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“So, the two of you found nothing and instead of digging deeper into the disappearance of our men and product, you’ve dug deeper into Harlyn's ass? What in the fuck has gotten into

you Creek, truly?”

I barely hear Ressyn’s pointless chastise as I read over the last text I received from Har.

Harlyn: Tonight sucks. I miss you.

I smother a chuckle. I'm in Res’s office and Har is just outside of these doors behind the

bar.

Me: Poor baby. So dramatic. I'll see you after your shift?

Harlyn: Can't tonight, promised Anya we could see a movie. You’ve started something by taking me out. I'm now obligated to take her to all of the same places for unintentionally leaving her out.

I’ve spent little time with Anya. Har ensures me she's fine on her own whenever we

spend time together so I haven't gotten to know her as much as I probably should. She's

obviously important to him, and him to me. What better time than the present?

Me: Count me in.

“Creek!”

Ressyn’s hand slams down on his desk as he stands.

Sighing, I fold my hands in my lap and give him my full attention. “Rest assured that Har

and I are not done looking. There just isn’t much to look into. I don't know what you expect me to do with no evidence.”

“There was nothing left behind at all?”

The body of a carved up dead man flashes through my mind and I hesitate. Why do I hesitate? Har said it wasn’t him and I believed him. I do believe him.

“There was one body.”

I go with the truth. I don't lie to anyone, least of all my family.

“A body”, he deadpans. “How is that considered no evidence?”

Here goes nothing.

“It was put there intentionally to frame Harlyn. Proved further considering it was the only

thing in the building. He was stuffed in a closet with Harlyn's devil symbol carved into his forehead.”

Ressyns eyes are wide and the artery in his temple visibly pulses. “And you know this

wasn’t him how?”

My face is blank when I look into his eyes. “It wasn’t.”

The vibration of my phone pulls me from the conversation again. I won't hear any thoughts of Harlyn's treachery after everything I've put him through. He’s shown me more than once who his true self is.

Harlyn: Incoming. Steven Garbara is heading your way.

What the fuck?

“Are we expecting Steven Garbara?” I ask.

“Not that I know. Dude practically fell off the face of the earth for a few weeks. Perhaps

he’s finally here to collect.”

Res looks at me pointedly.

Steven Garbara had demanded I take his daughters hand to prevent a war between our

families. After the fiasco meeting between us when Har deliberately dumped his drink all over

Mr. Garbara’s daughter we haven't heard from him. I've been so distracted lately I hadn’t even realized how long it's been.

“Well, whatever he’s here for, if it's to speed along some marriage process, it's not

happening”, I say for the first time.

A flicker of surprise flashes before Res masks his expression. “And whys that?” He asks,

jaw tight.

“Har would sooner rip her apart.”

It's the truth. He's been on his best behavior lately, but that doesn't mean he's a changed man. To get married to another would surely send him over the edge. Besides I've invested too

much time into him by now, he's more attached to me than he was just weeks ago. We hardly

spend any time apart.

The feelings between us are mutual. I want to be next to him, against him and inside him at all times. Whether that’s my teeth, tongue, dick doesn't matter. I've made him mine in more ways than one by now, and he's claimed me much the same.

“Yes... Har of course.”

He says his name mockingly and my eye twitches. My brothers think somethings wrong with me. That I'm not thinking straight and that Harlyn is a distraction. Can't they just be happy for me? Finally forging my inhibitions and finding happiness. Where was all this energy when Harlyn first arrived here, and everyone looked at me like I was the girl who cried fucking wolf.

A knock sounds at the office door, saving me from this tiresome conversation.

Mr. Garbara steps in when Res says it open. He looks worn out with bags under his aged eyes. His gray hairs more prominent than the last time I saw him. A younger man flanks him with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.

“Steven, long time no see”, Res says.

He grunts, taking the duffle from his colleague and tossing it on Ressyns desk.“Unfortunately, this is all the money I am able to part with for the time being. Apologies for the delay.”

I control my shock before his gaze cuts to me. They darken when they land. It was brief, but I saw the raw hatred in them.

“Money for...?”

Ressyn questions with a calculating look.

“Reimbursement for all my brother stole.”

My shock matches Ressyns. I should feel grateful. With everything going on we could use the money, but at the same time what is this shit? I don't trust this motherfucker. Just ten minutes ago he would have me marry his daughter out of ‘good faith’, and now not only is he returning stolen currency, but he also hasn’t even mentioned the pairing.

“Well then,”

Res smiles. “We appreciate it. Why the change of heart?”

