Not from fear. Not from anger. But from relief so profound his body is having trouble processing it.
“You did it.” His voice cracks. “You actually did it.”
I cross the distance between us and take his shaking hands in mine. His fingers are cold despite the warm evening air.
“I did it because ofyou,” I remind him. “You gave me the tools. The archived files from the transparency room. The accountant emails. Access to everything I needed.” I squeeze his hands. “You built the infrastructure for honesty, Corin. I just followed the trail you made possible.”
He stares at me like I’ve handed him something precious. His eyes are bright.
“I don’t deserve you,” he says finally.
And here’s the thing. A month ago, I would have agreed. I would have seen his flaws, his walls, his history of choosing optics over honesty, and I would have used them as reasons to keep him at arm’s length.
But I’m not the same person I was a month ago.
I’ve watched him fight for this community. Watched him accept accountability. Watched him open himself up to vulnerability even when every instinct told him to retreat.
He’s not perfect.
Neither am I.
But he’s trying.
As am I.
“No,” I agree. “But I’m here anyway.”
He pulls me into his arms, and I let him hold me as the sun sinks below the horizon.
Corin, I think I’m in love with you.
I don’t think I everstoppedloving you.
I keep that to myself.
19
Corin
Aday after Amara surgically dismantled Xavier Laurent in front of the entire island, I’m still thinking about the way her voice stayed perfectly level while she destroyed him.
I’ve never been more attracted to anyone in my entire goddamn life.
She’s asleep in my bed right now, one leg kicked free of the sheets, her cropped hair a mess against the pillow. The morning light catches the curve of her hip, the soft swell of her ass, and I want to crawl back in beside her and wake her up with my mouth between her thighs.
But I can’t.
Yet.
Because transparency with the community isn’t enough. Xavier’s public humiliation bought us time, not absolution. The foundation staff in Manhattan have been watching the news coverage, reading the press releases, and every single one of them is wondering the same thing.
What did Corin know?
Whendid he know it?
And why the fuck didn’t he say something sooner?
I owe them answers.
