Page 86 of Wicked Heiress

Bastian pulled out a chair from the table, gesturing for Damian to sit. He gave off some weird vibes, like he couldn’t stand to be around people. But when Bastian told him to do something, he did it, no questions asked.

“We’re going to confront Fitzy,” Bastian said with his gaze on Damian. “But it will have to wait until after today’s meeting. The old man will get suspicious if I discuss a different topic.”

Our grandfather hated being ambushed, and if he had an agenda, Bastian’s questions would only be met with hostility.

“What will you do if he confesses to kidnapping Alex?”

“Kill the old bastard,” Damian said with a creepy grin.

Bastian’s cell phone dinged. “Time to go.” He rose from the chair and peeked out the blinds, staring at the parking lot. “Your ride is here.”

Bastian lifted a gun from the table and escorted me downstairs with Damian in tow, carrying my bags. Outside, a black limo was parked in front of the building. The driver took my bags from Damian and opened the back door for me.

“I’ll see you soon.” Bastian hugged me. “Try to stay strong when you see the old bastard. Don’t let him get under your skin. Remember, we have all the power. The key gives us that.”

Last week, Bastian told me all about the key and why it was so important to have it in our possession. I asked him to keep it safe for me until the time was right. He said that time would be soon but didn’t fill me in on his plan. So I had to wait until he revealed all the missing pieces.

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you for everything. Even though we were forced together under shitty circumstances, I had fun getting to know you this week.”

He smiled. “Me too, Grace.”

I got into the limo and sat on the bench across from Mark. He acknowledged me with a nod, then his eyes dropped to the newspaper.

Cole scooted closer to me, dressed in a suit and smelling like body wash and cologne. “How are you holding up?”

“I should be asking you that.” I rested my forehead against his and sighed. “I wish I could have been with you at the funeral.”

He breathed through his nose, the warmth of his breath brushing my skin. “I’m just glad I have you back. That’s all that matters right now.”

Chapter Forty-Nine

GRACE

On our way to Sagaponack, silence hung in the air. Cole sat beside me in the limousine, his fingers flying across the keyboard of his cell phone as he played a game.

The three-hour drive from Devil’s Creek to The Hamptons worsened my nerves, anxiety tearing through my chest. I needed to calm myself down before I saw my grandfather.

We drove down a long road, which overlooked the water, eventually stopping before a tall wrought-iron gate with A at the center.

Adams.

The driver hit a button on the call box in front of the gate. A deep male voice blared through the speaker. He exchanged words with the driver, and then the gate moved inward, allowing us passage onto the property.

We traveled down the driveway lit by lampposts, casting a golden glow on the flagstones. I recalled the first time I came here. How naive to think that my grandfather would love me and treat me like his heir. Instead, I endured years of his mental and emotional abuse.

Locked rooms.

Dark basement.

No food.

No toys.

Grandfather had trapped me within the walls of his mansion, enjoying my screams of terror.

My stomach ached as we rolled toward the house, a sick and twisted place that held all my worst nightmares. The house was too big for one person. Even when I lived here, it felt like a museum, not a home.

My grandfather had two daughters, both of which were dead. He never remarried after his wife passed away from a heart attack. From what I gathered, people believed she died from a broken heart—the pain of losing her children.

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