Rhys disappeared from my life.I didn’t care if he was in jail or in a hospital, as long as he wasn’t six feet under.It was a fine Friday, I was at the Nyx Collective studio admiring the necklace I’d just designed.I’d used my employee perks to get it custom-made—my design, my materials, my signature, my everything.There was literally only one of these in the world.And in two days, it was going to be Yvaine’s birthday present.I’d barely had time to breathe in its perfection when my phone lit up with Yvaine’s name.Shit. Had she somehow found out?Surprise ruined.I picked up, bracing myself.Instead, I got:‘That dickstain! Next time I see him, I’m stapling his lying mouth shut. The balls on him, spewing bullshit like he’s got a diploma in defamation. Did he eat shame for breakfast or was he just born this scummy?’‘Whoa, slow down, what happened?’ I asked.‘Check your phone. I just sent you some screenshots. That sewer rat’s mouthing off again.’I opened the images.‘Are you kidd
Rhys was chained to a chair.Hands cuffed. Ankles shackled. Designer shirt wrinkled beyond salvation.The cops had rattled off a laundry list of charges: ‘Theft. Breaking and entering. Trespassing. Assault. Disturbing the peace. Kidnapping.’Rhys screeched. ‘You’ve got it all wrong! That’s my fiancée! We just had a little lovers’ spat, that’s all!’One of the officers didn’t even look up from his notes. ‘You stole a passcard to Oakwood Apartments. Broke into her flat. Dragged her out against her will. That’s not a spat, Mr Granger. That’s criminal trespass. And according to our records, she’s not your fiancée. You two broke off the engagement. You’re strangers.’Rhys opened his mouth, closed it, then blinked. Hard.Technically true. But still. Bit harsh.‘Look at me!’ he whined. ‘I’m the one bleeding! Check out the bruises! I’m the real victim here. Arrest Ashton Laurent while you’re at it—he’s the one who smashed my face in!’Another officer raised an eyebrow. ‘Given the circumstance
I slapped Ashton’s hand before he could get to his phone.‘Okay, no. Let the cops deal with it. You’ve already gone full Godfather once tonight.’I wasn’t saying I didn’t want Rhys to suffer.I did.I just wasn’t willing to risk Ashton catching a charge for it.When they dragged him off, Rhys already looked half-dead—blood all over his mouth, shirt soaked like something out of a bad crime doc.‘Rhys isn’t worth going to prison for,’ I said to Ashton, in case he got the wrong idea again.He exhaled heavily. ‘Fine. I’ll leave the police to handle it. How’s your wrist?’I rotated my wrist and winced. Damn Rhys and his gym strength.I didn’t say anything, but Ashton saw the sweat beading at my temple.‘Right. Hospital. Now.’I grumbled, ‘It’s not that bad. I’ll live. It’s late. Too much trouble to go to the hospital.’‘I’ll drive.’ His voice left zero room for debate.I still didn’t move, and he added, ‘What, you waiting for me to carry you?’That did it.I sprang up like my arse was on f
Rhys staggered backwards, arms flailing like someone had yanked the battery out of his spine.Ashton didn’t let up.While Rhys was still trying to figure out which direction gravity was pulling him, Ashton calmly slipped off his watch and shoved it into his pocket.Then he cracked his neck and grabbed Rhys by the collar.And started swinging.One punch.Then another.And another.Until I’d lost count.Until Rhys was spitting blood and barely holding himself upright, body folding like wet cardboard.And Ashton still wasn’t done.He let Rhys drop like a sack of compost.Then he strolled over and stomped him in the gut.Not once.Repeatedly.Real slow. Real controlled.Every hit got another mouthful of blood out of Rhys, like some horrific vending machine.‘Ashton!’ I lunged forward, grabbing his arm with both hands. ‘Jesus, you’ll kill him! Stop!’He turned to look at me.I almost flinched.His eyes were so blue they were almost black, holding a kind of still fury that made my stomach t
I was half-dead on the couch, scrolling through dog videos for inspiration, when someone started pounding on the door.I didn’t order food. Yvaine wasn’t coming tonight.And you needed a building pass just to get on my floor, so that left…Sighing, I opened the door.Yep. Rhys Granger, looking like someone had pissed in his Cristal.‘Nope,’ I said immediately and went to slam it shut.He shoved a foot in. ‘You dodging me now? I’ve got something to say!’‘Say it. Then leave.’‘If you married that guy just to spite me, you win. Fine. You win. I’m here now. You got what you wanted.’I laughed. ‘You think I got married to piss you off?’‘Didn’t you?’ he said, jaw tight. ‘You’ve been into me since we were kids. You don’t just flip a switch and stop. Everything you’re doing right now is just a game.’Oh, for fuck’s sake.I folded my arms. ‘Rhys, the day you let my darling sister crawl into your lap at that bar was the day I stopped liking you. Yeah, I used to be an idiot. But I’m not anymor
Rhys’s head whipped up. ‘That’s not on us. I didn’t cancel the wedding. Nor did I say I wouldn’t marry her. She’s the one who ran off and got married.’Clive swore. ‘Sure. But the bit where you were screwing your ex-girlfriend while still engaged to Mirabelle, that part wasn’t private. Everyone thinks she left because you cheated.’Rhys’s mouth stayed shut this time.Fine, maybe he had been a bit hasty in getting back together with Catherine.But he’d figured Mirabelle would throw a fit, shed some tears.He didn’t think she’d actually leave.Clive leaned back. ‘The engagement’s off. Fine. But we’re not taking the fall for this.’Rhys looked up, hopeful. ‘What does that mean?’‘We shift the story. Say she cheated first. Say she couldn’t wait, jumped ship, married the first man who winked at her. You’re the loyal one. The victim.’‘I… I thought you liked her.’Clive glared at his son. ‘I did, but I like my reputation intact and my investments protected more.’Rhys licked his lips. ‘You