Page 5 of Malicious Wedding

“I wanted to check up on you and make sure you got home okay.” In the background, I hear a car roll past. He must be outside somewhere.

“I’m fine. Door is closed, locks are locked, and I’m headed to bed.”

“Are you? Here I was thinking you’d be in the tub by now. I called hoping I’d catch you naked and wet.”

I stare down at myself in surprise. “Uh, how did you know I take a bath after work?”

He’s silent for a moment. My heart’s racing and my hand trembles as I bring the glass to my lips. Focus, Ash, he’s just a guy trying to get into my head. Carson’s always been like this—the bastard loves a good mind game.

“You posted about it on Instagram,” he says finally.

“You follow me on Insta?”

“I keep tabs on old friends.”

“We’re not old friends,” I say through my teeth. “And I don’t believe you for a second. I can’t imagine the great and wondrous Carson Crowley stooping low enough to open the Instagram application on his phone.”

“It’s a new world. Even a Crowley’s got to have a social media presence.”

“Strange, here I was thinking criminals liked to keep a low profile.”

Another one of those low, throaty chuckles. “I missed that.”

“Missed what? Me insulting you?”

“You’re sharp. Always were.”

I rub my face. “Carson. Listen to me. I don’t know what’s going on with my brother, but I don’t want to be involved, okay? If there’s something I need to know, then please tell me. Otherwise—”

“I can hear you, you know.”

I tip my head back, squeezing my eyes shut. “You can hear what?”

“The water splashing in the background. You really are in the tub.”

I grind my jaw. “Yes, okay, you got me. I’m doing my post-work routine, which you are currently interrupting. So unless you have something important to say—”

“Describe yourself to me. What’s it look like in that room from your perspective?”

My eyes widen slightly and I take another long sip. “Are you trying to have phone sex with me?” Tingles cascade down into my belly, slipping further between my legs. My nipples are hard all over again. Fuck, am I actually tempted to talk dirty with Carson-freaking-Crowley right now? I must be at an all-time low.

“No, but I am trying to distract you. Is it working?”

“Yes. No. Absolutely not. I mean, stop it, this is stupid. I’m getting off the phone.”

He’s quiet for a second. My heart’s racing up into my throat. I want to curse him out or just hang up, but something holds me back—maybe it’s the look in his eye from earlier, or maybe it’s the fact that he called at all.

Carson’s respected my desire to cut my ties with my family and with his organization for years.

Why the sudden change?

A cold wave runs down my spine. Something big must be happening. Something serious that involves Iain and might spill over onto me.

“Just do me a favor.” His voice is softer now. “Call me if anything strange happens. Even if you think it’s no big deal, still call me.”

“What did you get me into?” I ask, finishing my drink. I wish I had a wine robot that could roll in here and give me a refill right about now. I hesitate, chewing my lip. “Seriously, is Iain okay?”

“How much do you want to know?”

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