Page 86 of Sweet Deception
That’s nonsensical.
Except…maybe not.
Whether I want to own up to the truth or not, for the first time in years, I’m not alone. I’m with someone. Stuck, yes. But he’s stuck with me too. I glance over my shoulder to find Darren looking rather blank. Almost like he’s in shock.
After meeting his eyes, I offer him a slight nod and try to suppress a laugh at the way his shoulders slump a little, like this isnotthe outcome he expected at all.
Maybe he thought I’d fight this.
The idea that my decisions might scare him a little is comforting. We’re connected whether we want to be or not, and it’s taking a toll on us. But maybe it’s doing something else too.
As Darren helps me up and back out into the hall, an ice-cold realization settles in my chest. Not once did Shane ask about the trafficked women.
He only cared about the information I possessed regarding those I’ve assisted, perhaps assessing how my skills could benefit the Kings.
The missing girls… Lucy…
They didn’t even factor into Shane’s equations. And that means…he has no intention of helping them.
Chapter Thirty-One
Shane finding no fault with Nika floods me with an overwhelming sense of relief. If he’d ruled her a big enough liability to warrant her death, nothing and no one could’ve changed his mind, but that wouldn’t have stopped me from trying. The thoughtof those expressive gray, gold-flecked eyes closing forever haunted me every single mile I drove to and from the safe house.
But in all my wildest fantasies of how things might go, I never once considered the possibility of Shane wanting Nika to stay here at the estate. With us. Withme.He told me specifically to “keep her close” for her skills, though I’m not entirely sure what that entails.
Am I supposed to be her jailer? Calling the shots at the safe house was one thing. Now that there are other orders involved, I’m no longer sure what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s an unfamiliar sensation.
The other night, my father seemed to imply the…complexity…of my relationship with Nika was on full display. Was my uncle aware we were screwing when he ordered me to watch her closely?
I got the sense that he granted his blessing, but that can’t be right.
Despite my confusion, a lot of tension’s melted from my limbs, because at least this way I can keep her safe. I no longer have to fret about Troy’s thugs hunting her down.
As I guide her down the hall toward the grand staircase, her curious gaze bores into the side of my face, but I’m still at a loss for what to say to her in the wake of my uncle’s decision.
“So?” she hisses under her breath as we pass a pair of foot soldiers in the hallway. “What happens next?”
Great fucking question. If only I knew the answer.
Clearing my throat, I gesture toward the third floor. “What happens next is…we get you to your room.”
“My room?”
We ascend the steps in silence. I know she has more questions, but the growing buzz under my skin distracts me too much to worry about them. Not only can I ensure she’s safe without hiding her from my family, she’ll remain nearby. In a bedroom about ten feet away from my own.
Things are looking up.
On the third floor, I lead her to a guest suite. The moment we both clear the door, she whirls on me, her expression stony.
“Do the Kings have any intention of helping the girls or not?” She crosses her arms over her chest and scowls. “Tell me now, Darren. No more hedging.”
I’m taken aback by her query. “If we bring Troy down, the girls will be safe.”
She shakes her head. “You can’t really be that naive.”
“Says the girl who hacked one of the most powerful mafia families in New York City on baseless hunches.”
Nika scoots around me, opens the door, and gestures for me to leave. “Thanks for everything you’ve done to ensure mysafety, but it sounds like I’m going to have to save Lucy on my own.”
