Page 35 of Deceitful Oath

I’m so grateful for this distraction that I find myself searching for ways to keep him on the phone longer. Once he excuses himself, we hang up and images of the beautiful blonde passed out in my bed engulf my mind again.

It’s not even her beauty that’s got me all fucked up. I just like being around her. She makes the monotonous, dreary days feel brighter somehow. I actually find myself genuinely laughing when I’m with her for the first time in years.

I stop in my tracks, almost flying off the treadmill.

What the hell is wrong with me?I’m supposed to be torturing the girl. I need to fucking kill her, and I’m here thinking about how much I LIKE her.

I break into a fast sprint, trying to burn the thoughts from my brain. When Vince’s name pops up on my phone again, I’m desperate enough to actually answer.

“Boss?”

“Morning,” I huff, slowing the treadmill down and settling into a cool-down walk.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news this early in the morning,” he says, his voice completely devoid of emotion. “I think we have a problem on our hands.”

“What happened?”

“The latest shipment never made it in. Our guys have been staking out the port all night…no sign of the boat.”

“Fuck,” I growl, hopping off the treadmill and grabbing my towel. “Any intel so far?”

“Not yet,” he answers, clearing his throat. “I have suspicions, though.”

“Who?”

He doesn’t hesitate. “Mancini.”

“You think?” I pause, my mind rolling through the possibilities. “What’s your logic there?”

“I think it’s clear they’re messing with you. Now that their little waitress succeeded in getting your father out of the picture, they’re coming for your empire.”

It does make sense. They didn’t kill my father for the fun of it—they must have a bigger end goal.

“I need you to find out everything you can about what they’ve been up to,” I tell him, heading back to the elevator. “And get our inside man at the Coast Guard to look into this missing boat.”

“Got it,” he says, immediately hanging up. My skin burns with rage as I ride the elevator back down to my penthouse. To Lux, in my bed.

I’m literally sleeping with the enemy.

I’m not falling for her. I don’t enjoy spending time with her. It’s all some sort of bullshit that my brain has created because she happens to be beautiful and charming. Of course, Mancini would be smart enough to use someone like that to get to me.

I head straight to the bathroom, ready for a cold shower to take the edge off. As I get closer, I hear soft singing floatingthrough the open door. I hesitate for a second but walk in, a cloud of steam hitting me in the face.

Lux is singing some pop song—badly and off-key. She spots me through the foggy glass and wipes a little circle away. Her face breaks into a grin and she wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

“Hi, Wolfie!” she says, her voice sounding sweeter than summer. “Care to join me?”

The anger instantly melts away. I’m no longer a man possessed by revenge. I’m a man willing to do anything it takes to see that smile again.

I quickly strip off my clothes and slip into the shower with her. She throws her soapy arms around me and kisses my neck, continuing to butcher that awful pop song.

“Don’t quit your day job, Lux,” I whisper, wrapping my arms around her waist.

“Which one? Oh wait, they all fired me.”

She cracks up laughing and I’m surprised when I join in. Her silly mood breaks down every last ounce of rage and frustration building inside me. We wash ourselves, breaking into laughing fits every time we make eye contact.

I hop out first, digging through the cupboard to find two big fluffy towels and we dry off. The fact that I just took a non-sexual shower with a woman and thoroughly enjoyed it isn’t lost on me. I push that thought deep into my brain to join all the other Lux-related thoughts.

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