Venture Forward (21 page)

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

James rubbed his temple and let out a deep breath. “I really didn’t want it to come to this. Are you sure there’s no way to keep you on as a silent partner?”

“You know that’ll never work. Too much bad press for a fledgling company will choke it to death. You guys have worked really hard, and I want you to succeed. A.J. is still onboard, and he’ll handle the legal work. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.”

Avery listened to the exchange, each word making her heart sink further. Could this have been the reason for his rapid departure from Napa? Was that text about SportSensor?

Alison poked her head into the conference room. “Paul, your next appointment is here.”

“I’ll be right out.” Paul stood, his tormented gaze fixed on Avery. The anguish etched on his face was evident. Her limbs ached to reach out and shield him from the aftermath of destruction and deceit caused at her own hand. “I’ll leave you guys to discuss next steps. Good luck.”

Without another word, he left the room.

Avery turned to James, wide-eyed. “What happened?”

“This situation really sucks. He’s the smartest person I know, and all this bullshit is burying him alive. That book is ruining peoples’ lives. Paul may not be the nicest guy in the world, but he’s incredibly talented, and he stands to lose a hell of a lot because of this negative publicity. Mia is freaking out, the whole company is on edge because they have no idea from one day to the next if Blue Coat’s doors are going to close.”

“Have you… have you spoken to Chris?”

“I hated to bug him on his honeymoon, but I wanted him to know what was happening. He’s not happy about it either. I wish there was a way around it. Paul’s not the guy he’s being made out to be in the press. I mean, yeah, he can be an ass, but it doesn’t mean he should be blacklisted. Hell, he runs the biggest venture capital firm in the country, but none of his successes matter. It’s like everything is overshadowed by this book about a guy who doesn’t even really exist.”
James grabbed his vibrating cell phone. “I’ve got to take this. Can I give you a call later this week?”

She nodded and slung her handbag over her shoulder. “I’ll speak to you soon.”

Voices drifted into the hallway. A tall man left Paul’s office. She bit a stray cuticle and eyed the open door, edging closer, not sure what she’d say but knowing she had to see him.

“Paul?” She kept her voice soft, so as not to startle him.

He didn’t move from his position by the large window.

“I, um, I didn’t want to bother you, but I just wanted to see if, uh, if you’re okay.”

He finally turned, a look of utter defeat on his face. “I was probably a little better before my CFO relayed the most recent hit to our bottom line.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for what? It’s not your fault. This…” He waved his hand over his head. “…this is all
my
doing.”

“I don’t understand,” she whispered.

“Don’t you get it? This is happening because of me, the way I’ve lived, the way I’ve done business, the way I’ve treated people. I have nobody to blame but myself.”

“But the book—”

“The book doesn’t mean anything. Just because someone in the press likened this guy Peter–whatever-his-last-name-is to
me
, all hell breaks loose, right? But none of it would have happened if there weren’t shades of truth to the story. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, and I’ve been a real asshole to a lot of people. Yeah, I’ve been successful, but, at the end of the day, making it to your destination doesn’t mean much if you can’t be comfortable with the path that led you there.”

He crossed the room in a few long strides until they were face to face. “I guess you and James finished early. Why did you come back here?”

Cotton. Lots and lots of cotton materialized out of nowhere and took refuge in her mouth. She shook her head, words completely evading her. Swallowing even became damn-near impossible.

“I’m sorry things got weird after the wedding, Ave. It’s not what I intended.”

A glimmer of hope remained in the depths of her tormented soul. She was certain her thundering heart would explode out of her chest at any given second.

“I know I didn’t call, and I feel like a real dick for that. But believe me, it’s better this way.”

“What way?” The words finally found a way through the wads of imaginary cotton.

“You need to stay away from me, from
this
. I shouldn’t have…
we
shouldn’t have…” He sighed. “I’m messing this up.”

“You — you think it was a mistake?” Her whole body tensed; the anguish caused by those words was almost unbearable.

“Yes, but not the way you think. You can’t associate with me. Don’t you understand that?”

“I want to be here for you.” The words tumbled out before she could yank them back. “Please don’t shut me out. Let me help you. You don’t have to handle this on your own.” She swallowed the sob rising in her chest.

“Just walk away, Avery. Please.”

“I know you don’t really mean that.”

“What I want doesn’t matter anymore. I’m trying to protect you. Everything that’s happening to me, to Blue Coat… You don’t need me dragging you down. You’re too talented, you have too much going for you.”

She narrowed her eyes, her back stiffening. “I’m a big girl and perfectly capable of making my own decisions about who I—”

He inched closer, and she instinctively drew in a sharp breath as the pads of his fingertips trailed her cheek. This was protecting her? It was killing her, slowly and excruciatingly. “This can’t happen, and I misled you because I knew that from the beginning.”

She recoiled and fiddled with her handbag. Anything to distract her hands from doing what she wanted most. Pangs of sadness jabbed her heart, but his next words sliced right through to her core.

“Thanks for being such a good friend. I wish I could have been a better one to you.”

LOUD BANGING FROM INSIDE
the house coupled with muffled cries escaped through the open windows.

“What’s happening?”

Paul looked down at Evan’s stricken face, his bright blue eyes wide with fear. “Don’t worry about it. Maybe a plant got knocked over. I’m sure everything’s okay.” Desperate to keep his voice even, he spoke words of comfort that he didn’t believe for a second. Biting his lip, he jammed the house key into the lock.

His knees shook as he slowly turned the doorknob. The living room was empty, and an eerie silence loomed. Things looked calm enough, but something was very wrong. Where was Mom?

