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Good question.
I violated my promise to treat other Knights as if they were my brothers. To put aside all differences and uphold the Charter of The Devil’s Knights.
Fuck.
If Rhys reported this incident, I would face an inquiry from the higher-ups. But then Rhys would have to explain what he did to Fitzy, so it was a win-win.
We would both pay the price. At least it was worth it.
“Pack your bags.” I stood over Rhys, wiping his blood down the side of my shorts. “I want you out of her life.”
And mine.
I couldn’t think straight.
Her naked body made it harder for me to focus. I did a shit job at protecting her because the one person she needed protection from was lying on the floor, naked and bloody.
I failed her.
“You better be gone by the time I wake up,” I told Rhys.
Instead of one of his usual comebacks or insults, he nodded in defeat, wiping the blood from his lip.
I lifted Grace off the bed, cradled in the bedsheet that dragged across the floor as I left the room and headed into hers. “I warned you about Rhys. I tried to protect you because I know what he’s like.”
Tears stained her beautiful face, sliding down her cheeks. I didn’t want to hurt her any more than Rhys already did. So I lowered her onto the mattress and sat beside her.
“You didn’t deserve this, Grace. I’m sorry. This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t crossed the line with you. It’s all my fault.”
“No, it’s not. It’s mine.” Grace clutched her chest and cried harder. “Why would Rhys do this to me? I thought he liked me. Instead, he acted like I mean nothing to him.”
“Your grandfather has just as many allies as enemies.” I put my hand over the top of hers on the bed and felt the tremors rocking through her body. “Let this be a lesson never to trust anyone.”
* * *
After Grace cried herself to sleep, I locked her bedroom door and cleared out the house. I waited for Rhys by the front door. The butler helped him with his bags and carried them to the car waiting by the curb.
Like nothing happened, Rhys whistled some stupid tune under his breath, approaching me with a victorious grin. “Why do you look so glum, Marshall? This day couldn’t get any better, wouldn’t you say?”
I wanted to kill him.
“If you breathe a word to anyone, I’ll hunt you down and bury you.”
He clutched the laptop bag over his shoulder, and despite his bruised face and bloody lip, he looked the same. Still smiling and joking, acting as if nothing had changed. The bastard hadn’t learned anything. No amount of beat-downs would change Rhys Vanderbilt.
“You think I lost, Marshall?” His laughter filled the silence in the house. “Think again, old friend. This is only the beginning.”
The wheels in his mind never stopped turning. By nature, Rhys was always plotting his next move, thinking about his strategy.
I got in his face and bumped my chest into his. “Whatever you’re planning, leave Grace out of it.”
“Don’t you get it?” Rhys leaned forward, so our foreheads nearly touched. “Sheisthe plan. I knew she was staying with you for the summer. My father arranged for me to be here. It was his idea.”
I shook my head. “No, my dad offered to let you stay with us.”
“How about I let you in on a little secret?” Rhys rubbed at his cracked lip, which was bleeding again. “My dad is terrible with money. But he’s good at manipulating people. And I learned from the best.”
I didn’t understand what he could gain from having sex with Grace other than using her to get revenge. The Founders hadn’t exiled his family yet. They were still one of us for now.
