Page 67 of The Truth Between

“What are you doing here? Don’t you know it’s rude to show up unannounced at someone’s home?” My voice boomed, bouncing off the walls, but Bianca barely flinched. I watched as the man I could now confirm as her boyfriend, Easton, tried to get between her and me as I approached, but Bianca wouldn’t let him.

“Where is she, Soren? Where is Iris?” Bianca demanded, her voice trembling with anger and fear. “Tell us where she is, or I’ll search this damn place myself!”

Her piercing gaze burned a hole into me, demanding an answer. While I understood where she was coming from, the audacity of her to do such a thing added to everything that had happened today was pissing me off.

“You aren’t going to waltz into my house and demand answers from me, and if either of you knew any better, you would watch your tone because you have no idea what I’m capable of.”

The mask of bravery slipped slightly, although I could still feel Bianca’s anger radiating from her body. She took a step forward, her eyes never leaving mine as she challenged me.

“You’re not going to intimidate me, and I will get the answers that I want. Tell me where she is.”

I had to say, I admired her courage. She had to know that she was walking into the lion’s den. Even though it was two on one, it would have been easy for me to take them both down in my domain, but she wasn’t cowering in fear. The determination I saw in her, I also saw in Iris. As well as knowing that Bianca’s brother, Nash, possessed it, leading to him becoming the leader of the Brentson chapter of the Chevaliers.

Her boyfriend stepped between us once again, trying to defuse the situation before it got out of hand. But the Band-Aid had already been ripped off.

“Iris is not here,” I said firmly. “And even if she were, why would I tell you?”

My admission caused Bianca and Easton to pause for a second as they processed what I said. “What do you mean she isn’t here?” This time, it was Easton asking the questions.

“Just what I said. Iris isn’t here. In fact, I would suggest you go and check her grandmother’s house. That was her last known location.”

Bianca’s eyes narrowed on me. “You expect us to believe that? After everything you’ve done? I don’t believe you for a second.”

“Believe what you will because I don’t care. But Iris isn’t in my home.” It took everything in me to make sure that I said my home and not our home. As much as I wanted it to be, that wasn’t the reality I was currently living in.

Bianca’s eyes flashed and I could read the suspicion in them. “And why should we trust anything you say?”

“To be honest, I don’t give a fuck what you think.” I could tell that my comment took Bianca off guard. I didn’t wait for her to reply before I spoke again. “Franklin, can you bring me Iris’s phone?”

With a short nod, Franklin left us in the foyer, moving silently as he did so. Maybe by giving them this, it would be enough to show them I was telling the truth. I was ready to get them both off my property and get back to the work I needed to do.

“Why wouldn’t Iris contact me as soon as she got back to her Gran’s house if you’re telling the truth?”

It took everything in me not to roll my eyes. “Because she doesn’t have her phone?”

The statement hung in the air, and I let the two young adults before me sit in the awkwardness of their own making. If they’d listened to me the first time, they could have already been on their way to Iris’s grandmother’s home.

Easton seemed to soften slightly. “We’ll check her grandmother’s place.” Bianca didn’t bother speaking, choosing instead to shoot daggers at me with her stare. It was a worthwhile price to pay as long as it resulted in her leaving my house.

It was then that Franklin returned with the phone in hand, and I couldn’t have been happier that this conversation was ending. I’d given Bianca and Easton more grace with their questions than I had with most people, but this ended right now.

As they turned to leave, Franklin stepped forward. “Should I show them out, Mr. Grant?”

I nodded. “Yes, Franklin, thank you.”

Bianca turned to look at me and I knew that she had to get one last parting shot in. “If she’s not there, we’re coming back here tonight to finish this. And I fucking mean that with every fiber of my being.”

“You won’t be back here tonight.”

Once they had left, the foyer felt eerily silent. I stood there for a moment, lost in thought, with Franklin, who was just staring at me.

Finally, when I moved, Franklin spoke. “Is there anything I can get for you, sir?

“I’m fine.” But I was lying to both of us because I really wasn’t.

With a heavy sigh, I left the foyer and made my way back to my office. Every step felt heavier, no matter how much energy I exerted. Each step was a reminder of the distance between Iris and me that occurred inside of this house and outside of it. Sitting at my desk, I looked at the empty chair across from me, imagining Iris sitting there, her eyes filled with that fiery determination I had fallen for.

I leaned back, closing my eyes. The image of Iris standing up to Parker remained in the forefront of my mind, no matter how much I tried to push it out.

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