Читать книгу Love Islands…The Collection - Ким Лоренс, Jane Porter - Страница 33

FINALLY! AN ACE. Feeling a twinge of satisfaction, Malachi placed the card on the table in front of him. Behind him, he heard Addie shift in her sleep and, glancing back at the bed, felt his breath catch in his throat. With her red hair gleaming in the silvery light flooding the bedroom she looked even more like a mermaid than ever.

For a moment he watched her sleep then, breathing out slowly, turned back to his cards. Addie might be sleeping soundly, but sadly he was not. And he couldn’t quite work out why.

After she had got so upset, he had played it slow, choosing to wait, savouring the intensity and heat of his longing so that his desire had been raw and fierce. He had never wanted any woman as much as he had wanted her in that moment. Never waited so long for any woman. But it had definitely been worth the wait.

He should be feeling sated, satisfied. And yet here he was, wide awake, body twitching with lust, playing cards by himself in the moonlight.

It didn’t make any sense. Sex was supposed to solve problems. Not create them. In his head, tapping into their passion had seemed like a foolproof solution to the niggling problem of the sexual hold she appeared to have over him. Only his plan didn’t seem to be working out. Rather than killing his desire, having sex with her not only seemed to have heightened his libido but it seemed to be messing with his mind.

Take earlier. Usually, post-coital affection was something to be avoided, at best endured. But he had found it impossible to lie next to her and not hold her close. He’d actually had to get out of bed to stop himself from doing so.

Standing up, he walked softly across the room and stared down at Addie in silence. For the first time in his life sex didn’t seem to be an end in itself. Instead it felt more like a means to an end.

He breathed out slowly. Something was happening. He was feeling things he hadn’t expected or wanted to feel. Like the fact that this deal with Addie no longer seemed that important. Instead what mattered was spending time with her. Which was why he was going to take her with him to Venezuela, for the opening of his newest casino.

In the bed, Addie shifted onto her side, and then her eyelids fluttered open and she looked up at him drowsily. ‘What’s the matter?’

Gently he stroked her face. ‘Nothing. I’m just not that sleepy.’

She smiled, her lips parting. ‘Me neither.’

His eyes fixed on her face and there was a short beat of silence and then, sliding beneath the sheet, he pulled her soft, unresisting body against his and, capturing her mouth, kissed her fiercely.

‘I’ll have your twos, please!’ Biting her lip nervously, Addie peered over the top of her sunglasses to where Malachi lay sprawled on the other side of the huge bean-filled lounger.

For a moment he stared impassively at his cards, and then finally he sighed and a wicked smile spread slowly over his face. ‘Go fish! And I’ll have your threes, please, sweetheart.’

‘You are such a rat!’ Shaking her head, she dropped her cards into his outstretched hand and picked up another from the deck.

Two minutes later it was all over.

Groaning, Addie rolled over onto her back. ‘I can’t believe I lost. Again. I thought you said you’d never played go fish before?’ she said accusingly.

Shuffling the cards with the skill of a Vegas croupier, Malachi grinned. ‘I haven’t. Is that why you wanted me to play with you?’ His eyes were watching her with amusement. ‘So you could take advantage of me.’

Addie laughed. ‘It did cross my mind.’

‘It did, did it?’ Reaching out, he grabbed hold of her hand and pulled her towards him, pinning her against the cushion with his thigh and his hand. ‘Then maybe I should reciprocate.’

Her breath caught in her throat as he picked up a handful of glossy red hair, threading it through his fingers.

‘Take advantage of you in some way.’

She stared up at him, tilting her head back to watch the play of sunlight on his face.

It had been a strange and strained few days. But Malachi seemed different now. Calmer...more relaxed. As though some tension had been eased. But then, she felt the same way too, so maybe it was just down to the two of them getting used to being around one another again.

Only it felt as if there was more to it than just the pair of them getting reacquainted. Her heart began to pound as she remembered how he had comforted her when she’d got upset. It was so out of character for him; he hated scenes, and yet he had shelved his obvious and pressing desire and let her talk—asking questions, listening to her answers.

