Chapter 8: King of Deception: Chapter 8

I give myself the afternoon to cry.

At five, having barely eaten breakfast, and then having thrown it up in a bucket, I order from my favorite Thai place.

I didn’t have lunch either and I know I’m going to need fortification before I call Mason.

Preston hasn’t called me back.

I fire off a text to Luke, asking him to meet me for drinks. He responds instantly naming a time and place. I accept with a small smile. I’ve got to start mending my family somewhere.

Raw and in my sweats, I eat my dinner, trying to keep my stomach from revolting again. I’m not looking forward to the next conversation I need to have.

Tossing the containers out, I pick up my phone and call Preston again. It’s after six, he should be between the office and before his dinner, he likes to eat late.

But he doesn’t pick up.

I sigh out my frustration. I just want this call over with. Do I go to his hotel? Camp out until he comes through the lobby?

He’s staying under the Kincaid name. I might even be able to get a key to his room…

But I don’t have to do any of those things as my phone rings, Preston’s name popping up.

“Hey,” I say, already sounding breathless as I pick up the phone.

“Hey,” he replies back, clearly distracted. “Are you dressed?”

I blink down at the phone. What kind of question is that? “I’m not naked, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Jesus, Bella.” As usual, he sounds irritated. “For dinner. Are you dressed for dinner?”

I’m so sick of this. Sick of him and the constant implication that I’m not enough. That I’ve messed things up. “Preston, why would I be dressed for dinner?”

“Because…” he snaps back. “We’re dining with your brother and my parents tonight.”

My mouth drops open. “You might be, but I’m not.”

“I told you⁠—”

“You told me nothing, as usual.”

“Last-minute invitations are part of the bargain.”

“Whose bargain? Which bargain?” I feel my anger rising like the tide. “How long have you known about this dinner that you didn’t bother to tell me about? Stop acting like it’s always my fault and never yours.”

“I told you⁠—’

“I’m tired of this, Preston. I’m not going out to dinner tonight.” I glare at my phone, no part of me wanting to back down.

“Get fucking dressed,” he grits into the phone. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

“No.”

“You get dressed, or so help me God, the wedding is off.”

Is he breaking it off with me? Is this actually happening? “Fine by me. The wedding is off. Goodbye, Preston.” And then I hang up. There. It’s done. And honestly, it was far easier than I thought.

A light giddiness steals through me. I’m free.

I know it’s going to get ugly, but in this moment, relief is the only emotion I feel, grinning at the bay window in my living room.

I draw in a ragged breath and look down at my phone. I’ll need to call Mason. My whole plan for remaining engaged was to first get Luke and Mason to make up. Then I could end things without worry of Mason, Luke, or Kincaid Enterprises suffering.

If I’m going to get this right, though, I need more information.

Biting my lip, I look down at my phone. Roman, Luke, and I grew up together. Mason has been like a father.

But I have one other brother, the second oldest, Leo.

Leo and I aren’t close.

When my father died, Leo took the first bus to crazy town. Muscled and unhinged, my other brothers have kept me from Leo.

But he met a woman, married, and has a baby on the way, and honestly, he’s like a completely different man.

With that in mind, I hit the button and place the call. Leo’s phone rings twice before he picks up.

“Ari? Is that you?”

“Hey, Leo,” I say, scuffing one of my feet on the floor. “It’s been a while.”

“I saw you at the benefit two nights ago.” I can hear a crowd in the background. Leo runs our clubs. His wife, Kim, was one of his dancers. He must be at one of them now.

“Right. I forgot.”

“You were busy looking miserable.”

“Did I?” I wince. “Shit.”

“No swearing,” he admonishes, sounding more like an older brother than I have ever heard him.

“Sorry.”

“You gonna tell me why you’re calling. Something wrong?”

“I…” I take a big breath. “I just broke it off with Preston.”

“Thank God. What a fucking twat that guy is. Need me to beat the shit out of him?”

I start to giggle but it turns in a full-blown chortle that has me bent over in glee. “Not yet. But I’ll let you know,” I finally push out. I’ve never loved Leo more.

“Ari,” he says, using his own nickname for me. “I know I haven’t been a very good brother.”

“It’s all right, Leo. I’ve got plenty of male influence. If you’d joined in, I wouldn’t have gone to school in New York, I would have had to go as far as France or maybe even Japan.”

It’s his turn to laugh. “Right.”

“I did want to ask you something, though.” I draw in a deep breath. “Mason isn’t going to be happy when he finds out about me and Preston.”

