Page 85 of My Grumpy Billionaire Protector

I bury my face in my hands and inhale sharply. “Shit. What am I going to do now? If Grandpa isn’t willing to negotiate, what does that mean for me?”

“We’re going to get you out, E,” Dinah says in a clear voice. “One way or another, I’ll make sure of it. It’s just going to take some creativity on my end.”

Again, I turn the information over in my head until my pulse begins to race, and my breathing grows heavy. I then throw my head back and claw at my chest. It is growing tighter and tighter with each passing moment. Through tear-filled eyes, Dinah calls out to me until the room stops spinning, and I can breathe again.

You already knew something was wrong, E.

Out of all the scenarios I’d envisioned, being betrayed by my own grandfather isn’t one of them, and for the sake of power, no less.

Shortly after I end the call with Dinah, I step out of the study, with Hayes and Felix trailing behind. Back in my room, I freeze and glance around. Then I begin to throw books and clothes on the floor, only pausing to smash a plate and a few cups while I do.

When Shane rushes in, I am standing in the middle of my room with blood all over the hem of my jeans. He steps toward me, but I start to scream, growing louder and more hysterical until he wraps his arms around me and holds on tight.

“You need to calm down,” Shane whispers directly into my ear.

“How? How the fuck am I supposed to calm down? My own grandfather wanted to have me killed so he wouldn’t become a pawn!”

“I know that, but this isn’t going to help anyone.”

Using every ounce of energy I have, I shove Shane away and glare at him. “Oh, and you’re the expert now? How many family members have tried to kill you?”

“Stop trying to take it out on me! I’m not the one who betrayed you.”

I point a shaky finger at him. “I… you…you’rethe reason I’m here. This is all your fault. Isaiah is trying to expandyourbusiness. I hate you!”

Shane presses his mouth into a thin white line.

“What? No biting remark?” I cover the distance between us and choke back a sob. “No tough love for me? You feel guilty, don’t you? Because you know I’m right. I’m in this because of you. And now I don’t know what to do. I…”

My shoulders heave, and a whimper passes through my lips. Suddenly, hot tears are sliding down my face, but before I can crumple to the ground, Shane catches me by the waist and holds me against him.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

Shane draws back to look at me, his expression pained. “What do you want to do?”

“What?”

Shane pulls me toward the bed and sits, pulling me into his lap. He pauses, reaches for the towel thrown onto the bed, and begins to wipe the cut on my ankle. Then he wraps the towel around my foot and leaves it there.

“What do you want to do?”

I blow out a breath. “My grandfather is a lying two-faced hypocrite, and he would rather sacrifice me than do the right thing.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Why do you keep asking me that?”

Shane’s grip tightens on my waist. “Because I’m not asking you what you know. I’m asking you what you want todo, and it’s important for you to know the difference.”

I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out.

As far as I can tell, Isaiah is the lesser of two evils because he doesn’t hide behind some mask. At least he didn’t pretend to be something he wasn’t and was honest about his activities. My grandfather, on the other hand, was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and I know I can’t trust him anymore.

I also can’t let him keep getting away with it.

Dinah would find a way to warn my mother without tipping him off.

As for me, I am no longer a bargaining chip, and my position as a guest in this house has to change. I study Shane’s face until the pounding in my heart decreases, and he helps me stand up and edge around the broken glass and ripped clothing.

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