Page 145 of Theirs to Corrupt

He places his forehead against mine. For a moment, the anger and tension between us vanishes, leaving me with the undeniable connection that drew me to him in the beginning.

“Let’s go home.” His words are soft, and so is the way he strokes my cheeks, tracing the tracks of my earlier tears.

“I need to make sure Nat is okay.”

He sighs his impatience but to his credit, says nothing.

I go in search of Nat and find her in the bedroom. “David changed his flight. He’ll be on the first flight tomorrow morning.”

“If he’s ready to leave now, I’ll send a private plane,” Link says.

I whirl, and Nat glances over my shoulder at him. I had no idea he followed me.

“You will?” she echoes.

“Pretty luxurious,” I tell her.

“You’re serious right now?”

“I am.” He places his hands on my shoulders. “If I were traveling, I’d need to get home as soon as I could.”

“Honestly I don’t know what to say.”

“Yes,” I urge, turning to face her. “Let him.” I mean, after all, the man seems to have more money than he knows what to do with.

“In that case, thank you.”

“Where is he?” Link asks.

“Los Angeles.”

I stand next to my friend as Link releases me to pull his phone from his pocket. He hits a number, then speaks in a clipped, no-nonsense tone. “I need a plane. Los Angeles.” He glances at Nat again. “Give me his name and the time he can be ready to depart.”

Within minutes, David’s on his way to the airport in a car Link has also provided.

Now that it’s time to leave, I don’t want to walk away from Nat. “I’m so sorry,” I start, but she cuts me off with a fierce hug.

“We’re both okay. It’s over.”

I’m not sure why, but I glance to Link for confirmation. “Is it?”Really? Truly?

With Torin in front of us and Mira bringing up the rear, we make our way outside and into the SUV. Even though the evening is mild, the moment I’m in the seat with the door closed, I begin to shake.

Delayed shock?

Moving to sit next to me, Link shrugs out of his jacket and tucks it around me. Then he drapes his arm over my shoulders, holding me tight.

“You’re safe.”

“Am I?” What about Emiliano? And what will happen to my brother?

I shiver. Axel’s cries will haunt me forever.

When we arrive at the house, my energy has gone. Part of me wants to head upstairs to take a bath, but my legs won’t cooperate. Instead I slide onto one of the bar stools while Link says goodnight to our bodyguards. I’m guessing Hawkeye agents never truly get a day off.

“Sparkling water?” Link offers, the emeralds in his cufflinks glinting in the overhead lights, reminding me once more of who he is.

“Wine,” I respond.

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