Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 89

Parker glanced down at the woman, the chill of his glasses betraying his impatience as he moved to walk past her.

‘Parker?” Tiana piped up, a hint of confusion in her voice. “Did I do something to you? Why are you ignoring me?”

Great, the little ditz had completely forgotten.

His henchmen dared not laugh. This woman had no shame–she had nearly forced herself on Parker that night, leaving his shirt and belt all askew.

As the man strode away coldly, Tiana was left baffled. He gave off a dangerous vibe, ruthless and intimidating; she shivered at the thought. Better to keep her distance, she decided.

Leaning against the wall, Nolan eyed the sweetly clueless woman making her departure and flashed a wicked grin at Parker’s men. “Does Parker have a thing with Whitney’s little friend?”

The henchman chuckled. “A bit, yes. Parker had to take a cold shower afterward.”

Nolan clicked his tongue, gossiping, “Parker, your fiancée never got you all worked up, huh? What’s little Tiana’s secret?”

Parker glanced at Nolan’s charming, playboy face and could not help but sneer. “Laughing at me? Look at yourself. Your beloved gal got scooped up by your big brother, Ashton Fuller, and you’re just gonna keep moping around? Ashton doesn’t even love Valerie; his heart belongs to…”

He trailed off with a mischievous smile. Ashton was their friend, too, but his relationship with Ludwik was fraught with tension, mainly because of a one–sided infatuation with a woman- Elaine. The four brothers were as close as can be, and although Nolan appeared to be a ladies‘ man, he was actually the first to really fall for a girl–Valerie.

Unfortunately, Valerie…

“When are Ashton and Valerie due back from their honeymoon in Maelstrom Country?” Parker inquired.

Nolan’s face darkened. “How the hell should I know?”

Felix drove the car back to the villa.

Whitney stepped out and headed inside, swapping shoes.

The man’s tall shadow loomed over her as he casually blocked her path to the stairs, one hand in his pocket.

Whitney tried to push past, but he effortlessly swept her up in his arms.

Ludwik’s brows furrowed as he ordered Taryn, “Get the first aid kit!”

taken

her and said with

up on the

gently rolled up her sleeve, and as she flinched under his touch, she

tears.

from her eyes

with panic as

her soft shoulders, his

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were out of control, oh, so he finally

Her grievances.

feeling her tears against his shirt like burning embers on his heart. “I know you were roughed up in jail; that night must’ve been terrifying,

his shoulder, biting

first aid kit as Ludwik soothed her trembling back, applying ointment to her bruises with a firm yet gentle

as snow,

it still

She muttered irritably, “There are more bruises

“I’ll check them later.”

her, now smothered by his tender masculine presence, turning into warmth she could

small hands pushed at his, a mix of pain and tears, feigning annoyance, “You weren’t there

his restraint slipped as he kissed her temple, her soft forehead, and the

for days but held back from being too forward while holding her hand. Her little

hands, he said, “I get it. I was wrong. Stop hitting

cried out, her eyes

cheeks flushed crimson.

now, his thoughts were not

to kick him

seriously caught her small ankle. “You better not kick. Your little punches and kicks might just

embarrassed, unsure how to punish him

pouted,

by him. “Did you get a good look at who

it.” Whitney was

in your affairs, but after

in his tone. However, he was

Yvonne’s powerful backing. Whitney had thought it through; such fierce tactics from the start meant her adversary held significant animosity,