Shackled Hearts (Chained Hearts Duet 4)

Farris walks past us and straight to her room.

I smile at Merci. “Now is your time. That’s him.” She gets up as I follow her to Chanel’s room and stand at the door. I hear Farris speaking, her chocolate eyes finding mine straight away.

“Why is she staring at you?” Merci asks.

Farris turns around, and his brows pinch at the sight of Merci and me at the door. “Hey, we met.”

I nod, not giving him anything more. He turns back to Chanel while her brother sleeps in the chair opposite the bed.

“He says he’s my fiancé. Is it true?”

All eyes fall on me.

She’s asking me.

Her brother is asleep, and the only face she knows, apart from his, is mine. Not that she knows me, just that Brody confirmed we did.

“Yes,” I say, grinding my teeth.

I’d rather tell her no.

That this fuckhead isn’t the right man for her.

I am.

And we both know it.

“Chanel.” He steps closer and touches her hand. She tries to pull it back, but he grips it. “I didn’t mean what I said. I didn’t. I’m so sorry. The baby doesn’t have to be an issue.”

“Baby?” Merci squeals from the door. “Are you pregnant?”

Chanel’s chocolate eyes find mine, and her brows squish so hard they form one line.

I wasn’t going to interfere, but I do step in and move over to her side of the bed, and as I do, I see her relaxing ever so slightly.

“Why are you looking at him? You don’t even know this man,” Farris says.

And now I see the real side of him—the angry asshole. He doesn’t like the fact that she’s paying me attention. Pity for him, she isn’t his. She’s mine.

“She does, actually,” Merci says from the door.

Brody gets up, walks over, and kisses Merci’s cheek. She lets him.

“We only just met him. She doesn’t know that man. It’s me she knows.”

“Hi, I’m Brody.” Brody holds out his hand for Farris to shake. “I’m Chanel’s brother.”

“And you like drugs, I see.” He nods to Brody’s arms, which clearly show track marks. Ferris doesn’t shake his hand that’s still extended. Brody soon pulls his arms back and puts his hands in his back pockets.

“Who the hell do you think you are talking to him like that?” Merci says, pulling Brody’s hand from his pocket and wrapping her fingers around his. “You should leave.”

“I’m her fiancé,” he bites back.

“You. Should. Leave,” Chanel states categorically.

Farris, or whatever his damn name is, looks over his shoulder to me. “You want me to leave, but this man can stay here?” His eyes pin mine.

“Yes. Lucas isn’t causing trouble and upsetting my brother. I may not remember you, but I remember my brother, and he means everything to me. So, get out!”