Page 37 of King of Deception

“Bella?”

She doesn’t turn. “Leave me alone, Gris.”

Fuck. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” she whispers before she turns and brushes past me, heading for her room.

I follow, determined to find out what that fucking prick did to upset her so much. Not so I can use it to my advantage. Maybe that should be what I’m thinking.

Instead, I just want to know how hard I’m punching that asswipe in the face.

“Go home, Gris,” she says as she reaches the bathroom. “I know what I said this morning about…” She waves her hand, and I catch her profile, the tears shining in her eyes. “But I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”

“Do you feel guilty because you’re cheating?”

That makes her pause. She shakes her head back and forth. “I’m not cheating.”

Air rushes from my lungs. Did she just break it off with him? Is that why he slammed the door?

“Then why can’t we see each other?”

“Because…” I see her face spasm in pain. “You’re using me, just the same as him.”

And then she slips into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Her words make my chest ache.

The worst part. They’re true. Or at least they were. I hear the shower start and I lift my hand, knocking on the door. “Let me in, Bella.”

“No.”

“I have a few things I need to say to you.”

“I don’t want to talk.”

I don’t know what Preston did or said to upset her so quickly, but I’m going to find out. “I heard Preston say he was going to tattle to your brother. Even I know Mason well enough to know that he would never take Preston’s side over yours. Not unless he’s working some plan.”

The shower turns off.

And then the knob twists.

“What kind of plan?”

She’s holding the sweatshirt in front of her chest, the door only open enough that I can see about four inches of her face. “Look. I know Mason can be a real hard ass. No one knows that better than me. But he loves you and Charlotte. Of that, I am absolutely certain. And I don’t think he’d let you marry a man if that man would make you miserable. Not even for Kincaid Enterprises.”

“Please,” she says, her voice dripping with disdain. “You know as well as I do that he needs Preston’s contacts.”

I did know that. The door opens a little wider and I catch a glimpse of Bella’s upper arm. Which is all red and angry.

Anger pulses through me.

Pushing the door open, Bella stumbles back.

Sure enough, her other arm is also red with clear finger marks appearing. “He put his hands on you?” I practically spit the words and Bella’s eyes widen in fear.

“Gris?”

I’m scaring her. Drawing in three or four deep breaths, I take a slow step toward her. “It’s all right, luv. I’d never hurt you. But I want you to tell me what he did to leave those marks on your arms.”

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