Traitor (9 page)

I couldn’t keep the sympathy from showing on my face. “She died?” I asked quietly.

“No,” he said. “She lost her mind. She’ll be in an institution for the rest of her life. And I did nothing to prevent it.”

I gasped, horrified. “That’s terrible,” I said. Instinctively, I reached out my hand and covered his, squeezing gently. “But you can’t blame yourself for that.”

He met my gaze, his expression pained. “Can’t I?” He asked softly. “If I had just talked to her instead of blowing her off… I abandoned her. And now she’s worse than dead.”

“She made her choices,” I said, my voice firm. “What happened to her is awful, but it’s not your fault. Do you really think that you could have stopped her?”

He pursed his lips. “Maybe not,” he admitted.

I traced small circles on the back of his hand. He looked down, his brows lifting as though he was surprised that I was touching him.

“I don’t usually talk about her,” he said softly.

I smiled at him gently. “I don’t usually talk about my parents.” I looked at him intently. “You can talk to me.”

He turned his hand so that our palms were pressed together, and his fingers closed around mine. “Thank you,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. He returned my smile weakly. “Come on. We should probably eat. You look like you need it.”

I allowed him to change the subject, recognizing that he had shared enough for one day, just as I had felt earlier. We seemed to understand one another, and I marveled at the fact that I was connecting with someone other than Sean. Maybe being around Sean had been good for me; maybe Clayton could help me heal if I opened up to him. And perhaps I could help him to heal as well. The thought made me feel… good.

Was it possible that I was making a friend for the first time in fourteen years?

Chapter 7

“Are you off work yet?” I texted Sean the next evening.

It had taken me a little while to find his number in my phone. I had to scroll all the way through my contacts – it was a short list, so it didn’t take too long – to find him. The cocky bastard had listed himself as “Sexy.” I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t change it to “Sean.” It was funny, to be honest. And appropriate. I would let it slide.

It was almost six o’clock, and I hoped that he was still busy. Maybe that way I could catch Bradley at home alone. The thought made my stomach quiver, but I had promised Clayton that I would try to interact with him. I just prayed that he wouldn’t hit me. I was counting on his fear of Sean’s retribution to protect me.

He replied instantly. “Yep. Just .have to swing by my place to shower before coming over. Unless you want me to take you up on that joint shower? ;) “

I laughed out loud. “Really? A winky-face emoticon? What are you, a fifteen-year-old girl?”

“Watch yourself, little one. You’re in enough trouble for teasing me as it is. What about that shower?”

As much as I was tempted to take him up on his offer, I needed to get into his apartment before he did. And without him finding out about it before I did so. If I went up now, then I had a chance at catching Bradley but not talking to him for too long before Sean got home. I was already in his parking garage. I guessed I had maybe ten or fifteen minutes before he arrived. Enough time to talk to Bradley without him killing me before Sean came home. I hoped.

“Tomorrow morning. I promise,” I responded.

“Looking forward to it ;) .”

I snorted. It seemed that Sean had a silly side. It just further endeared me to him.

My mood soured instantly as my mind returned to my task. Taking a deep breath, I forced my body to get out of my car. I remembered the code to get into the building; it was burned into my brain from when Bradley had forced me to enter it on the night that he had abducted me.

I felt cold at the memory of my terror, but I shoved it back, strengthening my resolve. Still, dread filled my gut as I knocked tentatively on their apartment door.

“Damn it, Sean, did you forget your keys again? Where is your brain these days?” I had a moment to register Bradley’s irritated tone before the door swung open.

His mouth immediately pressed into a grim line and he folded his arms across his chest. I noticed his bulging muscles and fought back the urge to swallow hard.

“Um, hi,” I said, my voice shaky. “I’m here to see Sean.”

He glared at me for a moment. “Fuck you. He’s not here, whore.” I tried not to flinch at the insulting term.

I had to press on. “Uh, could I at least wait inside until he comes home?”

“You have got to be kidding me. If you think I’m letting you cross my threshold, you’re even more of a fucking idiot than I thought you were.”

I fixed him with a hard stare. “Do you want Sean to come home to find me waiting in the hallway? Do you think he would take that well?”

