Page 16 of King of Deception

Which is a big fucking problem.

I am not supposed to feel anything but detached indifference for the Kincaid Princess.

But the plan is already getting fucked. They usually do. Plans rarely go like you think they should. I just didn’t expect this.

First, Bella is a true beauty. She’s fucking perfect. Rich, silky brown hair, classic features, completely fuckable lips, a ten for abody with long legs and a gorgeous ass. The exact right amount of tits.

And then there was the way she responded to me. I was only supposed to kiss her. Take her out, shower her with wine and roses. Woo her away from her fiancé with a bit of romance. Help her see she was making a mistake, and fucking Mason Kincaid out of his newest piggybank, Preston Wingate.

But the moment I held her in my arms, she went from shy to molten. It was the best non-sex of my fucking life, and I’m a man who has his pick of women.

So yeah. The plan has already been fucked.

But it doesn’t change what happens next. Arabella sold her soul to me, and I am about to cash in.

It’s just gotten way messier.

My brother Triston leans close, interrupting my intense staring. “Gris.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re sure you’re still good with this?”

“I’m fucking good,” I grit back, knowing that my brother can sense my hesitation. Or infatuation.

We’re fraternal twins and something about sharing a womb makes him more in tune with my thoughts than any of my other brothers.

On my other side is my brother Rushton, and next to him is Killian. Crazy fucker. On the end is Ryker.

We all look the same. Tall. Broad. Dark hair, darker eyes. Our father is the second son of the Duke of Upgrove, but when his childless older brother passed a year ago, he became the duke and we all became lords.

I couldn’t give two shits about the title.

Our eldest brother is still in England, preparing to take over the dukedom. It leaves the rest of us free to replenish the family fortune.

I love the job. And I’m good at it too. Unlike Mason, who has overleveraged himself, I play the percentages and never spend more than I can afford.

My brothers and I pooled our money three years back, bought a casino, doubled our money, bought another. Tripled it again. Made a deal with the Kincaids that we’d help them with some of their dirty laundry if they allowed us to connect our casinos to their underground tunnel. Anyone in on that project will do far more than triple their assets. It will make us billionaires.

The problem?

My last job for the Kincaids was to deliver the Italian princess, Antonia Carcetti, to the care of Jake Kincaid. Fucker fell in love with his kidnapped victim. Now his victim-turned-bride wants revenge on me. I didn’t kidnap her. I didn’t seduce her. All I did was ask her out on a date I never showed for.

But she can’t blame her husband, can she? Instead, she’s decided I’m the villain.

Which means, the Kincaids closed access to us. Fuck that. They want a villain… they’re going to get one.

And I’ve only got a little time left.

Once Mason gets over the financial hump of Luke selling his shares, and financing the tunnel, the man will be unstoppable. That’s why I need to act now.

I’m getting my rights back and I’m going to use the same trick they did. I’m going to steal a princess. My gaze narrows on Arabella.

Jake Kincaid fucked up his chance when he fell in love, but that won’t be me.

“Do we know why that Preston pansy wants to marry her? I mean besides the fact that she’s fucking hot?” Killian asks, rubbing a hand over his mouth as he stares at Arabella.

I snatch his hand from his mouth, my teeth gritting. He can keep his eyes to himself. He glares back, not the least bit intimidated.