Page 68 of Pucked Around and Found Out

I can see the surprise on his face.

He’s starting to understand now just how far this woman will go to reach her end goal. She doesn’t care about who she hurts or whose lives she ruins in the process, so long as she gets Alex at the end of it.

“Her brother attacked a sister of one of the foot soldiers of the De Santis family and Alex was sent after him. He wasn’t targeted because of who his sister was, he was taken out because he was a fucking monster and if you ask me, Alex did the world a favor and we’re all better off without him roaming the streets.” My tone is cold but firm. I mean every word.

“Careful, Tink, I see some of the devil coming out in you.”

I want to say no, that’s just you rubbing off on me, but I bite my tongue and hold back the words from slipping free.

“It seems I might fit into this life better than I thought, huh?” I say instead.

He purses his lips and nods. I can see him thinking over everything I have just told him and a part of me worries that he’ll think I’m not telling the truth. I still have the USB, yet he doesn’t want it.

“Why haven’t you looked at the USB, and don’t tell me it’s because you want to hear the truth from me,” I press.

His gaze locks onto mine and I suddenly feel stripped bare, I feel like he can see right through to my soul and it’s unnerving.

“If I told you the truth, you wouldn’t believe me.”

“Try me.”

A ghost of a smirk touches the corner of his mouth and the sight has my heart fluttering. This is the side of him I love. I know he thinks he’s damaged and unlovable but he’s wrong. The pain he has suffered through changed him. He has no family left. No one he can rely on. The person he thinks he can trust above all else is the person who is betraying him.

I know Caspian is on borrowed time, Xaden will figure it out. He’s too clever for his own good. I can only hope that when he does it doesn’t destroy him.

“I don’t trust Kyle. All the intel on that drive could be bullshit.” His answer stumps me for a moment.

“But you trust me?” I ask quietly.

He looks away, his jaw locked and his body tense from being called out. “Something like that,” he mutters. I fight not to feel giddy at his declaration and keep my face impassive. “If Kyle had a file on that bitch, that means he had files on everyone.” I stiffen as his gaze focuses back on me.

“Xaden—”

“I want those files, Tink.”

I bite down on my lip and shake my head. “I can’t.”

His eyes darken and I brace for his cruelty. “Why not? Afraid I’ll find something on your lover boy out there?”

I scoff and shake my head. “You’re an asshole,” I hiss, then push off the bed to stand. He mimics my move, not wanting to give me the higher ground. We stand here staring at each other, so much needs to be said, yet no words can fix the divide between us. It’s too wide. Too much water flows between us and if we try to bridge the gap, the current will tow us under.

“An asshole you admitted to loving.”

I grind my teeth so hard they begin to ache. “Will you always throw that in my face?”

“Only when it serves my purpose,” he snaps back. Not wanting to go another round with him, I move toward the door. He grips my wrist and pulls me back. I yank my arm free and glare at the handsy asshole.

“You lose your mind when I touch you⁠—”

“You fucking love it when I touch you.”

I scoff. “Xaden, stop.” His features tighten. “I’m not playing this game with you. I came tonight to tell you the truth about Fiona. I did that. Now, I’m going home.”

“Where exactly is home, Tink?”

“Somewhere you’re not,” I fire back.

“We aren’t finished discussing the plan.”