Page 16 of Corrupt Crown

Her heavily fringed blue eyes widen almost imperceptibly. “Takenme?”

I lean closer, watching as her breathing accelerates. “I’m afraid you’re a valuable pawn in a game I can’t afford to lose, Elodie.”

Having enough of this back-and-forth, I hold up my hand, gesturing for my men dotted throughout the bar to come forward en masse. “And you’re coming with me.”

CHAPTER 5

ELODIE

Despite my racing mind,I’m outwardly calm. Levi—possibly the only person on the planet who I’ve allowed toseeme—refers to this as “Swan Mode.”

To the naked eye, I’m serene and calm, gliding across the water without a care in the world. But look closely enough, and you’ll see my feet frantically paddling to stay afloat. To keep going.

Because, after all, what option do I have?

You know who’ll pay the price, Elodie.

Words that have both terrified me and gotten me through the darkest of days drive me forward as I swallow down my fear and meet my demons head-on.

“Well…” I shrug with a nonchalance I don’t feel. “If you insist.”

Rafe’s eyes narrow at the insolence in my tone, and I feel a surge of triumph in the churning depths of my stomach at having elicited a reaction. I hold his stare uncompromisingly until the edge of his mouth lifts ever-so slightly.

“Oh, Iabsolutelyinsist.”

I can feel someone arrive and stand at my side when Rafe’s eyes shift from me to them. “Ready the jet, Emiliano.”

The same someone disappears as quickly as they’d arrived before Rafe stands, extending his tatted hand, palm facing up. “I know this is unpleasant, Elodie. Let’s not make it any harder.”

Angry words sit right on the tip of my tongue, ready to unleash a torrent of abuse at the beautiful liar looking down at me, when a memory of running through Central Park with Skye on her seventh birthday flashes through my mind.

“Come on,Ellie. You’re soslow.”

I purposely gentle my pace, watching with a smile as Skye reaches theAlice in Wonderlandsculpture we always visit on our day trips to the city.

She spins to face me with a bright smile wreathed across her face. “I win, Ellie! I win!”

As I reach her, a teen in boot skates comes flying out of nowhere, and I run right into him.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” I reach for him to ensure he’s okay. “I didn’t see you.”

He slams to a halt, and I quickly glance around in search of Domenico’s men, who are assuredly watching every moment I spend out of his sight.

“Hey! Watch it, lady!”

Skye quickly steps forward with an easy smile, her hand reaching for the boy who clearly has no idea what he’s doing.

“You were doing so well. Keep going!”

With a smile, he nods in agreement before taking off in the opposite direction and careening straight into a hotdog vendor who proceeds to tear him a new one.

We both wince as we quickly head toward the Boathouse for our lunch reservation.

“Nice save, Curly Fry.”

I loop my arm over her slender shoulder, and she smiles brightly up at me. “Remember when Ollie Stevens was being mean to me at school, and you told me that I’d catch more flies with honey than with vinegar…”

I placemy hand in Rafe’s, and that now-familiar tingle sends shock waves up along my arm, settling in my chest.