Chapter 76
BELLA
As I walk through the door, I’m greeted by Finn holding Sassy in his arms and looking particularly unamused. Then I spot the scratches on his face, and I hold back a laugh.
“You owe me.” He glares at Rowan.
“Yeah, well, I look after Nyx enough. I’d say Sassy is less dangerous,” Rowan fires back, that teasing Irish lilt in his tone.
Reggie squeezes my hand and lets go, nodding for me to rescue our fluffy little scratching machine from the grumpy surgeon.
“Thank you,” I tell Finn, taking Sassy into my arms.
She curls in instantly, purring like she owns me.
“Missed you, pretty girl,” I whisper against her fur, the world softening for a second.
“You two assholes want a ride to Inferno?” Finn asks, pulling on his black coat.
“Yeah, give us two minutes,” Reggie says.
Once he’s gone, I set Sassy down in her bed and lean back on the kitchen counter, trying to ignore how quiet the house feels when it’s just the three of us.
“So, I found a new cookie recipe. I think this batch might be better than the last. I’m going more adventurous this time, five whole ingredients.” I bite back a smile.
Rowan’s tongue slides over his lower lip.
“Caramel drizzle?”
“Maybe. If you’re lucky.”
He wiggles his brows.
“Oh, I think I’ll get lucky tonight.” His grin is pure sin as he crosses the room, pulling me into a hug that steals my balance as he grabs my ass.
I cup his face; I love his smile. And the way his eyes light up when he looks at me.
“Well, it all depends on what time Lily is done planning my bachelorette party, rockstar.”
“Hmm… make it quick and I’ll let you have free rein over me,” He whispers.
My eyes go wide.
“Anything?”
He bites his lip, that wicked smile deepening.
“I’m gonna need a safe word with you, aren’t I?” he teases.
He lifts me up and sets me down on the counter.
“Yeah. Think of one while you’re in your meeting. Maybe… I’ll also let you do whatever you want to me, too.”
His hands tighten on my thighs, his breath getting faster.
“You’re making it really fuckin’ difficult for me not to get on my knees right this damn second, precious.”
I glance past his shoulder at Reggie, who’s leaning against the island, arms crossed, watching the exchange like it’s his favorite show.
“Irish, you are a watcher. I knew it.”
He shakes his head and walks towards us, stopping next to Rowan. His hand wraps gently around my throat, a command without words.
“I’m just watching while I imagine all the ways I can punish you later for trying to make me jealous, Princess.”
I suck in a breath.
“Maybe I want you to watch.”
His dark eyes lock onto mine.
“Let’s see if you deserve a treat later, shall we?”
I nod, smiling sweetly.
“I’ll be good, sir.”
He nods and then crashes his lips over mine. “Don’t forget our trip later.”
“I’m excited,” I tell him.
He smiles as he steps back. I turn my attention back to Rowan, still between my legs. I slide my hand along his jaw and drag him closer for a kiss.
“Our date is tonight, rockstar. Bring your A-game. I’m ready for you.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
With one final kiss, he backs away, holding a hand over his obvious hard-on through his jeans.
“Jesus Christ, Rowan. Go toss some cold water over yourself or something,” Reggie tells him, smacking his arm.
“What? I can’t help it. She knows how to tease me too damn well.”
We all erupt into laughter, and my heart is full.
“Have fun at work, boys.” I wave them out, heart full as the door clicks shut.
I pull up my saved recipe list that keeps growing and start lining the ingredients on the counter, but the doorbell rings before I can measure a thing.
When I open it, Lily stands there, glowing as always.
“Hey, you!” she says, wrapping me in a hug.
“Hey!”
“I was just about to make cookies. Wanna help?”
She laughs.
“You’re really embracing this housewife thing, huh?”
I shrug. “I’m aiming for more of a balance.”
I’m not sure how deep she is involved in this world, so I save what happened in Phoenix a secret. I want to keep her as a friend, not scare her away.
“I’ve got your dress in the car, shall I bring it in now?”
“Yeah, sure.”
But as she jogs back to her BMW, a knot of guilt twists in my stomach. My wedding—to who? Ugh. I hate this.
She comes back with the black garment bag, and I take it from her.
“Let me put this somewhere safe. I’ll be right back.”
I carry it upstairs to the walk-in wardrobe, hanging it at the very back. As I turn to leave, a sliver of light catches my eye. Reggie’s office door, slightly open.
Weird. I didn’t know he’d been in here before we left.
Curiosity wins. It always does.
I step inside. Papers litter the desk like a storm passed through.
One page catches my attention: Decadence Games Proposal.
