Page 9 of Lovely Deceit

I throw myself at him as best I can for someone with only one good foot and wrap my arms around him. His shoulders shake, his grip so tight it nearly shocks me. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Maybe they did that to me for shits and giggles; maybe as a warning. But now I’m even more convinced they killed Dee. So, they can keep trying to break me, but they won’t. Not until I find out what happened to my sister.

4

Leo

How in the world this fucker outgunned me driving a fucking Mini Cooper… FUCK!

I scour the streets surrounding Carnegie. After he got away with our fucking charge in tow, I doubled back and then ended up here. Where could he go? He doesn’t even fucking live in this country. The house he rented on the outskirts of town is only occupied by a few servants. The Astors’ had a lone light on in the dad’s study.

I’ve double and triple checked the cameras at Jarvis Hall, so I know they haven’t returned there. Thanks to the tracking software I put on her phone, I know it’s pinging at the castle, but that’s not fucking helping me right now because I know they’re not at the castle. Oliver has her. I’ve got a favor in to some shady friends who are running his number for me. Now, if only they’d hurry the fuck up.

I peer into the rearview mirror to check out the car behind me but catch my reflection instead. A welt has formed on my chin from Alaric Barclay. Asshole actually got a good hit in on me.

Why do you care?

His question attacks my brain, tumbling over again and again like the contents of a washing machine. My brain is filled with thoughts I’d rather not think about. WhydoI care?

It’s not because she was a job Grandfather gave me. Fuck that. Fuck him.

I press down on the gas. It’s time for me to face reality. What I saw earlier was another innocent person taken by the Knights, led by my ruthless grandfather. Seeing Eden strung up like that reminded me of walking into my house and finding my father dead.

I couldn’t stop staring at her dangling body as they spoke to her like she was nothing. As they played cat and mouse with her—dropping her in short bursts. Taunting her. Memories flashed back at me of my father and grandfather, one always fucking with the other…until the final consequence. My father sprawled out on the living room floor, hidden by the family couch; the pooling blood stains darkening the heirloom carpet.

If it weren’t for the blood or the pale pallor of his skin, I could kid myself that he was sleeping. Maybe she’d look at peace, too. At rest.

A part of me knew they weren’t really going to kill her. It was a warning under the guise of the final Trial. They took her greatest fear and multiplied it by ten.

I bet no one but my grandfather knew they were also making me relive my greatest fear, too.

I’ve been fooling myself thinking that if I just follow along and do what Grandfather says I’ll be able to leave with my inheritance, two middle fingers in the air. But leading me to our house, the black roses, making me watch Eden so close to death? He’s put me right into the game.

My dad couldn’t hack it, but I sure as fuck can.

I pull out my phone, checking first to see if my guy has gotten back to me. He hasn’t. Frustrated, I text my grandfather:What’s next?

He and his buddies are probably still laughing it up back at the castle, sucking on their expensive cigars and drinking alcohol that costs more than some people make in a year, congratulating themselves on a successful final Trial. She was afraid. She was fucking terrified. Next, they’ll be dreaming up the final Trial for the other Pledges, making it as heinous and twisted as possible. The cycle will repeat. Torture, laugh, pats on the back all around.

I turn the car back toward Jarvis Hall. It’s the only place I know to go, but I doubt they’ll return there. Eden already couldn’t stand me. Not doing anything when she called my name most likely pushed her over the edge.

I guess this is the part where we find out how badly she wants to be a Knight.

The engine thrums as I pull into a parking spot. Ahead of me, Barclay walks into the Hall. A second later, the alert goes off on my phone. He can ask me all he wants why I’m here, but why is he here? He could be running his father’s companies right now, but he’s playing babysitter for a Pledge and teaching Economics? It’s shady as fuck. He says it has nothing to do with the Knights, so why?

If I didn’t want him asking me the same questions in return, I’d march in there and demand answers. Watching her sway by her ankles over the water her sister drowned in is bad enough, but if she finds out I was paired with her so I could keep tabs on her? There would be no coming back from that. And Eden Astor doesn’t need one more person letting her down.

My gut clenches. It was easier to play this role when it was just a fun game, but it’s more than that now. I saw the shift on her face when she ceased to think of it as a Trial. She was truly scared for her life, and since she’s surrounded herself by Knights, she should be.

I shut off the car and head toward the imposing stone building. Darkness nearly swallows me when I open the door. A shadow moves out of the corner of my eye as I fish for the light switch, and I’m about to tell Alaric that it’s me but a whistling sound cuts through the air.

The side of my head explodes in pain, and I’m out cold.

5

Eden

After my long soak in the tub, Oliver has pizza delivered to the room. Since I haven’t eaten for twenty-four plus hours, I dig into it with all the grace of a one-year-old destroying their birthday cake.

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