Page 58 of Undeniably Corrupt

Me: He wasn’t dead when I left him broken and bleeding in a dumpster, but should that change, I’ll keep you posted.

Keegan: You realize not everyone is awake at 5 a.m. anymore, right? Though I am happy for you, Van. You get your girl and your HEA.

Me: I have no idea what that is.

Kenna: It means happily ever after. And yes, you should get that with her. When can the rest of us meet her?

Katy: I was thinking I’d have her and Hazel over for dinner one night with just us girls.

Keegan: So fun! I’m in and I’ll bring the wine!

Kenna: Love it! I’m happy to bring something too.

I groan as I pour myself a cup of coffee and take a sip.

Me: You’re not having Liora over for one of your dinners.

Katy: Um, I don’t remember inviting you or requesting your permission. She’s my friend now. Not yours.

Wren: I’ll bake something. YAY! Girls’ night! I can’t wait to meet Liora. Jack said she’s very sweet.

I groan and scrub my hand over my face. Why do I tell my friends anything?

Tinsley: I’m there. Just tell me when. Now I’m going back to sleep. XO

Owen: Can Estlin and Rory join? You’re welcome to do it at my house.

Estlin is Owen’s wife, and Rory is his seven-year-old daughter, and this is getting way out of hand.

Katy: Yes! All the women are in on this. Including Sorel, Mason, if you think she’d be up for it.

Mason: I just asked her, and she smacked my arm for waking her up but still said hell yeah.

Me: I didn’t tell you all this to plan social gatherings with her and make her your newest bestie.

Stone: No? Then why did you tell us?

I stare at my phone. I honestly don’t know.

Owen: She’s got him in knots.

She does. I’m tied up in her. I can’t even deny it.

Mason: And he’ll have her tied up that way soon enough if I know him.

I roll my eyes, knowing that’s not how it will be for us. It’s more than just a preoccupation or obsession, as Liora likes to call it. It’s more than her pussy or her tears or my guilt. It’s her. Her smiles and her smart mouth and the way she looks at me that make my pulse race.

Goddammit.

She hacked me. Now I’m open and exposed with no clue how to stop her from leaving me in ruin.

Liora issilent as we drive to my house. Shockingly, she was pretty much packed when I came for them, and other than making a weird noise and shooting me with a look I didn’t understand when I showed her Hazel’s car seat to make sure it was the right one, she hasn’t said anything. Her face is a mess, and every time I look at it, I want to go back to that dumpster, find that guy, and finish him off.

But as we pull into my driveway and she takes in the large house, that changes.

“Just so we’re clear, this is very temporary. A month max.”

“Okay.”