Rapture & Ruin by Julia Sykes
Chapter 15
Allie
I’m as crazy as Max. I had to be, because I’d kissed my stalker. I’d kissed the man who was intent on blackmailing my dad.
I’d barely slept last night, unable to get comfortable. That strange heat persisted low in my belly, but my skin had been icy. Ever since Max had abruptly pushed me away, I’d been on the verge of tears whenever I thought about him.
And I couldn’t stop thinking about him. About our kiss. The best kiss of my life.
Not that there had been many, but nothing that’d happened with other boys even began to compare the madness that’d overtaken me when Max’s lips touched mine.
But he’d shoved me away and barked at me to go inside. Then he’d disappeared into the night so quickly that I questioned my sanity. Had he been there at all? It seemed surreal now: Max waiting at my door with a bottle of wine; our argument over Niko while I huddled in his jacket; my intense, mindless reaction to his kiss.
I rubbed at the persistent ache in the center of my chest and leaned back on the padded seat of the cab with a sigh. Today had been miserable. This morning, I’d barely gotten through Saturday brunch with my dad without bursting into tears. He’d been able to tell something was wrong with me, and I’d had to lie. I’d babbled about work stress or something. I couldn’t quite remember. The entire day had been a blur, and I couldn’t wait to get home.
My heart leapt for a moment. What if Max was waiting for me on my front porch?
I wanted to talk to him so badly. And I never wanted to see him again. My emotions were a tangled mess when it came to Max Ferrara.
For the dozenth time today, I yanked my fingers away from my lips. I kept tracing them, struggling to ease the phantom tingle that his kiss seemed to have branded into my flesh.
It was absolutely insane to think that I’d kissed the man who’d kidnapped me and tied me to a chair in his basement. No matter if he’d saved my life when that car had been rushing right at me. No matter if he’d tried to protect me from Niko because of his misguided belief that the Russian was somehow dangerous. No matter if the pain in his eyes when he said he was a monster made my heart tug toward him.
I rubbed my chest again, pressing my palm tight against my sternum to alleviate the ache.
I felt raw, my nerves ragged and painfully exposed. Tonight, I’d barely been able to withstand Gavin’s snide remarks at our networking event. It’d taken all my willpower to drag myself to the meeting of the Legal Networking Group, and my bully had made it every bit as miserable as I’d feared. Every time I’d turned around, he’d seemed to be lurking close by, waiting to get in a snide insult or passive aggressive remark. By then end of the night, he’d been visibly inebriated, and he’d become even more persistent in his efforts to rattle me, that nasty smile tainting his otherwise handsome features.
I was rattled enough without Gavin’s torment. I had much bigger issues than my childhood bully to cope with.
Some of the tension eased from my muscles when the cab turned onto my street. Almost home. I could hardly wait to cuddle up beneath my fuzzy pink blanket with a book and a glass of pinot.
The memory of the wine Max had brought me flashed through my mind, drawing a shiver to the surface of my skin. He’d known what kind I liked because he’d broken into my home and rifled through my belongings. That violation still shook me to my core, even if I’d come to understand him better since then.
When I’d stepped outside this morning, the bottle hadn’t been where I’d abandoned it on the front step. I wasn’t sure if Max had taken it with him or if someone else had cleaned it up. Last night, I’d been too desperate to scramble away from his dark mood to even think about the wine.
He’d seemed furious with me, but he’d been the one to initiate the kiss. And yet, he’d glowered at me as though it’d been my fault.
A spark of anger flickered in my chest, and I stoked it. Anger was a much less messy emotion to cope with than the sickening swirl of hurt and confusion that’d haunted me all day. I had a terrible suspicion that the persistent sting at the corners of my eyes and the tightness in my stomach were symptoms of rejection, and that was the most insane thing of all. I should’ve been relieved that Max had put a stop to our momentary mutual madness. Instead, I felt slightly queasy.
I shook my head to clear away the conflicting emotions as the cab pulled up in front of my door. No Max waiting on my front porch.
I resolutely ignored the sinking sensation in my chest, paid the fare, and stepped out onto the sidewalk. I hadn’t made it two steps when a second car door slammed a few yards behind me.
“Freckles!”
My stomach dropped to the pavement. No. Gavin couldn’t be here. He didn’t love tormenting me enough to follow me home. That was too far, even for him.
Refusing to glance over my shoulder, I quickly marched to my front door.
“Hey, Freckles! Don’t walk away from me.”
Oh my god. That was definitely Gavin’s alcohol-slurred voice.
My disbelief that he’d pursued me all the way to my house was washed away by a wave of nausea. I had to get inside and lock the door between us.
I’d managed to reach my front stoop when his hand snagged my wrist. “I’m talking to you,” he said hotly, demanding my attention.
I rounded on him, releasing all my roiling emotions in a burst of rage. “What the hell are you doing here, Gavin?”
He stepped toward me. I took a step back and bumped against my door. He crowded me, his tall frame dwarfing mine. Fear skittered down my spine, and I tried to yank my hand free from his grip. His fingers tightened, clenching hard enough to leave a bruise. Just like he’d done when we were teenagers. I couldn’t smother a wince, and his white teeth flashed in a savage grin.