Bradley ground his teeth together, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. But after a moment, he stepped aside. “Fine. Just this once. But I swear to god if you ever come here again, I’ll hurt you. Sean can use your house as your fuck pad. If I hear you with him one more time I am going to personally haul your ass out of here and chuck you out on the street stark naked. You got me?”

This time I did swallow, physically forcing back the fear that was rising in my throat, and I nodded jerkily.

He shifted his body so that I had barely enough room to skirt around him. Somehow, I managed to squeeze through the small gap without brushing up against him. Who knew what he would do to me if I touched him? I was relieved to recall that his gun was safely stashed in my purse. I hoped to god that he hadn’t yet realized that Sean had given it to me. I turned to face him once I had gotten a few feet into the apartment, careful to keep some distance between the two of us.

“So,” I said awkwardly. “You work with Sean, right? How come you’re home and he’s not?” I decided to break the ice with an innocent question.

But his brows drew together and he looked at me with disdain. Maybe it hadn’t been so innocent. “Because I haven’t been flaking off work to fuck some whore.”

I flinched.

As if any woman would ever sleep with you willingly,
I wanted to hurl at him. But I bit my tongue, forcing myself to remain civil.

“Does Sean’s father work there too? He mentioned something to me about going into the family business.”

Bradley’s eyes narrowed, regarding me with suspicion. “Why are you asking me about Ronan?” He demanded.

“Ah, just trying to make small talk,” I said quickly. “I was just curious. I want to know more about Sean.”

“Then ask him yourself,” he snapped.

“It seems to be a bit of a sore subject.” I knew that I was playing with fire by pressing him like this, but I needed him to tell me more. “When I met Ronan, he, um… He didn’t seem to like me too much. I was wondering if I did anything to offend him? I don’t want to be the cause of bad blood between Sean and his dad.”

“It’s a little late to prevent that. But yes, you’re making things worse. Sean would be better off without you in his life. Is that what you wanted to hear?” He snarled.

I couldn’t help scowling at him. “I’m not leaving Sean,” I said staunchly. “So what can I do to make things better?”

He threw up his hands. “What do you want me to tell you? Bake him some fucking cookies and it will make things all rosy? Ronan is a hard man, and if he chooses to hate you, then he’s going to hate you. In fact, I’ve never known him to like anyone. If you’re smart, you’ll leave it alone.”

“Why is he such an ass to Sean?” I demanded. “I know that Ronan hit him.”

Bradley’s hands clenched to fists. “He told you that?” He said angrily. “He must be losing his fucking mind.” He studied my face for a long moment, his eyes assessing me carefully. I tried my best to school my expression to blankness.

“Why are you really asking questions, bitch?” He asked, his voice dangerous. “Has someone put you up to this?”

“No!” I said quickly, panic shooting through my gut. I had pushed things too far. Talking to Bradley had been a bad idea.

He started to advance on me, and I backed away quickly. I was stopped short when my thighs hit the back of the couch, and he got right up in my face, invading my personal space. I leaned back from him, my hands gripping the couch, and I bit back a frightened whimper. I couldn’t deny that he was intimidating as hell, and he hadn’t hesitated to hurt me before. Had I pushed him over the edge? Was he going to make good on his threat to hit me?

“I don’t believe you,” he growled. “You’re scared shitless. You know I’m on to you.”

I shook my head vehemently. “Of course I’m scared. You’re threatening me when I just asked you some simple questions about Sean’s family. You’re seriously over-reacting.”

His hand wrapped around my throat, not squeezing, but silently threatening. “I don’t believe you,” he said softly.

I heard a lock turn and the door opened. “Sean!” I cried, relief washing over me.

Bradley dropped his hand a backed away quickly, but Sean’s eyes burned with a furious light, and he advanced on his friend. “What have I told you about threatening her?” He snarled.

Bradley held his hands in front of him. “She was asking questions,” he said in a defensive tone.

“And she deserves to be strangled for that?” He demanded, all of his muscles tense as he fought to restrain himself.

“I wasn’t hurting her,” Bradley insisted. “Bitch was a little too curious for her own good. I don’t trust her, Sean. She’s got you so screwed up. Does she have a magical cunt or something?”

