Page 49 of Wicked Scandal

“Why?” I step out of his hold on me. “So you and Elodie can give me shit? So she can judge me and you can spread rumors like you always do?”

Rome shakes his head, disappointment in his gaze. But what did he expect?

“No, bro. So we can help you.”

“Yeah. Okay,” I sputter a sarcastic laugh. “Tell me why I’d need your help anyways. If anything, you all need my help.”

“What d’ya mean?”

I use this opportunity to tell Rome about Mayor Jenkins digging into their past, hoping to take the attention off of the girl in the video and where I was last night. Besides, he, Celia, and Dad deserve to know. “Troy Jenkins,” I spit out. “That’s what I mean.”

“He’s a shady politician. So what about him?”

The mention of the mayor seems to have sparked the interest of Luke and Aiden. Now, both eating the box of donuts, they listen keenly to our conversation.

Ignoring them, I look at Rome, that fury when I heard about what that fucker is doing returns. “He’s digging into your criminal record and wants to destroy Celia’s reputation for having the charges thrown out.”

Rome goes silent, which speaks volumes. His jaw tightens and his fists ball at his sides. “That son of a bitch.”

“Damn. Homeboy is ruthless,” Aiden squawks with a mouthful of food.

Luke throws in his two cents. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like she did anything illegal.”

Rome scrubs a hand over his face, sobering up really quick. “Just because she won’t be incriminated by law, doesn’t mean it won’t make her look really fucking bad.”

“So what are you gonna do?” Aiden asks him, and I’m curious myself. Whatever his plan is, I’m in. We can dig as far back as the day that asshole mayor was born and find whatever dirt we can on him if necessary.

“I’m gonna tell my dad,” Rome says with a snark to his tone. “There’s no way in hell he’ll lie down while this sneaky fuckwad tries to destroy his family's reputation.”

“And if he does?” I ask Rome, knowing that our dad is a pretty stand-up guy who prefers to err on the side of caution. He won’t believe us easily, and he definitely won’t react quick enough unless there is some solid proof.

Rome lifts a shoulder, a cocky grin on his face. “Then we’ll handle it for him.”

I hold out a fist and we bump knuckles. “Hell yeah, we will.”

I’d love nothing more than to take that abusive prick down, as long as Cat isn’t hurt in the process.

Luke looks in my cart, his eyebrow quirked. “Who the hell are you cooking breakfast for?”

“Like I said, it’s none of your business.” I look from one of them to the other. “I gotta go.”

I push the cart down the aisle, feeling three times my age as I walk away from my best friends. They were living it up last night like carefree teenagers while I was curled up on the couch with Cat. And I’d do it again in a heartbeat—every damn day.

“Your secrets aren’t safe,” I hear Luke call out as I approach the end of the aisle. “One way or another, we’ll find out who she is.”

Let’s hope like hell that doesn’t happen.

I get back to the guesthouse and I’m surprised to find that Cat is still sound asleep. She must’ve really needed a good night’s rest. I stop for a moment in the living room and take in her form. She’s got the blanket tugged up over her shoulder, sleeping on her side with her knees bent. She’s pure beauty and everything I never knew I needed in my life.

When she stirs a little bit, I continue into the kitchen with the bags of groceries and get started on breakfast. I don’t want her to wake up before the food is ready.

A few minutes later, the pan is sizzling and the small space fills with the aroma of bacon, eggs, and toast.

I’m cooking away when a shadowy figure to my left catches my eye. I turn my head and see Cat leaning against the doorframe with the blanket wrapped around her and a smile on her lips.

“Hey now,” I sing. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”

She begins toward me. “How can I when it smells so good in here?”

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