Chapter 31

Ryker

No one's ever taken me to meet their family before. I can't cut off the overflow of wild, insecure thoughts blowing around like a blizzard in my mind. What if they hate me? What if they recognize me from somewhere like the porn sites I used to be on? What if they ask questions I don't want to answer? I think if it was for anyone else, I'd turn this car around and say fuck it.

But Tara's worth putting myself in the line of fire for.

I wasn't kidding about how she looks at me. I know she mentioned I say her name like she's an angel coming to take me out of hell, and maybe I do say her name like that. But it's not my intention. Her name isn't a prayer answered. It's a fucking summoning.

I'm the devil and her demons adore me.

I think I'm in love.

Shit. Wait. No, that's too far. But I'm close. I could slip on a banana peel and fall down the rabbit hole with Tara, and if I do, I'll be glad. This woman has done the impossible. She sees me for what I am and accepts it. I don't pretend with her. She knows who I am, what I am, what I've been. She hasn't made me feel shame for any of it.

Talk about a one-eighty.

Every person I brought into my bed was a temporary thing. I never told them what I did for a living before I owned the Monarch. Hell, they didn't even know I own a sex club. My career was none of their goddamn business. They were with me for a dickdown, and I used them to relieve some tension. That's it. I've always been clean, health-wise, because I faithfully use protection, regardless of them begging for me to raw dog it, but there's always been this darkness in my mind reminding me how filthy I am.

That reminder comes often, and now that I'm about to meet Tara's family, it's screaming at me. I need to pull my shit together.

Tara truly has me in pieces. Will I come out of this a better man or a bigger monster?

"Tell me about your family," I say, to keep my mind busy.

"My stepfather is a no-nonsense man. He's really stern and work focused. He spoils my mom like a queen, though. Same for me."

That's wonderful. I'm glad she's treated right by her family.

"My mom's changed."

"How so?"

"She used to be carefree and goofy before she got married. Now she's prissy and too good for everyone."

Interesting. "Do you guys get along?"

Tara's quiet for a moment before saying, "Sometimes. We've drifted apart over the years, but I guess that's what happens when you grow up. Are you close to your family?"

My palms get sweaty. "My dad's been out of my life since I was a ten. My mom died when I was nineteen."

She looks over at me with puppy dog eyes. "I'm so sorry, Ryker."

"Don't be. She was really sick. It's good that she's not in pain anymore." I want to throw up. I don't discuss my mother with anyone. Not even Dmitri anymore.

It's kind of hard to talk about the perfect parent who was murdered by someone you thought was your friend.

We drive in silence the rest of the way to her family's home. When we pull onto a road lined with oak trees, my muscles tense. Holy shit, Tara's family is filthy rich. I mean, I knew she had money, considering she's a member of my club, but her family must be gazillionaires to own this piece of land.

Jesus fucking Christ, the home could fit five of my clubs in it.

Tara's voice trembles when she says, "You ready for crab cakes, Bloody Mary's, and animosity?"

I don't get a chance to respond. She opens the door and heads up the fancy marble steps where a man holds the door open for us.

"Good morning, Charles." Tara taps the gentleman's cheek, and he chuckles.

"It's a stormy day," he says in response. Something tells me he's not talking about the weather since there isn't a cloud in the sky.

Her eyes widen but she doesn't say anything, even after Charles quickly looks at me and clears his throat.

Suddenly, a woman's honey-dipped voice rises from inside. "Tara? Is that you?"

"Hi, Mom." Tara saunters over, all bubbly and airy, to hug a woman who could easily pass as her older sister.

"I'm so happy you're here! Let me look at you." Her mother cups her face. "God, Tara, couldn't you have at least put on a little concealer? When was the last time you slept?"

My girl turns to me and holds out her hand like I'm a lifeline. "I want to introduce you to Ryker Hudson."

Her mom freezes. "I didn't realize we were having more company today." She shoots a pointed look at Tara again. "Honey. You should have told me."

"I didn't think it mattered." I can tell she's lying.

Tara's mother schools her expression and turns her charm all the way to one thousand. "The more the merrier, I always say. Mr. Hudson, it's wonderful to meet you." She glances at Tara again, her smile getting faker. "Your brother also invited an extra guest. You two need to let us know when you're bringing guests, so I can make sure the cook has enough food prepared for everyone."

"I'm sure it's fine. It's brunch, Mom. What's on the menu, crab cakes and quiche?"

"Of course, they're your favorite." Her mom turns back to me and holds her hand out. "I'm Rebecca."

