Page 17 of Corrupted Deception

She let out an exaggerated sigh, hand over her heart. “Phew, that’s a relief. Here I was worried I’d disappoint you. I guess I dodged a bullet there.”

I couldn’t help but smile, suddenly feeling like I was ten years back in time, in a screwed-up pocket in the time vortex where everything was the same but also completely different. That was the only way to explain why everything with Charlotte felt familiar and thorny at the same time.

A car went by, and the dog whined, wriggling out from beneath the picnic table and hiding behind Charlotte.

She scratched him behind his ear, murmuring to him soothingly.

“Your killer guard dog is afraid of cars?”

“I never said he was a killer. And he’s notafraid…he gets nervous… of cars. People. Thunder and lightning. Birds that move too quickly. Fireflies.”

I laughed, but she looked offended.

“Dogfighters had him. All things considered, I think he’s doing great, aren’t you, Ray?” she asked, but not in that syrupy way some people spoke to their pets.

The dog barked enthusiastically like he actually understood.

“You paralyze men and take in abused dogs?” The girl made no sense, always a puzzle I couldn’t quite solve.

“Hey, I didn’thurtDaniel Marín. I was just trying to have a conversation with him.”

“By paralyzing him?”

She shrugged. “I find it’s a good way to get a man’s attention.”

“Hardly necessary.” I cleared my throat.

I had a feeling she had all his attention with that outfit she’d been wearing. She’d kissed him, had her lips wrapped around his finger. Where else had she had her lips? I wondered while the urge to bring that asshole back to life just to kill him again writhed in the pit of my stomach.

“All right, so we’ve covered my dog, my mouthiness, and my promise to try not to step on your toes in the future. I think we’re about done here, don’t you?”

“We’re done here when I say we’re done, Charlotte. Daniel Marín sold out your Cade Finley to someone. I need to know to whom,” I stated.

Her eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“You know I can’t tell you that,” I said, shaking my head.

“But you expect me to offer up my intel? What makes you think I’d do that?”

I smiled pure ice. “You’re smart enough to know I win this. Don’t make it harder than it has to be.”

Or do.

I didn’t mind the idea of tying her up at all. I wouldn’t have to use pain to get answers out of her. I’d use pleasure, bringing her to the brink, then pulling back, making her scream, making her beg.

She stared at me, but there was no telling what was going on behind her silver eyes, a skill few people possessed.

She licked her lips then nodded after a moment.

“Felipe Espinosa,” she said.

I almost wished she hadn’t.

But thanks to her uncanny ability to hide whatever she was thinking, I couldn’t gauge the truthfulness of it.

“You’d better not be lying, Charlotte.”

She laughed. “Or else, what? You’ll kill me? Maybe sic your family on me?” She smiled as she took a step closer. “Go ahead and try, Cielo.”

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