(Emmeline) We’re gathered in Asher’s study. Elias stands with his arms crossed near the fireplace, scowling like he’d rather be anywhere else. Caterina lounges on the armrest of a leather chair like she’s posing for a Vogue spread, and Asher paces behind the desk, his movements full of simmering tension.“We’ve confirmed the Vescari are behind the hit on Emmeline’s father, as well as several others that have been ascribed to me,” he says, glancing at Elias darkly. “They’re planning something bigger soon. This gala Caterina’s attending is the best shot we’ve got of getting to their leadership.”Caterina flips her blond hair over her shoulder. “While I distract Signora Vescari, Emmeline slips upstairs and finds the office. From what I’ve been able to find out, it’s hidden behind a mirrored panel. That’s where she keeps the real records. Blackmail files. Ledgers. Surveillance footage. If we get our hands on that—”“We blow the whole damn operation wide open,” Elias finishes. “And I
(Emmeline) Rosa rushes over to hug me when I walk into the DA’s office to see Elias. “How are you? I haven’t heard from you in more than a week!” she scolds.“Sorry. Things have just been so crazy.” She shakes her head, eyes full of sympathy. “I can’t even imagine, Emmeline. I hope you’re taking care of yourself and not just worrying about everyone else’s welfare?” she ask pointedly.I don’t really know how to respond to that. It’s so much easier to know what everyone else needs. My own heart is far from being an open book at this stage.“I’m trying,” I tell her. Rosa doesn’t look convinced, but she lets me off the hook. “I’m guessing you’re here to see Elias. I won’t keep you, but please remember to check in occasionally.”Elias smiles at me tiredly when I step into his office. “Thanks for coming over. After last time, I didn’t want to risk meeting in public again. The press made that seem far more underhanded than it was.”He frowns when something starts beeping in his desk.
(Asher)You don’t gut an empire with a wrecking ball, you do it with a scalpel. And today, I’m the surgeon.I sit in my study, screen glowing in the dark like the last light in hell. My fingers fly over the keyboard, embedding false intel into the system. An offshore account that doesn’t exist, a warehouse delivery routed through Jersey, a quiet whisper about a shipment of military-grade weapons headed for the docks. All of it bullshit. All of it bait.Enough to make sure that the treacherous bastard working from the shadows to manipulate me, will bite.“We leak the shipment info tonight,” I tell Caterina, who lounges across the armchair like she has nothing to lose. “But not the real location. Just enough detail to see who bites.”Her lips curve. “My father’s dogs will chase anything that smells like blood. Especially if it’s yours.” She lifts her phone with a wink. “I’ll make the call.”“Don’t make it too obvious,” I warn her. She rolls her eyes at me. “Please. Give me some
(Emmeline) He wants us to raise Jackson together. I don’t even know how to start processing that. And can I forgive him? Or trust him again?I wish the answer was simple. Because I dreamed about exactly that for years. And now that I’ve seen how happy Jackson is having both of us in his life, I’d love for him to always have that.The past can’t just be eradicated as though it never happened though. Asher was tricked, but he ultimately made the choice to believe false ‘proof’ of my deception, rather than talk to me about it.He didn’t know I was pregnant, but he knew he’d promised to marry me. Surely the least he owed me was a conversation.My traitorous body yearns for him. It wants me to stop being stubborn and drag Asher into my bed. Allowing him to touch me the way only he knows how. The orgasms that man used to give me…But I’m an adult, not a lovesick teenager. I have a son to consider. Sure, he wants both his parents in his life, but he also needs stability. The cer
(Asher)Seeing how much pain Emmeline is in, is all the incentive I need to make up my mind.I intend to smoke out who was responsible for everything that befell her family and make them pay. I don’t care if that means betraying every member of my own.We were forced apart and I missed out on the joy of seeing her belly swell with our child. Holding her hand when he was born. Staring lovingly at them as she breastfed. Not sleeping for the first however many months because we took turns to comfort him when he was fretting.Our future was stolen and I fully intend to take it back. I love her and Jackson, and we belong together.“Boss, you sure about this? If you go through with this plan your brothers will go to jail. All of them. And I’m not sure how the other families will take that,” Bruce tells me worriedly.I shrug, “I don’t care about the other families. I only care about my own. And that’s Emmeline and Jackson. We do what needs to be done in order to make up for some of the
(Emmeline) After dropping Jackson at school, I just started driving. I know there are guards following me and I don’t want to shake them. Who knows when I’ll need to be saved from a rain of bullets again?I simply can’t face going back home yet. It’s annoying that I think of Asher’s townhouse as home now. It should feel like a prison. But I adore Maria and several of the other staff members whom I’ve gotten to know. And Bruce. He’s like a big, deadly, kid.Guilt has been my constant companion since yesterday. Asher has every right to be angry. I shouldn’t have hit him. And the truth is, I don’t really want him to disappear from my life again.That’s the real problem. The crux of my panic. My feelings for him aren’t quite as dead as I’ve been claiming. My body quivers every time he’s near and I can’t stop thinking about the way I felt when he kissed me.Every moment I spend with him tugs me closer and I’m not even really fighting the pull anymore. My heart may very well