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“IamBraxian.”
“No. You. Are. Not,” William said, his tone clipped. “You’re a half-breed. Remember who dragged your half-dead body away from the Braxians?”
I took a menacing step towards him. “Tread carefully, human.”
“Or what, boy?” he said, taking a step as well. “You’re going to use your superior strength to beat me within an inch of my life like the good Braxian you think you are?”
I flinched. Yes, that’s what a Braxian would do.
“Why the hell are you trying to provoke me?” I said, running my hand through my hair in frustration.
“I’m trying to stop you from being a fool. You have a sweet, gorgeous young woman who cares for you, and you keep treating her like shit.”
“She humiliated me!” I shouted.
“She did not. You felt insecure and jealous, so you punished her for it. Grace danced innocently with her best friend. She didn’t deserve this, and you know it. That’s why you freed her early.”
I turned away, unable to withstand his accusing stare. Everything he said rung true.
I poured myself another drink. The amber liquid reminded me of Grace’s eyes. “You didn’t see it. The way they were whispering…”
“Marcus told her she should stay with you.”
I froze, my glass paused halfway to my mouth.
“She agreed and hoped you’d want to keep her permanently.”
My hand shook and alcohol sloshed onto my shoes. I put down my glass. How could that be true? Girls like her didn’t like guys like me, only my wallet.
“You don’t know that,” I whispered. “You weren’t even there.”
“Seriously, Anton?” William asked. “I talked with Grace this morning when I brought her water.”
“Ah,” I snorted, understanding at last. I tried to hide my disappointment. “So she sweet-talked you into thinking she liked me, and you bought it.”
“No, you stupid boy,” William said. “I’m your Head of Security, remember? Who the fuck do you think set up the surveillance system throughout the Hive?”
Oh right…I picked up my glass and swallowed its contents.
“After talking with her, I spent the past hour getting the footage from Risqué and cleaning up all the noise. There are two videos in your inbox you’ll find mighty interesting.”
I frowned. “Two?”
“Yes,” William said, crossing his arms over his broad chest. “Why don’t you go have a look? It’s quite revealing.”
I walked around my desk and sat down. After locating the files, I launched the first video to display on the vidscreen on the wall. A recording of Grace and I dancing at Risqué appeared on screen. My stomach clenched.
“Do you see how she holds you? How she looks at you like you are the most wonderful thing she’s ever beheld?” William asked. “The best is yet to come. Wait for it.”
I knew what the best was. And a few seconds later, I watched the beautiful, tender yet passionate kiss she gave me.
“That’s genuine,” William said, pointing at the screen. “You’ve found yourself a girl who sincerely cares for you. And what do you do? Torture her and drive her away over some stupid culture that never even accepted you, to begin with.”
He had made his point. “Enough.”
“Yes, Anton. It’s enough.” William strolled over and placed his hands on my desk, his eyes boring into me. “We’ve been friends a long time. I’ve never told you what to do or meddled in your affairs. But this time, you need to wake up. You deserve a bit of happiness. Even now, light years away, Braxia is still fucking with your life. Let it go. Stop giving them power over you. Stop allowing them to twist you. You’re a better man than this. They needyou. It’s time you start setting the rules rather than following theirs.”
Pushing himself up and away from the desk, William marched out of my office, closing the door quietly behind him. I rubbed my hands over my face. How did it get so complicated? This wasn’t the first time William hinted I should sever my ties with Braxia, but he had never been this blunt before.
