Page 87 of Crossed

I suck in a breath, my eyes widening as I stare at him.What is he doing?

“She can hardly sit still, and you both speak above her as though she can’t hear. Like it isn’therlife on the line. It’s despicable.”

Parker stiffens, his arm growing rigid behind me. “Jason’s the best. There’s nothing to worry about.”

My eyes flick up to meet Cade’s, and my heart feels like it might beat out of my chest. His face is hard as stone, his hands steepled and jaw tensing over and over.

“Do you think my name will get leaked?” I ask, forcing myself to look away.

“Again, you’re not a suspect,” Jason says. “Just a person of interest.” Jason must see my unease because he shakes his head, his brown hair ruffling from the movement. “They don’t have anything tangible. And even if they did…”

Parker’s hand moves from behind my chair, dropping on my shoulder and rubbing possessive circles over my skin. I canfeelCade staring.

“You have me,” Parker finishes.

Jason nods. “Your husband is a powerful man, Amaya. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Fiancé,” Cade corrects.

All of us whip our heads in his direction, and my stomach tightens, wondering again what the hell he’s doing.Doesn’t he know how bad him defending me looks? How much Parker already hates him?

I glance at Parker nervously.

“That’s right.” Parker looks over to him with a cold, blank expression. “I’m not her husbandyet. But by this weekend, she’ll be in my bed, where she belongs. And you, Father Cade, will be at the church. Because that’s whereyoubelong.”

Cade doesn’t reply, just continues that torturous repetitive ticking of his jaw while he rocks back in the chair.

“I want your word that this won’t go to trial,” Parker says to Jason.

My stomach tenses as I look between them.

Jason hesitates, then nods. “This won’t go to trial.”

Parker reaches over to grab my hand, intertwining our fingers and bringing them up to rest on top of the conference table. My palms are clammy, but he doesn’t seem to mind, his thumb playing with the gigantic rock on my finger.

“Gentlemen, I need a moment alone with myfiancée,” he booms.

Jason jumps up immediately, gathering the papers he has spread across the table and packing them away before he leaves the room like his ass is on fire.

But Cade takes his time.

He stretches out his legs, rubs the scruff on his jaw, and stares at us for long moments before slowly rising to a stand and brushing directly behind our chairs, not bothering to close the door on his way out.

Parker sighs, standing up and walking over to shut it and flick the lock.

“Why was he here?” I ask.

“Who, Father Cade?” Parker lifts a brow as he walks back over.

I nod.

“He heard about you being in trouble and wanted to offer support from the church.”

My stomach drops. “How did he find out?”

Parker shrugs. “Does it matter?”

I already know.