Page 110 of Filthy Little Pretties

He’s silent, but I can hear him breathing. I twist to look at Caroline, who’s looking at me with an expression of awe, mouth open and pulled into a half smile, eyes wide. “Give me your phone,” I mouth to Caroline. But she shakes her head, pulling herself together. I reach out, palm up, and hook my fingers, beckoning.

“Donovan. I’m—”

“Hold on,” I say to my father, cutting him off and placing my phone on mute as I glare at her. “Open your phone and give it to me. I need the photo you took.”

She’s white as a ghost, stumbling over her words. “What? What photo?”

I would love to savor this moment, but we don’t have time.

“The photo of me and Paul…when he tried to kiss me. I knew I saw a flash.” She starts to shake her head, but I give her a smirk. “Nobody else would care, except for you.” Her eyes narrow, and she looks like an animal that’s been cornered. “Don’t lose your cool now, kitten.”

Ooo, if looks could kill. Caroline doesn’t lose often, that’s obvious. Her fingers press on the screen as the face lights up, and she opens her photos, my phone vibrating only moments later.

“You’ve never been in my league. But it’s been cute to watch you try and keep up.” Her head lowers slightly as I type out a message on my own phone and turn my attention back to my call, taking it off mute. “Father.”

“I’m here. Plotting more?”

I laugh at the accuracy of his statement before saying, “Look at your phone.”

Caroline and I sit in silence, waiting for him to respond. I’m prepared for every possible reaction except the one I get.

“Dear God, Donovan. Why didn’t you come to me? Are you okay? Did more happen than this photo?”

“What?” I almost choke on my words. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he cared. But I do know better. “Do we have a deal?”

His answer is immediate.

“Yes. Neither of these stories will make it to publish.”

“No, run mine—put it on Page Six and make sure we look like lovebirds. It’ll make the Hearst family want to do damage control and lock everything down. They won’t want any information out about what really happened. And you’ll already have controlled the narrative just in case. You could spin it to make Grey look like a goddamn hero.”

Caroline lets out a whistle, and I wink in return. My father clears his throat, and suddenly I feel nervous because he isn’t speaking.

“I don’t know what to say, Donovan.”

“Agree to the terms. That’s all.”

“Done…but…I have to say something. I always thought you were like your mother,” he states without emotion.

I take it, trying not to let it hurt before I snap back defensively, “I know. Calculating whore, got it.”

His voice rushes out, uncharacteristic of his manner. “But I think you may be more like me after all. There was a time when I was loyal, protective, and fought fiercely for the things I believe in. Unfortunately, I forgot those qualities until you just reminded me that I haven’t used them in about five years.”

Did my dad just tell me he’s proud of me?

“Okay, well, thank you for the help,” I say a little quieter, a little more grateful. “I’ll check in later?”

“Okay.”

Grey

MY CHEST BURNS WITH THEforce that my breath leaves my body as I hurl a book across the room and charge at Liam again. The sound of the paper flutters in the air as Kai’s arm goes around my neck, pulling me backward, trying to get me to settle, but it’s not going to happen. They’ve doubled down, trying to keep me contained, but nothing matters anymore.

My thoughts are singular. Donovan.

“Grey. Chill,” Kai roars, trying to keep me off balance.

My elbow lands a heavy blow to his stomach, and the wind leaves his body, forcing his arm to loosen. I twist, shoving him off me as he stumbles over to where Liam is standing in front of the door. Rage courses through my body and burns my vision, only matched by the force of their determination.