Chapter l190

Chapter 0190

+15 BONUS

He was my lighthouse, guiding me back to the shore, safe through tumultuous waters.

I stepped into him and fell into his chest. His arms wrapped around me on instinct. Gently, he eased me

back into the room I’d left, and away from the hallway where anyone could have happened upon us.

“Oh, shit,” Julian muttered. “It’s not what it looks like I swear.”

Nicholas’s arms came around me, protective yet soft, treating me as if I was made of glass. His voice

exuded anger, however, as he snapped at his brother, “What the hell did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” Julian said at once. He quickly amended, “Well, not like you’re thinking, anyway!”

Nicholas started to growl.

“Piper,” Julian said. “I know you are going through a thing but can you please explain to my very furious

brother that I did not do anything untoward?”

I sniffled, then looked up at Nicholas. He wasn’t looking back, so I reached a hand up and cupped his

cheek. That claimed his attention, and his fiery eyes found mine. Immediately he softened.

“Did he hurt you?” he asked.

I shook my head. “He only told me the truth.”

That wasn’t the right answer. The fire sparked anew in his gaze, a raging wildfire out of control.

“I warned you that he would break your heart,” he said.

“What?” I blinked, not fully understanding. My mind was too caught up in my own misery at the

revelation of my sister.

“Oh my God, Nicholas. Your jealousy really is ugly,” Julian said. He was standing now, when I glanced at

him over my shoulder. His wicked smirk was back. “Maybe I was actually confessing my undying love to

her and she was just overwhelmed?”

“Don’t lie to me,” Nicholas said. “Piper is a good girl and she deserves better treatment than your quick

fuck and forget bullshit. She is a genuine heart and should be treated with love and respect, and not

“What are you even going on about?” Julian said.

“She deserves better than you,” Nicholas snapped.

“Oh, let me guess. She deserves you instead. Don’t make me laugh. You are so emotionally constipated,

”

+15 BONUS

“She’s my friend.”

That all? Then why did you get so mad when you thought she and I were f**king? You can’t even admit

when you are jealous!”

“I’m not jealous,” Nicholas growled, though his arms tightened around me. He held me closer to him.

One of his hands sat low on my backside, just above the curve of my ass. Possessive.

“Now who’s lying to who?” Julian teased.

“Stop,” I said, but my voice was still weak. “Nicholas…”

“I’ll handle this, Piper,” Nicholas whispered to me. “When I’m done with him, he won’t bother you again.”

“Don’t try to stop him, Piper. I could use the entertainment,” Julian said. “Let him think whatever he will.

If he wants to make an ass out of himself, we should let him.”

I shook my head. I didn’t have time for their childish games.

I tapped my hand against Nicholas’s chest. “This is important, Nick. Please stop.”

He looked down at me again. His brow furrowed some in confusion. “What’s important, Piper?”

Julian and I had agreed to keep Nicholas in the dark about our investigation, but that no longer seemed

possible. To protect Elva, and potentially everyone in the palace, I had to share what I knew. His guards

needed to be prepared.

“It’s my sister,” I said. “She’s back.”

“What?” Nicholas looked even more confused. “Since when? Where? What happened?”

Julian sighed. “God damn it, Piper.”

1 didn’t let his disapproval get to me.

I told Nicholas the truth. “Julian and I are still investigating the underground organization.”

Nicholas’s confusion ebbed, but in its place grew anger, bright and hot. “You… what?”