The Rebel's Redemption Page 4

  Gray held up his own hands in the universal sign for surrender. “Message received, man.”

  Jesus, what was wrong with him? His temper hadn’t been on this much of a hair trigger since his first year or so behind bars. When he’d learned to control his responses. But the suggestion of Piper in bed with someone else...his brain had short-circuited.

  Because he wanted to be the man sleeping next to her and he couldn’t be. Didn’t deserve to be.

  Easing up, Stone blew out a breath. “Sorry.”

  “My fault. Besides, I pushed the button on purpose.”

  “Because you’re an asshole.”

  “Because I’m your friend and I’m worried about you. But why don’t we postpone the transition-to-the-real-world conversation and concentrate on what changed with your girl.”

  “She’s not my girl.”

  “Sure, she isn’t.”

  Shaking his head, Stone swallowed back the retort on his tongue. It wouldn’t do any good. Gray was a hardheaded prick. “The media has been pestering her, too, apparently.”

  “Not surprising.”

  Gray’s immediate reaction surprised Stone. “Really? I didn’t expect it. They left her alone before.”

  “They’re fishing, Stone.” Gray leaned farther back so he could snag Stone’s gaze. “You know how to stop that.”

  “Not happening, man.”

  His friend shrugged. “Yeah, I know, but I wouldn’t be your friend if I didn’t say it. Again.”

  He really wished everyone around him would let it go.

  “So, what do you want me to do?”

  “Who says I want you to do anything?”

  Gray laughed, the sound deep and slow. “Because I know you, buddy, and you can’t let well enough alone. It’s one of your best qualities and biggest flaws.”

  Stone flipped him off, but didn’t argue. Because his friend wasn’t wrong.

  “I want to know more about the reporter who texted Piper. I don’t like the fact that she’s so exposed. She has no regard for protecting herself.”

  Gray’s head turned. Stone didn’t need to follow in order to know his friend was watching Piper below them. “I don’t know, man. She looks pretty capable of taking care of herself to me.”

  Maybe, but old habits died hard.

  “Information, that’s all. You better than most know how valuable and powerful it can be.”

  Gray made a humming sound in the back of his throat. “And now you have a purpose. One that’s more intriguing than the thought of stepping into the executive offices at Anderson Steel.”

  The problem with having friends who knew everything about him was that they didn’t hesitate to use the knowledge against him at the most inconvenient times.

  “Maybe.”

  “No maybe about it, counselor. Or maybe CEO? Which one of the many degrees you managed to amass during your time behind bars are you actually planning to use, hmm?”

  Stone registered Gray’s jab. It was one he liked to throw whenever he could. “Look, man, just because you’re jealous that I’m smarter than you doesn’t mean you need to be a prick.”

  “Actually, I kinda think it does. We both know you’re like a hamster without a wheel when you don’t have a goal or a project—sad and somewhat dangerous. I’m just saying this gives you something to focus on. At least for the moment. And you’re in luck. I’m also at loose ends these days and could use a distraction. So, you have a team of two.”

  “Oh, goody.”

  Despite the sarcasm, Stone was happy to have Gray’s help. He was going to protect Piper, whether she wanted him to or not.

  * * *

  Piper slipped the key into the lock on her house and twisted. She was so looking forward to kicking these heels off and stripping out of the bra currently digging into her ribs. Collapsing into bed sounded like heaven, too.

  After everything, she was just bone-tired.

  But that plan evaporated when she walked into her kitchen to find her best friend sitting at her table. An open bottle of wine and an empty glass sat in front of her. Another glass stalled halfway to her own lips.

  Part of her wished Carina wasn’t there, but the rest of her could really use the comforting support Carina would no doubt give her. Out of everyone, she might be the only person to really understand how draining tonight had been. Which, given the circumstances, would probably appear weird to anyone on the outside looking in. But that was her family, twisted and complicated.

  The petite blonde didn’t even ask before pouring a healthy glass of wine and holding it in her direction.

  “You survived.”

  “Barely.” Piper shook her head at the same time she kicked her heels across the room. She should feel remorse for abusing her favorite pair of Louboutins, but right now she didn’t. “Let me change first.”

  Her home was small, but it was perfect for her. The caretaker’s cottage was located on the back of her mother and stepfather’s estate. A couple years ago, after she’d graduated with her PhD, she’d tried to move out and into her own place, but her mom wouldn’t hear of it. She insisted the house would simply sit vacant if Piper left. And that she was doing them a favor by staying. Besides, it made her mother feel better to have her close. And she did have her privacy. With her own drive onto the property, she could go days without seeing her parents if she wanted to. And there was the perk of having access to their heated pool whenever she wanted.

  She’d relented and stayed. She did love the place. It was perfect for her, small and quaint, made of gorgeous stone. She had her own garden out back that provided her a place of tranquility when she needed it most. It worked.

  And, it helped that Carina lived on the property, too, in the pool house.

  Piper peeled off her gown and donned a pair of cotton shorts and a T-shirt so soft and comfortably worn. That’s what she needed right now, comfort.

