Page 99 of Wicked Rivals
“But he—”
“It’s all right, Rosalind.” Brodie hugged her. “You dinnae need to tell us anything. You’re safe now. We’re going home.”
She knew she’d have to explain to them that Ashton wasn’t a brute at some point. A pompous arse who had betrayed her trust and broke her heart, yes, but not a brute. But that was the least of her concerns at the moment. They were taking her home—to the man she swore she’d never look upon again.
“Home?But I can’t. Father—”
“Is dead.” Brock’s tone was flat. “He died a week ago. It’s safe for you to return to Castle Kincade.”
“Dead?” It took a long moment for that to sink in. The man who’d haunted her nightmares wasdead.
A weight seemed to lift off her chest. Rosalind drew in a shaky but deep breath, as though she hadn’t been able to breathe in years. The only person she feared in this world was gone forever. Her heart was hollow with the loss of a parent who had never been there for her. She knew she would never miss him, not after the ways he’d hurt her. If there was one thing she’d learned since she’d fled it was how to be strong and not let anyone make her feel guilty for being who she was.
He was a brute, and now he’s dead. I shall not mourn him.
She looked to her brothers for confirmation. “Is it true?”
When the others nodded, only then did she dare to hope.
I can go home…
But home wasn’t Castle Kincade anymore. It hadn’t been for years.
“Do not worry, Rosalind,” Brock said. “We shall take care of you now.”
“But I don’t need you to take care of me. I’ve been managing quite well on my own.” She crossed her arms over her chest, scowling. If they only knew of the empire she’d built for herself. Granted, most of it was currently under Lennox’s control, but…
“I’m sure you have,” Brock said with a condescending smile. “But now you have us to do it for you.”
She’d always hated being the baby after three brothers, and this was why. They’d never understand that she was a force to be reckoned with, not a damsel in distress.
“Besides,” said Aiden, “Waverly told us what sort of man Lennox is. It doesn’t sound like he’ll take no for an answer.”
There it was again. Waverly warning them about Ashton. Her business partner had pitted her own family against the League. Something didn’t feel right. She ought to thank Waverly, especially since he’d sent her brothers to find her, and even more so since Ashton’s confession to Charles. But now she trusted neither Ashton nor Waverly.
Was Ashton really the cold, dispassionate seducer he claimed to be? Or was he the man she’d hoped he was? She honestly didn’t know, but she was never going to let her heart choose a man for her ever again. And she was definitely not going to trust any man as a business partner again.
I can play the puppet master just as well as he can.
Ashton’s words were damning. A good man, the one she had started to fall for, would not have said that. He would have been honest with her about her involvement with Waverly and asked her about it. He would not have seduced her and manipulated her into marriage.
Dear God…
“What’s the matter?” Aiden asked, stepping closer. “You’ve gone pale, sister.”
“Ashton wanted my property because I had Waverly as an investor.” She curled her hands into fists. “How could I be so bloody stupid? It was always about the companies. It was never about punishingme—it was about Waverly.”
This realization hit her like a slap in the face. Even when she’d believed Ashton’s motives were born out of revenge, he’d at least wanted her. But to ruin her and take everything she had simply to hurt another man…it was cold. Too cold.
I matter so little to him that I was not even the object of his vengeance, merely a pawn.
“Brock, I should like to go back to London—”
“No, we have to go to Kincade. At least for now. Waverly explained about Lennox and his League. They will come after you and try to take you back by force. London wouldn’t be safe. We can protect you better in Scotland. You’ll be among your own people again.”
“But my life is here now. I can’t leave it.”
Brook shook his head. “You can and you will. Anything you want to bring home, one of us can return for.”
