Page 70 of Forever Fake

“A little. I’ll be fine.”

“What’s wrong? Talk to me.” I move closer. “Did he do something to you when I was gone?”

Her wide, fearful eyes find mine in the mirror, and that look punches me in the gut. Something is very wrong. I kneel before her, taking her hands in mine.

She glances away. “I’m fine.”

“You’re obviously not fine. What did he do?”

“Nothing.”

“Why won’t you tell me the truth?” I plead, trying to get her to look at me, but she won’t.

“I just… c-can’t.” Her voice breaks.

“All right. What do you need from me?” I lean in and kiss her, but she doesn’t kiss me back. I don’t want to cause her any more distress, so I pull away and stand up. “I’m going to draw you a bath.”

She nods, taking another swig of vodka.

I go into the ensuite and fill the tub with water, adding bubbles and bath salts. While the water runs, I pull up my house cameras on my phone, reviewing the recording of what happened in the dining room while I was on the phone with Lexa. There’s no sound, so all I see is Oz speaking to Gin and her growing more and more distressed.

Rage grows like a cancer in my chest. As soon as that paperwork is filed, I’m going to have words with Oz.

What I don’t understand is why Gin refuses to tell me what happened. She knows I’ll protect her, right? I’ll do anything for her.

Unless… What if she won’t tell me because she’s playing me for a fool? Jealousy and suspicion tangle in my gut.

Unable to sleep that night, I leave a softly snoring Gin in my bed and tiptoe to my office. Suspicion eats at me and I need to lay it to rest. Firing up my computer, I search for any link between Gin and Oz.

In no time at all, I have all the information I need staring back at me on my screen.He’sthe ex-boyfriend. The fuckingex. Shit.

She’d said she was seeing someone and they broke up shortly before our… arrangement. I’ve had so much going on since then that looking into her ex-boyfriend, who was supposed to be out of the picture, was way down on my priority list. That was stupid of me, I should have looked into this sooner.

They know each other, they dated for several months, so why act like they’re strangers at dinner? What are they hiding? Are they secretly still lovers?

I spear my fingers through my hair and tug on the ends. Ginevra and her secrets are going to drive me insane. Is she really the sweet, abused young woman she seems to be, or is she a master manipulator playing me for a fool? Hell, her and Oz could be in on this together.

Now I’m just being fucking paranoid. Right?

I can’t figure out their angle, if there even is one. But one thing’s for certain, they’re both keeping secrets—and they’re both lying to me. Why?

CHAPTER 31

Ginevra

Blake seems to have let everything go concerning the dinner with Oliver. For the last two weeks he hasn’t brought it up at all. Which is a relief because I can’t tell him about my past with Oliver, it’s too embarrassing, too shameful.

Blake treats me like a princess, like I’m precious to him, and I don’t want that to change. I don’t want him to see how broken I am, or know about the ways I’ve been used. He’d probably be disgusted. I can’t risk that, it would break my heart.

Sometimes I even wonder if I got what happened with Oliver all wrong in my mind, like what if the way I remember it isn’t really what happened? What if I did give consent and just don’t recall that detail?

I push the intrusive thought from my head. I’m not in Paris the week before my wedding to dwell on my ex-boyfriend. I’m here to shop before we head to London for the ceremony in two days. This is my bachelorette party.

We walk along the street, ducking into one boutique after another. Our mostly invisible security team surrounds us. Sophia and Ravenna stroll ahead, they’ve been practically inseparable this whole trip and it’s good to see them so close.Arianna’s constantly typing on her phone, working while on vacation. My cousin Elena, Ravenna’s twin sister, lingers at my side, her gaze darting around nervously.

I reach for her arm. “Are you okay? You seem…anxious.”

“I’m fine.” She licks her lips, her gaze finding mine. “I haven’t been out of the house in months and being here is a little overwhelming. So many people and noises.”

---