Page 50 of Wicked and Bound

Nash had infiltrated this place, subjected himself to their surveillance, performed unspeakable acts onstage—all in his attempt to protect her. And how had she repaid him? By letting old hurts and secrets create distance between them that could have endangered them both.

Karliah’s message couldn’t have been clearer: you need to decide who to trust—the monsters who took you, or the man willing to die to save you?

The answer was obvious. Haisley had been so focused on her fears that she’d lost sight of what mattered. Nash loved her. Was fighting for her. And her inability to fully trust him wasn’t just hurting their relationship. It was compromising their safety.

“Maybe. I hope Mr. King will get me another copy so I can finish the book myself.” Haisley attempted a smile. “Thanks for the book rec. I miss my friends.” Her heart ached thinking of Madison’s fierce loyalty, Charli’s kindness, and Gracelyn’s infectious laugh. “They’re total book fiends, too. We’re always talking plots and swapping paperbacks.”

“I’ve moved so much for work that I don’t really have bookish friends.”

Another clap of thunder crashed even closer as she met Karliah’s gentle gaze in the mirror. Haisley silently vowed to adopt her into the girl posse if they made it out alive and if Karliah ever came to Lafayette. Even if she was undercover, the woman’s kindness felt genuine.

“Well, you’ve got me now,” Haisley said as Karliah artfully dried her hair into loose waves. “We can talk books anytime. I hope you catch up to me in this one. Sounds like this heroine needs a reminder that the biggest leap of faith is letting go of our walls when everything tells us to keep them up.”

“That’s an astute observation. I’ve seen a lot, met a lot of people.” Something haunted flickered in Karliah’s eyes. “Enoughto know that love like his is rare. I hope this heroine sees that soon.”

By the time Karliah finished, Haisley’s hair looked amazing, but the transformation inside felt even more profound. She had been clinging to her hurt about Nash’s JasperThePrivateDick deception, using it as a shield against deeper fears. But she couldn’t afford that luxury anymore. Not when lives hung in the balance.

And not when the man she loved was risking everything to save her.

“I think she will,” Haisley murmured, meaning so much more than a fictional heroine. “Thank you.”

Karliah’s answering smile held understanding. “Anytime. Come back soon. I’m sure we’ll have more books to discuss.”

“No doubt.”

Haisley left with a wave, dashing through a quick break in the rain. She headed for the suite, feeling lighter, despite the guards tracking her every move. The dark clouds were rolling in and the wind had picked up, whipping her freshly styled hair, but she barely noticed. Nash and their relationship filled all her thoughts.

She had to make a change, fully embrace Nash, and trust him the way he deserved. No more holding back. No more letting fear rule her decisions.

Telling Nash the truth about why she’d really left would mean ripping open her most painful wounds. But he deserved to know. And maybe, just maybe, sharing that burden would help them both heal.

She just prayed she found a way to tell him her deepest, darkest secret before it was too late.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Another rumble of thunder clapped as Haisley slipped into the suite she and Nash shared, her throat tight with unsaid words. The need to confess everything warred with the bitter reality that silence was their only safety against surveillance. Her revelation would have to wait until they were free of this gilded prison. Until then, the truth weighed heavy on her chest, along with the fear that, once spoken, it might shatter everything between them.

Nash glanced up from his laptop, tension carved into the planes of his face. His expression remained carefully neutral, but concern darkened his eyes. “Your hair looks nice. Good appointment?”

Her chest constricted. Even here, even now, his first thought was for her wellbeing. He’d crafted an elaborate deception and walked into hell to save her. And how had she repaid him? With doubt. With distance. With secrets and towering walls she’d built to protect herself from more heartbreak.

“The stylist was nice. And…very interesting.” Her voice caught. “We talked about books. That conversation really made me think.”

Lightning slashed across the darkening sky beyond their windows. In that stark white flash, she caught the way his eyes narrowed. His fingers tightened imperceptibly on the arm of his chair, betraying the tension thrumming beneath his controlled facade. “About?”

Her pulse thundered as she chose her words with excruciating care, willing him to read between the lines. “I’ve been…unfair. To you.”

Thunder crashed closer, punctuating her halting confession. Nash set his laptop aside and rose, all coiled power and restrained control. His eyes brimmed with questions that made her stomach clench.

“I don’t like riddles. Explain.” His demand sounded cold, almost cruel, but his thumb brushed her cheek so gently.

Her composure threatened to splinter. She was terrified of revealing too much to their watchers, yet desperate to bridge the chasm between them. “I haven’t fully appreciated everything you’ve given me here. Your protection… Your sacrifices. Your kindness. Everything.” Her voice cracked. “I’ve been too wrapped up in my own fear to give you what you’ve sought. What you deserve.”

His fingers tightened on her jaw. To the cameras, it probably looked like a warning. But his caress was full of reverence. Relief warred with lingering uncertainty on his face, hope battling doubt in those eyes that had always seen straight through her defenses.

Regret twisted her heart. While she’d hidden behind her fears, he’d risked everything to keep her safe. No more.

“And what exactly do I deserve?”

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