Page 87 of Broken Discipline

“And I love you,” I said.

Bunny slipped out, and I stood in the middle of the dark room, the twins’ faces glowing like specters. I had to do something, butwhat?Where was my loophole? Upchurch was the only connection left to the Astley family. And it seemed like Saunders and Bloom didn’t care about Upchurch’s drama, as long as they didn’t have to deal with it. Saunders was dead now, and Bloom likely wouldn’t help me.

But there was his daughter, Zira. She had given me the information about Finn’s work with Carter Care.

Maybe she was the key.

I kissed the twins on the forehead, then forced myself to move toward the door, trying not to think about what I was about to do.

“Auntie Bunny is downstairs if you need anything.” I grabbed each of their tablets and added The Raw’s contact information. “You can even call her on your tablet if you don’t want to go down there. She’ll check on you too.”

“Where are you going?” Leon asked, panic swelling in his dark eyes.

What could I tell him? “Honey, I—”

“Are you going away forever too?” Larkin asked.

I sucked in a breath, trying not to let those words get to me.Thiswas the right thing to do. This was love.

And I wasn’t going to run away from it again.

“I love you both,” I said. I held them close, kissing them on the top of their heads again and again. Their floral shampoo wafted into my nose, and my eyes burned, not knowing if this was going to be the last time I ever smelled that scent.

But I couldn’t let Finn die for us. Not without a fight.

“We love you, Mama,” Larkin said.

“So much,” Leon added.

Before the tears fell, I pounded down the stairs. Bunny lifted her chin at me as she filled a beer glass with a foamy domestic tap.

“I’ve got to go. Check on the kids whenever you can,” I said. “If Finn comes, then give him the kids. But don’t let anyone else touch them.”

“Yes, ma’am,” she said, patting underneath the countertop. “Shotgun is loaded and ready.”

Once Tank and I arrived at Opulent Gates, I headed to the Bloom Estate. I gritted my teeth as I walked up the steps and knocked on the front door, crossing my fingers that Gore Bloom wouldn’t answer the door. The door opened and a man in a bowtie answered. He looked down his nose at me, like he already knew that I was trash that didn’t belong in Opulent Gates anymore.

“Is Zira home?” I asked. Tears scratched the back of my throat. I needed this to work. “Can I speak with her?”

“Ma’am, I’m afraid she’s entertain—”

A head of long blond hair popped around the man’s shoulder. A couple followed closely behind her, both with dark hair and eyes.

“I thought I saw you,” Zira said. She shooed the estate manager out of the way. “Iamhere. Thanks anyway.” She pretended to curtsey, then pointed at the couple behind her. “You’ve met Lena and Desmond Callen?”

I shook my head quickly. I didn’t have time to meet strangers, but also didn’t want to piss off Zira.

“Hi,” I said in a jittery voice. I offered my hand. “I’m Ramona Carter—”

“As in Finn Carter, with Carter Care?” the man asked. “Interesting. Never thought Finn would get married.”

I blinked. “You know my husband?”

The two of them exchanged looks, then faced me again. “We met at a Masquerade once,” the woman explained.

My cheeks flushed. I had enough experience with Masquerades to know what that meant.

“Well,” Zira said, kissing the woman’s cheeks and giving the man a firm handshake, “you better get going. I’ll get back to you next week.”