Page 35 of Brewer Family Collection, Part 1

They chatter back and forth among themselves, working me into the conversation at every available opportunity. It’s an effortless interaction, and I laugh with them like old friends. Every now and then, I feel Renn’s eyes on me. And each time, I look at him and smile. Without fail, he smiles back.

Yet there’s a wobbliness between us. I don’t know if it’s my doing—my fear that somehow, he’ll want to back away from me—or if it’s a true gut reaction that something is amiss.

I want to find my spot here. I want to blend in with the others and share their jokes. Of course, I do. This is all I’ve ever wanted.

They are warm—Reid excluded. Inviting. Kind.

Rory turns me loose in her kitchen to look for her serving spoons, something many women won’t allow.

And the fact that she accepts me into her fold and the rest of them makes my nerves even worse.

Not to mention her ability to mom hug like a champion.

I’ve missed those. A lot. Imagine getting them regularly. Yes, please.

Ugh, why does that make me emotional?

And why do emotions have to be so hard to navigate ?

“Rory, may I use your powder room?” I ask.

“Of course. It’s down the hall. The fourth door on your right.”

“Thank you.”

I need to settle down. To catch my breath.

I slip into the hallway and count doors, blatantly ignoring the vases and gold candlesticks. My steps tap against the stone floor. Tap. Tap. Tap . I reach for the handle but stop when I hear my name.

“Blakely.”

Coming toward me is Reid. I have no idea where he came from, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s approaching me with a look of displeasure in his eyes.

I gulp. “I was just going to use the powder room.”

“Why don’t you step into my office for a second?” He opens the door across the hall. “I’ll only take a few moments of your time.”

My heart pounds at an alarming rate. Do I go in there and talk to him ? Logic says it can’t hurt anything … but my gut says otherwise.

Still, I find myself walking into a room with a giant stately desk and bookshelves lining the walls.

“Do you want to sit?” he asks, placing his drink on top of a stack of folders.

“No. You said it would only take a second.”

He moseys around the room. I think he’s trying to make me relax, but all it does is put me on edge. I feel my heart beating in my throat. I have to override the screaming inside my head telling me to leave.

No, I’m going to make a good impression. The door is open behind me. I can leave anytime I want.

“What can I help you with, Reid?” I ask. Renn—please come find me.

“Can I trust that you will keep this conversation between us?”

“That depends on what it’s about.”

He chuckles angrily. He stops walking and faces me, his jaw set. “What will it take to get you out of Renn’s life?”

My mouth falls open.

I shiver as cold chills snake down my spine.

“My son may be dim-witted, but I’m not,” Reid says. “How much will it take to make you go away?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Brewer. I don’t understand.”

“Cut the shit, Blakely.”

What ? “Don’t talk to me like that.”

He plants his hands on the desk with a loud thud. His eyes are narrowed, the pupils nearly slits.

“I’ve been at this game longer than you have,” he says. “I know what little whores want when they come around. I can see them from a mile away.”

His words catch me so off guard that I fail to respond.

“Name your price,” he says. “How much are you after? Quarter million. Half? Give me a number.”

I draw in a breath and gather my wits. “You think I want money from you?”

“Don’t play the damsel in distress card, girl. It isn’t cute.”

“What’s not cute is this arrogant, disrespectful, abhorrent language you’re using with me. I don’t know where you get off thinking you can insult me like this, but?—”

“Because I’m Reid Brewer. I can get away with anything I want.”

I stand taller, meeting his gaze and refusing to blink. “I don’t give a fuck who you are.”

“So what do you think, then?” he asks, smirking.

“Do you think you can get my son all liquored up, marry you, and then—what? What’s the endgame?

Convince him that you’re the one? To start a family with you?

To let you be a part of this empire that I have created?

” He laughs like I’m a joke. “Think again.”

“I don’t want a damn thing from you?—”

“Of course, you do. It’s mine. It’s all mine . And I’m not about to allow some little whore with a nice ass and great tits swindle my son out of his future.”

The shock is gone. Rage settles in.

“You are a disgusting excuse for a man.”

“You didn’t sign a prenup. Explain that.”

“I don’t have to explain anything to you.”

He storms around the corner of his desk, stopping inches from my face. Liquor is hot on his breath, and he breathes down like a demented dragon.

I want to run out of the room. I want to run into Renn’s arms and beg him to take me home. But I don’t want to give this asshole the pleasure of thinking he hurt me … and, this is Renn’s home. How is Rory married to this egotistical monster?

A fissure cracks through my chest.

“You will never fit in here,” he says, scowling. “You are not a Brewer. You will never be a Brewer. Even if you have Renn’s child, it will be a bastard. It’ll receive a check every month, and that’s it. It won’t belong here just like its mother doesn’t.”

“You don’t know him if you think that’s true.”

“Honey, I know him. I raised him . He might be weak—deluded from fucking you—but he has Brewer blood in his veins.” He cuts the small distance between us in half.