  Padding back into the kitchen on bare feet, she scooped up the chilled glass and took a huge gulp. The sweetness of the Riesling exploded across her tongue. With a sigh, she collapsed into the kitchen chair Carina toed out for her. Pulling her legs beneath her, Piper rested her chin on one knee.

  “That good, huh?”

  She just shook her head, unsure where to even start to share her night with her friend. Because it was more complicated than simply her own emotional issues with Stone.

  Carina had been her stepbrother’s fiancée. Since she was several years older than Piper, they hadn’t been particularly close before Blaine’s death. But afterward, her parents had taken Carina in. She’d been devastated and alone in the world. Piper was fairly certain her stepfather had chosen to take care of Carina because he was trying to hold on to a piece of his son. But over the last decade, Carina had become family as much as she would have if she and Blaine had gotten married.

  And, to be honest, floundering with her own emotional turmoil, and lost without Stone, Piper had needed a friend and Carina had been there for her. They’d become close, sharing in their grief, even if the emotion flowed from different sides of the experience.

  She’d never confided the truth of what had happened to Carina. She just couldn’t shatter Carina’s view of Blaine. Adding to her friend’s pain would serve no purpose.

  Reaching across the table, Piper grasped Carina’s hand. “Let’s table my night for a second. We can go back to that, but right now I want to know how you’re doing.” After all, her fiancé’s murderer had just been released from prison.

  Carina gave her the ghost of a smile. It was all Piper had been getting from her friend for months, not that Piper blamed her.

  “I’m okay.”

  “Really?”

  Her pale blond hair swished around her face as she shook her head. “I’m as good as anyone can expect, let’s put it that way? It’s hard not to be angry.”


  “Which is normal, Carina. I’d be worried about you if you weren’t upset. The important thing is being aware of your reaction, recognizing the things that trigger the emotion and channeling it in a healthy manner.”

  “Yes, Doctor.” Carina gave her a wry grimace.

  “Sorry.” Sometimes it was difficult for her to turn off work mode, especially lately with her friend. Carina was important to her and she wanted to help.

  Carina flipped her hand, gripping Piper’s and giving her a quick squeeze. “No, I know you mean well.”

  “I do.”

  “There’s a part of me that will always carry anger toward Stone, but I understand your relationship with him is more complicated than mine. You were so close for so long.”

  “Maybe, but we’re not anymore.” And they hadn’t been for a while. Tonight had proven that to her, even if the last ten years hadn’t. Stone was a different person, harder. And she no longer knew him the way she had before he’d gone away.

  It was clear Stone didn’t want her in his life now. And she had to respect his wishes. That was the right thing to do.

  “We talked. I don’t know that I got the closure I was looking for, but I’m pretty sure I got all I’m going to get from him.” It was her turn to shake her head. “I’m just going to have to learn to live with it and figure out how to move past it all.”

  She was also going to have to learn how to let go of this longing for him.

  “Easier said than done,” Carina murmured.

  Piper whispered, “Yeah.

  “But that wasn’t all that happened tonight. That reporter texted me again.”

  “I thought you told her you weren’t interested.”

  “I did,” Piper replied, “but she’s persistent. I wouldn’t worry about it, except Stone saw the text and was not thrilled.”

  “I bet.” Carina’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

  “Carina.”

  Her friend shook her head. “I’m sorry. I just...wish I could understand what happened, Piper.”

  “I know.” Although, if Piper had her way Carina would never learn the truth. While she didn’t normally advocate lying, in this instance the truth could do nothing but hurt her friend and the memory she had of the man she loved...even if not entirely accurate. “He isn’t going to talk.”

  Of that, Piper was absolutely certain. Stone had made his stance perfectly clear. She might not know him well anymore, but she had no doubt he meant every word and had no intention of ever changing his mind.

  “I know,” Carina sighed. “What are you going to do?”

  Piper dropped her cheek to her knees. “Right now? I’m going to finish this glass of wine and then head to bed. Tomorrow, I’m going to call Ms. Black’s boss and threaten harassment charges if she doesn’t leave me alone.”

  Four

  Stone’s fist tightened around the edges of his phone. The plastic creaked, threatening to give beneath the pressure of his hold.

  “Dude, let up before you break that shiny new piece of technology you just bought.”

  “I don’t care,” he gritted out between his clenched teeth. He could buy a thousand more. What he cared about right now was the picture filling every pixel of the screen.

  Turning to face the two men on the other side of the room, Stone asked, very precisely, “How did this happen?”

  He wanted to yell, but that wouldn’t accomplish anything. He wanted answers more and that wasn’t likely to happen if everyone around him was flinching from a display of temper.

  Mitchell, his father’s head of security, spoke up. “We’re not certain. We’re in the process of reviewing the security footage to see if we can figure out who took the photograph.”

  The photograph. The one of him and Piper in the library last night. Clearly taken from the vantage point of the balcony right outside the second-story room. A part of the mansion that had been strictly off-limits to guests the night before.

