Runaway Wolfes of Manhattan Three - Helen Hardt Page 0,60

and I sobbed.

I sobbed and I sobbed and I sobbed.

I cursed my father. I cursed my life. I cursed Matt for coming here and making me want him even more.

I cursed everything I could never have.

And then I cursed my mother.

Nothing is happening to you that isn’t happening to a hundred other girls, Riley. Just close your eyes and think of diamonds.

Diamonds.

Right.

I never wore diamonds. The few I owned were locked up in a safe deposit box.

Thinking of diamonds never helped, Mom, thank you very much.

Weren’t mothers supposed to protect their children?

For that matter, weren’t fathers?

Rock. The only person who ever tried to protect me. I’d never forgive myself for telling him to stop. If I could go back in time, back to that innocent little girl I’d been, I’d tell my brother to plunge that knife into the bastard’s heart.

Then I’d be a different woman today.

My brother might have gotten a few years in juvie, but he’d be fine now. He was strong. So strong.

I sat up.

No.

I didn’t actually want that at all. Rock had already paid for trying to help me, and Roy and Reid honestly hadn’t known. In fact, they’d been envious of the time Dad spent with me.

They didn’t know…

They didn’t—

Someone pounded on my door.

I was a mess. The tattered pieces of my sheet lay strewn on the floor along with the rest of my bedding. I glanced in the mirror quickly. My face was streaked with tears, my eyes red and my nose runny.

Well, of course. I was mourning dear old Dad.

Might as well answer the door. I could put on a good show right now. One devoted daughter coming up.

I sniffled and walked to my door, still wearing my black dress. I’d kicked off the uncomfortable Louboutin pumps as soon as I got home.

I opened the door.

And I melted.

Matteo Rossi stood there, his arms open.

I fell into them.

“It’s okay, baby,” he murmured against the top of my head. “It’s all going to be okay.”

He was wrong, of course. My life would never be okay. But maybe I could play make-believe for a few moments, much like I did in Sumter Falls only days ago.

Yes, make-believe.

Pretend.

Let’s play house, Daddy.

I pulled away from Matt and grabbed two fistfuls of my hair. “Get out of my head!”

Matt maneuvered himself into my apartment, pushing me gently inside and closing the door.

“I’m not trying to get in your head,” he said soothingly.

“No, no, no!”

“Baby, please.”

“Not you. Not you. Him!”

“Easy.” He touched my arm gently and led me to the couch where I’d been sitting earlier. “Sit. Come on. I’m going to get you a drink.”

“Don’t want it.”

“Just water, baby. You’re dehydrated.”

“I’m not.”

“Of course you are. You’ve been crying all day.”

He wasn’t wrong. I had been crying all day. Just not for the reasons he thought.

He found his way to the kitchen. Cupboard doors opened and closed, and then the whooshing of water from the faucet. The clink of ice cubes.

Soon he was back, holding a glass to my lips. “Drink. Come on.”

I took a sip and let the cool water wet my mouth and throat. It felt nice. Really nice.

“What can I do for you?” he asked. “And don’t say leave.”

“I wasn’t going to,” I said.

“Good.”

“I’m a mess, Matt.”

“So you’ve said. I happen to think you’re beautiful.”

That got a scoffing laugh out of me. “Right now? Please.”

“Riley, you could be covered in dog shit and still be the most beautiful woman in the universe. You’re a supermodel, for God’s sake.”

“There’s nothing super about me.”

“I beg to differ.”

I took another sip of water. Then another. My throat felt raw from the sobs, and the water soothed it.

“I love you,” Matt said.

I sigh. “I love you too.”

“At least we’re in agreement on that.” He took the glass from me and set it on the coffee table. “What do you need, Riley?”

I let out a soft huff. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Look around you, Matt. I’m an heiress. I have everything anyone could want.”

“I’m not talking about stuff, Riley. What do you need?”

I huff again. “A different life?”

He smiled. “I can give you that.”

“I mean a different first twenty-five years, Matt. And I’m sorry, but you can’t give me that, and my money can’t buy it either.”

“That’s true. But I can offer you my love. My support. I’ll hold your hand and help you get through everything.”

I shook my head. “You don’t even know what you’re getting into.”

“I have a general idea.”

I glared at him. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the friend Rock