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I hear the front door slam shut, and curse myself again for never locking it. A small part of me hopes it might be Brax, he’s far too arrogant to knock. But that’s just wishful thinking.
Clambering off the bed, I walk across the landing until I get to the top of the stairs and when I look down, Julian is standing on the bottom step looking right back up at me.
Only this isn’t the Julian I know. The man staring at me looks so different. His usual perfectly styled back hair is out of place, there’s even a hint of stubble lining his jaw.
His suit is creased like he hasn’t changed in a few days and his chest lifts heavily. He seems unhinged, like he’s about to strike.
“You lied to me,” he says coldly, as he takes a step closer.
“I—”
“Why did you tell me you were staying with a friend?”
“I was staying with a friend,” I lie, and this time it’s not to protect the Souls, it’s because I’m too scared to tell him the truth.
“A female friend?” he asks, dropping his head to the side, as he takes another step. “Think really hard before you answer that question, Grace?”
I don’t know what to say, he’s scaring me, I’ve never seen him so enraged before.
“I had an interesting conversation with Mrs. Deferman on the phone. She told me all about you and your lovely fiancé paying her a visit. Do you want to tell me why you did that, baby?” he grips at the banister until his knuckles turn white.
“I just needed some answers,” I speak so feebly as I take a few paces back, my shoulders eventually meeting with the wall behind me. Julian charges up the rest of the stairs, standing nose to nose with me before I have the chance to run.
“You’re gonna need to tell me everything that sweet old lady told you, or…” Taking my throat in his hands he pins me to the wall. “I’m going to have to hurt you.”
My head throbs, and I feel the veins in my neck pulse against his fingers. All my fear and confusion builds into a loud scream that threatens to come out. I do everything I can to swallow it down and salvage some composure.
“Why does it matter?” I ask sweetly. “Her husband was just a friend of my mom’s, he never made it to the funeral, then I heard he’d passed away. I wanted to check she was okay.”
“And since when have you cared about anyone other than yourself, you obnoxious little brat?” His spittle lands on my face as his nose presses into my cheek before he pulls back enough for me to see his face. “You're coming with me.” He takes a fist of my hair in his hand and drags me down the stairs. My scalp feels like it’s on fire, until he releases me and shoves me hard in the back so I tumble into Mom’s office. I fall on the floor and take some breaths to calm myself before I lift my head.
“Where is it?” he asks as he trudges toward me, fisting my hair again and using it to pull me on to my feet. “I pulled this place apart while you were gone. Now tell me where it is?”
“Where is what?” I yell back at him. “You’ve gone fucking mad.”
I hear his hand slap against my face before I register any pain.
“Your mom’s secret little files. The ones she was using to try and shut down the agency.”
How does Julian know about the agency?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I sob, hoping my lie is a convincing one, because I have a feeling if he figures out that the Agency has already been shut down, I’m heading for more than a slap on the face.
“Don’t fucking lie to me.” His hand crashes in to the back of my head, forcing me down so my head crushes between his palm and Mom’s desk. “You disappear, visit Joe Deferman’s wife, then all of a sudden, agency clients start dropping like flies. That ain’t no coincidence, Grace. Are you working for them too now?” he’s desperate, and I suddenly notice how tired his eyes look, yet his grip remains strong.
“Julian, what has this got to do with you?” I ask, feeling a cold chill leak down my spine.
“I have to stop them before they come for me,” his voice is a whisper, and I realize that he’s actually afraid.
“No,” I shake my head against his hand, as tears drip from my eyes and onto Mom’s desk. “No!” I shout louder, and my stomach heaves when he places his finger over my lips to keep me quiet.
“Don’t sound so disappointed in me, Grace darling,” he leans over my body, the finger of his other hand sliding up my bare thigh and making me wretch. And he laughs inside my ear before he slides his tongue over my cheek. “So how will it be, baby doll? You gonna tell me what you know, or am I gonna have to fuck it out of you?”
“Please don’t. Julian, your name… it wasn’t on the list,” I blurt out desperately. If I can calm him down, I might be able to escape.
“What list?” he steps back, a look of shock now on his face.
“I found my mother’s list, your name wasn’t on it. Do you really think l would have come home if it was?” Julian looks confused now and I sense him weakening.