Addie breathed out slowly. It was all so confusing. Almost as confusing as her feelings for Malachi.

She shouldn’t really be enjoying herself. And yet if she just concentrated on living in the moment then the truth was that she had never been happier. Not even when they were engaged and she’d thought Malachi actually loved her.

She felt his gaze on her face and, pushing aside her thoughts, reached out and looped her arms around his neck. ‘What do you have in mind?’ she said softly.

‘I’m not entirely sure,’ he murmured and, shifting forward, he covered her mouth with his and abruptly all conscious thought was driven from her head.

Later, body aching, she lay curled against him, her fingers tracing the muscles of his stomach.

‘So why are you opening a casino in Caracas, then?’ Tipping her head back, Addie stared up at him curiously.

Frowning, Malachi shrugged. ‘No reason other than I’ve been looking to expand into South America for a couple of years now.’

She nodded politely, barely listening. Her head was still reeling from the fact that he had asked her to go with him, and she wondered how this very public event fitted into their deal. Here, on this island, their relationship might be unorthodox but it was private. However, he could hardly parade her around as his mistress at some huge, social event.

Her heart skipped a beat.

But why did it matter? It wasn’t as if she cared.

The answer to her question popped into her head, unwelcome and unwanted like a bill through a letter box. Of course she cared. Not just about their relationship but about him.

She breathed out slowly. It wasn’t that much of a shock, but still—

It was strange, but even now, five years after they had separated, there was still this connection between them. Some sense of being more than married. It might not make any sense, and ultimately it didn’t change anything, but that didn’t stop it being the reason why she had never divorced him. Or why a tiny part of her wanted to stop being his mistress and go to Caracas as his wife.

His voice bumped into her thoughts and she stared up at him, trying to pick up the thread of their conversation.

‘Sorry—I was...’ She paused. ‘It’s just—are you sure you want me to be there?’

He stared at her thoughtfully. ‘Of course.’ His eyes were cool. ‘I want to get my money’s worth.’

There was a short, stilted silence, and then they both jumped as Malachi’s phone rang.

Retrieving it from his pocket, he glanced momentarily at the screen and then answered it. ‘Yes—no—I highly doubt that.’

Face blank, he shifted away from her, the muscles of his stomach suddenly taut and strained beneath her fingers, and after a moment of indecision she withdrew her hand. He stood and turned and, watching his shoulders tighten, she wondered who was on the other end of the phone. His voice was quiet, but she could hear a tension that hadn’t been there before. With shock, she realised that he was struggling to maintain his composure.

Feeling as though she was intruding, she reached out and picked up a handful of sand, letting it run through her fingers.

Behind her, Malachi was winding up the call. ‘Okay, that’s fine. Just leave it to me. I’ll sort it out.’ He hung up.

Heart thudding, Addie stared at the back of his head, trying and failing to work out what had just happened.

‘Is everything okay?’ she said finally.

She was being polite. Clearly it wasn’t okay—at least not if the prickly energy coming off him was anything to go by.

But when he turned he simply smiled at her. ‘Everything’s fine. It’s nothing.’

She nodded mutely. It was the same smile he’d used when he was playing cards with her earlier. The one that was impossible to read. Probably it was the smile he used every day with anyone he wanted to keep at arm’s length. She felt a stab of misery. The easy warmth between them had trickled away just like the sand between her fingers.

Slowly, she stood up. She could just leave it. He’d told her it was nothing, and even if it wasn’t it was none of her concern. But there was something in that smile. Something in that voice that made her heart contract. And even though it was pointless to do so, she still cared about him. Still cared that he was hurting and upset.

She took a deep breath. ‘Is it work?’

He stared at her. He was still smiling, but his eyes were the cool grey of a battleship.

‘No. Work looks after itself. My parents, on the other hand, need a team of full-time minders.’

‘Your parents?’ Her pulse jerked. ‘What’s happened? Are they okay?’

