Page 81 of House of Deceit

Cain grabs her arms roughly and Charlie’s panicked face is all I need to see to get my feet flying.

“Oh, fuck no,” I say.

Rage takes the driver’s seat in my brain, coursing through my veins, as I almost rip the door off. I move through the maze of producer offices and storm into the house, all regard for the rules melted from my brain. I fly to the library where they are.

“You think you can keep me from winning this thing? You’re like a kid trying to play chess with a grandmaster.”

“Listen here, you stupid bitch, I will win this. I will get you disqualified if I have to. Leave this fucking house.”

Their yelling drives me faster, the need to reach her fierce. Charlie’s eyes lock on mine and widen at the anger pulsing off me.

“Alec, don’t!” she yells, but her warning falls on deaf ears.

I grab a handful of Cain’s shirt and pull him off her.

“What the hell!?” he exclaims as I throw him down on the ground wanting to launch myself at him, but I restrain myself. Standing above him, I glare down and let all of my hate and anger show.

“Keep your hands off her. Get the fuck out of here.”

He stands up from the floor, regaining his composure and cockiness I’ve seen throughout the game. I should worry about what he has planned, but I want to get him away from Charlie so I can check on her as quickly as possible.

“Interesting that you’re here, Alec King. Aren’t wranglers supposed to stay out of the mansion?”

Warning bells go off in my head, but I ignore them.

“You were hurting her,” I say simply.

“Simple misunderstanding. But she’s not supposed to be here, is she?”

“Cain, if she had ended up in the right pile, she still would have been chosen. You’re here. Why does it matter who your wrangler is?”

“Because I deserve the best,” he hisses before straightening out his features once more. “But you’re right. It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m going to win and your girl won’t make it to the final three.”

He puts his hands in his pockets and walks toward the door. I shift, keeping myself between him and Charlie in case I need to protect her.

“Have a good night,” he calls over his shoulder.

I turn to Charlie. She stands half-perched on the table, her hand clutching her robe closed. Her red, lush mouth hangs open as she stares at me with wide eyes. My tongue flicks out, wetting my bottom lip. Without another thought, I go to her.

“Are you okay?” He grabs my arms, checking where Cain grabbed me. Anger turns to worry in his eyes as he checks me over.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about it,” I say. “But you have to get out of here.” I push at him, worried he’s already been in the mansion too long.

“What the hell was happening in here?” he demands, ignoring my concern.

“You know, if a red tie and white shirt is the only thing of color you own besides black, that’s not much better,” I say, but he won’t be distracted.

My core clenches in anticipation while nerves rack my body.

“He was claiming I sabotaged him during the elimination competition today because I almost won Head Deceiver instead of him.”

“You need to stay away from him. He’s got it out for you.”

“Don’t I know it,” I say, waving away his words. “Keith and Parker are in the bottom two. Supposedly something bit Keith and did you know Parker is afraid of bugs? Because I gotta tell you, I wasn’t expecting that,” I ramble trying to get the worried look in his eyes to recede.

The table edge presses into me as Alec crowds me, his eyes heating.

“What are you wearing under the robe?” he asks, running his fingers over my silk-covered breast.

---