Lust & Lies Box Set-Sexual Awakenings, Excess, Predator & Prey

“That’s your broken heart talking.”

I deadpanned, “Fuck you.”

“No, Taylor. Fuck you if you think I’m going to let you walk out of this house, abandon your sister and that baby when he needs you the most.”

“That’s your broken heart talking,” I snapped as his jaw twitched. “I know you love me. But I also know you see my logic. You just don’t want to deal with the consequences.”

“Yeah, Taylor, goddamnit, I love you, always have, and there’s no way I’m letting you go without me.”

He towered over me, forcing my eyes to his. “I can’t let you go.”

“You don’t have a choice. I need you to stay here and take care of them. Jesus, Cedric, they are a step ahead at every turn. Amber is my benefactor. I changed it weeks ago.” I looked up at him. “You’re next in line. You’ll have my money, my resources to do right by me. Take care of them.”

Cedric shook his head. “Sorry, ain’t happening.”

“The last man who cornered me got a hole shot through his leg.”

His lips twitched as he stared down at me. “You threatening to shoot me, Taylor?”

“If I have to.”

“He didn’t do this.”

“You don’t even know his fucking name. What does that tell you?” I studied him. “Maybe you like him a little more than you let on.”

“Hardly. We moved a body together. That hardly constitutes ‘bros before hoes’ bonding. He’s a fucking trained killer, Taylor.”

“Start talking.”

I moved around my room, packing everything I could find that didn’t pair with heels.

“He ex-army special ops turned rogue. My guess is he’s a contract killer. Mercenary.”

I shrugged. “Your guess? You know shit.”

“I know he wouldn’t fucking shoot you.” Cedric ripped up the bed sheets I hadn’t realized I was staring at and threw them into a ball to cover the dark stain that lay underneath.

“Well then, maybe he can tell me who would.” The thought of Daniello being the one to pull the trigger was too much to process.

“Ah, but you would fight to your death, Taylor.”

“Goddamned right I would.”

“The alarm was disarmed. It was him or one of his.”

“Fuck this. I’m not doing this shit for you. I can’t sign off on this. You’ll have to find someone else. I can’t let you do this, Taylor.”

“Then I’ll find someone else.” I gripped my bag in an attempt to move past him but grabbed my arm. I could feel his desperation. He peered down at me, his eyes begging mine. “Give me time to assemble some men.”

I huffed out a laugh. “This isn’t Dyer.”

“So then you know you won’t survive it!”

“Amber is lying in the goddamned hospital, and it’s my fault!”

Cedric crossed his arms. “Then you should be with her.”

“You’re done protecting me, Cedric. I’ve asked too much. Just take care of them. Joseph is in my custody. If she survives, she could lose him all over again. I fucked everything up. Just let me try to figure out a way to keep them safe.”