Page 83 of Sweet Deception

“Let’s just say he has a few more questions.”

She throws up her hands theatrically.

“What?” Her frustration causes a sneaking suspicion to creep into my mind. “You got somewhere important to be?”

“Are you mocking me?” She glares, gray eyes flashing. “Or do you still think I’m working with this Troy guy? After everything I’ve told you? After everything you and I…” Her voice trails off before she finishes that sentence.

We both know why.

Nika pushes out a breath and unleashes a bitter laugh. “I was escaping so that I could do what I’ve been trying to do all this time, right from the beginning. Find Lucy.If you and your family won’t help, then get the hell out of my way. I can take care of myself.”

The raw honesty in her statements stops me from assuming the worst.

Instead, I study her face. “Last chance.” My hand reaches out of its own volition and cups her cheek. “If you’re not working with the Sullivans, then whoareyou working with? Who wanted you to look into us? Who hired you to clone my phone?”

My questions subdue the fire in her eyes. She blinks, suddenly appearing closer to tears than anything else. Defeat sinks her shoulders, and I read heartbreak in her expression.

“No one.” Her voice trembles. “Don’t you get it? I’m alone, Darren. Ever since I was thirteen years old, I’ve been utterly and completely alone. Just me.”

A bare, broken moment unfolds between us.

Nika’s damp eyes crush my heart, as if someone dropped an anvil on my chest.

She sucks in a breath. “All I’m trying to do is save my friend because no one else will, okay? A couple of the missing models were flagged as having worked at one of your high-end clubs. And the police aren’t even doing anything. Some even came up as being in your back pocket. That’s what led me to the wedding.” She shakes her head, sagging.

“The hell, Nika… We don’t do that shit.”

“Yeah, I know that now.” She meets my gaze with a sincere expression. “I believe you, and I’m sorry I suspected you, but those were my only leads. It’s not like the Kings have a website I can visit to learn about all your business operations.”

“So you decided to infiltrate a wedding and hack us, just to be sure?”

“You were one of several targets, okay?” She swallows hard. “What matters is that Lucy’s still out there, and she needs help. And if the police won’t do it, and you won’t either, then it has to be me.”

“Who says we’re not going to?”

“What?” Her eyes spark with hope.

“We’ve decided to bust up Troy’s summit.” Gently, I pull her close to me. “He’s not going to get away with selling anyone.”

“What’s going to happen to all of the women?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

She cocks her head. “What the hell does that mean?”

My whole body begs me to kiss her, but I ignore the impulse long enough to say, “If you come with me, we can find out together.”

Nika stares at me, clearly frozen in uncertainty. “Why should I believe you?”

Caught between duty and conflicting allegiance, I only know one thing. I can’t walk away from this woman again. I can’t even stop myself from touching her.

My lips are on hers in an instant. When our mouths meet, the usual hunger with which we consume each other has simmered down into something warmer. Slow, deep, and…honest. Pure and unfiltered. Filled with longing.

I pull away and slide my fingers through hers. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter Thirty

Riding in the passenger seat of Darren’s Aston Martin has become nostalgic. Weird, I know, but it’s been a long few days.