Page 47 of Theirs to Corrupt

Pax shakes his head. “After we’re back from Vegas, you can.”

The reminder of our impending trip—our wedding—sends a jolt through me. The day after tomorrow, I’ll be married to not one, but two men?

Mira and Torin pass on the invitation to eat with us and instead carry their own box out of the house.

Instead of getting back into the SUV, they continue walking past the pool to the guest house. “They’re staying on the property?”

“Having them close by is essential,” Pax says.

The aroma of melted cheese and spicy pepperoni fills the air as we settle around the kitchen island, pizza boxes spreadbefore us. Despite the comfort food, tension hangs heavy in the room. I’m hyperaware of Link’s presence beside me. His arm occasionally brushes mine as he reaches for another slice.

Suddenly, Pax’s phone chirps. He glances at the screen, his brow furrowing. “Excuse me,” he murmurs, moving away from us.

I don’t even pretend to focus on my food. Instead I turn toward him and eavesdrop.

My heart stops when I hear him ask, “Marge?”

The slice of pizza slips from my fingers, landing with a soft plop on my plate. “Pax?”

But he pays me no attention. His expression is dark, unreadable, and his body is tight, poised for action.

After he ends the call, he immediately dials another number. This time, I leave my chair and walk over to him, desperate to hear more. Only one word reaches me clearly.“Inamorata.”

My mind races. Inamorata? Isn’t that Italian for…sweetheart? Beloved? What does that have to do with Marge?

“Need cleanup at the Rusty Nail,” Pax says tersely into the phone.

Cleanup?A chill runs down my spine. In movies,cleanupusually means.…

No.

Refusing to think like that, I shake my head.

As Pax ends the call, I reach out, gripping his wrist. “What’s going on? Is Marge okay?”

His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of sympathy before the professional mask slips back into place. He nods once. “She’s fine.”

Relief floods through me, quickly followed by a new wave of dread. “Then…”Someone else isn’t?

And why did she call Pax?

Is this something related to me?

Pax doesn’t answer. Instead he turns to Link, his gaze hard. “You got this?”

Link nods, and a silent understanding seems to pass between them.

As Pax shrugs into his motorcycle jacket, my world tilts off its axis once again. He makes another call, this time to Torin, updating the couple on the situation.

Moments later, Mira and Torin arrive at the main house.

“I’ll show you to the security room,” Link says to the couple.

Security room?

Until now, I didn’t know he had one.

Not that it should be a surprise. Link and Pax don’t seem to leave anything to chance.

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