ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 11

GABRIELLE’S POV

Damon was already gone before I woke up the next morning.

The space beside me had already gone cold.

I instinctively reached for the note he left on the bedside table and read through it, a smile forming on my face.

After that, I freshened up and immediately started working on my laptop. I had to come up with a series of new designs for my upcoming project.

And I had awards to win.

I was searching for my second phone when the card containing the reporter’s contact details fell out of my bag.

I picked it up, glancing at the email address and phone number for a second before dropping it back like it burned.

It was still morning, and I already needed a break.

I went downstairs for tea and found Rhys already in the kitchen, a cup in his hand.

“Good morning,” I greeted, a small smile on my face.

“Good morning,” he responded. “My brother left a while ago.”

I reached for a mug and a tea bag. “Did he tell you where he was going?”

Rhys did not respond immediately.

That alone was enough to make me look up.

I turned just in time to see him hesitate, his eyes flicking away for a second before returning to me.

“No, he didn’t,” he finally said.

It was an obvious lie, but I did not push.

I poured hot water into my mug and stirred slowly before walking over to sit across from him. “If you say so. Can I ask you for something?”

He raised his head from his phone, a suspicious look settling on his face. “Is this about yesterday? Did Damon tell you what I did?”

I paused, watching him more carefully now. “No.”

I took a small sip of my tea before setting the cup down.

“I was going to ask you how to get rid of a body,” I said. “And if you got rid of Phoebe’s body three years ago.”

The suspicious look dropped from his face.

He went still for a second before placing his phone aside and straightening in his seat.

“I set her body on fire,” he said. “And I stayed there until it was nothing but ashes.”

My fingers tightened slightly around my cup.

There was no hesitation in his voice.

“So yeah,” he added, his tone flat. “Her body is gone. There is nothing left to recover. As for getting rid of a body, it depends on the environment."

I held his gaze for a moment, studying him, then leaned back in my chair.

“Good to know,” I said calmly, even though I was a bit concerned for him.

Rhys frowned slightly. “Why are you asking?”

I lifted my cup again and took another slow sip before answering.

“I just wanted to be sure,” I said. “I was worried about someone sniffing too close to my business.”

He stared at me for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Is this about that reporter? Aiden Marlow?”

My mug froze halfway to my lips.

I lowered it slowly. “How do you know about him?”

“Damon told me before he left,” he answered. “Is he the body you’re hoping to get rid of?”

I held his gaze for a second, then nodded. “Yes. Will you help me?”

Rhys let out a short laugh and ran a hand over his face, like I had just confirmed something he already expected.

“Damon just made me promise to stay out of it,” he said, his tone shifting as he looked back at me. “He knew you would come to me.”

Anger flared in my chest, sharp and immediate, catching me off guard with how fast it rose.

I set my mug down harder than I intended. “So he is not going to do anything about Aiden? Is that what this is?”

“He said he would handle it,” Rhys replied calmly. “Without unnecessary bloodshed.”

I let out a quiet scoff. “Unnecessary?”

“I do not agree with his method,” he continued. “But if he wants to keep his hands clean, I cannot force him to do otherwise.”

Silence settled between us.

I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms. “And you? You are just going to sit here and let him make that mistake?”

Rhys studied me carefully before answering. “I’m going to keep my word because I’m already on thin ice with my brother.”

His jaw tightened slightly before he leaned back in his chair.

“I don’t think you can get both,” he said. “Not with someone like him.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

“Because the part of him you want back doesn’t come in pieces,” Rhys replied. “It takes everything else with it.”

My grip on the mug tightened. “You don’t know that.”

“I do,” he said simply. “I know that better than anyone else.”

Silence settled between us.

I dropped my gaze to the table, my thoughts spiraling despite how calm I looked on the outside.

“I already started,” I said after a moment, my voice quieter now. “I just have to see it through and trust that he won’t lose himself.”

Rhys frowned. “What are you talking about?”

I looked away briefly, unable to answer.

His eyes sharpened at that, the suspicion returning, but this time it was mixed with something else.

It was mixed with concern.

“Gabrielle,” he said, more serious now. “What did you do?”

I met his gaze without flinching.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” I said, holding his gaze a second longer than necessary. “Trust me.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.

My mind went back to my conversation with the reporter, and something clicked into place.

“If I wanted to do something that requires tech knowledge, would you be willing to help me?”

Rhys didn’t hesitate. “That’s more of Zane’s specialty. But I haven’t heard from him since we took down Rocco three years ago.”

It had been a long time since Damon mentioned him too.

“Do you know where I can find him?” I asked.

“It’s a three-hour drive,” he said. “Six to and fro.”

I pushed my chair back and stood up. “Then we better hit the road.”