Beautiful Surrender (The Surrender Series Book Three) by Priscilla West Page A

take at our next meeting’; ‘If
you’re touching yourself right now, it’s only a fraction of the pleasure I’d
give you’. Give me a break. He’s a douchebag. Just like those frat guys we used
to make fun of in college—the ones with baseball caps turned backward and
popped-collars. I know how smart you are Kristen. That’s why I’m surprised
you’ve been falling for this guy’s bullshit.”
    Hearing
Marty recite bits of private conversation between me and Vincent made the blood
drain from my face. “How did you know about those things? How did you see the
text messages he sent me?”
    Marty
sighed. “Your phone. Remember I have access to it? I can see your texts and
hear your conversations.”
    “What
the hell are you talking about? I never remember agreeing to that.”
    “Yes,
you did. We said we would share passwords. You use the same password for your
email as you do for your phone.” Seeing my phone resting on the coffee table,
he picked it up, tapped at it a few times, then showed me he’d passed the
security input to reach the home screen. He smiled. “The word of the day is:
waddles. You changed your password on your email and Facebook accounts but I
guess you forgot to do it for your phone. You have an app that lets me access
your phone through the internet. It’s how I’ve known where you’ve been all this
time.”
    “What
the fuck,” I said, shocked at the invasion of my privacy. The signs had been
there. Repeated warnings from my service provider about going over my data
limit. My phone sometimes randomly turning on at night. He’d been watching me
all this time.
    “This
is so twisted,” Vincent said. “You’ve been stalking her. That’s how you knew I
was coming over here.”
    “And
you don’t think it’s twisted putting a tracker on my car? Hiring goons to live
in the apartment next door. You’re the monster here. What’s sick is how you’re
brainwashing Kristen with your charm!”
    “Wait,”
I said, still reeling. “If you knew where I was, why did you wait two years
before showing up at my doorstep?”
    Marty’s
eyes became tender. “I was afraid. I didn’t feel like I deserved to see you
after what I did to you. I thought you’d come back to me on your own when you
were ready. I thought I could be a better man by then and we would be a
stronger couple. But things didn’t go the way I planned.”
    I
tossed my hands up in the air. “You’re not making any sense.”
    “You
were going through a phase. You needed to date other guys and then eventually
you’d realize we were meant to be together. That’s fine. I’m patient. You dated
a few guys but it never got far. It was just a matter of time before you came
back. But you went further with Vincent. I was afraid for you. Can’t you see
why I had to step in? Vincent is bad news.”
    “You
know nothing about me,” Vincent said.
    “I know
you’re a charmer. You’re a CEO who doesn’t have time for personal
relationships, never mind giving Kristen the kind of love she deserves. You’re
just like my dad—wealthy, selfish, egotistical; only thinks about his business.
He made my mom so miserable she killed herself. I’ll be damned if I let Kristen
end up like that.”
    “I’m
not your dad. I’m nothing like your dad. Or you. What the hell’s the matter
with you?”
    “Ask
yourself. Who beats someone up like this?” Marty pointed at his face.
    “Someone
who hates men who abuse women,” Vincent growled.
    “Don’t
call me an abuser. It was one time. I have a disorder for god’s sake, what’s
your excuse for what you did?”
    “I know
guys like you. My sister dated one. You’re a piece of shit abuser who doesn’t
deserve sympathy.”
    “You know
nothing about me! Calling me an abuser is bullshit. I hurt Kristen a little bit
one time, and I feel awful about it. You have no right to beat me to a fucking
pulp when I try to apologize to her.”
    “Marty,”
I said softly. “Vincent and I talked about