big fish in a little pond.”

My laugh was genuine. Leave it to Noah to undersell my skills. “Little pond, eh? I was a fucking Olympian,” I lied. Half-truths were coming a lot easier and besides, I’d been close enough. One bad turn was all that had stood between me and that title. I shook my head. “If you knew who I was, you’d think differently.”

“Enlighten me.”

“Do you remember a couple years ago a professional skier got into an accident? Made the news for months—”

The light went off in his head. His eyes glimmered and he shot a finger at me. “Ah! That’s where I know you from! You’re the Blizzard. Shit man, yeah, I do remember that.” I tried to nod confidently, though I’m not sure I was able to pull it off. “I thought you were supposed to be this heartthrob or something. You look like shit.”

“Thanks,” I said with a glare. “You aren’t looking too pretty yourself.”

Rick clicked his tongue and grinned. “I even remember the spread your girl did in
Playboy
. Hot little thing you had there.”

I should’ve been prepared for him to throw that back in my face. I gritted my teeth as the images flashed through my mind. Turns out, whatever I was to Angela at one point, towards the end I primarily became her path to fame. When it looked like my career wasn’t going to hit the big leagues, she’d decided to cash in on the tragedy in any way she could. Interviews, articles...
Playboy
was the real launching point of her D-list popularity.

Rick finally looked at me with a modicum of respect. At least he knew I wasn’t bullshitting him anymore, but gaining respect from a guy like that left me feeling filthy.

“Yeah, well, looks aren’t everything.”

“Yo, you still got her number? That spread was smokin’ hot. She had the sweetest little pussy—”

“No,” I snapped. I hated even thinking about that blonde vampire. I steadied myself and plastered on another smile. “I don’t need it, remember? I’ve got Liz’s.”

That shut him up, bringing him back to the point we were originally circling. “So what, you’re loaded or something?”

“You could say that. Between my career and the accident, I have a fair amount in the bank.”
Money and power...

He took a couple steps towards me, the image clearing in his mind. “Let’s just put this all out there, make sure we’re speaking the same language. You’re saying you want to buy Beth’s virginity from me?” he said incredulously, as if he hadn’t done the very same thing to her.

“That’s right,” I nodded, the words tasting bitter. The deeper into this persona, this amplified asshole version of myself, the easier it became. “Are you deaf? I told you I already took it. Early Christmas present, remember? See it as a way to recoup your losses, move on to the next naive girl that doesn’t see you for the shit head you are.”

Rick’s dark eyes darted back and forth between mine as he considered the offer. “Half a million.”

“Fuck off,” I spat. “I know what you gave her.”

His eyebrow twitched. “You know what she says I gave her. She’s got a tight little ass, but don’t let that fool you,” he said conversationally, like we were suddenly friends and he was offering me advice. “Whatever she says I paid her, add a couple hundred thousand on top and you’re getting closer to the real number.”

“I’m not sure you understand the concept of depreciation. You don’t get to ask for more when the value is gone.”

He turned to face me, the friendly guise slipping. “I get to ask for more when I’m the one in control. Half a million dollars.”

“Three hundred.”

A wicked smile spread across his face but his eyes didn’t move from mine. For the briefest moment, I’d thought I’d won. When I heard Liz’s voice behind me, my world came to a screeching halt.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Liz said. I turned to see her standing with Kayla. I had no idea how long she’d been there, but apparently long enough. She looked at me with tears in her eyes but gestured for me to continue. “Oh please, keep bargaining. Let’s see how low you can get him. Quick question, though. When you’re finished, do I just lay down and spread my legs here?” She motioned to the ground at her feet.

Kayla looked at her in confusion. “What are they talking about,” but Liz waved her off.

“No, seriously, carry on.”

“No, that’s what not what I meant. You don’t understand—” I started to say. An icy dread seeped into my heart.

“I know what I heard. Like I’m some type of commodity you two can pass around?” She shot me the same disgusted look she gave him. Of all the horrible times for her to come back...

“Liz, please,” I begged. I had to make her understand what I’d been trying to do, that I’d been doing it for her, for the future.

She thrust her finger out to Rick but glared at me. “Say what you want about him, but he was always upfront with me. He’s never pretended to be anything he isn’t. He might be a raging prick, but at least he’s an honest one.”

“Thanks, babe,” Rick laughed. He looked like a kid at Christmas, the glee on his face visible.

She switched her index finger for her middle one, but her eyes locked on me. “I trusted you. I trusted you more than anyone else.” Her lower lip quivered with anger. I needed to hold her, to explain what I’d been doing, so I took a step forward. She jumped back, almost knocking Kayla over in her urgency to escape. “Don’t you dare come near me.”

“I trust you, too. I’ve been more open with you than anyone—”

“Not open enough. I’m done with good intentions,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’m done.” She walked away, stopping after only a few short steps. She turned and looked over her shoulder. “And by the way, just so you know, I’m still a virgin. At this rate, I will be for the rest of my life,” she glared at Rick, sparing me only a glance. “Fuckers.”

Rick stepped back and leaned against the wall of the utility shed, laughing to himself. “Looks like you screwed up, boy. Screwed up real good.”

I looked at him for a moment, considering the chance to wear out my pent-up rage on his face. No cops, no guns, just my fists pounding some sense into him.

He raised an eyebrow, as if he could read my thoughts. Crossing his arms, he smirked. “Let’s make it three-fifty and you have yourself a deal.”

If it weren’t for all those potential witnesses standing around, I just might have killed him then and there.

“I knew I shouldn’t have come,” I grumbled. I took a makeup remover cloth from my bathroom drawer and wiped my eyes clean. There was no way to salvage my makeup, so I chose to start fresh. Plus, it’d give me a chance to splash cold water on my face and cool my blotchy skin. I’d always been an ugly crier.

“Don’t start,” Kayla said with a huff. She pushed herself up on the bathroom counter beside the sink and handed me another tissue. “You didn’t seriously think you’d solve everything in one five minute conversation, did you?”

I glanced at her and scowled at my reflection. “I didn’t expect him to be such a...”

“Rick?” Kayla laughed. “I don’t know what the hell is going on between you two, but I’m sure you’ll be able to find some type of solution.” My hand paused mid-wipe. Should I tell her? Maybe if she knew exactly what was at stake, she’d be able to give me some advice I could actually use. Bryan was good and all, but she actually
knew
Rick.

“Maybe,” I replied. My silence implied I was leaving a lot unsaid. I plunged my hands under the cold faucet and splashed the water against my face, running through the conversation I’d just had with him.

I had tried, I really had. Letting him get under my skin wasn’t going to do any good for anybody. So, I’d offered to give him back the money. He counteroffered by saying he wouldn’t beat me if I let him record my first time. As calmly as I could, I told him if he raised a hand to me, I’d kill him in his sleep. Rick had apparently found that amusing and implied I should keep a better eye on my drinks from then on, so I threw my beer at his head. It wasn’t any one thing he’d said or done. Simply being in his presence was enough to make me lose my shit. As I’d walked up the hill to the cabin, I realized making peace with him was going to be close to impossible. Unless I found a way in...

Toweling off my face and cringing at the blotchy, red skin I saw in the mirror, I considered Kayla for a moment. Can I trust you? I thought.