Page 90 of Auctioned Surrender

She is so responsive and syncs her breathing with mine in a few short moments. I give her time,

time to breathe deeply and refresh before we reach the condo. Ramon is there to greet us and takes

the van with his normal jokes about taking it for a ride, but I’m quick to get her out of the

passenger side and guide her tear-stained face into the building, up to the condo, and away from

prying eyes. I’ve barely closed the door behind us when she turns to me with fresh tears in her

eyes.

“You keep showing up, time and time again, getting me out of trouble, and all I’ve done is

lie to you, over and over. I know my being a cop puts you into a horrible situation with the family.”

I watch her closely, knowing we both have cards to lay on the table. “It’s not like everyone

on the force doesn’t have orders to observe the family activities closely. I know that you and

your security team are on the up and up, but I also know you work on the edge of the law

when you need to. You protected me with the Larussios, but Tommy was right, Dereck. Word

on the street, or at least in the department, is that Carlos Larussio is making a new way forward

for his family, but his enforcer doesn’t like it. Tommy and Frankie were lucky that Trent and I

were on that hill. If not, they would be dead, by order of the Larussio enforcer. You see,

Tommy and Marco were right to be scared not to take me out and go back and tell him that. I

owe them large for agreeing to cover up my getaway. If he ever found out, I would be dead, for

real.”

I nod. “I know, princess. Now it’s my turn. Word on the street is usually what the head of the

crime family wants it to be, not his enforcer, who we’ve had our eye on for some time. It’s also

why Trent and I had a plan not mentioned on the waves, and he was on that hill instead of

guarding the perimeter where we left him.”

“You knew?”

“Not that your sister was the snatcher for Bernatelli, but Trent, Liam, and I knew last night that if

we were short men, which we knew would happen, that Murph would call in a favor to the

Larussios. We also knew there was a pretty good chance the Larussios’ current enforcer would

use it as cover to get rid of Tommy and Marco, who have been with Carlos forever. We had to

have a plan in place in case that happened, princess.”

I watch the myriad of emotions play in her deep brown tired eyes. Layla inhales deeply,

and it's in that moment that I see the last pieces of her shell open as she decides to trust me with

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