Page 104 of Papers Don't Lie

She nods, and I walk away, going to my office, but stop when I notice Ryker at the top of the stairs.

He tips his chin at me. “She okay?”

“Yeah, how’s Lacey?”

“Passed out,” he says before turning around and walking to her room.

As soon as I’m inside my office, I dial the number of an old friend of mine. He picks up the phone after the second ring.

“Graves, I never thought I’d hear you ever again." He laughs, the men around him joining.

“Maddox, I need a favor,” I say, clutching my hand on the phone.

“I’m all ears, boss,” Maddox tells me.

“Carter Wanderson will be transferred to your prison. I want you to take care of him for me.”

“What do you want me to do?” he asks.

“Make sure he only sees the light of day for twenty-four seconds a day.”

FIFTY-SIX

ESMERAY

“If you would’ve told me the truth, Carter wouldn’t have gotten the chance to touch you, Esme. Why did you lie to me?” Raven asks, sitting next to me with her palms on my hands.

My stomach twists into knots, and I try to pick my cuticles with my nails, not liking the question that is being directed at me. I never wanted to lie, nor hurt anyone. The only thing I wanted was to protect my loved ones, and I ended up doing the opposite.

What if I talked to Kai before running away? What if none of this happened?

But then again, does it really matter? I’m home, back with my family, and if carrying the memories of the time I spent with Carter is what I have to pay for Lacey and Cielle being safe, then so be it.

I give my sister a shaky smile. “Better safe than sorry.” I shrug, and I watch how her lips purse in annoyance, her head tilting to the side.

Her mouth parts open, but she swallows whatever she has to say when Kai walks out of his office. “Kai has a surprise for you, and I have to go to sleep. This child is testing me.” My sister stands to her feet the moment Kai walks back into the livingroom. “We’ll catch up tomorrow. You two deserve a moment alone.” On her way out, she pats Kai on the back, who thanks her with a smile.

Whatever he did in his office was quick.

I wanted him to understand that I never dreamed about revenge when I was stuck with Carter. What I was dreaming about was coming back to his arms, and now that it’s happened, I don’t need anything else.

But the look in his eyes made it clear that he couldn’t not do something, and even if I didn’t stop him from doing it, I’m not interested in knowing. Carter is something that we have to put behind us. Something thatIhave to put behind me.

My husband stands in the middle of the room, watching me with thoughtful eyes that roam all over my body with no shame. If I wanted to hear him say "I love you," now he doesn’t need to because I know it. He cried when he got me back, and that’s only a small confirmation after everything he’s done for me.

Now that he’s finally in the same room with me again, I can breathe lighter.

“Come, my love.” He extends a hand toward me, and I take it without a second thought, eager for his warmth. Kai leans down to place a long kiss on my forehead, inhaling me. He reaches into his back pocket and shows me a white bow. “Can I?” he asks, pointing at my hideous hair.

“Of course.” I smile, and he slides behind me.

Kai is silent for a few seconds, his breath washing over the back of my neck like a cascade of hot lava. I internally shiver, closing my eyes.

“I thought you wanted to leave,” he confesses in a whisper, and the way his voice breaks makes me shudder.

“No,” I admit. “I would’ve never.”

“Not even after what I did?”

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