Page 91 of Lock Up the Darkness

This was beyond mere interest, though.

Something I didn’t have a firm handle on and, as such, shouldn’t be pursuing in that way. I didn’t like to go into a situation without all the details at my back. But she’d imprinted herself on me, the fight in the ring skyrocketing that to another level entirely.

One that wouldn’t be denied any longer.

I watched her throat work as she tried to absorb the weight of my unexpected confession, the dark promise in my words cutting into her, just like my blade had with her soft skin.

The cock blocker that he was quickly becoming, Killian, cut in, “We packed up some of your things. If you need more, or we’ve missed anything else you want here for the next few days, just write us a list and we’ll see to it.”

She blinked and looked to him, struggling to focus on his words.

I smiled to myself. Very good.

“I…” She shoved a hand through her hair. “I need my phone and laptop for starters.”

Killian eyed me. “Asher.”

I shook my head. “I told you, only under my supervision.”

“Just kill the internet. At least let her keep herself occupied while she’s here, do her schoolwork.”

I scoffed. “That won’t stop her. She’ll find a way.” I looked at her. “Isn’t that right?”

“What is it that you’re worried about me doing? Calling for help to get out of this room?”

“Among other things.”

She scoffed. “I don’t need help. And, you know what? I don’t need out of this house.”

“You don’t?” Killian asked.

She ran her hands over the expensive navy bedspread and mused aloud, “Everything I need is here.”

We all stared at her as she looked between us with a hooded, salacious look, smirking.

On the surface it looked like she was coming onto all three of us at once.

But beneath it, she was challenging us.

Her gaze snapped to mine. “Bring me my phone and laptop and you and I will get to work. No more biding time because of distrust, no more hoops, no more tests. We pool our resources.”

“Full disclosure?”

“Close enough.”

Smart girl. I nodded. “Done.” Looking to Killian, I told him, “Talk to her professors, use your infamous persuasion skillset to get the course material to her remotely so she doesn’t miss out. If you encounter any pushback, let me know.” I gestured at Jonah. “Find the source of the leak. Work with Bryce.” Our Head of Security, the guy was extremely proficient at his job and he’d served us well over the years.

As they both nodded, Aurora asked me, “What leak?”

I pulled out my phone and scrolled to the issue in question, pulling up a text I’d received.

I eased myself down on the foot of the bed beside her and held it out for her to see. “The reason you’re here now.”

She took in the surveillance photo of her hunched over at the end of our driveway leaning against her bike with her hand slapped to her injured side, right after Jonah had fixed her up following our sparring session in the ring.

“Carson sent me this yesterday morning.”

She read the message next.

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