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He rolled his shoulders and didn’t meet my eye. “I hadn’t realized it was unlocked. Obviously I would’ve left had I known.”
Lies. I didn’t believe him for one second. I would never believe him—or any other man—as long as I lived. I shook my head. “He tried to tell me what kind of person you are, but I didn’t want to hear it. I almost died because of you! What a fool I am.”
“Who?” My father grabbed my arm. “Who has filled your head with lies?”
“Let me go,” I tried to pull away, but he held tight. “And they weren’t lies, it turns out. You are everything he said—and worse.”
A deep angry voice reverberated off the walls. “Get your goddamn hands off her, Kelly.”
CHAPTER12
Baxter
Icharged up the stairs, a red mist coating my vision. All I could see was Kelly’s hand on Belle’s arm, and how she was trying to pull away from him.
Kelly sneered at me. “This is none of your concern, Baxter.”
“Let Isabelle go immediately,” I snarled. “Or I’ll rip your arms off, then throw you and your bloody stumps into the East River.”
Kelly released her, but didn’t move away. “How do you know my daughter’s given name?”
Fists clenched, I headed straight for him. “I know more about her than you do, apparently. I know she’s under the misguided notion that you’re a decent person, that you actually believe the shit you say during those speeches of yours.”
Belle shoved past me on her way to the stairs.
“And where are you going?” I asked.
“Go away, Bax.”
“Keep Kelly here,” I barked at my men as I followed her.
“Leave my daughter alone, you hooligan!” Kelly shouted, leaning over the railing as my men held him back.
I hurried down the stairs. “Fuck off, Kelly.”
When I reached the bottom, I caught up to her at the front door. “Widow, wait.”
She shook off my hand and whirled toward me. Her face was flushed, her eyes wild. “I’m not a goddamn widow! And I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Ever.”
Panic clawed in my throat. I couldn’t lose her. I gestured toward the empty drawing room. “I need to talk to you.”
“You kidnapped my father, Bax, and you locked me in!”
She tried to edge past me, but I darted into her path. I put my palms up. “I’m not letting you leave until you hear me out. Please, Belle.”
I suspected it was thepleasethat won her over. She nodded once and marched into the drawing room. “Talk, Bax.”
I shoved my hands in my trouser pockets to keep from reaching for her. “I’ve handled this all wrong.”
“Illuminating,” she drawled flatly. “And correct.”
“Belle, I didn’t hurt him. And I wasn’t planning to keep him much longer. I just wanted a little more time.”
“To dig for more evidence.”
“Yes, but also for more time with you.”
Her eyes narrowed, like she didn’t believe me. “And you feel this justifies lying to me and hurting my family?”
