Page 53 of The Devil's Deceit
“You like this guy, huh?”
I shake my head. “No. I hate him. But, God, Juliet, I want him. What kind of person does that make me?”
“Human. And are you sure you hate him, or are telling yourself you do because you think you should?”
“Don’tyouthink I should? After what he did to Mum and Dad? The grief he’s caused me, Arron, and Uncle Daniel?”
She rests her hand on my thigh. “You and your family deserve the truth, Grace, but you’re also making assumptions without facts. I’m not sure you’re ready for how you’ll feel if what youbelievewith your whole chest turns out to be false.”
I frown. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that for all we know, Christian could be innocent of any wrongdoing.”
I’m so stunned that a light breeze could knock me over right now. “Juliet, the truth in that HSE report was quashed. There’s only one reason for a rich dude to hide anything, and that’s to protect himself and his interests.”
“I’m sure you’re right, but what if you’re not?”
I push up from the bed, pacing up and down Juliet’s tiny bedroom. “I can’t believe you’re saying this to me. You’ve been on my side the entire time.”
She gets up and stands in my way, stopping my angry stomp. “I’mstillon your side. I’llalwaysbe on your side. But I have eyes, Grace. I see how you are with this guy. If he’s guilty, then he deserves to burn in hell, and I will pass you the matches to light the fire. All I’m saying is be prepared… just in case you find evidence to the contrary.”
There won’tbeany evidence to the contrary and no one will ever convince me otherwise.
“Babe.” She plants her hands on my upper arms. “I don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all.”
Anger, sudden and hot, rises up in me. I wrench out of her hold. “Too late for that. I lost my fucking parents, Juliet, and Christian De Vil knows why. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to claw the truth from that man. Kiss him, sleep with him, marry him, suck his fucking cock twenty times a day as long as at the end of it all, I make him pay for what he did.”
I storm into the living room, where there’s more room to pace. Betrayal—because that’s what it feels like—tastes bitter on my tongue. At least I’m good and riled now before my date. No chance of my treacherous body winning the war tonight.
“Gracie.” Juliet appears in the doorway, and that’s where she stops, shoulder propped against the doorframe. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you, but I’ll never hold something back if I think you need to hear it. That’s not friendship, that’s enablement. Christianishiding something; I’m with you on that. But what none of us know, until the evidence presentsitself, iswhatthat is. All I’m saying is be prepared to find something that might not align with your beliefs.”
All the fight goes out of me, and I sink onto the couch. She edges into the room and sits beside me. I lean my head on her shoulder.
“Sorry for being a grouch.”
“You’re not a grouch. You’re grieving, and you desperately want to make some sense out of what happened to your mum and dad. But here’s the thing. You’re either going to have to find some way to harden your heart and stop yourself falling for this dude, or you’re going to have to accept that you’re setting yourself up to have your heart ripped out of your chest.”
“Such a happy picture you paint.”
I feel her smile even though I can’t see her. “Whatever happens, I’ve got your back. Now, get your shoes on, because I’m sure I heard a car door slam.”
My stomach vaults. The disagreement with Juliet had taken my mind off the evening ahead, but now that’s behind us, it’s slapping me in the face like a seal. Christian told me what he wants to happen tonight, loud and clear.
Whatever you’re wearing, it won’t be for long.
I stuff my feet into a pair of kitten heel sling backs and drift over to the window. Sure enough, there’s Christian’s car, and the man himself is standing beside it. As if he senses me looking down, he glances up, and the way he smiles causes my heart to stutter. Could Juliet have a point? Am I falling for this man, and that’s why I have this contrast between mind and body?
No, it’s not possible. We hardly know each other. It takes more than a few dates and an expert kisser to fall for someone. I’m not a woman who loves easily. It’s why Juliet is myclosest friend. My only friend, really. I keep my circle tight, and I like it that way. If Juliet hadn’t used her extrovert personality to adopt me when we were kids, I’m not sure I’d have any friends as an adult.
It’s clear Christian doesn’t intend to come to the door, still scarred after his run-in with Juliet this morning. I hold up a hand and indicate to him that I’m on my way down.
“This is it.” I take a deep breath through my nose and blow it out through pursed lips.
Juliet reaches out for a hug—one I’m happy to oblige. “If you want out of there at any time, you call. Got it?”
“Got it.”
My knees knock together as I make my way downstairs. Arron doesn’t know I’m seeing Christian tonight. He thinks I’m spending the night at Juliet’s, and I’d rather keep it that way. It’s easier. The closer we get to achieving our initial aim of me marrying Christian, the more worried he seems, and the last thing I need is his worry becoming my worry, knocking me off course. This is hard enough as it is without taking his concerns onto my shoulders as well as my own.
