Bad Grace
The Filth Monger Series
Book 2
Annabel Chant
Blurb
Let play commence…
Grace Anderton’s life is still spiralling out of control. Despite the lure of celebrity, she can’t seem to rein herself in, and finds herself drawn into yet another dangerous situation. Added to which, Leo still won’t accept that it’s over between them.
Desperate by now, she calls on the Filth Monger. Embroiled in a web of blackmail that threatens to expose his whole operation, his life is almost as out of control as hers. Despite his growing attraction towards her, he knows he should keep her at arm’s length. Against his better judgment, he offers to fulfil her fantasies, discretion assured and no questions asked.
Unsure if she can trust him, yet with no other option left to her, she takes him up on his offer. But is it really what either of them want? Will this be the undoing of them, or the start of something wonderful? Just when the stars finally seem to be aligning, Fate throws a curve ball that sends them both reeling.
Now she finally knows the Filth Monger’s true identity, will she be able to trust him, or will this latest revelation tear them apart forever?
If you like steamy romance with hot characters and pulse-pounding suspense, you’ll love Bad Grace . Get your copy today or read for free on Kindle Unlimited.
Bad Grace is Book 2 of the Filth Monger series. The books need to be read in order. Book 1 – Falling from Grace – is also available on Amazon.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for reading Bad Grace. If you enjoy it, please take a moment to let others know via a review on your local Amazon, such as Amazon.com or Amazon UK. Please note that Bad Grace is the second book in a series and they need to be read in order. Book 1 – Falling from Grace – is available on Amazon.
For ARCs (advance review copies), release dates and launch offers, just join the Fan Mongers. I’ll email you on release day so that you don’t miss out.
If you want to connect with me, I’m @AnnabelChant on Twitter, or you can find me on Facebook. I’d be excited to hear from you!
Once again, thanks for reading – it’s so much appreciated.
Annabel x
One
Her
Leo stood, glowering at me. I edged back into the bay window, feeling around behind me for anything I could grab. There was nothing.
‘Where’s Liv?’ I said, looking around for anything I could use to protect myself.
‘She’s out,’ he said, edging his way around the coffee table. ‘So, tell me, Princess. Why’ve you been ignoring my calls? Were you too busy with…’ He threw me a look of disgust. ‘…Prince Charming out there?’
‘No,’ I said, my heart racing. I glanced down at the wastepaper basket. The business card lay there, white against the black bin liner, the words standing out all too clearly.
The Filth Monger
I edged in front of it, hoping with all my heart he wouldn’t notice.
‘I…I’ve been upset,’ I said. ‘I didn’t want to talk to you.’
‘You’ve been upset?’ he snarled. ‘How d’you think I feel? I come home, and you’re gone. No one knows where you are. You’re not answering your phone, and now I find out you’ve been living it up with Kitty fucking Hart, of all people.’
‘It was only the once,’ I said, in a small voice. ‘And you told me to leave.’
He didn’t even seem to hear me, just swept on with his accusations as if I hadn’t spoken. ‘I finally find out where you’re hiding, thanks to Johnno, and I come over here to smooth things out and what do I find? You, sitting in the front of a car, with some guy’s tongue down your throat.’
‘I wasn’t!’ I said, trying, again, to argue my point. ‘He wasn’t and, anyway, you were seen getting into a taxi with a woman. I saw it.’
‘That was Summer, for fuck’s sake,’ he said, closing in on me. ‘Summer Hayes. Sam’s PA. I’d locked myself out.’
Sam was his manager, and I knew Summer. She was constantly at the beck and call of the team, sorting out any little glitch that threatened to upset their spoilt asses. Maybe it had been her, but even so… ‘You screwed another woman,’ I said.
‘That’s done with,’ he said. ‘It’s finished. How long are you going to keep on about it? I’m a footballer, Grace. It’s an occupational hazard.’
I gave up. He had no sense of proportion, least of all when he was drunk, and there was no point in angering him further. ‘How did you…’ I began, then, as his words sunk in; ‘What do you mean, Johnno told you where I was?’
‘Kitty told him,’ he said. ‘Your new best friend.’
‘She’s not,’ I said. ‘I…’
‘So, tell me, Princess…’ He came right up to me and stared into my eyes. ‘Who was he?’
‘He…’ I fumbled for an excuse, but I didn’t know what to say. Whatever I said would just be fuel to his fury. ‘It…it was a taxi.’
‘Don’t give me that,’ he snarled. ‘You fucking bitch. D’you think this is a game? You’re mine - whether you like it or not. This whole thing…it’s just a blip.’
‘A blip?’ I couldn’t believe it. He was never rational when he’d been drinking. He was rarely rational at all, but this… A blip? I almost laughed.
‘Yes, a blip.’ He put his hands under the straps of my dress and pulled me up against him, until my face met his. ‘You are never getting away. D’you hear me? It’s always been you and me. You’re mine, d’you understand?’
‘Not anymore,’ I said, trying to push him off. ‘It’s not that you want me. You just don’t want anyone else to have me.’
‘Is that what you think?’ He stood back slightly and examined my face. His gaze was unfathomable, but he seemed to be cooling down. ‘You haven’t got a clue, have you?’ he said, finally.
I turned my head from his gaze, not knowing what to say.
‘You think I don’t want you?’ he said, slapping my face around to look at him.
‘I don’t care whether you do or not,’ I said. ‘It’s too late.’
‘No,’ he said, his voice softer suddenly – more desperate. He put his arms around me. I didn’t respond but just stood there, as he pulled me to his chest, rubbing the thin stubble of his chin against my cheek. ‘It’s never too late. It’s just a blip, Grace. We’ll get through this.’
‘We will,’ I said, straining away from him. ‘But not together.’
‘Don’t say that.’ His voice hardened again, and his grip tightened. ‘You’re mine. You don’t seem to understand what that means.’
‘It means I have to give myself to you,’ I said. ‘I choose not to. I’m not yours, Leo. Not anymore.’
‘Then I’ll make you mine,’ he said and pulled away from me, grabbing my arm as he did so. He dragged me over to the sofa and threw me down. As I went to get up, he pushed me back and prised open my legs. ‘Got pretty done up to go out, didn’t we, Princess?’ he said, looking down at me, his eyes full of derision. ‘If you wanted a fuck, you knew where I was.’