I brought Harper home safely an hour ago after tonight’s performance, then stopped by The Scarlet Mirage for an update from Theo regarding Gregor, only to find out he has no news.
I asked my father to look into Gregor, hoping he could approach the same cops he paid off to bury evidence of Paul’s murder. That was a useless endeavor. Dad says his connection with those cops is long gone, ever since meeting Amabella and starting Forever Families.
It’s midnight when I return home. The apartment is dark except for a faint light spilling from within our bedroom. I slip out of my shoes and loosen my tie,making my way through the apartment to be with Harper.
Her voice drifts from our bedroom, low and pleading, upset about something. “Will you please stop being difficult and accept the protection?”
Tyler answers. For a moment, my skin crawls, thinking he’s here in the apartment. But then his voice cuts off for a second and I realize Harper has him on speakerphone.
“I don’t want to be indebted to Felix.”
My hands flex with frustration. I’m trying to keep my brother safe, and yet he has to be stubborn.
I stop outside the bedroom, my shoulders tense. Harper has committed herself to me and only me, but after seeing her rush into Tyler’s arms three nights ago… After seeing how worried she’s been about him…
Fuck. I don’t know where my head is at. Ihatedseeing the two of them hugging and how he called her our girlfriend. And yet… There was some sense of relief in me when I saw them holding each other. I don’t understand my reaction. I don’twantto try to understand it.
“If you don’t want to feel indebted to Felix, hire your own protection,” Harper urges.
“I’m not a target.”
“I’m scared for you. Do this for me. I love you and I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to you?—”
Harper’s voice cracks. Hearing her upset makes my chest ache. I knock on the door frame twice, announcing my arrival, not wanting to eavesdrop.
Harper is perched on a stool in front of the dresser,wearing a short satin night gown. She spins to me, flustered by my arrival.
“I need to go,” she says quickly into the phone. “Accept the protection, please. For me.”
Harper ends the call and rushes to her feet. “I don’t know how much of that conversation you heard, but Tyler has always been my best friend. I care about him and love him as a friend and I’m so worried about him. He’s not accepting the protection of the bodyguards?—”
“Harper,” I hush, entering the room. Our fingers weave. I lower her back to the stool and kneel in front of her. “You love Tyler as more than a friend. I’ve always known this and I’m not mad.”
I open her hands and stroke a finger down each scar on her palms. One scar for me. The other for Tyler.
“I’ll speak with security again,” I murmur, pressing my lips to both scars. “They’ll protect him under my order.”
She sighs with relief. “Thank you.”
“In the meantime, I have a gift for you. I don’t intend for you to ever use this. But if Gregor slips past the guards, I want you armed and ready to defend yourself.”
I retrieve the gift from the inside pocket of my jacket. Harper smiles with intrigue, seeing the dagger wrapped in a leather sheath.
Sliding the blade free, the metal catches the light, wicked and beautiful. I place it in Harper’s hand, watching her fingers curl around the hilt. A crimson ribbon is tied in a bow at the handle. Down the center of the blade runs a row of heart-shaped cutouts.
Her eyes glint as she traces the steel with herfingertips. She licks her lips, a slow, unconscious gesture that makes my dick twitch.
Her smile broadens as she reads aloud an engraving on the blade. “Little Sinner.”
“You’ve always had an affinity for sharp objects. Shards of glass. Daggers. Steak knives. You’re sexy when your protective side flares, my Little Sinner.”
“You haven’t called me that name since I was eighteen. It’s my favorite.”
I reach back into my pocket and pull out a black, lacy garter. Her breath hitches as I slide the lace up her leg, pushing her night dress higher. My fingertips brush her skin while securing the garter around her thigh. She shivers, her lips parting as I return the dagger to its case and attach it to the garter.
My hands linger, cupping the back of her thigh. “Always keep this blade on you for protection.”
“I will.”
