Page 109 of Sweetheart: Part One

I got to my feet, but couldn’t quite bring myself to leave, something whispering that I was missing something.

“Is there… anything else?” I asked.

Therewassomething not right about her. A threat, nagging at me, sinking its claws in without reason. I couldn’t say why, but I felt her pain was a blow, the alpha part of me stirring as if it were a threat.

“You don’t want my secrets,” she said, reaching for the whiskey bottle and taking a swig.

“Secrets?”

“Dangerous… things,” she whispered. “Ebony… I know he’s looking. Rook, too.”

“Why?” I asked, frowning. “Would they… blow up the contract?”

She peered at me curiously, then pressed two fisted hands together and mimed a massive explosion, a crooked smile on her face as she looked at me.

“Like what?” I asked, stomach twisting with discomfort.

“You think because I’m drunk I’m going to give you something I shouldn’t?” She giggled. “Joke’s on you.” She leaned forward, voice dropping to a cutting whisper. “I couldn’t, not even if I wanted to.”

I didn’t push, partly because it felt wrong with her being so vulnerable, and partly because I didn’t want to. If there was something she was hiding that could ruin this, a guilty fragment of me wanted it to stay hidden. “He’s taking you out tomorrow,” I said, changing the subject.

She peered at me, unsure for a moment before comprehension dawned on her face like a shadow. “Ebony?” she asked. “I mean… he’s not actually going to come—”

“He will this time. He’ll turn up.”

She shifted just slightly, chewing on her lip, not meeting my eyes. “I’ll be there,” she said, hugging herself.

For a moment, I wondered what I was doing, forcing her into spending time with Ebony. She didn’t deserve that—and I could protect her from it. Then I had to remind myself that it was the whole point in her being here.

And this time, Ebony would turn up, and not vanish from the house until the early hours of the morning—I’d checked the pack statements to find he’d bribed the local shooting range into leaving the doors open all night.

But tomorrow, he had an Evening Stars interview booked, and I’d bullied him into taking her. I’d told him I was pulling the Dragon Hunter posters that were on the contract in Germany if he didn’t. They were doing a spotlight on the villains—it was hard, in an elite pack—to get solo exposure. Both he and Rook jumped on the opportunity whenever they could; they wanted to be famous for themselves, not just the Crimson Fury pack.

The truly surprising thing was that the blackmailalmosthadn’t been enough. I’d seen it in his tense expression as he’d opened his mouth to tell me to go ahead. But then I’d mentioned that I’d be securing a new contract forRookto get individual exposure.

Thathaddone it.

Ebony would be taking Vex out tomorrow.

I opened my mouth to speak, to say that Ebony wouldn’t cross any lines, or that I’d make sure he treated her right, but I didn’t get a chance for stupid lies, anyway.

Vex had rested her head in her arms and her eyes were closed. I frowned, watching her for a while before laying a hand on her shoulder, but she didn’t wake.

Ah.

I sighed.

I don’t know what had upset her tonight, but I would be surprised if I wasn’t a part of it. I’m sure the idea of kneeling in my room for another night, cold and ignored, was too much. But then… I reached out, tucking a falling lock behind her ear. She was strong.

Nothing about her felt breakable or fragile. Ishouldn’tmatter enough to push her to a night like this. Something about Vex told me her real demons were something else entirely—that kneeling beside my bed was nothing compared.

So I drew her into my arms, knowing there was only one decent thing to do.

She reacted, even in sleep, arms wrapping around me and she nuzzled into my neck.

I froze as she snuggled closer, head brushing my chin almost like she was trying to scent mark me. Of course, she was a beta—and asleep. Nothing happened.

Still, my whole body reacted, my pulse picking up, an unexpected purr rising in my chest, something as innocent as the first blossom in spring.

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