Page 69 of Bound By Love

“If you meant what you said, that you never cheated and never would, then what in the hell was going on with Cori?”

Just then, Derek entered through the front door, and my heart stopped. He glared at Will, and his eyes trailed down to our joined hands.

“What’s going on here?”

I didn’t know what to say, but I didn’t need to. Will spoke first.

“I was about to tell her what really happened. Take a seat and listen. Because I’m going to need your help.”

I looked at Will, utterly confused. “Why would you need Derek’s help?”

“To keep you safe.”

“Safe from who?”

“Jason.” Will lifted my hand to his lips. “What I’m about to tell you can’t leave this room. You can’t tell anyone. Do you promise, M?”

I nodded. The dark intensity in Will’s eyes scared the crap out of me, and fear invaded my chest.

Will looked at Derek. “Do you agree to not repeat anything I say here?”

“Sure,” Derek muttered and tossed the pink pastry box onto the coffee table and sat in the chair across from us.

“Let me get us coffee before you begin.” I needed a moment to breathe and rushed into the kitchen. My body still buzzed with post-coital bliss. Was it wrong to feel elated that Will was in my living room? That he’d stormed in and fucked me? Well, it didn’t feel wrong to me. Maybe I was a fool. I filled the mugs with coffee and grabbed napkins, eager to hear what Will had to say.

If I’d been wrong and he had been faithful, my leaving was in vain. I would feel an enormous amount of guilt for all the pain I’d caused so many people.

“Okay, I’m ready.” I returned to the room and passed out cups.

Derek stared at me with anger in his eyes, but he didn’t leave. I was glad he chose to stay.

When I sat down, Will scooted closer to me. He was being possessive. I honestly didn’t care. I loved him; that hadn’t changed.

“When we went to Carmel last December, York was there, remember?”

I nodded as panic set in.

“There’d been a breach within the company.”

“What do you mean a breach?”

“Ten million dollars had been stolen from three of my clients’ accounts. Since then, there have been several more. Over one hundred million has been stolen.”

I gasped. “Oh my God. Have you recovered the money?”

“No. This is where the story gets crazy. It started with the money; then at the end of May, a man approached me one afternoon and said he worked for the FBI and they were after Jason.”

“Jason! Jason is behind the breach?” Goose bumps covered my arms.

“Yes, Jason is behind everything. The affair was fake so Cori, who I’d believed was an undercover agent, could get close to Jason.”

My mind reeled as I tried to comprehend what Will was telling us. A fake affair? Undercover agents?

“Abe, the FBI agent who first approached me and connected me with Cori, was lying. They weren’t FBI. When Axel figured it out, he thought they were working with Jason. But they’re not. We think they know about the money he stole and are trying to get it.”

My blood turned cold, and I felt it drain from my face.

Will put his mug on the table and cupped my cheeks. “M, I never cheated on you. Yes, the picture of Tabitha kissing me was real. Yes, you saw Cori kiss me. But, baby, I thought it was all part of the FBI’s plan to get Jason, a fake affair. I was trying to save my company and my clients’ money. I swear to you, I never slept with her.”

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