Page 125 of Undeniably Corrupt

I smack her ass again and fist her hair, holding her tighter to me. “Do you have any idea? Any at all? You can’t take risks with yourself like that.” My forehead meets hers. “I love you. I can’t lose you again. Not ever. It’s you and it’s Hazel and it’s us. That’s what we said.”

“I know my father. I know how he works. I had to do something. I couldn’t sit on this and wait. Not anymore.”

My eyes close, and my breath tumbles from my lungs. “Never again, Liora. You’re never pulling a stunt like this again.”

“You’re sweaty.”

I grunt a half-laugh. “Yeah, that’s because I sprinted over here.”

She pulls back and cocks an eyebrow at me. “Speaking of, how did you find me?”

“The app on the car. I didn’t track you per se.”

She rolls her eyes. “Semantics, and you know it.”

“You keep pulling shit like this, and I will stalk you. But first, I’m going to tie you up and edge you all night so you can’t run around and put yourself in danger.”

“We can play that game later. Along with those toys you bought for me.”

Somehow, some way, my dick surges.

I hug her to me. “This has to happen tonight.”

“I know.”

“If it doesn’t, I’m taking you and Hazel away.”

“My mother will die.”

I cup her face in my hand. “If the FBI doesn’t want what I have, I’ll find someone who does. But I can’t imagine it’s in their best interest to allow your mother to die.”

“Fine. You might have a point with that.” Her head drops tomy chest. “I still have my key in my hand and can cut his carotid with it. If he won’t make a deal, his ass is mine.”

I cough out a laugh, and shockingly, so does Shien. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m ready to make a deal.”

37

The deal is simple. Vander gives them everything they need to take my father down, and Vander’s name is never mentioned. Neither is mine. Vander also negotiated an agent placed on me and Hazel while my father fights everything in court.

The FBI was after him on murder charges for Cassian, the medical examiner, and another person who I don’t know. If need be, I’ll have to testify about the first two. But they also want him on racketeering charges. Evidently, my father is running quite the criminal organization, including corruption, bribery, intimidation, and laundering of money.

But I’m still not settled. Nothing feels right. This seemed too easy. And until the FBI goes through this and the federal prosecutor determines it’s everything they need to convict him, my father could still be out there.

Shien said they were going to arrest him based on my accusations and go from there while they weed through what Vander has. That works for me. The sooner my father is behind bars, the better.

Agent Shien follows us back to the office. Vander hands himan external hard drive, and he leaves, telling us he’ll be in contact after my father is arrested. That’s it. It’s that smooth. But until my father is actually behind bars, none of us is safe.

I text Katy, and she tells me Hazel is doing great and that she’s getting the girls ready for bed. I thank her profusely again as we step onto the elevator and head down to the garage to get Vander’s bike. I’m too wound up and shaky to drive, and we left my car in the school lot. We’ll pick it up tomorrow morning first thing.

“I need something good to eat, a drink, and to sleep for ten years.”

Vander’s arms wrap around me from behind, his lips in the crook of my neck. “What happened to all that role-playing and toy talk?”

“Fine. Maybe a nap instead of ten years of sleep and then that.”

“We have a child-free night. We should take advantage.”

I spin in his arms and stare up at him. “You’re really in for that? For being with me and having us live with you? You’re in for having a two-and-a-half-year-old as part of your life?”