The Billionaire's Ruthless Revenge Read Online Free Page B

her eyes, finding it impossible to answer the open speculation in his face. “No.”
    “Why not?”
    She shrugged. “I didn’t want to answer any questions. It’s none of his business.”
    “Fascinating.”
    “Kyle, let’s stay on point, okay? This has nothing to do with you and me.”
    “That you think so shows how naïve you are, honey.”
    “Don’t.” She snapped, surprising him with the anger that was evident in the one small word. “Don’t belittle me. I don’t need it.”
    “What you need is my help.” He shifted his weight slightly, bringing his body closer to hers. At another time, he might have apologised or asked her why she felt belittled. But the days of caring about Annie’s fickle feelings had walked out the door when she did.
    She looked up at him with a heart loaded with hope and doubt. “I know.”
    “You’re asking me to cover up a crime.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t know what I’m asking. I don’t know what you can do. Kyle ... I would never ... I don’t want you to do anything illegal. I can’t stand the idea of you getting in trouble too.”
    It was such an absurd assertion that he had to bite back on a laugh. “I’ll do my best to avoid it then.”
    “My only hope in coming here today was to beg you to do anything you legally can to help him. That’s it. And ... to apologise.”
    Something clenched in his gut. A feeling he couldn’t recognise, something sharp and awkward. “Apologise?” He prompted huskily, his deep voice showing scepticism.
    “For my brother,” she clarified quickly. “You did a really good thing two years ago and this is how he repays you?”
    Kyle let go of the breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. She wasn’t apologising to him for her sudden disappearing act, nor the childish way she’d told him their marriage was over: by posting divorce papers to him. No, her apology was reserved for that idiotic brother of hers.
    “I’m so sorry,” she said again, lifting a hand to the hard wall of his chest to show him how serious she was. “I truly didn’t believe he would stuff up again.”
    “You don’t think the first time was a sign that he’s capable of this?”
    “Did you?” She scanned is face in confusion. “Did you think he’d ...”
    “It’s like you said,” Kyle shrugged. “It’s a compulsion with him. It’s not about the money so much as whether or not he can game the system.”
    “Yes.” She let out a whoosh of air. “That’s exactly what it is.”
    “So if I don’t get the police involved, he’s likely to do it again. And again. And again. And what will you do, dear Annie?” He lifted a finger to her cheek and traced it along her soft flesh, his eyes mesmerised by its progress. She startled at the contact, but didn’t step back. “Will you come to me every time? Will you come with your big eyes and your sad little sobs of despair and beg me to fix everything in your life, again and again and again? Is that really how you want to live?”
    She shook her head, but grief was lancing through her. A year ago, she’d felt they were a team. That they’d face anything in life together, side by side. “He can’t go to prison.” She swallowed. The truth she’d been hoping not to have to reveal to her husband sat heavily on her chest. “Juanita’s pregnant.” Saying the words crashed a wave of panic over her, as it always did, but she’d become more adept at coping with it.
    Kyle was fascinated by the clinical statement, as though the very idea was somehow incomprehensible to her. Her concern was understandable though. With Adam in prison, and a child to raise, Juanita would have it tough. He liked Adam’s wife. She was smart and kind, and far too good for the man.
    “And you don’t want her to raise the kid on her own.”
    “Of course I don’t,” Annie hissed, shaking her head at the very idea. “And nor does he.”
    Kyle stepped away from her, hating that his blood was pounding through his