Page 120 of Devil's Iris

“I mean it.” Leni’s voice strengthens, becoming more confident. “This man has my heart in his clutches, and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

It takes several more minutes of convincing before they finally get it through their protective skulls that Leni and I are not getting divorced. She’s mine now and willremainmine. Once they finally accept this reality, I politely but firmly kick them out, needing some alone time with my wife.

They can have her tomorrow—no, make that the day after tomorrow. But right now, I want her undivided attention focused solely on me.

“Whew. Well, that was intense,” Leni chuckles as we watch Logan drive away with her family. He’s taking them to one of Rafael’s hotels for the night. They’ll be safe there. And nowhere near here.

Alone at last.

“What did Amelia mean when she said she killed herhusband?” I raise a brow, not really caring about the answer as I close the distance between us.

She grins, looking a little bewildered. “Because apparently, shedid. She told me she drugged his food, and once he passed out, she stabbed him to death. Then she delivered his dead body to Mikkel Verona so he could take credit for the kill in exchange for leaving us alone.”

Interesting.I study her face carefully as I come to a stop right in front of her. “So now you know I didn’t kill your father.”

Her grin widens. “You still put a hit out on him, though. So this doesn’t let you off the hook.” Her eyes twinkle with playful challenge as she loops her arms around my neck.

“Oh?” I murmur, rubbing my forehead against hers. “What can I do to get myself off this hook?”

“Well, for starters, you can kiss me.” She’s already putting her lips on mine, pulling me into a drugging kiss that has my cock leaking precum.

“And?” I ask when we break apart, both of us breathing hard. “What else?”

She drags her tongue over my bottom lip, and I nearly lose my fucking mind. “I seem to recall you making a very specific promise about fucking me on the kitchen countertop. That might be a good second step.”

She squeals as I lift her effortlessly into my arms, her legs wrapping around my waist.

Time to make good on that promise.

EPILOGUE

LENI

Two months later…

I shouldn't have come here.

At least, that's what Romero said when I told him about my brilliant plan.

And judging by the way these officers are watching me—like I’m here to start some kind of trouble—he might have been right.

I lift the pastry boxes higher in both hands, doing my best to look as non-threatening as a woman bearing gifts possibly can. “I come in peace,” I announce, flashing them my brightest smile while trying to meet as many tired, wary faces as I can.

Their suspicious stares immediately shift to the boxes, eyeing them like they’re expecting them to start ticking. One officer—an older guy with bushy eyebrows and a scowl—gets up from his desk to inspect my offerings.

“Yeah?” he asks skeptically, poking at one of the boxes. “What’s in there?”

“Homemade chocolate chip cookies.” I raise my right hand. “And banana bread in this one.” Okay, I ordered the bread, but they don’t need that level of honesty.

“Hmm, and why exactly are you bringing snacks here? This some kind of bribery attempt?” another officer chimes in, earning himself a sharp elbow jab from his colleague.

Before I can respond, a familiar face enters the office space. The female officer who drove the patrol car that brought me here that night. The one who went to check on my scooter and arranged for it to be towed.

Her brown hair is pulled back in that same severe bun, her dark eyes exhausted as she frowns at me. “What’s Mrs. Lombardi doing here?”

The atmosphere shifts instantly. Several officers visibly stiffen, shooting me new looks of wariness. Some even glance nervously behind me at the door like they’re expecting my husband to march in at any time and start raising hell.

I swallow my chuckle. “Only if you consider chocolate chip cookies some form of coercion,” I tell the bribery-concerned officer. “Besides, my husband happens to be the best lawyer in the country. I won’t need to bribe anyone to win a case.” I throw in a playful wink when half the room grumbles under their breath.