Page 22 of Diamonds

Which… Fuck.

She’s probably already aware that we have the head.

If she isn’t yet, she will be soon.

We replanted the bush as best as we could, did our damnedest to leave the picnic grove the way we found it.

But the moment she gets a whiff that something is up, she’ll be on those rosebushes like white on rice.

It’ll be a race to the finish.

And we have to win.

Because if we don’t?

Our heads will roll just like May’s.

8

ALISSA

We left the coroner.Rode back in silence to my apartment.

Maddox parks my car in the space behind my building, gets out, and opens the door for me.

I get out, look into his hazel eyes.

“Maddox,” I say.“Can you stay here tonight?”

He frowns, looks me up and down.“I don’t think we should have sex tonight given the circumstances.”

“I wasn’t saying that.I just…” I rub the goosebumps on my upper arms.“I’m scared.What if Bill isn’t as trustworthy as you think?What if he’s in Rouge’s pocket as well?”

“I trust Bill with my life.”He grips my shoulders.“You can, too.”

“But what if one of the Kings shows up to the picnic grove?They’ll know someone was there.”

“We did everything we could to hide the fact that we were there, baby.And no one will be checking that area out unless they have a reason to.”

“Still…” I swallow.“I’m scared.”

“I am too, Alissa.”He wraps his arms around me.“I am too.But we can’t let fear dictate our actions.”

“Even so, I’d like you to stay the night.You can even have my bed.I can sleep on the couch.”

He raises an eyebrow.“No way in hell will I kick a woman out of her own bed.”

“You’re not kicking me out.I’m offering.”

“Still though, it’s not right.”He runs his hands up and down my back.“If I stay, I’d like to share the bed with you.You’re safer if I’m right next to you.”

I place my head on his hard chest.I can feel his heart beating.“Thank you,” I say.

I want to say more.I want to tell him that I love him, that I’m sure even though we just met.

But those are the three words that send men running for the hills.And I can’t risk Maddox running off.I need him here tonight.

Just for tonight.