Page 117 of Creed

But it’s tainted, and I feel I’ve traded my family for this happiness, or at the very least, it will come to that.

If my family has tried to reach me and I haven’t responded, or if I don’t call Sylvie tomorrow for her birthday…

The longer this drags out, the more it will look to my family that Creed is keeping me from them. Coupled with who and what his family is, the hope that mine might accept him will be doomed.

I understand the risk—not only to me, but also to Creed’s family—but I’m at war between remaining off the grid and letting my family know what’s happening.

This constant internal war with myself adds to the dichotomy of being giddily happy and consumed with guilt, which ends up with me being anxious and on edge.

I’m with my soulmate but feel on the verge of losing everything.

My world teeters on the precipice of doom, and I have no control over it.

My eyes water with suppressed tears as Creed comes out of the ensuite. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t have been able to look away. His muscular hips and thighs are covered with the towel, and he rubs another towel over his hair. The ink covering his skin glistens with water droplets, and his piercing icy-blue eyes fall on me, lying on the bed in my pool of ruminating dread, anxiety, and guilt.

“Angel.” He frowns, walking over and sitting beside me.

He’s so gorgeous it should be illegal. I make a concentrated effort to ignore the heat blooming in my core. We had sex not even an hour ago—sex where I rode him so hard I may have cracked a vertebra, and he spanked my ass fifty shades of red until I came so hard I think I blacked out—but I’m insatiable when it comes to him.

I push up to sit, keeping the comforter with me and pulling it under my chin as I lean back against the headboard. “Sylvie’s birthday is tomorrow.”

He drags his tongue along his teeth. “I’m aware, Soph.”

“I have to call. If I don’t, the alarms will be raised.”

His jaw works. “Daniele and Crispin planted fake sightings of you in San Diego; that will hopefully flush out your father. Massimo’s contact in the FBI is also working to find him.”

“And if that doesn’t work?” I ask. He reaches to push my hair behind my ear, but I catch his hand. “If I don’t call Sylvie and actually talk to her, my family will know something is wrong. Maybe my father and Morales gave up and—”

“I’m not risking you with maybes, Sophie,” Creed snaps, his eyes like shards of ice, and he pulls away.

Anger flares in me—mine blazing hot to counter his icy rage. But I know his rage isn’t directed at me, and I know he’ll never hurt me.

“Fuck you,” I hiss and push the comforter away and get on my knees. “I’m not a prisoner here!”

“I know that, dammit, but your fuck of a father came for you!” Creed sucks in a haggard breath and visibly works to calm himself.

“I’m not doing this to be cruel,” he says, more in control. “I don’t want to keep you from your family. But, angel, your father has cartel men with him, at least one who is in fucking deep with trafficking. I’m not risking you. Don’t ask me again.”

“Don’t ask you again?” I flare and get off the bed, not caring that I’m naked. I fight the tears that burn at the back of my eyes as I feel even less control than ever. “This ismylife, Creed.”

He steps toward me, and I mirror one back. His jaw hardens, and his fists clench, but he doesn’t continue coming at me. “You’re right; this is your life. But this is alsoourlife, angel. We’re in this together.”

“And if my family involves the police because they think I’m missing?”

“Then my family will deal with it.”

“This isn’t how you chose to lead your life, Creed. If you manipulate and misuse your power, my family—”

“Will never forgive me,” he says gruffly. “They’ll never accept me. Trust me, angel, if that’s the trade-off for your safety, it’s a price I’ll pay without question. Every single time.”

“You can’t do this.”

“I can, and I will.”

“Creed—”

“Sophie, this conversation is over.”

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