Tempted by Deception (Deception Trilogy #2) by Rina Kent

It takes me a second to come back to the world of the living. Lia turns her face away from me while still crying, her body shuddering as she whispers, “I’ll never forgive you for putting me in this position.”

“You are mine. Get used to it.” I pull out of her and watch my cum streaking down her thighs to her ankles.

That view will always be my fucking favorite.

I grab her by the elbow to test her balance, but she pulls away from me, using the wall as an anchor.

Gritting my teeth, I tuck myself in, then I turn around and step out of the apartment before I lose the cool that I’m barely holding on to.

Before I confiscate her from the world and keep her for myself.

Maybe that’s what I should do, anyway.

Because tonight, I made irrevocable decisions.

Lia isn’t the other woman. She’s the woman.

And I’m not my fucking father.





21





Lia





I’m numb on the last day of Giselle rehearsals.

In fact, I’ve been numb since the moment Adrian fucked me against the wall, then left me crying on the floor. Right after he made me the other woman.

His whore.

That was three days ago.

Three days since I found out he has a fiancée. A blonde, beautiful one. A Russian, just like him.

One he shouldn’t have looked away from. I don’t have a low opinion of myself, but even I can tell her type—classy, blonde, and with legs that go for miles—is the one that suits him.

I’ve been going through the motions since that day, but I haven’t been living. All I keep thinking about is a way to stop being that woman. That despicable bitch who’s stealing away an engaged man.

I hate him so much for putting me in this position. Even more than when he lured me under his thumb and made me crave him.

Despite the murkiness of that situation, I was able to let go, to let him invade my world. But this situation is completely different and against every principle I have.

And because of that, I need to break away from him. Knowing Adrian’s domineering character, he won’t end it with me just because I demand it. If I fight, he’ll subdue me and even punish me for it. I have to be smart about this and do something that will make him disgusted enough with me that he’ll leave my life in peace.

But no matter how much I’ve racked my brain these past few days, I haven’t found a way.

I’m glad Adrian left me alone during this period, but knowing he’ll eventually come back makes me restless.

Whenever I walk into my apartment and don’t find him there, a mixture of relief and annoying disappointment hits me.

I wish he’d get bored of me, already, but he implied he’d never leave me that day.

If he’d said those words that morning, I would’ve felt different. Slightly scared but probably excited. However, now, all I feel is bitterness, because even the moments we shared that morning weren’t real.

He has a fucking fiancée.

In my parking garage, I spot Yan in his Mercedes right across from my car. He’s been openly watching me. Sometimes alone, other times with another buff, scowly guard who isn’t Kolya.

I usually ignore him, but today, my nerves are shot. I’m anxious about Giselle’s opening, and the whole thing with Adrian is making me lose sleep, startling awake at any sound, expecting him to show up.

I march to Yan and he gets out of the car before I reach him, standing in an erect position. “Do you need anything, miss?”

“Yes, leave me alone.”

His expression doesn’t change. “I can’t.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Boss’s orders.”

“Tell your boss to go fuck himself.”

“I’m afraid I can’t, but you tell him yourself if you like.”

My hold tightens on my bag as I glare at him. A look that he returns with a neutral one.

“Why is he doing this to me, Yan?”

“Honestly?” He lifts a shoulder. “No one but him knows.”

“You’re his guard.”

“Believe it or not, that doesn’t give me access to his complicated brain.”

I pause at the sarcasm. I always thought Adrian’s guards were as stoic as him, but Yan seems to be different. Despite being calm in my presence, he’s not as solemn-faced as Kolya. Besides, he’s pretty to look at.

“Do you know what he plans to do?” I ask.

“Not really.”

“Is he ever going to let me go?”

He winces. “I don’t know.”

“But he has a fiancée.” My lips tremble around the word. Is it supposed to hurt this much whenever I think of it or say it aloud?

“It’s tradition, miss. He’s supposed to marry into the brotherhood. Kristina Petrov is the daughter of one of the leaders and was handpicked to be Boss’s wife, to bear his heirs, and so on.”

Yan’s tone is nonchalant, meant to make me feel better, but it just manages to dig the knife in deeper. Kristina Petrov is not only the most suitable woman for Adrian, but apparently, she’s the perfect candidate, too.

“Then why is he betraying her with me?”

“He’s not.”

“He obviously is.”

He pauses. “It’s somewhat normal to have…”