Page 86 of Not A Whisper

I only know because I can see his lips moving. But there’s a roaring that has started up in my ears. It drowns out all other noise. On top of that, everything seems to be stretching away from me. My vision tunnels as my mouth dries and my heart slams against my ribcage.

Then, like a lit fuse reaching gunpowder, my anger explodes.

My seatbelt is unbuckled and I’m out of my seat without even realizing what I’ve done. Lunging across the smalldistance, I manage to trap Grant’s throat between my hands. The sound of his choking is only remotely satisfying. I’ll be happier when he’s dead.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” I shriek, throttling him with all my might.

“No, down, Bri! Down! Bad doll!” Jason shouts from behind me.

There’s a click as his buckle is unfastened, and suddenly he’s there trying to subdue me. I hardly notice. Grant’s face turns red as he grimaces. His hands try to free himself from my grasp but I’m feelingmurderous. My fingers dig into his throat tighter. How the hell could they do this behind my back? And to keep it from me fordays? I’m married and I didn’t even have a wedding. No pretty white dress, no nervous butterflies as I looked my partner in their eyes, no excitement as love overwhelmed me… Hell, I didn’t even get a romantic moment where one of them got down on their knees andaskedme to marry them.None of them!

Angry tears spill down my cheeks and my body shakes hard. I feel cold. In what hell am I living where I don’t even get a say in who I get to marry?

I’m jerked backward and lifted off Grant.

“BRI!” Jason calls, his hold tightening around my waist. “Relax!”

My heels try to connect with his shins. “You fucking assholes!”

Grant coughs and sputters as he reaches up to touch his neck. He glares at me. “Youmay not have believed it when we called you our fiancée, but we sure as hell did. You agreed to this arrangement—just because you thought it was a hollow gesture is a moot point. This was always going to happen. If you haven’t noticed by now, we’re an all or nothing bunch.”

“Why didn’t you talk to me about this?!”

Grant rolls his eyes. “You would’ve said no. That it was too soon or?—”

“Damn right I would’ve!” My shriek echoes around the jet. “But that’s how this works. Youasksomeone to marry you, and if they say yesthenyou go ahead with it. You give the other person a choice!”

Overhead, the fasten seatbelt sign comes on. Grant waves at my seat. “You need to take a seat.”’

Jason hesitates a second, but his hold loosens. I tense, ready to lunge again. As if he can read my mind, Jason’s arms don’t actually let me go.

“Grant!This is serious!”

“We protect what’s ours, and this is how we’ve ensured your safety.” He shrugs. His indifference is infuriating.

Is this how they’re going to try to justify their action? Like they’re some gallant knights?

“Pro-protect me?” I reach for him, ready to claw his eyes out. Jason pulls me back with a grunt. “Tell me how it’sprotectingme, Grant?”

“You’re a Gipson now, and as such, you’re granted some security.”

My bitter, incredulous laugh is short-lived. “Oh yeah? How’s that going for your mother and uncle?”

Is that a low blow? Maybe. Watching silently from his seat, Trip lets out a low whistle. For a second, as shock flickers across Grant’s face followed by agony, I feel a little guilty. My guilt is pushed to the side though as Grant swiftly composes himself.

“I will do everything in my power to prevent what happened to them from happening to you,” he vows darkly.

“We all will,” Jason adds.

I elbow him in the gut, and he grunts but doesn’t let me go. Before anyone can say anything else, the pilot sticks his head out of the cockpit.

“Hey, folks, we’re about ready to go. Please take your seats and we’ll start this journey.” If he thinks our situation is weird—with Jason holding me around the waist as I try to wiggle free to attack Grant—he doesn’t react. He simply shoots us a smile then disappears back into the cockpit.

The minute he’s out of sight, I glare down at Grant.

“You know what the worst part about all of this is?” I ask him, my voice wobbling as angry tears roll down my cheeks. “Is that at least Jason admitted he has feelings for me.Realones. But you? You called me anasset. You see me as a possession, not a person. Just like you own a ranch, a truck, or…” I swallow hard. “A doll.”

Grant’s face slackens. His brows fly up and his mouth pops open, creating a small O. Even the hardness in his eyes blinks away.

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