Page 49 of Shattered Souls
I nod. “Aurora. We’ll get the answers we need, and I’ll be beside you every step of the way.” Closing the distance, I press my lips to hers in a chaste kiss, reassured when the fear in her eyes steadily solidifies until all I can see is her strength and determination. “There she is,” I murmur, tracing my fingers along her jaw one final time. “My warrior.” I grin savagely, letting the wild, ruthless side of myself I typically keep contained to the ice come out to play. “Let’s go cause some mayhem.”
Her responding grin is music to my ears as I climb out of the SUV and round the front to open her door and help herdown. With every step toward the front door, I feel her growing stronger, building her resolve and solidifying her defenses. By the time I knock on the door, she’s an impenetrable fortress of fire and purpose.
“For Aurora,” I whisper as I hear footsteps approaching from inside the house.
“For Aurora,” she responds as the door is thrown open, and I finally face the Devil himself.
I’ve never met Grayson’s dad before. Still, I instantly know it’s him who answers the door, wearing an impeccable three-piece suit and looking like he’s just returned from a day of business meetings at the office—which makes no fucking sense since he’s no longer CEO, but whatever.
He’s the spitting image of Grayson… or, I guess, Grayson is the spitting image of him. Their features are strikingly similar, from the dark brown of their hair and eyes to the curve of their cheekbones and the angle of their jaws. Even their facial expressions match, and it strikes me that Grayson has perfected his father’s impassive mask. The difference is, with Grayson, it is exactly that… a mask—a cover to hide his true emotions.
I instantly know it’s not the same for Bertram as I stare into those cold, dead eyes. There are no emotionstohide. A sick, twisted predator peers out from behind those frigid irises, one incapable of feeling human emotions. One entirely consumed with fulfilling their wants and desires.
As his gaze latches on to his ultimate desire and his eyes flare with want, it takes everything in me not to drag Riley behind me and out of his exploitative view.
He doesn’t even seem to see me standing there as his lips curl in triumph. “Riley.” He practically purrs her name, and I swear on the Stanley Cup that one day I will rip his tongue from his mouth so I never have to hear her name on his lips ever again. “It’s so good to see you again. I’m looking forward to ourintimatemeal together.”
Yeah, I’ve had enough of this fucking bullshit.
Sliding my arm around Riley’s waist, my hand rests dangerously low over her hip bone as I pull her into my side. All the while, I keep my focus on the monster in front of us as he finally sees me standing there. His gaze drops to where I’m touching Riley, nostrils flaring before his eyes snap to mine.
I don a charming, charismatic smile, ignoring the threats practically spilling from his glower. “So am I, Mr. Van Doren.”
“Who are you?” His lips curl in a sneer. “Andwhyare you touching my daughter?”
“Well, sheismy girlfriend.” Drawing Riley closer, I keep my gaze locked on Bertram’s as I kiss her temple before holding out a hand toward him. I take great satisfaction in seeing him so murderous. “I’m Logan Astor. Boyfriend.”
Teeth grinding, he ignores my outstretched hand as his gaze snaps to Riley. “Since when do youdate?”
“Since me,” I answer with a cocky smirk before Riley can form a response. “It’s hard to resist this charm. Although this one really made me work for her attention.”
Finally looking away from Bertram, my soft gaze rests on the side of Riley’s head until she turns to face me. I coax her with my eyes to relax. To not let Bertram win by seeing that he has her on edge. She forces the tension from her muscles as she smiles lovingly at me. Her eyes shine with gratitude and a little bit of mischief as she retorts, “Well, what can I say? I needed to make sure you were serious.”
“What part of me serenading you in front of the entire campus said I wasn’t serious? Or the love poem I wrote for you. That was some of my best rhyming!”
Lips between her teeth, Riley is struggling to contain her laughter. “Your best rhyming, huh? Guess it’s just as well you’re not an English major.” She taps a finger against her lips. “Although… are you sure marketing is where your strengths lie?”
I growl playfully at her, pretending I’m not entirely aware of Bertram glaring at us as I tickle her sides and nip at the flesh of her neck. She writhes against me, momentarily distracted from this awful night, as she squeals and giggles. “That’s how it is, eh?” I torture her with my fingers until she’s laughing uncontrollably, having wholly forgotten whose presence we are standing in. I, however, have not. “I’m deadly serious when it comes to you.” I ensure those words are loud enough for Bertram to hear, but instead of looking to see his reaction, I focus on the angel in my arms as I squeeze her tighter and hold her gaze, hoping she knows that while all of this is just for show, I mean those words right down to my core.
We only break eye contact when the asshole coughs, probably done with the attention not being on him. “As… insightful as this is,” he drawls, looking thoroughly unimpressed, “Tonight is afamilydinner. You can see Riley another time.”
My lackadaisical smile solidifies in place.Fuck.
“Oh.” Riley frowns, her lower lip pushing out in a slight pout. “I already had plans with Logan when I got the last-minute call from Mom. I figured bringing him would be okay, but we can do dinner some other time.” Grabbing my hand, she moves back toward the car.
We make it all of two steps before Bertram’s irritated sigh reaches my ears. “Don’t be so dramatic. He can stay.” Riley stiffens, the move barely perceptible if I wasn’t watching herwith a keen eye. My fist curls, my desire to deck the asshole potent, but when I turn back to face him, he’s stepped out of the doorway. Although his intent gaze bores into mine with blatant distaste. “Will be good for all of us to get to knowLoganbetter.”
With a tense posture and alert eyes, I follow Riley into the house, keeping my hand at the base of her spine, just above the waistband of her jeans. The click of the door closing behind us echoes through the room like the resounding clang of a prison cell, a sharp, metallic finality that sends shivers skating down my spine. The heavy thud reverberates around the foyer, bouncing off the walls and sealing us in with an unnerving sense of permanence. If that’s how it feels to me, I can’t begin to imagine how trapped Riley feels right now. Her breath catches beside me, her eyes darting around the expansive, white-painted foyer as if searching for an escape route. The air grows thick with her trepidation, the anxiety of being locked up with a predator, and I brush the backs of my fingers along her arm in a subtleI’m right here.
Her eyes lock with mine, and she takes a fortifying breath, forcing herself to calm before we follow Bertram through to a grand dining room. The table is set for three, and as we enter the room, a maid sets a fourth place setting before scurrying away.
The room is eerily empty, our footsteps echoing as we cross to the table. Bertram claims a seat at the head of the table and gestures to the seat on his right for Riley to sit. Ignoring him, I pull out the chair on the newly set place setting, getting Riley settled before taking the spot beside her, placing myself between them.
Bertram’s face contorts, and smoothing his tie, he clears his throat. “So.” He drags out the word, glaring at me with contempt. “How did you two… meet?”
He doesn’t sound the least bit interested in the story, which is exactly why I regale him with every minute detail of how Rileytutored me and I flirted my way into her heart, winning her over with my persistent charm and endearing smile. He peppers me with more questions about our relationship and me, and any time he tries to include Riley in the conversation by directing a question her way, I answer it for her.
“Where is my mother?” Riley asks when the fake politeness grows strained.
