Page 54 of Kinks of a Billionaire

His shoulders tensed. “May he rot in hell.”

For the next mile or so, we hiked in silence, both of us lost in our thoughts. Ten years of close friendship and I still felt like there were layers to Royce that I hadn’t peeled back.

I opened my mouth to ask him a question when we stopped at the top of the hill and a trickle sounded in the distance.Water. Royce pulled me deeper into the forest, and with each step, the rush of water grew louder.

“Is it a waterfall?” I asked in awe, my gaze darting left and right.

“I think so.”

Another half a mile and the moment the unobstructed view of the waterfalls appeared, I stopped breathing. They ran between two hills, rushing down off the cliff and into the river.

It was only then that I spotted a mansion at the base of the hill, standing out with its two-story modern architecture. Yet, somehow it fit right in amongst the beautiful greenery.

I gaped at the fairylike setting, unable to peel my gaze away. The river flowed on the left side of the manor, wide and deep enough to accommodate a boat, and disappeared inside a mountain.

“This is just… wow,” I whispered.

“I’m glad you like it. Although, I’d like to know what you’re doing on my property," an unfamiliar voice came from behind us.

Royce and I whipped around, and my mind blanked. A Greek god stood in front of me. It was the only plausible explanation as I stared at the man with gunmetal-blue eyes and a rugged beard. His blond hair was tied with a black ribbon, pulled away to reveal a harsh but beautiful face. I cleared my throat and averted my eyes before they could dip down his chiseled chest. Instead, my gaze caught on an odd tattoo—a symbol settled in the mouth of a skull—peeking through his white shirt. I’d never seen anything like it.

“Well, well. Asher.” I shot my husband a surprised look. He knew this guy? “It seems you used me andmycatamaran to transport your goods.”

Asher smirked, clearly unimpressed. “Call it payback for saving you.” His blue eyes flitted back to me. “And your wife’s ass.”

A growl vibrated in the air, mixing with the thundering waterfalls.

“Mention my wife’s ass again and I’ll kill you,” Royce gritted.

Asher threw his head back and laughed. “You Ashfords should really learn to practice restraint when it comes to your women.”

What the hell did that mean?

Chapter 26

Asher

“Well, this feels like déjà vu,” I remarked, studying Royce and Willow. “Same threats, different day.”

“Fuck you, Asher. You used me.” I shrugged—he wasn’t totally wrong. I saw an opportunity and I went for it. I alsosavedhis ass, so he should be thanking me. “What kind of shit are you smuggling?”

“Don’t worry about it. My men are getting it off the boat as we speak.”

Royce wasn’t pleased with this turn of events at all.

“Offmyboat.”

“You insisted on buying it,” I replied.

“Exactly,” he gritted. “Which means everything on it is mine.”

“That’s not how the world works.”

“And what if I take it back?” Royce challenged. Judging by the look in his eyes, he’d probably try. He’d be sorely disappointed because the product wasn’t anything he imagined.

“There is nothing you can do with this cargo,” I drawled. “Trust me. It’s not my usual.”

“Well, whatever it is, you care about it, so?—”