Buttons and Grace Read online

  “Did you have a good childhood?”

  “Yeah,” she said immediately. “I was an only child, so all I ever had was my parents’ attention and affection. My mama was a stay-at-home mom, so she was always around. We’d make cookies on Sundays, she’d help me with my homework during the week because she’s much brighter than people realize, and she’d drive me and my friends around on Saturdays. My dad is more on the quiet side, but he’s very funny. I don’t have a single bad thing to say about either one of them.”

  Our lives couldn’t be much more different. “That sounds nice.”

  “My parents did a great job. I always imagined being like my mom when I have kids…” The tension filled the space again because we both knew she imagined having kids with someone other than me.

  I brushed it off. “You want to help me out at the winery?”

  “Tomorrow?” she asked.

  “I mean in general. Crow said we should expand the business by buying more land and setting up a second winery. It’s something we can do together. You’ve been helping out over there, so I’m sure you know a thing or two.”

  She flicked her food around with her fork. “When were you planning on doing this?”

  “Probably over the next few months. I have to wait for Crow to be well again, and then we’ll purchase the property…and go from there.”

  She stared at her food and set her fork down. Her plate wasn’t empty, and she usually ate everything before she was done. Her shoulders were hunched, and her head was downcast. Her fingers rubbed against her neck, and that smile she wore minutes ago was long gone.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah… I just…” She ran her fingers through her hair nervously, avoiding eye contact with me.

  She wasn’t the kind of woman to drop her gaze, no matter what kind of foe she faced. “What?”

  “I assumed I would be going back home…” She pulled her hand from her soft strands and finally looked me in the eye.

  The thought hadn’t crossed my mind—not once. I just assumed she would stay with me, after everything we’d been through. I’d saved her from Tristan, and I thought we’d live the rest of our lives together. She didn’t love me, but she would live a comfortable life with my wealth and protection.

  She continued to watch me, tense as if I might explode.

  “Go back home? To tell Lizzie’s parents what happened?” I suppose she deserved to tell her parents that she was okay, that she was being treated well and had the freedom to do what she wanted. She wasn’t the property of a psychopath anymore.

  “Yeah…and because that’s where I live.”

  She wanted to leave me. After everything I’d done for her, she wanted to go back to her old life.

  “I could go back to school and be a teacher. I could spend time with my parents again. I could have my life back…the life I had before everything was taken away from me.”

  All I could do was stare at her in surprise. I wasn’t sure why the thought had never crossed my mind. Why would I expect her to stay here with me if she wasn’t in love with me?

  “I thought I could stay a little longer, maybe a week or so. But I should be getting back.”

  Those words hurt most of all. It was hard enough being with a woman who didn’t share my feelings, but watching her walk away after what I did for her was a punch in the gut. “Do you understand what I did for you?” I spoke quietly, but the words were pregnant with audible rage. My hands trembled on the table, and every muscle in my back was tense and rigid.

  “Yes, and I—”

  “While you were sitting here eating everything in my fridge, I was killing every man I locked eyes with to get my brother out of there. My brother was tortured and beaten because he risked his neck for you. He risked his wife for you. No, Adelina. I don’t think you grasp the severity of the situation.” I rose out of my chair even though I had no idea why I did. My body couldn’t sit still anymore. There was so much anger pumping through my veins. “I lost my business because of you.”

  Her eyes filled with moisture until she couldn’t look at me anymore.

  “After all of that, you just leave?”

  Her mouth was shut tight, her body trembling slightly.

  “When I walked into that room where you were handcuffed to the wall, I could have fucked you. I didn’t. When I took you as a loan, I could have done whatever I wanted to you. Did I? No. When you were in my captivity, you were shown nothing but respect. I took you sight-seeing and made your life enjoyable. And when I turned you over to Tristan, I was sick to my stomach. I couldn’t sleep knowing you were there. So I risked everything to get you back. I risked my whole family—for you.”

  It was the first time she’d cowered underneath me, appearing small and fragile.

  My hands were shaking because I was so angry. She’d played me for a fool, used me for everything that I had. I was tougher than stone and never let my guard down for anyone. The first time I did, she stabbed me right in the gut. She used me, played me. I was just a stepping-stone to get where she wanted. I wasn’t going to sacrifice so much unless I got something out of it. “You aren’t going back, Adelina. You were Tristan’s prisoner, and now you’re mine. That’s your debt to me.”

  She looked up at me again, and this time, her eyes flashed. “You can’t be serious.”

  “I am serious.” I’d never meant anything more in my life. “You’re my property. I’m not the kind of man who does something for free. I always expect something in return. I saved your life, declared war against an ally, and lost my family’s business to save you. You bet your ass, you’re staying. If you ask me, you got a good deal.”

  “Cane, I have a family—”

  “I don’t give a shit. You’ll have a beautiful house to live in, more money than you know what to do with, and you’ll be at my beck and call. Much better than being in Tristan’s captivity, if you ask me. I’m done being a nice guy, and I’ll never be a nice guy again.” I stormed away from the table and knocked over the glass of wine as I made my exit. I’d never felt so stupid in my life. If she didn’t love me, I could accept that. But to return home to her life like nothing happened infuriated me. I’d put everything on the line for this woman, and she wanted to leave me behind and forget about it.

