You knew. Didn’t you?
I hadn’t wanted to believe it. Even now, I still went back and forth in my head. I remained standing placing my face into the most neutral expression I could get it. I couldn’t let her see the emotions that was going on in my head.
“There’s a tracker on the necklace.” I kept my voice calm. “Why?”
Batting her lashes, she touched the center of her breasts in a dramatic way. Too dramatic.
“On what necklace?” she asked.
“The one you told me to give to Eden.”
“I wouldn’t do that.” Shalimar patted the space next to her. “Come here. I’ve been thinking about us.”
One thing I’d learned about Shalimar a long time ago—if I paid attention, I could tell when she was lying. It was in her body language. Her body always answered the question correctly, while her mouth told the lie.
“So, you know nothing about a tracker?” I asked.
She shook her head yes, even though she said, “No.”
I walked over and stood right in front of her. “You’re lying and you don’t have much time to lie. I wouldn’t waste it.”
“What do you mean, I don’t have time?”
“Whoever wanted that necklace took Eden.”
She froze in horror. The seductive mask she’d worn for me had cracked. “S-she’s—”
“Kidnapped and possibly dead. It’s been a few hours. Looking at what they’d done to Leo and the cat in Belladonna, I doubt she’s still alive.” My chest hurt at the thought. I hadn’t wanted to say it out loud in front of Jean-Pierre. Even though Shalimar didn’t love me; even though this was damn near her fault… she was still the only person in the world I could share my sadness and fears with.
And it always felt good when I told her, whether she listened or not.
“I’m scared for Jean-Pierre.”
Shalimar’s fingers shook as she slowly rose from the bed. “I…I don’t know what to say.”
“The truth. All of it. That’s what you say.”
“I’m telling you the truth, Raffy.” She tried to hug me, raising her arms.
I moved her hands away. “Raffy now?”
She hadn’t called me that since the last time we’d made love. That had been three years ago, the night right before I messed up and fucked the twins.
You’re scared. You’re willing to do anything, even play with my emotions.
She blinked. “Why are you so mad?”
“Stop the bullshit!”
She inched back. “I swear, Raffy. I don’t know. Please don’t scream at me.”
Please don’t scream at me?
I’d never heard Shalimar say please to anything, but me fucking her deeper in that tight ass of hers. Now she was batting her lashes, cowering like an innocent victim, and pleading for me to lower my voice.
“Are you scared, Shalimar?”
“I’m nervous. You’re making me nervous.”
“I came as a favor to you. Jean-Pierre hasn’t come, and that is a favor to me. Because he really wants to come. His bow is itching to ask you questions.”
She nervously shook her head. “Raffy, what are you talking about? Just tell Jean-Pierre that I know nothing. I shouldn’t even have to talk to him. Can’t you protect me?”
“Enough!” I grabbed both of her arms and yanked her too me. Not too hard, but to show that I wouldn’t let go.
“Stop it.”
“Who put the tracker on the damn necklace?” I tightened my grip. “Why is it on there? Why is Misha looking for Celina? Why is she hiding?”
Her bottom lips shivered, but she refused to answer. Instead, she rubbed her body against me.
She doesn’t understand or doesn’t care.
Time was running out. Jean-Pierre was close to cracking. He would lose it soon. I could feel it in my bones. He would act in desperate ways. Go too far. Everyone would follow suit because we loved him so much.
Shalimar slipped her hands down to my cock. It hardened under her grip.
She whispered, “I’m so wet.”
My cock jumped in my pants. It wasn’t supposed to. Now wasn’t the time, but how long had I yearned for her? Craved a moment like this?
“Let’s go on the bed and talk about this some more.” She pressed her soft lips against mine.
I fell into her sweet kiss.
“I swear to you, that I would never put Eden in danger.” She stepped up and gave me a long, warm hug. Something I’d needed for the past three years. Something I’d dreamed about.
“We can talk about this. We can even go to Jean-Pierre together and work this out.” She leaned back. “I want to do this together. In fact… I want to do a lot of things together with you.”
Lies. All lies. I want to believe them, but I can’t. Eden’s life depends on it.
I let out a long breath and studied her. “Is that the best you can do?”
She widened her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You want to do a lot of things together with me? I fucking dedicated a restaurant to you.”