Obsession

Chapter 32

Thirty-Two

R en and Callum continued in their research and planning, however their actions didn't go unnoticed. Grayson, ever the strategist, was growing increasingly wary, his piercing gaze always seeming to probe for hidden secrets.

Something was off with him, but Ren couldn’t get him to talk more than a word or two.

“How was your night?” Ren asked Grayson at the dinner table.

“Fine.” He continued to sip on his blood and brandy.

Bastian, once a commanding presence, was gradually becoming a distant figure of authority, his suspicion evident in his detached demeanor. He almost never addressed Ren directly anymore.

While Bastian simply ignored the brewing storm, Grayson was pondering action against Ren and Callum.

Being the stone cast at the glass window was hard for Ren to cope with. All she wanted was for these men that she had grown to love to love her back. She never wanted them to fight over her.

Each day was a high-wire act for Ren, juggling her growing closeness to Callum with maintaining a facade of submissive compliance for Bastian. All while attempting and failing to keep Grayson close to her. Grayson’s claim to her it seemed was in the heat of the moment and he never wanted to share her. His jealousy overcame any heartfelt emotions he had for her.

The taste of deceit was a constant undertone in every conversation, every interaction within the mansion. She couldn’t win with him.

As much as Grayson worshiped a quality ruse, he was not fond of being lied to…or kept on a leash when he was so many steps ahead.

“ B astian?” Grayson attempted to garner his brother’s attention.

“Bas. What has gotten into you?” he asked while standing with his arms across his chest.

“I think you know well and true what the conflict between us has been.” He seemed frustrated having to answer such an asinine question.

“Why are we fighting over something that won’t outlive the century?” Grayson asked.

Bastion moved quickly to strike. His fist collided with the wall where Grayson’s head was. His reaction quicker than Bastian’s action it would seem.

“Never was one for talking things out.” Grayson so helpfully pointed out only seemed to make Bastian more angry.

“How can you not see what Ren is doing to us? She is playing us all for fools!” He raised his voice while pointing in the direction of the woman in question.

As far as he was concerned, Bastian’s indifference to the subterfuge happening right underneath his nose, made his more powerful brother an unworthy leader. It was time he did something to rectify this little plot and push the odds of the game in his favor. He wanted Ren for himself alone.

Grayson had been working a plan for just this type of situation. He held his secret so close that nobody knew of the ace he had up his sleeve.

It was fortunate that Callum was such a love starved puppy, that he focused all his attention on Ren, and even more fortunate that while his Bastian held the might of their little circle of hell, he left most of the real world interaction to Grayson.

Bastian with his refusal to even speak directly to Ren as of late was a turn of events that Grayson couldn’t have planned better.

“She isn’t smart enough to play us brother. We are the ones who have fallen. Strayed from our goals and our marked path.” Bastian said while walking through the doorway.

Grayson was unstoppable in a fight, and no simpleton. He had a habit of don’t ask, don’t tell. Ordinarily this wasn’t a problem, because the brothers typically shared the same goal. But with this treacherous little Helen of Troy in their midst, their focus was slipping.

Bastian thought intimidation was enough to keep order and control.

“Don’t you dare leave.” Grayson had grown angry himself.

“Or what brother?” Bastian peered over his shoulder.

The man never knew love, only war and sorrow. That shortsightedness was going to cost him.

Now that Grayson had used his knowledge with their ever changing world to stir up a coup.

Nobody would see what he had planned coming.

“You will pay for this betrayal. For your cowardice.” Grayson called after his brother who had already flittered away.