Page 63 of Ruthless God

“Please, Snow.”

“It could be another target on your back.”

“It won’t,” she tells me. “Be right back.”

She climbs the stairs and comes back not a minute later with a skimpy dress, suit, and a blonde wig.

“They won’t know who we are if we wear a disguise. I bought this yesterday.”

The idea sounds good, and she is so sure that this would work. I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to her. My number one priority is protecting Lyrical.

“I can get Jameson to hack into their computer.”

“They won’t have Bailey’s information on who she was dating at the time, but if we can get names at the club, we can narrow it down.”

“No,” I state.

“You told me we can work on this together, but you’re not playing as a teammate.”

I told her that, but it’s my job to handle this.

“I said, no.”

She frowns. “You get to have control over me in the bedroom, Snow. But you don’t get to control my every move. I’m going—with or without you.”

My eyes darken and rage courses through my veins. “I’ll lock you in this mansion, Lyrical. Don’t test me.” I exhale, feeling annoyed. “Jameson and I will take care of it. We will handle it. Like we will handle the white mask man who was after you. I’mnot risking your life, Lyrical. I do control your life; everything you do.”

“You’re not my dictator, Snow.”

She pouts, and it’s cute, so I grab her chin for her gaze to meet mine. “I’m the guy who is fucking your brains out every night. I’m the guy whose dick you come on all the time. You’re going to have my last name soon, so yeah, I own you. Every inch of you. I catch you anywhere near the strip club, I’ll punish you, Blue.”

She peels my fingers from her chin. “You’re unbelievable.”

“You’re mine. And don’t forget it.” I pause. “I’m hiring Russell as your bodyguard when I’m not around. He will walk you to and from classes when I can’t. Until we find the white rabbit.”

“Are you fucking serious, Snow? I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Yeah, you do. Either that or you do your classes online. The choice is up to you.”

All the guilt I feel for taking my anger out on her eats at me, but I don’t let it show. She was right the entire time about someone coming after her, but I still don’t know whether she did drugs and got behind the wheel that night or if she’s using this as an excuse and feels guilty. At this point, I don’t know what to believe. She would have done anything Bailey told her to out of guilt because she wanted to make her best friend happy. Sometimes, my sister would use her mental illness as a weapon to control people if she didn’t get her way.

She rolls her eyes. “I’ll take the bodyguard.”

“Good girl.”

Her phone buzzes and she grabs it from the coffee table, smiling.

“I got a D-plus on my algebra exam.”

She wraps her arms around my shoulders, hugging me tight, and I slide her into my lap, squeezing her ass.

“Professor allowed me to use the notes you gave me on my exam. I wonder what made him change his mind?”

The professor kept true to his word, but I’m still keeping those photos just in case he slips up.

I gaze at her smile that was worth blackmailing him for. I’ll do it all over again to see that smile on her face.

“I really didn’t think I was going to pass.” Tears wet her eyes. “I’m really going to graduate, thanks to your study guides. Let’s celebrate! Let’s go barhopping.”