Alpha Billionaire Series

MAKENZIE

There was a certain thrill that came with every fabric delivery. Anticipation built in my belly. The box knife slicing through th tape and opening was better than Christmas morning- least it was since becoming an adult. The brown cardboard gave way, opening to reveal a splash of color.

I was extra excited because this box contained the new line from Kate Bassett. Her sense of color was so different from othe designers. She was young and cutting edge. Her personality really showed through in the designs full of hidden surprises and unexpected color combinations.

I made ridiculously appreciative noises as I pulled the bolts of fabric from the box and tore the plastic coverings from them. “Mak, you sound like you're having really good s*x."

My eyes went wide, and I felt the blush bloom on my cheeks.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

“Glorial” I chastised. “There are customers in the store."

“And everyone is looking at you. But trust me, we all understand. This new line is more satisfying than sex”

“I don't know about that," I giggled and blushed more as I thought about Holden's mouth on me. The fabric was pretty, but i did not reduce me to nothing but quivering good the way he did.

“We should double our order. I can already tell this is going to be a popular line."

“Do you think we will really sell that much?” It wasn't as if Kate Bassett was flying off our shelves. I held up a bolt with faire: and strawberries in the design. “This one will make the most adorable dress for Ainsley."

Gloria raised her brows and gave me a knowing look.

“Oh, I get it.” She was right. If I was already looking at fabric for dresses for my little girl, so would other moms. We were going to need more stock, and the limited-edition lines always sold out fast. “I should make up a sample, shouldn't I2” “Make two, one for her to wear, and one to put on the wall. I'l put in a second order for more fabric tomorrow when I go ove inventory”

Gloria laughed at me. “Speaking of s*x, how is your young man?”

“Gloria!” I was mortified, until I realized she was teasing me, and not digging for gossip to share with Mom. “Last I heard fron him he was coming home. And then radio silence. I was really worried that something went wrong, but there were no small craft accidents reported. He's not responding to any of my texts or returning my calls. I'm not blocked because I can leave messages. I just don't understand. Maybe he’s hurt worse that he is willing to admit.”

The bell over the door jingled and we both looked up, ready to greet whoever walked in the door. Ethan struggled with the stroller, trying to get it through the door.

Gloria stepped over to hold the door for him. “Have you gone by his house? Is he even on the island?”

“Is who on the island?” Ethan asked.

“Holden. Hes not responding to any of my messages.”

“Yeah, he's back. I just saw him the other day. You were arguing with that guy, so he didn’t want to come in. Actually, you know that whole arguing in the store scared off a lot of customers.”

I closed my eyes as my world folded in around me. I was so fucking sick of my brother. I breathed hard through my nose and squashed down every single cuss word I wanted to yell. I wasn't a violent person, but Travis had me wanting to bash him. The bells chimed again, I struggled to have a pleasant look on my face. I felt like hitting my brother for so many things, I couldn't even form a list. Keeping the glare out of my eyes was beyond me. Instead of staring death beams from my eyes, I forced my focus back down to the fabric. Gloria could be the happy shop greeter.

“oh, you.’

My head shot up, and I looked at who Gloria had greeted in such a dismissive fashion.

Travis.

I pinched my mouth shut and narrowed my eyes.

“We should go,” Gloria said.

“No, you stay. We are the ones that need to leave. I'm embarrassed to learn that our argument the other day frightened customers away.” I turned to Travis and pointed out the door.

I pinched the bridge of my nose as I followed him out. He stopped and leaned on the front of a car, parked directly in front ¢ the shop.

“Is that even your car?”

He folded his arms and glanced down at the car. “Rental,” he said with a shrug.

“Why are you even here? Don't you have a job in New York?”

“Mom said you're mad at her, so I came out to see what was up.’

I could feel the anger building. My blood pressure was spiking, and I shook with blinding rage.

“You asshole. You know exactly why 'm upset with her. You could have told her yourself; you didn't need to come all the way out here!”

He was so calm it was infuriating. He pulled out his phone and hit a few buttons and then held it out so I could hear the call “Hi Mom, I'm with Mak."

I glared at him with all my impotent rage. He had called Mom.

“Makenzie? Honey, why are you so mad at me?”

“Really? We're doing this? Mom, you're on speaker phone in the middle of the sidewalk. I don't know what game Travis is playing right now—"

“Now, Makenzie,” Mom cut me off. “Your brother is just trying to be helpful.”

I glared at him, he responded with a smirk. I wanted to smack that expression from his face. I kept my eyes on Travis, even though I spoke to the phone.

“Mom,” I started. I hated being manipulated this way. I took a deep breath. “I'm angry because you sent Travis to check on m business without any regards to the fact that I have a business partner, and Travis is not knowledgeable about the sewing crafts industry”

“But he's so good with money, and he offered.”

I was speechless. A long moment of silence passed.

“Makenzie?” Mom asked.

Travis's smirk grew bigger, and then he began laughing. “You are too f****g easy to manipulate.’

I swallowed hard. “Mom, 'm not mad at you, but I might just kill my brother."

I hit his phone ending the call.

“You complete asshole. All of this was for some “gotchal” prank? You have been a completely annoying prick for weeks. You scared off customers the last time you were here. My home is not your private vacation rental. You really aren't happy unles: you are making me miserable, are you? You almost ruined my relationship with our mother, and you think it's funny? You've, probably ruined my relationship with Holden—"

Travis surged to his feet. “What about Holden? You haven't been seeing him, have you? I warned him to stay away from you” Itwas my turn to cross my arms and look smug. “It's a small island, Travis. Of course, we see each other.”

Travis spun without a word and yanked open the car door.

“Where the hell do you think you're going?”

“I'm going to kill that son of a bitch."

Travis backed the rental car into traffic without even looking. Tires squealed as he took off. I stared after him for a moment longer than I should have. Realization of Travis's anger at Holden finally shook me to action. I sprinted into the shop and scrambled under the counter.

“Where's my purse?”

“What's going on?”

“I have to stop Travis. I think he’s really going to hurt Holden." I ran back out the door, keys in hand.

My car was down the block, it was going to take forever to get to it, and then out to Holden's house. I ran through stop signs and drove entirely too fast. I tried to call Holden, but he wasn't answering me. I roared with all my pent-up rage at my brother.

I would hate him forever and a day if he hurt Holden. Maybe if Holden wasn't recovering from a second surgery after his accident, it would be a fair fight. Or not, in Holden's favor. Both men were tall, and worked out, but Holden hadn't fully recovered yet.

My mini vas skidded to a stop in the gravel at the end of Holden's driveway.

Travis and Holden were facing off. Holden pointed a crutch at Travis, keeping him back.

Ijumped from my car.

Travis was yelling. “... all those women you slept with in college’

“That's bullshit. The real issue here is I get back from being stuck on the mainland because of some surgery, only to find out that my kid might not be mine, and it's going to take a court order to get a paternity test... Who is your sister's boyfriend? Is he the kid's father? Maybe you need to rethink who you call a player. It's not me"

Just then Holden's eyes locked with mine. The pain I saw there was a mirror to my own. I couldn't do this anymore. I turned and climbed back in the van. I couldn't get away from Holden, or my brother fast enough.