Amusing You - Claire Cullen Page 0,54
in the omega’s tone. How long had his father been whispering in Harper’s ear? How long had he been poisoning the omega against him? He wanted to beg Harper to listen to him but couldn’t get a word past his lips.
Harper stepped toward him, holding his gaze for one long moment. “I know.”
Then he spun around, looking from Dante to Samuel. “You faked a pregnancy. And you helped him.”
William let out a shaky breath, gathering up what strength he had as Dante and his father talked over each other in a desperate attempt to spit out their denials.
“Get out.” Three sets of eyes turned his way. “Both of you. Get the hell out and stay away from me.”
“But, William…”
“Get the fuck out!”
That got Samuel moving, faking wide-eyed fear as he moved toward the door. “I only want what’s best for you. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Dante wasn’t so easily dissuaded.
“Please, William. Don’t give up on us.”
“There is no us!”
His hands balled into fists again, and he made himself back up as Dante tried to move closer. He hated not trusting himself, but he was so fucking angry, so furious that Dante and his father would try to insert themselves into his life again.
But there was no fear of Dante getting close to him as Harper moved to block him, his arms folded.
“You heard him. Get out of here.”
Dante jabbed an accusing finger in Harper’s direction, closing in on the omega.
“This is between me and William. Butt out.”
William moved, catching hold of Harper, and guiding the omega behind him protectively. “There is no you and me, Dante. Anything between us is long dead. How many times do I have to say it?”
“No,” Dante insisted, shaking his head. “If it was really over, you wouldn’t have left your ring on my finger.”
He pulled the ring off, setting it on his palm. “It’s a symbol of our eternal love. Just like gold, it will never fade.”
William was about to ask him to leave again, but Harper spoke first.
“William might not be petty enough to take back an engagement ring. But I am.” He snatched the ring from Dante’s hand and peered at it. “We could melt it down, or maybe just flush it. I vote the latter.”
When Dante lunged for Harper, William stepped between them, holding out his hand for the ring. Harper gave it to him, giving him a tight smile that William struggled to return. Without a word, he strode to the front door, with Dante hurrying after him. “William, wait—”
He tossed the ring out the open door, not looking to see where it went. Dante made a sound of dismay and rushed out. William slammed the door after him, locking it before turning back to Harper.
“Um…”
“Upstairs,” Harper said. “So we won’t hear him if he returns.”
They climbed the stairs, William pausing at the top to mute the buzzer to his apartment. He walked into the living room and stood there motionless, unsure what to do next.
“William?”
Harper stepped around to stand in front of him.
“You knew. I never told you. How did you—”
“A lot has happened that you don’t know about. I have questions for you. Beckett filled in some of the blanks, and I worked out some of the rest for myself, but there’s a lot I’m missing.”
“Of course. We have a lot to talk about.”
Harper stepped closer to him, reaching out to press his hand to William’s cheek. “It doesn’t have to be now, tonight. Not if you’re not ready.”
“No, I… you deserve to understand what just happened and why.”
He was exhausted, barely able to get the words out.
Harper looked him up and down, his eyes full of compassion. “I think you should lie down. Couch or bed?”
Even that simple choice made his brain freeze. Harper just sighed and manhandled him into the bedroom. The omega pushed him to sit on the bed and helped him get out of his confining clothes, leaving him in his boxers and undershirt. William flopped down onto his side, the sheets cool under him. Harper climbed onto the bed next to him, mirroring him but leaving some space between them. He started talking, his voice soft and quiet as he explained how Samuel had lured him to the clinic and told him all about William’s engagement to Dante. How it hadn’t rung true to Harper, so he’d talked to Beckett, who had explained about the fake pregnancy.
“But… how did you know about my dad? I never told Beckett he helped Dante.” The betrayal