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“He could tell everyone my secrets, Eden. I can’t risk it.”
“Then I’ll be your eyes and ears. If I sense he’s about to pull a fast one on you again, I’ll let you know ahead of time.”
I stop and ponder this for a moment.
I suppose if Eden wants to know why I murdered my family…and her mother, it would give me enough of a warning that Damien’s about to spill the beans.
He’s a bastard all right, but he wouldn’t let Eden find out the truth at the same time everyone else does. Not if he considers her an advocate…or lover. He’d tell her before then. In private.
Fortunately, Eden’s feelings for him won’t be real, and she loves me enough she would never be able to turn me in.
Not with the bond we have.
She’d give me hell, cry a river, tell me I’m an evil asshole…and then offer to run away with me. Just like she’s always wanted.
“You don’t have a way to contact me.”
If this is going to work, I need to keep the lines of communication open at all times.
Her face screws up. “You can sneak me a phone at the breakfast fundraiser tomorrow. Something small and inconspicuous.”
“You really think you can handle this?”
She looks me in the eyes. “Absolutely.” She leans in, cupping my jaw. “After everything you’ve done for me, this is the least I can do.”
“You realize if you screw up, everything I’ve worked for will be ruined. I’m literally trusting you with my goddamn life.”
“Do you honestly think I would ever let anything bad happen to you? You’re the love of my life. I wouldn’t know what to do without you—I wouldn’t—”
I kiss her tears. “I know, sweetheart. I know.” I pull back and look at her. “I’ll tell you what. If you do this for me, after I become mayor, I’ll get rid of Margaret for good.” I kiss up her jawbone, stopping when I reach her ear. “I’ll blame it on losing your mother. I’ll tell people Margaret’s a lovely woman, but I’m just not ready to move on.” I squeeze her breast. “But you’ll be the one in my bed every night, helping me work through my grief.”
People don’t put themselves on the line like this unless there’s a good enough carrot being dangled in front of them.
And there’s nothing Eden wants more than me.
Nothing she wants more than love. And I’ll give it to her in abundance.
Her smile is so beautiful my chest swells. “You mean it?”
“It will be just us again. Only this time, I’m giving you everything you deserve.”
She wraps her arms around my neck. “I love you.”
“We just need to get through this little Damien hurdle and we’re golden.”
“I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. In the meantime, I’m go
She blinks. “The chief? Why?”
I smirk. “We’re close friends. I’m go
“For killing your family,” she says slowly as if it just dawned on her.
Her hair color suits her—because she sure as fuck has enough blonde moments.
I button up my shirt and fix my tie. “Yes.” I eye her as she starts putting herself together. “Are you sure you can handle this?”
She fixes her lipstick in the mirror. “Positive.”
That hard exterior is back in place. I hate it.
“By the way…your dress.”
She crinkles her nose. “What about it?”
“It makes you look like the town whore.”