Page 88 of Sweetheart: Part One

“Respectfully, I’m not a part of your pack. If you want to reject my company, that’s your choice, but I will do the job I’ve been contracted for.”

I let out a sigh of relief at those words, finally understanding her worry. If it came out she was neglecting me, I’d have grounds to dissolve the contract. “Vex, I signed you in. You don’t have to be worried that I’ll accuse you of neglect. I want you to focus on the others, especially Ebony.”

There was a long silence as she regarded me, and she wet her lips before she found the courage to speak. “My assessment is that this is what you need. I’m going to do my job.”

I let out a breath, frustrated.

I clung to the memory that gave me purpose. A bright smile, tumbling brown curls around blushed cheeks and blood red lips.

Beauty and anticipation—and for her sake, I had to shatter it.“...We don’t want you around…”I’d said those words before, to a woman I’d claimed to love—though that was paling quickly compared to what I felt when I looked at Vex.

That was exactly what I had to do right now for Vex, only instead of sending her fleeing from Ebony’s grip, I was sending Vex right into his claws.

“So,” I forced myself to say. “You’ll continue to harass me when I don’t want you around?”

She grit her teeth, clearly determined to fight me on this. “No more than you want me to harass Ebony.”

Fuck.

I caught my breath of a laugh before it escaped, regarding her with new eyes.

I respected her determination—a hell of a lot, actually. Ineededit, in fact. There was no other way she’d get through to Ebony. But I couldn’t have a repeat of last time. Yet, how could I explain why? That the problem was how captivated I was by her.

More than I’d ever been.

With the persistence she was showing right now, what might she do if she discovered that truth?

She’d keep pushing, and I didn’t trust myself to stay away.

That was unacceptable.

The truth was, Ebony would always push for things I couldn’t allow—for his sake, and for the sake of everyone in his reach. So anything I cared for was in danger.

Again, the lost love that haunted me returned once more. It had been her, Rook, Ebony, and me growing up. Destined for a pack that could never be.

Eighteen years old, lying to her that she wasn’t wanted—that was when I’d known the truth. If I chose Ebony, there could be no one else. Rook was all I got, though there was a time Ebony had tried to leverage him at every turn. But my last friend had taken the pack bonds with eyes wide open, and now Ebony himself had become part of the collateral for targeting Rook.

But Vex was different.

She haunted every waking moment, stealing every ounce of my attention when she was in the same room.

Risking falling for someone the way I knew I might fall for her? That was too dangerous.

Even if she was in the pack, she wouldn’t be tied to the pillars of Ebony’s power like Rook was. Our careers did that, but Vex wouldn’t be a part of it.

Best to leave her to deal with him from the safety of the contract.

I had to crush this determination now, so she was never tempted to continue.

VEX

I could see the truth in his eyes as he looked at me, nothing like the first night I’d been here. I’d felt safe then. Clearly, I’d done something to change his mind, because Love Hightower hated me right now.

He leaned forward from where he sat on the edge of his bed and placed a finger beneath my chin. “Let me be crystal clear, Vex,” he said, eyes icy. “I didn’t hire you because you were competent. I hired you because you’re unconventional, and that happens to be what Ebony needs. Don’t conflate my signature with interest. I find you nothing more than an eyesore and an annoyance.”

No bracing in the world could have prepared me for that. Hearing that from anyone would have been hard. Hearing it from my mate was enough to crush my soul into a thousand tiny little pieces.

For a moment, Love blurred in my vision as I fought to hold myself together.

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