Page 121 of Vengeful Secret

“Of course not.”

“Why not?” I step closer to her again, pushing her against the wall with my body.

Her arms slowly go around my neck.

“Because… because I wouldn’t betray you like that. Not for anything.”

“Not even for Ciara?”

“How can I trust a Murphy to keep her safe when they tried to take me?”

“That’s a good point. But you were tempted.”

It’s a tiny arrow through my heart that she admitted she thought about it, but I also can’t blame her.

I wish there was a way to keep Ciara and Sutton out of my lifestyle, too, but I’m not willing to part with them to do it.

They’re everything to me.

“Just for a second,” she whispers. “Just… part of me thinks I should have never come here. I’ve caused you trouble, and they’re still after us…”

“Not for long,” I say firmly. “I’m going to kill the sonofabitch who asked you to betray me?—”

Sutton squeezes her arms around my neck. “No, Gray. We can’t. They didn’t try to harm me. They didn’t try to take me. We need to take the high road.”

“Why, it’s not like they’re taking the high road,” I snort. “They’re trying to get you to turn on me.”

“And I didn’t. But I took their card to make them think that I might. To make them go away, not try to take me.” She trembles in my arms, and I soften, hugging her with my arms around her waist.

“You did the right thing, Sutton. You did the only thing that you could. You kept yourself safe, and in doing that, you kept Ciara safe, too. I know that you wouldn’t betray me.”

“I was worried you'd think I did."

I gape at her. “Why would I think that, Sutton? I trust you.”

I love you.

I want to say it, but the words just won’t come out.

She left me once before, and I can’t be sure she won’t do it again.

“I trust you, too, Gray. I trust you to keep us safe.”

I press my forehead to hers, sighing. “Things aren’t going to get any easier,a ghrá. They’ll only get more dangerous. We’re at war.”

“I know,” she says, so quietly I can barely hear her.

“And you’ll stay?” I wanted it to come out aloof, but instead, it sounds like a plea.

She looks into my eyes. “I’ll never leave you again, Gray. Not ever.”

I crush my mouth to hers, needing to know she’s safe, that she’s here in my arms, and she responds in kind, parting her lips.

I slide my tongue between them, rubbing my tongue against hers.

I grunt, picking her up by her ass and thighs, then pinning her with my body.

She’s wearing a skirt, and I bunch it around her hips, needing her right now.

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