Page 89 of Bared Betrayal

Sebastian’s phone rings, and he darts up. “Shit, I have to take this. I’m going to take this in the other room.”

Once the door closes behind him, I cut my glare to Gabriel. “What are you doing?”

“I’m not doing anything.”

“Bullshit. You’re deliberately trying to control the narrative here by pushing me into a corner. You’re manipulating a situation that’s already painfully uncomfortable enough as it is.”

He lifts his brows. “Seriously? I’m trying to control the situation by asking if you’re happy with the wedding plans?” He gets to his feet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know it’s frowned upon to want to know what you really want for lunch and not have to hear how you’re not allowed to fucking pick up weight.”

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Gabriel storms toward me. “Don’t try to get you to open your mouth? To find your goddamn voice around my son?”

“I can’t do this with you. Not with Sebastian right here.” I reach for my phone in the back pocket of my jeans when it slips and falls to the floor. I quickly grab it, and the screen lights up with the text I received earlier.

“What is that?” Gabriel growls over my shoulder, and I try to put it back into my pocket when he grabs it from my hand.

“Gabriel, please.”

“Who the fuck sent this to you?” His eyes are wide, grooves forming on his forehead.

I lick my lips, my stomach knotted and heavy. “I don’t know. I got messages from that number before. I think it might be a reporter.”

“That doesn’t make sense. If a reporter out there already knows you’re Kalliana Pearson, they could just go public without speaking to you. Blow it all up.”

“I didn’t think about that,” I say, my thoughts scattering in a million different directions.

“Text back.”

“What?” I frown at Gabriel in question.

“Text whoever it is back.” He holds out my phone to me. “Tell them you’re ready to talk.”

“Are you insane?”

“Just do it.” He steps up so close his spicy scent fills the air around me, instant flames erupting beneath my skin. “Arrange a meeting. I’ll have the entire area set up. It’s the only way we can smoke this fucker out.”

“No. I’m not doing that. It’ll all just blow up in my face. It always does.”

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid Sebastian will find out.”

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”

“Are you serious? Someone is out there threatening to put your past on the front-page news, and you think you can still stop Sebastian from finding out?”

“I don’t want to do this right now.”

“Oh, we’re doing this.”

“Stop.” Tears are burning behind my eyes again. “Please, just stop.” I clench my jaw, and he takes a step toward me, forcing me to move back. He keeps stalking closer until my back is flush against the wall and he cages me.

“You’re afraid he won’t like the real version of you. You’re afraid of ruining that perfect fucking picture he has of you inside his head.”

“So what if I am?” I snap, glancing around, making sure Sebastian isn’t nearby. “Is it wrong of me to want to be normal? To try to forget my past and live a normal fucking life?”

He scoffs. “You think lying to your future husband is normal?”

“I did what I thought was best for me. I thought a life with Sebastian would be my only shot at happiness.”