Vivian Arend - Turn It On

Ryan had him by the front of the shirt in an instant. Caging the man against the wall, he spoke directly into his face. First to make sure his assumptions were right. “Did you hit Maxine?” he asked, his tone quiet. Deadly.

It was clear from the cousin’s reaction he knew exactly what Ryan was talking about. He opened and shut his mouth, growing pale. “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

Ryan punched him again. And again. White fury rode hard and removed rational thought. When Maximilian crumbled to the ground, Ryan was tempted to finish the man for good for daring to touch Maxine. Instead, he hauled him to his feet and dragged him to the nearest chair. Maximilian sat in a bleeding heap, whimpering lightly.

“You’re in so much fucking shit, you have no idea.” Ryan pulled out his cell phone and called the police, letting them know he’d interrupted an intruder and crime suspect. When he hung up, he dragged a second chair over to sit comfortably across from his captive. It was time to get to the bottom of the whole fucking mess.

“I assume the passage leads somewhere away from the house.”

Maximilian wiped at the blood trickling from his mouth and nodded slowly. “There’s a tunnel all the way across the yard to where the old caretaker’s home stood. When the house burned down a few years back, I discovered the access and decided to keep the information to myself.”

Ryan frowned at him. “Why?”

Mill leaned back in his chair, groaning in pain. “Because it was a way to get into the damn house without anyone knowing I was here.”

“But your grandmother lived here. You could get in anytime you wanted by visiting her. What the fuck were you up to?” Ryan stood, ready to beat the answers he needed out of the man if necessary. Maximilian held out his hands in defense.

“Stop, I’ll explain. Everything.” Defeat was clear in his tone and Ryan paced away a few steps. “I’ve been slipping into the house and sneaking up to the attic, removing small valuables to sell. I’ve got debts to pay. I didn’t want the family to know, and if I was constantly visiting, I knew someone would figure out I was guilty when things were finally noticed missing. Since no one knew I was here, no one would suspect me.”

Ryan froze in shock. It was the last thing he’d expected to hear. “I thought you were the family golden boy—financial king of the hill. That’s all I’ve ever heard, how you’d made a killing in stocks and threw money around. Why the hell didn’t you tell someone you had troubles?”

“Because I’d have to admit to the family I was living a lie. The investments failed, I’ve lost two of my condos and I’m barely making payments on the one left.”

“So to pay your debts you’ve been stealing the family heirlooms. Nice tight-knit relationship you’ve got with the clan. Were you responsible for the vandalism too?”

Maximilian hung his head in defeat. “If Maxine would have sold the house, I wouldn’t have had to try to scare her out.”

Ryan fought down his temper. The ass dared to blame any of this on Maxine? “She offered to sell and you insisted she stay. What kind of royal bastard are you to tell her you were fine with her moving in and yet turn around and try to drive her out?”

“You don’t understand what it’s like living with this family. They would be all sympathetic and shit, but I know they’d never look at me the same again. I tried to find other ways to get her to move. Hell, I even hoped she’d move in with Jamie and turn down the house when it came available in the first place. I didn’t count on the fact all he’s got is a pretty face.”

“Does Jamie know anything about this? Has he been helping?” Now Ryan understood how Jamie had exited the bedroom at Thanksgiving.

“Him? Hell, he’s too stupid to trust with a secret. Somehow the door locked behind me when I used it last, so I snuck in at Thanksgiving to open it up. The ass followed me, and I had to make up this story about secret passages and shit. I didn’t know he had gone in again for a lark when I slipped upstairs. He was damn surprised when he started to come out of the closet and heard you in the bathroom. I guess he hid for a bit before getting scared, which is why you saw him trying to sneak away.” Wailing sirens floated on the air in the distance and Maximilian sighed. “He was still freaking by the time I got him home. Damn idiot.”

“What about Maxine?” Ryan asked. “Why in the fuck did you hit her today? You might have seriously injured or killed her. Was it worth enough to kill your own cousin?”

“None of this was suppose to happen,” Maximilian swore. “She surprised me. I didn’t mean to hit her that hard. I had just come out of the closet when she left the bathroom, and I freaked out. The bat was sitting there, and I thought I could tap her lightly but I slipped. The bat swung heavier than I planned.”

“You should have picked her up and helped her instead of leaving her.” Ryan clenched his fists again, the urge to do permanent damage to the ass growing with every word.

“I was scared, okay?” Max shouted. “I totally lost it when she fell, and I ran. I hid in the passage for a while trying to decide what to do. I was going to come back and help her, I swear I was, but then the alarm went off and I was trapped into leaving her there. I’d already decided I’d had enough of the sneaking around, and I figured I’d take one final trip to store a few things away and then I’d leave it alone. I came back tonight and this was the last time I was going to be here.”

Ryan was silent, fury whipping through him. The need to defend his woman from her self-serving cousin made it difficult to hold back his anger. All the frustration Maxine had gone through because of this man, all the nights of fear and the physical pain she was experiencing right now were his fault. Maximilian sat all smug and contrite and obviously didn’t understand Ryan could kill him without a qualm. “Stand up. You’re a disgusting piece of crap and I’ll be glad to get your stench out of this house.” He waited until Maximilian rose before gesturing toward the front door. “Your escort will be here shortly.”

They made their way down the stairs. Ryan remained a few paces behind to make sure Maximilian didn’t do anything stupid like try to make a break for it. There was one thing left to do. Just shy of the front door Ryan stopped him. Something of his intent must have shown on his face because Maximilian backed away rapidly.

