Page 274 of Ignite

“Show me, then. Mr. Kinky.”

He flashes me that dangerous grin. God. My heart is thumping all over the place.

Before I can think, his arm snakes around my waist and hauls me against him, backing me into the wall.

“Only kinky for one woman now,” he growls, low and dark. “You get all my kink. Got it?”

A throat clears behind us, and I peer around him to see Declan and Finn standing there like they’re bracing for an explosion.

“My kinky man. I hear ya,” I mutter, shoving his chest.

Declan’s brows lift. Finn looks bored. Probably wishing he were anywhere else.

“Hi,” I manage.

“Hallie.” Finn inclines his head, expression unreadable.

“Welcome to Inferno,” Declan says.

“Hmm. Good to be back,” I deadpan.

Declan actually flinches.

They’re all trying so hard to help Conan. It’s…weirdly sweet. Charlotte was right—they are sort of adorable, in a twisted way.

“Oh, Dr. Quinn,” I say, meeting Finn’s stare.

He smirks faintly.

“I never processed your resignation. You’ve been on paid leave this entire time, and you will remain so until you’re ready to come back.”

“You—you’re sure?”

Conan slides his arm tighter around my waist and presses a kiss to the top of my head.

“We need you, Hallie.”

My heart squeezes.

Coming from Finn, the most stoic man alive, it feels like something big. Like an acceptance I didn’t know I needed.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

A heavy silence settles.

“So why the sex games?” I blurt, looking straight at Declan.

I wince. “Wait, let me rephrase that. What exactly was Ben trying to achieve by entering me?”

That’s the question that’s haunted me since the day it happened.

Declan looks almost relieved to be answering something straightforward.

“Inferno…” He gestures around. “Behind these doors, we offer an elite experience. This place is the foundation for not just our business but for others around the world. Ben worked for our sworn enemies. They wanted a foothold here. But, it seems you were just caught in the crossfire by being with Conan.”

My brain scrambles to connect the dots.

That night. Our revenge.

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