Raine on Me (17 page)

“You sure you want to see this?”

“Why are we on a porn site?”

Drake hesitated. “Watch.” He clicked the mouse and then backed up across the room to lean against the far wall, putting as much distance from his brother as he could get in the small room.

River stared as a video loaded and then his gut tightened at the grainy video of a party that someone shot with a shaky hand camera. He recognized a few faces from his days on the rodeo circuit. One face caught his attention. It was Kyle Marthum holding a beer, standing with some of the Marthum-sponsored riders. Some of River’s hardest competitors when he’d been bull riding stood shoulder to shoulder with Brit’s ex-husband.

“Here’s to the man of the hour,” Kyle laughed. “I knew you could take first place.”

The rider grinned, annoying River instantly. Boyd had been an asshole, an egomaniac, and had a crappy sense of sportsmanship. Every time they went against each other and Boyd won, he’d go out of his way to rub it in.

“Hey, Kyle?” someone shouted. “Your wife is coming down the stairs.”

Kyle’s face turned red and he released Boyd and pushed through a few men. The person with the camera followed into a large entryway and a curved stairwell of an obviously really nice house. River was stunned when he saw Brit. She wore a sexy white teddy, her hair was tangled and wild, and she staggered on the stairs, barefoot, gripping the railing with both hands. The outfit was so tiny it left nothing to the imagination.

Kyle shoved men out of his way. There had to be thirty of them, all men who worked for the Marthums, if River had to guess. Kyle stormed up the stairs.

“Damn it, Britney,” he raged. “I told you to stay in our room. You just can’t do it, though, can you? You got to put on a show for all the boys.”

It was obvious Brit was really drunk as she swayed, her chin lifted, and she tried to grab her advancing husband. Her arm never even came close to touching him. Kyle cursed, bent, and threw his wife over his shoulder. His hand smacked her ass hard when he straightened with her dangling down his back. The red handprint was easily seen since the teddy barely hid any part of her ass.

“You want to party? Fine.” Kyle turned on the stairs, facing his guests. He grinned.

“You know the rules. Nobody touches.” He walked down the stairs.

The cameraman laughed. “Someone get me a beer.”

9Kyle walked into a room, men followed, and so did the camera. Kyle none too gently dumped his wife, ass first, on a pool table. Brit nearly fell over but Kyle gripped her shoulder, holding her up, and laughed loudly, glancing at his guests.

“You aren’t the only ones who like to ride in front of an audience.”

River felt sick as he leaned back in his chair. He watched Kyle tear his shirt off and then push Brit onto her back. She didn’t do anything but stare up at her husband. Her hair partially hid her face but there was no doubt it was her. Kyle tore off his belt. Men started to chant encouragement, crowding in closer. River recognized one of those men as the asshole who’d fought with Adam at the bar. The men watched as Kyle reached for his wife. Brit tried to roll over but Kyle just grabbed her hips, pulling her closer, and tore at the thin lace that barely kept her covered to reveal her entire naked lower body.

When Kyle leaned over his wife, River’s hand moved faster, grabbed the mouse and shut off the site right before Kyle entered her.

He sat there feeling sick. Kyle had taken his wife in front of his friends on a pool table and Brit…

“I know. I watched the entire thing. He did her on the table, then threw her back over his shoulder and took her upstairs to their room. His friends were laughing about what a drunken pill-head his wife was but hot.” Drake’s voice stayed soft, a mere whisper. “There were a few other videos. Same shit. He’s throwing a party for some of their guys and he did her in front of them.”

River stood. “I’ve never seen her messed up.”

“You barely know her.”

“I’m going to go talk to her.”

Drake sighed. “Okay.”

River walked out of the room, feeling anger build. It wasn’t directed so much at Brit but the fact that he’d seen her with her husband. Kyle was an asshole who fucked his wife in front of a crowd of men. What kind of bastard did that? A memory flashed of some bars River had been in when he and his friends had partied with rodeo bunnies.

He’d had sex in public with women plenty of times. The fact that it was Brit who’d been put on display was what really pissed him off.

The smell of bacon teased his nose. Brit turned at the stove, removing the cooked strips, and met his gaze. Her smile spread instantly, lighting up her face. He stared into her eyes as he came to a halt, seeing pure innocence and sweetness there. This was the woman he’d come to love. The drunken mess of a woman in that video wasn’t in front of him.

