Page 17 of King of Deception

“Mason is giving him a seat on the board,” Triston answers.

I cock my head to the side, delivering a piece of information I’ve been holding close. “And control of her shares.”

“Shares?” Triston asks. “How much?”

“Twenty percent.”

“So the man who marries her gets one-fifth of Kincaid enterprises.” Triston pivots forward again. If my brothers had known that detail, they would have been fighting to be the man in that hotel room with Arabella. But it was always going to be me.

“The plan is to break up the wedding. Keep Mason from making more powerful allies so that he has to take our deal instead.”

“Or you could marry her,” Rush clears his throat. “She’s easy on the eyes. Wouldn’t be that bad.”

“We’re not the marrying kind,” I answer. But even I have to admit the logic is sound.

“Not even to save us fifty million dollars?” Tris asks. “Need me to step in? She might not even know the difference, we look enough alike. I might make an exception to my no-relationship policy for a piece of ass like that. Coupled with the money…”

My jaw clenches as I give him a hard stare. “Twenty percent is not a controlling share. We’d still have to buy our access. And Mason needs the money, or he’ll have to sell a substantial amount of stock. That’s why he’s sold his sister to that complete piece of shit to begin with.”

My brothers can’t start getting ideas. I’ve made promises beyond them, ones they don’t know about, to get us this far. My gaze slashes across the Kincaid clan, the tension between them palpable.

Did I take advantage of their internal war? Maybe. But that’s what those fuckers get for double crossing me over Nia.

“But Preston doesn’t have any money.”

“Yeah, but he’s got a rolodex of associates who do, and Mason just received access to all of them. He’s not giving them shares, but a promise to double their investment within a year. It’s a great deal if you’ve got the money.”

Now Preston is the type of guy who will marry a woman to replenish his coffers. All while he looks down on her like she’s the one who isn’t good enough.

And, apparently, Mason is the sort of man who will sacrifice anyone to Kincaid Enterprises. Even his only sister.

My other hand balls into a fist and I tuck them under my arms to hide my irritation. Arabella turns away from her family, her shaking hand swiping across her forehead.

She feels the noose tightening. I know she does.

And I should be triumphant in this moment. Instead, regret pulls at my chest.

I push the feeling away, turning my back to her. “I’ve seen enough.”

“You got the date tomorrow?” Tris asks.

“Yes,” I answer before starting toward the door.

I’m walking a fine line here, between Arabella, her brothers, and my family. Lucky for me, I’ve got the strength and the cunning to pull this off.

Arabella climbed in bed with the devil.

And now, she’s going to have to pay with her soul.

CHAPTER SIX

Arabella

I nodalong as Mrs. Wingate grills the wedding planners.Are they sure that’s the right shade of ecru?

Must the tables be so clunky?

Is there any way to mitigate the smell of pine?

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