I’m fucked.

~*~*~*~

KATIA

I wake up in Marcus’s arms, and it’s brilliant. I snuggle back into him, loving his warmth against my back, loving how amazing he’s making me feel. I don’t know why it took so long for him to let me see this side of him, and I don’t care. It’s here and I’m holding on with both hands. I won’t let go.

“I’m hungry,” I murmur into my pillow.

His arms tighten around me and he sleepily says, “Then get breakfast.”

I snort. “True romantic, Marcus Tandem.”

He chuckles behind me, and I decide I love that sound more than anything.

“Never said I was, precious.”

“I want pancakes.”

He snorts.

“And bacon.”

A huff.

“And then your cock again.”

He growls and slides his tongue across the back of my neck. “How’re you doin’ this morning? Aside from wanting to ride my cock again.”

I giggle softly, but answer him seriously. “I’m so relieved Mom is okay. I’ll go and see her first thing.”

“And about everything else?”

“You mean that my husband helps criminals?”

He flinches, but I can’t bring myself to be angry with him. I spent a lot of time thinking about it yesterday, and I know it’s dangerous, but I also know Marcus is a smart man. I’ve never, not once, had it come into my world, since I’ve been with him. Except for the involvement of my father, but I don’t think he would have hurt me.

“I’m careful with what I do, Katia.”

“On a scale of one to ten, how safe are we?”

“Never let anything happen to you.”

“That’s not an answer,” I say softly.

“Then eight.”

“Eight’s good.”

“Yeah?”

“Look, I don’t like it, and I’m not saying one day . . .” Say, when we have children. “. . . I will agree, but for now, it’s not affecting my life.”

“Ain’t goin’ to be forever. I’m getting out as we speak, but this shit takes time.”

“Why did you start doing it in the first place?” I ask.

He tightens his arm around me and thinks on that for a while. “Was a messed up kid, used to do drugs and deal with bad shit. I got contacts. I made friends. When I got involved in the business, a massive drug runner came to me, asking me to make his money clean. I did it, it benefited both me and him, it helped my business grow because I got a percentage, and so here I am.”

I still don’t fully understand how it works, but at least he’s being honest.

“You did drugs?”

“Yeah.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you still?”

He jerks. “No, Katia.”

Oh, there’s that tone. Time for a subject change.

“About breakfast . . .”

His nose nuzzles my neck again. “Mmmm.”

“I think I’ll start with you.”

With a grin, I roll over, slide beneath the blankets, put his cock in my mouth, and do just that.

CHAPTER 30

NOW

Katia

Crouching down, I lift the yellow envelope of papers that has been left outside the door to the offices. I turn it over and see my name printed on it. Confused, I glance around. No one is about, so I have no idea how it got here. Shrugging, I tuck it under my arm and walk inside. Candy is at the reception desk, waiting for me.

“Hey honey.” She smiles.

“Hey chicky.”

“How’s your mom?”

I put the envelope down. “She’s good. She gets out today.”

“I’m so glad!”

I smile. “Me too, believe me.”

“So, we’re having a party on the weekend. Dusty and me. You should join.”

“I’ll be there,” I say distractedly, staring at the envelope.

“What’s that?”

“It was on the doorstep. It’s addressed to me. It didn’t come through the mail, so it’s strange.”

“Oh my God, open it then!”

I glance down at my watch. It is my lunch break.

“Okay, I’ll take it outside while I eat lunch.”

Candy hooks her arm through mine and we head outside. I unwrap my cupcake and sit down and place the envelope on the table in front of me.

“I’m kind of scared. What if it’s a bomb?”

She reaches over, pressing it. “It’s papers.”

“And if it was a bomb,” I say sarcastically, “we’d be dead.”

“Dramatic much?” she laughs. “Come on, the suspense is killing me.”

“Okay, fine.”

I lift the envelope and slide my finger in to open it. I pull out the papers and glance down at the first page. It’s a copy of a will. The man named is Marcus’s grandfather; I know because he’s told me about him.

“It’s a will. Who would put a copy of a will on my doorstep?” I ask, glancing at the first page, which is full of information about Marcus’s grandfather.

“I don’t know. Is there a note?”

I put my hand back in the envelope, and sure enough there is more paper. I pull out a tiny, yellow slip that reads, You deserve the truth.

I show it to Candy, and her eyes widen. I glance back at the papers and flick them open.