She’d gone upstairs because a shut door clearly told her she wasn’t invited into the chat taking place in the study.And now, she’d closed her own door against him.
Maybe he’d take a hint and move on to his room.
I told you that I killed a man.You said nothing in response.
She’d kept that big confession secret for a very long time, and she’d expected…more, dammit.
Her gaze fell on the closed manila file on her nightstand.His NDA.Idly, she picked it up and began thumbing through the contents.She snorted at some of the stuff she read because no way could that stand up in court.
And…Her eyes narrowed on a particular line.I will go to the grave before I reveal any secret that Lily Gallo shares with me.
Definitely didn’t sound legal.She swallowed.Not legal, but she did like the intent.
The knock came again.Harder.
“I’m asleep,” she said, voice raised.
The door opened.“The hell you are.”
She shrugged.She probably should have locked the door.Next time.
He’d yanked open the top two buttons on his dark shirt.His hair was disheveled, as if he’d run his fingers through it.His eyes were intense, extra bright, and that laser stare was locked and loaded on her.
“Finish your meeting?”Lily inquired sweetly as she shut the file and put it back down on the nightstand.“The one you did not invite me to attend?”
“Desmond and I are breaking the law.”
She rolled her eyes.Then caught herself.
Lily, get controlled.Get focused.It was hard because…she still felt shattered on the inside.From the orgasm?From letting go?From walking into Benedict’s house, knowing he was dead when she’d tried to get him toleave the cabin?Seeing all the destruction—seeing…
She drew in a deep breath.“I broke the law with you when we did our B&E.”And when I killed a man.Pretty sure that counts as breaking the law, too.
“I had to give Desmond new orders.”
“Orders you didn’t want me to hear?”
He shrugged.“Thought you’d object.”
Her stomach clenched.“You told him.”That was the only thing that made sense.“You went to him, and you told him what I confessed to you.”
He was on her.In a flash.Right in front of her, with his handsonher, curling around her shoulders.“I’ll take your secrets to my grave.I will never turn on you.Never.But you did say things that caught my attention.See, when you talk, I listen.Intently.If Benedict had done the same, if he’d listened to you, he’d be breathing.”
She flinched.
He let her go.“You are the priority.Mypriority.That’s what I went over with Desmond first.If you and I should vanish, he finds you first.He gets you out of any dangerous situation…first.The team knows they will use any force necessary to protect you.You come before me.They needed to understand that, and, dammit, Lily, stop shaking your head at me.It’s my order.I pay them.I can get them to do whatever I want.”
Shewasshaking her head.Frantically.“I told you thatyouwere the target!You!Not me.You are the primary target!Your team needs to be focused on securingyou!”
“You said he wanted me to hurt.That he would take away the people close to me.You are the one closest to me.”
“That’s not true.”He was so wrong.“Desmond is.He’s like your brother.He has to be the one who matters most.”They’d been friends for years.
“I have an engagement ring on your finger.”
Yes, and she was very aware of the weight on her hand.“It’s pretend.”
“No, it’s a damn fifty-thousand-dollar ring.”
