Accidental Knight: A Marriage Mistake Romance(32)

I have to dig deep to remind myself that’s not my role. Ultimately, I hold my silence, but let my thoughts boil through my face. Especially the death valley glare pointed at Avery Briar.

The sneaky fuck has been after North Earhart for years, and every last word he showed Bella singing his praises is false.

Jupiter Oil never left anything but a trail of destruction in its wake. None that can ever be traced back to them, of course, but I know what they did, and it’s bad news.

“Why don’t I step aside for a family discussion?” Avery asks, rising to his feet. “Mr. Larkin and I will wait outside.”

My eyes almost bug out.

I’m not going anywhere. I let my taller, straighter, ready-to-kick-his-ass stance relay that.

Bella shakes her head. “No need for you to wait outside, Mr. Briar. I won’t be making any big decisions in the next few minutes, or even the next hour. Thank you, though, for stopping by.”

Finally. She’s obviously telling him to leave, so I step forward, fully prepared to help make it happen.

“Annabelle!” her mother snaps, her long nails digging into Jonah’s armrest. “Mr. Briar traveled all the way here to meet us and this is hardly any way to treat a–”

“Mr. Larkin will show you to the door,” Bella says flatly, totally ignoring her.

There you are, darlin’! There’s the girl I married.

I’m so glad to see her backbone return, I don’t even think how weird my mind is running.

“You heard Ms. Reed,” I growl, nodding at Briar and shooting him a replica of the infamous sneer he’s always aiming my way. “Let’s go.”

“Of course, no trouble,” he says to Bella, and then hands her a card. “Call me the instant you want to talk more. And my condolences again, Jonah Reed was a remarkable man. Truly the beating heart of this little town and–”

“Briar. Now.” It’s not a request.

If he doesn’t start moving, I will drag his ass out. Away from Bella and a room he isn’t fit to shine with a toothbrush.

He nods at her parents one more time before walking toward the door.

I’m right the hell behind him, resisting the urge to shove him along.

I follow him to the front porch, wanting to trail him all the way to his Suburban, but I need to know what Bella’s saying, too.

It isn’t hard to make out Molly behind the door, demanding to know what the hell she thinks she’s doing. Her ma’s little fit is damn near loud enough for Edison to hear, but Bella’s answer is too soft.

She’s still speaking, but I can’t tell what. Her actual words are impossible to hear.

Avery knows it, too, and drags his feet walking down the steps. I want to kick him square in the ass.

But assaulting a prick like this isn’t the way we do things. Even if I’d enjoy busting his teeth out, asking what he knows about certain missing people I cared a whole hell of a lot about.

He’s finally in his Suburban a minute later.

Go on, you bastard. Get!

I take a step back inside the house, keeping one eye on him. As he backs up the SUV, I hear the fucking queen mother shouting again, something about Drake Larkin is supposed to be an old Army buddy.

Evidently, Jonah told them all that. I swallow a chuckle.

It’s less funny that neither of Bella’s folks ever cared enough to find out who the hell I was, living with an old man who was part of their family.

Once I see the Suburban disappear, turning at the end of the driveway, I shut the door and head for the office.

“This whole thing is sickening. Nothing but a big game. And look at you – both of you – staring at me like I’m the crazy one. I bet he’s laughing, wherever the hell he is!” Molly’s voice erupts through the door, barely even muffled. “Well, Gary, if you won’t put your foot down, I will. I’m putting an end to this idiocy now, you hear? I’m not letting that reckless old goat walk all over this family when he’s not even here to gloat about it. Annabelle, you’ll – hey! Get. Back. Here.”

Fuck.

I start reaching for the door, but before I can grab it, Bella storms out. She stops just short of smacking into me.

Tears are blazing in her eyes, and the pinch of her face says she’s fighting to hold them in, which cuts like a hot knife. She meets my gaze and shakes her head.

“No,” she whispers. “Not now, Drake. I just...I want to be alone.”

My jaw pinches. As much as I hate the fact right now, she’s my boss.

That’s not something I’ll ever say out loud, but it’s part of my military training. Listening to orders. It also gives me an advantage.

She walks into the living room and I take charge, stepping into the office doorway. “Ms. Reed would like you to leave now,” I tell her parents, every word like sandpaper.

“What?” her mother asks, whipping around. “You’re joking?”

I don’t give her an ounce of respect and look at Gary instead. “This is Bella’s property. Not yours. Or mine. So I’d really appreciate it if you’d save us both some trouble and get the fuck gone.”

Gary blinks once. Then he stands up slowly.

Shit. He’s an empty mask. I can’t tell if he’s ready for a fight or he’s folding.

“Gary? Sit down!” Molly shouts. “We weren’t going anywhere before, and we’re certainly not going anywhere now. Not until this dreadful man apologies.”