“Bring it on, babygirl. You’ll never escape me. You belong to me now.”
CHAPTER 46
PIERCE
She wanted to be alone to sleep…so I took her clothes.
If she tried to leave, it would be naked through the woods during a thunderstorm.
I liked my chances of her staying, at least for the night.
The next morning, while she slept, I retreated to my study. I stared into the fire, waiting for the weight on my chest to ease.
It didn’t.
The Worthington Legacy.
The Worthington Curse.
My study was usually an escape. Ornate wooden bookshelves lined the walls, their dark oak frames worn and polished with age. Volumes of ancient texts, their spines displaying intricate golden inlays, rested in meticulous order. Today, everything just looked garish and overdone in the harsh morning sunlight.
Skylar, my former fiancée, stood in the doorway.
My brother had sent her.
There was a slight swelling on her cheekbone. Of course she covered the bruise with makeup, but makeup could only do so much.
My fingers closed into a fist. Had Madison been forced to cover bruises from his hand? I shook off my murderous thoughts. There would be time for that later.
For now I needed to focus.
The question was…was Skylar here to learn my plans…or kill me.
Patience was never a virtue my brother possessed. He had to be getting anxious to finalize his plan to get rid of me so he could take my place.
She glided toward me. Her lean curves shifted with every step, something I used to think was sexy. Now it seemed predatory, and worse, jaded.
If she thought I was prey she’d be gravely mistaken.
A gilded clock ticked softly.
Breaking the silence, I took the lead as I crossed to the sideboard. “You know, I’ve been meaning to replace my butler,” I remarked.
Despite the early hour, I poured us both a brandy. If I was going to cross swords with her, I’d need a drink.
“His penchant for admitting unwelcomed guests is starting to become problematic. Don’t you hate it when people forget their place?”
Her shoulders tightened and I knew my meaning hit.
Her laughter, delicate yet mocking, resonated in the vastness of the room. She raised the glass I handed her before retaking my seat. “Tell me, what should we toast to? A new business venture, or maybe fanning an old flame?”
Holding up my glass, I couldn’t resist the urge to taunt her. “How about to my forthcoming nuptials?”
Her hand stilled and she stared at me over the rim. A heartbeat later, she took a sip.
She then shifted away to survey the room, perhaps searching for clues or maybe just taking in the extravagant surroundingsthat could have been hers and were now slipping from her greedy grasp. “Who’s the lucky girl?”
I smirked. She knew who it was. She was at the courthouse every single day watching me watch her.
