Chapter 17
Grant’s pulse sped as he studied Kyle’s features, trying to decipher the intensity in his eyes. There was something more than professional concern for Julia. The doctor’s icy gaze was too sharp and too focused, like a man driven by something deeper.
Grant kept his voice low and steady as he probed for answers. “Why are you doing this? This isn’t just about Julia, is it?”
Kyle flicked his eyebrows up as he grinned. “Wow, someone’s got an ego. Julia’s a very beautiful woman. I’m surprised she’d even waste her time with someone with your reputation. She deserves far better.”
Grant studied him. The amused act wasn’t fooling him. A flicker of something unidentifiable but unmistakable had passed through his eyes just before he deflected by trying to push his buttons with his talk about Julia.
Grant offered a chuckle. “Julia is an amazing woman. That’s why she’s my wife.”
“Not for long.”
Grant leaned forward, the handcuffs clattering against the metal table. “We’ll see. But I’d still like to know why you’re so…invested.” He eyed Kyle, scrutinizing every twitch of his lips, every raise of his eyebrows. “This is far more than a doctor’s concern for a patient or even a man enchanted by a beautiful woman.”
Kyle leaned away from him, his jaw tightening. Grant let a moment of silence stretch between them. He was on to something.
“You have a reason. And I’m going to find it.”
Kyle’s ire-filled glance burned through him before he cocked his head, letting his amused smile return, though this time it looked more fake. “You think you’re so perceptive, don’t you, Grant? Let’s just say, I have my reasons. Reasons you couldn’t possibly understand.”
Kyle rose from his seat, leaning forward as he lowered his voice to a chilling whisper. “But those reasons are going to destroy you.”
With a final smug smile, Kyle stalked from the room, slamming through the door and leaving Grant alone in the sterile room again. He’d left Grant with more questions than answers, but his behavior hinted at something personal.
A chill ran down Grant’s spine as he realized this was more than a random encounter. And that he’d just unwittingly put Julia in the middle of a dangerous game.
He shifted on the uncomfortable chair, tugging against the handcuffs as frustration set in. While he sat in this room, confined, he wouldn’t be able to protect Julia from his threat. His mind returned to the scene he’d walked in on at the Azalea Room.
As cool air filtered from the vent in the ceiling, making the room even more sterile, he imagined an even more chilling scene. Julia sank her head into her hands as tears rolled onto her cheeks. “I don’t know what I was thinking. It was a mistake.”
Kyle slid an arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay, Julia, you couldn’t have known what a monster he was.”
His thoughts spiraled, entangling with fears of Julia’s perception of their entire relationship. What if she started to believe his drivel? The relationship, particularly lately, stood on shaky ground. It couldn’t afford such deep-seated doubts.
Grant tightened his fist at the thought of Julia, confused and convinced by Kyle’s words, swirled in his mind, amplifying his frustration. He had to get out of this police station.
After another tense hour, Mitchell popped into the room.
Grant stretched his neck as he shifted in his seat. “Where have you been? I’ve got to get out of here.”
“Has something happened? Did they question you without me present?”
“No,” Grant growled, his fist clenching. “That doctor let himself in to have a conversation with me. There’s something else going on here Mitchell. We need to check into his background. There’s something personal going on here, I think.”
“I’ll make a note to look into it. On the other front, they’re getting the paperwork completed for your release. Charges are still pending, but you’re free to go. Julia came through for you again.”
Grant raised his eyebrows, prodding for more.
“She gave yet another award-winning statement on your behalf, refuting everything the doctor claimed and confirming he threw the first punch.”
“Is she okay?”
Mitchell settled into the seat across from him. “She’s understandably upset but weathering the storm as usual.”
Grant heaved a sigh, scrubbing his face. He needed to get to Julia, though he dreaded the conversation. Would he find her packing her bags? “How much longer is this going to take?”
“You know they aren’t going to hurry.”
Grant let his head fall back between his shoulder blades.
“She’ll be there when you get home, Grant. She was on her way back to Harrington House when I left her. She offered to stay and wait for you, but I thought you’d prefer her to be home.”
“Yes, you’re right, Mitchell.”
They waited another tense twenty minutes before the handcuffs were finally removed, and Grant walked free of the police station.
