Page 71 of King of Deception

I grimace as Arabella looks up at me, her eyes worried. We will lose a lot of money on our casinos without that access, and this was a job my family entrusted to me.

If I were playing at the tables, I would have lost big time.

I see Triston’s fist flex, and I know he’s understanding the truth. Arabella taps my arm, her light touch pulling my attention from Triston. “Let me help with that.”

Her words are quiet, but her large brown eyes are filled with a desperate pleading. She wants to help.

I know that Arabella has been searching for her place in her family. And now, she’ll work into mine. I want her to find herself, but not if it’s going to hurt her. She’s been hurt enough.

But I don’t say any of this as the doors slide open into a large common workroom.

Mason is standing on the other side. His eyes find Triston first, and they narrow into hostile slits. But only for a second.

In a moment, his gaze finds Arabella, and his gaze goes from narrowed to wide-eyed. “You look even worse this morning.”

“Do I?” Her chin notches. “I’m assuming you know Triston Smith?”

I watch Mason’s gaze flicker, fill with indecision. I’ve never seen it before.

“Triston,” he nods, sweeping his hand for all of us to enter.

Arabella lets go of my arm and steps out first, taking her brother’s arm instead. “He’ll be joining us.”

Luke appears, along with Leo.

The office is buzzing, people bustling here and there. Most give Arabella a long, appraising look, before they hurry off. She’s put herself on display and it can’t be easy. But she keeps her head high as she leads Mason toward the conference room.

“I didn’t know you were coming, Bella,” Leo says as he sweeps his gaze down his sister. “This is Preston’s work?”

“Not now, Leo,” she shakes her head. “We can talk about him later.”

“It’s been handled anyway,” Luke says, crossing his arms.

Leo glances around the office, his voice booming over the fifty employees currently in the space. “Everyone make themselves scarce.” The people clear in a matter of seconds.

Leo is the tallest, most muscular, and angriest Kincaid. He could give Killian a rough go of it.

His gaze swings to me, and I’m certain that Leo is not going to let the topic lie. He wants answers. “Neither Luke nor Mason filled me in on the details. And I want them before we discuss anything else. Preston did this?”

“He did.” I come to Arabella’s other side, my hand settling on the small of her back. With her hand still tucked in Mason’s arm, it brings us all together in a way I hadn’t expected.

“Who delivered the justice?”

Mason clears his throat. “Gris came to her rescue, knocked Preston out. Killian?—”

But Leo is stretching out his hand to me. I take it. “Good man.”

I hear Mason let out a long breath. Irritation? Frustration? Does Leo’s handshake mean that I found some support?

I might not be down and out after all…

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Arabella

The tensionbetween the five men is thick enough to cut with an actual utensil. It’s why I came.

They’re going to need a reminder that this is a family matter and that the entire situation will require some heart.

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