Read Club Nova Vol. 4 (Brad Grayson) for Free Online

Brad crossed his arms over his chest.
    Victoria took a calming breath and nodded. “Yeah. He wants to make Peyton pay for everything she did to him and his family. He took me once in an attempt to force your hand. If he learns I truly am your weakness, I’m as good as dead.”
    She gave him a hard shove out of the way, stormed into the bathroom, and slammed the door, locking it behind her. The tears she’d felt moments ago spilled down her face. She was so angry. How could he do this? How could he think signing this deal with Peyton would suddenly, magically, make everything okay? Her life was in danger and he didn’t give a fuck.
    “Damn it, Victoria. Open this door and talk to me.” He pounded on the door but she ignored him.
    She sat on the edge of the bathtub and blew out a breath. She could only think of one solution. It was risky and extremely dangerous, and perhaps extremely foolish, but it just may work. If she had any chance of making things right, she had to do this. Maybe it was time she contacted her kidnapper and tried to work with him to get Peyton out of the picture once and for all. He’d said he would do whatever it took and Victoria had no reason not to believe him. But now that things had changed so much between her and Brad, what assurances did she have that the kidnapper wouldn’t turn on her? This could either be her biggest reward or her darkest regret. Was it worth the risk?
    The door handle twisted and Brad walked in. Victoria looked up at him in shock. “What the hell, Brad?”
    “It’s my condo. You don’t think I have the keys to every room?” He held up a key and smiled tightly.
    “Just leave me alone.” She stood and faced him.
    “You know I can’t do that.”
    “I didn’t realize when I agreed to stay here that I was giving up all expectation for privacy.”
    “Victoria.” He paused. “You didn’t. But I’m not going to let you lock yourself in the bathroom and ignore me.”
    “Christ, I just needed a minute, okay?”
    “Victoria, baby.” He sighed and gripped her upper arms tightly with his claws. “I’m not going to pretend I know what you went through when you were taken, and I’m not going to stand here and diminish how you feel about this whole fucked up situation. But I am going to swear to you that I won’t let anything happen to you ever again. You have to trust me.”
    She chewed on the inside of her cheek and nodded. She really did believe him, and she had no doubts he would do whatever it took to keep her safe—he’d already proved that. But she wasn’t willing to sacrifice his safety for hers. She hated even thinking it, but she saw no other way. She had to leave him before it really was too late.
    “Hey.” Brad put his fingers under her chin and tilted her head up. “Do you trust me?”
    They both looked into each others’ eyes without speaking.
    Finally, she said, “Yes.”
    “Then trust me on this. I know what I’m doing.”
    She was so tired of fighting with him about this. Clearly he wasn’t changing his mind. “Okay.” She nodded.
    “Thank you. Now can we please move forward?” He smiled, then dipped his head to kiss her.
    It was impossible to stay angry at him, even though that was exactly what she wanted to do right now. He had a way about him to flip her emotions around so quickly. She hated herself for being so easy.
    She found herself wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning into him, wanting him to do a hell of a lot more than just kiss him. Maybe if she got lucky she could distract him long enough that he’d miss his meeting, the deal would fail, and they could move forward, without Peyton and without the perceived danger.
    She ran her hands up his bare chest and over his shoulders, loving how he groaned in response, deepening the kiss. Then he lifted her and set her on the edge of the sink, standing between her parted legs. Victoria reached for the towel in an effort to pull it from his waist, but he clutched her hands