Page 54 of King of Deception

Without a word, I scoop Bella up in my arms and carry her over to the kitchen. She curls into me, her sobs muffled by my chest.

Here is the thing about me. I know how to play a fucking long game.

So, am I killing Preston today? No.

Am I going to whisper in that motherfuckers ear the pain that’s coming his way… you bet your fucking ass I am.

“I’m just going to get you some ice, sweetheart,” I whisper into her hair.

“I don’t need ice,” she croaks, and I know, just by the sound, that his hands were around her throat. Anger is surging through me, crashing over me in waves.

I set her down on the floor against the cabinet and do a quick inspection. Bruising on her neck, her face, her arms.

Sliding open the drawers, I get out two ice packs. The first goes on her neck, the second on her cheek. I lift her hands to hold both packs in place, and then I call Luke.

He doesn’t pick up.

I call back.

Still nothing. I call again.

On the third go, he barks into the phone. “What?”

“I need you at Arabella’s now.” And then I hang up.

“He’s with Mason,” Arabella says her eyes sliding closed.

A bit of surprise slides through me. Maybe I should care that all of my plans on that front might fall through, but I don’t. Am I going to lose tunnel access? My friendship with Luke?

I can’t feel bad about either. All I care about is Arabella.

She opens her eyes again. “If Mason comes here, all my plans and all of yours could be ruined.”

“Don’t talk, sweetheart,” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “I know you want to get your brothers back together. And I want mine to get access to the Kincaid tunnel. But that doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is that Preston gets what is coming to him and that you are safe.”

Her eyes widen even as the bathroom door swings open. We’re crouched by the fridge, mostly blocked from the island and I stay down.

Does Preston think he’s a big man, beating up a woman? He’s about to find out how real predators hunt.

And how some like to play with their prey…

“Where the fuck are you, Arabella?” he spits. “I told you what was?—”

I stand up. “Why don’t you tell me?”

His eyes widen in surprise. “Lord Griswold? What are you doing here?”

“Just Gris,” I take off my suit jacket then, folding it and placing it on the counter. Then, I start to remove my tie. “Why don’t you have a seat, Preston.”

“But… what… why?” He remains standing, looking at me with absolute confusion. Stupid fuck doesn’t even understand he should be afraid. But I’ve got nothing but time, so I’ll play along.

“What am I doing here? Well… let me see. Before you, I was in business with Kincaid. And by the way, I have first-hand knowledge of how, when Mason changes his mind, he pulls his support with barely a blink of an eye.” I give him a wolfish grin.

He’s still not getting it, as he gives me a conspiratorial eye roll. “Trash. All of them.”

My teeth grind together. “But unlike you, I have developed a plan for winning their support back that does not involve beating up women.”

He takes a half step back, his eyes growing wary. Finally. “I didn’t know you knew Arabella.”

---