Malum

I do, squeezing the armrests of the old oak wood as I slowly plant my ass back down. “What is it?”

She cuts into her sirloin. “I need you to be my eyes and ears. Do you understand?” Peyton snaps, and I flinch from the tone of her voice.

My eyes come to hers. “Yes, I understand.”

I hate her and I hate this dining room. It’s everything that Peyton would want, only in a damn office in the tallest building in New York City.

“Good,” she mutters, leaning back in her chair. “Because you’re going back out there tomorrow, so be packed and ready.”

“Peyton,” I deadpan, trying my hardest not to upset her while trying to coax my utter anger and deceit underneath a cool demeanor. “I can’t just walk back into their lives and not expect questions. What about Micaela, Peyton? Huh? You think Nate is going to not ask fucking questions?”

Peyton watches me and then smirks. “That’s why you’re going to turn up on Madison’s doorstep, crying that I took your baby. Realistically, you don’t have to pretend.” She shrugs like it’s nothing too much to stress about. Her eyes come back to me. “Then they will feel sorry for you while also wanting to come after me. They’ll invite you back into the exclusive pack and then?” She takes a sip of her drink. “Then you wait for my call for the next move.”

“You’re crazy.” I shake my head. “What makes you think I won’t tell them everything?”

She pins me with a glare. “Because under all those pretty features and hot little body, Tillie, you’re smart. You are the smarter one out of the two of us, and you know what will happen if you do so.”

I lean back in my chair, my brain spi

I exhale. “Fine. I’ll do it.”