He gave a casual shrug. ‘I expect so. It’s happened before. I’m sure it’s fixable.’

He paused and she watched his expression shift and clear, like one of those drawing toys where with one shake the picture disappeared.

‘But—’ she began.

‘Don’t worry about it.’ He interrupted her. ‘It’s nothing, I promise. It certainly won’t take more than a couple of hours to sort out. And thankfully they’re only in Miami. The last time this happened they were in Cannes.’

Addie gazed at him in confusion. ‘Are you saying we’re going back to Miami?’ she said hesitantly.

He looked at her in disbelief. ‘No. There’s absolutely no reason for you to be dragged into any of this. I’ll go on my own. If I take the helicopter and leave now I’ll be back this evening. Tomorrow morning at the latest.’

‘But—’ She frowned. ‘Surely it would be better if I came with you.’

‘Better?’ he repeated. ‘In what way would it be better?’

‘I don’t know. I just thought you might like to have a bit of support. Maybe I can help—’

‘You want to help me with my parents?’ Shaking his head, he laughed harshly. ‘I see. I should warn you they’re both tone deaf, so they might not be that responsive to music therapy.’

Addie stared at him, her breath hot in her throat, anger balling in her chest. It was like talking to a stranger, she thought wildly. A handsome, detached stranger. Instead of the man she had let inside her body.

‘I don’t understand,’ she said slowly.

His face didn’t alter but his eyes narrowed fractionally. ‘You don’t need to. This is way beyond your pay grade, sweetheart.’

She stared at him in silence, breathing unsteadily. Her whole body was suddenly trembling with anger. ‘Is that right?’ she said icily. ‘Then maybe I should ask for a raise, because you’re certainly not paying me enough to put up with that kind of remark.’

His face stiffened. ‘You’re overreacting,’ he said softly. ‘As I said before, there’s no need for you to come to Miami with me.’ His eyes met hers. ‘If you really want to help, stay here—and then we can go to Caracas together as planned.’

‘So you want me to come to Caracas but you don’t want me to meet your parents—’ She broke off, suddenly too angry and frustrated and upset to speak. ‘If you’re so ashamed of me, then maybe I shouldn’t be here in the first place.’

He frowned, his face darkening. ‘I’m not ashamed of you.’

‘Then what’s the problem?’

‘There is no problem. Except you. You’re making it a problem.’

‘How? By wanting to meet your parents?’

‘This—us—it has nothing to do with them.’

‘Is that why they didn’t come to our wedding?’

The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. The question he had refused to answer five years ago. His parents’ absence at their wedding had always mattered to her. But now she knew that it had mattered to Malachi too, for she felt the change in him even before she saw it in his eyes.

‘They didn’t come because I didn’t ask them.’ His voice echoed harshly between them. ‘You wouldn’t understand. But then I’m not asking you to.’

‘But you are asking me to go and watch you open your new casino?’

He stared at her. ‘Please try and be reasonable, sweetheart. The two aren’t in any way connected—’

‘If you say so,’ she snapped. ‘Just go, Malachi.’ Picking up her towel, she stalked past him. ‘I’m going for a swim. Have a nice trip.’

Wading into the lagoon, she stared fixedly ahead, too furious even to register her beautiful surroundings. But the water felt cool against her skin, and the soft breeze and faint scent of frangipani was soothing, and slowly her anger started to fade.

Malachi was impossible. Rude and secretive and— ‘“Please try and be reasonable, sweetheart!”’ she muttered.

It wasn’t the most convincing impression of him, but it made her feel better, and suddenly determined not to let him spoil everything she began to swim with strong, firm strokes. Ten minutes later, smoothing the damp strands of hair away from her face, she glanced back at the beach, frowning. She was sure she had left her towel just under that palm tree...

And then her pulse gave a jolt as she saw Malachi standing at the edge of the sand, the towel in his hand.

Her footsteps faltered but then, lifting her chin, she marched towards him.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be on your way to Miami?’ she snapped.

