Page 63 of A Twisted Gift

Elliot nods. “Transporting Christmas presents isn’t something we normally do, but we were happy to make the exception for you. And I’m assuming the equipment we lent you was sufficient?”

“It was perfect.” I hand him the bag Arnold left by the front door for me. “Thank you.”

“Of course. You mentioned there was a second part to the job?”

“Yes. It’s quite the list, actually. All the information you need is in the bag.”

It’ll keep them busy for a couple months, I’m sure. The rest of the Montgomery staff is on that list, along with every single person who was at the auction. After seeing the pain they caused Raina, there’s no way I can let any of them live.

They nod, used to this level of secrecy from me. I always do incriminating shit like this in person, and even then, I prefer not to talk about it in case someone is recording my conversations.

“Payment will be wired into your account once you’ve completed the job, as usual. I’ve already arranged for the deposit for the first portion.” I gesture to the presents. “Should go through the first business day after Christmas.”

“Thank you.” Elliot clasps my hand. “And I wanted to thank you again for introducing us to Ludo Holloway. We’ve done a few jobs for him over the past year or so, and they’ve really helped us out.”

“I’m glad.”

And I mean it, really. Despite their profession, Elliot, Rhett, and Oliver are good men. Trustworthy, dependable, and with the best morals you can have in a business like theirs.

Ludo, though… Honestly, I wish someone would take the sadistic fuck out. I’d hire someone myself—maybe these three,even—but I don’t want to get involved in the fallout after his death. Holloway is too powerful for his own good.

I walk the men to the door, bidding them a goodnight. At this point, my only thought is of collapsing into bed next to Raina. I didn’t want to leave her in the first place.

Arnold steps into the foyer. “Do you need anything else from me tonight?”

“No, you’ve done enough. Thank you so much.”

He nods, heading for the front door. “Have a Merry Christmas, then.”

“You as well.”

Just as Arnold is about to shut the door behind him, he pauses and glances back at me. “You look different.”

“Do I?”

He smiles. “I’m glad you found her, Erik.”

My heart clenches. He’s one of the only people who knows the truth. “So am I, Arnold. So am I.”

With that, he leaves, and I head upstairs. Even though I know I have Raina now, I’m still drawn to her with a force so strong that I can’t resist it—not that I’ll ever want to.

I close myself in our room and shed my clothes. Now that I’m home, I’m grateful Raina pushed for us to leave so hard. Being here is much better than being plagued by all the memories that come with my parents’ house.

“Erik,” Raina mumbles when I crawl under the covers.

“I’m here.” Kissing her shoulder, I pull her body into mine. “Go back to sleep.”

She turns into me, nuzzling my chest and sighing contentedly. Within minutes, we both drift off, secure in each other’s arms.

Chapter twenty

Raina

In the morning, I wake up alone. The room I’m in is large, complete with a sitting area. A fire is burning in the fireplace, keeping the room warm.

Groggily, I push myself up onto my elbows. I remember being in the car on the way to the airport—not Erik’s, but the rental he had delivered since his car disappeared—but after that, my memory is blank.

Did I fall asleep? I suppose I must’ve.

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