Chapter 26: King of Deception: Chapter 26

I wake early, the early morning light streaming in through the windows.

Arabella lays next me, the bruises even harsher in this light. She’s still asleep and I don’t move for a while, just holding her close. She needs her rest.

But at some point, I’ll need to get up. I have to get back to my place and get proper clothes for today.

If I’m going into battle, I’m going to be dressed for it.

I meant what I said. My family is going to be furious when they realize that I’m marrying Arabella without any advantage to our business.

But I can’t have there be any confusion in Arabella’s eyes. I’m doing this because I love her. Everything else will be second to that.

She stirs next to me, stretching as she pushes back into the cradle of my body. I don’t hesitate, my hand on her belly, I pull her close.

It’s so strange. I never wanted to marry. Have kids. But now… the very idea of a baby in her belly makes my chest tight. My fingers splay out, possessive.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning,” she hums, sounding half asleep still. “Get any rest?”

“I always sleep best when I’ve got you in my arms.” I skim a hand down her arms, hoping to soothe her angry-looking skin. I need to call Killian. Find out the plan for dealing with Preston.

But first… “I can’t stay long this morning, the meeting at Kincaid Enterprises is at nine.”

“What’s the meeting for?”

I grimace into her hair. She doesn’t need to worry about that. “I’m sure your brothers just want to know my intentions.”

“Then I should come with you.”

My body hardens as my hackles raise. I know her family would not hurt her, but it feels like a war zone, especially with Triston also joining, and I don’t want her near that shit. “I think some ugly things are going to get said. I don’t want⁠—”

“No one knows my brothers like me. And honestly, if they get that nasty, no one is better at telling them to shut it than I am. It’s part of the little-sister gig.”

She turns over then, her front pressing to mine, her thigh hooking over my hips. If she’s trying to soften me up, it’s working. “Arabella.”

“If we’re going to be partners, we go into this like we are. And honestly, I want my brothers to understand it’s me and you. They’re going to need to see it.”

It’s not that she hasn’t made some compelling points. “Members of my family will also be in attendance and I’m not sure it’s the best place and time for you to meet them.”

“All of your brothers?”

“Just Triston, I think. We’re twins, actually. Don’t know if I mentioned that.”

Bella gasps, her eyes widening. “You have a twin? How could I not know this?” Then she frowns. “Will he not like me?”

“I think he’ll like you just fine. But he can read me like a book. He’ll know my allegiances have changed.”

She kisses me then. “And you’re afraid he’ll be angry with you and unkind to me?”

“Maybe.” Probably. And things have been difficult enough for Arabella the past few days. What I’d like to do is spare her some hurt and make certain she’s welcome in my family. We’re a hard enough bunch, without adding in the fact that Arabella is from a rival family, and I was supposed to use her for our benefit instead of making her my queen.

But she’s throwing the covers back and sauntering naked toward the shower.

“Where are you going?” I growl out, following.

“To the shower. Coming?”

“Is this the part where I tell you that you shouldn’t come with me and you do anyway?”

“Yep,” she replies smiling over her shoulder. “Don’t worry about me and your brother, I’m not intimidated by grumpy men. That, I’ve been well-trained for.”

I follow behind her, staring at her ass. Which is fucking perfect. And I just know, I’m in so much trouble because, much as I want to, I can’t say no.

We shower, which takes a long time because I’ve got my woman in the shower, but by the time we get out, I’m cutting it close. “I’m going to run back to my place and dress. I’ll come back to pick you up in an hour?”

I don’t live more than ten minutes away and it won’t take me long to get on a suit.

She nods, and then kisses me, clad in nothing but a robe. “Hurry back.”

Is she worried I’ll linger away from her side? She shouldn’t be. I’ll be back before she can curl her lashes.

I get ready in record time and drive back to her place. Coming down the hall, Mrs. Gillette opens her door. “Lot of noise yesterday.”

“Sorry about that Mrs. Gillette,” I give her a wink. “Your call was very helpful.”

She smiles back. “Good. You kick that other guy out? Never liked him. Stick up his butt.”

“Isn’t that the truth. And yes. You won’t see him again.”

“Good,” she harrumphs, as she reaches into the pocket of her bright floral housecoat. She pulls out her phone, holding it up. “I recorded some of the noise if you need it for the police. Arabella’s a good neighbor. Quiet. Goes to bed early. Doesn’t make a lot of noise. But that guy…”

I give her a quick nod. I won’t need evidence against Preston, but I don’t need to tell Mrs. Gillette that. “Thank you. I’ll let you know.”

“You just going to kick the shit out of him?”

“Already did,” I answer with another wink.

She cackles. “Good boy. I like you.”

I chuckle too as I let myself into Arabella’s apartment. She comes out of her bedroom, her hair twisted up in a neat chignon, her dress strapless, her bruises on full display.

My brows lift.

One slender shoulder raises as she shrugs. “You’re not the only one who can strategize.”

The dress makes a statement about what she’s given since her return to Vegas and for the first time this morning, I think she might have been right about coming to this meeting.

She reaches for a light blazer, covering her arms and chest. “For the hall,” she tells me as she does up the buttons. “My neighbors don’t need to see all the bruises.”

I nod, before I tuck her hand in my arm, leading her down to the garage.

