Page 84 of The Devil's Deceit
“Sorry, sis. It’s just now you’re not around, Uncle Daniel is in my fucking ear twenty-four hours of the day demanding results.”
“I’ve thought this for a while now, but didn’t want to say anything. He worries me, Arron. The longer this has gone on, the more irrational he’s becoming. I get it. Really, I do. He wants whoever killed Dad to pay the price, and if Christian is guilty, then he will pay. But until then, you need to tell him to calm down. He’s not helping himself or us.”
He nods, then a frown drifts across his face. “You said ‘if’.You can’t be having doubts, surely? Not after what’s in here.” He picks up the piece of paper and waves it in the air.
“I fully believe that Christian either persuaded or blackmailed Bartholomew into changing the report, and I intend to find out why. What I’m not convinced of is that he was directly responsible for Nexus collapsing.”
Arron looks at me as though I’m a stranger. “Oh, I see, Gracie. Enjoying living in the big house, are you, lording it up over everyone? Forgot your roots already?”
Juliet chokes on her wine. My hands curl into fists, a flush of anger rising up my neck. “If there wasn’t a bodyguard standing outside this door, who we can’t let see you, I would tell you to get the fuck out of here right now. Howdareyou accuse me of switching sides.” I rise to my feet, down the dregs of my wine, and set the glass on the table. “I think it’s best if I go before I say something I may not fucking regret. I’ll leave that piece of paper with you. Now, it’syourturn to playyourpart.”
“I’m so?—”
My hand snaps in the air. “I don’t want your apologies, Arron. I want you to not say things that require an apology in the first place. Take a good, hard look at the person you’re becoming and ask yourself if that’s who you want to be.”
Juliet stands, too. “I was right, Arron. You are a cunt. As soon as Grace is gone, you’re out of here, and count your lucky stars it’s not through the fucking window.”
She ushers me into the hallway, drawing me into a hug. “It’s Daniel’s influence,” I whisper, my voice low enough so that Powell won’t hear me, and neither will Arron. “I don’t like it.”
Juliet keeps her voice low as well. “Disagree, Gracie.Arron’s an adult. He’s responsible for his own actions and the words that come out of his mouth.”
I nod because she’s right, even though I’d rather not admit it. “Do me a favor and keep an eye on him. I’ll see what else I can find that’ll hopefully bring this to a head sooner rather than later.”
“You just take care of yourself. And remember, you need an escape plan, you call me.”
“I just want it over. I never thought it would be this hard.” I stare into the middle distance, then shake my head. “I’ll be in touch.”
Powell follows me down the stairs, and once I’m in the car, I activate the privacy screen and let a cascade of emotions consume me. Here I was afraid I was losing myself when there’s every chance I’m losing my brother, too.
I need this done, before everything I value is lost.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
CHRISTIAN
The current chair of The Consortium drones on, his tone one of those monotonous types that makes me want to shut my eyes and doze off. Maybe I do, because Xan kicks me underneath the boardroom table. Somehow I’ve slouched in my seat, so I push myself upright and try to focus on the agenda. Normally, it’d be Dad and Xan at these things—Dad because he’s the current head of the household, and Xan as his heir—but for some reason, Dad roped me in to accompany my brother.
Truthfully, I’d rather be at home eating Grace’s pussy until her juices dripped down my chin.
With any luck, this meeting will wrap up on time, meaning I’ll be home by eight o’clock tonight. It’s been a long three days, and in all honesty, I don’t have the attention span for it, nor the brainpower. It’s a good thing Xan’s the heir. He lives for this stuff, his expression enraptured, his involvement absolute. I’m much more comfortable in my own sphere.
Sneaking my phone out of my pocket, I hide it beneath the table and send a text to Grace.
Me: What are you wearing?
It’s a cliché play that never gets old. She replies a few seconds later.
Grace: Nothing. It’s kinda hot lying on this bearskin rug in front of a roaring fire.
I grin at her sassy response. Those things I said to her before I left are beginning to feel more and more like the unmitigated truth.
What if she is the right woman for me? She sure as hell feels like it. I’ve never felt like this about a single one of my relationships. It’s time to fess up to myself.
I’m falling for her.
Me: I’m afraid I’m going to need to see photographic evidence.
Xan clears his throat, and I side-eye him. He’s got this whole muscle feathering thing going on in his jaw, which I’m guessing relates to how he’s grinding his teeth. I get another sharp poke with the toe of his shoe. He gets a firm kick in return, my attention back on my phone as I wait for Grace’s response.
