Unveiled(116)

“So suffice it to say he knows for sure that I’m sleeping with the enemy?” There’s a touch of irony tickling the corners of Miller’s question.

“Hart, he has copies of the footage.”

My heart slows down. I feel it, and I know Miller feels it, too, because he clings on that little bit tighter. “Let me guess—if anything happens to Charlie,” Miller says quietly, “there are two people with instructions on how to find the copies and what to do with them.”

There’s a long pause, and I see William in my imagination rubbing stressed circles into his gray temples. “How’d you know?”

“Sophia told me. And she told me she destroyed all the footage.”

The shocked gasp that travels down the line cools my skin. “No.” William sounds almost defensive in his counter. “And you believe her?”

“Yes.”

“Miller,” William goes on carefully, using his Christian name for a change. “Charlie is untouchable.”

“You almost sound like you don’t want me to kill him.”

“Fuck.” William heaves out a sigh.

“Good-bye.” Miller tosses his phone onto the table without care or attention and places his arm around me.

“William knows,” I mumble into his neck, only just comprehending the last few moments’ conversation. “He knows what’s in that footage?”

“I guess he suspected. Charlie has only confirmed it. There have always been rumors about a night at the Temple that resulted in the death of a man by my hand, but that’s all it was. No one knew the circumstances and no one knew if it was true. It’s like the best-kept secret of the London underworld.”

Miller wrestles with me a little, encouraging me away from him. We’ve been stuck together so hard and for so long, it feels as though he’s ripping a plaster slowly off my naked skin. I hiss a little, then grumble my protest, but he just smiles fondly. I have no idea what there is to smile about. Reaching up timidly, he gently strokes across my forehead, moving into my hair, pulling it away from my face. “I’m amazed you’ve still not turned to dust, sweet girl.”

I smile a little, searching his face. “I’m amazed you’re resting your naked bum on your dinner table.”

He reins in his smile, trying to scowl. “My table couldn’t be any more polluted than it already is, thanks to my beautiful girlfriend.” He stops and seems to consider something for a moment. “Are you still my girlfriend?”

Albeit insanely inappropriate, I can’t help smiling brightly at my beautiful love. “Are you still my boyfriend?”

“No.” He shakes his head and takes my hands, bringing them to his mouth and kissing each of my rings and my knuckles in between. “I’m your slave, sweet girl. I live and breathe for no other purpose but you.”

I pout as I look down at his waves, his lush lips making side-to-side brushing motions over the tops of my hands. I don’t like the word slave. Especially following what I’ve just witnessed. “I prefer boyfriend. Or lover.” Anything but slave.

“As you wish.”

“I do.”

He forces his face up to mine and gets nose to nose with me, searching my eyes. I feel as though he’s feeding off the light he claims to find in them. “I’d do anything for you,” he whispers. “Anything.”

I nod, feeling my irises burning from his concentrated gaze. “I know.” He’s proven that. “But you can’t go to prison.” He can’t fight for his freedom and then get locked up. It would be insane to consider that as a potential out. Seeing him once a week for… however long it might be won’t be enough.

“I couldn’t survive a day without losing myself in you, Olivia Taylor. It’s not an option.”

Relief makes me dizzy. “So what now?”

He cuddles me fiercely before roughly releasing me and wiping at his cheeks. His face takes on an edge of determination, and when I should expect this to settle me, I find it unnerves me. “I need you to listen to me carefully.” His palms rest on my shoulders, holding me in place. My heartbeat quickens. “Charlie thinks he has me cornered. He thinks I’m going on that date and trusting he’ll hold his end of the deal. And just in case you have any doubt racing through that mind of yours, he would never have upheld his end of the bargain.” He taps my temple gently, giving me high brows.

I don’t like where this is heading. Miller looks too determined, and I can see with clarity him trying to inject me with some, too. I’m not sure he can. “What are you telling me?”