Page 110 of Lust & Lies

Tristan shook his head with a laugh. “I still can’t believe you’ve got your entire security team living in the damn country, just so you can play house for a few months.”

I glared at him, trying my best to remain calm.

“Okay. Okay,” he drawled. “What about the Hatfields?”

“Gertrude and Samuel have eyes on the side road. With them and Min-Gi monitoring the only roads leading to the estate, no one should be able to get through.”

“And the property itself?” Tristan asked.

“It’s protected. Plus, I’m here. No one is getting to her.”

“What do you mean you’re there?” Tristan chuckled. “With Noe’s skills, she’d end up protecting you. Oh, right. She doesn’t remember she’s a cold-blooded murderer like the rest of us, does she?”

I started to tell him about her encounter with Dolores and thought better of it.

Instead, I said, “Tristan, you’re pushing it, brother.”

My older brother only smiled.

A few seconds later, he said, “You should prepare to move her somewhere else. Have you considered leaving for a little vacation? Noelle used to love going to the Caribbean. If you must relocate, maybe consider taking her to one of the islands for a bit. Grandfather wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up there.”

I shook my head. “Noe loves Seoul. I’ll take her there if I have to.”

“What about passports?”

“I’ve got everything we need.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “And you’re sure there won’t be any problems leaving the country with her?”

“I’ve planned for everything. I just hadn’t expected shit to unravel this fast. And it's happening just when she’s starting to be happy again.”

Tristan’s eyes softened a bit. “How is she doing? I mean, really doing?”

“She’s good,” I answered. “Really good. But...” I hesitated, wondering if I should tell him.

“What?” Tristan asked. “What is it? Did something happen to her?”

“No. Nothing like that. It’s just... today, she asked about the shed.”

Tristan grinned. “Her Murder Shed? Isn’t that what she called it?”

“It’s now the groundskeeper’s shed. I just need Tomas to go in and make it actually look like a groundskeeper’s shed.”

“If she goes in that shed, it’s over for your little ruse,” Tristan told me. “You'd better keep an eye on her. She’s gonna try to get in there.”

“I know.” I ran a hand down my face, exhaling slowly. “Luckily, she doesn’t remember the code.”

“That memory could return at any time. If she somehow gets in, she’ll see the surveillance setup. The weapons. The laptop and...”

“I know. You don’t have to tell me. I already know.”

Tristan didn’t press further. But he was right. I was pushing my luck. This entire plan had been a gamble. I was walking a tightrope above a pit of fire and glass. One wrong move and it would all fall apart. But she was worth it. She was worth every lie, every sleepless night, every death. She was worth all of it.

I prayed her memories didn’t return. If they did, I didn’t want her to remember the worst of me before I had a chance to show her the best. Before I had a chance to show her how much I loved her. I just needed a little more time.

“What are you thinking about?” Tristan asked.

My gaze returned to the computer screen. “If nothing ever happened back then. If grandfather hadn’t interfered. If Ellie hadn’t fucked shit up. Noe and I would be in Seoul right now. You’d probably have a little niece or nephew by now. I’d be a father...” I swallowed, getting choked up. “But grandfather found out about our plan. And... and you know the rest.”