Page 21 of Promising Her Forever

“I don’t mind.”

“I’ll be right outside.”

“Does he think it’s something dangerous?” Daphne asks me.

“I don’t know, but he looks concerned. I hate that they’re all worried because of my bad decisions.”

“Hey! This is in no way your fault. So don’t you give that another thought. Playboy is a psychopath and you were unlucky enough to get caught by him. So fuck him.”

I love Daphne, even if she thought I was at fault? She’d never blame me. And even though she says not to, I still feel bad. Finally, Oliver comes back in. His face is bright red.

“Um,” he says as he hands me a box that looks like it’s from a high-end lingerie shop.

I laugh and take the box from him to open it. It looks like a lace two piece, not something I’d wear, but it’s pretty. Weird part is there’s no card. But maybe Fionn wanted to be here when I got it? I mean who else would send me something like this?

Fionn comes walking in as I’m closing the box. I open my mouth to thank him, but the look on his face is telling me something’s wrong.

“This isn’t from you, is it?” I say softly.

“No, love. It’s not. Oliver told me what it was. Do you know who it could be from? I’m wondering if Playboy would do this.”

“But I never even slept with him. Fuck, I never even kissed him. He tried on the second date and I got grossed out. I couldn’t imagine kissing him.” I can feel my anxiety growing.

Fionn holds me. “I promise he won’t touch you.”

“A-are you sure it’s him?”

“We don’t know for sure. But if I had to make a guess? He would be my number one suspect.”

“I’m sorry I brought this into your life.”

“This isn’t your fault. None of it is because of you, he’s doing this and he’ll be taken care of. I have some things I need to talk to you about tonight. It’s something I can’t tell Daphne. But I can tell you. I know you hate keeping things from her and I’m sorry for that. But this is important,” he whispers to me.

I hate keeping things from Daphne. But if it means that much to Fionn, how can I say no to that?

“Maybe one day I can tell her?”

“Maybe.” He nods.

Fionn

I know that Riley doesn’t like secrets, I can see it on her face. But I didn’t get permission to tell Daphne. Only Riley. The only problem is that the shifters planned on telling her at the family barbecue and Daphne will be there. I text my zio and the others.

Fionn: So I forgot about something. If you all come out at the barbecue, Daphne will find out too…

Zio Giacomo: Shit

Zeus: I didn’t think about that. But since she’s Riley’s best friend and now a permanent part of Lake Renegade, we could possibly let her in too

Enea: I’ll have Sebastiano and Francesco look into Daphne and we’ll get back to you

Fionn: Okay, thank you

Well, at least it’s not a hard no. I was on my way to the station when Oliver called to ask me if I sent a package to Riley. When I said no, he suggested I swing by the coffee shop and see what came in. Whoever sent it didn’t include a card. But my gut says it’s Playboy. Scrapper will be here in a day, and then hopefully we can take care of this without anyone getting hurt.

I grab the box and take it to the side. But when I pick it up, I notice that it’s a little heavy for just lingerie. So I shake the box and it makes a weird rattling noise.

“It didn’t do that when I looked through it.” Riley frowns.