Page 46 of Hiding Hollywood

“You don’t get to make the decision, Addie. We talked about this. I’ll tell you what’s best for you.” He pulled her a fraction closer, pinpricks of pain shot through her shoulders and for the first time, a small amount of fear crept through her veins. “Go get in something worthy of being my girlfriend so we can get out of here.”

A whimper escaped her lips as his fingers tightened further. She’d held it in as long as possible.

From behind her, Cameron’s hands clamped over Brian’s wrists.

“Let go.” Cameron’s voice sounded as nonchalant as he might say a command to Lacy. His body brushed up against her back. She leaned into him. Into his strength and safety, wishing she could curl into his chest and let him take her anywhere else. She’d never been scared of Brian. He’d never shown this much emotion before. At least not before now.

Brian snarled. “I don’t think you know who you’re up against.”

“I’m up against someone I can arrest for assault if you leave so much as a bruise on Addie.” His hands flexed on Brian’s wrists. The pain eased up although Brian still held her. “You can let go on your own or I will gladly break your wrists.”

“Ha, you and who—” Brian screamed as Cameron twisted his hands. Brian dropped to his knees with a shout of pain.

“Stop!” Addie pulled at Cameron’s arms. He released Brian.

“Asshole.” Brian rubbed his wrists. “You almost broke both my arms!”

“You didn’t let go.” Cameron turned his back on Brian. He reached up and pulled the neck of her spandex exercise shirt over her shoulder, threads popping. If it weren’t for the savage gleam in his eyes, she might have slapped his hand away for ruining her shirt. But she let him investigate.

“Get your hands off my girlfriend.”

Cameron’s eyes fixated on her shoulder. The dull throb confirmed that Brian had left a mark where he’d squeezed her.

Releasing her shirt, Cameron straightened and locked eyes with Addie. For a brief second, he didn’t school his features. The raw intensity in his gaze solidified that she wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’m not your girlfriend.” She said the words easier this time. “I’m going to stay here. With Cameron.”

The breath rushed out of Cameron.

“Excuse me?” Brian stopped brushing the dirt from his pants. He took a step, eyes trained on Cameron.

“I think that’s enough,” Sheriff Dempsey said and laid a hand on Brian’s shoulder. “It’s time for you to go. You already gave your statement that the car reported as stolen was a mix-up, and that will be submitted when the judge hears the case.”

“I’m not going anywhere without Addie. She’s mine. Go grab your things. We’re leaving.”

“No, Brian.” She stared up at Cameron. “I’m not leaving with you. I have to stay here. I want to stay here.” She leaned to the side. Brian’s mouth hung open. Maybe the jerk heard her that time. “I don’t want to be someone’s girlfriend when they left me in a jail cell instead of interrupting their ski vacation to come help sort everything out. I already told you I didn’t want to be with you. All you see me as is a prop, a girlfriend when it’s convenient, or you need me for some red carpet appearance. I want more in a relationship.”

For someone to finally see the real Addie and like her.

“I figured you were just upset. You know, your monthly thing.”

Oh…no. She crossed her arms and stared him down. “Last time I checked, being pissed off you left me in jail and didn’t answer your phone wasn’t a diagnosed PMS symptom.”

“You’ve never gotten mad at me before, what was I supposed to think?”

She threw her hands up. “That you screwed up? That I finally realized how self-centered you are.”

“Baby, you just don’t understand the real world. I had some serious networking to do on that ski trip.” Brian adjusted his shirt. “You were fine to wait a little bit. Patience is a virtue.”

A murderous look fell over Cameron’s face. He turned to face Brian.

Addie held onto his arm. She didn’t want Brian’s murder on her hands. “Leave, Brian, before this gets worse.”

“Mr. Wellston?” Sheriff Dempsey pointed at the rental car. “I think it’s time to go.”

“What about my car they impounded in Florida?”

Sheriff Dempsey escorted him to the black Mercedes rental. “You’ll be able to claim your car after the trial.”

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