Page 99 of Tempting Little Thief

“Boston is lying about something, I’m just not sure what it is. Sai has the car locked and loaded with weapons and all these new escape plans he told me not to tell anyone about, not even my dad, just in case. Yet my dad says nothing is happening. I need to talk to him again.”

“Speaking of your dad.” Damiano veers us right back when I thought I slid us past, but I should have known it was too easy. “What are you going to do when he finds out about the … about Bass?”

Sighing, I look to him. “The only thing I can do.”

If my dad finds out about Bastian, I have to cut him loose, show my dad he means nothing and he’s no one. That, in an instant, I can release him, and I wouldn’t care in the slightest.

It’s the only way my father won’t tie a brick to Bass’s ankles and throw him over the side of his yacht.

Dom gauges me, his expression growing as soft as his question. “You sure you’ll be able to do that?”

“Of course I will.”

I knew we’d get to that point eventually, as it’s the only place the road leads, so I’ve prepared for it. Expect it.

It’ll be easy.

Right?

I look up at Damiano, and suddenly I’m not so sure. “What?”

He gives a sad smile. “I said you misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand what?”

“I know you will do as you must, no matter how hard that might be for you, but I don’t think it’s that simple.”

When I frown, shaking my head, he dips down a little.

“You will walk away if you must. I know that, but …”

But Bastian won’t.

He won’t let go.

He won’t allow me to let him go.

He said it more than once now. I am his.

Shit.

I force a smile as I have many, many times, and lift a single shoulder. “Well, then I’ll simply have to make sure they steer clear of one another. It shouldn’t be too hard.”

Dom nods.

I nod.

And then we both straighten our spines when the man himself steps around the corner.

He tips his chin at Dom, his focus shifting to me. “What shouldn’t be too hard, daughter?”

Double shit.

I worried my dad had overheard too much earlier, and now I’m sitting here, dumbfounded as I stare at him, wondering if it would have been better that he had, but that’s ridiculous and would solve nothing as he’d still be here, in Greyson Manor, laying down the law.

“Absolutely not!” I shout, jumping to my feet.

“You will watch your tone.”

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