We drive in silence, reaching Kincaid Tower in less than fifteen minutes. Entering the lobby, Arabella is immediately recognized, and doors slide open as we’re ushered to the elevator.

That’s when I catch sight of Triston. He’s quietly arguing with the receptionist. “I can assure you, I am meant to be at this meeting.”

I half turn, debating if my brother is an asset today or not. If he doesn’t make it past reception, he’ll be furious, but it will be one less ego in the room, and I can deal with my family separately from the Kincaids.

“Problem?” Arabella asks, even as the elevator door opens.

“My brother.” I’m still trying to decide.

Arabella looks quickly at me and then starts for Triston. She sweeps back across the lobby with all the grace of a queen as she reaches his side, holding out her hand to him. “Mr. Smith, so wonderful to see you again.”

“Arabella,” he takes her offered fingers, his eyes doing a sweep of the lobby until they land on me.

I give a quick jerk of my chin. She leans over, kissing first one of his cheeks and then the other. “I’ll take it from here, Rebecca,” she says to the receptionist.

“But Miss Kincaid,” Rebecca says, as she stands, looking nervous now, “he’s not on the list.”

Arabella waves her hand. “An oversight. No more.” And then she tucks her hand in Triston’s arm, pulling him toward the elevator without a backward glance at the receptionist. The other woman is worrying her lip as she watches them walk toward me. “But Miss Kincaid,” Rebecca calls, “Mr. Kincaid is clear. No one goes upstairs for meetings but people on the list⁠—”

Arabella doesn’t glance back. “Mason will make an exception this time. I’ll make it clear to my brother that this was my choice, not yours.”

Triston gives her an appraising side glance. I’ve been holding the elevator open. Arabella walks past me, leading my brother between the doors. I step in behind them, the doors closing so that it’s just the three of us.

“Rebecca is quite the watchdog,” Triston mumbles.

“It’s the reason Mason hired her,” Arabella nods. “He does not like anything unexpected.”

Then, Arabella lets go of my brother’s arm and slides her coat down her arms, neatly folding the fabric over one arm. I see Triston’s nostrils flare as his gaze skims down her torso. “I should have called you this morning,” he says to me.

It might have been better that we talked first, but the last sixteen hours have been ridiculous. “Killian filled you in.”

“Killian is not a reliable source of information.”

Arabella says nothing as she looks between us, before she slides her hand into mine. I pull her closer, skimming a kiss over her forehead.

Triston catalogues all the details. He does far more dating than I do. He simply has more interest in playing house with ladies, at least short term.

So I know that he knows, I don’t kiss a lot of women’s foreheads. His eyes narrow. “I might as well ask. Where are we in gaining any access to the tunnel?”

I grimace as Arabella looks up at me, her eyes worried. We will lose a lot of money on our casinos without that access, and this was a job my family entrusted to me.

If I were playing at the tables, I would have lost big time.

I see Triston’s fist flex, and I know he’s understanding the truth. Arabella taps my arm, her light touch pulling my attention from Triston. “Let me help with that.”

Her words are quiet, but her large brown eyes are filled with a desperate pleading. She wants to help.

I know that Arabella has been searching for her place in her family. And now, she’ll work into mine. I want her to find herself, but not if it’s going to hurt her. She’s been hurt enough.

But I don’t say any of this as the doors slide open into a large common workroom.

Mason is standing on the other side. His eyes find Triston first, and they narrow into hostile slits. But only for a second.

In a moment, his gaze finds Arabella, and his gaze goes from narrowed to wide-eyed. “You look even worse this morning.”

“Do I?” Her chin notches. “I’m assuming you know Triston Smith?”

I watch Mason’s gaze flicker, fill with indecision. I’ve never seen it before.

“Triston,” he nods, sweeping his hand for all of us to enter.

Arabella lets go of my arm and steps out first, taking her brother’s arm instead. “He’ll be joining us.”

Luke appears, along with Leo.

The office is buzzing, people bustling here and there. Most give Arabella a long, appraising look, before they hurry off. She’s put herself on display and it can’t be easy. But she keeps her head high as she leads Mason toward the conference room.

“I didn’t know you were coming, Bella,” Leo says as he sweeps his gaze down his sister. “This is Preston’s work?”

“Not now, Leo,” she shakes her head. “We can talk about him later.”

“It’s been handled anyway,” Luke says, crossing his arms.

Leo glances around the office, his voice booming over the fifty employees currently in the space. “Everyone make themselves scarce.” The people clear in a matter of seconds.

Leo is the tallest, most muscular, and angriest Kincaid. He could give Killian a rough go of it.

His gaze swings to me, and I’m certain that Leo is not going to let the topic lie. He wants answers. “Neither Luke nor Mason filled me in on the details. And I want them before we discuss anything else. Preston did this?”

“He did.” I come to Arabella’s other side, my hand settling on the small of her back. With her hand still tucked in Mason’s arm, it brings us all together in a way I hadn’t expected.

“Who delivered the justice?”

Mason clears his throat. “Gris came to her rescue, knocked Preston out. Killian⁠—”

But Leo is stretching out his hand to me. I take it. “Good man.”

I hear Mason let out a long breath. Irritation? Frustration? Does Leo’s handshake mean that I found some support?

I might not be down and out after all…