Say I Do (Wilde Ways #10) - Cynthia Eden Page 0,46
crazy. Her head was spinning and—
“Is that why you nearly broke the door down?” Dex’s hold on her was gentle, but unbreakable as he snarled at Roman, “You wanted to get in her face and hurt her?”
“She needs the truth! She needs—”
Dex looked down at Lacey. “I pulled you back because you might feel guilty later for beating the hell out of him. But don’t worry, I won’t.”
She frowned. What was he saying?
“Step back would you, baby? Got to make sure you don’t accidentally come between us.”
His arms had fallen away from her. She stepped back.
“Thanks so much.” Dex flew forward and plowed his fist into Roman’s jaw. “I just fucking told her I wouldn’t let her be hurt!”
Roman tried to punch back.
Dex dodged the blow. Swung again. Hit. “I made her a promise, then you dragged your ass in here and you told her news in the worst possible way. Like you’re trying to piss me off. Stop hurting her! She loved Jason Amari. He was her dad, her father in every way that counted, and when you talk about him, you damn well talk about him with respect, you understand me? He’s not some guy. He’s her dad. That’s what he’ll always be.”
It was like—like Dex had just read her mind. Everything he was saying was playing through her head over and over again.
Dex’s breath heaved out. He backed away from Roman.
Roman’s lower lip was bleeding. He brushed away the blood. “Why in the hell are you acting like it matters to you, Dex? This is all just a ruse for you. Another game.” His gaze found Lacey. “You think he cares about you? At all? Bullshit. He doesn’t care about anyone. The engagement is fake.”
Well, sure, it was, but—
“If he’s fucked you, it’s because it was part of his plan.”
“You know, there are many reasons why I don’t like you. So many, many reasons.” Dex rocked forward onto the balls of his feet. “The fact that you are standing in front of me, disrespecting my fiancée? That’s currently at the top of my list. Stop it. Or you will regret it.”
Roman’s eyes blazed as he rushed for Lacey. His hands curled around her arms. “He’s using you.” His hold tightened. “Don’t you see that? You’re a pawn, nothing more. He pulled you in because he wanted to use you in order to get to me. But he miscalculated. My enemies are coming after you. They want you dead. Or hell, maybe it’s his enemies that want you to die. Either way, by bringing you in, he’s put a giant target on your chest.”
His fingers were digging into her arms. “Get your hands off me.”
He looked down at her arms. “I…”
“Now!” Dex shouted. He locked a hand around Roman’s shoulder and hauled him back. Then Dex leveled his stare on Lacey. “You okay?”
Absolutely, a million times not. She was most certainly not okay.
He must have read her expression clearly because he locked his fingers around the back of Roman’s neck and shoved him toward the door. “Excuse us for just a moment, Lacey.”
He forced Roman out of the suite. The door slammed shut behind them.
Lacey stood there with her knees shaking. Before, she’d gone out of the suite because she wanted to see Roman. She wanted to hear the truth.
The truth was ugly and twisted. Learning about who had killed her parents hadn’t given her closure. It had broken her heart. Ripped away the memories of a family that she’d treasured.
Her arms wrapped around her stomach. She had to get the hell out of there. Lacey strode to the bedroom and started packing.
Maybe I am running and hiding…because it hurts too much to do anything else.
***
“I always knew you were a soulless bastard, Dex, but to use her like this—to make her think you wanted to marry her, that you cared even as you screwed her over—that’s a new low, even for you.”
Dex kept a very cold smile on his face as he glanced at the two, wide-eyed agents. “Give us five minutes, would you?” He motioned for them to walk away.
They immediately rushed for the elevator.
When the area was clear… “I’ve been civil with you so far—”
“Civil? You nearly broke my jaw!” Roman rubbed a hand over his jaw.
“I’ve been mostly civil because you are her brother. I happen to know that Lacey values family, so I was trying to exercise care