Defiant Company

By Crystal Perkins

About Defiant Company
Sex. Betrayal. Fear. Courage.

Rhys Madison looks like he has everything—money, a killer smile, and women lining up for a place in his bed. But, he doesn’t have Vivienne Sloan, the only woman he’s ever loved. He has a chance with her now, but after what happened to him last year, he doesn’t think she’ll ever really want him.
Responsibility. Truth. Beginnings. Hope.

Vivienne Sloan married the wrong man. She’s always know it, but she didn’t know how to get away. Now that she’s free, she has a second-chance with the man she’s always love, but he’s fighting his demons, and running away. She wants to fight with him, if only he’d give her the chance.

Fight. Heal. Live. Love.

Rhys stops running, and starts to face his past, but Vivienne isn’t sure she can give him another chance to hurt her. With their families and other forces at play against them, they’ll need to either come together, or fall apart.

Fighting for yourself and who you are is sometimes just as important as fighting for the love of your life. Do they have it in them to do both?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crystal Perkins
• Release date: Oct 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370284955

Crystal Perkins

Crystal Perkins has always been a big reader, but she never thought she would write her own book, until she sat down and did it. She lives in Las Vegas, where you can find her running author events when she isn’t reading, buying too many Sherlock t-shirts online or watching the Vegas Gokden Knights. A mac and cheese connoisseur, she travels the country looking for the perfect version, while attending book conventions and signings as a cover for her research. She writes Romantic Suspense, New Adult, Romantic Comedy, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, and even a little Horror!

Book preview

Prologue

Rhys

I watch her because I can. Because I have to. There is nowhere else I could look with her in the room. It sounds creepy, but it’s not. Really. I’ve been captivated by her since I was thirteen, and there’s never been another woman who could compare to her. That’s just the way it is.

We grew up as best friends, and then we both felt more. Sneaking around made it exciting, but she’s what made it magnificent. It was the best time of my life, and then it was the worst. I lost her, and if I’m being honest, I also lost myself.

She glides across the dance floor in the arms of her husband, both of them the picture of wealth and sophistication. I’m supposedly an example of that same kind of picture, but if the people in this room saw beneath the mask, they’d be horrified. Even more than they were when my perfect sister, Rhieve, got together with Calum. Calum could buy and sell most of the people in this room, but he fell from grace long ago, and never cared about getting back up.

I wish I could say the same about myself, but whether I want to or not, I care what these people in this room think of me. Most importantly, I care what that woman dancing with her husband thinks of me. I was warned to stay away from her years ago, and even if she wasn’t married, she wouldn’t want me now. What self-respecting woman would if she knew what had happened to me last year? Being kidnapped by a pair of women from a sex club, and offered as a plaything to any woman who wanted me doesn’t exactly scream class and sophistication. There were a few men, too, but since I don’t swing that way, I’ve worked hard to block them out. I screamed a few times, if I’m being honest, and most of the women in this room would run from me if they knew what I’ve had done to me. Including Vivienne.

Especially Vivienne. My next-door neighbor. The first—and only—girl I was ever in love with. The girl I was repeatedly told to stay away from, because there were plans for her. The woman who married one of the most powerful men in this room five years ago. The woman I can’t take my eyes off, even now. She’d never accept what I’ve become, even if it was her who drove me into the beds and dungeons of other women. Even if she knew I still thought of her while I came inside of them. No, she’d never choose me, even if she could.

So, I watch her from afar at parties like this, keeping a smirk on my face and knowing she’ll never look my way. Knowing socialites will try to keep my attention, and fail. Knowing I can never have the only thing I’ve wanted since I was thirteen. The only woman I’ve wanted. I’ll watch, and hope that one day I’ll be wrong and she will look my way, just like she did all those years ago.

Vivienne

I know Rhys is here. I can sense him, even though I would never dare look at him. Christon would destroy him, if he even thought I still cared. Oh, how I care, and hope, but he’s not mine to covet. The day he walked away from me, I lost more than just my heart; I lost my will to care about how I live my life, which is how I ended up here, on this dance floor, with a man I hate.

My husband, whose ridiculous name caused him to be bullied most of his life, now enjoys nothing more than bullying me. He won’t touch me—in any way—but he knows how to hurt. In fact, he knows his not touching me hurts me the worst, because I want a houseful of children. It’s why he won’t have sex with me any longer. His needs are met elsewhere while I cry myself to sleep.

Your smile has slipped, Vivienne. Pull yourself together. We both know you’re nothing more than your looks, and you need to be looking like nothing makes you happier than me. The fact that you can’t even manage this one small thing just proves how stupid you are.

The words barely sting, because he says much worse to me on a daily basis, but as I allow myself to look out over the crowd, I feel a spark of that hope I’d thought I’d lost forever.

Matt and Reina Corrigan just walked in.

He immediately whips his head around, until he spots them. Let’s go.

I knew he couldn’t resist the chance to try and impress the most influential couple in the world. Social climbing is an art I’ve never had the inclination to master, but my husband has no shame in his game. He thinks they’ll elevate him to the top, but I know they hate him almost as much as I do.

Hello, Reina says as we approach, her smile tight.

Good to see you, Matt, Christon says, ignoring her in favor of her husband. It’s the wrong thing to do, but he doesn’t see it.

