Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Gris
I push out of the bed, sliding on my boxer briefs and walk toward the door. I can hear the low thrum of voices but not the words.
Bella is speaking softly, but Preston’s voice grates down my spine as I hear him say, “Don’t make me get Mason involved in this.”
I know Mason, so I know that he loves the women in his life. He treats his wife like a goddess, and he’s gone to great lengths to keep his sister out of this life until now.
Which is why I suspect he’s so eager to have Preston join the family. Luke isn’t seeing it, but I think Mason wants Preston to run Bella’s shares as an insulator.
It’s even occurred to me a few times that Mason is going to use Preston’s contacts and then dispose of the man in some way, shape, or form. Maybe he’s a scapegoat…
Because that’s the other thing I understand about Mason. He’s a man who gets the job done by any means necessary.
And then Bella’s front the door slams. Loudly.
I’m out of the bedroom and down the hall in a flash.
Bella’s back is to me, her arms wrapped around herself. One hand lifts and she swipes at her eyes.
“Bella?”
She doesn’t turn. “Leave me alone, Gris.”
Fuck. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” she whispers before she turns and brushes past me, heading for her room.
I follow, determined to find out what that fucking prick did to upset her so much. Not so I can use it to my advantage. Maybe that should be what I’m thinking.
Instead, I just want to know how hard I’m punching that asswipe in the face.
“Go home, Gris,” she says as she reaches the bathroom. “I know what I said this morning about…” She waves her hand, and I catch her profile, the tears shining in her eyes. “But I don’t think we should see each other anymore.”
“Do you feel guilty because you’re cheating?”
That makes her pause. She shakes her head back and forth. “I’m not cheating.”
Air rushes from my lungs. Did she just break it off with him? Is that why he slammed the door?
“Then why can’t we see each other?”
“Because…” I see her face spasm in pain. “You’re using me, just the same as him.”
And then she slips into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
Her words make my chest ache.
The worst part. They’re true. Or at least they were. I hear the shower start and I lift my hand, knocking on the door. “Let me in, Bella.”
“No.”
“I have a few things I need to say to you.”
“I don’t want to talk.”
I don’t know what Preston did or said to upset her so quickly, but I’m going to find out. “I heard Preston say he was going to tattle to your brother. Even I know Mason well enough to know that he would never take Preston’s side over yours. Not unless he’s working some plan.”
The shower turns off.
And then the knob twists.
“What kind of plan?”
She’s holding the sweatshirt in front of her chest, the door only open enough that I can see about four inches of her face. “Look. I know Mason can be a real hard ass. No one knows that better than me. But he loves you and Charlotte. Of that, I am absolutely certain. And I don’t think he’d let you marry a man if that man would make you miserable. Not even for Kincaid Enterprises.”
“Please,” she says, her voice dripping with disdain. “You know as well as I do that he needs Preston’s contacts.”
I did know that. The door opens a little wider and I catch a glimpse of Bella’s upper arm. Which is all red and angry.
Anger pulses through me.
Pushing the door open, Bella stumbles back.
Sure enough, her other arm is also red with clear finger marks appearing. “He put his hands on you?” I practically spit the words and Bella’s eyes widen in fear.
“Gris?”
I’m scaring her. Drawing in three or four deep breaths, I take a slow step toward her. “It’s all right, luv. I’d never hurt you. But I want you to tell me what he did to leave those marks on your arms.”
She shakes her head and that’s when the tears start to fall. “He was angry and he grabbed me.”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her into my chest. That fucker is going to pay. And I mean hard.
I feel it deep in my bones. No one touches her. No one hurts her. My teeth are grinding together
Not even Mason.
Whatever plan he’s got for her, I was already going to fuck it up. But now… I’m fucking it up because I’m going to protect Bella.
I don’t know what it means for my family or hers, but everything else fades away. They don’t matter. Not like she does.
I know I’m losing my grip. If my family doesn’t kill me, hers definitely will. But I’m not sure I care. What matters is keeping her from harm.
“Sweetheart,” I whisper close to her ear. “If he shows up here again, you don’t let him in. You hear me?”
“Yes.”
“You call me. Or you call Luke. You wait for one of us to come protect you.”
“You… you’d do that? But…” I know what she’s thinking. That me confronting Preston would mean she was outed. It would serve my agenda.
“Call Luke, Leo, or Roman if you’re worried about your brothers finding out about me. But just don’t let him in your apartment.”
She nods against my chest, and I reach between us, grabbing the sweatshirt and tossing it to the floor.
Then I hook the waistband of her sweatpants and pull them down over her hips. Lifting her, I carry her into the walk-in shower, turning on the hot water before I shuck off my own briefs.
Grabbing the soap, I start washing her, my hands gently gliding over her skin. I’d like to stay here all day, but it’s time I made some new plans.
Because the one I had… it isn’t working.
I went and I climbed in bed with the enemy. And I plan on staying there for a while yet, anyway.
Bella is quiet, her body soft as I turn her and wash her from head to toe. With her back to me, I pull her against my chest and kiss her neck. “I promise you that I will protect you. I’m not letting anyone hurt you.”
She shakes her head. “Mason tied me to Preston. Luke hitched me to you. I’m in the middle of the war and I think I’m going to be ripped apart.”
My eyes close. “No.”
Despite the hot water, I feel her shiver. I hold her close, promises dancing on my tongue. I don’t say them.
Not yet.
I need to think this through, and I need to plan.
Or maybe I don’t. Maybe the answer has always been very simple.
It’s time I talked to my brothers.
I don’t rush out of the shower or Bella’s apartment, though. I spend the next hour keeping Bella in my arms. I need her to trust me.
I’m not sure what’s coming next, because she’s right. We’re in the middle of a war. But I know I’ve got the strength and cunning to see her through.
If she’ll let me…