“Your little stunt cost me millions today. I had to pay millions of dollars to expedite my deal before you and my dipshit son ruined it for me.”

I stare at him.

“You might’ve cost him his Royals contract, but I can’t help that,” he says.

What ? I take a step back. What’s he talking about ?

“Oh, didn’t you know?” he asks, mocking me. “Your ‘husband’ is this close to losing his contract— because of you .”

My brain scrambles with this information. Is it true? Why didn’t Renn tell me?

Is this why he’s acting so odd?

I hiccup a sob.

That must be it. He lost the contract … because of me.

“Let. Him. Go,” Reid says, glaring at me. “Do that fuckup of a son of mine a favor and walk away from this fake marriage before I figure out how to end it for you.”

“Say what you want about me. But don’t talk about Renn like that.”

He looks at the ceiling and laughs.

“He’s a good man. He’s nothing like you.”

He drops his gaze to my face. “And how would you know? Because he fucked that little ass all weekend? Huh? That makes him a good man?”

My hands shake. “Go to hell.”

“How about this?” He looks me up and down. “Let me fuck that little ass, and I’ll let you keep Renn for a while longer.”

Before I know what I’m doing my fist is in a tight ball, flying toward Reid’s face. It grazes the tip of his chin, sending splintering pain down my wrist.

“You little cunt.” He reaches for me. “Get over here and let me?—”

“Don’t fucking touch me. You’re a piece of shit, and I hope you burn in hell.” My voice trembles with anger.

“What’s going on here?” Renn asks, making me jump.

I look at the doorway. He fills the space with his broad shoulders, piecing together the scenario before him.

I push around him and bolt down the hallway, tears flowing down my cheeks. I snatch my purse off the hook and make my way outside.

“Blakely,” Renn calls after me.

My hand finds my phone in my purse. I rip it out and find Foxx’s number, thankful that I listened to him today and saved it into my contacts list.

“Blakely!”

“Blakely?” Foxx’s voice is gruff through the phone.

“Foxx. I’m at Renn’s parents’ house.” I choke back a sob. “Can you come and get me?”

“I’m on my way. Sit tight. I’m three minutes out.”

“What the fuck happened in there?” Renn grabs both of my shoulders and pulls me into him. “Talk to me.”

My shoulders bounce as I cry into Renn’s chest.

I don’t want to tell him what his father said. I can’t . Renn is a good man … and he might have lost his contract. Because of me.

“Do that fuckup of a son of mine a favor and walk away from this fake marriage before I figure out how to end it for you. Let me fuck that little ass, and I’ll let you keep Renn a while longer.”

No. Renn won’t want to hear that.

“What’s going on?” Ripley asks, walking across the driveway.

Fuck. I hope the rest of the family—Rory—doesn’t come out here, too.

“I don’t know,” Renn says.

I pull away, wiping my eyes and nose with my hand. Pain shoots up my wrist, and I jerk it back, crying.

“What’s Foxx doing here?” Renn asks as a black SUV slides up the driveway.

The vehicle stops, and Foxx climbs out of the driver’s seat. He wastes no time getting to me.

“I called him,” I say.

“Why?” Renn holds out his hands. “What is going on? What happened? I’m so fucking confused.”

“Can we talk about this later?” I ask.

“No. We can’t. I just heard my wife fighting with my father. Then she runs out of the house, having called another man to come and get her. What the fuck is going on?”

My face heats.

I look between Renn, Ripley, and Foxx. They all look at me expectantly.

“Fine.” I hold my wrist with my other hand, wincing. “What just happened was …” I force a swallow. “Your father tried to buy me off.”

“ What ?” Renn spits.

Ripley bristles beside him.

“He called me a little whore and offered me a half a million dollars to let you go,” I say, anger flooding me again. “Pointed out that I didn’t belong here and was ruining your life …” I lock eyes with my husband. “And that I caused you to lose your contract.”

Renn’s jaw drops. “Blakely …”

“That motherfucker,” Ripley says.

I can’t see Foxx, but I watch Renn shake his head.

I gather myself. “Your father tried to grab me to fuck my little ass ?—”

“ I’m gonna kill him ,” Ripley says through clenched teeth, turning on his heel and storming toward the house.

Renn flinches.

“Want me to go?” Foxx asks.

“No.” Slowly, my words sink in. The disbelief twists into a menacing snarl. “Take her home, Foxx.”

“Yes, sir.”

Renn runs back to the house.

“Come on, Blakely,” Foxx says, reaching for my arm.

“Renn!”

He ignores me, disappearing around the wall.

Tears wet my cheeks again. Foxx takes my hand, but I yank it back, yelping.

“Explain,” Foxx orders.

“I threw a punch.”

He fights a smile, refusing to look me in the eye. “Let’s get you home.”

Home.

I’m not sure I have one anymore.

We climb into the car and pull down the long driveway.

I feel like I just left my heart behind.