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!”

was taken

down at her and said with

the couch, sitting

up her sleeve, and as she flinched under his touch, she could no longer hold back

tears.

from her eyes like broken

gaze flickered with panic as he looked at

gripped her soft shoulders,

22:36 173

control, oh, so he

Her grievances.

around her, 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, and you were all

shoulder, biting

trembling back, applying ointment to her bruises with a firm

pale as snow, winced

it still

irritably, “There are more bruises all

“I’ll check them later.”

smothered by his tender masculine presence, turning

at his, a mix of pain and tears, feigning annoyance,

temple, her soft forehead, and the wet trails on her cheeks. The

from being too forward while holding her hand. Her little hands beat against

said, “I get it. I was wrong. Stop hitting me, or you’ll stir up

out, her eyes wide

cheeks flushed

thoughts were not

abruptly tried to kick him

his shirt open at the collar, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he seriously caught her small

was both annoyed and embarrassed, unsure how

She pouted, her

covered in bruises, were gently held by him. “Did you get a good look at who

it.” Whitney was certain of

frosty, his gaze terrifying. “You don’t want me meddling in your affairs, but after what she did–getting you locked up, putting our

in his tone. However, he was unaware of the

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