Page 50 of Wicked Heiress

“Your grandfather has just as many allies as enemies.” I put my hand over the top of hers on the bed and felt the tremors rocking through her body. “Let this be a lesson never to trust anyone.”

* * *

After Grace cried herself to sleep, I locked her bedroom door and waited for Rhys by the front door. The butler helped him with his bags and carried them to the car waiting by the curb.

Like nothing happened, Rhys whistled some stupid tune under his breath, approaching me with a victorious grin. “Why do you look so glum, Marshall? This day couldn’t get any better, wouldn’t you say?”

I wanted to kill him.

“If you breathe a word to anyone, I’ll hunt you down and bury you.”

He clutched the laptop bag over his shoulder, and despite his bruised face and bloody lip, he looked the same. Still smiling and joking, acting as if nothing had changed. The bastard hadn’t learned anything. No amount of beat-downs would change Rhys Vanderbilt.

“You think I lost, Marshall?” His laughter filled the silence in the house. “Think again, old friend. This is only the beginning.”

The wheels in his mind never stopped turning. By nature, Rhys was always plotting his next move.

I got in his face and bumped my chest into his. “Whatever you’re planning, leave Grace out of it.”

“Don’t you get it?” Rhys leaned forward so our foreheads nearly touched. “She is the plan. I knew she was staying with you for the summer. My father arranged for me to be here. It was his idea.”

I shook my head. “No, my dad offered to let you stay with us.”

“How about I let you in on a little secret?” Rhys rubbed at his cracked lip, which was bleeding again. “My dad is terrible with money. But he’s good at manipulating people. And I learned from the best.”

I didn’t understand what he could gain from having sex with Grace other than using her to get revenge. The Founders hadn’t exiled his family yet. They were still one of us for now.

“I suspect my dad contacted Fitzy with the video I sent him.” Rhys smirked. “One way or another, Vanderbilts get what they want. And we used your girl to get it.”

I still wasn’t following his train of thought. And then it hit me…

Grace.

Sex.

Video.

Fuck.

“You filmed her?” I muttered, still in disbelief, though I shouldn’t have been that shocked, considering Rhys was a dirty motherfucker.

He winked. “Have yourself a good day, Marshall. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

And then, he walked out the front door, whistling that annoying tune under his breath. It wasn’t until after he left that I realized I knew the song.

Amazing Grace.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

COLE

I hopped into my Ferrari seconds after Rhys drove off the property and went straight to Drake’s house. He was family and the only person I could trust with this information. Luca made it crystal clear he didn’t give a shit about Grace. And his brothers, apart from Bastian, would side with him.

I parked in the circular driveway and hopped out of the car, forgetting to kill the engine. My mind was scattered after the encounter with Rhys.

Several security guards lined the entrance to the house. They acknowledged me with a nod. I didn’t have time for pleasantries, not when Rhys was plotting against Grace.

I had to save her.

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