  I almost lost everything because of her.

  Because of my stupidity.

  But never again.

  Never again.

  * * *

  She must have stayed in her old bedroom because she never joined me in mine.

  Good. I didn’t want her there.

  The next day, I was just as angry as I had been the night before. In fact, I was even angrier. I couldn’t imagine the look on my brother’s face if I told him Adelina was going home like nothing ever happened. Crow would know he’d risked his family for absolutely nothing.

  Nothing.

  I did everything I could to save Pearl, but that was because she was my sister-in-law. She was family.

  Adelina was just some whore.

  A whore who played me.

  I put a transmitter inside of her when she first arrived here, but I never used it. She didn’t try to run, and when she went back to Tristan, I already knew where she was. I went downstairs and she was nowhere in sight. I opened my laptop. I opened the program and found the tracker information.

  It was still working.

  Adelina didn’t show her face for hours, so I went upstairs to make sure she didn’t make a run for it. I opened her bedroom without knocking and found her sitting on the bed, wearing a t-shirt with a somber expression on her face.

  “Come here.”

  She stared at me defiantly, her soft expression hardening into a glare. “No.”

  When she fought me, it both aroused me and irritated me. “Don’t make me ask again, Adelina. You know I enjoy pulling on that beautiful hair of yours.” I’d drag her all the way down the stairs if she made me. She’d blown a fuse in my brain, and now my wiring was destroyed. I
wasn’t the same person I was before. I was a whole new man.

  She knew our situation was different now. When she first arrived here, she called my bluffs because she identified my true character. But she knew she couldn’t call my bluff this time.

  She got out of bed and slowly walked to the doorway.

  I didn’t wait for her and took the stairs to the main living room. I turned the laptop toward her and pointed to the map on the screen. “This is you. I can see where you are at all times. Run, and see what happens.” I shut the laptop. “I’ve swept the house for weapons. You won’t find any guns anywhere, and if you manage to get your hands on one, you better get in at least six shots. I’ve been shot before. Didn’t do much.” Even if there were a gun around, I knew she wouldn’t shoot me. She was pissed at me, but I’d risked everything to save her. She wouldn’t cross me like that.

  “I know you’re mad right now, but you need to calm down and come to your senses.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and stared down at her. “I’m calm, Adelina. You’ll know when I’m not.”

  “The Cane I know wouldn’t do this.”

  “The Cane you knew is dead. You played him for a fool, and now he’s gone.”

  “I didn’t play him.” Her beautiful brown eyes brightened when she spoke emotionally. She was either being honest or was desperate to be free. “I care about him. Just because I want to go home doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you. It doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings for you.”

  “I don’t care about any of that. You should get comfortable. I’m not changing my mind.”

  “What about my parents?”

  “What about them?” I countered. “I let you see them one last time.”

  She shook her head, giving me a fierce look of disappointment. “You’re better than this.”

  “No, I’m not. And I couldn’t care less about your opinion—not anymore.”

  She stepped closer to me, straightening her spine so she seemed a little taller. “I never asked you to save me, Cane. I never asked you to accept me as part of a loan. When you dropped me off at Tristan’s, I never expected you to come back for me. You did all those things on your own. You shouldn’t have expected anything.”

  “Well, I do expect something. Is being with me that horrible, Adelina?”

  Her eyes narrowed before they softened.

  “You’d rather be with him? Is that what you’re telling me? You wish you were still lying on that cot with your ankle locked to the wall?” I remembered the night I broke her out of there. I found her helpless and weak. She was treated like a dog much more than a human.

  “No. But I want Cane back…my Cane. I want the man who’s better than all those assholes. I want the man who’s always respected me and taken care of me. I want the man who has a huge heart that he’s always trying to hide. I want him back…”

  “He’s gone. I already told you that.”

  “I’m sorry that you risked everything—”

  “No, you aren’t. All you care about is yourself.”

  Her eyes snapped wide again. “If I only cared about myself, I would have run away a long time ago. I stayed to help my friend Lizzie. How dare you call me selfish when I was raped every single day just for the slim possibility that it could save her. I’m much braver than you’ll ever be, Cane.” She flashed me a hostile look of disappointment before she stepped back. “When I tell Pearl and Crow, they won’t let you do this.”

  I shook my head. “They won’t interfere.”

  “You bet your ass, they will.”

  “When you last saw Crow, do you remember what you said to him?”

  Her expression shifted at my words. She stared at me with suspicion, like she didn’t know why there’d been a sudden change.

  “You told him you were in debt to him for what he did for you. Why didn’t you say the same to me?”

  Her eyes fell.

  I repeated the question. “Why didn’t you say the same to me, Adelina?” I stepped closer to her, my shadow covering her. “Why does he get your debt, but I don’t? I was the one who begged him to help me. I was the one who lost ten million dollars. I was the one who handed over my business to protect you.” I pressed my face closer to hers. “Answer me.”

