Chapter 5
tris’s voice was all shaky and vulnerable, like she was still rattled from our fight
“Are you sure Brook won’t be upset if I stay over?”
“This is my house. What I say goes.”
Lucas’s voice was quiet but firm. That protective tone made fris practically glow with satisfaction
She suddenly got all nostalgic. “Lucas, thank you so much. If you hadn’t come up with that whole ‘debt of honor‘ story back then, I’d be the one who spent six years putting in prison”
Lucas’s face went rigid. He let out this heavy sigh
“I screwed her over. I know that. But spending the rest of my life making it up to her should be enough.”
His tone was flat, maybe a little sad. tris ate it up like candy
she couldn’t control herself–threw her arms around him and started kissing him like her life depended on it.
Lucas hesitated for half a second, then kissed her bark
Watching them go at it, I felt like someone had dumped ice water in my veins. My legs almost gave out.
Six years ago. Lucas swore up and down that Iris’s dad had saved his life. Said he owed them everything, that honor demanded he protect her.
That’s why I agreed to take the fall. Because I believed in his integrity.
Turns out it was all bullshit.
My heart was h
as beating so fast I thought it might explode. Through my blurry vision, I heard Iris gasp between kisses
“What if she finds out the truth?”
Lucas went still for a moment, then slowly shook his head.]]
“She won’t. And even if she did, so what? Look at her now–I’m the best she’s gonna get.”
“Besides, I’m not letting her go anywhere.“]
Iris’s hands clenched into fists. That wasn’t the answer she wanted]
“Lucas. i hate seeing you stuck with her. She’s damaged goods now. People will laugh at you-
“Stop.“1
He cut her off, sounding annoyed. Like the topic made him uncomfortable.
He stepped away from her. “Go to hed. I should check if Brook’s awake.”
I scrambled back to the bedroom, my whole body shaking. Lucas stood in the doorway for a long time]
When he thought I was still asleep, he came over and felt my forehead
He sighed deeply, then left.]
The second the door clicked shut. I completely lost it. Sobbed into m my pillow until I had nothing left
Next inorning, there was a new jade bracelet on my ughtstand. Expensive looking. Next t
ext to it, a glass of room temperature mišk
Levery morning–that had been my routine before prison. Five years together, and he’s never forgotten ||
about two serunds, then grabla
arules and headed straight to the jewelry district
Turned out it was some rare piece. Got eight figures for it at auction[]
I walked out of there with a bank card and caught the first cab to the airport
My grandparents were the only people who’d ever visited me in prison. Time to go see them.
was almost at the gate when my phone started blowing up
Lucas’s name kept flashing on the screen. I hit decline without hesitation
f Iris loved playing dirty, fine. I’d left her a little parting gift of her own.
took a deep breath and boarded my flight.]
