Chapter 15: King of Deception: Chapter 15

Driving from Arabella’s I call my brother Tris. “Are you home?”

“No. I’m at the office.”

“All right. I’ll meet you there in fifteen.” I need this conversation to be reasonably private, but that can be achieved in Tris’s office or my own.

Tris manages far more of the daily operations of the company.

Killian is our muscle.

I am the face. And by that I mean, I shake the hands, I negotiate at bars, and on the golf course.

I use a combination of charm, intelligence, a will made of iron to seal any deal I set my mind to closing. My lack of emotional involvement, however, makes it all possible.

It’s part of why what happened with Mason Kincaid pisses me off so much. I never lose like that.

Then again, losing has brought Arabella into my arms.

I give my head a little shake. What has gotten into me?

My phone rings, Luke’s name flashing on the screen. “What’s up?”

“What the fuck is going on between you and my sister?”

“What did she say?” I flex my fingers on the wheel. Even asking that question is a tell that there are secrets.

“She said to talk to you.”

So. She’s keeping our deal of mutual destruction. She didn’t rat me out. “There’s nothing to say.”

“She also said I’m no better than Mason by sending a playboy to manipulate her.”

Those words hurt more than they should. Granted, that was completely my intent, and I made her break it off with Preston.

“Listen. I am not manipulating your sister. I am about to speak with my family because…” I rarely misstep when it comes to a negotiation. But I cannot decide if I should tell Luke I’m considering marrying Arabella myself.

I can’t see the path. Will he be relieved or livid? I never misstep like this and, as if I need more evidence, I am getting emotionally entangled and it’s clouding my judgment.

But maybe that’s because I shouldn’t talk to Luke at all. Arabella is the person I should speak with first.

“Because?”

I sigh. “Because Arabella broke it off with Preston.”

“I know. She told me. Right after she accused me of being no better than Mason.” I can hear the hurt in his voice. Luke is chill. Nothing bothers him. But Arabella’s anger clearly has him riled.

She’s like that, I guess. Able to get under the thickest skin. “She is pissed at you.”

“You weren’t supposed to tell her we were friends.”

“I…” I swallow down a lump. “I quickly realized that lies were not going to get us where we needed to go.”

Luke lets out a long breath. “At least she broke up with that complete piece of shit. She doesn’t need to get married if she doesn’t want. Mason is not pushing her into that. If it’s the last thing I ever do for her, I’ll give her that freedom.”

I frown. There are a million reasons for me to tense at his words. But one of the biggest… it puts me and Luke on a crash course of interests. Not to mention, if Arabella doesn’t take over the shares, Mason just has more power. “Look, Luke…” I don’t want to lie to him. I think I’m tired of playing the sides against each other.

Which might be the craziest thing I’ve ever thought. I love this game.

“Yeah?”

“Arabella is drowning. She’s not meant to be in the middle of all this. It’s not her nature.”

I’ve known some women who are titans of the industry. I admire the fuck out of them. But that’s just not my girl. And it doesn’t matter to me, I’m a guy with enough drive for both of us. I like how she’s soft enough to temper all my hard edges.

“I know it,” he says, in a tired voice. “I swear that Mason is doing all of this to force me back in the company.”

The light bulb goes off. That’s exactly what Mason is doing. From involving Arabella to backing Preston, Mason wants Luke back in the fold and Arabella is Luke’s weak point. I smile as I pull into a spot.

Because a new plan is beginning to form. “What if that is what he wants?”

“I won’t fucking do it.”

Tris is going to kill me. “What if you sold your shares to me?”

Luke pauses. I know what he’s thinking. Much as he likes me, Mason does not. If Luke sells to me, in Mason’s eyes, Luke will have let the enemy right into the heart of Kincaid. There would be no going back.

“I’ve got to think on that one.”

We hang up as I pull into our office building. It’s not nearly as big or impressive as Kincaid Enterprise’s high-rise in the heart of Vegas, but then again, I save our money for what really matters.

I stride to the elevators, making my way to our fourth-floor office. Smiling at the receptionist, I pass by several employees, making my way to Tris’s office. His assistant stands. “Mr. Smith.”

I know Jeff will probably try and stop me. Tris doesn’t like unexpected visitors. “He knows I’m coming.” I wink at the man and keep walking, because I don’t like to be delayed and I don’t really care what my brother likes or doesn’t like. The beauty of family.

