Page 94 of Lost Kingdom

“Back here.” I grab her neck and spin her around, drawing her closer until she’s forced to stand on her toes and fold her neck back. “So you know when I’m lying?”

She chokes out a laugh. “Every single time.”

“And yet, you let me lie and look stupid?”

“Those are your choices. I give you ample opportunity to tell the truth.”

“Our marriage?”

“From the moment Cordoza handed you the envelope.”

“But not before that? I was thinking about it for weeks before.”

“It hadn’t happened until the envelope.” She pushes to her toes and fingers the buttons of my shirt. “But I knew you were planning it. Just like you were planning to do the same in Jamaica, but it didn’t pan out.”

“And Duane?”

“I knew.” She pats my collar down and sighs. “I knew he would be okay, which is why we didn’t go searching for him last night. Just as I knew you would die if you didn’t listen to me.”

“What else do you know?” Cato questions, way too fucking excited. “I’m going pro, right?”

“Easily. But that’s a path you’re on right now. You train hard, you have a natural skill, and you’re holding on to enough course credits to get you through college. Your path,right now, is leading you toward pro basketball. But that could change at any moment, depending on the choices you make. I can’t predict the future. That’s not what this is.”

He rolls his eyes. “Sounds like you want my twenty-bucks and a thank you for telling me absolutely nothing.”

“I know you’re not romantically interested in Jenna Anderson, the owner of the Copeland Condors’ stepdaughter. But you would kill for her.”

His cheeks pale in an instant. “You sneaking looks at my texts?”

She wrinkles her lips in disgust. “I’d rather not pollute my eyes and mind with that filth.”

“What about Felix and Christabelle, then?”

“Hey! Keep my name out of your mouth. I didn’t ask for this hokey fortune teller nonsense.”

Aubree smirks, glancing across and side-eyeing my brother. “Christabelle will be pissed when she finds out how close to death you were today, and how rudely you’ve spoken to me, considering how gracious I was about saving your life. Though, the fact she didn’t fly across, too, sure is interesting. You typically present as a united front.”

His eyes narrow. “We just got back from Spain. She wanted to unpack.”

“That,” she smirks. “Or it could be the nasty case of hyperemesis gravidarum she’s suffering and her treating doctor’s orders to stay home, so they can monitor her diabetes alongside pregnancy.” Aubree winks. “I’m confident you’ll be back on your plane before bedtime tonight. Landing again while she sleeps, and sliding into bed before she wakes. You didn’t want to leave her, but this bullshit you think I’m slinging…?” She turns, only to step back and rest against my chest. “You feel it too. You’re not here to collect a few dollars from some low-level nobody. You’re here because you knew your family was in danger, and there was no way you would send them into that fight without you by their side.” She looks up to meet my eyes. “You couldn’t be controlled by a man who wanted to beat you. But you were absolutely a prisoner to the man who would beat your brothers instead. That hasn’t, and will never, go away, just because you live on different sides of the country.”

I spin her again, dragging her around until her chest presses against mine and her breath hits my chin. “I need something to make sense. Anything.”

“Four officers are injured,” the radio crackles to life. “All are conscious. All are breathing. Ambulances are on site and treating. Firefighters are preparing to search the premises, but if there’s anyone in there…”

“Not everything makes sense,” she murmurs. “And not everything comes with a cute little bow. Sometimes, the angels are at work instead. And that’s not something you’ll find in textbooks, or on a judge’s docket.”

“You can read anyone? Any time? Just by touching them?”

She brings her bottom lip between her teeth and shakes her head. “Some people don’t want to speak. Some don’t want to be touched. And some,” she releases her lip, “are so self-absorbed, even when I try, it’s like looking into a mirror, but all I see is them. But you’re alive today.” She pushes up to her toes and presses a kiss to my jaw. “I’m going to make sure you stay that way.”

“So what am I thinking right now?” Felix barges in on our moment and grabs Aubree’s hand, crushing it in his fist and slinging her around. “Tell me. If you’re not full of shit, you’ll know.”

Disdainfully, she pries her hand from his and shakes his grip off. “I’m not your monkey. I won’t dance on command.”

“Because you can’t. You’re full of shit.”

“I won’t be what you want me to be.”

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