“Hey, why don’t you run to your room and find us a board game to play? I’ll be right there.”

Once Evan was out of sight, he crept toward his mother’s room on the other side of the house. Little hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention as he neared the door where Pamela’s whimpering had become barely audible. The gruesome scene in the master bedroom made his stomach clench. It was a sight he’d never forget as long as he lived. “No!”

His mother lay crumpled on the carpet next to the bed while William stood over her, naked from the waist down, belt in one hand and a bat in the other. Bile rose in Paul’s throat as his eyes focused on the pool of blood next to her.

William spun, narrowing his eyes. “Come here, you little cocksucker. I’ve been waiting for you to get home. You think I’m gonna let you shut me out of this family? Fuck that! I’m calling the shots here, not you or your bitch mother!”

Paul held his father’s gaze, rage surging through his veins. His hands twitched at his sides, erratic breaths making his chest heave. If he didn’t do something fast, there was no telling what would happen next. He needed to protect Evan and Pamela at all costs.

William barreled toward Paul. “I said, come here. You never did fucking listen, you bastard!”

Pamela shifted slightly, and Paul let out a relieved breath, eyes still fixed on William’s ruddy complexion and bloodshot eyes. There was so much blood, but at least she was still alive.

“Paul? Where are you? I got a game for us to play.”

“Go back in your room and lock the door, okay?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just go! Now!” His pulse raced as quickly as Evan’s feet scampered down the hall.

William smirked, swaying closer. The stench of alcohol made his stomach roll. Just a little closer… “You really think you can save them? You think you’re so tough, don’t you? It’s time I showed you who’s really in charge here.” He twirled the bat in his hands and raised his arm, ready to strike.

Paul clenched his fists, legs shaking. There would be only one shot to get this right. If he missed his chance… Hell no. It just wasn’t an option.
“Fuck you, you’re never going to hurt us again.”

A low guttural roar escaped William’s mouth as he swung the bat. Adrenaline rushed through Paul, and he ducked just before it struck him. Perfume bottles lining the dresser shattered across the rich mahogany wood, the heavy scents of floral and spice permeating the stagnant air. Twisting around his drunken, irate father, he grabbed a large porcelain vase from the corner table and launched it at William’s skull, the force launching him across the room. William lay writhing on the now-bloodstained carpet, the bat a few inches out of his grasp. “You sonofabitch. We’re not done here.”

Paul grabbed the bat, watching William clutch his bloody head, no longer the one in control. After all those years of torture, domination, and sheer unadulterated hell, the nightmare was about to end.

“Oh yes, we are.” He raised his arm, eyes locked on the man who’d ruined their lives for the last time.

“Paul, no!”

With a panicked gasp, he jumped, his bare chest drenched with perspiration. He clutched the bed sheets, eyes darting around the darkened bedroom, dread bubbling up from its deepest recesses. It threatened to escape, as it always did when the nightmares consumed him.

“We got out, Paul. We escaped.”
Evan’s words floated through his mind. Physically, yeah. But mentally, emotionally? He’d be held captive for the rest of his life.

Night terrors had plagued him ever since that fateful day. William was across the continent, and it would never be far enough. Fear and ensuing anger would command him forever. He hated sleep. Whenever he closed his eyes, it was an open invitation for the demons to awaken. Every night, without fail, except for one… the one he spent with Avery wrapped in his arms. When he’d finally succumbed to the exhaustion, he’d experienced the one night of peace he’d had in as long as he could remember. The soothing effect of her presence held the demons at bay. Everything chasing him faded to blackness when she was around.

But now she was gone, and he was alone again. Forever.

DAYS TURNED INTO WEEKS
, and the press continued to decimate his livelihood. To say they’d declared open season on him was a gross understatement. He’d thrown himself into work with BreakOut to avoid the chaos of his life. At least Darryl had finally resurfaced, and there hadn’t been any more mentions of Miguel or his deadbeat, drug-dealing crew. It seemed like he was back to his normal self, but Paul couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something was off. As if he needed any more problems added to his ever-growing collection.

He scrolled through screens on his iPhone, half-listening to A.J.’s ranting, unable to think about anything other than how much he wanted to whisk Avery back to Napa and forever escape the shit he dealt with on a daily basis. Much as it had destroyed him, he’d cut all ties. Leading Avery on when there was no future with him would be a colossal mistake. He was a rapidly sinking ship, and anything around him was destined to capsize.

“Paul!” A.J. rapped his hand on the desk. “Are you with me or what?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. The stress knots grew alarmingly larger by the second, immune to his self-administered massage. “Yeah. What do you have?”

“Blackmail. Whoever is behind this is threatening to go to the press.”

“Unless…”

“Do I have to say it?”

“Fuck! Who’s to say this asshole will be happy with whatever I sign over? It’ll never end. Do you have any idea who we’re dealing with?”

“I don’t have any leads, other than it’s a woman who’s dishing out the threats. But whatever number she used can’t be tracked. The investigator came up empty. Even with the tap on the line, there’s no guarantee she’ll call back. She’s obviously not stupid.”

“This is fucking bullshit! I want that bitch found!”

“Unless she calls again, we have no shot of finding her or an accomplice. It’s possible she’s working with Androtti.”

“You really think he’s behind this?”

“Who the hell else could it be? You’ve been shoving him further and further into his grave since everything went down. It was only a matter of time before the sonofabitch snapped and came after you.”

“Well, screw him and anyone else working with that prick. Let them go to the press. I’m sick of hiding. It’s time for the real story to come out.”