Page 56 of Not A Whisper

“I don’t give a wild fuck about what Carmilla would or would not appreciate.” He shakes his head sharply. “A few days ago, I told you I was stuck, Briella, I just didn’t tell youhowstuck I was. But now I’m not. We got the permits we needed yesterday, and this morning, we broke ground on the Silver Staghorn Ranch. The Nani’s and Carlos are going to be out of Garry’s reach soon. Now that we have that in motion, I can move freely. I canbreathefreely. I’m officially breaking away from my father. I can call Carmilla and tell her the engagement is over. It’s going to lead to a shitstorm, but we’ll handle it. The four of us will,together.”

I take a deep breath to steady my nerves.

What am I supposed to do with this information? Grant’s willing to call off the engagement, great. He doesn’t love her—even better. The ache in my chest lessens. But none of this sits right with me. If he’s willing to keep something this big from allof us, how can we trust him? My stomach clenches and a heavy blanket of doubt weighs on my shoulders.

As if he can read my thoughts, Grant’s grip tightens around my neck.

“I’m sorry, Bri.” The words sound stunted, as if he doesn’t use them often. “I fucked up. I shouldn’t be keeping anything from any of you. And I’mreallysorry you heard the news from my dad and not directly from me.” His thumb skims lightly across my skin, over my pulse. “You are my greatest asset. I’ll do everything not to lose you.”

Greatest asset? He sees me as anasset? The word feels… inadequate. My body tenses, ready to recoil from Grant’s touch.

At the last minute, I stop myself.

Staring up into his auburn eyes, a realization dawns on me. Grant has a drive like no other. He sees the world around him as a chessboard, moving strategically and collecting pawns that will help him build an empire. To him, being an asset, hell being thegreatestasset is probably the best compliment he could’ve given me. I have value in his life and he’s acknowledging that.

While an asset isn’t necessarily a declaration of any kind, the sentiment behind it settles something inside of me.

“That’s a shit apology,” Trip says, snapping me out of my thoughts. Grant drops his hand away from my neck with a heavy sigh.

Trip strides over to us, followed closely behind by Jason. Suddenly, I’m surrounded on all sides. With them towering over me, I feel like they’re purposefully caging me in. As if I have the energy to run and fight anymore. My whole body seems to ache now that the anger slowly ebbs away. I’m exhausted. As Trip shoots Grant a murderous glare, I look toward my bedroom. What will it take to get these guys out ofhere so I can just curl up and go to bed? Maybe if I offer them the pizza? Could I get lucky enough that they’ll take it and leave? I can ferret out my feelings and thoughts tomorrow.

Today just needs to be over.

“Whilewemight tolerate that piss poor excuse, I’m not letting it slide when it comes to our doll.” Trip’s pupils narrow. “She deserves better, doesn’t she, Jay?”

Beside me Jason nods. “Absolutely.”

“Good, let’s fix this, shall we?” A wicked smile, full of the promise of wrath, tugs at the edges of Trip’s mouth. Grant tears his eyes off my face to look over at his friend.

“Ah shit. C’mon guys…”

Jason’s body trembles with laughter. When it slips past his lips though, it sounds anything but merry.

“You mess with our doll, you pay for it.”

Trip shoves his hand into his pocket and pulls out a strange metal contraption. I frown, not sure at what I’m looking at he holds it up for everyone to see, but clearly, by the heavy grimace that has Grant flashing his teeth and cringing, he knows what it’s for.

“You’re going to apologize to our doll therightway,” Trip continues. “While the two of us remind her who she belongs to and that there’s no running from us.”

I start to shake my head, but Jason wraps his arm around my waist and yanks me to his side. His face nuzzles the top of my head; a soft, pleasant hum follows before he pulls away.

“Grant will get what’s coming to him, andyouwill accept your fate, dollie.” Jason stares down at me, his playful smile locked in place.

“Strip, asshole,” Trip orders loudly as he steps closer to Grant.

The two of them standoff. A muscle in Grant’s jaw works and his fists curl at his sides. Trip doesn’t move. I don’t even think he’s breathing as he holds Grant’s stare. There’s a stiffness in Trip’s shoulders that tells me one wrong move or any objection from Grant won’t end well.

“Fine,” Grant spits out but points to me. “But this is for her.Notyou or Jay.”

What’s this? I’m surprised by the bite in his voice. As he reaches down and yanks the hem of his shirt up and over his head, Jason chuckles.

“Yeah, that’s kind of the point.” His amusement dies down. “We already know where you stand with us.”

Grant moves stiffly, stripping down to nothing before us. When his pants and boxer briefs are in a puddle at his feet, he throws his hands in the air.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Trip turns and holds out the strange metal contraption for me. I don’t move it to take it. “Put it on him, dollface.”

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