Page 245 of The Grand Duel

I tighten my grip on him, my thoughts running. “Charlie, what’s wrong?”

He opens his mouth to speak but then looks up and around the street we’re on. “Can I take you home?”

“Nina said everyone is okay, so what is it? Why are you so sad?”

I swallow, feeling sick at the unknown.

He loosens his hold on me, his eyes desperate as they scan me. “I need to tell you something.”

“Then tell me,” I snap, stepping out of his hold.

He rakes a hand through his hair, shaking his head at me.

“Not here,” Mason says sternly, cocking his head towards the other side of the road. “I’ll drive you home.”

I look back up at the man between us all, so much of what I know of him missing. Where the other half of this man hasdisappeared to in the three hours since I last saw him, terrifies me.

With my legs like jelly, the adrenaline making my entire body feel like it’s not my own, I pass Charlie and walk to the car Mason pointed out, a black Bentley.

I open the door and slide inside, my heart pounding to a point its beat echoes across my entire chest.

Does he not want me anymore?

Has he changed his mind?

What did I do?

I grit my teeth, desperately wanting to open the car door and get out, to run a million miles from him.

But the way he held me. The way he looked at me as if he was afraid, as if it wasmewho no longer wantedhim.

The three of them climb inside the car, Charlie sitting on my right with Mason and Nina in the driver and passenger seats.

We pull away from the curb with not one person saying a word, the utter silence from the man beside me making my heart ache.

“Charlie.”

He looks over at me as if it’s the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.

“What is it?” I beg.

He reaches over and takes my hand, shaking his head. “When we get home.”

“Home?” I snap, looking between Nina and Mason and then back to him. “Charles, we’re forty minutes from home. Why am I the only one with no idea what’s going on?”

His eyes search mine. “Please, Lis.” He swallows. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why are you apologising to me? You’re not doing that when I have no idea what’s going on.” I lean forward. “Nina, please.” I look between them all. “Someone tell me what’s going on.”

“Lissie—”

He doesn’t want me.

I’m too much.

“No, Charlie. It’s bullshit. No one is hurt, everybody is okay, but it’s a load of rubbish because you’re sorry. And you aren’t sorry to me. I don’t want you to be sorry to me.”

“Baby…”