Page 68 of Sin & Secrets

Please, I’ll come tonight. I promise you, I’ll get away this time.

Cas looks at me curiously. “Appealing to his sense of male pride.”

“Works both ways.”

“Does this mean you’ll let me go?”

“It means I see the value in this confrontation and that I trust you will share any relevant information with me afterward.”

Cas’ phone pings with a response. We both look down at the same time.

“Bastard. Come home to me, baby. I’ll be backstage again tonight.”

“Looks like we have some work to do,” I announce, standing up and offering her a hand. “Do you think you’re up for it?”

She swallows tightly as she takes it. “I need to see him again. I need to put an end to it.”

The realization that hits me as she says this threatens to topple me.

Her hunger strike hadn’t been just about the way I had acted. I had also robbed her of a chance to get closure on the bastard, to put that piece of her life behind her.

All I can do is squeeze her hand gently. My own silent apology. “You will.”

Her answering smile makes my heart flutter. “I’m sorry for not telling you. I admit, I might have acted a little…rashly.”

I feel myself laughing for the first time in what feels like a lifetime.

“Friends?” she asks with those big, hazel eyes gazing at me so unfairly.

Who am I to deny her anything?

I pull her to me, wrapping my arms around her. And God, have I missed this closeness these last few days. I’ve missed thefeeling of her pressed against my chest, of her hands grasping my shirt to pull me impossibly closer.

“Friends,” I agree, completely unable to stop myself from kissing the top of her head that she tucks under my chin.

We stand there a moment too long before I force myself to step back. “Come on, we need to make a quit pitstop.”

“Where?”

“Fifth Avenue.”

She stares at me blankly. “Why?”

“We’re going shopping.”

“Again,why?”

“Because if you’re going to confront Lazzaro tonight at theCandelabra, I will have to insist on going with you.”

Her eyes bulge at this. “W-what?”

“Andyou should know by now that no woman of mine would be caught dead in anything but the best.”

18

CASSANDRA

Idon’t recognize myself in the mirror.

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