Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Harper
My burner phone rings on the bedside table just as I'm straightening my dress in the mirror. I dive for it.
"Hi," I say, almost breathless.
"Harper, I'm sorry I got caught up in meetings with investors. I told Hudson I was coming over, but I won’t be able to now." Gianna's voice is smooth. "I'm going to send you a secure drive. Go ahead and upload anything you have for me. I'd like to see those sale documents you mentioned."
I swallow. "Hudson printed them out. But sure. I can upload them."
So the whole thirty minutes of Hudson fighting a printer, and then having to hold my phone hostage for ten minutes while he set up the printing app, was pointless. Luckily, I put it in do not disturb and locked everything down, so he can’t snoop.
"Very good. Thank you, Harper." A pause. "Are you still engaged to that twatass?"
I bark out a laugh. "Yep. Very much so."
"Silly girl. You'll come to your senses soon. You know he's slept with half of LA, right? Make sure you have condoms."
God.
"Don't worry about me, Gianna. I know what I'm doing."
"I hope so." She doesn't sound convinced.
I continue, "I might have some more updates for you soon. I'm heading back to New Falls tomorrow."
I'm not telling her that Ace has her brother's killer. Not until the Sterlings give me the green light.
"I'd also like some intel on the Sterling brothers," Gianna asks.
My heart rate doubles in a second. I press my palm flat against the dresser to steady myself.
"They own the biggest ranch in New Falls. There isn't much to know about them; they keep to themselves."
Gianna laughs. "Oh, sweet Harper. You have a lot to learn.
There's a reason I can't step foot in Arizona without getting my head blown off.
It's those brothers. Hence why I'm asking for intel.
The fact that the sale was forged gives me enough to know I need to dig deeper.
" She pauses. "I really want a meeting with Hunter. "
My eyes go wide. "I'll see what I can do. Leave it with me."
My palms are slick.
"Thank you. I'm their enemy's enemy. I think if you can get me a meeting, I can be very persuasive. Men seem to take well to me."
I bet they do. She's hypnotizing. But that isn't going to work on the Sterling brothers. Especially not Hunter.
Then again, I have a feeling Gianna's evil streak runs deeper than anything I've seen so far. And I've only been shown what she wants me to see.
We say goodbye, and I cut the call, pulling up my text chain with Ace.
Me: I spoke to Gianna. I'm heading down to have dinner in a minute, then I need to call you. It's urgent, but I'm handling it. Love you.
He replies in thirty seconds.
Acey: I'm here whenever you need me, Goldie. Can't wait to hear your voice. Love you.
I take a deep breath and head downstairs. I can already hear voices.
"Ah, here she is. My beautiful fiancée," Hudson declares as I reach the last step. I look up with a smile plastered so tight my cheeks ache.
I do like his parents. That's the worst part. They deserve better than this. His mom, Audrey, is beaming, wrapping her arms around me the way a mother-in-law should.
"Well, don't you look stunning, Harper."
I don't feel it. I feel like a fraud in this silky silver dress, with this obscenely expensive engagement ring cutting into my finger like a reminder of every lie I'm telling.
"Thank you."
Hudson hands me a glass of champagne and presses a kiss to the side of my head. His lips linger half a second too long.
"Chef said our first course will be ready in five. Shall we take a seat? Dad's already in there."
I nod and follow him and Audrey through to the dining room.
For the most part, dinner is painless. Almost normal. Hudson and his father talk business. Audrey and I discuss the latest celebrity scandal that blew up the tabloids this week. She's funny. Warm. The kind of woman who asks follow-up questions because she actually cares about the answer.
Every now and then, Hudson places his hand over mine on the table. Every time, I resist the urge to snatch it back.
My phone buzzes in my purse. And again. And again.
I slide it out under the table and open Ace's message. One text and one image. My cheeks flush before I've even hit open.
Acey: I'm home and safe. While you're playing pretend, I'll be thinking of you.
I tap the image. My screen fills with abs, the hard outline of him straining against his boxers, one hand gripping himself through the fabric.
I nearly drop my phone on the floor.
I lock the screen. Clear my throat. Press my thighs together under the table and try very hard to remember what a normal facial expression looks like.
What I'd give to teleport out of this dining room and run my tongue along those abs.
"Are you okay?" Hudson whispers.
"Yeah. Good."
The chef brings out dessert, a beautiful plate of strawberries, chocolate brownies, and gold leaf. Audrey laughs, looking at her son. "You and your chocolate brownies."
She loves him so much. If only she knew the truth. The lengths he would go to steal their family business from his dying father's hands.
