Page 22 of The Obedient Lie

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And I stood there.

Unable to look away.

Because she was golden. And stupid. And brave in a way none of us knew how to be anymore.

And it scared the hell out of me.

Not because she was soft.

Because she was starting tosoften me.

Chapter Nine

LUCA

I should’ve kept running.

Six kilometers wasn’t enough.

Not with the way my head had been lately.

Not withherin our space—sweetening the air, softening the house, smiling like she didn’t see thedamagebehind our eyes.

I took the back door into the Crow house. I was halfway to the stairs when I heard voices from the kitchen.

Cameron. Jax.

They didn’t see me — or didn’t care.

“Bro, I’m telling you. She’sbe worth it,” Jax was saying. “Saw her stretching in the lounge the other day. Those leggings—I swear to God.”

“I’d marry her just for the way her ass looks in those skirts,” Cameron muttered. “Dynasty daughter, trained smile, but that mouth? I’d risk a real fight with Caplans and the Crows just to?—”

The chair scraped before I knew I was moving.

I walked into the room just far enough for them to see me.

Silence.

Jax straightened. “Luca. We didn’t know you were back.”

“Clearly.”

“Just talking.”

I didn’t respond.

Didn’t need to.

The look I gave them saidenough.

Their eyes dropped.

Jax grabbed his bag, muttered something about a meeting.

They cleared out fast.

I stood in the kitchen alone, fists clenched at my sides.

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