Scorch (Virtues & Lies 2)

“It’s not that bad.”

“But it really fucking is.” Laughing, he wriggles back down my body. “And let’s face it, you love my balls.”

I fail to hold my laugh.

“Well, you have until Christmas because love your balls or not, I am not spending it in a hotel…or with all the family.”

“I thought I married a social butterfly.”

“Once you give me my home, I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”

“You already are, precious girl.” Tears well in my eyes at this new endearment. I have no idea where it’s come from or how it’s stuck. But I love it. I love him.

This ridiculously privileged boy that sauntered into my heart and stole my soul with his cocky attitude and arsehole tendencies.

Chapter 37

Arabella

The atmosphere in the house is strained with the overshadowing uncertainty of what will happen next. Christopher and the other guys are going over all the knowledge I relayed to them.

Nothing that they didn’t already know, the only

thing that has come from me opening my mouth is Leo’s hurt. He won’t look at me, but if our gazes catch, he’ll shake his head with a grumble and look away.

He’s the only thing I had left of Kit. Our friendship is one of the things that helped me keep going. Looking at him and seeing his brother in his smile or in his observant stares, it made my heart hurt as much as it took away the longing that missing Kit filled it with.

“He won’t be mad at you forever.” Casper sits next to me at the piano.

“Yeah?” I continue playing the melody I picked up from the obscene number of times “Bury a Friend” has been on the radio. “He’s the master grudge bearer around here.”

“Can you blame him for being upset? Technically you broke into his dead brother’s apartment and took something that was important to him.”

“It wasn’t his to begin with, and anyway, Kit left Francis the key with instructions on where to find the ledgers and his notes.”

“Don’t get prissy me. I’m here trying to make sure you’re okay.” Tapping an odd key when I change the melody to something a little less passive-aggressive, he nudges me gently.

“Don’t do that.”

“I’m not saying you were wrong, but it was a reckless thing to do. Christopher won’t hammer that in—I get why. But one of us has to. And one of us has to tell you that the least you can do is apologise for going behind Leo’s back. You left a trail, so you might as well have come to us.”

“It’s always so straightforward and easy for you. Right? You just do what you want. You never leave your lane, but I’m the bad person because I didn’t come to you guys and ask permission to do what I needed to.”

“Is that what you think? That we want to control you?”

Control is what everyone around here wants. Even me. I want control over my future. I want power. Really, I want to be the king.

Would it be so bad if the king in this game was me? A woman?

“You’re your own person, Bella.” Tilting to the side, he rests his head on the top of mine.

It must be an awkward position for him given that there’s a significant height difference between us.

“You can follow the path laid for you on your own terms. You can make your own rules…you don’t have to work for Dad’s love. You’re his favourite anyway.” His chuckle does nothing to hide the friction between him and our father.

“Because of Christopher,” I say.

We exchange silent side glances. Casper’s trying to find something to say that will discredit my remark, but it’s pointless we both know it’s true. Until Christopher showed interest in me, Casper was the only child he saw. Georgina and I were spoiled with everything we wanted to make up for his lack of presence.