“Let’s just say they let it be known what would happen to a pretty white boy if I ever landed in prison.”

  “Ugh.” I nuzzled into him even closer. “I’m sorry.”

  Together, we sat quietly but I sensed he was bursting out of his skin to know what happened.

  “You father is a real piece of work.”

  “Lured into a life he wanted but didn’t know what to do with.” My sigh was as exaggerated as his had been.

  The silence over the next few seconds was far too quiet. I was pulled into the kind of darkness I’d tried to avoid, but it seemed opening up more than one can of worms had been inevitable.

  “What happened? I could tell you went through something more traumatic than being bullied by two huge dudes.”

  I knew he was trying to make me feel more comfortable and I adored him for it. I squeezed his hand, trying to find the courage left in me to say the words. It was even tougher than I’d originally thought. “There’s little to tell. I was the kind of young girl to jump off the walls I had so much energy. My parents were having a party and allowed me to consume my favorite treat. Ice cream. Little did I know they’d put sleeping pills in the ice cream.”

  “What the fuck?”

  “Well, it was an important event for both of them, the introduction of them into the upper echelon of society. My father had calculated every aspect of his career. No, I didn’t know that then. However, when I got older and had started snooping, I learned how important being in several important social circles had become.”

  He remained quiet, which of course prompted me to continue. The pit in my stomach was intense but for once, it felt almost good to expose the darkness. “Anyway, the night of the party I understand a lot of alcohol had been consumed. The party got louder, music blaring and it kind of woke me up. It was dark, just the moon streaming in through the open blinds but…”

  The way Braxton gripped my arm allowed me to continue.

  “Anyway, someone was standing over me. A figure. A man. I thought at first it was my dad, but his breath was laced with something nasty. Then he put his hand over my mouth and…” The choke I’d tried to keep from releasing the demons I’d fought so hard to keep under control finally gave way like a dam with far too much pressure.

  I sensed by the way he wrapped his arm around me I didn’t need to say a word to finish the story but I had to get through it. The one decent thing the psychiatrist had told me much later in life was that if I wanted to have a successful relationship, I’d need to face what happened by telling the person I cared about.

  God help me, Braxton was someone I wanted with all my heart to fall desperately in love with. Was the concept nuts? Maybe, but people had become attracted to one another from far less.

  “You don’t need to do this,” he growled.

  “Yes, I do. The asshole can’t hurt me any longer. Not my body and not my mind. I refuse to allow it to happen. He touched me inappropriately, holding me down as he did so. The only good thing was that someone had interrupted us, preventing the asshole from finishing the horrible deed.”

  “Who the fuck was it?”

  “I don’t know and my parents didn’t push it. They told me it was just a nightmare and nothing more. I tried to believe them because as a kid, I wanted to, but it never left me. The nightmares, the visions. Finally, when I was back in school years later and I’d started acting up, I had a very nice counselor who listened and believed me. That started a whole issue with my parents and it wasn’t pretty.”

  “Jesus. Fucking. Christ. I should kill the man.”

  “You should understand that the scandal could have ruined his career. No, it’s something I can’t forgive him for, especially since my parents knew I wasn’t the kind of kid who lied. It took me until after I’d graduated to put it into perspective. They honestly didn’t believe anything had occurred.”

  “I don’t care how you play this, what they did was reprehensible. You protect your family. My father wasn’t the most loving, but he would have scoured the ends of the earth to hunt and destroy anyone who hurt his kids in any way.”

  “You were lucky. Maybe that’s why I never wanted a relationship, and the ones I had were always toxic.”

  Braxton pressed his lips against the top of my forehead. “You will never need to endure that shit around me. We could have a dozen kids and I would watch out over all of them.”

  While I knew his statement was heartfelt, it still surprised me. His conviction also brought me out of the darkness, as if finally the memory could fade away, locked in a dark box and buried where it belonged.

  And what struck me was that I could see us having children together. Lots of them. The feeling was something I’d never experienced before but I knew it in my soul.

  But more than that, more than the sun, moon, and stars, I knew I was falling in love with him. No tragedy, no monster could prevent that from happening.

  I loved him.

  CHAPTER 25

  Braxton

  “I don’t give a fuck,” I hissed. “I am going to bring that man down.” My statement was full of anger, more so than when she’d told me what she’d endured. To think a man would allow his child to continue having nightmares, daring not to believe her story was blasphemous. Disgusting. I didn’t care what it took or how much money I spent, I would bring the fucker down and his entire world.

  Jack eyed me cautiously. “Every man has an ugly secret, you included.”

  “Yeah, well, I didn’t place my child in harm’s way.”

  “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

  I’d promised her that her secret would stay safe with me and the last thing I wanted to do was to betray her confidence. It had taken a lot for Jasmine to admit what she’d endured. I refused to betray her like her family had.

  “I can’t. Just know that it’s obvious fame and fortune mean more to him than anything else.”

  “There was a time I could have said that about you. As a matter of fact, up until recently.”

  “Fuck you!” I was in the security room, my outburst finally drawing the attention of others in the room. They squirmed as if uncomfortable as hell.

