When he releases me, I run into the kitchen, pulling a knife from the drawer, and spin on my heel to face him. The liar. “Get. The. fu*k. Out,” I hiss and he holds up his hands in defeat.
“Princess—”
“Shut. The. fu*k. Up. Don’t you ever come near me again, you lying fu*king bastard!” I screech before he can get the nickname he gave me out. I lunge at him, causing him to flinch. Adrenaline shoots through me in an instant, warming my blood. I manage to slice his arm. It’s small, but he rears back once more.
He grips me hard and shoves me against the refrigerator, but I don’t relent. I fight him as much as he does me. His gaze locked on mine in resignation. His phone interrupts us again and that’s when I’ve had enough of his goddamn lies. I attack him again, but he doesn’t allow it.
Instead, he hisses, “Listen to me, Ella.”
“We’re done. Get the fu*k out. Did you play this game with him?” I shove the card at his chest. My voice is hoarse, shrill, and my throat burns in agony. The fear on his face only infuriates me more and I lift my knee, getting him right in the spot I want him, and he keels over. Shoving him toward the door in his crumpled state, I pull it open and he stumbles into the hallway.
He’s gripping his cock as he hisses through clenched teeth. “Ella… Listen to me, please.” The ringing, his words, everything becomes too much. It’s all too much.
“Leave me the fu*k alone. We’re done. It’s done. Do not come near me again.” Slamming the door in his face, I lean back against it and slide down the wood. His banging from the other side is loud and echoes around me, but I don’t relent. Tears stream down my face, and the sobs choke me as my heart is gripped in the pain from the truth that so violently fu*ked my world apart.
One man took not only my innocence, but now he’s ripped one of the men I love away and I’m left with nothing. I’m not Carter Hamilton’s obsession, I’m his. The monster who stole everything from me. And the realization has my body wracked with sobs. When the banging on my door ceases, that’s when my world crashes down around me.
I’m alone.
I’m dead inside.
I’m just a broken, tainted little girl.
I’m just a filthy whore.
Carter
Most of my years I’ve spent inside different women. Each night I’d fu*k them and walk away. It didn’t matter if they were married or if they had a boyfriend. I wanted to get my dick wet, so I did. I ploughed through half of my sorority, and then most of my personal assistants.
Even though I wanted a long-term relationship, I’ve never found anyone worthy of my time.
Until her.
Ella Carmel walked into my life.
Now, she’s pushed me away without allowing me to explain who he is, why he was calling me. I don’t blame her for being scared. I should’ve told her. We thought it would be easier if she never knew my uncle was the one behind her pain.
Pulling out my phone, I hit dial on Bennett’s number.
“I need your help with Ella. We were fine, and then Charles called. My phone was on the sofa between us and she saw the name and photo of my uncle on the screen. She freaked out, called me a lying bastard, and then pulled a kitchen knife on me,” I tell him while stalking to my car. Slipping into the driver’s seat, I plug in the hands-free kit and pull out onto the road.
He sighs, then chuckles. Bastard. “She stabbed you?”
“No, flesh wound mostly. We need to fix this, but she won’t allow me back into the apartment to explain.” My office isn’t far from here, so I’ll grab what I need from there and make contact with Charles. Perhaps I can find out his location.
“She hasn’t called me. I’ll try her in a few minutes. I wanted to get this done tonight, but Sarge says he’s on the move and they lost his trail. We can, however, head over to his apartment.” There’s a satisfaction in his tone and I have a feeling what we’re about to find is nothing short of horrific.
“So far, she’s safe. He was calling me, so it means he wants to make contact. We can search his place first, then you can come here and talk some sense into Ella. I can’t lose her, Bennett,” I warn.
“I know. We won’t lose her. I’ll text you the address.”
“Okay, I’ll help you. Give me twenty minutes.” I nod in agreement.
“I’m just heading to my office now. There’s something I need to get, and I’ll meet you there.” I hang up and speed down toward Canary Wharf. The afternoon is quiet thankfully and moments later I’m pulling into the parking lot.
The lift is waiting when I reach it. I try calling Ella again, but her phone is now directed to voicemail.
“I need you to listen to me. I’m not working with him. I’m ready to kill the bastard. Please, Princess. I love you.” My words are raw, honest. It’s the most I’ve given a woman. Ever.
Steel doors slide open and I step out onto the top floor. As I head to my office, my assistant smiles up at me. Once I’m in the privacy of my space, I make a beeline to the safe and open it. Inside is the beautiful Hamilton blade. It’s been passed down from father to son for centuries, and I recall Charles wanting it a long while ago. This is his time to finally get what he wants.
“Mr. Hamilton, there’s someone here to see you.”
Glancing at my assistant who’s standing in my doorway, she seems nervous and fidgety. It can’t be my father because he normally walks in without announcement.
“Who is it?” I question, shutting and locking the safe. I settle into my seat, waiting for her response, which doesn’t come immediately.
The beautiful brunette twirls into my office with a smile so bright it could power the whole damn building. “Carter.”
“Kat.” Raking my fingers through my hair, I sit back as she closes the door and strides toward me. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see how you’re doing.” Katherine pouts as she flops into one of the chairs opposite my desk. “How is your new lady friend?” Her amber eyes—which match our father’s— sparkle with curiosity.
“Fine.” I don’t want to talk about Ella, the woman who’s somehow woven herself into my ordered life, fu*ked with everything I know and who’s not letting me near her.
“Carter Hamilton, are you going to lie to me?” There’s nothing I can get by her. My sister has a built-in bullshit radar and right now it’s beeping directly at me.
“We had a fight. There’s something that happened and she doesn’t trust me, but she hasn’t given me a moment to explain.”
My sister sits forward, devouring every detail.
“Charles called. Our uncle had something to do with her when he was in the States,” I inform Kat, wondering if she’ll admit what happened to her.
I still don’t understand how Charles knew I’d be with Ella. There must be more to the story. I glance up to find my sister pale and her eyes are about as wide as saucers.
“Kat?”
She regards me for a moment before responding. “You said Charles called. You mean Carlo, Mom’s brother, the one who moved to the U.S.?”