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“Belle, wait.” Kelly reaches out and grabs my wrist. “Don’t go.”
“It’s fine. It’s late, and I really do need to find a hotel this time.”
“Fuck,” he curses. “Let me come with you.”
“No. You stay. Sort out whatever…shit is going on here.”
“Belle, come on. You can’t believe this bullshit! This is typical Johnny fuckery, and he’s talking out of his ass. He’s drunk and high. Don’t listen to him,” Kelly begs. I shake my head.
“You may not know anything about it. But Linc sure as hell does,” I say pointedly, shaking my head. “He’s not denying shit.”
“No, there’s no way. You may not know us that well, but I’d like to think we’re close enough for you to realize that we’d never agree to that. Linc especially,” Mica insists.
“Then why isn’t he saying anything?” I snap.
“Because,” Linc takes a deep breath, “it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to kill your waste of space brother right now.”
“Start explaining.” I fold my arms across my chest. I don’t believe Johnny — I really don’t — but Linc’s silence is niggling at me.
“Johnny did suggest—”
“Yeah, I’m out,” I say. I’ve heard enough.
“Belle! Wait, for fuck’s sake!” Linc growls.
“No. I don’t want to hear it. He’s fucking despicable.”
“Agreed,” Mica adds. “Belle, I knew nothing about this.”
“Me either,” Kelly chimes in. “But I’m sure Linc is just explaining things badly.”
“Really badly,” Mica clarifies.
“Yeah.” I shake my head and Mica hastily continues. “Belle, we have real feelings for you. Please, I know it’s only been a few days, but hear Linc out.”
“Guys, just let me go. We can talk tomorrow or something. I just need…to clear my head. You know how fucked up this is, right? My brother tried to…what? Sell? Trade me for his business? It’s fucked.”
“I promise, whatever it is that has happened, it’s not like that. Please, we care about you. And I know you feel the same—”
“Please,” I scoff, cutting off Kelly, turning and reaching for the door to let myself out. “You don’t catch feelings from a finger in the ass, no matter how hard it made you scream.”
* * *
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck…” I curse as I hustle into the complex. I don’t have any way to get into their fucking apartment.
“Miss Belle, are you okay?” Henry asks as I hustle into the building. I yelp, not having seen him again, and as soon as I see the sweet, concerned face of the older man, tears spring to my eyes, unwelcomed.
“Please help…” is all I can muster, and that's all he needs to hear.
“Right this way, Miss Belle.” He places a comforting hand on my back and escorts me toward a room I’ve never seen. I look around the tidy office and spy my bag on the large walnut desk.
“When your brother tried to throw your things out, I saved them. He seemed as if he wasn’t himself, and I knew whatever he was doing was a mistake.”
“Thank you, Cogs,” I whisper.
“I don’t know what happened, and you don’t need to tell me, but I think for the sake of safety you shouldn’t stay here tonight. I’ll help you get a hotel, and hopefully this will all have blown over by the morning. My brother manages the Marquis hotel down the street, so I know you’ll be well taken care of, my dear, if you go there.” His kindness is overwhelming, and the tears I was holding back start to spill down my cheeks.
Henry pats my hand and passes me a box of tissues before moving away to make a call. I blot my tears away and shake my head at myself.
