Page 36 of Twisted Bonds
It took me a moment to understand what she was saying, and when I did, a smile spread across my face. "You do?"
She nodded. "Yes, Bain…I do."
I pulled her to me and claimed her lips, which led to us fucking on my desk and then, once again, against the door as I was walking her out. That was a week ago, and I've had her in my bed every night since. I don't know if anyone knows, but I don't hide my feelings for her, so I'm sure Liv and Helen know.
Liv has been held up at the Manor all week because of that damn husband of hers. I'm fed up with him and decide to go out and confront him. Of course, I've prepared before doing so. Liv is hidden away in the safe room at the Manor, and her room looks like an empty spare room once again.
As I near the detective's car, he must see me strolling up to him with my hands in my pockets. His window goes down, and I stand back far enough, so I don't have to bend down to look in the window. The young detective stares at me with no emotion or words coming from his lips.
"Can I help you with something, Detective? My employees told me you've been out here, staking out Huntley Manor for weeks. Have I done something wrong? Am I under investigation?"
"I think you know perfectly well why I'm here, Mr. Huntley." The fucker smirks at me.
"I do?"
"You have something precious of mine, and I want her back."
"My apologies, Detective Harrison, but I haven't a clue as to what you're talking about." A look of confusion crosses my features.
"Your stepdaughter…"
"Ryan, you mean? What about her?"
"Yeah, Ryan, your stepdaughter."
"Ryan isn't my stepdaughter; she's my girlfriend," I state proudly.
"Oh, you're one of those freaks, huh?"
"Freaks? What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that just because you aren't blood-related, you think it's okay to fuck a woman thatusedtobe your stepdaughter. That's okay. From what I've seen, she's a hot piece of ass."
"You stay the fuck away from Ryan. Is this why you're here—for Ryan?"
"Fuck no. I want my wife back. Now, I know she and Ryan were friends once, and now Ryan heads a foundation for victims of trafficking and sexual abuse. I also saw my wife on social media with Ryan while you were in Italy."
I curse at my mishap but never let it show. "Tell me, Detective Harrison, what is your wife's name?"
"Olive—Olive Harrison."
I knit my brows together. "Are you talking about Liv? Liv Stanton?"
"That's her maiden name. We married a year ago, so it's Harrison now." He's getting annoyed the longer I play dumb.
"Forgive me, Detective, but yes, Liv was in Italy with us, but then we parted, and she met up with her parents. I guess they are traveling or something."
"I don't believe that for a minute," the detective sneers.
I wave my hand towards the gate. "By all means, come in and search, Detective. I have nothing to hide from you, least of all your wife."
Harrison searches the Manor high and low, even going into the attic crawl space. I stand back, acting bored out of my mind, continuing to look at my watch as though I have some place I need to be. He's pissed that he isn't finding Liv here like he thought he would.
"I want to check the shelter houses on your property, Mr. Huntley." His hard stare doesn't scare me one bit.
"Fine, I will allow it, but the next time you want to come and search my property, you best have a search warrant in your hands," I tell him.
"Why so defensive if you're not hiding my wife?"
