Page 53 of Dangerous Deceit

“I gave you outs.” He grits his teeth. “You inched closer to me. You told me to choke you. You agreed to the game. I even had you mark your exits at the gala in case you wanted to run. If you ran, I never would have come after you. Do you remember what I said? That your uncle had already paid for his debts? Our relationship was never about him.”

He shakes his head, and I know he’s right. It’s always been different with Kenzo. I’ve always wanted him, even when I knew I shouldn’t.

“Rape comes in different forms,” he continues. “It can even be gentle. Sometimes, it’s with the people who are closest to you. Just because Patrick is nice to you, it doesn’t excuse his behavior. If you didn’t want it, and he did it anyway,it’s rape.”

A dull ache settles in the bottom of my stomach. Was it rape?

I don’t want to do this,I had whispered to Uncle Jay.Please. Another night.

We don’t have time,Uncle Jay said.We’re entertaining Mr. Berger tomorrow, and he wants to meet you.

In that memory, my eyes shifted to Patrick. His pink cock dangled between his legs like a pendulum. The room spun around me.

You kissed that guy,Patrick said.Why am I any different? At least you know I won’t hurt you.

Vomit crept in my throat, but I swallowed it down, knowing they were right. I had to do this before I met with their “friend.”

I looked at Uncle Jay, begging him with my eyes to make it stop.

If you think it’s okay, then okay,I said, nodding my head, tears in my eyes.

He’ll be nice,Uncle Jay had said, stroking my hair.Better him than someone else, sweetheart.

Nice. Patrick was always nice to me.

Kenzo grunts, and I’m back in the penthouse. My head is floating, and I lean on the kitchen counter, balancing myself. Kenzo grips an arm around me, keeping me steady, but the room spins, and I close my eyes.

Kenzo can be soft, but he’s not a nice man. I don’t want to lose myself in that memory anymore. I just want this to be over.

“Just be nice. Please,” I beg Kenzo. Tears sting my eyes. “He’s your family too.”

And at that, Kenzo rubs a hand across his face.

“Family,” he mutters. “You and I have different definitions of what it means to be family.”

I cross my arms, eager to shift the conversation. “All right. Then what does family mean to you?”

“Being there for someone, no matter what crosses your path. Puttingthemfirst.” He brushes the red hair out of my eyes. His gaze is tender again, but it’s at war with the furious coals inside of him fighting for dominance.

He wants to save me, but he wants to kill my definition of family too. And he can’t do both.

“And what if Uncle Jay and Patrick were just protecting me?” I ask.

“Then they would kill anyone in the world who hurt you,” he says calmly. “It’s as simple as that.”

He kisses my forehead, and there’s a reluctance in his eyes that makes my stomach twist in knots. I understand what he’s saying, but he doesn’t understandme.Patrick is still my family, and Uncle Jay only suggested we have sex that night to protectme in case Mr. Berger was cruel to me. They wanted my first time to be nice.

I never met Mr. Berger. Not that I remember. Maybe Uncle Jay protected me from him.

“I’ve got a meeting to make,” Kenzo says. He pushes himself toward the front door.

“Right now?”

“We can’t keep Golden Honor Firearms waiting, and I’ve got other errands to run.”

Kenzo heads toward the door. My stomach curdles.

Errands to run.I know what that means.

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