Page 4 of His Dark Purpose

How?

That singular question resonated until he was forced to rub his temple to tackle the relentless throb. The ‘how’ seemed inconceivable, but he knew the ‘why’ was also important.

Whywas she behaving that way?

Things had been good between them, hadn’t they? Hell, since Jonah’s problems had been resolved, his little girl had relaxed and leaned on him all the more. As far as he was concerned, those days had been the fucking best time of his life.

The reality of what he stood to lose robbed him of breath as he struggled with the pain.

“Amy.” His chest was tight with anxiety. “Why did you have to ruinus?”

Descending the first few steps, though, another thought nagged—that the events unraveling in his home were also his responsibility. He paused at that, grasping the rail again.

Hewas culpable.

Not only because he’d left the old tenancy files around for her to find but also because hehadbeen the man who’d rolled the dice and catapulted her life toward financial crisis.

For good reason. He glanced around his enormous entranceway.I needed them to pay more rent. It wasn’t my fault they couldn’t afford it.

But even that wasn’t the honest truth. If Kyle had been so perturbed by the loss of income the Kendals represented, he would have evicted them right from the get-go. He’d have been well within his rights to do so.

“But I didn’t.” And he knew why.

Amy.

His attention darted back in the direction of his bedroom.

There had been no discernible noise from her since he’d locked her in his bedroom, and after the threats he’d bandied, he was relieved. He was prepared to play the bad guy to compel her compliance. It was, after all, a role he was all too familiar with, but where she was concerned, he wasn’t sure how heavy-handed he could be.

She’d caught him off guard with the tenancy records, triggering his angerandparanoia, and for one brief moment, he’d almost lost control. Drawing in a sharp breath, he recalled how he’d hauled her over his shoulder and marched her up the exact stairs he stood on.

Had he been in control then?

He couldn’t genuinely say so, and that thought terrified him. Whatever she’d said or done, he meant what he’d been telling her—hedidlove her—and those feelings hadn’t evaporated because she’d discovered his old files.

Those feelings will never wane.

Amy might be the one handcuffed to his bed, but in many ways, he was the one who was captured, and the truth was, her spell had been cast long before they’d met in the store that day. She’d entranced him, whether she realized it or not, and however strong the tempest swirling in his system had been, she always would.

“Get yourself together, Kyle.”

Shaking his head, he growled the words as he handled the remaining steps. Whatever happened, he needed to think. Amy’s welfare had been his concern for a while, but tethered to his bed, that need was more pressing than ever.

He’d reached the bottom of the staircase before Stevens came into sight.

“Mr. Kyle?” Stevens thrust his hands into his pockets as he edged closer. “Do you have a moment?”

“Stevens.” His driver’s tentative approach made him wonder how long the guy had been standing there. Straightening his lapels, Kyle fought for composure. “Is there a problem?”

Stevens had been driving him for years, and he knew his employer relatively well, but their relationship was purely professional. Before Amy, he’d never so much as socialized with an employee before, but then she’d always been destined to be more than one of his workers. The contract he’d made her sign had only been an elaborate ruse.

He’d had the sense for a while that his driver didn’t approve of his burgeoning romance with Amy, but Stevens’ censure was irrelevant. The man worked for him—nothing more. He didn’t need, nor looked for, his staff’s opinions on his personal life. The idea that Stevens had been witness to any part of Kyle’s spiraling thoughts, though, was something entirely more disquieting. Kyle had an air of professional integrity to maintain.

“I was wondering if you needed me today, sir.” One hand fell from his pocket to his side. “There’s nothing on my schedule, and I’ve already cleaned the fleet of vehicles inside and out.”

“Right.” Kyle’s brow rose. In the haze of lust-filled days with Amy, there had been fewer and fewer travel requirements. “Thanks for checking in. I understand you’re at a loose end, but I don’t have any new needs at this time.”

“What about Ms. Kendal?” Stevens’ gaze floated toward the stairs, twisting paranoid unease in Kyle’s stomach.

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