Page 103 of Cruel Love

“No,” I say, sliding them out. “I know better than to try that again.”

“Good.” She turns toward the mirror. “How do I look?”

I blink at her perfect reflection with jealous green eyes. Short skirt. No sleeves. Tall boots.

“Too good,” I answer.

She smiles. “Are we feeling territorial tonight, Mr. Hart?”

“Always.”

Lucy faces me. “I’ll be okay,” she says.

“If you feel something is off, trust your gut,” I tell her. “Get out of there.”

“I will.” She nods. “But I’m not scared. I’m not worried.”

“Why not?”

“Because I know you’ll be right outside,” she says. “You’ll be watching, waiting, and ready to pounce if I need you.”

I exhale slowly. “That’s right.”

“That... and Fox will have his dark, sexy eyes on me, too,” she teases, making me squint. “But, mostly, it’s because of you. Mostly.”

My phone rings in my pocket as I glare at her. I slide it out to read the number on the screen.

“It’s Lilah,” I say.

Lucy piques with interest.

I answer it. “Hey, little sister. How’s it going over there?”

“We’ve got Myra.”

I pause. “What?”

“We found the house and fought our way in. She’s now tied up in the basement.”

“You fought your way in?” I repeat, my anger spiking. “Why did you do that? You were on recon.”

“Dante, did you miss the part where I said I have the cunt who killed our brother tied up downstairs?”

My lips twitch with vengeful adrenaline. “She’s secure?”

“She couldn’t even scratch her own ass if she needed to.”

I nod. “Is Archer around?”

“Uh... yeah.”

“Let me talk to him.”

“Why do you want to talk to him?”

“Just...” I exhale. “Please.”

“O-kay.”

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