Page 191 of Her Wicked Plan

With how on edge she is, I shouldn’t tell her this next piece of information now, but she is at risk, too, and I can’t wait any longer to tell her. “I spoke with Scarlet again.”

“You what?” She snaps.

“After I talked with Dr. Bennett about taking on Olivia, I found out that he wasn’t the one who suggested I care for her. It was all a lie so Scarlet could talk to me.”

Veronica huffs out a laugh and throws her arms up. “Of course, she did! Let me guess, now that you told me no, you’re gonna run off into the sunset with her? Despite everything she has done?”

“What? No! Scarlet isn’t in the picture like that for me, and you know it. I am bringing it up because since we are not running... she knows about us.”

Her anger turns into rage in an instant. “She what?”

“She knows about us and has known for a while. I threatened her, though, told her if she said anything to Dr. Bennett, I’d unveil the skeletons in her closet.”

“And you think she’ll listen to you?”

“It’s been a week, and I haven’t been fired yet, which I’m taking as a good sign.”

“Wait, you talked to her a week ago, and you are just now informing me she, of all fucking people, knows about our relationship.”

I wasn’t going to put that label on it because I figured she wouldn’t want me to, but hearing it come from her lips sounds right. “I should have told you sooner, but things kept coming up with work.”

Like they always fucking do.

“The threat won’t hold, Leo.”

“I beg to differ.”

“No offense, but you aren’t the scary type unless we are naked and you are in charge.”

My eyebrows raise at the honesty, and the corner of my mouth tugs upward. “I think you’re underestimating me.”

“Doubtful.” She keeps taking punches at me without using her fist.

My smile drops, and I take that extra step to close the gap between us. She eyes me, unsure of what's to come, until I grab her by the throat, just like I did with Scarlet.

My eyes grow dark, and the tips of my fingers rub heavily against her skin as I shove her into the large hedge. Those beautiful brown eyes I fell in love with go wide.

“You didn’t see the fear in her eyes—kind of like the fear that swims in yours right now.” I squeeze my hand once before dropping it. “The threat will hold. We will have to be extra careful now.”

“You still want this to continue even though we aren’t running?”

“Yes.” Before she can respond, I say, “Now, if you excuse me, I need to go pack.”

Leaving her to wander the garden alone, I go to my room. I wasn’t due to leave until tomorrow morning, but I figured packing now would be a good idea. I replay the conversation I just had with Veronica in my mind.

Flashes of her face filter my mind. The hurt cascading over her features, and the anger filling her entire body. It was like looking at the woman I met when I arrived here.

I left her in the gardens and hoped that she would behave herself while I was gone. I fueled the fire. I denied her offer to run and gave her the information that Scarlet knew about us. A ticking time bomb was left behind in that garden, and I lit the fuse.

Warning her to behave seemed pointless. In the past, when I did, she never listened. Maybe now, not wanting to say the words out loud, she understands what is expected of her.

As I choose comfy clothes to pack for my time at home, the phone on my bed rings. Chloe's name alerts on the screen. I smile as I grab the phone and bring it to my ears.

“I’m packing right now and will leave first thing tomorrow morning,” I say as soon as I answer the phone. I wait for her snarky response while folding up some gray sweats, but she says nothing. Sniffles sound on the other end, and panic erupts within me. “Chloe? What’s wrong?”

“It’s mom… can you leave today?” She chokes on her words, holding the tears back.

“Y-yeah,” I stutter. “I’ll leave now. What’s going on?”