Page 117 of The Elusive Billionaire

Wrecks growls in his direction but doesn’t leave Clover’s side—almost as if he knows she needs his protection more than anyone else.

Wrecks and his loyalty give me strength. “I have nothing to hide.”

“So you lied to them,” he counters.

“On the contrary. I told them every sordid detail of my past, Riley. Something you can’t comprehend because you’ve built your stories on lies.”

“It’s strange, don’t you think?” He glances to my left, and he must be staring at Elle because Cian rumbles behind me.

“What’s strange?” Elle sasses.

“The story she’s undoubtedly told you all. If that were the truth, do you think her own family would turn on her as they have? Her parents, her brother, even her best friends? Her sugar-coated version of the truth has always skated over her actions that led us all here.”

“Her family is a piece of shit that never cared about her. That’s not Savvy’s fault.” Grey’s a solid wall of muscle behind me. He’s so close that I feel every intake of breath and the words that rumble through his chest.

“Savvy,” Riley hisses. “That’s what you go by now? Sweet, isn’t it?”

My clenched fists ache at my sides. “I have nothing to say to you, Riley, so unless you’d like to get to your point, it’s time for you to leave.”

He jumps to his feet with more agility than I thought his paunchy belly capable of. Grey instantly shifts to my side, making Riley’s grin turn positively menacing.

“My point. You want to know my fucking point?”

Grey slides a hand around my waist, attempting to push me behind him, but I don’t move as Riley stalks close enough that I can see the veins in his neck and temple that give away the poison rotting his insides.

“I’ll get to my point when you call off your guard dogs. We have things to discuss—in private.”

“Not happening.” Grey’s tone is cold and final, but I know Riley. He won’t leave until he gets what he wants.

“I’ll speak to you in the kitchen, but I won’t ask anyone to leave.”

Grey snaps his head to me. “Are you kidding me? No way, Monroe. Not happening.”

I press my hand to the center of his chest, silently reminding him to trust me. The sooner I deal with this asshole, the sooner I can get him out of Madi’s inn.

Whatever Grey reads in my expression has his jaw clenching shut and the muscles in his neck pulsing rapidly. “Ten minutes, and then I’m coming in.”

It’s the best concession I’ll get out of him, so I nod my head. At least he’s trying to let me lead this.

“Savvy, are you…are you sure?” Clover asks before chewing on her bottom lip.

“I’m sure. Thank you.”

“Leave the door open.” Grey’s voice is as rough as coarse gravel. “I mean it, Monroe. Keep it open.”

“This way, Riley.” I lead him into the kitchen, then hook the swinging door open. In my periphery, Grey has angled himself to have me in his sights.

It gives me the confidence I need. Stepping around Riley to the opposite side of the island, I keep the large slab of granite between us. From this vantage point, Grey appears over the top of Riley’s shoulder, only a room away.

“You have ten minutes to tell me why you’re here, and the clock is ticking, so again, I suggest you get to your point.”

“My point,” Riley says through clenched teeth, “is that Paige lost the use of her legs. I lost years of my life, Austin lost his sister, and what did you lose?” The dark, destructive edge in his voice nearly has me calling for Grey, but I stand firm.

I can do this.

I’ve lost more than he’ll ever understand—I lost myself, and it’s time I found her again.

“Nothing,” he spits. “You lost nothing.”