Page 118 of Coercion

But we both know Preston would gut him for touching me like that.

“After tomorrow, that’s exactly where Preston will be. Where he and Nico will be.” My mother says clapping her hands together. “I hope you’re proud of yourself, Ruby, you’ve played a pivotal role in bringing them all down.”

I can’t stop the tears as they fall. I can’t hold them back as it hits me that Preston didn’t realise what was going on. That this is a trick. He’s going to come tomorrow and these bastards are going to murder him.

“Take her back to her room.” My mother says, waving her hand in frustration.

“Allow me.” Jace says.

We shuffle out of the room, me being compliant, wondering if this is the moment, that we take a right instead of a left, that we head down instead of up.

Only, that’s not what happens.

“Jace…” I gasp. We could do it now. I know we could. We could be out of here and away before my family even realise.

“You that eager for me already?” He murmurs.

“What?” I gasp, shoving him as hard as I can.

He spins me around, pinning me against the wall and drops his eyes to stare at my chest once more. “Do you know how hard it was, to watch, to wait, to know he was going home every night to fuck you?”

“What…?”

His mouth turns into a grin that makes my stomach lurch.

“You’re Preston’s man.” I say, like my stupid brain can’t think of anything else.

“Wrong.” He says, slowly dragging a finger down from my neck to my cleavage.

“But…” He has to be. He works for Preston, why would he be screwing him over?

“You’re mine, Ruby.” He says, lowering his mouth to my ear. “That was the deal I made. I passed on information, I spied on Civello and Morelli for years, I helped steal millions of diamonds from your uncle, all so I could have you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I snarl.

He grabs my wrists, yanking them up, wrenching them above my head and I scream out as my skin protests.

“That’s the deal your mother made.” He says getting right in my face. “She gets the mines and I get you, along with a few diamonds of course.”

No. No. It can’t be.

Why the fuck would my mother agree to that?

But then my mother is a greedy, heartless bitch. Of course she did.

My mind starts racing, trying to figure this all out. Is he the reason Jett has been able to access the house so easily? The way he managed to bypass all of Preston’s security?

“Get the fuck off me.” I snarl.

He lets out a laugh. “No point fighting it, Ruby. This time tomorrow you’ll be on your knees, choking on my cock if you know what’s good for you.”

I screw my face up, raise my knee, and slam it into his groin. Like hell I’ll ever willingly do that.

He groans, doubling over but he’s forced to let me go and I seize the opportunity to run.

But I barely get a few metres away before I see Jett stood, blocking my path, glaring at Jace like he wants to gut him.

“Please…” I begin, only he’s quick to grab me, quick to haul me back to my room while behind us Jace starts shouting out exactly how he’s going to treat me this time tomorrow.