Read Online Risking It All: London Calling Book Three by Kat Faitour - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kat Faitour
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deeded me your penthouse .” She rose to pace over to the gas fireplace, flicking a switch to bring it to life.
“Oh, that.”
“Yes! Yes, that! What were you thinking?” Picking up a remote control, she pressed a button that closed the blinds on the floor to ceiling windows.
A heavy sigh. “I wanted you to have it, MP. I don’t need it anymore, and I sure as hell don’t need the money.”
“Is this because—”
He interrupted. “No.”
An awkward silence ensued where all the things she’d planned to say escaped her. Countless people had offered her their condolences, sympathy, and comfort in the past seven years. She’d suffered through all of it with patient stoicism. Turning back to the fireplace, she lowered herself in front of it.
Damn, she hated pity.
And charity was nearly unbearable.
She knew, in her heart, that guilt and a degree of horror at his findings probably motivated Dominic to make amends the only way he knew how. She’d had several days to consider his gift and as outrageously extravagant as it was, she had to accept. Pride was a luxury she could no longer afford.
It really wasn’t about her anyway.
With equal parts humility and gratitude, she swallowed past the painful lump in her throat to say the only thing she could.
“Thank you.” Loneliness and an acute vulnerability made her press the key to end their call.
Sitting on the living room floor of Dom’s darkened penthouse, Madeleine pulled her knees up to rock in tormented grief. Giving in, she wept with the sorrow and fury of all her life had become.
CHAPTER FOUR
B ENNETT ’ S GLOVED FIST smashed into Dominic’s face, whipping his head around and splitting his lip. Blood dripped from his chin as he drove his own clenched hand into Bennett’s bare abdomen, doubling him over.
In less than fifteen minutes, bruises darkened the two men’s faces and ribs. Small cuts spattered blood onto the mat beneath them. A small crowd of men gathered outside the ring, watching them as they traded punch for punch, ruthlessly pummeling each other.
A hit to the gut followed by a strong uppercut sent Dominic reeling to the ground. He pushed an elbow underneath himself and tried to get up, but collapsed again, unable to catch his breath.
Shit.
Bennett took the two steps necessary to stand over Dominic, gloved hand extended. On the pretense of considering Bennett’s outstretched arm, Dominic greedily gulped air. Finally, Bennett saw his act for what it was and scooped Dominic to a sitting position.
Dominic blinked hard, trying to clear the bloodstained sweat from his eyes. Everything hurt.
But damned if he didn’t feel better.
He grinned then winced at the sting. Gingerly, he touched the tip of his tongue to the split before blotting the blood away with his forearm. Bennett squatted at his side, clearly fighting back amusement.
“Done? Or do you want more?”
Dominic shook his head then lightly bumped his glove against Bennett’s jaw. “No, I’m good.” He turned serious. “The question is, are you?”
The two men had seemingly put their differences aside months before. In the beginning, it had been for Devon, someone they both unquestionably loved. Later, as Dominic worked within Sterling International to set up better security measures, they established a strange but strong synergy in the way they worked and thought. That led to the sideline business idea of investigating and protecting their clients’ international assets and offshore investments. As business partners, they couldn’t be better matched.
As men, though, they’d needed to thrash each other.
Bennett unlaced his gloves then tossed them aside. “I’ve been good for awhile. I told you all was forgiven.” He raised his chin at Dominic. “You’re the one still beating yourself up. I finally decided to take mercy on you and do it myself.”
Dominic laughed, ignoring the pain in his ribs. “That you did.”
The group of men around the
“Oh, that.”
“Yes! Yes, that! What were you thinking?” Picking up a remote control, she pressed a button that closed the blinds on the floor to ceiling windows.
A heavy sigh. “I wanted you to have it, MP. I don’t need it anymore, and I sure as hell don’t need the money.”
“Is this because—”
He interrupted. “No.”
An awkward silence ensued where all the things she’d planned to say escaped her. Countless people had offered her their condolences, sympathy, and comfort in the past seven years. She’d suffered through all of it with patient stoicism. Turning back to the fireplace, she lowered herself in front of it.
Damn, she hated pity.
And charity was nearly unbearable.
She knew, in her heart, that guilt and a degree of horror at his findings probably motivated Dominic to make amends the only way he knew how. She’d had several days to consider his gift and as outrageously extravagant as it was, she had to accept. Pride was a luxury she could no longer afford.
It really wasn’t about her anyway.
With equal parts humility and gratitude, she swallowed past the painful lump in her throat to say the only thing she could.
“Thank you.” Loneliness and an acute vulnerability made her press the key to end their call.
Sitting on the living room floor of Dom’s darkened penthouse, Madeleine pulled her knees up to rock in tormented grief. Giving in, she wept with the sorrow and fury of all her life had become.
CHAPTER FOUR
B ENNETT ’ S GLOVED FIST smashed into Dominic’s face, whipping his head around and splitting his lip. Blood dripped from his chin as he drove his own clenched hand into Bennett’s bare abdomen, doubling him over.
In less than fifteen minutes, bruises darkened the two men’s faces and ribs. Small cuts spattered blood onto the mat beneath them. A small crowd of men gathered outside the ring, watching them as they traded punch for punch, ruthlessly pummeling each other.
A hit to the gut followed by a strong uppercut sent Dominic reeling to the ground. He pushed an elbow underneath himself and tried to get up, but collapsed again, unable to catch his breath.
Shit.
Bennett took the two steps necessary to stand over Dominic, gloved hand extended. On the pretense of considering Bennett’s outstretched arm, Dominic greedily gulped air. Finally, Bennett saw his act for what it was and scooped Dominic to a sitting position.
Dominic blinked hard, trying to clear the bloodstained sweat from his eyes. Everything hurt.
But damned if he didn’t feel better.
He grinned then winced at the sting. Gingerly, he touched the tip of his tongue to the split before blotting the blood away with his forearm. Bennett squatted at his side, clearly fighting back amusement.
“Done? Or do you want more?”
Dominic shook his head then lightly bumped his glove against Bennett’s jaw. “No, I’m good.” He turned serious. “The question is, are you?”
The two men had seemingly put their differences aside months before. In the beginning, it had been for Devon, someone they both unquestionably loved. Later, as Dominic worked within Sterling International to set up better security measures, they established a strange but strong synergy in the way they worked and thought. That led to the sideline business idea of investigating and protecting their clients’ international assets and offshore investments. As business partners, they couldn’t be better matched.
As men, though, they’d needed to thrash each other.
Bennett unlaced his gloves then tossed them aside. “I’ve been good for awhile. I told you all was forgiven.” He raised his chin at Dominic. “You’re the one still beating yourself up. I finally decided to take mercy on you and do it myself.”
Dominic laughed, ignoring the pain in his ribs. “That you did.”
The group of men around the
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