Comeback (The Holland Brothers Book 3)

I’m vibrating with anger as soon as I see him. I know.

I just fucking know.

“You.” It isn’t a question but an accusation.

His eyes widen, like maybe he wasn’t expecting to find me here, but then that annoying smirk of his appears on his face.

Smug. Arrogant.

It can’t be a coincidence that he’s here. He bought Sabrina’s building. And he did it because of me. Because of whatever sick fascination he has with fucking with my life. That’s fine. I can handle it, but I won’t sit by while he fucks her over.

“What the fuck did you do?” I’m up in his face, so close I can smell the stench of his cheap ass cologne. It’s so strong it steals my breath.

Surprise makes his brows shoot up and fear crosses his features before he can mask it, followed by a knowing grin as he relaxes back into the cocky asshole I know.

“Well, hello to you too,” he says, like small talk is something we’ve ever done. We aren’t friends. I’d barely even call him a teammate. He’s a selfish prick who only thinks about himself.

From the moment he was traded to the team he’s made my life hell. Little things that have stolen some of the joy of football and playing for the Mavericks. I don’t think I even realized it until now how much he’s taken from me.

I’m not about to let him take from Sabrina too. She doesn’t deserve that. If I’d known he was going to poison everything and everyone around me, I would have stayed far away from Sabrina. Or punched him a lot sooner.

Fuck, I can’t believe this. Eleanor is going to let this asshole buy the building?

I want to beat him and send his body parts back to Vegas where he came from.

“I see you’ve already heard the good news,” Graham says, stepping past me into the studio. He raises his arms out to the side. Smug and gloating. “I’m your new landlord.”

Yep, definitely should have punched him sooner.

I follow him, putting myself between him and Sabrina. I don’t even want him to look at her. He’s not worthy of breathing the same air as her.

Sabrina asks him a question, but her voice quivers so I only catch parts of it. She wants to know if it’s true. If he really bought this place.

All the work she put into making this studio something special. A mash-up of dreams. Eleanor’s, her mom’s, hers. To have it pulled out from underneath her now is cruel. Sure, she has the lease agreement, but there are a million ways he can make things uncomfortable for her, and I guarantee he’s going to use every single one.

“It’s not a done deal, but I always get what I want.” His smile is big and predatory.

I’m seething with no outlet for it. I wouldn’t want to get blood on the new floors.

“We’ll see about that,” I say. There has to be something we can do. Eleanor loves Sabrina, loves this building.

Graham’s expression, still smug, turns serious. “Eleanor wants to sell fast, and she knows I’m good for it.”

He looks to Sabrina. “I have to thank you. The work you did on this place is really going to help the market value. Shame you didn’t demand a longer rental agreement.”

“You’re an asshole,” I grit out between clenched teeth.

He makes a tsk noise twice, shaking his finger at me. “Is that any way to treat the guy who controls…” He looks around. “Everything.”

My hands curl into fists. The only reason I haven’t already decked him (I’ll buy her new floors if I ruin these) is because if he is her new landlord, I don’t want to cause any more problems for her. He would have already lost interest in the building if it weren’t for me.

“Don’t worry, Holland.” He moves around, looking at the studio, taking in details in a way that feels invasive and mocking. He runs a finger along a pair of worn ballet shoes hanging on the wall. “I want this place to succeed as much as you do. I’m good at the things I do…unlike you.”

He stops circling the studio and steps closer to me. “Besides, one of you needs a job and I’m about to put you out of yours. It’s only fair I let your girl keep hers. At least for a while. Eventually this building will make a great parking garage.”

He makes a move like he’s going to lay a hand on my shoulder. I sidestep him. “Don’t fucking touch me.”

I’m wound so tight I don’t trust myself. One more asshole remark and I’m not going to be able to hold back.

“You want to hit me right now, don’t you?” he asks, grinning like that’s exactly what he came here for.

It’s only because that’s what he wants that I don’t. It probably wouldn’t get me kicked off the team, but it wouldn’t help things. And he knows it. Knows I’m barely hanging on to a job that I love.

Sabrina steps in front of me. Even in this moment she’s careful to angle herself so I can read her lips. God, I love her for that tiny gesture. I love her for a million reasons.

Her face is like marble, beautiful but cold. “Get out of my studio.”

“Mine soon enough, darling.” Graham winks.

Her lips tremble, but she holds her head high. “Until then, you’re not welcome here.”

Graham has the gall to laugh. “I look forward to working together.”

When he’s gone, my anger only rises. This is all my fault. He doesn’t give a shit about this building. He wants to piss me off and he’ll use any avenue possible.

Sabrina turns to me and buries her face in my chest. Her shoulders shake in a way I know she’s crying, even though I can’t hear it.

It breaks me that she’s upset, and I can’t do anything about it. Not a single thing.

“We’ll figure this out.” I wrap my arms around her, holding her tightly against me. “I promise.”