Page 28 of My Beautiful Sin

“So what now?” I ask, but I already know the answer.

“That phone’s a dead end.”

“Which means that we’re out of luck until I get another text.”

He nods, and I’m grateful he doesn’t offer a platitude, suggesting that maybe another text won’t come. We both know it will.

He reaches for my hand and pulls me close. “There is one other lead,” he begins. “Whoever sent that text thinks there are facts about me you need to learn. Which means the texter is gathering information, probably intending to send you specific dirt with the next text.”

“But I already know how dirty you are.”

The words are intended to make him smile, but all I see is a shadow in his eyes, and I remember what he told me before—There will always be secrets between us. Things I’m not willing to talk about. Not ever.

I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter,” I say automatically, but I can’t help but wonder if it does.

“Other than me, who would do anything to protect you? Who’d challenge me—investigate me—if he thought you were going to disappear in the quicksand.”

For a moment I simply stare. Then I yank my hands out of his, shaking my head as I whisper, “No. No way did Lamar send that text. That’s not possible.”

“Oh, I think it is. He’s the—”

“No,” I say more firmly. “Absolutely not. There is no possible way.” I draw a deep breath and continue. “I trust Lamar with my life. And he didn’t even know we were back together last night. Even if he did, he’d never send that kind of a text. If he has a problem with you—which he does—he’d tell me straight out. Which he has.”

At that, Devlin smiles, albeit only a little. And it’s a cold, scary kind of smile.

“And there’s no point in Lamar sending a text, because there’s no need,” I continue. “He already has my ear. But you know what?” I add, taking his hands as I move closer. “I’ll tell you who we need to look at.”

His eyes narrow. “Who?”

“Just how well do you know your buddy Ronan?”

“No.”

That’s all he says. Just that one, tiny word. As if that’s enough to erase all my fears and suspicions. Not to mention all the hints that Ronan isn’t as clean as the driven snow.

“That’s it?” I counter. “Objection, your honor. I’d like to see some evidence.”

“It’s not Ronan. I’m certain.”

“Well, then I guess we’re both certain. It must be somebody else.”

He exhales loudly, clearly annoyed. But that’s fair. I’m annoyed too.

I decide to try again. “Look, Lamar knows that telling me you’re dangerous isn’t going to scare me away. So he wouldn’t bother sending texts. He knows me too well. But Ronan doesn’t know me at all.”

“Oh, I think he has a pretty solid picture,” Devlin says. “But the bottom line is that I do know him.”

“Oh, do you? So that means that you already know he doesn’t like that we’re together. That he thinks I’m nothing but a distraction.”

“He what?”

“You heard me.”

I watch his face and see just a flicker of something that looks like fury before it goes completely blank.

“He didn’t send that note.”

“Goddammit, Devlin...”