Eden

I give my head a little shake to try and clear my distracting thoughts. I need to stay sharp because I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to keep me from asking if he’s going to fuck me over again. I’m onto his game, and I’m not going to drop it. The moment Melanie leaves, I’m bringing the question back up.

“I think this could be the one,” Melanie says with a clap of her hands.

To my frustration, Saint shakes his head. “She should try on a few more, just to be certain.”

Is he trying to prolong her stay? I can’t help but feel suspicious.

Obediently, however, Melanie offers me a few more choices to try on. In the end, I settle on the green gown, because I know Saint won’t let the appointment end until I pick a dress, and it really was the most breathtaking option on me, with its scooped neckline and dangerously low back.

When Melanie leaves at last, I don’t waste a second. I round on him.

“You need to stop avoiding answering my question.”

“Oh? And what question is that?” he says with a sigh. Smart ass.

I fold my arms and cock my hip. “Do you plan on fucking me over again?”

He does that u

“You want to know what my plan is? How I’m going to protect you?”

Protect me or torment me, either way I have a right to know.

I nod. “Yes. Tell me.”

“I’m not going to fuck you over again,” he says in a low tone.

“Then what are you going to do?” I whisper because I know he’s going to do something. He wouldn’t have avoided the question like this if he weren’t going to do anything.

Raising his hand, he cups my cheek and slowly strokes his thumb along my skin.

“I’m going to send my father to prison for the rest of his life.”

I gawk up at him, certain I’ve misheard. “Okay?”

He takes me by surprise and presses a kiss to my forehead. “It’ll be good for him. Three hots and a cot. Internet. He can even make prison pizza—there’s an excellent recipe for it on YouTube.”

“Wow, you’ve really researched his options.”

“What can I say? I’m thorough.”

Dropping his hand from my face, he turns away from me and walks into the kitchen without another word. I stare after him, dumbstruck. I don’t know what to say. Hell, I don’t even know what to think.

He’s going to massively betray his father.

And I couldn’t be more terrified of the consequences.