He didn’t reply, just held out his hand. Pulse quickening, she stared at him warily.

‘I know it looks like a towel,’ he said quietly. ‘But it’s actually an olive branch.’

She didn’t reply.

Malachi watched her face shift, saw her swallow and breathe in sharply. He could see the conflict in her eyes; the longing to believe his words, the hurt holding her back.

He was on the verge of trying again when abruptly she looked up at him and said, ‘What do you want, Malachi?’

He cleared his throat. ‘I want you to come with me. To Miami. If you still want to, that is.’

She held his gaze. Her blue eyes were no longer glazed and drowsy, as they had been earlier, after they’d made love on the beach, but dark and stormy. And hostile. Very, very hostile.

‘I thought that was above my pay grade.’

Sighing, Malachi ran a hand over his face. His head was pounding, his stomach knotted with tension. Watching her walk away, he had felt a savage and unreasonable anger. Anger with his parents for messing up his time in paradise, anger with himself for letting his guard down. And anger with Addie for—

For what? For wanting to help him? For caring?

Picturing her face, he had felt his rage give way to shock as he’d realised what he’d seen but chosen to ignore. That she was worried about him. That she cared.

‘I shouldn’t have said that. It was rude and I’m sorry. It’s just that I never— I haven’t—’ He stopped. Things were getting so complicated. How much should he say? There was so much she wouldn’t understand.

She took the towel from his hand. ‘I know,’ she said quietly. ‘I do know what it’s like to have things inside your head you don’t want to share. After my accident I got sick of people asking me what I was thinking. You don’t have to tell me everything. Or anything. Not if you don’t want to. I just didn’t want you to have to deal with whatever it is on your own.’

He stared at her. ‘Then come with me. That way I won’t need to tell you. You’ll be able to see it for yourself.’

‘Okay. I’ll come.’ She gave him a small, tight smile as he reached out, his hand drawing her to him. ‘But I’m warning you: if you start with that pay grade stuff again I might just push you out of the helicopter.’

Aside from the noise of the rotor blades, inside the helicopter cabin it was quiet—sombre, almost. Watching the lights of Miami grow closer, Addie was aware of nothing but Malachi’s still, silent presence beside her.

It was clear that his parents were alive and well, and she wondered what was serious enough to drag him over to the mainland. But, sticking to her word, she hadn’t asked him any more about the phone call and he hadn’t told her anything. However, he had held her hand during the entire three-hour flight.

After the peace of the island, downtown Miami felt crowded and noisy. But at least it was crowded with ordinary people, she thought nervously, staring out of the window as the limousine slid to a stop in front of the Marlin—one of Miami’s swankiest and most exclusive Art Deco hotels. Malachi’s parents were anything but ordinary. Having furtively searched for them on the internet, while he was talking to the pilot, she had been horrified to discover that Henry and Serena King were not only fabulously wealthy, glamorous and beautiful, they also hosted some of the most decadent parties around the globe.

Glancing at her reflection in the window, she felt a rush of panic. Her dress was short, black and cute, and it showed off her long legs, but it most certainly wasn’t decadent. Maybe she should have worn the dress Malachi had given her instead. Her pulse shivered. Or maybe she should have just stayed on the island.

‘Are you okay?’ Malachi glanced down at her, his eyes roaming over her face.

‘Yes. Why?’

He winced. ‘Because you’re cutting off the blood supply to my hand.’

‘Oh, sorry.’ Loosening her grip, Addie felt her heart start to thump loudly.

His eyes were dark and flickering with excitement, and there was a strange almost nervous energy about him that reminded her of how she had felt before playing in front of an audience: a mixture of fear and bravado and restlessness. But surely he didn’t need to feel like that. After all, they were his parents.

Glancing away, she looked up at the smooth, curving hotel facade and frowned. ‘I suppose I’m a little tense. It feels like I’ve been away for ever,’ she said carefully.

He studied her face in silence, and then slowly pulled her up against him. ‘Let me guess. You’re worried about meeting Henry and Serena?’