"Lovely to meet you." I take her hand and kiss her middle knuckle. "You have an incredible daughter."

Rebecca looks back at Tara. "Now I see why you aren't getting any sleep. Good for you, sugar."

"Oh my god, Mom." Tara rubs her temples.

"Bec, where are my—oh Tara. I didn't hear you come in." A man with broad shoulders and thinning salt and pepper hair approaches. "You look beautiful, sweetheart."

"Thanks." Tara gives him a hug. "I want you to meet Ryker Hudson. My boyfriend."

Her what?

"William Brisbane," he says, holding out his hand.

William WHO?

It's like I've been hit in the belly with a battering ram while someone pulls the rug out from under me at the same time. Brisbane. As in Brisbane Realty. I knew Tara worked for them, but I had no fucking clue she was related to them. I swallow the betrayal I feel and shake his hand. "Nice to meet you, Sir."

Then I shoot Tara dagger-eyes. How could she not have told me this before now?

Maybe it's because she has no idea how much I hate this company. Or maybe it's because she does know it and didn't want to put another hot coal on our burning relationship.

Fuck me running.

"Well, come on. These mimosas aren't going to pour themselves!" Tara hooks my arm with hers and leads us into a dining room the size of a fucking basketball court. "Sorry for not saying something sooner," she whispers.

I can't respond because I'm too busy grinding my molars.

There's no way she brought me into this circus as a punishment. She's not vindictive like that. At least, I don't think she is. Tara said she wanted to give me a personal truth and brunch was it. She wants me to see her life. And going off of the warning from the doorman, and the way Tara's attitude is overly bubbly and sweet, I don't like what I'm seeing.

Pulling a chair out for her first, I make sure she's settled in before taking the seat next to her.

"Garret will be late. As usual," Rebecca fusses, placing a napkin on her lap.

William glowers. "He's been in my office with an associate, Bec. It's not like he slept in."

"I know," she pouts. "But I want a nice family meal for a change with no talk about Brisbane business."

"Brisbane business got you this house and that ten-thousand-dollar necklace you're wearing," William growls.

The tension in the room thickens, and I instinctively put my hand on Tara's thigh. She looks over at me and smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes.

Yeah. She wants me to see something alright, and it's not the fancy curtains, expensive furniture, or line up of art on these walls.

Two men enter the dining room, laughing, each holding a glass of amber liquid. One halts the instant he sees me.

Son of a bitch.

"You're just in time." William motions at the two empty seats next to him. "Travis, I hope you like crab cakes."

"Love them."

"Garret, get our man's plate loaded."

My hands curl into fists. Garret stares me down from across the table. It's cute. If he thinks he can intimidate me, he's about to learn a valuable life lesson. Again.

"This is Ryker Hudson. Tara's friend."

"Hi, friend." Garret smiles at me like a jackal as he drops into his seat.

Tara's leg bounces with nervous energy. I rub her thigh to give her a sign that I'm not mad, nor am I going anywhere, and that she's safe.

"Have you two have met before?" Rebecca asks cheerfully.

"Yeah. We ran into each other at Tara's the other day when I stopped by." Garret grabs the asparagus with a set of silver tongs and drops some onto his plate. "You look nice today, Tara. Was it hard to put on clothes for once? I know you like to stay easily accessible for your dick-of-the-month."

Rebecca's fork clatters on her plate. "Garret! Don't talk to your sister like that!"

He shrugs and goes for a slice of quiche next.

Tara smiles and tips her head. "I'm sure you know all about the dick-of-the-month club, Garret." She winks at Travis. "I assume this one's Mr. June?"

It's nice to see Tara's not intimidated by him. Still, anyone talking to my girl with this much disrespect needs his fucking teeth knocked out. I'm just waiting for the perfect time to do it.

Rebecca huffs. "Stop it, both of you."

William rests his elbows on the table, steepling his fingers. "Where are we with that Greene Street property, Tara?"

So, he's going to let his son talk to Tara like that too? This is bullshit.

"Ugh, William," Rebecca pouts. "Can we please eat first before you get into this? We have guests! Let's not bore them through the entire meal by discussing old buildings and demolition projects."

"It's okay, Mrs. Brisbane," Travis says with a warm smile. "I'm here for business, too."

"But can we just discuss something, anything else, for a moment?"

"Tara said you were just in Paris." I keep my hand on Tara's thigh, feeling more possessive and protective of her than ever. "How was the weather there?"

Rebecca looks shocked I knew about that, and relieved for the subject change. "It was wonderful."

