Page 22 of His Sacrifice

“Just give Jada a day or two,” I reasoned.

“I still think you shouldn’t have told her and just dated her,” Leo grunted.

“Well, I figured my odds were better if I clued Jada in on what I was doing rather than blindside her. She’s not some dumb girl who would instantly fall in love with me.”

“You’re not giving yourself enough credit. I’m sure you’re a bit rusty, but I’m also sure you could have caught her eye.”

I had caught her eye, but then she had found out who I was, and then she was pissed at me. Telling Jada my plan was the best bet. However, I wasn’t sure it was going to pay off. “She’ll say yes, and then we’ll work on getting Candace to show her face.”

Leo stared pensively out the window. “Let’s fucking hope so.”

Chapter Nine

Jada

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t believe you,” Tatum whispered.

“Believe it, girlfriend. Creed wants me to fake being in love with him to try to get crazy Candace to come out of the woodwork.”

Tatum sat back in her chair and shook her head in disbelief. “No.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I need you to get over the shock, Tatum, and help me figure out if I am going to do this. And if I do, what am I going to ask for I return.”

“How do they know that Candace is going to come after you? She could still come after me, Kitty, or even Greer, though I’ve heard that Candace would have to be crazy to go after Greer.”

“I’d like to meet this Greer one day,” I laughed. “Creed had said the same thing about her.”

“Murphy and I had lunch with her the other day. She’s fancy while being so down to earth. She’s kind of an anomaly. I really liked her.” Tatum flitted her hand in the air. “But that is beside the point. What are you going to do?”

“Do I really have a choice?” I asked. “If I don’t help Creed, Candace will never be caught, and then I will go down in history as the woman who was the downfall of the Banachis.”

Tatum blinked slowly. “Uh, okay. I think you might be slightly exaggerating. If you don’t want to do this, the guys will find another way.”

“Another woman, you mean?”

Tatum tipped her head to the side. “Are you more upset that Creed asked you to do this or that if you say no, someone else will take your place?”

“Take my place in a fake romance while running the risk of being murdered?” I countered. “It’s all fake, Tatum.”

“That is what is upsetting you.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a stack of receipts I needed to enter into my ledger. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You liked Creed before you found out who he was.”

“Yes, and then I also found out what I liked before was all a façade, Tatum. I am aware that whatever happens between Creed and me will all be fake.”

“You sound like you’ve already made up your mind,” Tatum laughed.

I shuffled through the papers. “Yes, I have. I can’t very well say no and then sit by and worry that Candace will come after you again.”

“Oh, so you’re taking one for the team.”

I pointed to the door. “I think I heard the bell ding. Maybe you should go check on that.”

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