He stepped out of the police station as the sun dipped low, casting elongated shadows that stretched across the concrete like dark fingers. The city’s evening sounds, a blend of traffic and the hum of life, resonated with his turbulent thoughts. “Thanks, Mitchell.”
“I’ll look into this Kyle Carter and see what I can find. We’ll be in touch.”
Grant nodded at him before they parted ways. Grant strode through the streets toward the Magnolia Grand where his car still sat. He’d had so much hope for their lunch this afternoon, and now he dreaded their next conversation. Had the doctor managed to plant any seeds of doubt into her mind?
He drummed his fingers against his thigh as he waited for his car to be brought around. The Mercedes finally appeared, and he slipped behind the wheel. The supple leather of the seat surrounded him and the engine roared as he aimed for home. The status symbol used to bring him comfort, but it no longer did.
Instead, his drive home was overshadowed by the looming conversation. The disagreement this morning now seemed trivial compared to the current chasm. The thought of untangling the mess Kyle had created left him gripping his steering wheel with white knuckles.
Warm lights illuminated the sprawling mansion as he approached it, though it never looked so cold as it did tonight. He eased the car to a stop outside the front door before he let himself inside. A pall hung over the house, making it empty and silent. A momentary panicked thought dashed through his mind as he wondered if Julia had already packed up and left.
His eyes lingered at the top of the stairs, hoping to see her appear, but not wanting to begin the conversation with her.
Worthington hurried into the foyer, his voice hushed. “Mr. Harrington, so very good to have you home.”
Grant couldn’t hold back the disappointment in his voice over the latest debacle. “I assume you heard.”
Worthington followed him into his private office. Grant stalked straight to the drink cart, dropping a few ice cubes into a tumbler before he splashed bourbon over them.
“I did, sir, yes. An unfortunate incident, to be certain.”
Grant stalked to his desk, staring down at the envelope containing the photograph of Julia. Had Kyle sent it? Was it he who had made the phone call?
“Is Julia…” He couldn’t finish the statement, not certain he wanted the answer.
“Mrs. Harrington is upstairs resting. The incident seems to have taken a bit of a toll.”
Grant snapped his eyes up to the man. “A toll? Is she okay?”
“She seemed…upset when she returned. She went to rest.”
Grant heaved a sigh as he pressed the cold glass to the bruise on his jaw. At least she was still here.
“Perhaps a real ice pack, sir?” Worthington asked.
“I’ve got it, Worthington,” Julia’s voice answered from the doorway.
Grant’s gaze shifted to her as he held his breath. His pulse quickened as he searched her face for any hint of her emotions.
Worthington strode to the door. “I’ll leave you both to talk.”
He slid the doors noiselessly shut behind him as Julia crossed toward Grant. He reached for the ice pack, but she gently shifted his face to study the bruise before she pressed the ice pack against it.
He winced as the coldness pressed against it.
“This doesn’t look too bad. Is it very painful?” she asked, her eyes searching his.
His hand caressed hers as he took hold of the ice pack. “It’s not too bad,” he said, his voice low. “I can’t imagine you’ve come across many bruises like this. Somehow, fistfights don’t suit you.”
A soft chuckle escaped her, drawing his attention back to her. The smile playing on her lips seemed genuine. “I’m not quite as sheltered as you may think.”
His eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the enigmatic woman he had married. He’d just been arrested for a second time after a very public brawl, but she seemed more concerned about his bruise than the public embarrassment. Her reaction was a stark reminder of the complex history he knew nothing about.
She shifted her gaze to the floor below her feet, the smile fading as her chest heaved. “Grant, I’m sorry.”
His heart pounded for a moment at those words. “For what?”
“This.”
“There is nothing for you to apologize for, Julia. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I doubt you expected to see me in the back of a police cruiser twice in the first few months of our marriage.”
Julia stalked away a few steps, seeming lost in thought. “Both times for wildly inaccurate charges.”
Grant shifted the ice on his jaw, his heart lifting as it became clearer that Kyle’s words hadn’t twisted her belief in him. “I’m glad you think so.”
She twisted to face him, her features pinched. “Of course, I do. Kyle was completely out of line today, especially after I told him his suspicions were unfounded. It’s like he didn’t want to hear it.”
Grant hesitated a breath, pleased that she remained on his side. “Mitchell said you gave yet another stellar statement to counter his wild accusations. Thank you.”
Julia shrugged as if she’d done nothing. “It was easy because it was all true. There’s no need to thank me.”
