Page 112 of The Trouble With Bad Boys

Lee’s grimace didn’t make me feel any better. He glanced across the room to where Vinny was still hard at work on the computer. “That was the hardest part about moving on, Carina,” he said, peeking back at me. “Knowing you didn’t take your safety seriously. That you’d go back to the way things were before we dated.”

I looked away. Before we dated, I’d been doing exactly what I was doing before I got together with King—using my body to help seduce men for financial gain. In fact, I’d met Lee after Vinny enlisted me to help him investigate a potential business partner. Lee knew who I was going into our relationship, and I always thought it unfair when he asked me to stop.

“Was worried about you,” Lee continued, as if I wasn’t lost in my head, "especially after everything with Kelly.”

A long breath left me. Everything with Kelly was too much. He’d asked me for help finding her earlier in the year, and while I was glad to do so, seeing just how much he loved her had hurt something deep inside of me. It had killed the embers I’d kept burning for him even when he’d long since stopped answering my calls.

“I’m trying to be better,” I told him, both because it was true and I didn’t know what else to say, short of admitting my own stupidity.

“Can I ask a personal question?”

Lifting my brow, I gestured to him with my coffee. “Go right ahead.”

“You and King. You’re together now?”

My stomach fluttered and I licked my lips. “We are.”

“He treat you well?”

Blood crept to my cheeks. “Very well,” I said before taking another sip.

“I’m glad.” Lee took a drink, then sat back in his chair. “King’s a good guy.”

“You say that like you don’t believe it.”

His lips twitched and he looked away. “He’s got a head for the business. It takes a certain kind of person to do what he does, but he does it well. And he certainly cares about it.” He looked back at me. “About all of you.”

I tucked my hair behind my ear. “He does. I swear he works more than anyone I’ve ever met. Well, present company excluded.”

Lee’s deep laughter rang through the room, drawing Vinny’s attention our way.

“This whole thing with King,” I said when Vinny went back to work. “It’s recent, but it just… feels right.”

He smiled, staring down at his hands. “That’s how it was with Kelly.”

“How is she now?”

“Good. She has some bad days, but most days are good. She’s healing. Getting better all the time. Like’s spending time over at Jen and Vinny’s, playing house with Baby Rosie.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket, then swiped his screen a few times before he handed it over to me. On it was his Kelly, her wild mess of red curls surrounding her as she and Jen Leonetti held a tiny baby girl.

“She’s beautiful,” I told him, glancing up to find him staring at the screen.

“Yeah, she really is.” I wasn’t sure if he was talking about the baby or his girl.

Before he could pocket his phone, the big screen behind him came to life, a Bridgewater Security logo flashing before the screen went white. Vinny popped out of his chair, walking over to the two of us with a remote in his hand.

“Carina, do you recognize this man?” He pointed the remote at the screen, and a photograph replaced the white.

“I do. That’s Mr. Sparacello. He’s one of our customers, and he’s at the club all the time.”

“Does Nevaeh know him?” he asked, flicking through to another photo of the man.

“I’m sure she does. She—” I tucked a loose hair behind my ear. “Actually, she might know him quite well. She’s, well…”

“It’s okay, Carina,” Lee told me, placing a hand over mine. “Nothing you say will leave this room. We’re just trying to find her.”

With a nod, I swallowed and said, “Mr. Sparacello is one of the men she’s been seen with recently.”

“Are there others?” Vinny asked, his tone lacking the gentleness Lee’s held.

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