“You drive me crazy, you know that? I think you do.” He leaned in, and the stale scent of beer washed over my face, making my stomach turn. “You like driving me crazy, little tease. I think you wear these tight skirts just for me.” His free hand sank into my hip, squeezing harder than his fingers on my wrist.
A humiliating whimper slipped through my pursed lips before I could stifle it. He grinned.
“Fuck, you’re so hot.”
“Let me go,” I seethed, trying to twist away. His hands clamped down harder. Pain shot through my hip and wrist, and I swallowed another shameful sound of distress. I lifted my chin, drawing on my years of practice in dealing with this bully. I barely succeeded in keeping my posture straight. He’d never touched me like this before. He’d never pinned me and looked at me with lust clouding his navy eyes.
Backing down and cowering wasn’t an option, no matter how much this new aspect of his cruelty unnerved me. My hand fisted around my keys in my purse. If I had to, I’d use them as a weapon.
But my dad was the mayor. This could cause a scandal. Even if the altercation wasn’t my fault, it would end up in the news if I seriously hurt Gavin.
And judging by the harshness of his hold, I’d have to use significant force to get him to release me. He was drunk and probably had eighty pounds on me. I had no idea what he was capable of. I never would’ve imagined this awful scenario, and his unpredictability was scary as hell.
“I’ve let you get away with harassing me at the office because I didn’t want to cause any professional tension.” Only years of practice allowed me to keep my voice calm and even. “But if you don’t let me go right now, I’ll file criminal charges.”
I tried to jerk away again, but his fingers dug in deeper as his handsome features twisted into a scowl. “You think you’re too good for me, but I bet you’re a dirty little slut now that you’re all grown up. The ugly ones always turn into desperate sluts. You’re lucky I even want to fuck you.”
My hand firmed around my keys, and I slid the sharpest one between my fingers, ready to gouge him. I’d never hurt anyone before, and my stomach turned at the prospect of drawing blood.
He released my hip, and I sucked in a shuddering breath. He was going to back off. I wouldn’t have to strike him.
Then, his hand roved lower, dipping behind me to grope my butt.
Panic spiked, and my composed mask shattered. “Stop!” I shrieked, completely losing my calm façade. “Let me go!”
Acting on blind instinct, I wrenched my keys out of my purse and swung. Before the sharp metal could connect with his face, a terrible snarl ripped through the air, and Gavin’s pawing hands were jerked away from my body. He fell back, his arms flailing for balance. A familiar dark shadow shoved my assailant farther away from me. Gavin tripped down the stairs and hit the pavement with a bone-shattering crack.
Max was on him before the ragged cry finished leaving his chest. My protector’s meaty fist slammed into Gavin’s jaw, and his head snapped to the side. He drew his fist back again, pummeling the man who’d groped me.
A sharp exclamation to my right tore my horrified focus away from the two men. A middle-aged couple had stopped on the sidewalk several yards away. The man’s arm clasped the woman tight to his side, edging his body between hers and the violence unfolding at my feet. Her hand was clapped over her chest, and her eyes were wide. “Call the police!” she urged her partner.
A thrill of alarm shuddered through me. The cops couldn’t come here. They’d arrest Max for assault. And he’d be implicated in a police report with my name in it. If I wanted to keep him off my dad’s radar, I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“Max!” I cried, turning my attention back to the grappling men. Gavin was sprawled beneath him, blood splattering the pavement and dripping from his split lips. “Max, stop!”
My dark protector went rigid, freezing with his fist pulled back in midair. I hurried toward them and clasped his shoulder before he could change his mind. Powerful muscles rippled and flexed beneath my touch, but he didn’t take his eyes off my attacker.
Gavin’s eyes were wild, his bloody lips slack with horror. Was that terrified expression the same one that’d contorted my features the first time I’d seen Max’s scarred, rage-twisted face?
My heart ached, and my hand firmed on his shoulder. “You have to stop,” I said gently. “Someone will call the cops.”
His fist dropped, but he lowered his snarling face closer to Gavin’s. My bully squirmed and tried to scramble away. Max grabbed his shirt, trapping him under his menacing scowl.
“Never touch her again.” The words were so gravelly that they were barely discernible, but Gavin nodded with a shaky jerk of his head.
“I won’t. I swear. I didn’t. Jesus…” He babbled beneath the crushing weight of Max’s rage and the terrifying sight of his damaged face, twisted with dark retribution.
Max recoiled from Gavin as though my bully was suddenly toxic. He shoved to his feet, positioning his big body between me and my tormentor. I peeked around his bulky frame, keeping my eyes on the threat even as I huddled behind my protector.
My keys were still in my fist, the metal digging into my palm with the intensity of my grip. Max had spared me from having to gouge Gavin’s face. There wasn’t so much as a speckle of blood on my hand.
But Max’s knuckles were painted red with Gavin’s blood. He appeared entirely unharmed, but my bully huddled on the pavement, moaning and clutching his right arm. I remembered the sickening crack when he’d fallen down the stairs, and I wondered if he’d broken bone.
