Page 65 of Ceremony of Lust

“I have to go, sweetheart,” I whisper against her mouth.

“Hurry back,” she says, stepping away with a wicked smile.

I groan as I adjust myself. “You don’t make it easy to leave,” I tell her, pecking her lips before grabbing my keys, cell phone, and wallet from the counter. “I’ll pick up lunch on my way home.”

I leave before she can lure me back with a mere flutter of her lashes.

During the short drive to my lawyer’s office, I consider the possibility of having to move on without Yael. Could I separate myself from her, even if it meant keeping her safe? It would be hard to tear myself away from her, knowing our lives are completely intertwined. She is an extension of me, and leaving her would be like cutting out my heart. No, I don’t think either of us could survive separation. Hopefully, it never has to come to that.

My appointment begins easily enough. My lawyer, Fraser Allen, is one of the best in the city. He’s familiar with the customs of Ripley and knows how to legally circumvent them. My will is updated to make sure Yael has access to whatever she needs without remarrying again. A trust is set up for any future children we may have.

Divesting myself of the Elders is the trickiest plan of all.

“This is going to take a considerable amount of money,” Fraser says, examining the contract I signed almost a decade ago. “I’m not sure you have this kind of wealth available to you. If you sold the penthouse, that might give your finances the boost needed for something like this.”

“Anders won’t allow it,” I say, noting the hint of bitterness in my voice. “He owns the building and has final approval on all sales. He’s rejected every offer I’ve received.”

“Then nothing short of blackmail will get this deal accomplished,” he says, tossing the contract back on his desk.

“If that’s what it has to come to, then so be it,” I tell him matter-of-factly.

Fraser rubs the back of his neck before saying, “If that’s the road you want to go down, then we’ll set up a time for you to spill your secrets. Having it legally documented and recorded will help.”

He drums his fingers on the arm of his chair as he stares me down with a hard look. “What’s the matter?” I ask, growing uneasy under his gaze.

“She’s changed you,” he says with a narrowed gaze. “For one, you’re not wearing all black.”

We both laugh, and I glance down at the light blue T-shirt and dark wash jeans I’m wearing. “Maybe I don’t need to be the Wolf,” I reply with a shrug. “I no longer have to live my life in the shadows anymore.”

“But black clouds still hang over you, Zev.”

“Yes,” I admit. “That’s why I’m here. I want to protect Yael if somehow I’m implicated in Leann’s death.”

“Let’s talk about that. Tell me everything you know.”

I explain about seeing Leann at the club the night before Yael’s Selection Ceremony, and about our dark alley tryst. For that, he glares at me and growls slightly.

“You don’t need to lecture me, Fraser. I know it was stupid.”

“I wouldn’t dream of lecturing you. You’re a grown man. You know what you’re doing. Was that the last time you saw Leann?” I shift uncomfortably in my chair, and when I don’t answer, Fraser curses under his breath. “It wasn’t. Son of a bitch, Zev. Sometimes, I think you’re one of the smartest men I know, but now you might be the stupidest.”

“How was I supposed to know she’d end up dead?”

“Spill it, and don’t leave out a single detail.”

“She called me about a month after I married Yael. She needed money.”

“For what?”

“She had a very expensive drug habit. I assumed she needed to pay one of her dealers.”

“So you just gave her money?” I nod, and Fraser scribbles a few notes on the legal pad in front of him. “How much money?”

“Three thousand. Cash.”

He whistles low. “And this was the last time you saw her?”

“Yes. I think she tried to call me a few times, but I didn’t answer. As far as I was concerned, I was done.”