Page 161 of The Renegade Billionaire

“It was such a shame, what happened to you.” He tuts. “Had I known how this would end up…” He flicks his wrist as if I’m a gnat he can’t get rid of. “Well, maybe this time around will end better for me.” His laugh is sinister.

“Are you threatening her?” Braxton steps into his father’s space. He towers over the older man, and I can’t find a single resemblance between them.

“I wouldn’t have to if you’d only be reasonable.” Alistair leans around his son to peer at me. “It’s never easy, is it, Madison? Those fifteen minutes of fame you never asked for. Just imaginewhat will happen when the world finds out you’re marrying the son of a Montgomery. The very Montgomery you say harmed you terribly.” He spits with so much venom I’m stunned into silence.

“Walk the fuck away, and don’t come back. If you think what I’ve done so far is unjust, you wait until you see what I do next.” I’ve never heard Braxton sound this way. He’s as dangerous as his father, but protective and caring.

“Leave,” Cian rumbles low in his chest. “Now, or I will escort you out.”

Alistair finally takes in my giant friend, but ignorance gives him a false sense of confidence.

“You have five days to hand back control of Montgomery Media, Braxton. Or I’ll make sure the world knows the truth.”

“Go for it, old man. I have nothing to hide.”

Alistair makes a point of looking from Braxton to Grey before turning to me. “Are you sure about that?”

“Out,” Cian says, taking hold of Alistair’s elbow.

“Get your hands off me. I have lawyers who will take everything you love should you touch me again.”

“Yeah? And how are you going to pay for them?” Braxton taunts.

“You’d better run, little girl.” The old man’s tone sends a chill down my spine, but I don’t back down.

“I was a child when you sent those reporters after me, spewing lies and hate. I’m not that little girl anymore, you overinflated egotistical piece of shit.” Holy crap. Did I just say that?

The stunned expression on Cian’s face tells me that yes, yes, I did say it, and I smile just as manically as the monster before me.

“You hurt innocent girls.” I take a step forward, but Braxton grabs me by the belt and holds me back. “And they were girls, Alistair. Young girls, not yet women, that you exploited for afabricated exposé that got you nothing in the end. But I’m all grown up now, and this time I won’t run, no matter what you throw at us.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” he seethes. “I got millions of clicks and ad revenue from your face alone. Imagine what a few, shall we say, racy photos would do for me now?”

“That’s enough,” Braxton roars, but I hold up a hand to stop him. This is my battle today, and it’s one that I can win.

“Racy?” I scoff. “The closest I get to being racy is wearing a bikini. So, if that’s what gets your rocks off, go for it, you old pervert. I’m not ashamed of my body.”

Standing up for myself against the worst person I’ve ever dealt with is both terrifying and invigorating.

“Bikini or birthday suit. It’s all the same thing, isn’t it?”

God, he’s so slimy.

“I’ve never once taken a nude photo, you idiot. Cian, get him out of here.”

Cian grabs him more forcefully this time, not giving a crap about his threats. But as he’s pulling him away from us, Alistair digs in his heels to glare into my eyes.

“Are you sure about that, Madison? You don’t have to be the photographer for them to exist.”

Braxton loses it then, and the next thing I know, he’s dragging Alistair out by one arm and Cian has the other. The man’s feet don’t even touch the ground.

I stand strong until Braxton returns, and then the adrenaline flees my body faster than a failing dam.

“I’ll see what I can find out,” Grey whispers. I barely hear him, but he’s talking to Braxton anyway, so I tune him out.

“Everyone’s staring,” I mumble.

Their gazes feel like an attack by a million tiny needles up and down my body.