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“You had to go on a fucking date with afuckingbanker. We all have a role in this robbery, and you’ve been failing at yours miserably. So what do I do, huh? When my right-hand man becomes fucking useless.”
I hope she doesn’t recognize my signs of panic. My index finger tapping repeatedly against the side of my thigh, my jaw tightening, bulging just below my ears.
“I expected this one”—her gaze goes to Ethan—“to fall back for her like a desperate puppy, but I thought you were smarter than that. That you knew business comes before everything.”
“Businessdoescome before everything,” I say calmly.
“Ah, great,” she mocks me. “Then tell me you didn’t stand up that banker because you were scared Jade was going to find out and think you’re seeing someone behind her back. You didn’t show up to the fucking date, Elliot!”
Confusion etches on Jade’s face. Her eyes wildly roam around the room, settling on me and begging for information. “What date?”
“Is my van ready, Jade?” Kay presses the gun harder against her head.
She swallows thickly. “No.”
“Then shut the fuck up.”
I look at the woman I love, steeling myself for her reaction. I want to answer her question.
“Part of the plan for the robbery was for me to seduce the bank manager who will be present on the day. She’s the one with the keys to the safe.”
A crease forms between her eyebrows. She’s upset, just keeping it to herself.
“On the day, I’m meant to convince her to have sex in the safe. Doing something forbidden as a sexy game.”
Her chin trembles. She’s probably biting her tongue to reel back her jealousy right now. It’s so clear on her face.
“I started seducing her,” I admit. “I went to the bar where she hangs out every Thursday with her girlfriends and I hit on her. I asked her on a date. But I didn’t show up.” My eyes dart to Kay and back to Jade. “I couldn’t do it…because I finally have you, and I don’t want to fuck it up.”
“It’s just afucking plan!” Kay snaps. “No one is asking you to marry her.”
“Plan or not, I’ll only do it if Jade is okay with it. Now will you put your gun away so we can talk?” I huff. “That shit is so unnecessary.” It takes a patience I’d never thought I’d have to gather to not jump Kay right now.
And I’m not even doing it because she’s my boss or because I respect her. I’m not even doing it because I love her like a sister.
I’m staying calm because I don’t want her to hurt Jade. Plain and simple.
“Is it? Or do you only act when you risk losing her?”
“Put the gun away, Kayla.” My cold voice makes the February freezing temperatures feel warm.
“Your girl has been relaying information to NSC, did you know that?”
“What?” Jade’s panicked gaze goes to me. “I didn’t. Elliot, I promise I don’t know what she’s talking about.”
I see it now. I don’t know how I never noticed it before. I’m not sure when it started, but since I made the mistake of doubting that Sawyer blackmailed her, I noticed the way she panics when accused of something, or when she has to justify herself.
Jade’s biggest fear is not being believed. And God knows how long we’ve all spent calling her a liar.
Kay clocks the hammer, making Jade gasp. “Lie one more time and your two lovers will be cleaning your brains off the floor.”
“I didn—” She stops herself, too scared, but her pleading eyes don’t leave me.
One more threat…justone. More.
“Kayla.” My tone has less life in it than death. The threat makes my boss look right into my eyes, checking how serious I am. “Put the gun away.”
Ethan shakes his head at me, warning me not to do anything stupid. A mix of the fear we all have of Kay and the fact that he’s worried about Jade too. Ethan would rather let this go so he can sort things out later. My brother has always been one who can stay leveled and take things silently. He didn’t have a choice when he was too weak to defend himself, so he learned to endure. But it doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous. If I’m an earthquake, he’s the deadly aftershock that comes when no one expects it. You think you got him, and that same night, he comes to slit your throat.
