Page 67 of Cruel Ice

“It doesn’t feel like one.” It felt like the best move of his life. Unfortunately, Marley hadn’t actually agreed to be his fiancée. Something he would have to correct at the earliest opportunity. She could act like it was just a ruse, if she wanted. He’d go along with that story. For now. Soon enough, though, the fiancée bit would be real.

He would need to acquire one big-ass diamond for her.

No. Not a diamond. Marley isn’t ice.She was more like fire in his arms. Maybe a ruby? But how would she feel about a ruby engagement ring?

“I told you before, she’s dangerous to you.” James seemed even more worried. Typical.

“Right.” He put down the drink. Steepled his fingers beneath his chin. He could feel the rasp of his stubble. Declan made a mental note to shave. He didn’t want to hurt Marley’s skin.

Especially not when he had her legs spread, and his mouth was devouring her.

I pulled out at the last minute. Could have been too late already. Marley…what will I do if Marley becomes pregnant with my child?

And wasn’t he the selfish bastard because he’d known the risk was there? He’d been in her bare, and it had been the hottest sex of his life.

No one felt like his Marley.

“She can see evil, Declan.” James had his hands fisted at his sides as he delivered his grim and dark words. “Evil was her specialty. She practically has a Ph.D. in it.”

“I think her Ph.D. was almost in psychology but having a Ph.D. in evil does seem more fun.”

James just looked even grimmer. “The woman studied killers. Got up close and personal with them until one almost took her life. You think she won’t be able to see what you are? You can only hide from someone like her for so long. Shewillsee the real you. It’s just a matter of time.”

“The real me? The monster that lurks just beneath the skin?” It was Declan’s turn to rise. And when he did, James automatically backed up a step.

He’s always feared me a little bit.

Because Declan was his father’s son.

“She’ll turn you in to the cops. You give her any reason…if she sees too much…a woman like her will run straight to the cops. Hell, she’s already been talking to that detective ex of hers for days.”

Anger hummed in Declan’s blood. “What?”

“Parker Ellis? She’s been calling him. Texting him. And he’s been calling her, too. Just so you know…” Another step back, as if James feared revealing this news. “She got him to access your father’s case. She already knows what you did to him. Hell, she could just be biding her time with you right now as she works with Parker. They could be trying to bring you down. Cops have been aiming to bring you down forever. And Parker? He has a special reason to want you to burn.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I dug into his past like you asked! And you’re not gonna like it, but that collateral damage your dad was so good about leaving in his wake? He did it to Parker Ellis, of all people. Now isn’t that one hell of a coincidence?”

It was.

“His father was a Fed. He was working undercover to bring down one Conor Flynn. Only the man was murdered. Did youhear what I said?Parker’s dad was found murdered. A bullet to the heart and to the head. Sound familiar?”

Yes, it did.

“Parker and his mom moved down to Georgia after his dad’s death, but I guarantee you, that cophatesyou. And now he’s the one working your investigation. The one cozying up to yourfiancée.This scene has trouble and betrayal written in big, bold, glowing letters.”

“Marley won’t betray me.”

“She may havealreadybetrayed you! That cop wants you locked away.”

“No current charges are pending against me. I’m an upstanding member of the community.”

James snorted. “Bull. Everyone knows that the cops think you are?—”

“I fucking work with the US government on more contracts than I can count. I have more connections than you can dream of. Some local cop doesn’t worry me.” Not the total truth. The more he learned about Parker Ellis, the more Declan realized the man was going to be a problem for him. “How do you know she’s been in contact with Parker?”

“Because you wanted me to dig on her, too. I dug. I may have also…monitored her conversations a bit. Sue me.”

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