She met his gaze. ‘A little.’

‘They’re charming—and great company. I’m sure you’ll fall under their spell. Everyone always does.’

He was smiling, but there was an undertone to his voice that she couldn’t quite identify.

‘I don’t know if that’s made me feel better or worse,’ she said lightly. She squeezed his hand. ‘Anyway, this isn’t about me. It’s about you—and I just want you to know that I meant what I said before. I’ll be there for you.’

She glanced up at him, half expecting him to pull away or change the subject. But he didn’t do either. Instead, after the briefest of hesitations, his fingers tightened around hers.

‘I know.’ His face softened and, lowering his mouth, he kissed her gently.

‘Promise you’ll stay close to me.’

She stared at him dazedly. ‘I promise.’

It took nearly half an hour for them to make it up to the twelfth floor, where Malachi’s parents were staying in the penthouse suite. Most of that was spent calming down the hotel manager, a tall, balding man who looked as though he was about to collapse but who eventually ended up offering them a magnum of champagne.

In the lift, watching the numbers counting up, Addie felt Malachi’s gaze on her face.

‘You look beautiful,’ he said softly as with a slight shudder the lift came to a stop.

And then the doors opened and she caught her breath. Whatever she had been expecting, it wasn’t this. The suite was huge, with high soaring ceilings. Six massive chandeliers swayed gently above a marble tiered fountain. But it wasn’t the decor that had made her breath stop in her throat.

It was the people. Despite the room’s size, it was packed. Women dressed in sequins and lace and men in dark suits were lounging on sofas or leaning against the walls; others were sprawled over chairs or one another. But all of them were wearing masks. Masks!

She glanced up nervously at Malachi but he was already leading her by the hand, weaving through the laughing, dancing crowd to the other side of the room to a table where two huge gold bowls sat side by side, each one filled with a selection of masks.

‘I don’t know which one to choose,’ Addie said slowly. For some reason she couldn’t bring herself to touch them.

‘Then don’t.’

His eyes were glittering and she could feel his body pulsing with that same nervous energy she had felt in the car, but his voice was surprisingly gentle.

‘We don’t have anything to hide.’

As they pushed their way through the mass of people, Malachi reached out and grabbed two glasses from a passing waiter. Holding the glasses up to the fountain, he let them fill with the bubbling liquid.

Tentatively, Addie took a sip from hers. ‘It’s champagne!’

Malachi nodded and stared away, across the room, his face twisting. To a casual observer the party might seem to be in full flow, but given the ratio of alcohol to people he knew it was just getting started. His skin was crawling. What was he doing here? And why had he brought Addie with him? Glancing over at her huge, shell-shocked blue eyes, he felt his stomach tighten painfully.

‘Sometimes it’s champagne and absinthe,’ he said flatly. ‘Then things get really out of hand.’

Nodding, Addie glanced round the room, sipping her drink nervously. ‘Who are all these people?’

Malachi shrugged. ‘Serena probably invited them. She hates small parties and she likes new people. And anything outrageous or forbidden.’

‘And where are your parents?’

His face didn’t alter but his eyes seemed suddenly to glitter more brightly.

‘They’ll be in one of the private rooms, having a party of their own.’

There was a crash behind her and a man wearing some kind of feathered headdress toppled over, hands flailing, his glass smashing to the floor.

Malachi reacted immediately. In one swift movement he had pulled her behind him and yanked the man to his feet. ‘Get some air,’ he said coldly, giving the man a little push, and then turning back to Addie, he said quietly, ‘Come on. Let’s go find Henry and Serena.’

They found them easily enough. At the end of a corridor four huge men wearing dark suits stood barring a door marked Private. And whatever was happening behind them, it was a lot quieter and more civilised than at the main party, Addie thought with relief. But as the door opened she felt her heart lurch. The room was dimly lit, and there were far fewer people. But most of them appeared to be in a state of undress and some of them appeared to be...intimately joined.

