Page 90 of Bitter Arrangement

I push back against the anger that starts to bloom. This isn’t Brenden being ungrateful. I have to remember that this is a protective, worried older brother thinking about the safety of his little sister.

“I care because she’s my wife.”

He stares at me. “Do you really not understand what I’m trying to ask you here?” He leans closer and grimaces at the movement. “I want to know if you love my sister. I saw the way you looked at her. You immediately stepped in to protect her when we found that severed fucking head on your stairs. Is this just about your marriage? Or is it about more?”

I let the question rattle around in my head before answering, but I already know the truth. I’ve known it for a while now. Maybe ever since the first time I kissed her.

“It’s about more,” I tell her brother. “I’m in love with her.”

Brenden sighs and leans back. He closes his eyes and nods to himself. “Thank fuck.”

“It’s really that much of a relief?”

“Just means you’re going to do everything in your power to make sure she’s safe. That takes a whole lot of stress off my shoulders.”

“I’ll die before someone hurts her.” I turn away and walk to the door. “Don’t go anywhere.”

“I believe you,” he calls after me. “Just make sure she does too.”

I head back down to the car. Fucking hell, what am I doing? Telling some stranger that I’m in love with his sister? A few months ago, I never would’ve imagined I could becapableof feeling love.

And yet here I am, burning down my life for a woman.

Riley’s everything. Her stubbornness, her strength, her pride. Even her impulsiveness. She’s beautiful, but she’s also clever and funny. When she’s around, it’s like all the cold, hard darkness hanging heavy on my soul turns to smoke and drifts away. I’m lighter than I’ve ever been.

When I get back to the house, I have to turn off the security system before I can get back inside. I reactivate it once I’m through the door. Whoever slipped in here and left that head was good, but now I’m going to be twice as paranoid.

“How is he?” Riley asks. She’s sitting on the edge of our bed, looking worn out and stressed. The head is long gone—that’ll be disposed of along with Brenden’s phone. Though I probably won’t use a hammer on it.

“He’s in pain, but he’ll be alright. I need to get him some groceries and things in a little bit.” I sit beside her and put a hand on her leg. “You okay?”

“Just keep thinking about it.” She stares down at her hands. “I met him, you know? I saw him alive not all that long ago.”

“Does it help knowing he was a very bad man?”

“I guess so.”

“He would’ve happily cut off both our heads given the chance.”

“You’re really good at this comforting thing.”

I put my arm around her shoulders and pull her close. “I’ll take care of this, I promise.”

“That’s the thing. They werein here. What if they found the watch?”

“It’s locked in a safe. They didn’t. I doubt they even went beyond the entryway. Otherwise, they would’ve been here waiting for us when we got back.”

“But my point is they could have.”

“Mantis is dangerous, but we’ll be safe here. Fong’s head was a message, but the fact that they didn’t try to kill us too means there’s still time.”

She nods to herself, and I hope she understands. Fong got killed because he messed up, and his bosses must’ve found out about it. We’re still here because those same bosses need us to fix Fong’s mistake. They won’t be nearly as patient as he’s been, though. I can feel the noose tightening, and I need to find a way to slip us both free.

What I told Brenden was true. I’m in love with Riley. It took me a little while to identify the feeling, but saying it out loud to him only crystallized it in my heart. She’s my wife, but she’s more than that. She’s my light. She’s a pair of wings keeping me from dropping into the black pit my life had become before her.

“I hope you’re right.” She leans into me, and I hold her tighter. Her chin tilts up, and I bend down to kiss her softly. She pushes harder into that kiss, and I drag her into my lap, running my hands through her hair, our lips pressed together. She grinds herself slowly, and I can taste the desperation on her tongue.

“You’re safe, baby,” I whisper as she pulls her shirt up over her head. “I promise, you’re safe because you’re mine.” I kiss her neck and down to her breasts. Sometimes, her impulsiveness works out in my favor.

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