“I saidmaybe.” He lifts his brows. “Turns out I was wrong.”
The base of my neck tingles.
“So, she can go back to her apartment. You can go back to your thing. And after your brother’s party, I’ll sit her down, explain everything properly, maybe even get her to move in with me.” He shrugs. “As long as my dad approves.”
He’s separating us. And the worst part is that I can’t argue with his logic without revealing why I want her to stay.
“You really think it’s safe?” I ask. “One case gets resolved and suddenly everything’s fine? These people don’t just back off, Art.”
“I said I’d handle it.”
“Art.” I lower my voice. “What’s going on with you? Since when do you have a direct line to information about Myrddin’s operations? You’re talking about this like you’re briefed daily.”
He sniffs once, then cracks a grin. “Life, you know? Crazy bitch.”
I don’t buy it. The explanation is too neat, delivered too smoothly, like a rehearsed speech.
“Art.” My heart clenches. “Don’t let them do this to you, man.”
“Don’t worry about me. Trust, remember? It’s the only thing we’ve got.”
I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing anymore.
He slides out of the booth. “I should go check on Gin. Being a good boyfriend and all.” He straightens his shirt. “Something I’ve clearly been shit at lately. You should go home. You look tired. And you’ll need your energy for the fight that’s coming up.”
I rear back, my stomach dropping to my feet.
He walks toward the bar with easy confidence, leans over the counter, and whispers something into Genevieve’s ear. She nods, but her body stays stiff even as he presses a kiss to her temple.
Art glances back at me over his shoulder and winks.
I look away.
Rosalie appears at my elbow, setting down a water I didn’t ask for. “You keep staring at her like that and the entire town will know.”
I blow out a breath and don’t try to correct her. “Thanks for the tip, Rosie.”
She looks around, then props a hand on her hip. “I know we don’t talk much. And that our entire family hates me almost as much as I hate them.”
“Your brother doesn’t hate you. And neither do I.”
“Art’s not being honest,” she says it so softly I barely hear her.
“What?” I straighten.
“Benny said he’s working forhimnow.”
“Art’s working for Benny?”Bullshit.He’d never willingly work for a Voltaire.
She shakes her head. “The other way around.”
“How do you know that?” I ask.
“It’s amazing what you hear when people you’re with don’t think you matter.”
Right on cue, Benny whistles so loud the entire bar groans, and she gives me a thin smile.
She turns to leave, and I grab her wrist. “Rosie… You okay?”
