Mind game

"so do you lie to your husband often"

"Husband?"

Kierra exclaimed, stunned by the conversation they’d just had. She couldn’t catch a break. The handsome stranger she’d just met knew James—and anyone who knows James was bad news in her book.

“What did you just say?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.

“You and James are married… am I wrong?”

Oh, if he knew how wrong he was, she thought.

“We’re… engaged,” she replied, surprising even herself. Alex broke into a wide grin.

This lunatic, she thought. What is it with me and lunatics?

She muttered the words out loud, forgetting that Sebastian was still standing close by.

“You said no bad words! Say it nice or say nothing,” the little boy scolded, his tiny arms crossed.

Every day, he looked more and more like her son. She was raising him with manners, but right now, she had none. If she was going to lead by example, she had to play by her own rules.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” she said, rubbing his head. “I’m sorry.”

She didn’t look away from Alex as she spoke, her gaze sharp. “Bad day.”

Instead of being offended, Alex’s grin widened.

“And here I thought I had a chance,” he said playfully.

Yep. James is going to kill us, she thought but didn’t say aloud.

Instead, she called out, “Sebastian, you know what to do.”

“All right,” the boy replied, lighting up.

Without hesitation, he kicked Alex square in the groin. “Merde!” Alex yelped in return.

Kierra burst out laughing. Sebastian was her little protector. They had a code: if anyone rubbed her the wrong way, she’d say, you know what to do, and he’d hit them with his best shot.

Usually, they’d run off after stunts like this—but not today. She couldn’t stop laughing. Alex speaking French was a surprise too. The guy was full of them.

“Sebastian, honey, why don’t you go find the nursery? I’m pretty sure KC is in there. And if she’s not, thank you in advance, love.”

She knelt beside him, kissing his forehead. “Come find me later, okay?”

“Okay!” he called, running off.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

Alex was still hunched in pain, trying to hide it.

“I see my friends,” Kierra announced, making her way toward the outdoor pool.

“Hey, K!” yelled Keisha, the brainy one. She worked with James, so he had no choice but to tolerate their friendship. Still, Kierra didn’t trust her. She always suspected James used Keisha to keep tabs on her.

“Girl, who’s the fine chocolate?” Dena, the flirt, chimed in. She worked with Kierra and never missed a chance to comment.

“You’re looking fine tonight,” added Kelly—the bold one. The bisexual one. The “I wanna sleep with you” one. Kelly had known Kierra since childhood. James had no say in their friendship—like it or not.

No matter how bad things got between James and Kierra, Kelly was always there.

Kierra smiled and pointed at each one of them. “No. No. And no.”

They laughed, knowing exactly what she meant.

“Can I talk to you?” Kelly asked softly.

“Okay.”

Kelly extended her arm, and Kierra linked hers through it.

“What a gentleman,” Kierra teased, glancing at her friends as they walked away from prying eyes.

“I knew you wouldn’t really be here for the party,” Kelly said. “But you don’t have to lie to me. We’re friends.”

“I didn’t lie,” Kierra said, gently holding Kelly’s cheeks.

“I met Alex today. He’s a charmer, and before I knew it… I was here.”

“With Sebastian.”

“Yeah.”

“God, I love that kid.”

“He’s adorable. Can I adopt him?”

“Kel—”

“What? He’s your brother. He needs a mom.”

“And what, you volunteer?”

“As usual,” Kelly said with a grin.

She was trying to cheer Kierra up, but she wasn’t kidding. They both loved Sebastian, and Kelly figured that loving him meant getting closer to Kierra.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Kierra said, turning to leave.

“Ah—” Kelly teased, smacking her on the rear.

“Mmm,” Kierra moaned playfully, winking as she walked away.

Then, out of nowhere, a firm hand yanked Kelly against the wall. Fingers wrapped tightly around her throat.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Alex hissed.

“I—I’m sorry, Alex…” she choked out.

She fought against him, trying to loosen his grip, but it was no use. Her eyes fluttered, her head spinning.

“Don’t you fucking touch her. That’s the last thing you’ll ever touch.”

He released her only to slam her into the wall. She crumpled to the ground.

Minutes passed before Kelly could breathe again, her lungs gasping for air.

“Why are you so obsessed with fucking her over?” she rasped, clutching her throat.

“None of your damn business.”

It was the wrong thing to say. Alex grabbed her roughly, pretending to help her up, and then—

Smack. His palm collided with her cheek, hard.

“What does she know?”

“Ahh—” she cried out, stumbling against the wall.

“Nothing,” she whispered.

Alex smiled coldly. He grabbed her arm again, gentler now, but it was all part of the mind game. Kelly knew how this worked. She knew better than to challenge him.

Kierra had no idea Kelly had a brother when they were kids.

She still didn’t know.

Alex was charming—just like James—but behind closed doors, he was cruel. He’d abused Kelly whenever he could. She’d been too scared to fight back. Too proud to leave. He was her only family, and because of that, he always had the upper hand.

“James won’t know what hit him,” Alex said with a bitter smile.

“I’ll make him pay for taking her away from me, my dear sister.”