Page 76 of Bishop

I need to pull my shit together.

It’s her job to be flawless. To seduce. To manipulate.

I’m not a schmuck who should be caught dead falling victim.

I yank open the door and trudge back to the open living area where she’s already lowering bowls onto the place settings across from each other at one end of the table.

“Perfect timing.” She beams at me.

I glower. “You’re in a happy mood tonight.”

“I am.” Her smile falters as she pads back into the kitchen. “Due to this.” She grabs a glass of wine from the counter and raises it in my direction. “But also because of you.”

I stiffen. “Me?”

Her brows furrow, yet her smile remains in place. Confusion and happiness. It’s a weird combination, but fuck it looks pretty on her.

“You’ve done a lot for me over the last few days. Just having someone know the truth feels like the weight of my burden has been lessened. I’ve never had that before.”

“Great, now I’m a saint,” I mutter under my breath.

She raises her chin. “You seem to be in a mood yourself.” She places her wineglass in front of her table setting and takes a seat. “One that grates.”

I ignore her and pull out the opposite chair, the legs scraping against the tile as I drag myself toward the table.

“Did something happen while you were on the phone?” she asks.

“No.”

“Who did you call?”

I contemplate lying. Hell, even denying her a response would be better than the truth I confess. “Langston.”

Her chin hitches, but whatever she’s feeling remains locked tight behind an amiable expression as she takes her fork and punctures a piece of lettuce. “I hope you didn’t tell him my business.”

“I kept your secrets, belladonna.” I stab a piece of steak. “For now.”

She eats some cucumber, a chunk of carrot, and more lettuce, letting the conversation die.

Good. I prefer the silence.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you,” she starts two minutes later. “It’s been a few days now. Is it time to report my father missing?”

“No.” I claim another piece of meat and shove it in my mouth. “I don’t know why you’d want to draw the attention of the cops.”

“Maybe because I spent twenty-four hours leaving message after message on his phone, then suddenly stopped. Won’t that make me look guilty when police investigate his disappearance?”

“His body will show up in Virginia soon enough. An autopsy will figure out his time of death. And you were at a public event in Denver when it happened. It’s not going to be an issue.”

“But what about conspiracy? What if they think I was involved?”

“They won’t.” I stab again. Chew. Swallow.

She pauses, staring at me a moment. “I’m not trying to be painful, but this is my future, and I have no idea how you’re so calm.”

“Because cops don’t get paid enough to give a shit. They work for bonuses and those don’t come in-house. Their gravy train is from outsiders like me.”

“But what if it becomes a federal case? What if I’m up against someone who can’t be bribed?”

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