Blackmailing Belle (The Lost Girls, #4)

by Holly Roberds

Hesitation swirls around the two men across from me like a physical cloud. I close the file, moving it to the end of my antique walnut desk, reaped from the trees of Neverland itself. The heavy curtains are drawn, casting the room in enough darkness that Lucien and Tock can’t get a good look at me, though I see both of them perfectly.

Obsessed with the references already

"I understand you're unhappy with your purchase," I say, keeping my voice firm but pleasant. "However, our return policy⁠—" "These should be banned," she cuts me off, volume rising. "Boston is a human city for a reason. We don't need shifter smut or mage romance or any other fae propaganda corrupting decent people. And you—" she gestures at me with disgust "—should be ashamed, pushing this monster-loving filth." I maintain eye contact, my hands relaxed at my sides. The way she towers over the counter, trying to intimidate with her height and volume—I've seen it all before. From people far more dangerous than an angry reader. "All our books are clearly labeled with content warnings," I explain, the same steady tone I use when my dad is having an episode. "If you'd prefer, I can recommend something else from our collection." "I want to speak to your manager." A small smile tugs at my lips. "You're speaking to the owner." Her face flushes an ugly red as she sweeps her critical eye over my form. "No wonder this place is a joke. Just wait until I post about this on⁠—" "Feel free to leave an honest review of your experience," I say, still calm and steady. "But I need to ask you to lower your voice or leave the store."

She opens her mouth, then closes it, thrown by my continued composure. It's a trick I learned young—the calmer you stay, the more foolish their rage appears.

"Isabelle, tonight was amazing," gushes Gingie, one of my regulars. "I mean, rereading A Scandalous Arrangement with the group? I forgot how much I loved it." Gingie has a penchant for Regency romances and enthusiasm in spades. "That moment in the carriage when Emma realizes he’s actually a prince—it gives me chills every time." "I’ll never get over how perfect that is," Rachel Anne adds in agreement, sweeping her dark hair behind an ear. "It’s your favorite for a reason, right? You even named the shop after that chapter? Chapter Three?" I smile, the warmth of the memory bubbling up despite my exhaustion. "I did. I’ll never forget reading it for the first time. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for weeks and reread the book twelve times that year." They all laugh.

"Emma’s such a strong character," Yanette says, one of the women who organizes the group. She rests her elbow on the counter. "She doesn’t just see a prince—she sees the person behind the crown. It’s not love at first sight, but once she sees him clearly, everything changes. I see so much of her in you." I laugh softly, brushing off the compliment even as it stirs something bittersweet in my chest. The new girl, Hannah, clutches A Scandalous Arrangement tighter to her chest. "This was my first romance, and I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t know books could make you feel so much." "You never forget your first," I say warmly, handing her next week’s read. "And this one is going to be even steamier." Hannah giggles, her cheeks pink.

"This is really raising the bar on the guys I date." That earns a wave of sighs and playful nudges from the others, but my smile falters ever so slightly. "Good luck with that," I say with more sharpness than I intend. "In my experience, love is best kept between the pages of a book. Lucky for us, we’ve got plenty of them." I wave a hand to my many shelves. While the other women laugh, Hannah’s brows pinch like she’s not sure whether I’m joking. Gingie elbows her gently. "Don’t listen to her, hun. Belle gave up on love in real life a long time ago. Though I don’t think it’s given up on her." Gingie gives me a pointed look. "The right person will sweep you off your feet one day." "He’ll have to possess Herculean strength to pull that off,"

She is me oops

Knowing chapter three still resonates, that it sparked something in Hannah the way it once did in me. . .It’s why I opened this bookstore. It’s why I keep going, even when the world feels like it’s closing in. The stories may be fiction, but the connections they bring? The main character energy it can inspire? The escapes it can provide from the unpleasant parts of life? That’s as real as it gets.

Tock opens the door the moment we stop. I step out and my gaze lifts to the looming brownstone fortress ahead. Not quite a castle, but it’s close enough to make me feel as if I’ve crossed into a dark fairy tale.

Because you're too busy reading or peddling fantasy smut and ignoring the real world as much as possible.

"He was trying to steal from me." The Beast’s words lash out with a venomous snap. "I’m so sorry, but I’m sure he didn’t really mean to. My father gets confused. He has a condition⁠—" "He tried to steal from me." The Beast’s roar is sudden, a gust of wind that blows my hair back. My teeth click shut as I flinch. I clutch my hands together until my knuckles turn white, trying to hold steady. He’s trying to scare me. "Yelling at me won’t accomplish anything," I shoot back. "I may be a woman you think you can bully, but I’ve dealt with my fair share of powerful, dangerous men. If you want to talk, do not raise your voice to me." My words snap out like a whip. The shadow rears back slightly. Again, I sense more than see his surprise. "I’m not like any man you’ve met before," he says in a low voice that trembles with barely restrained violence. "Great. I’m not like any woman you’ve met before. Glad we cleared that up. Now, I’d appreciate it if you would let my father go and we’ll be out of your hair."

Unless he’s got a super specific kink for heavyset introverts who love to read smut, I’m safe.

The pause becomes heavy. I get the strange sense it's as if the Beast is loading a gun, before he’s about to make a fatal shot. "Your father’s life or your hand in marriage." Bang. "And just so we’re clear, should I decide to press charges, your father will spend the rest of his life behind bars. That’s not a threat—it’s a certainty." I blink, my mind struggling to comprehend. He doesn’t want money or apologies. He wants. . .me? Dear fae lord, did I actually hit on his kink?

I swallow hard and steel my jangling nerves. "Come into the light." The hulking mass goes deathly still. "No." I huff a sigh and push my hair from my face. "You want me to marry you? I want to properly meet who I'd be shackling myself to."

The door swings open and an out-of-breath Lucien stands there holding a garment bag. The man's face is bright red as he pants heavily, like he's been running for miles. "At last," Tock chastises. "You are late." "I think the words you are looking for are thank you," Lucien snipes back. "Oh good, I thought you might not make it." Mrs. P snatches the garment bag from Lucien. Still out of breath, Lucien shoots me two thumbs up with a grin before Tock pushes him out the door. The housekeeper wastes no time hanging the garment bag and unzipping it to reveal a beautiful white dress. I stand, my heart lurching into my throat. "What's that?" Mrs. P smiles at me. "Your wedding dress, dear."

I LOVE THEM

Her mouth parts then closes twice as if she wants to say something but keeps changing her mind. "You can ask me anything," I say. It’s true. I’ve never been one for secrets. Too much stress to keep them. I’m an open book. Which is exactly how I like all my books.