Bradley had just fucked up big time, and that knowledge registered in his eyes in the split-second that it took Sean to launch himself at him. Sean’s fist connected squarely with his friend’s jaw, and he went sprawling to the floor.

“Son of a bitch!” Bradley ground out even as Sean drew back his foot to kick him in the stomach. But Bradley anticipated the move, and he grabbed at Sean’s ankle. He went crashing to the ground, and Bradley rolled on top of him.

“Sean!” I cried out, terrified for him. He might be larger than his friend, but Bradley looked murderous. He punched Sean viciously in the gut, and he curled up into himself, clutching at his stomach as he gasped for air. Bradley’s furious gaze returned to me, and he pushed himself up to his feet. I quickly moved to dart around the couch, trying to put the piece of furniture between myself and him. But he was faster than I was, and his hand tangled in my hair, jerking me painfully back into him. I couldn’t hold back a terrified scream.

But I heard him grunt behind me, and he released me instantly. I spun to find him clutching at his lower back; Sean had punched him in the kidney. He turned to Sean and drew back his fist, but I caught his arm, desperately trying to deflect his blow. He thrust his elbow back sharply, catching me in the stomach. Agony ripped through me as all of the air rushed out of me. I fell, gasping and clutching at my middle as my insides felt like they had been torn apart.

I heard Sean snarl and I watched through watering eyes as he tackled Bradley. He landed on top of him and immediately brought his fist down across his face. Bradley’s head snapped to the side, and I saw blood spray from his mouth. Sean drew his arm back to hit him again, but I couldn’t bear to see any more, couldn’t stand to see this violent side of him.

“Stop,” I gasped weakly. Sean glanced over at me. “Please.”

Sean stood immediately and came to crouch at my side. Bradley stayed down, groaning in pain.

Sean gently ran his fingers over my cheeks, wiping away the tears that I didn’t know I had spilled. “Are you alright, little one?” He asked gently.

“I…” I took inventory of my body. The back of my scalp tingled where Bradley had yanked at my hair, and my stomach muscles were still spasming painfully. “I think so,” I lied.

He eyed me skeptically. Then his arms were around me, and he drew me up against his chest, cradling me in his arms as he lifted me up.

“I can walk,” I protested. He just shot me a forbidding look, fury still burning in his eyes. I quivered in his grip and pursed my lips together.

“You asshole,” Bradley groaned, turning his head to Sean and touching his face tenderly. “I think you knocked one of my teeth loose.”

Sean stared at him coldly. “I told you that I wouldn’t tolerate you abusing her. You’re lucky that she stopped me from doing worse.”

Bradley’s expression twisted into something horrible as he bared his teeth at his friend. They were stained red with his blood, and I shuddered at the sight. I hated that Sean had done that to him, even as I was grateful that he had protected me.

“You think you’re protecting her?” Bradley said threateningly. “What do you think Ronan will say when I tell him about this? When I tell him that the bitch was asking questions about him? You’ve just made everything worse for her,” he sneered.

Sean’s arms tensed around me. “So now you’re tattling on me?” He hissed. “Some friend you are.”

Bradley turned his head and spat out blood. “Consider our friendship over until you come to your senses and cut that whore loose. She’s really fucked you up, man. I’m not standing up for you anymore.”

I looked up and saw a trace of pain in Sean’s eyes, flickering through the ire that filled them.

“Fine,” he snapped. “If that’s how you want it. I don’t even know who you are anymore. My friend wouldn’t attack an innocent woman; he wouldn’t threaten to kill her after she saved my life.”

Bradley growled in frustration. “Everything I did that night was to protect you. Even now I’m only thinking of what’s best for you, despite the fact that you’re pissing all over me. She’s dangerous, Sean. You’re making a mistake trusting her. If I have to talk to Ronan in order for him to convince you to give her up, then that’s what I’ll do.”

“You fucking traitor,” Sean ground out. “Goodbye, Bradley.”

Sean turned on his heel, shifting me in his grip to slam the door behind him. He refused to release me, holding me as we rode down in the elevator and entered the parking lot. He carried me towards the passenger side of my car.

“I can drive,” I protested.

He pinned me with a hard look. “I didn’t ask whether or not you could drive. I’m taking you home. This isn’t up for discussion.”