She barely had time to take in what she was seeing when a beautiful blonde woman, wearing a shimmering dress that rippled over her body like molten silver, let out a scream and sashayed across the room towards them. Beside her, stumbling slightly, was a very handsome man with lipstick on his face and on his dress shirt. The woman gave a little wriggle, sending rainbows of light into the dark corners of the room, and kissed Malachi on both cheeks.

‘Look, Henry! I’d said he’d come. I know you said we weren’t to contact you, darling, but I don’t deal with rude little men telling me what to do.’

‘He’s the hotel manager, Serena.’ Malachi frowned. ‘There’s nearly two hundred people here. And the other guests are complaining.’

‘How boring of them. And mean. Trying to spoil our fun.’ Leaning forward, Serena ran her hand slowly over the lapel of Malachi’s jacket. ‘Not like you, darling. You can never resist a party, can you? And besides, you’re so much better at managing those sort of people than Henry and I.’

Suddenly noticing Addie, she stopped.

‘What exquisite hair! I had a red setter once, with fur that exact colour. It was my favourite dog. Mal, aren’t you going to introduce us?’

Addie swallowed. These were Malachi’s parents. Her heart began to pound. They were gorgeous. He had clearly inherited his high cheekbones from his mother and from his father his dark hair and those gleaming grey eyes.

‘This is Addie.’ She felt his hand on her back. ‘Addie Farrell. Addie—this is Henry and Serena King.’

‘What a sweet name,’ Serena purred, and then, clapping her hands excitedly, she waved at one of the waiters. ‘Four Brandy Alexanders. Make them doubles!’

Sipping her cocktail, Addie tried to look as though she was enjoying herself. Inside, though, she was in shock. All around her she was aware of the other guests, of bodies merging and soft moans, and of Malachi’s taut profile and his hand gripping hers so tightly that she could feel her fingers going numb.

There was no love or tenderness in this room, just greed and narcissism and lust, and her heart contracted as she tried to imagine what it must have been like to grow up surrounded by these people. If this was his version of intimacy, it was no wonder he struggled so much to understand hers.

Watching Addie’s hand tighten around her glass, Malachi tried to relax. He barely registered the other guests, or what they were doing; he’d seen it too many times before. Usually at his parents’ parties he could find a place inside himself, somewhere to retreat. But with Addie beside him he had no choice but to stay focused, and it was as if he was seeing it all through her eyes—every sordid detail magnified and spotlit—and it sickened him.

As his gaze shifted from Addie’s face to her tight fists, he felt her disgust too. Rage clawed at his stomach and reluctantly he let go of her hand. ‘I’ve just got to talk to Serena and Henry for a minute,’ he said slowly.

‘Do you want me to come too?’

Meeting her gaze, he shook his head. ‘I’ll be right back. Just wait here.’

He turned to where his parents were draped over one another on a chaise longue, their eyes glittering like dark stars.

His mother smiled up at him mockingly. ‘Malachi! Henry and I were just talking about you.’

Taking hold of his hand, Serena pulled him down onto the cushions beside her as his father stood up unsteadily.

‘Darling,’ she murmured. ‘We love your little redhead.’

‘Her name’s Addie,’ he said slowly.

‘And it was so clever of you to find her. Henry is absolutely smitten.’ Slowly, Serena ran her finger along his jawline. ‘And you do look so like your father, don’t you...?’

Malachi felt his skin grow taut; his pulse was pounding in his ears.

‘She’s with me, Serena.’

‘Of course she is.’ Her face hardened. ‘It’s just a bit of fun.’

He stared at her in shock. ‘It’s not fun. It’s sick.’

His mother shook her head. ‘Oh, dear. Somebody’s having a tantrum.’ She smiled at him coldly. ‘And after all we’ve done for you.’ She shrugged, her fingers curling under his chin. ‘How very dull you are. Well, don’t expect me to do your dirty work. You can tell Henry yourself.’ Her eyes narrowed. ‘If it’s not too late.’

