Bitter Truths: A Twisted Arranged Marriage Romance (Crimson Falls Duet Book 2) by Dani René (best fiction novels to read .txt) 📗

tells me, causing my heart to stutter. “I don’t know what it means, but we need to go back to Crimson Falls, and we need to do that very fucking soon.”

“What is it, Lycan? You’re scaring me.” And he is. I’ve seen him take charge before. I’ve even seen him in that controlling, commanding way he has, but this is something different. Lycan pushes to his feet, moving slowly as he does so. His arm wrapping around his middle as he holds onto his ribs. He picks up the item he set down a few moments ago before joining me again.

Once he’s managed to settle beside me, he hands me the manila folder. With trembling fingers, I flip it open and see my grandmother’s name under the title of sponsor. But it makes no sense. She’s given money to so many businesses over the years. This may not be anything to worry about.

“What is this?” I ask, my brows furrowing when I delve deeper into the documents, and my heart drops to my stomach. The job they went to earlier was the convent. When I learned about the details, I felt sick to my stomach. Lycan told me about the reason that place existed. It wasn’t a sanctuary. The girls were stolen. This is where he found my grandmother’s name.

“I’m sorry, little red,” he whispers as his arm wraps around me. He pulls me into the crook of his body, and it doesn’t escape me how well I fit there. “I’m not sure what this means yet,” he tells me.

But I realize what it means. It’s written in black and white.

There’s no mistaking my grandmother’s money funded the convent. And perhaps she was unaware of what was going on under the cloak of darkness. Maybe she was trying to help, but it makes no sense. Why would she send money to a place like that? All the way down in New Orleans. It’s nowhere near Crimson Falls.

However, my grandmother’s business in New York is somewhat of a secret. She’s never spoken much about it, only that she has meetings with her board members every few months. She travels a lot, so there’s no saying she didn’t know about this. Or knew about the operation that was being disguised as a place for women to find solace and healing.

“I need to speak to her.” I’m shaking. My hands tremble as I hand the folder back to Lycan because I can’t look at it any longer. The thought of being lied to, of my family being part of something so horrific has bile racing up my throat, and I rush for the bathroom, making it just in time to hurl my dinner into the porcelain bowl.

My body convulses as tears trickle from my eyes. My chest aches. Lycan is at my side within seconds, holding my hair, his big, strong hand circling my back as he comforts me, and I take solace in the fact that this man loves me so deeply.

When I’m done puking my guts up, he helps me to my feet, and I brush my teeth in the sink before Lycan leads me to the bed. We settle under the covers, him on his back and me cocooned under his strong arm.

“I’m sorry,” he says then, causing me to snap my gaze up toward him. “I’m sorry I can’t explain why I found her details in that place. I wish I knew more. I’m sorry you’re hurting.” There’s pain in those words, regret that seeps from his lips, and I press my mouth to his, needing to silence his apologies.

“This isn’t on you,” I tell him. “You can’t protect me from everything in this world.” It’s a mere whisper, but he hears it.

Those green orbs lock with mine, hooking me and reeling me in. “I can damn well try,” he confirms. “I’m your husband, and if I can’t protect you, then my men will. I don’t want you hurt, ever.”

I nuzzle into his hold before I say, “Unless it’s you hurting me?” I can’t help but smile. My attempt at lightening the mood has him groaning. But I’m not sure if it’s because of my words, or because he’s in pain. “Do you want me to move?”

“No.” He tightens his hold as he answers, and now I definitely can’t shift away from him with his heavy arm wrapped around me protectively. “I don’t want to let you go again,” Lycan tells me easily, his voice rough with exhaustion, and I stay silent, hoping he’ll get some rest.

We’re all tired, and with the number of revelations that seem to be piling up, I’m not surprised. My family, his father, and the connection to that vile criminal, I have a feeling this is only the beginning.

“We’ll leave in the afternoon,” Lycan whispers before his breathing evens out, and I’m excited to go back to Crimson Falls, to the Shaw manor which is now partly mine. My ring shimmers when I trace my hand in circles over Lycan’s chest as it rises and falls.

He’s asleep within seconds, and I lie awake. His warmth cocooning me, but like I told him moments ago, he can’t protect me from everything, no matter how much he tries. I wish he could. I do. But there comes a time in our lives when we need to keep each other safe.

We’re equals, even though he is a dominant alpha male who wants to act like a caveman at times. But this is my family’s lies that are coming to light, and I need to deal with this the only way I know how—by sitting them down and talking face to face. My parents and grandmother have a lot to answer for.

The contract my father signed comes to mind. He still hasn’t answered for his transgressions and it’s time he did. There are more things they need to explain, so many more, but we’ll start off small and work our way up to the much more pressing matters,