Page 73 of Reign of Psychos

“Not to someone being paid to poke around in my head. I told him I’d go if you came too. I pointed out you had way more issues than me, you know, because of your fucked up family and shit, so therapy would help.”

I scoffed loudly. “There’s no way I’m seeing a therapist with you.”Not fucking happening.

“He says you have to or he’ll stop paying Verity’s school fees.”Wow. I never thought Declan would stoop so low.What a bastard.

“So we have an appointment next week with a Mrs. Tavistock,” Eden continued, apparently not caring that I was about to lose my shit. “She has a clinic on Harley Street, so we can do lunch and maybe go shopping when I visit.”

“Eden, I am not talking to some quack!”

“I’ll take your opinion under advisement,” she replied, which told me unless we left the country in the next few days, I was being dragged to a therapist whether I liked it or not.

“Anyway, so I have something else to tell you, seeing as how you refuse to spill anything about the engagements!”

“Go on…”

“Sooo Michael and I might be back on…” Not what I was expecting her to tell me, but OK. “He feels bad. Says he panicked about the pregnancy test, but once he’d had a chance to calm down, he realized he didn’t want to lose me.” The words came out in a rush, like she’d been practicing what to say before calling.

Not that I was in any position to criticize her poor relationship decisions. It was pretty obvious I had no fucking clue in that area. I glanced at my messaging app again while Eden told me all about her makeup sex with Michael, in horrific detail.

Still no reply from Dario.

Was he angry?

It sure felt like it.

36

Dario

“Would you like the pendant gift-wrapped, sir?” The petite brunette’s eyes slid down my chest as she asked the question. She’d been giving me heart-eyes ever since I walked in. Frankly, her behavior was highly unprofessional, but I’d ignored it until now.

“Yes, please. It’s for my girlfriend.” I threw the girl a bland smile as her shoulders drooped in disappointment. While she made a show of gift-wrapping my purchase, I wandered off to look at the watches.

Five minutes later, my gift box was ready. I whipped out the card I rarely used and paid. Blowing a ton of money on expensive jewelry wasn’t my thing, but Thea deserved this.

My dad’s lawyer had emailed me this morning to say he’d found a buyer for our family property. Once the sale went through, I’d be a million Euros richer. That money, as well as the funds Dad had apparently saved in a Swiss bank account in my name, ensured I wouldn’t need to work for a while.

I had planned to pick up some work from Declan. He’d made it clear I was welcome to join his business if I wanted. I had thesort of skills he paid well for. But after due consideration, I’d decided it wasn’t an option.

For better or worse, I needed to stay with Thea. I’d abandoned her once; I wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

She’d messaged me earlier asking where I was, but I hadn’t replied. After walking out of the store, I pulled my phone from my pocket to open up the messaging app, but soon got derailed by the notifications flooding in from X.

Scottish playboy proposes to sex tape star!

Landon Rothmore locks down lover!

I clicked on a link just as I strolled inside the hotel foyer. A selfie of Landon grinning with a wide-eyed Thea appeared. There were two rings on her finger, which made no sense. By the time I stepped out of the elevator and into the penthouse suite, I was still confused.

The guys lounged around on the sofas while the TV played in the background. I’d expected to walk into utter carnage, but everyone seemed suspiciously calm.

“Why is Thea engaged to the Scottishstronzo?”

Cassian rolled his eyes.

“Because Kyril proposed first. Naturally, Landon had to go one better. He thinks that because it’s all over the internet, his proposal holds more weight.”

“He has a point,” I conceded. The bratva wouldn’t believe Thea was Kyril’s fiancée if her engagement to another man was public knowledge.

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