Page 100 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two
Fuck.“Then your parents won’t have anyone looking out for them.”
“I can’t take part in this if I know it’ll hurt them,” she says.
“What if we protect them?” Oliver suggests. “I mean, we can’t right now. Not until we’re finished with Ludo. But after that, we’ll have the availability, and we could keep them safe until their case is over. We don’t wield the power Ludo does, but most people know not to fuck with us. And the ones who don’t know usually find out pretty quickly.”
“You think that’d work?” Aubrey asks, glancing between all of us.
“We’ll make it work,” Rhett says, his tone firm. “We need as much information on Ludo as we can get, and we need it quickly. If this is what we have to do, then so be it.”
Wren perks up. “Once Ludo is dead, will you come back?”
“No,” Aubrey says with an apologetic smile. “This marriage is only one of the many reasons I want to escape this life. I’m tired of it all, Wren. Like I said, being a Stallard comes with a lot of expectations. If I’m anything less than perfect, it could hurt my family’s business. I want my parents to succeed—I truly do. But I want to live my lifemy way.”
“And being Isabella gives you that opportunity.”
With a nod, Aubrey takes Wren’s hand. “Like I said, I’ll write you. But I don’t want to stay in Philadelphia, and I don’t want to be a Stallard anymore.”
“So that’s it?” Rhett finally stops pacing. “You give us information, and we keep your parents safe for the duration of their case once Ludo’s dead?”
“Almost,” Aubrey says. “I need one more thing.”
“Go on,” I say. There’s little we wouldn’t do to get Andrew and Benny away from Ludo faster.
“I can’t sneak out of Ludo’s mansion without help. Getting past his security is beyond my capabilities.” Aubrey turns to Wren. “That’s why I think it makes sense to have you as a bridesmaid. You’ll have a reason to be there earlyanda reason to stay late, if needed. And, you know, I like you a lot.”
A single glance toward Rhett, Oliver, and Wren tells me none of them have any objections. This could be the breakthrough we’ve been looking for—the final piece that gives us access to everything we need to ruin Ludo.
“It’s a deal,” I say as my gaze returns to Aubrey. I find that the hope shining in her eyes transfers to me, too. And when I look to Oliver, he’s grinning with relief.
“This is it,” he says. “This is finally it.”
“I can’t believe it,” Rhett mutters.
“What?” Wren glances between all of us.
Taking her into my arms, I kiss her. Then I pick her up and spin her around. My shoulders feel lighter than they have in years, so much so that I half wonder if I’m about to float away.
“What is it?” Wren asks again as I set her down. “What can’t you believe?”
“We’ve finally reached it, love,” I say, leaning down and kissing her again. “We’ve finally reached the beginning of the end.”
. . .
