Page 37 of Forbidden

His lips brushed mine again, this time firmer. I was such an idiot. I should push him away! Instead, I was standing still.

He pulled back, locking his eyes with mine. “How about I let you get to know me and then if you trust me you can let me get to know you?”

I opened my mouth but didn’t say anything. I didn’t know what to say. Something was telling me he was trustworthy, yet a louder part of me was screaming to never get close to him, to not let him get his wish, to not let him get to know me. Because then he would know how to destroy me.

I was a sucker for people. I cared what they thought. I cared about people. Even when I didn’t want to, I still cared. So it really bothered me when he cut me off. One night he was all over me, literally, and the next he couldn’t string two words together and couldn’t stand the sight of me.

If he got to know me he would realize I cared. I cared a hell of a lot of what people thought. I would care what he thought of me. I had cared to begin with. That’s what got me so pissed off with him.

“You’re still thinking about it, aren’t you?” He tilted his head, watching me. He ran a hand through his hair. “Well, if there is one thing about you, Layla, it’s that you aren’t easy.” He sighed. “Come on, give me a shot?”

I should really leave. Yet, I found myself still standing in front of him. “Twelve.”

He frowned. “Twelve what?”

“Cyrus. He has twelve fronts already.” Fronts were businesses he controlled but laundered money through.

He frowned. “We’re talking business?”

I nodded my head. It was the best I could do. “You said your dad would be upset if we didn’t. Cyrus will be pissed if I don’t get it over with, so, business.”

I watched as a plan clicked over in Tyson’s head.

“How about I ask you one business question and you ask me one personal question?” He was still set on the idea of me getting to know him. Did he really think I would open up to him? No matter how well I knew him, I didn’t see myself opening up to him. Because that was information he could use against me.

“Okay.”

“So, you answered my business question. You ask me something.” He smiled. “Anything at all. I want you to know me.”

I chewed my bottom lip. Why did I have a feeling this was going to backfire in my face?