Page 51 of Thirst Trap

“Don’t… care.”

The words landed like a bruise.

She wanted to ask if he’d ever thought about staying. About choosing her over chaos. But she didn’t. If she asked, he’d run.

Instead, she tugged lightly at his shirt. “You’ll come back?”

“Always do.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

His reply was quick, rough, and real. A kiss that tasted like smoke and unsaid apologies.

“I’ll try,” he whispered.

And then he was gone.

Chapter 26

Warmth

Penny’s living room was a crime board pretending to be décor. Files stacked on coffee tables. Newsprint spilling off armchairs. Red string webbed between photographs she swore she wouldn’t use this time. Until she did. The Creams empire stretched back decades. Generations.

Murders smoothed into accidents. Witnesses vanishing mid-sentence.

And then there was Logan.

Not the heir.

Not the golden boy.

The enforcer.

She flipped a file. Blurry CCTV still from ten years ago. Subject identified: Logan Creams. Fire confirmed. Body unrecovered.

Her eyes lingered.

And lingered.

Her thumb hovered over her phone before she realized she was holding it.

[To: Logan ??]

Your name keeps showing up in very interesting places.

Should I be scared… or turned on?

Send.

She didn’t expect an answer. She never did.

***

Seven thousand miles away, Logan sat outside a cliffside villa. Drink in hand. Sea screaming against the rocks below.

Lucas was upstairs with Maddison.

Logan was…alone.