  “I am grateful for what you did, Cane. I never said I wasn’t.”

  “Tell me you’re indebted to me,” I whispered. “If there’s anything I ever need, you’ll make it happen.”

  She stared at me silently.

  “Say it.”

  “Thank you for saving me, Cane. If there’s anything I can do, let me know…”

  “Thank you for the offer,” I said coldly. “There is something you can do for me. You’re going to be mine—for the rest of your life.”

  * * *

  Crow sat on the couch across from me in his study and set the decanter of scotch on the table. He still wasn’t drinking, but he wouldn’t deny me the pleasure. The flames burned in the fireplace even though it was midafternoon. Crow was still weak, but at least he could get around the house now.

  I made myself a drink and let it slide down my throat.

  Crow watched me with a dark expression.

  “I’m not trying to rub it in, I promise.”

  Crow leaned back and rubbed his fingers against his temple. “I can’t remember the last time I had a drink. My liver is confused.”

  “Good. Maybe you’ll live a little longer.”

  “I don’t know. I should have died a long time ago.”

  I chuckled. “We both should have.”

  When Crow shifted his position on the couch, he stiffened in pain for a moment. His jaw tightened, and a look of displeasure spread across his face.

  “How are you coming along?”

  “It’s alright,” he said quietly. “Just bored.”

  “I thought we could start on the new site for the vineyard.”

  “Pearl wouldn’t go for that.”

  I opened the folder I brought with me and set it in front of him. “I mapped out the best locations based on soil quality, tourism, etc. Some of the prime spots are more expensive, but I think they’ll be worth it. The last one is the best choice. It’s only twenty miles east of here.”

  Crow looked over my selection silently. He flipped through each page, his face a wall of stoicism. “I’m surprised you did all this research. With Adelina around, I didn’t think you’d have the time.”

  “I can only fuck that woman so many times.”

  Crow’s eyes flicked up to mine at my choice of words. I didn’t talk about Adelina that way to anyone, just as he didn’t talk about Pearl. But now, she didn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t respect her, not when she’d cut me so deeply. “Everything alright?”

  “Yeah.” I took another drink. “What do you think about the last one?”

  His eyes returned to the folder. “It’s a good choice. I think we should do it.”

  “I can put the bid in and make the arrangements.”

  “I need to see it first.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  “I can’t,” he said with a sigh. “Until these stitches come out, I’m not moving.”

  “Since when did Pearl start running the show?”

  He shrugged. “Since the day I met her, probably.”

  I chuckled. “At least you admit it.”

  “How are things going with Adelina? Is she adjusting…?”

  “She’s fine.” I took another drink, covering up the annoyance I felt toward her.

  Crow saw the anger in my eyes when no one else picked up on it. “Why do you get so tense every time she’s mentioned?”

  “Maybe because I don’t want to talk about her.”

  Crow rubbed his jaw as he studied my features. “What happened, Cane?”

  “Nothing. I’ll talk to Pearl about letting you see that property with me.”

  “You don’t need to ask her permission. That’s not the problem.”

  “Then what
is the problem?”

  “I agree that I shouldn’t go anywhere. Until I’m in the clear, I shouldn’t be exposed to unnecessary bacteria. I haven’t gotten an infection, and I want to keep it that way.”

  I wanted my brother to get better, but I wanted to move forward. “How much more time do you need?”

  “My next checkup is in a week. That’s when the stitches will be removed.”

  “We’ll stop by then.”

  “Sounds good to me,” he said. “Now that we’ve established that, let’s circle back to Adelina. And don’t change the subject this time.”

  I gripped my glass as I held it on my thigh. “There’s nothing to say.”

  “I can tell you’re pissed, and I want to know why. Now, tell me.”

  “I’m not pissed.” I downed the entire contents and set the glass on the coffee table. “I should get going. I’ll check in later this week to see how you’re doing.”

  Crow stared at me coldly. “I’m just going to find out some other way.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  * * *

  I hit the gym then returned home. Gerald had lunch prepared for me, so I scarfed it down before I went upstairs. Adelina didn’t hang out outside her room. She stayed in there nearly all the time, adamantly avoiding me.

  I stopped by her room and opened the door.

  She was sitting in an armchair by the fire, reading. She looked up when I entered, her guard up. “Can I help you?”

  “You’re free to move through the rest of the house. Gerald told me you stay in here all day.”

  She turned her gaze back to her book. “I like it in here.”

  “I’ll be back after I take a shower. I expect you to be stripped down to your panties on the bed, ass up and face down.”

  She stared at me with an expression as cold as ice, but deep inside, I saw a glimmer of a flame. She hated me right now, but her body could never hate the things I did to her.

  “This is the part where you say, ‘Yes, sir.’”

  She continued to glare.

  I left the doorway and walked toward her, my need for dominance making me want to grip her by the neck. I stopped in front of her, my hands by my sides. “Yes, sir.”