* * * * *

“I was about to call you and Drake.” Brit noticed River had an odd expression on his face. “BLTs all around.” She waved toward the island where the other plates waited.

“Just let me make these last few sandwiches and we’re ready to eat.”

9“Brit?”

Something in his tone alarmed her. His voice sounded gruff. She turned to face him, staring at him, and her gaze darted down his body to his clenched fists at his side. She jerked her attention back to his face and saw the tense line of his mouth and the resulting crinkles there.

“What’s wrong?”

He blinked. “Did you know you’re on the internet?”

“The internet?” She shook her head. “I don’t even own a computer. I’ve wanted one but they aren’t exactly in my budget but one of my coworkers keeps telling me I’m missing out on a lot.”

River paled a little. “You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

He sighed and walked around the island slowly, approaching her, then stopped close enough to touch her, but he didn’t. “Someone taped some of Kyle’s parties. They loaded some of them up on those internet porn sites.”

Her knees collapsed as her mind reeled at the implications. She would have fallen if River hadn’t grabbed her, held her up, and jerked her into his arms. Her eyes closed as nausea rolled through her stomach and bile rose.

“Oh God,” she moaned. Hot tears welled behind her closed eyelids and she

clutched River’s shirt.

“You looked pretty drunk.” River held her tightly. “It’s all right.”

“I wasn’t drunk.” A sob came out and she got control of her body, her legs taking her weight. “I was drugged.”

River’s entire body tensed against hers. “Drugged?”

She nodded into his shirt, unable to look up to see his face. “Drugged.” She fought hard to not totally lose it. “Oh God. It’s on the internet? The prosecution swore all those tapes were destroyed after the trial. They promised.” She opened her eyes, hot tears spilling out. “They promised. They―” Her voice broke.

She fought not to throw up at the horror of what River said and what he must think of her. Somehow some of the tapes had ended up on the internet for anyone to watch.

River had obviously seen them since he knew and had told her. She pushed away from him, struggling when he tried to keep hold of her, but he released her when she fought harder.

Brit stumbled when she turned and grabbed for the counter to hold her trembling body up. “I have to call the district attorney’s office. They have to take them down.

They have to―”

“Brit?”

She closed her mouth and reached up to wipe at the tears that ran down her face.

She still couldn’t face him. She didn’t want to see the look in his eyes if he’d seen those tapes. She’d watched them once, had to, and they’d made her sick to her stomach, 9literally. She’d held a trash basket and lost her breakfast watching the evidence they had against Kyle for his trial.

“Talk to me, baby.”

“It’s not what you think,” she whispered. “I swear.”

“Tell me what happened.”

She didn’t hear anger in his voice or disgust. He just sounded a little sad. She wiped at more tears, straightened her shoulders, and it took every ounce of courage to turn her head and look over her shoulder to stare at him. She noticed his features were a little pale and his mouth was still set in a grim line. His beautiful dark eyes met hers and they watched each other.

“When my father died, Kyle knew I’d never go back to him. He’d killed my father with those rumors he’d made up as sure as if he’d reached in my dad’s chest and torn out his heart. I hated him and he knew it.” She fought down a sob. “He grabbed me when I left a grocery store. He had two men with him and they held me while he gave me a shot. I fought but then I felt lightheaded until I passed out.”

River crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. “Okay.”

“I don’t remember anything really but bits and pieces. He hired a nurse to keep me drugged.” More hot tears slid down her face. “One day the nurse had some family emergency, I think her husband was in a car accident, and she forgot to give me a shot. I could think clear enough to actually escape since the drug has dissipated. Kyle caught me sneaking out the back door of the kitchen. I grabbed a knife and stabbed him. He nearly died. I left him bleeding on the floor, ran out the back door, and I made it to the house next to ours—Kyle’s,” she corrected. “I had them call the police. They came, I told them what had happened, and they believed me since I had needle marks all over me.

They launched an investigation while I was in the hospital. They found enough evidence to back what I was saying. The nurse had been lied to. All the doctors’ reports and the prescriptions for the drugs Kyle had her giving me were forged.”