“The crazy one merely mentioned this might be a better way of handling the shitty situation and I couldn’t help but agree. Let’s just put this behind us, shall we?”

“The crazy one?” I cut in.

A panicked looked passes through his irises, but it's gone in a beat. “Crazy? Did I say crazy? What I meant was-”

“Who’s crazy?”

Harlyn disrupts Stevens babbles, as he saunters in looking devilishly dark and fucked up. My brows lower as I take him in. He's stunning as always, and I’d roll my eyes if I wasn’t concerned. There's a predatory aroma to him that I've never before witnessed. His gait remains smooth, but it's almost like he’s prepared for something at any given moment. His eyes, such a pretty blue, now dead and barren of all light as he sizes Steven Garbara up.

His lip curls in distaste and my jaw slackens. He's the most fearless man I've ever met, and I want to worship him for it. But it's also risky and so fucking stupid that I want to drag his ass out of here and punish him for it.

Steven pales and his fists clench at his sides. I slide to the edge of my seat in case I need to throw myself between the two, lest Har starts a war. I'm constantly needing to remind myself that Har can handle shit in stride. It's the flashes of him crying alone in the dark when nobody’s looking that has me at the ready.

“Harlyn,”

he greets. Clearing his throat, a fake smile curves his lips, and his hand unclenches as he offers it to shake.

I'm confused once more. Last time he was here, he demanded Harlyn's life at the spill of a drink.

Harlyn eyes the appendage. His deadened eyes light with humor when they meets stevens once more. “Are you offering?”

He asks, licking his lips.

Steven’s face crumples. His hand jerks away so fast, he stumbles into his companion.

It takes all my willpower to keep my jaw from dropping as Harlyn's head throws back in some wicked as fuck laughter. Res flinches in my periphery.

He sighs, coming down from a high only he rides. I'm vaguely starting to understand what's happening here, but I'll need to ask him later to be sure.

“I'm only kidding.”

Har recovers, hand to his chest in mock offense. “I don't eat cowards.”

The fuck. He thought Harlyn would eat him?

Before I can even unwrap that thought, he strolls over to where I'm seated-dainty as can be after a complete persona change-and presses a sweet kiss to my lips. “See you later Flower,”

he whispers.

Just like that he's gone and I'm unsure whether I should be angry with his games or swoon at the thought.

Steven discuses a payment plan with my brother and lets me off the marriage hook before taking his leave as fast as possible.

When Ressyn and I are alone once more I expect him to berate me with ‘what the fucks’ and ‘what did he do’s’, instead he grows serious, anger igniting his features.

“Before you ask, I have no idea what just happened.”

My hands come up in an innocent gesture.

“We’ll discuss that later. For now, back to why I called you in here.”

I take a deep breath, preparing for him to rehash everything from earlier. My posture turns rigid when that isn’t at all what happens. “We’ve been hit again. Another load delivered fucking empty.”

“What the fuck? How is that possible?”

His head tips back, eyes closed in frustration. “I don't know, but we’re losing credibility, and if this gets back to father...”

He finishes on a sigh.

“What are we gonna do?”

“We’ll meet up tomorrow and check it out. Stop at all sites and ensure security is tight. Question the men who sent the truck out without noticing it's lack of product. We will figure it out from there.”

“Okay.”

I nod and stand to leave. Just as I'm about to reach for the door handle, I'm stopped in my tracks.

“Oh, and Creek?”

“Yes?”

I ask glancing over my shoulder.

“Do. Not. bring Harlyn. In fact, I don't want him to know anything about my business until this is cleared up.”

I open my mouth to interject, but I'm cut off when Res holds a hand up to silence me. “I don't give a fuck if you think he had nothing to do with that body you found in the warehouse.”

My muscles tighten, jaw clenching. “The facts are, none of this occurred until that fucker got here. No one fucks with us, but that young man is insane as all get out and your head is so far up his ass, you didn’t see any of it coming. How fucking convenient.”

“Ressyn,”

I warn. I don't fight with my brothers often but he's way out of line here. Harlyn spends way too much time with me to plot against us. I also feel like he just called me stupid. There's no fucking way ME of all people, would finally open his heart to someone only to have chosen a phony.

“Get out Creek.”

A huge weight blankets my chest as I exit the club and cross the street. I have never in my life been looked at the way I was just now. Like I'm the root of all our problems because I fell in love. It's enough to make tears jab at the back of my eyes, but I blink them away.

He's wrong.

Harlyn loves me.

Right?