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“What’s wrong?” I ask. She can’t be regretting it. I felt her tremble, I tasted her arousal. She pushed my head so far in-between her legs, I nearly suffocated. I’d happily die there.

“I don’t know what to do, Kade! I’m confused, you’re confusing. I’m technically engaged to a monster who is blackmailing me. I need to play by his rules otherwise my friends get hurt, and I haven’t slept a full night since I was thirteen. Then there’s you. I don’t know what to do!” she shouts. Covering her face with her hands.

I take her wrists and pry her hands away from her face. “You’re not alone in this anymore, do you hear me? You will never be alone again. There’s a simple solution to everything you’ve just said.”

“You don’t understand! Everyone I love is either dead or has gotten seriously hurt because of me. I don’t want you to get hurt too. There’s a reason I didn’t want to tell you.”

“You love me?” It’s the only thing I heard her say. I want to hear her say it properly.

“That’s what you took from what I just said?” she shouts in frustration. She pushes me hard in the chest, making me stumble back a few paces. She’s strong.

“Okay, okay.” I chuckle, raising my arms in surrender. I don’t want to piss her off. As much as I like to see her angry, we need a plan.

“I’m going to kill the bastard, there’s no negotiating that, Viper. He’s hurt you. I’m going to hurt him.”

“You’re a high-ranking officer in the police force. You’ll get put away Kade. It’s not happening.” She waves her hand in dismissal, but I’m not easily dismissed. He’s going to die for what he’s done.

“Sweetheart, they won’t find his body, there will be nothing linking it to me. You have nothing to worry about.” I promise.

“He has connections. You have no idea who is in his back pocket. Corrections officers, technical analysts, I’m pretty sure he even has something on my father. Why do you think it’s taken me this long to do anything? He has people scrubbing camera footage, he strikes deals to release criminals early, so he has them do his bidding. He’s dangerous,” she warns.

I don’t care how many connections the bastard has. He’s hurt what’s mine. He’ll get exactly what he deserves… and more. I glance down at her left hand, at the pretentious looking rock adorning her ring finger.

“Take it off,” I grit out.

“You know I can’t, I have to play along, at least until I come up with a plan.”

“You can’t expect me to just stand and watch while he comes into your apartment whenever he wants and tries to hurt you, because I will tell you right now, Viper, that’s not fucking happening. It’s not in my nature.” There is nothing I will not do for her. I’ll break my oath to the force. I’ll beat the life out of the bastard, and tear his heart right out of his chest. I’ll burn the whole fucking world for her if it means protecting her.

“Then help me! Help me get the drives. If he has nothing to blackmail me with, I won’t have to do this anymore. I’ll be free.” She exhales a shaky breath. Like that’s all she wants, to be free of him.

“Fine, we’ll do it your way…for now.” If he hurts her again, I’ll be taking over. “I need Cyrus, I might be able to get the drives, but I’ll need his help, I’ll only tell him what you’re comfortable with, I promise.”

“If you trust him, then tell him everything. I can’t be alone in this anymore,” she whispers. “I have to go, he’s looking for me.” She turns to leave the alcove, but I stop her, grabbing both of her wrists and pinning her arms above her head. My mouth crashes down on hers in desperation to be near her, to taste her.

I pull away to look in her eyes. “You promise me you will not keep anything from me. You’ll tell me everything, no matter if you think I won’t take it well. Promise me,” I order. My chest, still heaving from the kiss. Her mouth still slightly parted. I draw my thumb across her lower lip and she licks it.

“I promise,” she breathes. I kiss her again and bite into her lower lip until she moans. I don’t want to, but I release her arms and move back from her.

She adjusts her dress and runs out of the alcove heading back towards the beach. I already know it’s going to take every ounce of will power I have to go back to that beach and pretend everything didn’t just change.

I make sure to wait at least ten minutes before heading back to the table. I see Tom immediately, sitting at the table beside Emilia, my little viper. I pull my chair out to sit down when I notice his hand on her thigh. My grip on the chair tightening to the point of damage.

“Drink anyone?” Cyrus asks and grabs my arm to follow him. I know I can’t cause a scene, but I can’t get the image of his hand on her body out of my head. The image of her when she was thirteen being straddled against her will invades my mind. I can’t do this.

“What the fuck happened? Did she tell you?” He questions.

I nod. “She told me everything, Cy…it’s bad.” I down the whiskey Cyrus gives me. The sting down my throat, a welcome feeling.

“Fuck.” Cyrus downs his glass as well.

“I need you to do something for me,” I ask, knowing he’ll do anything I ask of him. He’s loyal to a fault.

“What do you need?”

“I need you to tell Cara that Emilia will be staying with her tonight and make sure she does, and make it known to the entire table. I can’t stay here Cy. I’ll kill him in front of everyone.” I spit out. “I need you to text me when she’s safe at Cara’s. Meet me in my office first thing tomorrow. I’ll fill you in.”

“Shit, okay. Do you want me to stay at Cara’s?” he asks.