Page 96 of Pretty Monsters

"Lucien was already on to something at that club. I did some digging around on my own, reaching out to the few people my mother and I didn't turn over to the feds. I think Damien Blackthorne is the current Martin Gerrick. If we can prove it in such a way he can't get out of it, then we can bring down both the trafficking network and Damien Blackthorne. Sin is stubborn though, so we will need to work fast and make it fool proof."

"Otherwise, Sin will just hand himself over," I finish for him.

"What do you say?"

I exhale. It's a shaky plan. The whole thing rests on whether or not we can find evidence where decades of investigators have never been able to. However, it does seem like the only viable option.

Finally, I respond, "It beats running for the rest of my life."

Teddy shrugs. "You get used to it."

* * *

I pacein the small space in front of the beds. "What do we do first?"

Teddy's face goes blank for a moment. "Lucien and Sin have been focusing on following the people connected to both the club, and Damien Blackthorne. We'll let them continue to do that, but I'm going to follow the money."

"How are you going to do that? Are you a secret hacker too?"

He laughs, a deep belly laugh that brings tears to his eyes. "God no. I'm lucky I can check my email."

"Then how? I hope you aren't thinking I'm going to be able to do it, because my computer skills are average at best."

"Don't worry about it. Lucien isn't the only one with contacts. One of the detectives that went after my dad is a forensic accountant with the FBI. I'll put him on the trail and see what he turns up."

I kiss him on the cheek. He puts his hand over the spot my lips touched. "What was that for?"

"For giving me hope. I can't lose him, Teddy."

Teddy takes his cell phone. "We better get moving on this right away. Eventually, Lucien's contact will come through. I've got another thought. What will happen if your father finds you?"

"I imagine he's going to try and marry me off, which is just a legal way of selling me to the highest bidder. Lucien thinks he needs the money to fund his campaign. Apparently, he thinks my virginity will fetch a high price."

"And when he finds out you aren't a virgin?"

I blow out a breath. "I don't know, but it won't be good."

"We need to prevent him from being able to marry you off, just in case he finds you."

"How do you propose we do that?"

"You need to get married."

I blink several times. "To keep from being married off, I need to get married?"

"I'll think about it, but for now, make that phone call," I reply.

30

Options

Raven

I pushTeddy's suggestion out of my mind. What's the point in fighting for my freedom if I don't actually get to exercise it? Do I want to marry Sin? Maybe. Honestly, I've never thought about marriage much. I want to be with him, that's not a question, but I don't need a legal stamp on our relationship to feel like it's important.

Ford lets himself into the room and finds me staring off into space. "Hey, firecracker, what's put that vacant look on your face?"

"Everything. What are we doing? We can't live out of motels forever. Most of you have school to go to, and Teddy thinks I should get married so my father can't force me to marry someone else," I unload.

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