Page 101 of Just Between Us

Veda sniffed and gave him a watery smile as she shook his hand and exhaled. “Thank you.”

I looked down at her. Questions and confusion swirled in my mind.

Veda gave me a small smile. “We met earlier today ... to compare notes.”

John had been searching for any information about our mother, so it made sense that Veda would want to see whether he had uncovered anything that would be relevant to the work she’d been doing.

A harsh silence fell over the group as my father was led down the trail path in handcuffs.

My father turned, red faced and resisting his bindings. “This is entrapment! She’s a damn liar! I was coerced!” Spit dribbled onto his chin as the officer urged him forward and out of view.

My fist curled. I shook my head and exhaled. “I’m still trying to wrap my brain around what happened here.”

John stepped forward. “He confessed to harming your mother.” He jiggled his phone. “We don’t have all the details, but his confession was recorded, thanks to Veda.”

Abel dragged a hand through his hair. “He just ... admittedeverything?”

“Veda knew what buttons to push, and he admitted enough.” John shrugged. “It’s called anexcited utterance—something blurted out in the midst of an emotionally charged event without premeditation or deliberation.” He shook his head. “It’s a damning piece of evidence that is absolutely admissible in court, which, in short, means he’s fucked.”

“Unbelievable.” Abel looked over the black waters of the lake.

John gestured toward Veda. “We met this afternoon, and Veda filled me in on what you’ve been up to.” He shook his head in disbelief. “The pictures around town, a nosy reporter, the billboard—even Sylvie wearing your mother’s old jacket. Veda suspected your father was nearing the end of his rope. She thought maybe all he needed was a little nudge.”

My fist clenched at my side. “And you thought it was a good idea forherto do the nudging.”

Abel stepped forward, sensing the tether on my anger was about to snap.

“Hey.” John’s hands raised. “This was her idea. She wanted to go in with a wire. I had the police ready to intervene. We had a code word. She was safe.”

I took an aggressive step forward, tucking Veda behind me. “Look at her face, asshole. You call that safe?”

“Royal, I’m okay. I promise.” Veda’s hand rested softly on my forearm. “Your dad doesn’t like women, especially women who push back. Ithadto be me. I was confident that I could goad him enough to get him to crack.”

I faced her, smoothing her tousled black hair away from her gorgeous face. Her eye was already swollen, and an angry bluish purple had bloomed at the corner. “It was reckless.”

“I took a few notes from the Royal King playbook.” She lifted a shoulder. “I guess sometimes breaking the rules works.”

My hands framed her face, letting the world around us fade away. “Goddamn, I love you, Precious.”

Her pretty face split into a grin. “I love you too.”

I bent to capture her lush mouth with mine. My hand planted against the center of her back, pulling her into me. Veda opened for me, sliding her tongue against mine and moaning into the kiss.

Every cell in my body ignited.

Behind me, my brother cleared his throat. I broke the kiss, determined to finish that particular conversation later, when I could get her alone and check every inch of her to make sure she was, in fact, unharmed.

“This is really fucking messy, you know.” Abel dug a thumb into his palm. “I have a feeling this is far from over.”

My lips flattened. “I know.” I looked down at Veda’s gorgeous face and grinned. “This is just the beginning.”

My siblingsand I stood in a line outside the house as we stared up at the King estate. It had never been a home—not really. Though Aunt Bug had always done her best, the threat of our father showing up had always lent a tense edge to the air inside the house.

“We could burn it down.” I glanced at Abel and realized he wasn’t joking.

Whip shrugged. “Or sell it.”

MJ kicked the dirt with the toe of her canvas sneaker. “This is Bug’s home. I think she should decide what happens to it.”

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