Page 55 of Burn With Me

“Damien will be suspicious,” Shep points out.

“I’m aware.” It’s exactly why I don’t like option A.

“He’d rather you get close to the girl,” Shep says. “It’s why he wanted you to watch over her to begin with.”

I nod my agreement. “He wants to use Aurora to control her mother, but from what I’ve seen they don’t necessarily have that close of a relationship.”

Shep shakes his head. “That doesn’t really mean shit,” he argues. “Mothers are different and considering how much Emilia seems to want a perfect family—I have no doubt that, regardless of the state of their relationship, Aurora would still make a good pawn.”

I clench my teeth at that comment but don’t say anything. I don’t have the right to disagree. Up until a few nights ago, I would’ve said the same damn thing. Hell, if I remove myself from my own obsession for two seconds, I know that’s exactly what Aurora is in all of this—a pretty little pawn. The fact that I know it’s true doesn’t stop the vein in my forehead from pulsing.

Shep arches a brow my way. “You good, bro?”

I slowly release a breath, whistling sharply as I press my spine against the back of the pathetically padded library chair I’m in. “No,” I say honestly. “Things have gotten more complicated.”

“What other options are there?” he prompts.

I shoot him a dark look. “Send myself into the mouth of the beast,” I say with a sigh, “and let him swallow me whole.”

He flinches back and scrubs a hand down his jaw, scratching at the stubble there. “That’s not a good idea.”

“No fucking shit, Sherlock.” A groan locks in my throat and I shove the soles of my shoes against the floor, tipping the chair onto its back two legs. “I need to be closer to his business to find the evidence they’re fucking asking for.”

“You know that the second you step into Damien’s world … there is no coming back.”

I close my eyes. Of course, I fucking know that. If anyone is aware of the world Damien Icari presides over, it’s his heir. My father is swallowed by the darkness he reigns over. He’s soaked in the blood of his enemies. When I was younger, he wasn’t the one to hide it. My mother was. And then, when she was gone, the nannies were. At the end of the day, they all knew what he was capable of. Yet, they remained.

As his son, I can’t live my life with one foot in the darkness and one in the light. I have to make a choice. It was bound to happen someday. I just never expected it to come this soon. Silence stretches out between Shep and me for long moments. He doesn’t say anything, content to let me roll through my own thoughts until I figure something out. I appreciate that about him. His ability to just let me be when I need him to.

“He’s planning a party,” I finally say. “To celebrate his new bride.”

“Do you think you can find something there?” Shep asks.

I let the chair drop down on all fours and uncross my arms. “There’s no telling,” I say with a sigh. “But it’ll be as good a time as any. If I can find some documents or contracts—”

“Those won’t be enough,” Shep says, cutting me off. “But you can probably look for information during the party while he’s distracted. If you can tip off the Feds to a place where they can catch him red-handed, then you’re in the clear. You don’t necessarily need to be the one to catch him.”

He’s right, but he’s also wrong. “The only way to catch him and ensure my own safety is to get involved,” I say. “I need to be caughtwithhim.”

Realization hits Shep and he leans back. “To make sure he can’t suspect you,” he guesses.

I nod.Fucking bingo. Never did like that damn game. I’d prefer a good hand of poker any day.

“Then what about the girl? Are you just going to leave her alone then? What was last weekend about then? You fucked her … now what?”

“I want more.” The confession spills out of me before I can stop it, and I can tell by Shep’s silence that it shocks him. I shake my head and bend down, ripping my bag up from the floor as I stand and throw it over my shoulder. “She’s different,” I say.

“She’s in danger,” Shep points out.

Another true statement and the nagging crux of my issue with her. I want her. I have to have her. But will having her kill her? That’s the question. I warned her, but she refuses to leave. She refuses to abide by my commands and as much as it irritates me, it also enlivens me. It sparks something deep inside of me that I didn’t know I had. Possessiveness.

As if he sees that very fact in my expression, Shep shakes his head and turns away from me as he refocuses on his laptop. “You’re insane,” he says. “But do whatever the hell you want—I know nothing I say can convince you anyways.”

I snort. “Thanks, man. I appreciate the support.”

I head for the door and pop it open, stopping as he calls out once more. “Just one thing”—Shep turns in his seat—“make sure she’s trustworthy. Test her if you have to, but we can’t have her fucking shit up when you’re this close to nailing the bastard to the FBI’s wall of most wanted.”

A smirk tips my lips up. “Test her?” A brilliant idea. I mean, in a lot of ways, Aurora has already cleared test after test. I know she’s got the steely courage needed to stick around. She hasn’t been run off by me yet. I know she’s got loyalty in her blood. That much is clear by her friendships and her relationship with her brother.

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