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My blood boils at him daring to speak my father’s name. “As if you know a thing about what he taught me.”

He nods repeatedly. “True. All I really know about you is what you did to him.”

My heart races as anxiety and despair ratchet up to the same level as my anger. “You know I didn’t doanythingto him,” I grit out.

“So you keep saying. Too bad the court didn’t believe you,Crown Jewel.”

Hearing that name makes my heart hurt. It used to be the name of my father’s pride and joy. And now it’s the name of a criminal and a ghost.

“Shut up,” I hiss.

He rocks back on his heels, and his smirk intensifies. “I don’t blame you for changing it, by the way. It isactuallythe stupidest name I’ve ever heard.”

I swallow the string of curses I want to hurl at him. He’s trying to get under my skin. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of knowing it’s working. “What do you want?”

“Invite me in.” His voice has lost all traces of amusement.

I hate him and myself for putting myself in a position he could exploit in the first place. He has the upper hand, and my heart is a runaway train, but there’s not a chance in hell I’m letting him step foot into our home. “No. You have to leave. Now.” I speak through barely moving lips.

“Either I come in, or I wait at the end of the street for your man to come back and tell him who he’s got living under his roof.”

Tears prick my eyes as I struggle with my choices.

“Stop wasting time, CJ. We know how this story ends. You give me what I ask for, and I go away for a while so you can keep your boring little life.”

Tears sting my eyes, but I force myself to think. I can’t let him in, but I can’t let him blow my life up. “I’m not blowing you off. But this isn’t the right time or place. Give me until tomorrow. Call me after 8 a.m., and I will answer, and we will talk.”

“I don’t have until tomorrow. I’m skint. I need a place to lay my headtonight.” He sticks his head in and swivels it from side to side. “You must have plenty of room here. I’m sure your man won’t mind.”

“I have a flat over a pub on Rattray Road. Go there and wait for me outside. I’ll come down as soon as I can get away.”

“Outside? Don’t you have a spare?”

“There’s one buried in the flowerpot right outside my door.” I’m heartsick at the thought of him in my flat, but it’s the lesser of two evils. “You can let yourself in.”

“Who the fuck are you? And what the fuck are you doing at my house?” Omar’s voice booms through the dark, and Conrad jumps and gives a small yelp.

“God, you scared the shit out of me, mate,” he says, clutching his chest and laughing.

Omar steps into the light, past him and into the house, putting his body between us. “I’m not going to ask you again.” He holds up his phone. “I’m five seconds from calling the police.”

My heart jumps. If he calls the police, this is all over.

“Jules, tell him that you know me, dammit,” Conrad shouts, and I enjoy the genuine panic in his voice for a second before I come to my senses.

I lay a hand on Omar’s warm, solid shoulder. “Baby, it’s okay. This is Conrad. We were in care together after my father died.”

Omar turns to face me, his expression still thunderous, but the skepticism that should be there isn’t. “And you invited him over? Tonight?”

“He texted to say he’s in town. Turns out his Airbnb is two streets away, and he’s only here for the night. I’m sorry, should have asked first.” I’m ashamed of how easily this lie comes out of my mouth. Old habits die hard, I guess.

The tension in his face eases, and he drops a kiss on my mouth. “No, you shouldn’t have. This is your home.” He turns back to Conrad, his voice not as warm as it had been when he spoke to me.

“I’m sorry, Connor. I’m overprotective of my Jules. Nice to meet you. Where are you in town from?”

Conrad’s eyes dart away, and the overly confident and intimidation demeanor he just displayed is nowhere to be seen. “Here, there, everywhere. Traveling around Europe. Just stopped in to refuel. It’s too cold here.”

“Well, that’s too bad. We’d love to ask you to stay. I’ve been dying to meet someone who knew Jules when.” He waggles his eyebrows at me with a mischievous grin that makes me want to cry.