Page 10 of Wicked Pursuit

The timing seems suspicious in the extreme. I can’t remember the last time violence broke out in our territory, let alone murder. There are bar fights from time to time, but even the most trigger-happy of enforcers doesn’t go too far for fear of bringing the territory leaders down on their head.

A coincidence. Has to be a coincidence. I don’t know the name of the guy I fucked, but surely he’s not the same person. We were in neutral territory, so he could easily belong to any of the territory leaders. I didn’t recognize him, but that doesn’t mean much; I don’t interact with our enforcers.

I force a smile. “I’m sure you’ll find out what happened.”

“Sure will.” He pulls me into another hug. “If you want to move home?—”

“No, Da.”

“If you want to move home,” he repeats, “you know we have space for you. You don’t even have to stay in your old room. We have an entire empty wing that you could redecorate to your heart’s desire.”

If I do that, then it’s only a matter of time before Catalina starts pushing different partners on me. She’s been respectful since I started dating Luke, but I know she’d prefer me to be married to someone in the life and ideally popping out a baby or two as quickly as possible to secure the line of succession. If I move home, she’d take it as a signal that I’m ready to dance to my family’s tune. I love them, but I’m not doing that.

Not yet.

I still have life to live before I’m forced to take on that role. I’ve spent too much time in the past two years settling. But Da means well, so I just say, “I’ll think about it.”

“That means no.” He steps back but smiles as he says it. “It’s okay, honey. We’re here however you need us. And if Luke gives you any trouble, me and Dad will deal with it.”

Considering how they’d do that, I’m not giving them even the smallest excuse to step in. “I have it covered. It’s all being dealt with very politely.”

“Politely.” He snorts. “Then he’s not the one for you, Ruby. Any person worth having in your life will fight to stay there, even if it means fighting dirty.”

Dad would know. He and Da played all kinds of dirty to end up with Mom, but I heartily prefer not to hearthatstory. Again. He seems to realize it. His grin is almost sheepish. “If you need help with anything, just give us a call.”

“I will. I promise.” I give him one last hug, and then he leaves.

I barely wait for the door to close before I rush to my computer and log in to the family database. It’s a heavily encrypted monster of a program, with all the information one needs to run a criminal enterprise. Including our employee files.

It takes me thirty seconds to find the enforcer who was killed. Rafe. “Well... that’s not good.” I slump back in my chair, staring at the man I had sex with a few days ago. “A coincidence,” I murmur. My stalker is all bark and no bite. Surely he didn’t kill someone just because I fucked them. That would be...

Gods, I’m a monster. There’s no other explanation for the twin bolts of fear and desire that go through me at the thought. The feeling of purepower.

I shake my head, shrugging off the feeling. It’s not real. It’s not who I am. I may be a monster in my own way, but I’m not a murderer, and certainly not of someone who didn’t deserve it. Sure, Rafe was an enforcer, so he’s hardly a saint. Even in peaceful times, it’s not like we’re running a perfectly legal business. Which isn’t to say that he deserved to die, but he definitely wasn’t a civilian.

Now I’m talking myself in circles.

I pick up my phone and then set it down. “No, what am I doing? Engaging in this fucked-up game isn’t okay.” I need to pass this over to people who are more qualified than I am. It’s time to end things with the stalker. Except... No, this isn’t my fault. I may be a cheater, but I couldn’t have had any way of knowing what I did would lead to someone dying.

Ifthis is my stalker’s doing.

“Only one way to find out.” It’s an excuse and not even a good one. I don’t care.

Do you know Rafe?

It barely takes him five seconds to respond.

Unknown

Don’t be a coward now, baby. What do you really want to ask me?

I glare at my phone. He’s soirritating.

Did you kill him?

Unknown

Your parents would have done the same thing if they saw his grimy hands all over their precious princess.

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