Page 21 of Deceit
The two of us glared at each other. Defiance streaked through me as Iyanked my chin from his grasp and opened my mouth to tell him to go fuck himself, andthatIwouldn’t be taking orders from him. But when his eyes narrowed on me, the words dried up on my lips.
Without warning, he lunged for me, grabbing my thighs to lift me, andhauled me over his shoulder before storming back into the bedroom.
“Put me down!”I shrieked as I thumped my fist against his back.
“As you wish.”
I bounced on the bed, but before I couldeventhink about getting up, Milesmoved to pin me, my arms trapped by my sides, and his snarling face an inch away from mine.
“Don’t push me, Jailbait. I’ve got zero fucking issues with tying you to thisbed if it means keeping you in one place. I’llevengag you to shut your bitching up if need be.”His head tilted to the side.“What’s it to be? Your choice.”
The poison in his voice was unmistakable, and a lick of fear slivered itsway down my spine. Untilthen, I never thought Miles would hurt me, but with the way he hovered over me, looking like it was taking all his restraint to hold himself back, I wasn’t so sure.
Angry tears stung my eyes, but I pulled my gaze away from him andnodded. Over my dead body would I allow him to tie me to the bed and take away my free will.
I barely had any as it was.
When he stood, I scarpered, diving under the covers and pullingthem over my head, silently cursing my future husband.
All I’d ever wanted was to be seen, but rightthen, I wanted nothingmore than to be invisible from the man I was growing to hate more than I hated my own life.
With the events of the last few minutes stewing in my head, I closed my eyesand allowed my body to sink into the allure of darkness, the furious tapping of Miles’ fingers skating over his computer keyboard echoing around the room.
I didn’t know how much time had passed when a soft tapping on the doorwoke me from my slumber. RememberingthatI wasn’t at home, I hopped out of bed and pulled the T-shirt down after it had ridden up in my sleep, before telling whoever was outside to come in.
The door swung open, and the tension building in my body deflatedwhen Riley stepped in, her skin glowing with a bronzed tan.“Hey girl,”she said brightly, beaming at me.“Hear you’ve been giving Miles the runaround. Good for you, keep him on his feet.”
Internally cringing, I crossed to her.“I thought you were on yourhoneymoon for another week?”
She wrapped her arms around me, and for a few seconds, we hugged,embracing as if we were long-lost sisters.
Despite being forced into a marriage I didn’t want, one good thingthathadcome out of the arrangement with the Wolfes was my friendship with Riley.
Granted, in a way, it was her fault I was in the situation I was in. If she hadn’t offered to make the truce between the Wolfes and the Bianchis, Papa would never have offered help in exchange for her marrying Rafe. Butthen, it had been Miles who’d suggested he and I marry instead.
The utter asshole.
Still, I was grateful to have her in my life, and at least when I was married toMiles, I’d see more of her.
“We had to come back early. Are you okay? Miles told us what happened.”Concern laced her voice as she led me over to the bed, where we both sat.
“I’m okay.”I stared at my manicured nails as shame filled me.“I got Guskilled.”
Tears once again threatened to fall at the thought of Gus. I didn’t think I’dever forgive myself for his death.
“Oh, Sofe.”She took my hand and squeezed it.“He wasjustdoinghis job. Men like Gus know the risk when they sign up to work with people like your dad and Kai.”
“But if I hadn’t insisted he take me to the bar, he’d still be alive. Miles wasright, I’m a selfish brat.”
“Miles is a miserable asshole who has a stick up his ass. Don’t pay him anyattention,”she said, waving a hand.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a tiny bit envious of the relationship she andMiles had. For six months, it had just been Riley and Miles, and the two of them had developed an unbreakable bond. As much as she would often call him out for his shit, she adored him, and it was clear he felt the same way about her.
I smiled, but it didn’t quite reach my eyes.“Do you think you can convincehim to let me go home?”I said instead of denyingthatMiles wasn’t an asshole for simply stating the truth about the kind of person I was.
“I don’t need to, he’s taking you home shortly,”Riley replied nonchalantlybefore her eyes widened.“Wait, he hasn’t spoken to you?”
“Only to berate me a few hours ago. I fell asleep, and when I woke up, hewasn’t here.”
