“The card said it had to be Sabella,” I say coldly, the words feeling putrid in my mouth.
He shrugs. “I think the point of the task is for Dean Griffin to be kicked out of his position, not who actually gets him there. That’s just to fuck withyou.”
Could I do that?
Trade Sabella for Patience?
My sister for the woman who’s made me feel more things in the past two weeks than I’ve felt my entire life?
Patience is strong-willed and determined. She comes across like she’s all shy and sweet, but below is a woman built for more than what people give her credit for. She could handle that shit. But Sabella, there’s no way she could cope in that sort of situation. She’s strong, no doubt, she’s a Gunner after all, but she’s too innocent. This would break her. That is…if I can even convince her to do it.
I open my mouth to tell him I don’t think I can when he opens his door, the damp New Orleans air winding its way into the car and sending cold shivers down my spine.
“I mean, you only need him tolookbad. Patience doesn’t have to go through with it. A camera, a low-cut top, and a pervy dean. It’ll all play out how you want it to. You just make sure to show up before it goes too far. A little cry for help will go a long way into showing the world exactly who he is. Better than just being a dirty dean sleeping with his students. Think about it.” He gets out and closes the door before walking away.
I look around me. I’m nowhere near the mall. Where the hell is he going? It doesn’t matter. His idea is good, strong. There’s no guarantee The Elite will agree to let me in if I get Patience to do it and not Sabella, but he’s right, this would work out better for them—and me.
I have to try it. A spark of hope ignites in me.
Now, all I have to do is convince Patience.
Ihead straight to Patience’s house. I need to see her, feel her. I need her goodness to wash off on me, and then I need to ask her to do something so disgusting it’s making me feel sick.
I knock and knock until one of the housekeepers answers the door. She looks fucking terrified when she sees me, my hair sticking out at all angles and eyes wild.
“Is Patience here?” I bark out.
She wipes her hands down her apron nervously before fluffing her black hair. “She’s studying,señor. She doesn’t want to be disturbed, but I can take a message.”
I scowl and push past her. No one is keeping me away from my girl, not even Patience herself.
Fuck, my girl. How did that happen?
I storm through the house, laughing darkly at the so-called family portraits hung on the white walls and placed perfectly on sideboards for any guests to see. This house looks like a picture of happiness when it’s anything but.
The maid is following after me, her little legs struggling to keep up with my large strides. “Noseñor!No entre!”
I find Patience in the library, her head low as she reads a book and makes notes. The library is impressive, I’ll give the mayor that. It’s wall to wall books, a fireplace at one end and a couple sofas in the middle. The large desk Patience sits at is in front of a stained-glass window. As the sun shines through it, it casts reds and yellows over Patience, making her look like a fucking rainbow.
She has earbuds in and doesn’t hear me come in. The maid rushes past me to get to Patience first, tapping her on the shoulder and pointing to me.
I’m a bad man.
The fucking worst.
Yet…she looks at me like I’m an angel sent down to her from heaven.
She nods at the maid and stands up, giving me a smile so beautiful, it makes my heart ache. If she knew how bad I am, she wouldn’t look at me like that. If she knew my original intentions, she’d never look at me like that again. If she knew what I’m about to ask her, she’d think I’m disgusting, and she’d be right.
I turn to leave. I can’t fucking do it to her. I can’t ask her to do this.
“Sam,” she calls out, but I ignore her in favor of the guilt beating at my insides.
I hear her moving, and then she’s in front of me, reaching out to touch me, but I can’t let her. She deserves more than me. She’s so much better than me. She’d never ask something like this of me or anyone else. She’s good and pure. She builds orphanages for God’s sake.
“Sam, what is it?” Her eyes move over me, examining me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
She reaches for me again, and I try to dodge her, but I’m not quick enough. I can dodge a punch coming at me full force, but I can’t dodge her touch.
