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“No, you’re right,” I say softly. “There’s been a lot of drama, and too much scary shit has happened. Hunter sent Christian to watch over you because he trusts him. It makes sense that you’d start to develop feelings for someone who’s been your rock. He’s attractive, single, and you’ve spent a lot of time together.”
She grabs the bottle from the warmer, handing it to me with a look of disbelief.
“Christian would never look at me like that,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Why not?”
“He’s older. He has an actual career. And, more importantly, he’s my brother’s best friend. There’s no way he’d ever cross that line.”
“Are you sure about that?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes!”
“Well,” I say, smirking as Deuce calms down in my arms, “if Christianisinterested, it sounds like he might have some competition now. Oliver sounds pretty hot.”
Lena stares at me, her cheeks flushing as she struggles to find a retort.
I settle into the chaise, feeding Deuce as his tiny hand rests on mine. The room falls quiet, save for the soft sound of him drinking, but the unspoken words between Lena and me lingerin the air. She’s not ready to admit the truth, but I see it in her eyes: her heart is more conflicted than she’ll ever let on.
Maybe Hunter’s plan is falling exactly into place, but only time will tell. Something tells me that Christian hasn’t heard about Oliver yet.
Chapter 35
Fifteen Minutes
MEGAN
After putting Deuce down for his nap, I step out of the nursery, stretching my sore shoulders as I make my way to the living room. The apartment is quiet, save for the muffled hum of the city beyond the glass windows. I expect to find Lars doing what he always does—standing watch like an immovable sentry. Instead, something in his expression stops me cold. His face, usually a blank mask of stoic disinterest, is drawn tight with something close to concern.
I know that look. I don’t like it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, scanning his face.
Lars hesitates, as if debating whether to tell me the truth. That alone makes my stomach knot. I cross my arms, my stance firm. “Tell me,” I demand.
He exhales through his nose. “There’s someone downstairs to see you.”
My heart stutters. For the briefest, most naive moment, I allow myself to hope—maybe it’s Naomi.
“Your sister,” Lars clarifies.
My chest tightens. So Hunter didn’t kill my family like I once feared.
My voice is careful when I ask, “Did you tell Hunter?”
“Not yet.”
“Don’t.”
“Megan—”
“I’m not the same person I was the last time I saw her, Lars. I can handle whatever she came here to say.”
He eyes me warily, but there’s something knowing in his gaze. “I bet she’s a different person now, too,” he says, a quiet warning in his voice.
I already know what he means. Hunter is a man of vengeance, and my sister’s past actions—her betrayal—haven’t been forgotten. If she’s had a rough time of it, it’s because she earned it.
Still, she’s my sister.