Glancing past her, Malachi felt his heart jolt. Across the room, his father was smiling at Addie, his face soft but his eyes dark and predatory. With the blood suddenly buzzing inside his head like a swarm of angry bees, Malachi pushed his mother’s hand away from his face, stood up and crossed the room.

‘Serena always likes the drinks too strong,’ he heard his father say confidingly. ‘Why don’t you come with me? I can find you something soft to drink. Or maybe you’d like to lie down for a bit—’

He broke off abruptly, his mouth hanging open in fear as Malachi stepped in front of him, his face blazing with white-hot anger.

‘The only one lying down will be you, Henry. In a hospital bed!’ His voice was like ice. ‘What the hell are you doing?’

Malachi drew a jagged breath. His body felt as if it was in free fall. Addie was staring at him, transfixed, but he couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze. Instead, grabbing her hand, he pulled her behind him protectively and turned towards his father.

‘You couldn’t help yourself, could you?’ He shook his head, anger vying with pain, choking him, blistering his throat and mouth. ‘Only you’ve gone too far. This isn’t some stupid game. It’s twisted.’ Breathing out unsteadily, he took a step backwards. ‘We’re leaving. You have until three o’clock tomorrow to get out. But don’t expect me to pick up the tab. This one’s on you.’

Turning, he pulled Addie close, his heart jerking with relief as his arm curled around her soft body.

‘And don’t bother trying to contact me. There won’t be any point. As of this moment, I never want to hear from you again.’

Later, Addie would wonder how they made it to the airport. She had no memory of leaving the hotel or getting in the limo or onto the plane. Nothing had seemed to register on her brain except Malachi’s rage. She didn’t think she had ever seen anyone so angry. His fury had been like the burning cold of an ice storm.

Gazing across the plane’s lounge, to where he sat alone, she felt her stomach cramp. She didn’t really understand all that had happened at the party. All she knew was that since getting in the limo she hadn’t been able to reach him. That he hadn’t needed her and certainly hadn’t wanted her.

Slumped on a sofa, gripping a pack of cards in his hand, Malachi felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He had gone to the hotel to stop the police getting involved and he should have left after seeing the manager. Only he hadn’t. He’d heard the music and the laughter and he’d been like a hunting dog following a scent. Only seeing Addie in the centre of that debauchery he’d immediately realised his mistake. Her shock, her horror, had been like a slap to the face. Yes, those guests had been happy to be there, and it had all been consensual, but it was so messed up. And then Henry had tried—

He gritted his teeth.

How could his father have done that? It had been obvious that Addie was with him. He shouldn’t have even had to tell them that she was off limits. And then, of course, when he had, it had only spurred them on.

But he didn’t care about them. Remembering Addie’s face when his father had held out his hand, he felt sick. What if he hadn’t been there? Anything could have happened. Imagining her fear, her confusion, he felt his chest tighten with a pure, savage rage.

Addie stood up. She felt tired—more than tired. She felt bruised by everything that had happened and too drained to fight for what Malachi clearly didn’t even want to discuss. But she wasn’t about to leave him alone. Slowly, she walked across the cabin.

‘Where are you going?’

His words stopped her in her tracks. Hearing the strain in his voice, she stared at him uncertainly. ‘I was going to get some water.’ She hesitated. ‘Would you like some? Or I could get you something stronger.’

‘Something stronger.’ His mouth twisted. ‘So I can drown my sorrows?’

His voice was soft but she felt it slice through her like a knife.

‘Maybe. Or we could talk—’

He shook his head. ‘You think talking can change this.’

His face was pale, the skin stretched taut over his cheekbones as he laughed—only it didn’t sound like a laugh. There was too much pain and anger there. And fear. But five weeks in a hospital bed had taught her to face fear; to resist anger, to overcome pain. And, lifting her chin, she nodded.

‘Yes. I do. But you don’t want to. You’d rather sit there and wallow—’

‘You know nothing about my life,’ he snarled.

