Page 50 of Palace of Betrayal

Bebe laughed. “She won’t want me there.”

“All the more reason to come. You can protect me from her.”

Her body vibrated against this with laughter. “You don’t need my protection.”

“I do. She’s like a praying mantis and I’m scared for my manhood.”

“Perhaps you should have considered that before you slept with her.”

“Ouch.”

Bebe laughed again.

“Yes, I was stupid but you can’t hold that against me. Can you?” He gave her his best impression of puppy dog eyes, trying to get her to agree. He didn’t want her out of his sight and that might be stupid, but it was how he felt.

“Fine, I’ll come.”

Leo grinned and kissed her neck, letting his lips linger with the promise of more. “Thank you, I’ll make it up to you later.”

“Damn straight you will, mister.”

God, he loved this feisty woman, but he wouldn’t tell her, not yet. When this was over though, he’d lay it all on the line and hope she felt the same.

Fifteen minutes later he was parking outside Chelsea’s home, which was less than a five-minute walk from the Marina and the luxury nightclubs the island had to offer. Her home was lavish and stood beside only two others on this road. The gates opened and he drew his car inside and parked at the entrance.

He got out and rounded the car to offer his hand to Bebe, who graciously took it. “We won’t stay long.”

The door opened and Chelsea greeted him in nothing but a silk dressing gown, her make-up an inch thick and her hair falling around her shoulders. He ground his back teeth at her obvious attempt at seduction and Bebe squeezed his hand in support.

Chelsea pouted, her lip curling in dislike. “What’s she doing here?”

He turned, about to walk away but stopped when Bebe placed a hand on his. “Talk to her. I’ll wait in the car.”

He cupped her cheek, ignoring a fuming Chelsea beside him. “Are you sure?”

He didn’t want to be there. His gut was telling him to leave, his army instincts itching with a warning. But these days every time they went out, he felt that way.

“Yes, she might be able to help, and I can wait in this awful car of yours for a few minutes.”

His lips twitched at her description of his Lamborghini. “I won’t be long.”

He kissed her lightly and waited for her to get in the car before he followed Chelsea inside the house. The home, like the woman, was over the top with large, garish artwork, pictures of herself in every room, and lots of animal prints scattered around the house. Including a rug he knew was real fur.

Chelsea moved to the bar and poured herself a neat vodka, her choice of drink and held the bottle up. “Drink?”

“No, thank you.”

“Oh, come on, Leo, don’t be mad. I just wanted to talk to you. This whole thing has me shaken.”

“Fine but only a soda water. I’m driving.”

Chelsea smiled and poured the drink while he walked to the window of her living room and looked out over the perfectly maintained gardens. He wished it looked out over the drive so he could have eyes on Bebe but it didn’t.

“Here.”

Chelsea moved close and handed him the drink before she sashayed her way toward the couch. He watched her, wondering what he’d ever seen in her and realised it had been easy and convenient. That was the only reason he’d ever taken this woman to bed. He felt a modicum of sympathy for her but shot it down. He’d hear her out with decency and then get the hell out. He owed her that at least.

Moving, he sat opposite her as she crossed her legs, allowing the fabric of the gown to fall open and reveal her almost invisible underwear to his eyes. The gape in the middle told him she wasn’t wearing a bra and instead of desire, he felt disgust sting his veins.