“What the hell…” I whisper, picking it up.
Each word makes my pulse race faster. Another sheet with women’s alias names and detailed descriptions.
A “game of survival.” In their chocolate factory.
And the prize? The winner becomes their submissive.
The room tilts. My heartbeat ricochets in my ears.
“What. The. Actual. Fuck.”
I drop the papers, stumbling back toward the hall. I head down the stairs like a storm. I need my phone, and I need those assholes to get back here to explain themselves.
“Bella, what’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Lily’s voice barely cuts through the ringing in my head. My throat is dry, bile rising.
“Have you heard of the Decadence Games?”
Her face falls.
“Tell me it’s a joke. Please.”
The sob rips through me before I can stop it. It’s more the fact they’d be doing this behind my back. That this is who they really are. I can stomach most things, but this?
Monsters? What makes them different from my ex?
Lily rushes forward, wrapping her arms around me, guiding me to the couch.
“Bella. I know it seems really, really horrible. But it’s not as bad as you think.”
I let out a choked laugh.
“Are they paying you to say this?”
“God no. My friend Hallie, she ended up in Conan’s games. It was a whole thing. I was like you, mortified. Then she explained.”
I blink, trying to process through the fog.
“Well, can you explain please? Before I lose my mind and smash this house up?”
Lily laughs, but she’s nervous I can tell.
“It’s all fabricated. It’s made out to look like a game of survival—it’s not real.
I mean, the kinky part is, but the men don’t actually touch or hurt the women.
It’s a front. They use it to find the families willing to sell off their wives or daughters.
Once it’s done, the Quinns get the girls away from them, safe, and give them a new start.
Dr. Quinn and his wife handle the ones responsible. It’s part of their deal to be here.”
I stare at her. “Okay. That’s… wild. And completely insane. Why make it kinky? What’s the point?”
She shrugs. I can tell she’s giving me the truth and I already feel less murderous.
“Each brother had a different version. It’s something to do with Inferno, but Hallie is a bit sketchy on the details. Conan’s was a chase through the woods. I guess the twins will have their own twist.”
I chew my lip.
“You think they’d still do this, even when they’re with me?”
Her mouth drops open.
“They? You’re with them both now?”
I giggle, wiping a tear. “Oh my god, you’ve missed a whole chapter. Yes, I’m technically with them both. But somehow, I have to choose who to marry.”
Lily taps her chin thoughtfully.
“I have an idea, and it might be super unhinged…”
That perks me up instantly.
“I like unhinged. Continue.”
“Well, payback is a bitch. And if the twins are still going ahead with their games, I say you play your own.”
I frown. “You mean… crash their games?”
She grins, I can feel her brain ticking.
“You have a choice to make? Use the games. I’ll rope Conan and Hallie into helping. Whoever wins your challenge wins your hand.”
My heart stutters. “You’re an evil genius.”
She beams. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“I’m in. You really want to help me?”
“I literally have nothing else going on today. Let’s do it. It sounds like fun.”
Fun. Right. Except this time, the stakes aren’t survival… they’re my heart.
Not only can I get to the bottom of whatever the hell they’re up to. I guess it’s a fair way to decide which twin to marry.
“I’m thinking we can call it the Husband Test, or, a Decadence Proposal?”
My brain is already thinking of all the different games.
“Their paperwork to give to Declan is upstairs, shall we assess that?” I ask.
“Hell yes.”
I smile as I look up at her. My friends back home—like Louise—never cared to hear me cry about anything. They wouldn’t have helped me plan revenge, either. They’d just shove a drink in my hand and tell me to forget it.
Hence why not one of them has texted me since I left.
I’m not there to keep them entertained anymore.
My friends weren’t really my friends. But here… I’m starting to find something real.
“I haven’t had the chance to make many friends here, but I’m so glad I met you, Lily. Thank you,” I tell her.
Her eyes light up. “I’m happy you came here, Bels. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
I laugh. “You’re like me. You’ve got that bad streak.”
She glances around with mock innocence. “Me? I’m well-behaved.”
“Yeah. And I’m a nun.”
She bursts out laughing. “I was a ballerina.”
“What? Seriously? Like—shows and everything?”
Wow. That actually suits her.
“Yep. The full spectacle.” Her voice softens, a shadow crossing it.
“And not anymore?”
“Nope. That dream got crushed a while ago.”
I reach across the table and rest my hand over hers. “I’m sorry, Lily.”
She offers me a small smile. “It’s okay. I’ve moved on. And we’ve got a plan to make, right?”
That we do. A very important one.