I look at Hudson, arching an eyebrow. "Hudson has a sweet tooth?"
He chuckles. "Brownies are my kryptonite."
I nod. I thought it was pussy. But I guess I'm learning new things every day.
Hudson's dad claps his hands, commanding the table.
"Now, how does July sound?"
I frown. "Sound for what?"
"For the wedding. I've spoken to some of my contacts at the club. They had a last-minute cancellation."
My stomach drops through the floor.
"I— " I turn to Hudson.
His jaw is tight. "We wanted to surprise you, sweetie. My dad wants to see me get married before—" He pauses and lets the silence do the work.
I stare at him. Is this man seriously trying to gaslight me into a marriage using his dying father?
"It's so soon," I say quietly. "I thought we wanted to just be engaged for a while."
My eyes plead with him. Don't do this.
My hands start to tremble, so I set down my cutlery before anyone notices.
The room falls silent. The kind of silence that has weight. Ace is handling the fake engagement okay. A wedding. I know he won’t play along with that. I know if I ever get married, it can only ever be with Ace.
Walking down the aisle is a step too far. This has to stop.
"Excuse me," I say, standing, grabbing my purse, and walking to the bathroom at a pace that's just short of running.
I close the door. Lock it. Press my back against it. Close my eyes.
I put my hand on my chest and pull out my phone, opening Ace's message again—the stupid, filthy, perfect message, and use it to anchor myself.
This isn't real. I'm not marrying Hudson. It isn't real. And he can't make me do it.
Me: I wish I was there.
Acey: What would you do if you were here?
I smile. Despite the fact that thirty seconds ago I felt like I was about to pass out.
Me: I'd be on my knees, pulling down your boxers so I can free your huge cock.
Acey: My hands in your hair? Your eyes on mine?
Me: Yes. I'd run my tongue along the piercings first, digging my nails into your thighs.
Another image comes through. I press my legs together and open it.
"Fuck," I hiss.
There they are. Those four bars staring back at me.
Acey: And that's how hard I am just thinking about you doing it. Are you done with dinner?
Me: Almost. Hiding in the bathroom currently.
Acey: Well, you’re done now. Be a good girl and go to your room.
I blow out a breath. Ace was less than impressed with the fact that I was spending the night here. I don’t blame him. But he also didn’t want me driving an hour back into the city on my own in the middle of the night. He trusts me. And I’m lucky, I know that.
Me: Give me five minutes. I'll say I'm sick.
Acey: Two minutes.
I look at my flushed cheeks in the mirror and almost laugh. This is perfect. I can absolutely play off being sick. My phone is still buzzing in my purse as I re-enter the dining room. All eyes on me.
"Hudson, can I speak to you?"
"Honey, are you okay? You look like you're heating up," Audrey says, already half out of her chair.
I glance at the floor. "I came in feeling light-headed after the first champagne. But I feel worse now. I think I need to lie down. I’m so sorry."
Hudson's on his feet, arm around my waist, threading his fingers through mine.
"Yes. Go lie down, I'll take you," he says. Playing the part. Always playing the part.
"I'll have a nap and see how I feel. Will you guys be here later?"
Hudson's dad is just watching me. Something calculating behind his eyes. Was the wedding date a test I just failed? Then he smiles as Hudson pulls me against him, his hand resting on my lower stomach.
"Go rest, Harper."
Audrey's eyes go wide. Her gaze drops to Hudson's hand on my belly.
Oh, for fuck's sake. She thinks I'm pregnant.
I smile sweetly as we leave. The moment we're out of earshot, I snatch my hand from his.
"Are you okay, Harper? Seriously. You look like you might actually pass out."
I blink at him. "I'm fine. I promise."
He runs a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. I tried to stop them with the dates and venues. It's snowballing."
I laugh, but there's nothing funny about it. "You need to fix this, Hudson. I can play pretend with the engagement. I will not be walking down an aisle."
"What if— "
"No. There is no scenario where that happens."
He steps back. Reads something in my face that tells him to stop pushing. "We can talk about it tomorrow. Go get some rest. I think you're stressed."
"Yeah. A little. I'll see how I feel in an hour. I spoke to Gianna, and she wants me to upload the documents to a drive."
He nods. I turn and take the stairs two at a time, straight to my room, and lock the door behind me.
Acey: The longer you keep me waiting, the worse the punishment will be.
I open the video he sent.
His groans come through the speaker so loud I nearly launch my phone across the room. I scramble to turn the volume down, heart hammering, and then I'm watching. The slow strokes. The way his abs tense. The way his head tips back.
My panties are soaked.