Page 47 of Pucked Around and Found Out

She pulls her clothes on with jerky, angry movements, not looking at me once.

“Fiona Williams,” I say, my voice flat. “Tell me everything you know about her.”

Toren freezes, then turns to look at me with such withering contempt that I actually feel it.

“You're unbelievable,” she says. “You just told me to get rid of our baby and now you want to talk business?”

“The baby isn't real to me,” I lie. “But Fiona Williams is. And if she's as dirty as you say, then she's a problem that needs to be dealt with.”

“A problem,” Toren repeats slowly. “Is that all I am to you too? A problem?”

“You're a means to an end,” I say, forcing ice into my voice. “You have information I need. That's it.”

She laughs. a broken, bitter sound that makes my chest ache.

“You know what? Fine. You want to be a cold, heartless bastard? I can work with that.” She finishes dressing and crosses her arms. “Fiona Williams was Kellan's handler. She forced him to spy on both our families, and promised him immunity for information.”

I nod, filing the information away.

“But she's dirty,” Toren continues. “She's been playing all sides, collecting intel for her own purpose. Power. Control. She wants to take down both empires and claim the territory for herself.”

“And you have proof?”

“Yes. Everything Kellan gave me before he died.” Her jaw clenches. “Enough to destroy her if it’s used right.”

“Good.” I move toward my own clothes. “We work together until she's dealt with. Then we're done.”

“Done?” She raises an eyebrow. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.” I pull my shirt on, refusing to look at her. “You go your way, I go mine. Clean break. No war. You leave my town and never come back.”

“And the baby?”

“Not my problem.” The lie tastes like ash. “You want to keep it? That's your choice. But don't expect anything from me.”

The silence that follows is deafening.

When I finally look at her, there's no more hurt in her eyes. No more hope.

Just cold, hard resolve.

“Okay, Devlin.” She uses my last name like a weapon. “We'll play it your way. Business partners until Fiona's dealt with. Then we're done.”

“Good.”

“But you should know something.” She steps closer, getting right in my face. “That baby you're so desperate to pretend doesn't exist? It's going to be born whether you acknowledge it or not. And one day—maybe not today, maybe not this year—but one day you're going to regret this moment. You're going to regret choosing revenge over the only good thing that's ever come from all this destruction.”

She turns and starts walking toward the parking lot.

“Where are you going?” I call after her.

“To call my ride and get the file on Fiona.” She doesn't turn around. “I'll meet you at your apartment in an hour. We'll plan our next move.”

Then she's gone, disappearing into the darkness.

I'm left standing on the beach near where my sister died, with the ultrasound of my unborn child like a weight in my pocket and the taste of Toren's kiss still on my lips.

I told myself I don't care.