Her pulse was pounding in her throat. Clenching her teeth, she glared at him. ‘Yes, I do. I know you jumped into a pool of sharks for a bet; I know you eat apples in the bath.’ Her gaze shifted from his face to his hand. ‘And I know you play cards when you feel tense or angry.’

He looked up at her silently and resentment surged through her. He was impossible and this was hopeless.

She turned to walk away.

‘Addie.’

Looking down, she saw he was touching her wrist, his fingers trembling against her skin.

‘Don’t go. Please.’

She stood, staring past him. ‘Why should I stay?’

He breathed out unsteadily. ‘You said you’d be there for me.’

She didn’t reply at first and then finally, after what felt like the longest moment, she sighed and sat down on the sofa.

He held out the deck of cards, his face strained, uncertain. ‘What would you like to play?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m not sure I can. My brain doesn’t seem to be working.’

Nodding slowly, he half smiled. ‘My parents have that effect on people.’

He let out a long, slow breath and his smile faded. She waited.

Finally, hesitantly, he reached out and took her hand, his face filled with angry bewilderment. ‘I find it hard.’

The words sounded as if they were being dragged from him.

Her chest squeezed tight. ‘What do you find hard?’

‘Choosing not to be like them.’ He ran a hand wearily over his face. ‘For years I had no choice. Even when I was little they’d drag me to parties and nightclubs.’ He paused and gave her another taut smile. ‘They didn’t see why having me around should stop them doing what they wanted. And if I was difficult, then they’d just leave me behind.’

‘Where?’ Addie felt her heart thump painfully hard.

He shrugged. ‘With their friends. And by “friends” I mean the people who found it hardest to say no to them.’ Glancing up, he caught sight of her face and his mouth twisted. ‘I don’t know what was worse. Worrying that they would never come back or knowing they would.’

She stared at him, feeling his pain, the fear of a little boy abandoned by his so-called parents, his dread of their return. ‘Why didn’t they get a nanny?’

‘They did. But they never stayed for more than a couple of weeks. It got better as I got older.’ His eyes met hers. ‘I got better at managing them.’

She swallowed. ‘Is that why you went back to Miami?’

He looked away. ‘Yes. They can charm their way out of most situations. But sometimes, like last night, when they’ve gone too far and someone’s threatening to call the police, I have to step in.’ Smiling dully, he shrugged. ‘It’s irritating, but it’s just easier and a lot less time-consuming if I sort it out.’

‘And why did you leave? Tonight.’

She held her breath, sensing it was one question too many, but finally he turned to face her and the bleakness in his eyes almost broke her.

‘I’d had enough,’ he said quietly. ‘Of their games. With them, it’s always a game. I just don’t want to play any more.’

He fell silent.

Not trusting herself to speak, Addie sat mute beside him. How could anyone survive that kind of damage? It was almost worse than what had happened to her. That had been an accident. This had been deliberate, sustained. But the outcome was the same: a shattered life, a damaged soul. And she knew exactly what it took to repair that damage. It needed acceptance and hope and patience.

And love.

Her eyes suddenly filled with tears and she closed them quickly, trying to stop them from falling, trying to block out the truth. Except she couldn’t. The truth was that she loved him—still, and so much.

And it was time for her to accept that fact.

She opened her eyes and concentrated on her breathing. But it was not the time to share it. Now she needed to keep her promise. To be there for Malachi. Without thinking, she reached forward and slid her arms around him. After a moment’s hesitation his arms tightened around her. They held each other in silence, their hearts beating in time together, until finally Addie shifted free.

‘Come on. Let’s go to bed.’

Standing up, he glanced out of the plane’s window and frowned. A pale yellow line was already edging the dark sky. ‘I’m sorry, sweetheart, I don’t think we’re going to get much sleep. We’ll be landing in less than an hour.’

She smiled. ‘Who said anything about sleep?’

His eyes locked on to hers and for a moment, she stared at him, hypnotised by their fierce dark longing. And then he reached down and, scooping her into his arms, he began to carry her towards the staircase.