Page 106 of Betrayed in the Dark
His lips press softly against mine in a tender kiss, one currently making me melt into his arms.
He pulls away, ghosting his lips over mine. “I called ahead and asked one of the butlers to prepare it.”
My eyes lock with his, my breath catching in my throat.
How is it that he always seems to know what I need?
Tears build behind my eyes, but I don’t let them fall.
“My brothers know,” I whisper.
He nods and looks straight ahead out the window. “I’ll deal with them when we get back to the estate tomorrow.”
“They won’t be happy.”
He grins, pulling me closer to him until my head rests on his chest. “Are you worried about me, Princess?”
Yes.
“No. I would just hate to have to go through the trouble of finding a new bodyguard.”
Chapter twenty-two
Eli
“You lied to me,” Vin states as I enter his office, his tone carrying a heavy undercurrent of fury. “To us.” He gestures toward his brothers, who look at me like wolves eyeing their prey. “I asked you if anything happened between you and Madeleine, and you told me, and I quote, ‘No, nothing happened between us.’” He steeples his fingers before him. “Were those not your exact words?”
I let out a heavy sigh and take another step into the room, bracing myself for what’s coming. “Let me explain—”
In one swift moment, Vin snaps his fingers, and Mauro has me pinned to the wall in a bone-crushing grip, his fingers digging into my throat.
If these men were anyone else, I would give them hell and fight back.
But I know I deserve this.
Because they’re my brothers.
And I let them down.
So, I don’t struggle beneath Mauro’s hold.
I simply comply.
“So, it is true.” The disappointment in Leo’s voice slices through my chest. As my best friend, he’s probably taking this the hardest, especially since he welcomed me into his family all those years ago. But now, he just looks ready to cause bloodshed. “You’re fucking our sister?”
I quickly shake my head, and Mauro loosens his grip.
“So, you aren’t fucking?” Alex questions, arching a brow as he leans forward in his seat, his jacket parting to reveal the gun tucked inside.
My eyes jump between each of them. “I promise it’s not what you think.”
“Enlighten us then.” Vin leans back in his seat, appearing calm when I know he’s far from it. In the face of danger, Madeleine has always been his top priority. And I expect no man will ever be good enough for her in his eyes—even me.
“Madeleine and I…” What should I say? Do I tell them everything? Do I start from the beginning?No.What’s happened between us over the years isn’t any of their goddamn business, but they at least deserve to know the truth behind our actions.
“You what?” Leo roars, losing all his patience.
Fuck it.“I love her!”
