well enough to know his ego can’t handle that. You want me to be who I used to be, right?”
Hesitantly, I nod my head.
“Then why resurface as a victim? Why not resurface as a girl who was quick to ditch her boring fuck of a husband to move on to the next guy? Not only does that hit him where it really hurts, his precious ego, but it also does away with any police investigation, which means Grant doesn’t have to wait as long to come after me.”
My lips curl at the appearance of the Adeline I used to know.
“There will still be an investigation. Grant claimed a home invasion.”
Her smile widens. “Only to cover up his embarrassment of being second choice to you. That’s his problem. And it will only piss him off more. Embarrass him more.”
Sitting back, I scratch my jaw and stare at the devious creature in front of me.
Is it wrong that my first thought is I want to bend her over the side of that bench and fuck the mischief right out of her?
“Actually, that’s a damn good idea.”
My head snaps to Lincoln.
“It still creates the spectacle, which will keep any contracted killers at bay, but Grant won’t be able to sit back and let it happen. He’ll want blood for the bruise to his ego.”
Oh. The Grant thing is what he meant. Not the fucking. For a second I wondered if the asshole can read minds.
His brown eyes meet mine. “It appears the little monster is back.”
Which means he needs to leave.
Now.
I’ve always wanted to play with her when she’s like this.
Pushing to my feet, I turn to Lincoln. “We have a plan. One week and we’ll start the process. Not much more we can do tonight.”
Mouth cocking into a grin, he lifts his gaze to mine. “Guess that’s my cue to leave.”
More like an order. Either he walks out willingly, or I toss him. Both options are fine with me.
Taking the hint, Lincoln stands from the couch, chucks Adeline beneath the chin with his finger in a big brother gesture as he passes her, and takes too fucking long to casually stroll from the penthouse to leave.
The hum of the elevator’s motor hasn’t stopped before I turn to Adeline, a surge of pride inside me to see her gaze lift to mine with strength behind it rather than the broken look she’s given me for the past few weeks.
“I’ve always admired your devious nature.”
A hesitant smile pulls at her lips. “Wish I could say the same for how I feel about you.”
Stepping up to her, I grip her chin and tip her face up to mine. “You’re welcome to admire my nature as well.”
“And what nature is that?”
“The kind that’s watched out for you for a long time now. I may have fucked up ways of doing it, but the intent was always the same. To protect you.”
She blinks at that, dark lashes falling over blue eyes that have haunted me since the first night I saw them.
“Just tell me your name. Give me that. It won’t mean I’ll excuse everything else and forget about it. I still want to know other things. But for now, at least let me know that much about you.”
I was already giving up more than she realized by agreeing to the plan she put in place against Grant. Once my face was made public, my career in this city was done. Unless of course, there is a way to pull this off without my mug being in front of all the cameras.
“My name is Sean Hayden.”
Surprise widens her eyes, and something worse than that.
Hope.
For what, I can’t be entirely sure, but I have my suspicions. And she has no idea how quickly that emotion will be crushed beneath the truth I have yet to tell her.
“Where does Ari come from? Is it just another made up name like Harrison?”
“No. It’s short for my middle name.”
“Which is?”
I grin. “That, I never tell. Only my parents know it.”
I can see more questions racing through that insane mind of hers. But before she can ask them, I guide her to her feet and look down at a monster that will most likely destroy me in the end.
“You need sleep.”
Her complaint falls on deaf ears. “The sun has barely gone down.”
My mouth tugs at the corner. “Yes, but by the time I’m done making sure you sleep soundly through the night, it’ll be well into the early morning hours.”
Adeline can hate