“Agreed,” I say. The lie burns my tongue.
“And allies have each other’s backs. Even when it’s inconvenient.”
“Especially when it’s inconvenient.”
She nods. Slowly. Like she’s making a decision.
“Okay,” she says. “Allies. For now.”
“For now,” I agree.
She extends her hand. I take it. Her grip is firm. Warm. She holds on a second longer than necessary, and I feel her pulse jump against my fingers.
She pulls away first and clears her throat.
“You should go,” she says. “It’s late. And tomorrow?—”
“Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”
“Yes.”
I head for the door but stop with my hand on the frame before I leave.
“Hey, Adriana.”
She looks at me, and for once, her dark eyes don’t lance me like flaming daggers.
“Whatever happens tomorrow, just remember you’re not alone in this. I know it doesn’t feel that way, but you’re not.”
Her expression shifts. The walls don’t come down, exactly. But they thin. Just a little.
“Goodnight, Lochlan.”
“Goodnight.”
I walk out of her office and down the hall, past the awards and the magazine covers. I stab the Down button next to the elevator and step inside once the doors open.
I lean against the wall and let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding as the doors close.
Allies. That’s what I promised her. That’s what I’m supposed to be.
But the information I’m keeping makes me something else entirely.
A liar. A traitor. A man who knew her father was going to be shot and did nothing to stop it.
Tomorrow, I’m going to stand in front of a judge and promise to honor her. To be her partner. Her husband.
And I’m already breaking that promise.
The elevator hits the ground floor. I walk through the lobby, past the security guard who’s pretending not to watch me, and out into the balmy night air.
I shove my hands in my pockets and head for my truck where I parked it down the block.
My phone buzzes and I pull it out. A text message from Gavin lights up the screen.
You good?
I type back.
