Page 37 of Betrayed

“Yeah.” I nodded and leaned forward. “Thanks.”

Jack questioning Blake’s character might have pissed me off, but it was temporary. He was doing his job, which sometimes meant asking stupid questions.

Knowing Jack would have my back the next day made me feel better. We’d faced hell together in the Middle East, and I trusted him with my life.

I trust him with Blake’s life.

Which meant so much more.

Chapter 20

Blake

Fuck AJ and fuck SSI. I can’t believe AJ almost attacked that poor guy just because he asked for a signature on his petition.Seriously, who does that?

I tossed my bag on the floor and stormed down the hall to my father’s office.

Why is his fucking door closed?He never closed it when he worked from home. At least I'd never seen him do it.

I tried the handle. Locked. Pissed off at AJ but blaming my mood on my father’s locked door, I pounded my fist on the hard wood.

“Priscilla, I told you I’m busy!” The door muffled his yell.

It wasn’t like him to snap at her. I wonder what did she did?

“It’s me, Daddy.”

“Just a second, Princess,” his voice softened as he called through the door.

I tapped my foot as I waited for him to let me in. I couldn’t imagine what was taking so long. After what felt like forever, he opened the door.

“Sorry, I was on an important call.” He gave me a hug. “Now, what’s got you so upset you tried to bust down my door?”

“I don’t want a bodyguard anymore. AJ almost attacked a guy because he got too close." I paced around his office. "All he wanted was a signature on his petition.”

“Blake, honey, I’m paying SSI to make sure no one gets close enough to hurt you. He was just doing his job.”

I didn’t appreciate his condescending tone.

“But Daddy, he’s ruining my life,” I pouted and crossed my arms across my chest.

“You’re so dramatic,” Priscilla said as she walked in and plopped into one of the oversized leather chairs in front of Daddy’s desk.

I ignored her. My father greeted her.

He looks so tired. “Are you feeling okay?” He had dark bags under his bloodshot eyes and I’d swear he had more gray in his hair. “Maybe you should go away for a relaxing weekend.”

“We can’t go away because we’re paying for your stupid bodyguard,” Priscilla whined. The look she gave me reminded me just how young she was.

“Priscilla, that’s enough,” he chided her.

When had they ever been worried about money?

“This wouldn’t be a problem if your father hadn’t left everything toherin a trust fund,” she snapped at him in her high-pitched voice.

Is that what this was about?She’s pissed about my inheritance. Priscilla married my father, expecting him to inherit my grandfather’s millions. It wasn't my fault they didn’t find out grandpa left most of his fortune to me, in a trust fund, until after they were married. It'd been a shock when I found out at the reading of the will. Dad was even more shocked. Priscilla was pissed. When I asked, Dad said he didn't know why.

Unless Grandpa included a letter explaining it, for me to open on my birthday, I'd never know why.

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