Page 64 of King of Deception

“There’s a big fucking lake not too far away. Don’t tell me my fucking business.”

Truth. “Tonight, I just want you to take him home, tuck him in bed, make sure he lives through the night.”

Killian’s face turns black. “You want me to babysit?”

“Remember everything. You’ll need all the details soon.”

That makes my brother smile. Crazy fuck.

Grabbing a spoon from the drawer in the island, I start back for the bedroom.

“You really do know your way around this place.” Luke gives me a glare as Killian makes his way over to Preston to play nurse.

I pause for one second. “I’m in love, Luke.” The words, so simple, ring with a truth that settles in my chest.

“Her or Kincaid?”

I turn to him. Having this conversation in front of Killian is very problematic. “Her.”

Killian, who has squatted down, looks up at me.

“Let me guess, you’re going to marry her, make babies, control her shares.”

“She doesn’t have shares, remember? That is your decision, not mine. And, just so we’re clear, I’ve told you my intent, my plans, before you make yours.” I give the spoon a little jiggle. “She needs this.”

“Fine. But in that meeting tomorrow morning, be ready to answer to me.” Then Luke turns on his heel and leaves the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

Killian, never one to mince words, stands. “You playing them? Or us?”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You’re slippery as a pig in shit,” Killian grunts. “Where is the meeting tomorrow?”

My jaw goes granite hard. “Kincaid Enterprises. Nine.”

“Expect Triston,” Killian says, and then swings Preston into his arms like the full-grown man weighs nothing. “And I still want to go to Africa next month. This cunt isn’t going to be a challenge at all.”

I grimace but turn back to Arabella’s bedroom. Triston, Luke, Mason, Killian… they are all problems for tomorrow.

I find Arabella still holding the container, the broth almost gone. Silently, I hand her the spoon.

“Everyone sounds angry,” she says to me, her voice sounding far more normal then it did a few minutes ago.

“Remember what I said about going to England?” I give her a strained smile.

She lifts her brows. Dipping the spoon into the noodles, she takes a big bite. Silence follows as she chews, staring off into space. “Listen, Gris…”

My hand comes to her leg, because it sounds like she might be about to give me the speech. I’m about to burn down the world to make her mine, so I’m not sure I want to hear what she’s going to say. “I’m listening.”

“You don’t have to do this…” She shakes her head.

“Do what? Didn’t you ask me ten minutes ago to stay tonight?”

“Oh, I want you to stay,” she says with a small smile, and I relax. “And I still want you to be the one.” Her voice is quiet. “But you don’t have to make me promises. I know what this is.”

I lean over then, until my face is just a few inches from hers, my mouth close to hers. “You listen to me. Tomorrow, I’m going into a meeting where all of your brothers are going to want to kill me. And now, all of mine are likely going to join yours in plotting my death. So you had better promise me that I’m going in there and telling them all to go fuck themselves so that you and I can live happily ever after.”

I catch the soup as she drops the container.

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