Page 32 of The Devil's Deceit
“Orwhoyou’re doing?” I grin in an attempt to hide the devastating impact of his news.
“That’s just it,” he mutters. “We don’t cheat, either. It simply isn’t done.”
“Can’t you talk to your father? Explain how you feel?”
His head tilts to one side. “Oh, Grace. If only it were that simple.”
He caresses my cheekbone again, then lowers his head,brushing his lips over mine. A jolt of electricity zips up my spine. There’s no denying I’m physically attracted to this man, even if the logical part of me sees him as nothing better than a cold-blooded murderer. Humans are complicated beings, that’s for sure.
“Can I still see you? You know, until…” He trails off, his expression bleak.
Time. That’s what I need. Time to figure out what to do next. Time to talk to Arron, Uncle Daniel, and Juliet, then work out our next steps. So, I give him what he wants. “I’d like that, Christian. I really would.”
Christian’s driver drops Juliet and me off outside her building. Knowing there’s a high probability of him reporting every word we say back to Christian, we kept our conversation to a minimum on the journey home. We step inside her building and wait for the car to leave. As soon as it does, I spill the beans.
“We have a problem.”
“What problem?” Juliet asks.
“Christian’s about to get married to someone else.”
Her lips part in disbelief. “Oh, fuck.”
“Exactly. I need to talk to Arron and Uncle Daniel.”
“I’m coming with you. Three heads are better than one, right?”
“I’d hoped you’d say that, because I truly don’t know what to do.”
While we wait, I send a text to my uncle, asking him tomeet me at the house. He won’t care that it’s late, not when it comes to our revenge plan, and this is too big an issue to leave him out of the discussion. Considering the time, he must sense there’s a problem, but his text only confirms he’ll be there.
My mind spins and whirs on the drive from Juliet’s place to my house. It shows how well my friend knows me because she says nothing, leaving me to process the swift and unexpected shift in direction in my own way. Unlike Juliet, I’m an internal processor. It’s the way I’m built. She works out problems via a verbal stream of consciousness, most of which makes sense only to her, before coming up with a solution. It’s not always the right solution, but quick decisions are also something she’s known for.
Me… I’m a ponderer. Except there’s no time to ponder on this particular problem. For all I know, Christian’s dad may have selected a bride already, his conversation with Christian a way of easing him into the idea.
Uncle Daniel is already there when I pull up outside the house, and my stomach swoops and falls. He’s going to lose his shit when I tell him the massive roadblock now plonked in our way. Juliet links our fingers as I shove my key in the lock and turn it. I give her a grateful smile, and we enter the house.
Arron leaps out of his chair the second he sees me, concern etched into his features. “Are you all right? What’s happened? Why did you ask Uncle Daniel to pop round? Did that bastard hurt you? Because if he did?—”
“Arron.” I toss my bag onto the table by the door. “Take a breath. I’m fine. But we do have a problem.” I flop into the nearest chair and scrub my hands over my face. We’ve barely started this revenge plan, and already I’m shattered. “Christiantold me tonight that his father is about to choose a bride for him to marry.”
Uncle Daniel curses. Arron stares at me, dumbfounded, his mouth opening and closing, except nothing comes out. I gesture to him. “My thoughts exactly.”
“We… we can’t let that happen. It’ll ruin everything.”
“I’m aware.”
Uncle Daniel slams his fist into the arm of the chair. “Fuck.”
I jump at the outburst of violence. “I thought I’d have more time. His brothers were, what, thirty-five and thirty-three or something when they married. Christian isn’t even thirty yet. Why’s his dad chosen now to drop this on him?” A horrific thought sneaks into my mind. “You don’t think he knows? Charles De Vil, I mean?”
If Christian had figured it out, I’d know. Maybe the father is more cunning, or he’s biding his time while he gathers more evidence.
“No,” Uncle Daniel says. “How could he? Besides, you’ve only been to Oakleigh twice. You won’t even be on his radar.”
“Maybe you should get on his radar,” Juliet pipes up. “Maybethat’swhat we do.”
I frown. “What? Blow our cover?”