“No more hitting. How are you going to explain to the police you beat the shit out of me and not expect to be arrested?”

“Home invasion. I was protecting myself. You’re fucking lucky you’re family or I would protect myself even more. Knowing Maxine, she’s going to be tender-hearted enough to want you standing when the cops get here.” He slammed a final fist into Mill’s gut and watched with grim satisfaction as the man collapsed to the floor. “I’ll be sure to hold you up while they cuff you.”

Maxine laughed as Ryan led her up the wide steps at the front of the house. “Are you planning on telling me the surprise now?”

A gentle kiss brushed her cheek, and she turned her head to try and catch hold of his lips. He evaded her with a chuckle. “Patience. You’ll see soon enough.”

She clung to Ryan’s arm as he entered the security codes to unlock the front door. She was so thankful to be able to be coming home and know the house was finally safe.

It had shocked her immensely to learn Maximilian was the cause of all her troubles. When the news spread like wildfire, the whole clan had gone quiet, almost like they were in mourning. There was anger at her cousin, but also guilt within the family as a whole for not recognizing the danger as it had developed. Her auntie and uncle were hardest hit—they’d apologized for Maximilian’s action a dozen times before Ryan had whisked them out of the hospital room, insisting they join him for a coffee. When they returned an hour later, they’d kissed Maxine and said nothing more about their son’s choices, instead helping plan Christmas activities.

“You never did tell me what you did to Maximilian’s parents.” She stroked her fingers down his arm and wondered at the rightness of having him with her. She still remembered the revelation she’d had before the accident. Hopefully she could share the news with him soon.

“I reminded them we make our own decisions in life. Maximilian decided he needed money to be important, and it messed up everything he had going for him. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about you Turners, in your family, it’s not the money it’s the relationships that are important. He lost sight of that, and now you’re all suffering. But it was his mistake, not theirs.”

“The family is still upset. It was a huge surprise to us all.”

Ryan sighed. “It was, and it’ll take time to get over it, but that’s the one thing I think your family has going for it. Every new memory you make as a clan will help wash away a little of the hurt. And hopefully others have learned from Maximilian’s mistake.”

He led her into the house and helped her take off the poncho she wore in lieu of a jacket. Nothing else she owned fit over the bulky cast on her right arm. She took a deep breath through her nose. Spicy ginger, sweet cinnamon and the scent of pine lingered in the air.

“It smells wonderful in here, Ryan. What have you done?” She tried to peer around him, but he blocked her view of the living area with his broad shoulders.

“Hmm, you’ll see. Are you ready?”

He bowed with a flourish, then stepped away. Maxine glanced around the room in amazement, her heart pounding. “Oh my word, how did you get this done so fast? How did you know where everything goes?”

The house was a wonderland. Garland and tinsel and antique silver ornaments sparkled in the afternoon sunlight that blazed in the windows. Life-sized Santa and Mrs. Claus snowmen held court in the middle of the living room next to the largest pine tree Maxine had ever seen. Trinkets and glass globes, bright red bows and hand-stitched pillows decorated the rooms. The family nativity scene with the manger as big as a dollhouse sat in its place of honor next to the grand staircase.

A sensation of wonder filled her, lifted her spirit and swept into all the corners of her heart that still held any fear or regret concerning the past months. “Ryan, it’s gorgeous.” She turned and tugged his hand until she nestled against him. She kissed him, trying to put her thanks into the touch. Let him know how much his gift meant. They parted slowly, staring at each other. He was everything she needed.

“How did you do it?” she asked again.

He chuckled. “We had an infestation of Maxes. It started innocently enough. I simply asked Junior if he’d be willing to come and help me put up the outside lights so you’d have the pleasure of seeing the house lit up when you got released from the hospital. The next thing I know I’ve got the family phonebook in my hand, and Junior’s telling me who to call to put in charge of what and…presto! Decorated house.” He led her toward the fireplace and the comfortable leather recliner placed near it for her to relax in. “Your aunties all think I can’t cook and there are now a million casseroles in the freezer. And the Christmas baking is done, unless you think we need more than twelve dozen cookies and squares for private consumption.”

Maxine sat back in the chair gingerly, happy to relax and admire the many things in the room. But of all the sights bringing her pleasure, the man kneeling at her feet was the most important. “You made one of those new memories you talked about happen, didn’t you? Everyone here decorating instead of sitting at home worrying about what they could have done differently. Thank you so much. It must have been a bit of zoo.” She stroked his cheek. “I know there’s a lot of them, but they all mean well.”

“—and they’re your family and you love them. I know. They love you too.” Ryan stopped and cleared his throat. “Maxine, I’m not sure you remember, but the first day you were in the hospital…” He paused then shuffled until he knelt directly in front of her. Taking her good hand in his, he kissed her fingers then held on tight. “I love you. I knew before you got hurt. I think I knew it the first night we went out and you told me about wanting to sleep on the porch. You’ve touched me, deep inside. You’ve changed me and made me realize what I’ve been missing in my life.”

Her throat closed tight with tears as she listened to Ryan, watched his dark eyes stare at her with such concentration and seriousness. His usual control wavered and he reached into his pocket with shaky hands. He pulled out a small grey box and opened it, displaying a very familiar delicate silver ring. “I’ve been missing family. I’ve been missing love. I had tea with your Gramma earlier today, to tell her I planned on asking you to marry me, and she insisted I have this. To give to you.”