  “Our concern is that it was someone at the party, which will make figuring out who it was next to impossible. Unless we can find footage, and so far the tape we’ve scrubbed just shows a shadowy figure. We can’t even tell if it’s a man or woman.”

  Perfect. Frustration bubbled through Stone’s body, making him restless. Pushing past Gray, he began to pace the length of the room, pulling at his hair. The pinch of pain helped to focus him on the problem.

  “It’s not that bad, man,” Gray murmured as he stalked past.

  On the surface, his friend wasn’t wrong. But he wasn’t right either. The photograph, snapped at the moment he’d picked Piper up off the floor after she’d collapsed, was clearly intimate. Something about the expression on Piper’s face had sent heat storming through his body.

  It wasn’t simply the photograph that had him pacing. The headline accompanying it hit much too close to home.

  Enemies to Lovers: Convicted Murderer and Victim’s Stepsister

  That headline was everything. Everything that he’d wanted for so long and everything he couldn’t have.

  He and Piper weren’t lovers. Would never be lovers.

  This was a truth he’d come to terms with a long time ago.

  Now the entire city could see. Would whisper to each other about what a terrible person he was. Not that they hadn’t already been doing that, but this time, Piper’s name would get dragged through the mud along with his own. Everyone would pass judgment, not only on him, but on Piper. With saddened eyes and disappointed tones, they’d comment on how the well-respected psychologist should know better than to get entangled with the ex-con.

  Whoever had taken the photograph had timed the moment perfectly to go along with the sensational innuendo. It looked like he was about to devour her, which couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

  In that exact moment anyway.

  “Are you sure it wasn’t her?”

  Stone whipped his head around to glare at the man standing two paces behind Mitchell. “What did you say?”

  Apparently, the man was either stupid or had a death wish because he clearly ignored the warning Stone had just issued.

  “You heard me. Could she have staged this whole thing?”

  Gray’s hand landed on his arm and squeezed. “To what purpose?” his friend asked.

  “Maybe she’s trying to get a little payback for her stepbrother? Making you pay just a little more in the media. Or maybe she’s sold the story for money.”

  Stone laughed. “Piper hardly needs money.”

  “Are you certain? Correct me if I’m wrong, but her stepfather is the one with the money, right? Not her. She lives on his estate.”

  Stone’s blood began to rush through his veins, an audible swish he could hear in his own ears.

  “She’s a psychologist with her own practice.”

  “That actually doesn’t make much money considering the lifestyle she’s used to living. She takes on quite a few pro bono cases.”

  Yep, that sounded exactly like Piper. “Let me guess, most of them are assault victims?”

  The other guy’s eyebrows shot up. “How did you know? She volunteers with several victim advocacy groups.”

  “I assure you, she doesn’t need money.”

  “Her bank balance might suggest otherwise.” The guy just wouldn’t give up.

  Stone was about to argue the point more, but Gray stepped between them, blocking his view. Giving him a hard look, his friend murmured, “You haven’t seen her in ten years, man. How can you be so certain? People change.”

  And wasn’t he the perfect example of just how true that statement could be. Could Piper have sold the photograph and story to the tabloids? She’d followed him. Knew where he’d be. Could she have staged the emotional turmoil he’d seen in her eyes?

  His gut told him no, but was that simply wishful thinking? His time ins
ide had taught him not to trust anyone...anyone except Gray and Finn.

  Stalking across the room, Stone scooped his phone up off the floor. This time, he took the time to read every word in the article accompanying the picture. There was clear speculation about his and Piper’s relationship when they were younger. But it wasn’t like their friendship had been a secret. Most everyone knew they’d been close.

  What did strike him was the speculation about why he’d cut off all contact with her while he was inside. A detail only a handful of people knew. First on that list being Piper.

  * * *

  Pounding reverberated through Piper’s skull. It felt like someone had a jackhammer chipping away at her brain.

  Obviously, she shouldn’t have polished off the entire bottle of wine by herself after Carina left.

  Prying one eye open, she looked up at the watery light spilling into her room from the windows. She’d forgotten to pull the curtains last night. This wasn’t exactly how she’d planned to spend her Sunday.

  Beside her, her cell phone buzzed against the nightstand. Glancing at the screen, Piper registered the word Mom flashing across the top. She wasn’t in any frame of mind to deal with her mother just now. Rolling in the opposite direction, Piper’s feet hit the floor at the same time the pounding began again.

  Wait, that wasn’t inside her head but at her front door.

  Who the hell was at her door? It wasn’t early, but was hardly a decent hour for visiting. Especially unannounced. And she definitely wasn’t expecting anyone.

  Grabbing her robe off the chaise, Piper slipped her arms into the silky sleeves. Her gaze caught on her reflection in the mirror as she passed her dresser. God, she looked like death. But she didn’t have the will to care enough to do anything about it right now.

  Not only would whoever was trying to break down her door most likely not allow her to take the few minutes she needed to run a brush through her hair, they didn’t deserve the effort.

  Stumbling downstairs to the front door, Piper yanked it open, words already flying from her tongue. “Stop pounding on the—”