Page 217 of Tempting Little Thief

“Many will come knocking the second they learn Rayo Revenaw is no longer the leader of this place, regardless.”

My head snaps toward Bastian, shock and horror threatening to spew from my throat like vomit, but then he says, “Hayze will tell you where your girl is, and when you leave here, you will spread the word. Let the world know the king has stepped down, and Rocklin is their queen now. To get to her, they go through me. To get to me, they go through Hayze.”

“If Boston doesn’t wish to go, no one will force her,” my father adds.

Enzo’s arm falls to his side and he looks to my father, staring him in the eyes as he adjusts his suit jacket. “If you made her feel she was worth half of what your other daughter feels, she wouldn’t have been so desperate to leave in the first place.”

My father’s face falls and without another word, Enzo walks out, pointedly looking up at Hayze to make sure he’s following.

I look to my friends, to my dad, and then finally to Bastian.

“Someone better explain what the hell is going on, and fast.”

Bastian nods, grabbing my knuckles and pulling them to his mouth, but before he has a chance to speak, my father shocks the room when he says in a rush,

“Otto Henshaw is dead.”

All eyes snap to his, but his are on mine.

“He murdered your mother.”

My muscles clench.

“The youngest Greco is no Greco. He is your blood. My … blood.”

My frown doubles, the air in my lungs stuck. His blood? What …

“And, honey …” Bastian’s arms tighten around me, his lips finding my temple. “Sai didn’t betray you.”

My throat closes now, a wave of nausea falling over me, but Bastian knew that would happen, so his hold steadies me. That’s … a lot. So much.Toomuch.

I can’t even process what he’s said all at once, but as my dad delivers his next words, I let go of all the others, listening with rapt attention to what he must have just learned tonight.

“Almost six years ago, Sai went searching and found someone, someone he believed in. Someone he saw something in, something strong and resilient. Someone not connected to our world who would grow without corruption or greed. Who came from darkness but still had a heart and would have a clear mind with fresh eyes.”

My father’s eyes lift, and mine follow, finding Bastian’s gaze laser-focused on me.

In the background, my father continues, but I’m a prisoner to this man’s eyes and don’t dare look away.

“I lost my way somewhere, and you and your sister would one day suffer for it. Sai saw that, so he did what he swore to do—absolutely anything to keep you safe. He searched beyond his reach, where no one would know until he found what he was looking for in a boy he believed in. Bass wears the mark of the guardian now,” he says, and Bastian lifts his chin, exposing his neck and my eyes fly to the spot, my insides burning at the sight of my mark burned into his skin. “You are his to protect now, to love, should you choose, and I will never stand in your way.”

“I wouldn’t let you if you tried,” I find myself whispering without thought. “He would be mine regardless. Heismine. Mark or not. He’s mine.”

Bastian’s eyes flash before me, my claim of him all he’s ever wanted and not because others are watching, but because this means we’re no longer on stolen time. There will be no bridge between us, no secrets left untold, no life without the other.

He steps into me, tenderly pushing my hair over my shoulder. “And you, Rocklin Revenaw, my rich girl, my little thief, are all fucking mine.”

Behind us, a throat clears and we look over to find Calvin at the top of the stairs, his hands sliding into his pockets as he eases his way down, his face sharp and unreadable as he looks from the two of us to my father and back.

“I realize this might not be the time, but Mr. Bishop is right in what he said before. Rayo can no longer represent the Revenaw name as the head seat in the Greyson Union. The Bandonis, DeLeons, and Henleys,” he says, adding the fourth, hidden family’s name for the first time, and I lock eyes with the girls, “will not allow it. We do not go back on our word, and we do not put our own in danger. He has done both. Aside from that, I have to meet with the outside council later to reveal the treachery of the Henshaw family and see how they wish to continue. They will want the assurance our world is under control. I need to be able to give that to them.”

Calvin holds my gaze, and I know what he’s saying, know exactly what he means.

Sai’s voice pops into my head, and I close my eyes a moment, remembering.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Since when do you request permission to ask me things?” I gauge him.

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