Page 28 of Indecent Villain

The woman's expression hardens as she approaches, her eyes flashing with anger. "You are my fiancé, good time or not." She strides straight past Tiberius, looks me up and down, and elbows me out of the way. I hiss at the pain from her bony elbow.

I rub at the sore spot while Tiberius glares at the evil woman. He turns to Salem. "Show Kinsley to the patio and take the food out there.” To me, he says, “Ignore Veronica if she asks you questions."

"I'll be glad to."

"Let's go before she reappears." Salem takes my elbow and leads me away. I glance over my shoulder at Tiberius, who’s watching me go. "He's trying to protect you from her," Salem tells me. "She's not a nice person."

"I figured that out for myself."

Salem huffs. "I wonder if I'll get away with eating Tiberius’s food with you."

"I'm annoyed she interrupted our picnic."

He glances at me, and as we move onto the patio, I notice he seems to be weighing something on his mind.

"I will tell you something that you must not repeat." He continues once I nod in agreement. "Beck has a lot coming at him all at once. His main priority is protecting you. I see things, and I know he likes you, which he has made clear by bringing you here. He never allows anyone into his home.”

"She's here." I sulk.

"It is the first time she has stepped foot inside his house. He will not like it one bit. I promise you that. Beck can only be pushed around so far. Her father will figure that out very soon. But shush, let’s have our little picnic."

Setting out the food, I smirk as Salem tries to work out what the small cakes are. I do not tell him. Instead, I watch as he tentatively takes a bite, and his face lights up with delight.

"These are very good," he says with a smile.

I feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that I can bring joy to someone as guarded as Salem.

I sit down and finally take in the view from here. My eyes immediately find the Lake House. The immaculate lawn spreads from the house down toward the lake, where the jetty bobs on the water. It's tranquil. The sun shines brightly and casts a warm glow over everything, making it feel like a peaceful oasis.

My thoughts turn to Veronica. I wonder what that woman wants.

I want to talk to Tiberius more about his family. The weight of his family's actions still lingered in his eyes when we exited the car. I know that healing from wounds inflicted by loved ones takes time, and I hope he'll let me help him now.

Voices draw my attention toward the patio doors. I catch Salem wince before he curses under his breath.

"Ignore her the best you can." He moves to a table behind me, which makes me frown.

"What?"

He cuts off any further conversation with a shake of his head.

"So much food," Veronica says as she steps onto the patio. She takes a sandwich and sits beside me, leaving Tiberius no choice but to sit opposite. "Are you planning on having a little picnic with your niece? Beckett, really, people will talk about you hanging around with this child. Shouldn’t she be in boarding school?”

My hackles rise, and the way Tiberius goes tense doesn't go unnoticed.

"I'm not twelve," I snap. "I'm nearly eighteen. People can talk all they want. It's no one else's business what I get up to, nor is it anyone's business as to what Tiberius gets up to."

Veronica narrows her eyes while I hear Salem coughing.

"Food went down the wrong way," Salem mutters.

"I don't know why your father couldn't have called me with the message, Veronica." Tiberius grabs a sandwich and starts munching away.

Veronica places hers down on a napkin. "I haven't seen your house before, so I thought, as you were here, that I'd make the trip."

"Only family is allowed in my house. And you still haven’t told me how you knew I was here.”

Veronica scoffs. “So suspicious, Beckett. I spotted your little convoy from a distance, or rather, my driver did. We followed.” She pauses to polish off her sandwich. “As for the other matter, we are practically family, Beckett, for goodness’ sake. You need to remember that while you're cavorting with your little plaything here."

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