“Fuck. Yeah. If you’re calling because you need me to stand between you and our bossiest brother, you got it sister. I never miss a chance to kick Mason’s ass.”

Leo and Mason fight like cats and dogs. But somehow, they manage to stay together. Maybe it’s because Leo just calls Mason out on his shit and then they punch each other. “I might have to take you up on that.”

“Good.”

“But that isn’t why I called.”

“No?”

“I… um… I’m wondering what happened between Roman, Luke, and Mason.”

Leo lets out a long breath. “Roman and Luke didn’t tell you?”

“No. They’ve been super mum.”

Leo is quiet for a second and I think he’s not going to tell me. “Basically, Mason was being his controlling self. He didn’t tell Roman that Luke was alive when Luke disappeared because he wanted Roman to keep up with the tunnel project. And then, he manipulated Luke into almost ruining Kate’s career.”

I stare at the phone. “Mason loves us. Why would he do that?”

“Because…” Leo lets out a really long breath. “He wants us to be untouchable. He doesn’t want what happened to dad to happen to any of us. But sometimes, he loses the forest through the trees, you know.”

Yeah. I get that. He’s doing the same thing with me and Preston. Trading my happiness for a new network.

“Thanks for telling me, Leo. That really helps. It explains why Luke is so pissed.”

“Yeah. It sure does. But what I want to know is why knowing that helps you?”

“Hmmm,” I lick my lips. Leo has been honest, I should be too. “Promise you won’t tell?”

“Pinky swear,” his deep voice rumbles into the phone.

“I’m going to try and convince Luke not to sell his shares.”

“Fuck.” Leo gives a low whistle. “Go big or go home.”

“I…” I run my fingers over my counter, my nose twitching. “I might need help, Leo.”

“Finesse is not my strength, but I’ll do what I can.”

“Thanks,” I whisper, glad that I called him. I like this Leo. I’m about to tell him, when a knock sounds at my door. My brow furrows. I don’t get much company.

“What was that?” Leo asks, the protective brother coming out in an instant.

“Bella, open up,” Preston calls, banging again. “We need to talk.”

“Shit. It’s Preston. He’s here.”

“Need me to come over? I’m only ten minutes away.”

“I don’t know. Maybe. Can you hang on for a second?” I walk over to the front door, peering out into the hall through the peephole. I see Preston, looking furious. Behind him is Mason. I bring the phone to my ear. “You don’t need to come. Preston brought Mason.”

“The cavalry?”

“Something like that.”

Leo lets out a heavy sigh, like he’s feeling bad for me. “Trying to convince you to give the engagement another go?”

“I imagine so,” I answer in no rush to answer the door.

“Bella, open the door.” Preston bangs again. “We’re already late.”

“Open the door and then give the twat the phone,” Leo rumbles in my ear. “I’ve got a few things to say to him.”

I slide the lock over and then twist the knob.

“What took you so long?” Preston is almost purple, his hands clenched at his side.

I don’t answer as I hand him the phone. “Leo wants to talk to you.”

Mason glares at me over Preston’s shoulder. “Really? Leo?”

I notch my chin. “Preston brought reinforcements, why can’t I?”

“I’m not⁠—”

Through the phone, I can hear Leo spitting and cursing as Preston goes from purple to pale.

I cross my arms. “What do you want then, Mason?”

“Can you please come to dinner tonight? We can discuss you and Preston later.”

Preston hangs up my phone, pressing it back into my hand. “Your brother is⁠—”

I hold up my hand. “I don’t need your opinion. Not anymore.”

Preston’s mouth presses into a firm line. “Can we talk? Please?”

I shake my head and then my gaze meets Mason’s. His eyes silently plead. “I’ll go to dinner with your parents. I don’t want to talk.”

Preston gives a curt nod.

I turn and, leaving the door open, head for my room. Time to trade the sweatpants for the heels.

I’m reading in twenty minutes. It would have been sooner, but my eyes are still puffy, so I needed some artful makeup.

No one talks as we take the limo from my apartment to the restaurant. When we enter, it’s apparent that we’re late.

Preston’s parents are seated with three other men I don’t recognize. Mason immediately begins handshaking, leaving me with Preston as his mother approaches. “Darling, there is fashionably late and then there is just rude.” She shoots me a glare.

“Apologies, Mother. It’s my fault. I forgot to add this dinner to the calendar, so Bella didn’t know it was happening.”

Mrs. Wingate rolls her eyes and my teeth snap together. I am not in the mood for this.

My teeth lock tighter together. At least in a few hours, I’ll be meeting Luke. And this time, I’m coming armed with the kind of information that might make this nightmare end.