Page 69 of Duchess

"And it’s not him," she confirmed. "The IPs trace back to an internal system. Emir’s using Caleb’s credentials to make it look legit. If this gets out, the Feds will take Caleb down without blinking."

"Jesus Christ," Paramore whispered.

"And what do you care?" Rhea hissed. "He’s been torturing you for years."

"I care," I said quietly, "because I won’t let that old bastard win."

"You sure this isn’t about your pride?" Rhea asked, arms crossed.

"It’s about truth," I bit out. "And justice."

Obsidian finally spoke. "You want me to get Killian involved?"

I nodded. "Send him everything we have on Emir’s dealings. Every file, every trace. If anyone knows how to dismantle a tyrant, it’s him."

"And what about you?" Rhea asked.

"I’m going to convince the Dark Prince that his flesh and blood are about to bury him alive."

Paramore’s voice chimed in, solid and sharp. "You want backup?"

"Get Demise. Fill her in. And tell Bandit to get his ass to L.A. I want boots on the ground."

Rhea sighed, clearly hating every word but understanding it all the same. "You’re sure about this?"

I met her gaze through the screen. "I need you to trust me."

She nodded slowly. "Then go make him bleed, Duchess. Or save him. Whatever the hell it is you’re trying to do."

I ended the call, the silence thick around me. And then I got dressed.

Because if I was going back to Caleb Killic… I was going back as the woman he thought he could control.

He wanted a Duchess? He was about to finally get what he wanted.

It was nearlyfour in the morning when I arrived at Caleb's. Security had let me in without a second glance. I banged on his door until he opened it. Ignoring how sexy he looked in his silk pajama pants and ripped abs, I pushed past him and headed to his office.

“I knew you’d be back. Couldn’t get enough, could you?”

“Would you please get serious and put some clothes on? I can’t think straight with you half naked.”

“What’s going on?” He tugged on a t-shirt as he sauntered over to me.

“I need you to look at what Obsidian just sent you.”

He scratched his head, his hair all mussed, and one of his eyes was half closed from sleep. “It’s four in the morning, Stephanie. Come to bed with me and we’ll discuss business later.”

He reached out for me, and, grabbing his hand, I dragged him across the room and forced him down into his chair.

“Plenty of time to play later, Mafia King. Right now, I seriously need you to look at this.”

He gave me a more concerned look, and I simply nudged him. “Stop looking at me, Caleb. Look at the damn screen.”

He glanced at me once more and then began to read what Obsidian had sent him. He was murmuring obscenities, a look of real worry crossed his features, and when he finally looked up at me, it was pure disbelief that I found in the depths of those black eyes. Disbelief and sadness.

“How could he?”

“Because he’s not human,” I whispered.

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