Rage was an easy emotion to read on River’s face as he stepped closer to her. Brit turned to face him, leaning her hip against the counter, and held out a shaky hand to stop him.

“I’m―”

“Let me finish, River.”

He froze and then nodded. His hands fisted at his sides again but he stayed back.

“Okay.”

“They found tapes. Kyle did things to me in front of his friends. In front of groups of them.” She fought down another sob. “I don’t remember. I am so grateful that I don’t.” She shook her head. “I was too drugged and some of the drugs he used cause memory loss. But, judging by the tapes, he never let anyone else touch me, he was super possessive, but he was sick enough to want to put me on display for them in some twisted attempt to have them envy what he had.”

9“That fucking bastard is dead,” River snarled.

“I had no idea what he’d done to me,” she whispered. “I saw the tapes and…oh God, River.”

He took a step toward her. “It’s okay.”

She frantically shook her head. “No, it’s not. They used those tapes to show how vile he was, how drugged he kept me, and he was sentenced to eight years in prison but they’ve only made him serve four since he’s out now. I testified against him to the judge. The nurse testified against him. The nurse said I’d get out of bed sometimes and try to leave the house. He’d shown her faked doctors’ reports that I was bipolar, had suicidal tendencies, and was aggressively violent without the drugs. He convinced her I’d hurt myself and everyone around me if they didn’t keep me completely docile and make sure I didn’t escape. Everyone at the district attorney’s office swore those tapes would be destroyed. You’re telling me anyone can see them? See what he did to me?”

“I’m on it,” a deep voice stated from the doorway, startling Brit.

She jerked her head and watched Drake spin around and walk away. Her gaze drifted back to River.

“Drake will make sure those videos are removed and someone is going to be in deep shit for those tapes being leaked.”

Mute, Brit stared at the man who probably thought a lot less of her now. Those tapes were horrific. Kyle had done degrading things to her and she hadn’t even fought back, too out of it to realize what was happening to her. River would never look at her the same way and it shattered her inside.

“It’s okay,” he whispered. “Let me hold you. You’re shaking. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to know the truth. If I’d known it was going to upset you this much I wouldn’t have said a word.” He took a step closer.

“This changes everything between us, doesn’t it? That’s why I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t want you to know.”

“Damn it,” he growled. “No. This doesn’t change a damn thing.” He moved

forward, closing the distance, and pulled her into his arms. He held her tightly against his chest. “It’s all okay, Brit.”

“It’s not.”

A hand rubbed her back. “I can handle you yelling at me easier than tears. Damn, Brit, don’t cry. You’re going to shred me to pieces. I can’t take seeing you in this much pain. The only thing that’s changed is, instead of just kicking your ex’s ass, now I want to kill him with my bare hands.”

Her arms wound around River’s waist, holding tightly to him, and she relaxed against his tall frame. “I was afraid to tell you. I didn’t want your pity or for you to feel disgusted.”

He sighed. “Women sure get stupid ideas sometimes.”

She laughed. “Sometimes.”

9His arms tightened. “Shit.”

“What?” She lifted her head.

His eyes looked grim. “No wonder you reacted so damn badly when Ryder saw us having sex.”

Her gaze dropped to his chest. “Yeah. Kyle had a thing for having people watch him.”

“I’m nothing like him. I don’t want anyone to see you naked but me.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“It’s going to be okay. So that’s what Kyle went to prison for?”

“Yes. He tried to make it sound as if I were a drug addict and a boozer but the nurse had kept all the paperwork he had given her. They traced it all back to doctors who had never heard of me or Kyle. He’d forged everything, even the prescriptions for the drugs he used to keep me a prisoner. He had a damn good attorney who had a lot of the charges tossed but they were able to prove enough to get prison time. He cut a deal for eight years in order to keep most of the nasty details out of the papers and save his father the embarrassment of a public trial. I agreed to the lesser charges because I didn’t want everyone to see those tapes.”

“I really hate your ex-husband.” One arm unwound from her waist to reach up and cup her face. “Nothing has changed between us.” He didn’t look away. “I am so sorry that happened but you’re an amazing woman, you’re strong, and we’re not going to allow that bastard to win in any way, shape, or form.”