Something savage seared the inside of my chest. I hoped it hurt like hell. Judging by the tears streaming down his face, diluting the crimson blood that dripped from his lips, Gavin was in a lot of pain.
Good. He’d caused me an ocean of pain over the years. He’d followed me home, groped me, and left bruises on my skin. I wasn’t sure what else he would’ve done to me if Max hadn’t come to my defense.
“Leave,” Max seethed, his chest rising and falling on heavy breaths. He hadn’t even broken a sweat, but his entire body practically thrummed with suppressed violence.
Gavin stumbled to his feet, cringing when his arm shifted at the movement. He cradled it to his chest, blinking hard as more tears fell. His navy eyes shifted to me, fear morphing into familiar contempt. “Is this your boyfriend, Freckles?”
Max’s body went eerily still. “Don’t look at her. Look at me.” His voice was a harsh rasp, and I resisted the urge to step away from his palpable menace.
Instead, I edged closer to him, keeping the solid barrier between Gavin and me. My bully could easily harm me, but Max had made it abundantly clear that the spoiled rich boy couldn’t hurt him.
“Never come here again.” That same gravelly, bone-chilling tone. “Don’t talk to her. Don’t breathe the same air as her. If you do, I’ll know.”
Gavin’s tanned skin paled, and he swallowed hard before he managed to gather some false bravado. His chin jutted up as he sneered, “And what are you going to do about it, ugly?”
Max remained utterly still, as though his body was carved from ice. From my vantage point, I could only see him in profile, but the cruel grin that split his scarred features made my stomach knot.
“I’ll break more of your bones.” The threat was a calm statement of fact. “We can start right now if you want. You have three seconds to walk away. She won’t be able to stop me next time.”
Gavin’s face went a sickly shade of green, and his eyes briefly flickered to me. A low warning sound that was purely predatory rumbled from Max, and he shifted to hide me from my bully’s view.
Without thinking, I touched my hand to his lower back, as though that would be enough to tether him to me. “Don’t,” I whispered. My voice was too quiet for Gavin to hear me, but Max’s muscles uncoiled ever so slightly beneath my fingertips. He didn’t advance on my attacker.
Despite my vindictive pleasure at Gavin’s suffering, I really didn’t want that older couple to call the cops. They’d crossed the street to avoid the conflict, but they still hovered nearby, monitoring the situation. The man hadn’t pulled out his phone, but that didn’t mean he’d hesitate to contact the police if violence broke out again.
Gavin’s bloody lips twisted with contempt, and he spat at Max’s feet before turning and stalking away. Within a few yards, he managed to hail a taxi, retreating from the threats issued by my dark protector.
My hand firmed on Max’s back as I leaned into him for support. My knees were suddenly shaky, and my teeth clicked together as my skin pebbled. I hadn’t realized that I’d been riding an adrenaline high until the danger passed, and now I felt weirdly tingly and lightheaded.
Max turned to me, his big hands gently grasping my shoulders to steady me. Those black eyes were soft as they roved over each of my features, assessing. His hair was still pushed back from his brow, his scar fully visible. But I didn’t experience even a twinge of fear. His terrifying scowl had scared off my assailant. The mark might look frightening, but it couldn’t hurt me.
Max wouldn’t hurt me.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice deep and soothing.
“Y-yeah.” The word shook, and I realized I was lying. I wasn’t okay. That’d been deeply disturbing, and Gavin’s new kind of sexual aggression shook me to my core. “No,” I admitted. “Not really.”
Max cocked his head at me, those deep, dark eyes intent on every nuance of my expression. “You should sit down. Eat something. Hydrate.” He nodded in the direction of my front door. “Go on.”
“I don’t have any food in my fridge,” I said without thinking. Earlier, I’d been too distracted to go to the store for my weekend grocery run, and I’d been so anxious that I hadn’t been hungry, anyway. Now, my stomach twisted with a sudden hunger pang, and my fingers shook.
His full lips pressed together in a thin, disapproving line. “Okay. I’ll take you someplace. Where do you like to go around here?”
“Pairings,” I replied automatically. It was my favorite local spot, just around the corner from my apartment. They had an epic charcuterie and cheese board. It was my comfort food place where I went to unwind when I wanted to go out with my friends but stay close to home.
Max’s brows lifted. “That’s a wine bar, right? You need to eat something.”
“They have food,” I countered, suddenly ravenous. “I can go order takeout. You don’t have to come with me.”
He wrapped a strong arm around my shoulders and tucked me close to his side. “Well, I am. I’m not leaving you alone until you’re safely back in your apartment.”
I started walking alongside him, deciding not to argue. I was still shaken by what Gavin had done, and truthfully, I didn’t want to be alone right now. I wouldn’t feel safe out here, but I really did want to eat something.
“Okay,” I agreed, leaning into him slightly as we walked toward my comfort place. I needed the support, even if it came from the most unlikely person imaginable. The man who’d kidnapped and interrogated me only a couple of weeks ago had saved me multiple times. I was safe with him, no matter how scary he looked.