Page 100 of Tempting God

Grant says, “Watch your tone with my wife, Blanc.”

“I’m not going to ask again, Carter.” He waits a beat and says, “Fine. I have other means of finding out.”

Grant tenses next to me and says, “You stay out of our lives, Blanc, or I’ll make sure the entire world knows what a fucking monster you are.”

“Me? I’m innocent.” He smiles again. “I’ve kept my hands clean over the years. You, Tempting God, cannot say the same.”

Grant says, “Careful. I’d hate to bring up the skeletons in your closet with your wife at your side.”

Aimée says, “I know everything my husband has done.”

“I doubt that.” Grant takes my hand. “I’ll see you at the Brotherhood meeting next week.”

As we walk around them, Charles says, “I have a feeling it may be postponed again.”

Grant glances over his shoulder. “It’s happening even if you’re not there. We’re invoking Rule 200.”

I watch Charles to see his reaction. His face remains neutral, but his left eye twitches. Good. He deserves this.

We reach our table and Grant pulls out my chair before sitting next to me.

“Do you really know things that Charles has done?”

Grant says, “I’ve made it a point to know.”

“Oh?”

“You’re better off not knowing, Little Fae. The knowledge could hurt you, and I won’t let that happen.”

“I’m not going to point out that not knowing puts me at risk, too…”

He says, “Let’s see how this meeting goes next week. If he does what he’s supposed to, then there’s no need to tell you.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then you’ll know just how far Charles has gone to make sure the Brotherhood doesn’t fail.”

I glance over my shoulder to see Charles and Aimée leaving.

“Guess we can’t count on their donation tonight.”

Grant snorts. “Guess not. We don’t need their money, anyway.”

“Do you think he’s really going to try to find out what we’re having?”

“I wouldn’t put anything past him.”

“He said something that was odd the day we were married. He told me I had to marry you to ensure the Blanc line continued. When I pointed out that the child would only be half-Blanc, he said it wasn’t my place to understand.” I pause. “What if there’s some kind of clause that we don’t know about?”

“With the Brotherhood?”

“No. With Grandfather or even my dad.”

“It’s possible. It would explain why he’s so invested in our relationship. I’ll have Brooks do some digging. See what he comes up with. If he doesn’t find anything, I’ll reach out to Irons.”

“Irons?”

“He’s good at finding things…on the seedy side of life.”

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