Page 92 of The Wrong Fiancée

Sam looked at her uneasily. "Of course, I would." The lie was so blatant it made me sick.

Elika rose. "Please leave, Uncle Sam, and…don't get in touch with me ever again. If you see me anywhere, just ignore me. Since Dante Giordano banned you from his resort, I'm sure our paths will seldom cross."

Sam looked small—like the man he was. The fact that I'd ever thought he was one of the good guys told me a lot about my poor judgment.

They said their goodbyes, not reconciled but civil. When she walked back inside, her face was drawn and tired. She looked up to see Damian and me in the lounge.

"Are you doing something to Uncle Sam's business?" she asked Damian.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm making Thatcher Consulting unemployable."

She licked her lips and looked at me apologetically. She then faced Damian. "Can you…he's still my uncle, you know?"

"I do know." Damian wasn't one to budge easily.

"What is it that you want him to do, baby?" I softened my voice and sidled up to her, putting an arm around her, wanting her to know I supported her.

"Ah…I know you don't have to listen to me," she began, her voice tentative but steady, "but can you not destroy his business? He's still my family."

Damian shrugged. "Sure. If that's what you want."

Elika sagged in relief. "Really?"

"I was doing it because they fucked with you. But if you're fine with it—then I'll be, too."

She gave my brother a hug, and a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you."

"You're family, Elika; you don't have to thank me."

Elika all but skipped back to the pool. I watched her go, then turned my attention to Damian.

I lowered my voice. "What the fuck was that?"

"That was me telling your woman that I'll do as she asked."

"Will you?"

Damian smirked. "Of course not. Sam's dug his own grave. I'm just humoring her. Let her feel like she sorted it out for that asshole, no harm in that." He chuckled smugly. "Thatcher's going down. It's only a matter of time. And when it happens, they won't be playing in the art world—or any world, for that matter."

I let out a slow breath, a part of me relieved that Damian wasn't backing down, even though Elika had asked him to be considerate. Sam didn't deserve leniency, not after everything he'd done.

"Good."

"And when she finds out and wants my balls, you're gonna make sure she doesn't get them, right?"

I shrugged. "Hey, I'll do what I can, but she's a badasstitah, so, you may be on your own."

"Asshole," Damian muttered.

"Yep," I agreed with him.

Chapter Thirty-Two

ELIKA

The night air cooled our heated skin as we lay in bed after we made love. The sound of the ocean lapping at the shore just outside the open windows was soothing.

Dean shifted next to me, propping himself up on one elbow, his face half-lit by the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

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