Page 106 of Psyop Kings

“That he was playing us,” Gareth hisses. “I told Dad once,” he sneers, spittle flying out and hitting my face. “You know what he did?”

I shake my head, shrinking away from him. “N-No. What did he do?”

“He locked me inside the same fucking pool room my girl died in.” His eyes become manic, and his pupils are dilated to nearly full black. “For days, Ro. Fucking days. I nearly lost my damn mind having to stare at those dark waters where we found her body.”

“I’m sorry,” I croak.

Time to reel things back. He’s losing it.

“He’s always been a betrayer, and Dad chooses his side anyway, time and time again.” Gareth tugs at the hair on his head before throwing his hands in the air. “Caius has a terrible secret, doesn’t he? And you know about it.”

“What? I already told you what I know. He’s with the CIA.”

A dark laugh escapes him. “No, there’s more. I can see it in your eyes. You know something.”

The accusation brings a thought to mind.

Calista.

Caius’s deep, dark secret that could get me killed if I mention it.

“I don’t know anything else,” I lie, tearing my eyes from his. “Come on. I’ll get dressed and we can go before it’s too late.”

He snags my bicep, nearly crushing me in his tight grip. I cry out at the sharp pain that shoots through my arm.

“He loves you and you love him. That wasn’t assault earlier. I heard you moan,” Gareth accuses. “You two are playing some kind of head game on me. Is this so you can take Kaitlyn from me? That’s what Caius wants. I fucking know it.”

Okay, now he’s really losing it.

“No,” I rush out as I try to pry his fingers off me, to no avail. “We don’t want your daughter.”

“Liar!” he booms. “Caius wants her out of my house. He fought Dad hard when I said I wanted to adopt again. Dad was almost convinced to deny me what I wanted most. The only reason I succeeded is because I agreed to Caius’s rule. I had to have a live-in nanny. Apparently, I’m not trustworthy since my other kid drowned!”

He’s shaking me with every word like I’m a bad puppy that chewed up his favorite shoes. His grip on me is a vise I have no hope of slipping out of on my own. I have to calm him down.

“Hey,” I say softly. “I’ll talk to him. Tell him he needs to relax. He wants you and Kaitlyn to be happy, though. He told me that.”

For a second, I think he’ll buy it, but then he sneers again. “What’s his secret, Ro? Fucking tell me? I’m going to expose him to Dad and kick him the hell out of our family. Tell me!”

This is getting out of control.

I have to bring the temperature down a thousand degrees here.

“Please,” I beg. “Calm down. Let’s make a plan together. We’re on the same side.”

He shoves me away from him and I land on the floor, my tailbone smarting in pain. I see movement outside—Ava and more girls heading toward the yacht. It’s too late. We’re too late.

By taking my attention off Gareth, I’m caught by surprise when he grabs hold of my hair. I grip his wrist with both hands, hoping to pry him off. It’s impossible to force him to let go.

“Gareth,” I cry out, wriggling in his hold. “You’re hurting me.”

Violence gleams in his eyes. “That’s the point. You will talk. I’ll make you talk.”

I’m tossed again, this time landing on the soft bed. I hold both palms up in surrender, but it’s not enough to stop him. He pounces on me much like a grizzly would on a small fox. Too easily, he subdues me with his massive frame. Trying to reason with him is failing miserably. I have to do something else.

“Get off me,” I grit out, flailing my fists and knocking them against any available part of him.

With a feral grunt, he grabs both my hands, easily binding them with one of his meaty ones. His now free hand clamps down on my throat, squeezing enough to make my eyes water. I squirm under his weight but can’t move an inch.

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