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“We’re not big readers,” Andre said.
We? Interesting that he was answering for both of them. Conversation was stilted through the salads and dinner. It was a chicken dish that I could barely taste because of how nervous I was.
Alessandra said something about her graduate school. Isla talked about a new website she’d created for her pottery. The men discussed business, but I didn’t hear it.
My heart pounded in my chest. My knuckles turned white as I held my fork. I remember glancing up at Isla during dinner, but she just smiled, seemingly unaware of my distress.
It was only Vander’s sharp gaze that made me speak again.
“How did you meet? Did you grow up in the family?” I had to at least try. I didn’t want to face the Kents if they thought I messed up the deal.
“No. Matteo found us in the underground fighting rings.”
My mouth fell open at Ethan’s response. “You’re fighters?”
“Yes.”
Bile rose in my throat. If Mitchell could do damage with his smaller frame and less training. What would these men do to me? My stomach rioted at the thought, threatening to bring up my dinner.
I couldn’t do this. I’d rather die than marry.
7
Vander
My hand ached from how tightly I held my fork. I engaged my cousins in conversation. Spoke to Ethan and Andre about their infamous fights.
But on the inside, I was falling apart.
I couldn’t stand to see them looking at her. Lusting after what I wanted. I tried to tell myself a million times what I felt for Grace was lust. Or lack of sex, in general, making me crazy.
I hadn’t been with a woman since Mitchell died. It was fucking stupid. I knew I couldn’t have her, but it felt wrong to sleep with someone else when she was available.
Only she wasn’t. Not to me.
When she’d been with Mitchell, I could ignore it. Spend a random night with a woman. But now it felt like a betrayal of my feelings for her. It felt like cheating.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I knew I was screwed up. But I couldn’t untangle myself from Grace.
Even now, my gaze was pulled to her. I watched the worry in her royal blue eyes. Tracked each rapid breath she took. Saw the pinched lines around her mouth.
I’d been studying her for years. Memorizing her face with stolen glances. Or distant stares when no one was watching.
I’d started to categorize her expressions. Anger, sadness, worry, happiness, excitement. So I knew with certainty she hated this.
I knew every smile of hers, but she hadn’t shown a genuine one all night. They were tight and pinched. Her eyes turned down. Every inch of her screamed with hatred.
The longer this went on, the more I agreed. But I bit my tongue. This was for the best. She wanted a child. I trusted Ethan and Andre to keep her safe. And she’d be gone. The temptation would disappear.
Yes, this was best.
“So we hear you want kids?” Ethan smiled. His eyes roamed Grace’s features. I watched as he shared a knowing look with Andre. But it wasn’t them that had me seconds away from picking up my knife.
It was the absolute fear on Grace’s face. The way her lip trembled. How her mouth opened and closed. Then her eyes darted around, looking for someone to save her.
She never made eye contact with me. Because to her, I was a monster. I was cold and depraved. I didn’t care what happened to her. It was my idea to send her away.
My resolve snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore.