He rounded the desk, dropping the ice pack on it as he approached her. “But I do…thank you, that is. Especially after everything that’s happened in the past few days.” He pressed his lips together as he hesitated. “Particularly this morning.”
Julia let her gaze fall to the floor again. “It was a misunderstanding. I can see how it looked, though. Questionable.” She raised her eyes to his, her expression penitent. “I’m sorry.”
“Again, you have nothing to apologize for. It was my fault. I feel like we’ve had nothing but a series of misunderstandings since the incident with Bianca.”
The crease between her brows deepened as she spoke, her voice soft. “I think some lines are becoming blurred which is making this so much more difficult to navigate.”
He stared down at her delicate features, wanting to confess his growing feelings, but the words wouldn’t come. The uncertainty of her response and the real possibility that it would be a rejection held him back.
Instead, he nodded. “I agree. And…I have no right to ask this of you, but…”
He hesitated, studying her expectant features. “Maybe it’s best if we treat this like a real marriage and not form any outside relationships during this.”
He held his breath as he awaited her response. Would that condition prove too much for her?
“I think that’s fair.”
He studied her eyes, searching for some hint of her inner thoughts. Was she pleased? Merely agreeing for the sake of the contract? “Then that makes things much easier.”
“I agree. And, of course, it supports the image. No chance of any scandals.”
His heart sagged. Always back to the contract. He sometimes wished he’d never signed it, though he knew it was the only thing tying them together. He searched for the words to push back against the idea that this was image-driven only, but couldn’t find them. He’d take the win for now, until he could be sure of her and himself.
He nodded in response, the words he wanted stuck in his throat. He wanted to tell her it wasn’t about scandals or images, but that his request stemmed from something more personal. But exposing his vulnerability, particularly when rejection was a very possible outcome, kept him silent.
He stalked back to the desk. “Now, to put this ugly business with Dr. Kyle Carter behind us.”
Julia wrapped her arms around her midriff, biting into her lower lip. “There’s something off about this entire scenario again.”
“What do you mean?” he asked as he pressed the ice to his jaw again.
She raised her eyes to his again, the gears of her mind turning. “It’s just like the murder charge. This happened so suddenly. One meeting in the emergency room is hardly a case for this type of behavior. And yet he’s still insistent.”
“Still?” Grant’s mind tried to piece together the puzzle. What was Kyle’s angle? Was it an infatuation with his wife or something more sinister?
“Yes. When I saw him at the police station, he–”
“He talked to you at the police station?” Grant’s voice raised, heat entering it as he dropped the ice on the desk.
“Yes, twice.” She shook her head, as tension built in her shoulders. “He continued to insist that he was right. It’s odd.” She tugged her lips to the side as she stared ahead, lost in thought before she settled her gaze on him. “Do you have a history with him?”
“I’ve never met him before yesterday. However, I had the same impression. It seems personal.”
The creases in her forehead deepened as she worked through details. Her dissection of the situation with such clarity surprised him again. His fear, his uncertainty of her had led him to forget how perceptive she truly was. Her sharp mind and loyalty provided him comfort, yet also instilled a sense of fear. He didn’t want to lose this or her.
“Julia, I don’t want you anywhere near this. In fact, I’m going to get someone from the security team to stay with you at all times.” His protection instinct kicked into overdrive as the mere idea of Julia in danger tightened a vice around his heart.
She studied him for a moment. “Did something else happen?”
Grant stared down at the envelope containing the picture of Julia at the gala, the robotic voice echoing in his mind from the threatening phone call.
Silence stretched between them until the ringing phone shattered it, startling Julia. Grant snatched the receiver. “Yes?”
Max Sterling’s voice crackled in his ear. “Mr. Harrington, glad you’re home. I heard about the trouble earlier. I have some news.”
“What is it?”
“We tracked the owner of the vehicle who nearly hit Mrs. Harrington yesterday.”
“And?”
Grant’s eyes fell to Julia who eyed him. “It’s registered to DG Industries.”
The statement stopped his heart. His grip tightened on the phone as he processed the information. Cold realization settled on him. This wasn’t a random accident. It was a targeted move. A move that connected too many dangerous dots. Dots that now threatened not just him, but Julia as well.
They’d nearly killed his assistant, Evie. There was no telling how far they’d go. Or who they’d hurt.