  I backed away, moving to the single window in the room. It had a beautiful view of the resort, the ocean in the background. What I hated almost as much as what she’d told me was that I felt helpless. Not a good look on me at all.

  “Look, I’ll do what I can, but Ambassador Sinclair has a strong network of people doing nothing but keeping him and his secrets protected. He’s hosting a party tonight, glorifying his position and appearance in DC. Everyone who’s anyone will be there.”

  I heard Jack. I understood his concern. The few times I’d gone off the rails hadn’t occurred without some damaging results. But what good was having all the money in the world when it couldn’t be used for the greater good?

  “I don’t give a shit. Not a single shit. Find a way and let me know when you do.”

  “What about Santini? Rumor is he’s planning something. What, I haven’t found out.”

  I mulled over his question. “Keep at it. If word on the street is that his former bride to be is alive and that I was the one who saved her, then he won’t take it lightly.”

  “Testosterone and all that?”

  At least he could grin about it. “Something like that. I need to go.”

  He touched my arm as he’d done before and I had to fight not to take out my rage on my buddy. “Just don’t go off halfcocked. One thing we did learn overnight was that there’s chatter about her being alive.”

  “Did her father even make inquiries with the authorities?”

  His shrug told me everything I didn’t want to know. “Yeah, but I don’t think it went anywhere since he wasn’t around her. Just try and calm down. She’s here. She’s safe and I know you want to keep it that way. Do yourself a favor and take a breath. Okay? As soon as I learn anything that might be useful, I’ll give you a call.”

  I rubbed my eyes, unable to sleep a wink the night before. I’d held her in my arms, feeling closer to her than I had to anyone yet distanced from her life all the same. It bothered the hell out of me. “Fine. But find something. And find this Maggie.”

  As I walked out, I could hear a collective sigh of relief from all the men. I wasn’t in the mood to be challenged by anyone, especially those I paid damn well to discover what I needed to know.

  The resort was busy, our occupancy full and while I was happy the business was doing well, I’d give everything to be able to change her past.

  As I strode out the front entrance, yanking my sunglasses from my coat pocket, I tried to take a deep breath. It was almost impossible. The moment I jumped into the Jeep, I smashed my fist against the steering wheel. I wanted to tell her I had plans for revenge, but I could feel she still had loyalty to her parents, which shouldn’t surprise me but it did.

  I shoved my foot onto the accelerator, allowing my anger to continue flowing as I headed back to the villa. I’d left her sleeping, at least attaching a note that I’d return. I only hoped her admittance hadn’t driven her back into the protected state she’d placed around herself before.

  As I drove, my mind drifted to the night before and not just learning her secret. She’d felt so close, our connection so intense that I’d experienced the kind of emotions I’d never felt before. I wanted them to continue. I needed to be with her, to explore the world with laughter.

  Shit. Was I asking too much at this point of either one of us?

  I sped down the heavily foliaged roads, fighting the demons lurking inside of me. I’d been the brother to care about animals, trying to save every critter from certain death. I’d shoved that part of me inside when I’d become a ruthless bastard, but I’d never forgotten how it had felt when I’d tried to save a goddamn puppy who’d been hit by a car.

  I’d insisted on using my own money for surgery, thankfully saving his life but for all the begging I’d done to adopt him when he was on the mend, my father had refused to allow it. It had been the single time I’d sobbed like a baby. But it had also been the catalyst to keep my emotions in check, to never get attached to anyone. Having the single girl I’d dared care about years later walk out on me had brought it all back in force.

  I’d shut down, determined never to be awakened again.

  Then the brusque woman with the dazzling raven hair had come into my life. Now I couldn’t imagine being without her, which meant I had no issue dying to keep her safe and happy.

  I was half laughing by the time I pulled down the final stretch of road, the gear barely in park and the Jeep turned off before jumping out. I even stormed toward the stairs, trying to curtail my emotions so she didn’t realize how angry I was.

  By the time I walked in, my hackles were raised. Immediately, I scanned the living room and kitchen, noticing at least she’d made herself something to eat. But when I moved back into the bedroom we’d shared, not seeing her almost sent me into a panicked rage that would be impossible to stop.

  I almost broke everything in my effort to find her, stopping just shy of doing so. When I finally noticed her standing on the deck, I took a few seconds to allow my body to stop shaking. The moment I finally managed to walk out, she turned slowly.

  She was in a dress that screamed beachwear and I noticed two thin red straps tied around her neck that could be attached to a bathing suit.

  As she lifted her sunglasses, peering up and down at me, I noticed the infamous admonishing look only she could provide. She shook her head and sighed.

  “No, that just won’t do,” she said.

  “What?”

  She pointed to my suit. “The clothes. You look like a buttoned-up accountant, for God’s sake. We’re in a tropical paradise and you’re stuffy and boring looking.”

  “This is boring?” I peered down at my clothes, grinning. She had a way of disarming me completely, driving the anger into the clouds.

  “Yep.”

  “What are you wearing?”

  The coy look she gave me heated my body up by a thousand degrees. When she lifted her dress, showing me a teeny bikini, I sucked in my breath. “If you want to see this again, you’ll need to put on a bathing suit and nothing more than a tee shirt. If you’re a very good boy, we’ll share a picnic in the sand and some ocean swimming. But only if you’re very, very good.”

