Revealing Us (Inside Out #3)(60)

That’s it. My shock at her attack morphs into anger and adrenaline rockets through me. Without a conscious thought to act, I shove her backward and keep moving until she slams against the wall. The air woofs out of her and I hold her by the shoulders like she had me. My arms shake with the force of white-hot anger.

“No,” I grind out through my teeth, “he won’t come back to you. You know why? Because I won’t ever let him hurt that bad again, and I won’t hurt him. And I damn sure won’t let you hurt him.”

The door opens abruptly and I don’t have to look to know it’s Chris. I keep my stare on Isabel, but I feel him. I always feel him.

“Problem?” he asks, sounding rather amused.

“No problem,” I say coolly, still focused on the wicked witch of whips. She isn’t looking at me or Chris. Her lashes have lowered, and I sense her anger has transformed into something else. I don’t know what and I don’t care, either. I just want her out of Chris’s life.

I let go of her and turn to Chris. “Are we ready to go?”

He arches a brow, the amusement I’d heard in his voice lighting his eyes. “Are you ready to go?”

“I’ve done what I had to do here.”

“Then by all means. Let’s get out of here.” He draws my hand in his and we head down the hallway together, leaving Isabel where she belongs: in Chris’s past. I know Chris believes she’s there already, but I’m going to make sure he knows how true that is.

We make our way through the bar and dining area and straight to the coat check. Once we step outside and start walking 232

down the block toward the car, I ask the question burning in my mind. “What happened with Neuville?”

“We did the typical ‘swordight,’ as you like to call it—and, as usual, it was highly unproductive. Rey is meeting us at the house to get an update so he and his brother can start following up on Neuville’s claims. What happened with you and Isabel?”

“We did the typical ‘catight,’ only ours was productive.”

He arches a brow. “Was it, now?”

Maybe I’ll add an extra few lashes with your name on them, too.

I hear Isabel’s words in my head and a whirlwind of emotions expand in my chest. I glance around, desperate for privacy, and I ind the perfect place. I surprise Chris and shove him toward an alcove in front of a door where we’re alone, behind a wall, the shadows enguling us.

I look up at him, letting my eyes adjust to the shadows. “Do you remember when you shoved me into a corner like this one and warned me away from the gallery and from you?”

“I remember very well.”

“You didn’t scare me of then, and you won’t scare me of now, or ever. But I lied to both of us when I said I’d watch your pain if that’s what you needed. I won’t watch. I won’t let you be hurt again. I won’t let you need that again. We need each other.

We have each other. I love—”

He kisses me, a deep, heat-me-all-over, curl-my-toes, passionate kiss, and I melt into him. How had I ever doubted my decision to follow him to Paris? He is my home. He is my soul.

“I love you, too,” he says, his voice deep, thick with emotion.

“And I’ve already told you. I only need you.”



“No. You’ve never promised me you won’t ever need that kind of escape again, Chris—but I’m not asking you to. I’m promising you that you won’t. I will be here for you.”

He stares down at me, and that edgy, mysterious Chris is clear and present. “I really have done a damn good job of corrupting you, haven’t I? Straight to hell and the dark side, and asking for more.”

“Yes.” I wrap my arms around him. “Please take me home and corrupt me some more.”

I expect him to argue, to warn me away, but he doesn’t. His hand cups the back of my head and he brings my mouth to his.

“I can’t wait.” Then he kisses me again.





Twenty


An hour later, Chris and I sit on the couch behind his desk in front of the dragon mural, and Rey is leaning on the desk facing us, giving us his perspective on Neuville.

“Finding out if anyone saw Ella with him isn’t going to be a problem,” he assures us, “but inding out details on Neuville’s intimate personal and inancial afairs is another story. His associations have long had him on law enforcement’s radar, but no one has ever been able to connect him to anything illegal.”

“What kind of associations?” I glance at Chris. “What haven’t you told me?”

Chris sighs, casting Rey an irritated look. “Thank you, Rey.”

Alarm bells are ringing. I should have asked why Chris didn’t like Neuville. “Tell me what this is about.” My voice wavers with a hint of demand and dread. I want to know, but already know I’m not going to like what I’m told.



Chris dodges giving me an answer. “Everything is speculation.”

“Stop avoiding a proper answer,” I warn. “Share the speculation.” Chris’s jaw tenses, and still he gives me no reply.

“He’s long been suspected of a connection to the mob,”

Rey supplies.

“A mob connection!” I’m on my feet. “Ella was involved with someone in the mob?”