Tris is sitting at his desk, on his phone. “No, Killian, I don’t think there is time for you to do a big game hunt in Africa this month.”

“Tell that fucker to keep his shit together,” I rumble. Killian is incredibly good at his job and loyal to the core.

But even as his brother, I know that guy’s not quite right. He likes killing things way too much.

Tris switches his phone to speaker.

“Yeah, Gris is here, and as usual, he’s a merry ray of fucking sunshine.”

I quirk a half smile. “Hearts and fucking roses. That’s me.”

Tris laughs and so does Killian. “Keep my shit together, huh?” Killian grouses. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you if I don’t.”

“Are you about to go off the deep end?”

“Maybe.”

Fuck. We don’t need another variable in play here. I look at Tris, who’s got his teeth gritted. “Gris, how are things with the Kincaids?”

I run a hand through my hair. “You know how in every plan shit seems to fall apart before it comes together?”

“Fuck,” Tris rumbles.

“I’m working on several plays,” I hold up my hands. “Not sure which one I’m leaning into yet.”

Tris mutes the phone. “Send him away or keep him here?”

If things get ugly, I might need him. I reach over and unmute the phone on the desk. “Kill, can you hang in Vegas another week? There might be some dirty work here.”

I practically hear Killian’s blood rising. “Yeah. I can hang.”

“So, tell us about all the options,” Tris will not be swayed by Killian’s bloodlust. He wants information from me, but I’m not sure how much I want to give.

“Arabella has broken it off with Preston, leaving Mason vulnerable.” I force myself to sound casual.

Tris’s mouth falls open.

“I’m considering buying Luke’s shares.”

“No fucking way,” Tris rumbles. He knows it would wipe us out of cash. To be clear, we would not go in debt the way Mason has. But we would be cash poor, which will limit future options. “And why would he sell to you?”

I haven’t told my brothers that Luke and I are friends. And that Luke is how I got access to Arabella in Hawaii. “Because he’s as pissed at Mason as we are.” I hadn’t told them that either.

“You’ve got a lot of information on this one,” Tris cocks his head.

“That’s my job,” I answer evenly.

“You know a lot, even for you.” Tris suspects the truth. I’ve got an insider. Actually, I’ve got two.

I push to standing again. “Either way, the engagement is dissolving as planned, which means Mason is about to make a move. We need to be ready.”

Tris stands but his gaze is skeptical. “You said you had multiple plans.”

We stare at each for several beats before I finally pull my shoulders straighter. “I’m considering marrying Arabella myself.”

Both my brothers explode at the same moment. I can’t hear what Killian says over the phone because Tris is loudly spitting a wild string of curses.

“If Preston Wingate can do it, why can’t I?”

But Tris shakes his head, giving me a skeptical glare. “You were acting weirdly possessive at the benefit. You haven’t… developed feelings, have you?”

“I don’t have feelings,” I reply. “I’m like Killian, only sane.”

“I resent that,” Killian grumps back. “I have loads of feelings. It’s controlling them that I struggle with.”

Both Tris and I look down at his phone, as Tris scoffs. “I suppose anger counts as an emotion.”

“Fuck you both,” Killian says and hangs up.

“You pissed him off.” I’m trying to change the subject.

“Everything pisses him off,” Tris answers. “I’d rather talk about you. I don’t think this marriage plan is a good idea.”

“It’s an excellent idea. It’s why Wingate proposed.”

“Yeah, but…” He leans forward. “You’re too invested.”

“How the fuck would you know?”

He drops his chin, his gaze narrowing as his lip curls. “Let me marry her instead.”

“Fuck that.” The words are out before I can stop them. It’s a mistake. I should have played it like I didn’t care, but I can’t. The very idea of my brother touching Arabella has me crawling out of my skin.

Tris shows his teeth. “You are catching feelings. How the fuck is that possible?”

I could deny it. But instead, I stand, “I’ve got a handle on this. We’ll get what we need. You know you can always count on me.”

Tris starts to argue but I’m done talking. Did I say the noose was tightening around Arabella’s neck? I’m no better.

Plans and allegiances are shifting on every side. But that’s all right.

I was made for this. I don’t know how I’m winning yet, but I will. Because it’s never been more important that I don’t lose. It’s not just my life at stake, but Arabella’s too.