Blackmailing Belle (The Lost Girls, #4)

by Holly Roberds

"When are we going to Chapter Three today?" I ask, my voice steady despite the way my pulse hammers in my ears. I have to project for him to hear me all the way at the other end. He doesn’t look up. "Today isn’t good." I swallow the spark of irritation that flares in my chest. "I have responsibilities there. Chip is expecting me to show them how to run things. I’ve already lost a day and a half of business." At last, he looks up, his expression sharp and unforgiving. "We’re not going today." The air grows heavier, the same kind of pressure I felt on our wedding day right before he exploded in a violence that decimated the beautiful plant laden conservatory. Though Mrs. P must have magicked it back together since it looks perfect now. My stomach knots, but I force myself to hold his stare. "If you don’t plan to honor the terms of our contract, perhaps I should consult someone who will," I say, my tone measured. "I hear there’s a sea witch who is quite skilled with contracts." His claws dig into the table, leaving more deep gouges in the polished surface. "You think threatening me is a wise move?" "Not a threat," I say calmly, though my hands tighten on the napkin in my lap. "A logical measured action. You don’t want me to act outside the boundaries of our agreement, do you?" For a moment, I think he might snap—his muscles coil, and his eyes darken, his jaw tight as a spring. Will he jump onto the table? Tear the room apart? Would he hurt me? The thought sends a flicker of f...