Page 311 of Innocent

He kisses me again, distracting me. “Itisokay, baby.” He nuzzles my nose. “Well, I guess you’ve done something I never have.”

“What’s that?”

Another sweet kiss. “I’ve never killed someone.” He presses his forehead to mine again. “Ineedyou to talk this out with me later, when we can be alone and have time. You cannot let this fester. You protected our guy, and you’re right that she was evil. Her ‘friends’ likely saw that as a serious warning shot and backed off, because they don’t know for sure who did it, or what bombs might be awaiting them with her death. But youhaveto come to me to talk things out when you need to.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Do you still have the video? Of her making the threat in the first place?”

I sniffle and show it to him. When it ends, he stares into my eyes. “Wenevertell Elliot.Anyof this.Ever. We take this to our graves. Understand me?”

I nod. “Yes, Daddy.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise, Daddy.”

“Do you have a copy saved somewhere safe?”

I nod.

“Delete it from your phone.”

I do, and then go into the deleted section and empty it from there, too.

Gone.

Just like Grace.

When I finish that, he pulls me back into his arms and studies me for a long moment. “I need a confessor, too.”

I sniffle. “What?”

“Just us. Only us. Never tell him.”

I nod. “Just us.”

For another long moment, he stares into my eyes. “I don’t want to do it, but I have a bad feeling I might have to kill Stella. She was Grace’s main connection to that group.” He cups my face in his hands. “There might be a time when I have to sacrifice myself for Elliot. Promise me if I do…you’ll let it happen.”

Shock and horror fill me. “But Daddy—”

“Promiseme, Jordan. If it comes down to that, you can’t defend me, and you can’t lie for me.Ever. Grace was cremated and, lucky fucking blessings, no one ever suspected you of a damned thing. You look fucking innocent, and you were goddamned brilliant. But youcan’tkeep getting that lucky. There isn’t that much luck in the world. I willnotlet you put yourself in danger again.”

His grip grows painfully firm. “Promiseme, Jordan. Elliotneedsyou. I can’t believe Stella wasn’t involved in this with Grace from the start. She might set up another run at Elliot with someone else. If she does, I’ll take care of itandher, if forced to. But if I have to, and I’meverimplicated, you cannotlie for me, cannot doanythingbut be there for Elliot.Promiseme.”

My heart’s breaking and I start crying again. “I promise, Daddy.”

Relief makes him sigh. He wraps his arms around me, his face buried in my hair. “My perfect baby boy. If something ever happens to me, your priority is Elliot. It’salwaysElliot. That’s anorder. You’ll act shocked and disappointed, and say or do whatever’s necessary to turn Elliot against me, including lie to him, if you have to. You’llneverhaveanycontact with me again, not even through lawyers or Chris or Kev, and you’ll refuse to let Elliot have any contact of any kind with me. You’ll get Elliot through it, and you’ll eventually marry him once he’s out of office, or sooner. Hopefully sooner, because it would take that weapon out of their hands. Understand?Promiseme.”

The words bitterly burn my throat as I say them. “I promise, Daddy.” Except…

That’s a lie. I could never let him do that.

“Please don’t panic. Hopefully, it won’t be necessary. That’s last- and worst- case. If I ever have to resort to that, maybe I can pull off a miracle and not get caught. If I can’t, Ihaveto know you’ll close ranks and be Elliot’s rock.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“My good boy. I promise it’s likely never going to happen. And I promise that I’d see you one more time before I do it, to say good-bye to you.”