Lies. I know she hated it, but I also realize she could be putting up a front for her husband since Tara seems to do the same. I'll keep playing along for now. "Isn't fashion week soon? I bet the spring line's nice."

She eases into the conversation, gratefully. "I'm not crazy about this season's styles at all. Too many bold prints, not enough florals."

William takes a sip of his bloody Mary. "I love my girls in flowers."

"I've never been to Paris," I say, casually spinning the stem of my champagne flute. "My work keeps me too busy for much else."

William leans forward and faces me. "And what is it you do, Mr. Hudson?"

"I'm in personal luxuries."

Garret mumbles something under his breath I don't hear. Travis snarfs his drink and quickly grabs his napkin to blot his tie. Then he chokes on whatever bourbon he hadn't spit out, and Rebecca jumps up to whack him on the back. "Are you okay?"

I take the distraction as an opportunity to slip my hand under Tara's dress and enjoy how Garret turns a mottled red because he knows where my hand is. My girl stays extra still for me, even as I plunge a finger into her cunt.

"Pass me a crab cake," William orders just as his phone goes off. He answers it while Rebecca rushes to cater to his needs.

It's fucking ridiculous.

But this brunch is about to become my new favorite meal.

Tara's breath hitches when I pull my finger out of her pussy and bring the glossy digit up to run around the rim of my champagne flute. I haven't taken my eyes off Garret yet. He's fuming, and it makes me want to fuck with him even more. After dipping my finger into my champagne, I bring it to my lips and suck it. It's my middle finger too.

He gets my message loud and clear.

Keeping Garret's gaze, I tip my flute back and take a sip. "Fucking delicious."

Sometimes knocking a man's teeth out isn't nearly as fun as watching him implode. His furious gaze leaves me and lands on Tara.

Go ahead. Say one more thing to her, motherfucker.I grab my fork, ready to stab his eyes out just for looking at my girl.

William yells at the person on his cell, shooting up out of his chair and marching out of the dining room. Rebecca sits back and crosses her arms like a petulant child. Travis brings up how lovely the gardens are and asks her for a tour. They both hop up and leave like they can't get out of here fast enough.

Putting my fork to use, I stab something on my plate and put it in my mouth, not tasting whatever it is. My attention remains solely on Garret.

I can't believe Tara didn't tell me who he really was to her when he attacked her the other day. Of all my guesses, not once did stepbrother register in my head as a possibility. And I'm willing to bet he's treated her like shit since the minute their parents got together. His animosity and ugliness couldn't have happened overnight. They have a well-seasoned hatred, by the looks of it.

Why?

"Tara!" William yells. "Get in here!"

"Shit," she whispers. Springing into action, Tara stands up, smooths out her dress, and scurries out of the dining room.

"Uh oh." Garret grins like a Cheshire cat once it's just the two of us. "Looks like Daddy's girl is in big trouble."

William's voice booms from the other room. "Garret! Get in here."

"See you around, lover boy." He tosses his napkin onto my plate of food. "Show yourself out, mmkay? I'll send Tara back to you when we're done."

I'm on him so fast, he doesn't have time to back away. Climbing over the fucking table, knocking the drinks and kicking a platter of scones over as I go, I hop down and back him up against a wall.

He doesn't have time to move or yell. I hold him pinned against the wall by his motherfucking throat and stare at him until he trembles under me. Then I inch closer, taking up all his fucking space, all his air, all his fake ass bravado. Our mouths are so close I can practically taste the bourbon fumes on him.

I hold his gaze for a long moment, and as I grab his tie, his pupils shrink. Ah, so he remembers what I did with his last one. Good. For a minute there, I thought he was delusional enough to believe I'd be civilized just because I'm in his territory.

Instead of wrapping the tie like a noose around his neck again and finishing the job I started the other day, I undo it. Keeping my smile tight, I re-tie the fucking thing, making it extra snug around his stringy little neck. "Better get going, Garret. Don't want to keep Daddy waiting."

He doesn't move until I take another step back and let him go. Then he rushes out of the dining room and I'm pretty certain there's a wet spot on his pants.

I finally get why Tara didn't want to tell me about her family.

They're absolute scum.

It's infuriating to know she grew up with every luxury money could afford and was deprived of the one thing everyone should have in spades. Her words come back to haunt me now.

"You protect. You care for people. You work hard to keep everyone in here safe, happy, and healthy."

Tara saw me for exactly who I was because it's probably something she's hunted for.

Well, she found me.

And I'm not letting anyone hurt my girl or make her feel less than incredible ever again.

Buttoning my suit jacket, I head for the office.