Page 148 of Wicked Dares
“Arthur—”
“No.” His voice cracks through the room. “Don’t you dare start talking yet. You lied to me. Fucking lied tome.” His face tightens with hurt more than rage now. “You lied to Ellie Mae. You lied to our whole family.”
“I’m sorry. But it’s not what you think.”
“What the hell do you mean by that? That contract is no lie. It’s clear as hell.”
I stand and hold up my hands. “I know, but I love her. I love Piper. We were never fake.”
That’s the truth. Right from that first night. And those words come straight from my heart.
Arthur lets out a humorless laugh. “Do you seriously expect me to believe that? For all I know, she could’ve been an actress.”
“No. She’s not. She’s a real person who loves me.”
“That supposed to make me feel better?” He shakes his head slowly. “I welcomed you into my home. Trusted you. Treated you both like family.”
Guilt punches straight through my chest. “I know.”
“No.” His gaze hardens. “I don’t think you do. You may have thought my demands were ridiculous, but those were my terms. You made me believe a lie, and I took you under my wing thinking you were genuine.”
Fuck. I didn’t know things could get worse.
Before I can answer, my phone suddenly rings and vibrates against the desk.
I look down at it.
An unknown number flashes across the screen.
Normally, I’d ignore anything like that. Not today. Anything could be happening with Piper.
“I have to take this,” I tell Arthur.
“I am talking to you about serious matters.”
I don’t argue. I answer the phone, stopping it mid-chime.
“Who is this?”
A quiet laugh crackles down the line. “Hello, my new friend. Levi Vale.”
Reece.
Every muscle in my body locks instantly.
“How did you get this number?” My grip tightens around the phone hard enough that my knuckles ache.
“I don’t think that matters.”
Arthur seethes before me. A man like him should have walked out by now. He’s only sticking around because he’s not done with me yet.
“What do you want?” I growl. My tone makes Arthur narrow his gaze.
“Just to talk. Man to man. I wanted you to know I’m getting my girl back.” He sounds high. Piper mentioned drugs.
“You need to stay the fuck away from her.”
“No. I don’t think so. Anyway, you have other things to worry about. I don’t think