  “I’m always good.”

  “Nope. You are not. That’s what makes you so endearing. Now scoot. I have a picnic basket to finish getting ready. And you will not conduct business.” She pressed her finger against my chest. “You can and are taking a day off.”

  As she strode off, I removed my sunglasses, watching the way she was sashaying toward the back door. When she turned, she blew me a kiss and for some crazy reason, the gesture brought another wave of emotions.

  What the heck. I was the boss. I could take a day off. Right?

  As I went in to change, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d worn a bathing suit. Years? Likely. I’d purchased several pairs of trunks over the years with every intention of learning to enjoy myself, but it had all been in vain. I’d never taken more than a few hours off.

  Maybe this would do me some good.

  I had to dig through my older shit to find a pair I thought would work. When I realized it was a pair Gage had purchased as a gag gift one Christmas, I hesitated but maybe there was a different bad boy side to me. I ripped off my jacket, not caring where it fell in the room. Bed. Floor. What did it matter?

  As I moved into the bathroom, I looked at myself and laughed. She was right. I was buttoned up. It was time to dispel the image if possible.

  I found a colorful tee shirt that would go with the aquarium life on the shorts, laughing at myself again when I was finished dressing. What I wasn’t certain I could find were any appropriate shoes.

  After tossing the various pairs that had been left by one or the other of us, I found a pair of boat shoes. In freaking lime green. Which brother had dared buy these damn things? It was either this or expensive Italian loafers.

  I made a mental note I needed to buy my own, maybe a pair of tennis shoes as well.

  When I was finished, I found her closing the picnic basket. It was something else I hadn’t even known was in the villa.

  I donned my sunglasses and moved closer, grinning as I leaned against the island. “Will this do?” I even deepened my voice on purpose.

  She was slightly startled, spinning around with that split second of fear on her face.

  Until she burst into laughter that doubled her over.

  “What?” I threw out my arms, spinning around in a rather awkward dance move.

  “You look… fantastic.”

  “Too much?”

  “It’s perfect. I have everything we need including a few little culinary surprises.”

  I moved closer, pulling her into my arms. “You? Culinary surprises? I didn’t know you could cook.”

  “How many times do I need to remind you that there are so many things you don’t know about me?”

  “Mmm…”

  “Now, you need to grab the blanket and the beach towels. I at least found something suitable. Hurry. I don’t want to waste any more of this beautiful sunshine. And we better be taking a convertible.”

  I saluted her, delighted to see her smiling after everything we’d shared the night before. If only I could continue seeing her this happy. This comfortable.

  Her face was shimmering, every move she made fluid and I wanted to wrap her up in sunshine. Oh, for the love of God. Who said that kind of shit?

  Jasmine acted as if she was floating on air as we left the villa, heading for the Jeep. I knew the perfect place to take her, which was a private beach I’d showcased for guests a few times. It wasn’t well known, hidden by an overgrowth of foliage from the recent tropical rains. That would make for a pristine backdrop to our feast.

  And a fabulous day.

  I found myself eager, even happy although I refused to leave my phone behind. When Jack and his team discovered every bit of dirty laundry about Justin, I would be ready to sweep in like a venomous snake.

  I tossed everything into the Jeep, scanning the area once before heading out. I also didn’t want anyone sneaking up on us. Hell, that wasn’t possible, yet I was worried. Jack and his team were also patrolling the remote areas for boats and I’d checked the manifest for the single flight coming in. Today’s roster mostly consisted of celebrities and their entourages. They were rowdy but right now, it suited me just fine.

  When I turned on the satellite radio, another perk provided to our guests, she clapped her hands. “Fantastic. Amazing music, a perfect sunny day, and delicious food. What could be better?”

  “A hot escort?” I teased.

  “If you find me one, let me know.”

  “Brat. You will get it for that.”

  “Promises. Promises. Oh, and you’re taking me through the resort as well.”

  With the Jeep’s top off, the wind blowing, just seeing her long curls floating in the wind was enough to make my cock harden just as it had done the night before.

  I did what I could to push aside the bullshit, the hatred and anger as I headed toward the main portion of the resort.

  “How did you guys find this place? And you own the island?”

  “We own it. It was rural enough that although other developers had considered making the purchase, the cost to bring in water and electricity was outrageous.”

  “But nothing is too expensive for men like the Royal brothers. Right?” She gave me a heated look and I could laugh once again.

  She really did have a way of disarming any man. No wonder she’d been good at gambling. Men from every age group were blinded by her beauty and coyness.

  “Oh, and one more thing. You mentioned you have stores here on the island?”

  “Yes, two fabulous ones.”

  “Hmmm. Nice dresses?”

  “Only the best,” I told her as I headed down the main road toward the resort.

  “Good. I need a dress. And a few other essentials. We will be going shopping so that when we go out to dinner tonight, and I assume you have incredible chefs at your restaurants, I’ll have something sexy to wear. Plus, we’re going to the casino where I’ll show you just how good a girl I can be.”