Page 6 of Unmatched Devil

Kylian looked calculating as hell. “But you know the people who did are dead, so you must have some connection. I could’ve been home that night. I could’ve been killed.”

“There was no chance of that.”

They kept leaning closer to each other with each rebuttal. Kylian’s eyes flashed with rage. It was sexy. “Why? I live there.”

“Because I made sure you weren’t home.”

Kylian deflated, as if the air had been knocked from him. His spine melted against the chair. He stared at Rian like an innocent mouse cornered by a cat. That enraged Rian, for some reason he couldn’t explain. “Why?”

Rian was just irritated enough to answer. “Why did I send someone to terrorize your dad? Because he needed some sense knocked into him. He has everything and therefore everything to lose. Yet he still stupidly does business with people like Archer Woods. Or perhaps you meant why did I ensure you weren’t home that night? That’s because I don’t terrorize children. That’s the sort of thing Archer would do.”

“But you kidnapped me.”

“Were you harmed?”

Kylian’s gaze moved over Rian’s face at the question, as if searching for something. “How old are you?”

The question unbalanced Rian. “Twenty-eight.”

Kylian held his stare. “I’m not a child.”

Of that, Rian was very much aware. “What would make you happy?”

A line appeared between Kylian’s eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I said.” Because they had to change the subject. “You’re unhappy with your life. What makes you happy?”

“I don’t know what you—”

Rian cut him off before Kylian lied to him and himself. “When you think about all the times you were laughing, smiling, and having the best time, what were you doing?”

Kylian didn’t answer right away. Rian hoped that meant he took the question seriously. “I was with my best friend, trying makeup tutorials, drinking wine, and testing out new hairstyles.”

“There.” Even Rian heard the satisfaction in his voice. “That’s what you’re meant to do with your life.”

“Drink wine and do makeovers?” Kylian’s question was deadpan—like he thought Rian would realize he was an idiot if Kylian repeated his words.

Rian didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’ll help you. Come back to where I can see you every day so we can work together to create a dream for you. Let me help you.”

“Why? What do you get out of this?”

You. The thought was strong and loud, Rian wondered for a second if he had said it out loud. He forced himself not to scare Kylian. Not yet. “The same thing I get from all my businesses. I’ll take a percentage of profits.”

Kylian still looked skeptical. “I don’t see how this can possibly be a business, but what if I fail?”

Rian made a dismissive gesture. “I doubt that’s possible. But if my business model doesn’t take off for you, then you’ll return to Princeton in the fall. No harm. No foul. If anything tanks, it’ll be my idea. Not yours.”

Their food arrived.

Aggravation welled inside Rian. He needed Kylian’s answer. The server couldn’t go away fast enough. Thankfully, when they were alone again, Kylian didn’t dig into eating to avoid the topic.

He held Rian’s stare, looking overwhelmed. “I came home to see my dads.”

“Take a couple of weeks to do that. That’ll give me time to get things rolling.”

Kylian blew out a sigh. “I still don’t understand why you want to do this.”

A smile snapped to Rian’s lips. “You’re fierce and cutthroat. That’s exactly what it takes to start a new business. I believe you could do anything.”

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