Hard Rules

“Of course,” she says. “I’ll be out here.”

I give her a nod and I head inside, crossing to the door and opening it, bringing Seth into view, the hard lines of his face telling me something is wrong. “Are you alone?” he asks.

“Emily’s on the patio.”

He lifts the folder in his hand and then sets it on the counter. “All the more reason you need to see this.”

A bad feeling rolls through me and I step back, allowing him to enter, and we convene in the kitchen at the island. He sets the folder in front of me. I flip it open and stare down at a photo of Emily. “What is this?”

“I had her checked out and yes, her identity checks out, but it’s a shell created by a hacker. The kind of shell that’s created when someone is hiding who they really are. Witness protection, criminal, or undercover agents.” He tosses an envelope on the counter. “I found that in her desk. It’s a compilation of information ranging from bank accounts to investors.”

“Holy fuck. You think she’s setting us up.”

“I don’t have a clue, but you better find out and now. And because I’m thorough, I checked her fingerprints, too. There not on file.”

The idea of Emily’s betrayal slices through me, a wicked blade that is unforgiving. “Leave,” I order.

He gives an incline of his head and disappears, and I press my hands to the counter, letting my head dip low, my mother’s words coming back to me. Once someone is in your bed, they’re dangerously close to you. Watch your back with that woman.

“Shane.”

At the sound of Emily’s voice, I inhale and push off the counter, turning to find her standing in front of me. “It’s time to for some rules,” I say.

“Rules?” she asks, her voice quavering. “What rules?”

I grab her and turn us both, pressing her against the counter, my hands caging her in. “Hard rules. And hard rule number one is, no more lies.”