Page 60 of King of Deception

I know Mason. I know how he thinks. But he knows me too.

Luke turns to me, and it only takes a second for him to decide and then he’s barreling at me with the full force of his weight.

Luke’s a brawler and I don’t have enough room to sidestep as he sends me crashing back into the counter.

I hear cabinets splinter, pain radiating through my back.

“You motherfucker,” he booms as he gets me with a fist to the gut.

“Luke,” Arabella’s hoarse cry snaps my attention from Luke.

She stands in the entrance to the hall, her hands clasped in front of her face.

I push Luke off me, and I stumble up, surging toward her. In an instant she’s wrapped in my arms. “I’m fine, sweetheart. I’ll be right in. Promise.”

Luke stands too, and I swear I hear his teeth gnash together as he preps for another attack.

“Leave it,” Mason barks at his cousin.

But that’s when another knock sounds at the door.

“The doctor?” I ask with Arabella still in my arms.

Luke spins to answer the door as I lift Arabella back in my arms. “You need to be in bed.”

“I’m fine,” she says, her voice sounding better. “The ice is helping.”

“The doctor will be the judge of that.”

I know this conversation with Luke and Mason is far from over, but it will have to wait. Bella’s care comes first.

In fact, so many priorities are rewriting themselves tonight. Bella comes first. Period. But telling everyone…

But I don’t think my life is going to be the same after this. If I’m alive at all. Like I said, if the Kincaids don’t kill me, my family is definitely going to see the job done.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Arabella

The doctor examinesme and declares that I did not sustain any serious injuries. I’m just relieved and ready to be alone, but Gris isn’t done. He grills the doctor for a full fifteen minutes.

Even Mason raises his eyebrows at the length the conversation goes on, and everyone knows the best word to describe my oldest brother is… meticulous.

Finally, I’m the one who excuses the doctor. “Gris. Let the man go. I’m fine.”

He sits down on the bed next to me, ignoring both my brothers in the doorway, and brings his hand to my hip. “You are far from fine. With every passing minute, those bruises get darker. I didn’t hit Preston hard enough. I’m going to?—”

“Speaking of, Dr. Matthews, would you do us the kindness of examining the man on the living room floor? See if you can revive him.”

“He’s the one who did that to you?” The doctor asks me the question and I give a quick nod, even as Gris’s hand spreads out wider over my hip, like he’s protecting me.

The doctor looks at Mason, and Mason gives him another nod of approval before both men head out the door to check on Preston.

Which leaves me with Gris and Luke. Great.

Luke leans against the wall, his arms crossing over his muscular chest. Gris sits taller, blocking more of me from view. I reach out and brush my fingers over his shoulder.

He looks back at me, skimming his hand up my arm, he cups my cheek. “Need anything, luv? Hungry? I put your sushi in the fridge.”

---