Page 65 of Sinister Intentions

With that, he brushed past us, leaving a tense silence in his wake.

“So he called us here, and now, he’s leaving?” Hero said, somehow resigned.

“Thank God,” Dante said, and Matt and Hero chuckled.

“It’s just a powerplay, as usual,” I said while looking around the office. I hadn’t been here in a while—avoided coming here as much as I could.

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” Matt said, his tone accusatory.

“Is there something you need to get off your chest?” I said and crossed my arms.

“Well, just making sure you know that I don’t care what you or father are saying. I’m not marrying anyone. By the way, what exactly happened between you and Jemma this afternoon?”

“What happened this afternoon?” Dante repeated.

Dante and Hero’s gazes snapped to Matt then me.

I shrugged, and Matt chuckled. “You’ll see soon enough. Let’s not let our guests wait any longer.”

With that, he walked out of the room with Dante and Hero on his tail.

What did he mean they’d see soon enough?

I stared through the window at the helipad where our helicopter had just landed.

My father and three of his men walked toward the heli, went onboard, and it took off again.

I pulled out my phone and texted Michele. I wanted to know where my father was off to and what he was doing exactly. I suddenly had an inkling this invitation might’ve been my father’s way of making sure all of us were otherwise occupied.

But why would he need that?

I stopped outside the dining room, and my gaze was immediately drawn to Jemma. She sat next to Fee, laughing at something one of my brothers had said. There was a lightness about her in that moment, an ease that seemed at odds with the wariness and tension I’d seen in her eyes earlier.

Not that her wariness hadn’t been warranted.

As if sensing my presence, she glanced up, and our eyes met. Her smile faded, replaced by a guarded expression that made something twist inside me. I hated that my presence put her on edge, that she saw me as an enemy, a threat.

“Ah, Vince, come join us,” Matt called out, his tone overly jovial. “We were just discussing your…unique approach to courting.”

My brow furrowed as I took the only free seat, across from Jemma. “What are you talking about?”

“You kidnapped her, and then you tried to kill her by dunking her in your pool?” Dante said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

I tensed, my gaze darting to Jemma. Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t look away.

Hero let out a low whistle. “Is this some kind of mating ritual?”

“Well, you would know best, wouldn’t you?” Dante quipped, earning a glare from Hero. No idea what was going on between those two.

Matt leaned back in his chair, regarding me with a raised brow.

“If the plan is to kill Jemma anyway, why force Matt to marry her first?” Dante asked. “What’s your beef with her, anyway?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “No beef, and I didn’t try to kill her. She was following me around, and I wanted to know why. That’s all.”

“So dunking her in your pool was some kind of water torture to get her to talk?” Hero asked, clearly enjoying himself.

I shot him a withering look, but it only made him grin wider.

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