The Billionaire Playboy's Regret (Lark and Max) novel Chapter 54

“He’s right,” Ollie whispered.

“Hold on,” Lark raised her hands again, “I want to reiterate today in this room, Santiago flat out said he wouldn’t hurt me because it would go against what he was trying to do to win Ollie back. I don’t think I’m really in danger. I do however feel we need Ollie to be safe from him because he does want her, and I don’t know if no is acceptable answer for him and more importantly, she is emotional around him and she reacts badly.”

“We need to call Dad and Riggs.”

“They have enough happening with Grady and this new daughter.” Johan argued. He looked at Lark. “You said this guy seemed genuine? He cares for her?”

“Yes. I think so.”

“Ollie, at any point, have you sat down and actually talked with him without going nuclear?” Johan asked point blank.” Without all the drama, without all the accusations and anger and getting your friend to pull guns, at any time have you actually held a real conversation about why you’re hurting so much?”

Ollie opened and closed her mouth a few times and then shook her head.

“f**k it,” Johan moved quickly before anyone could stop him and pulled the door to the room open and dragged Ollie with him. He banged on the door of the opposite room and when it opened to a surprised Santiago and Heriberto, he shoved Ollie at the two men. “If a single hair on her head is harmed, the entire Villeneuve, Moreno and Hoffman families, not to mention my family, will come for you with an army not even your crazy wife who designs things with her own excrement could imagine.”

“Johan!” Max yelled at him as what he was doing finally caught up to Max and Lark who raced after him.

“No. She needs to put her big girl panties on and act like an adult. Address your concerns, Ollie. Tell him why it hurts for him to be able to commit by marriage to a woman he doesn’t like yet he could walk away from you, someone he allegedly cared for when you were broken and at your worst. Then sort out your s**t and stop dragging Lark into situations where she is at risk. Otherwise, I will walk away from you, and I will never speak to you again. Not even twenty years of friendship will make me forgive you if she gets killed.”

Santiago gave a wide smile at Johan and then acknowledged Lark and Max behind him. “Thank you. Rest assured I have no intention of ever harming Olivia.”

“You hurt her already,” Lark yanked her arm away from Max and pushed ahead of Johan. “You can’t say you don’t intend to hurt her when she’s already hurting.”

“Miss Hoffman,” Heriberto gave her a smile as he pushed the group backwards, closed the door behind him, effectively blocking his brother and Ollie from them. “How about I buy the three of you a round of drinks in the bar? We are to be family, if my brother has his way, after all.”

Lark couldn’t get the image of Ollie with her eyes wide staring at Santiago who was looking at her the way a cat would a canary. Her friend was in way over her head.

“He’s a mobster,” Max hissed. “I am not leaving my sister with a mobster.”

Heriberto got right in Max’s face with a steely glint in his eye, “he is a businessman, Mr. Villeneuve and I assure you, his business is not near as shady as you and your family have been involved in. I believe, if our information is accurate, in the presidential suite of this hotel a friend of your father’s is hiding from a mess he made at your father’s favorite casino in Vegas. Your poor mother is slumming it in a suite instead of her normal room on the top floor because your dad does business with this foreign politician. I promise we are not the worst people in this hotel. Now, I am not letting anyone in this room,” he motioned behind him, “until they have hashed out their differences and come to a resolution. You have choices. We can simply stand here in front of this door and listen to what will quite likely turn into s*x. I really do not relish the thought of listening to my brother make love to his woman. My brother and I are close but not close enough for me to enjoy such things. Alternatively, we can very cordially sit and have a drink and get to know one another,” he winked at Lark, “I believe a bourbon probably sounds very good to you right now, huh or”

Max glared at Lark as if annoyed the other man knew her drink of choice and she looked away guiltily.

“Should we invite your mom?” Heriberto was egging Max on now.

Lark shoved his shoulder, “not funny, Heriberto. You’re trying to piss him off now.”

“Is it working?” He caught her hand to his chest. “He becomes all animalistic and child like. He would probably pound his chest and scream Me Max before he took a swing at me. Then I could knock him out and while his friend tended to him, you and I could have a very lovely and intimate drink alone in the lounge. Maybe even dinner later?”

“Enough!” Max cut him off, his face mottled with rage.

“Max,” she pulled away from both men. “I’m going down to the lounge because I don’t want to listen to Ollie throwing things at Santiago’s head let alone anything Heriberto suggested. I’ll be compelled to go in after her if I think she’s in danger and it will make things worse. Let’s go.”

“I need to ask,” Heriberto was chummy as he walked alongside Lark towards the elevator, “where did you hide her?” “Suitcase.”

“The one full of clothes and under the ironing board?”

“Yup,” she grinned up at him unable to stop herself.

He threw his head back and laughed loudly, “you are very clever. I bet in the courtroom you’re full of ingenious ideas and plans.”