Vivienne, it’s wonderful to see you, Matt tells me, ignoring my husband. I know I’ll pay for that later, and I just can’t do it anymore.

As Reina leans in for the obligatory air kiss, I take the only chance I have. Please help me, I whisper.

Anyone watching wouldn’t notice her stiffen, but I do. There’s no hesitation in her actions, as she moves to the other side of me, but her hands tighten on my shoulders. The Corrigan & Co. Foundation she runs helps women, and no matter what happens, I know she’s going to help me. I’m betting my life on it.

Chapter 1

One Month Later

Rhys

My sister has been trying to get me to take a job at Corrigan & Co. ever since rescuing me in Norwich last year. Despite the fact that I have a place waiting for me at our family’s company, she’s wanted me here with her. Not exactly with her, because I’m not a female spy, but working in the same building. I don’t know if it’s just because she wants to keep an eye on me, or if she wants me away from our family, but right now it doesn’t matter .

I’m here for answers, and I’m not going to give up on getting them. One month ago, Vivienne disappeared, and rumor has it, she was last seen with Reina Corrigan. The talk of the town is that she not only got a restraining order against her husband, but she’s divorced him as well. Or rather, she’s trying to divorce him. The bastard’s fighting her—and looking for her too.

That’s where I come in, but not really. My parents tried to pressure Rhieve for info, but she wouldn’t break. When they called me I pretended to go along, but I’m here for me, and not them. No way in hell am I going to tell them where Vivienne is when I find her. I will find her, and ask her to tell me what Christon did to her, and then I’m going to kill him. Whatever he did to make her run and hide has to be bad, and for that, he’s going to pay.

Rhys, my sister says, running past the security desk to hug me. I’m so glad you’re finally here.

So am I.

You’re going to love working with X. I mean, he’s a little quirky and rude sometimes, but you’ve been working with computer guys long enough to know how to deal with that.

Yeah. Some guys are just more comfortable with a keyboard than a human, but there’s nothing wrong with that.

Xavier James is arguably the best hacker and programmer on this planet. He came out of his own hiding to work here, and I can almost guarantee he’s helping to hide Vivienne—and other people the C&C Foundation, and the Society protect. The foundation does it publicly, while the Society is the secret part of this place; the place spies, like Rhieve, inhabit. Yep, my sister’s a spy, and she loves every second of it. But she loves me more, and I’m going to get her to tell me what I need to know.

Where is she? I ask, as we get on one of the elevators.

Who? she counters, looking straight ahead.

You know who. Vivienne.

I have no idea where she is.

She turns to face me as she says it, and I see the truth in her eyes. She doesn’t know, but she knows who does.

Who hid her?

I thought you were here because you wanted to finally get away from them, but you’re here for our parents.

No, I’m here for me. You know what she meant to me back then. Hell, you helped us sneak out together more than once.

She sighs. A long time ago, I thought you’d be the one she’d marry.

So did I.

I wish she had.

Please, Rhieve. I have to know she’s okay.

I honestly don’t know if she is. I don’t know anything.

I’m going to find out on my own then.

Rhys, she implores, putting a hand on my forearm. No.

I love her. I’ve always loved her, and I need to know she’s safe. That’s all.

You cannot poke around here to try and find out information. X will be watching you, and Reina won’t be forgiving if either of them catch you.

It’s a risk I’ll have to take.

She looks up, and I know she’s looking towards a camera I can’t see. I don’t care if whoever’s watching knows. I don’t care if X and Reina know. All I care about is Vivienne. I wasn’t man enough once to fight for what I wanted, but now I am—I have to be, because I think she needs it even more this time.

Viv

Order up, Viv.

I drop my order pad into my apron, and walk over to grab the food. Three weeks ago, I could barely walk after a long day of waitressing, but now I’m used to it. Spinning classes and yoga can’t prepare you for being on your feet all day and I’ve gained a new appreciation for those in the service industry, while hiding out in this small town.

Gone are my blonde hair, blue eyes, pearls, and designer clothes. They’ve been replaced by brown hair with caramel highlights, green contacts, cutoff jean shorts, and tank tops. Oh, and let’s not forget the tennis shoes on my feet, which are definitely not of the designer variety. I love it all, and wish I’d been strong enough to break free long before I did.

I knew Reina would help me, but I had no clue how fast things would move, or how thoroughly her organization would hide me. After excusing ourselves to use the Ladies Room at the gala, I was whisked out a side door and to the C&C building. There, Stella, who’s a famous stylist and married to a rock star, met me and gave me my makeover. By the time we’d picked out a new wardrobe for me, I had a new driver’s license and credit cards in the name we’d chosen. Viveca Moore is far enough from Vivienne Sloan, and they knew I needed something I could answer to, so that’s who I am now.

Once the new look and identity were created, Ainsley Martin and Xavier James met with me to go over a backstory, and job history. I’d never seen hackers in action before, and while I don’t understand what they were doing, I all of a sudden had a credit history, job history, and an education I never completed. I felt a small pang of loss over not being an Ivy League grad any longer, but not enough to override the relief at getting my freedom.

From there, I was taken down into an underground garage, and transported to a safe house. It was small and sparse, but no one found me, and that was more important than having a fancy couch. We let a few days pass before I was brought one town over from here, and given the keys to an old pickup truck by X himself. I know I owe him so much, and I don’t know that I’ll ever see him again. But again, my freedom is worth more than anything else