Page 97 of Break

“Becauseyoucare,” she claps back. “We did it foryou, Nicole.”

I have to sit back down. “But…”

“And now you’re telling me you’ve been blackmailed? Ugh, I’ll bet my diamond collection it’s that reporter from the HBK Daily. What was his name… Tim something.”

“Timothy Wade,” I say, feeling my cheeksgrow numb.

“Fucking twatstick. I should have had security teach him a lesson a long time ago. I’ll be making calls and putting an end to that man by midnight.”

But I don’t hear what she says after that because my blood is swishing too loudly in my ears. The world stops spinning. I think the sun stops shining too. My vision dims, zeroing in on a stack of photos sitting on the coffee table along with a note that has some café written on it.

“Oh my god.” Picking up the pictures, my blood starts to boil.

“Nicole Antoinette Greystone, are you listening to me?”

No, I’m not. “Sorry, Mom. What?”

The door opens and in walks Kerrington and Landon with blood all over their outfits.

I think I’m going to pass out.

“I said I want you happy and safe. If Kerrington and Landon are the ones to make you that way, then you have our blessing.”

This isn’t a dream. It’s a nightmare.

The photos fall out of my hand and onto the floor. I can’t feel my legs when I try to stand and walk over to them.

“Scarlett lost Mason and Grace because of the way she treated them. She’ll likely lose Jackson, too, if he has any sense,” my mom says, having no clue what I’m looking at. “She loves no one but herself, but we love you more thananything in the world, Niki. Dad and I want you happy. And I will not lose you just because I wanted a different path for you that you’re not willing to take. I’m not disappointed, baby. I’m proud of you.”

I can’t think straight.

Kerrington sits down on the couch and pulls me into his lap. Landon’s hovering over the discarded breakfast, plucking fruit and popping grapes in his mouth.

I think I’ve lost my goddamn mind.

“Every parent wants their child happy, Nicole. My only wish for you is that you’ve finally found it.”

“I have,” I say numbly.

“Good. Now tell those boys I’ll be seeing them at Christmas this year, understand me?”

I nod, dumbfounded. “Yes.”

“I love you, Niki.”

“Love you, too.”

She hangs up and I honestly have no idea where the cell I’m holding goes because it’s suddenly out of my hands and Kerrington’s kissing me.

“What happened?” I ask once he comes up for air. As far as I can tell, there isn’t a scratch on either of them, so why is there blood all over their clothes?

Ignoring my question, Kerrington kisses me again and rolls me onto my back, already unbuckling his pants. “I need to get inside you, baby.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No.” His kisses are desperate and make me dizzy.

“Landon?”

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