Grip Trilogy Box Set - Kennedy Ryan Page 0,198

back onto the couch so hard my head bangs against the armrest, and for a second, the pain is celestial, inspiring stars in front my eyes.

He gathers my wrists above my head, one knee thrust between my legs. His face distorts, florid with his rage. Panic takes flight in my chest, flapping wildly around my heart.

“You thought you could give him what was mine?” The words are projectiles, the force behind them throwing spittle in my face. “Let him have you, fuck you and get away with it?”

He balls the collar of my T-shirt in his hands and jerks, ripping the shirt and exposing the wire taped to my bra. His shock-stretched eyes find mine beneath him.

"Should we add rape to the things you've already confessed to?"

He snatches the wire from my bra and crushes it under his foot. Without a backward glance he rushes across the room. As soon as he hauls the door open, he comes face to face with Greg.

Greg looks past Parker long enough to find me, lifting his brows over anxious eyes, silently asking if I'm okay. I nod, gathering the ripped edges of my T-shirt to cover my breasts. Even though my knees are so weak it feels like they’re filled with méringue instead of cartilage.

Parker looks over his shoulder at me, his mouth distorted into a self-assured smile.

"You stupid bitch." He turns his back on Greg, pointing to him over his shoulder. "You think some beat cop can take me down? Even with what you think you have recorded, it won't be enough to keep me. Real power. That's what I have. You have no idea."

"I think I have an idea, son," Aunt Betsy says from the door leading to my bedroom.

All of this was worth it if only to see the consternation and shame briefly flash across Parker’s face.

“Mother, what are you doing here?” His eyes flick between Aunt Betsy and me like she caught us playing house or doctor. Like she caught him with his hands down my pants.

“I’m here to do what your father should have done years ago.” She hands him a manila envelope, her eyes sad and condemning. “I’m here to stop you.”

He doesn’t open the envelope immediately, caressing the seal instead.

“Whatever is in here, Mother, cannot touch me.”

“Your father is a fool who believes our money makes him invincible and above the law, and he raised you to believe the same. I should have intervened long ago.” Aunt Betsy nods her head to the envelope. “I didn’t know all the awful things you’ve done, but I know now, and it’s never too late.”

Parker’s eyes flicker from me to his mother before settling on the envelope still unopened in his hands. I have no idea what’s in there. My mother and Aunt Betsy do, though. It’s their plan, and since the only alternative involved me baring my nether parts for the world’s inspection, I’ve yielded to their infinite wisdom.

When Parker opens the envelope, he pales, his face a white flag of surrender before he’s said one word.

“Where did you get this?” he asks too softly. “Does Dad know you have it?”

“The combination of his safe is our anniversary date.” Aunt Betsy’s laughter is a peal of sarcasm. “He must have been feeling sentimental that day since this is the only way he’s chosen to honor our marriage.”

“When Dad finds out—”

“Then what, Charles?” Aunt Betsy draws up to her full height. “You and your father seem to forget half of everything is mine. More than half since the original hotels came from my great-grandfather. Renaming them ‘Park’ doesn’t change where they came from.”

“When he hears about this—”

“Oh, he’s already heard.” Aunt Betsy comes to join me on the love seat. “I believe there’s a note from him in there, too. Something about you still not learning your lesson and abusing girls. That one was a very costly mistake. It’d be such a waste of the money he spent covering it up if I were to bring it out myself.”

“You could actually leak it through Spotted,” I pipe up. “Parker has a guy on standby. He’s always got a guy.”

“I am deeply sorry I ever thought my son was good enough for you, Bristol.” Aunt Betsy brushes the hair back from my face and drops a kiss on my forehead. “I’m glad you’ve found someone worth your time.”

“Worth her time?” Incredulous rage mottles Parker’s handsome face. “That thug? That . . . rapper? You would give Bristol to him over