Page 131 of Bitter Heat

“She isn’t going anywhere,” Roth said.

“I’m not leaving her with you,” Lyle snarled as he reached for her arm.

“Touch her, and I’ll deck you.”

Lyle tensed. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Lyle, stop!” She pressed a hand against his heaving chest. “You… you should leave.”

“I’m not leaving you with him.”

She gripped Lyle’s arm to get his attention. “You need to go.”

“I’m not—”

“I’m okay,” she said in a dead voice.

“You’re not okay. I’m not going to let him abuse you.”

“He doesn’t,” she lied as her shoulder throbbed. “Please, Lyle. Just go.”

“I can get you out of this,” he said. “You don’t have to put up with him. If he’s using you in some way—”

“He isn’t,” she ground out and pushed against his chest. “Please.”

Lyle stared at her for a long minute before he shot Roth a murderous look. “If I find one bruise on her, I’m going to do what Maximus never did and call a hit on your ass.” He kissed her temple. “Promise me you’ll call.”

“I will,” she said instantly.

“We’ll take Thea.”

“Yes, please get her checked out. Make sure she’s okay,” she said hoarsely.

Lyle gave Roth one more look before he stalked out of the library. She stared straight ahead as she listened to the sound of her family departing. When the front door slammed, and the sound of cars careening down the driveway left them in buzzing silence, she finally looked at him. He had resumed his stance in front of the fire. His mask was back in place, and he looked unfazed by what had transpired. The wrath that exploded out of him had disappeared as if it had never been. The only sign of destruction was the broken statue and fresh gouges on her father’s desk.

“What have you done?” she whispered.

He said nothing.

“You orchestrate this sham of a wedding to convince my family we’re doing things right this time around, and then you fuck it up. What the hell is wrong with you?”

“That was unfortunate.”

“Unfortunate,” she repeated and then shouted, “Are you fucking serious?”

She ran across the library. He turned as she stopped beside him. Her hand stung as she smacked him with every ounce of strength she had. His head snapped to the side. When she tried to hit him again, he grabbed her wrists and held her still as she fought him like a wild thing.

“You vile, disgusting pig! How dare you? You destroyed the last thing my father ever gave me. You hurtThea. How could you do that to her? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Calm down.”

“Fuck calm! What did he blackmail you about, Roth?”

His gaze sharpened. “You didn’t read the letter.”

“I didn’t have time to read more than a few lines before you came in! Let me go. I don’t want you touching me.”

He released her, and she paced away, arms wrapped around her middle as bile rose. She felt as if a bomb went off in her face. She was dazed and still trying to process the chaos. She stopped in front of the massive windows and looked out at the lake. The sun had risen, spreading light over the beautiful, tranquil scene. Everything looked as it should, but her world felt as if it had been turned upside down. Something ugly and evil had erupted in her sanctuary, and she didn’t know what to do about it.

---