Page 199 of Intense

I push to my feet, the chair scraping back hard.

“No. She’s fucking not. She’s lied to me. She’s caught me off guard, yes. But she’s not working with The Preacher.”

“You believe her?” Conan’s eyes narrow.

I don’t hesitate.

“Yeah. I fuckin’ do.”

“So what are you going to do about it? Now she knows what we are—what you are? What if she runs to the cops? Or worse, The Preacher?”

I laugh, the sound dark and humorless.

“She won’t. We’re way past that.”

“You’re in love with her?” Declan’s voice is a whisper.

My eyes snap to his.

“Who says she’s walking back out of here?” I smirk, dropping back into my chair.

“Finn, come on. Clearly you have feelings for her, and you believe her. She stood up to you. She’s not running anywhere.” Conan’s glare cuts at Declan.

“I’m glad I’ve got both of your psychological assessments of my wife.” My rings tap against the glass in a deliberate rhythm.

“You’re wrong. Both of you. She was scared; she hides it well. But the way her breathing changed, her pupils dilated—she fears me. Hence why she lied to me in the first place. There’s only one way I’ll know the truth.”

Conan shakes his head.

“She’s scared of losing you, brother.”

I scoff.

“The next trial will decide our fate. There’s only one thing I trust to coax her real intentions. My girl will work her out.”

“Nyx?”

I nod, a slow smile forming.

“She tells me she accepts my crazy. That she’s scared I’ll leave her. Let’s see what Nyx thinks of her. Let’s see what she really accepts of me.”

I lean back in my chair and look at the ceiling, letting the weight settle. I thought I’d shut it all off. But every time I’m near her, she cuts straight through the glass.

She fucking sees me. And she knows exactly how to pull me back to her.

“You’re putting your future on a snake?” Declan asks.

I shrug.

“Trust me, it’s better than any truth serum.”

“You could just talk to her?” Conan suggests.

“Would you sit down with a coffee and talk to your enemy? To someone who has betrayed you? Shall I call Theo and ask him to book us a table for lunch with Arthur?”

Conan’s jaw flexes as he steps forward, eyes darkening.

“That’s different. I did nearly die. Your wife just threw you to the cops to save herself. Everyone makes mistakes, Finn. Even you. I’m sure there are things in your life you wish never happened. I wish I never killed James Bowen and that our father would still be alive.”