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“What the fuck am I supposed to say to him?”

“I don’t know. Make something up. Ask him about his dog,” she offers.

Fuck. I have to consider this option because at this point, I don’t know what the hell else to do.

“And I’ll signal you once it’s done. That way, we walk out of here together while Jasmin waits with Piper and Macy.”

I run my hand through my face and into my matted hair.

“Maybe you should change and brush your hair. Put on my cherry balm lip oil.”

“Jasmin, what the fuck?”

Jule raises his hands. “No, she’s right. It will help keep him distracted.”

“Okay, okay. Fine.”

I turn around to toss my leather jacket on the bed. Jule faces the opposite wall, and I switch my black tee for a white, v-neck tank. I sniff under my arms and shrug. Jasmin tugs my shirt down, forcing my breasts to reveal more skin than I’m used to, and then tosses me a pair of black jean shorts. I gawk at her and she shrugs. I put them on and then finish the look with my worn Converse. Jasmin is combing through my locks as I quickly wash my face and tame my brows, then I apply a thin layer of her lip oil.

“Mascara?” she offers.

“Don’t push it. And be quick. As soon as he’s distracted enough, pedal to the metal.”

I wonder what Noah would say about this plan and instantly shove that thought into the darkness of my mind. Piper is waiting, and she needs this. If her father finds them, I know he’ll enslave them and do fucked up things to them. I don’t know if anyone will suspect my involvement, but we cannot risk Dylan connecting those plates to us. We’ve worked too hard for everything we’re attempting to hold together. And I won’t allow this fucker to mess it all up.

I look into the mirror; it’s as good as it’s going to get. What am I supposed to do? Put on myNym-Phoattire and give him a private dance? Somewhere in the back of my mind, the inner harlot in me pants. I bite my lip.Get a fucking grip.

I look at Jasmin before stepping out and she gives me a thumbs up.Fuck.

I hop down the five steps and sashay in his direction. He’s in a sitting position, legs up, leaning back slightly, with a book in hand. He’s wearing gray joggers, andthat’s it. Holyfuck, I don’t know if I can manage going through this plan without my eyeballs combing over his entire body.

His dog sits up and Dylan looks up and moves his sunglasses lower on his nose to peer at me. His lips break into a sinister smile and he says something inaudible to his dog, who relaxes.

He’s tattooedall over. His muscled chest and rippled abs are covered in swirls of ink. Two ornate guns are criss-crossed over his pecs, there’s a rose on his throat and wings that sprout out on either side of it, and they splay around his neck, choking him. Below the rose, between the guns, is what looks like a heart locket with an intricate design etched inside. A siren, with blank eyes and wild hair, is on his ribs, her torso is skeletal, and I can’t keep looking—I’ll drown in the sea of them.

I clear my throat. “Fancy finding you here.”

He lifts his glasses higher up and I catch my reflection in them. I’m standing with my weight on one leg, my arms crossed in front of me. My chest is threatening to spill out.Good.

“Really?”

I scowl at him. “No.Not really. What the fuck are you doing here?” I hiss.

I realize he’s got a direct view of where the large shed is, which really serves as our garage, and I move to the chair next to him on the opposite side. His dog stands, but I ignore him. This needs to work. Worse case scenario, his dog attacks, and then he’lltrulybe distracted. I swallow and focus on the task at hand. I glance at the dog, who is sniffing the air, trying to get a feel for me. He walks slowly toward me.

“Sit down, Max.”

Max doesn’t listen to his master, but instead, comes to sniff my knee and then licks it. I laugh and sit down, relaxing in the lounge chair with the perfect view of the truck. I spot Jasmin trotting behind him and unlocking the wooden double doors. Dylan faces me, stunned. He rips his sunglasses off his face. His back is completely turned to the truck.

Max sits down directly in front of me, and I pat his head then nuzzle behind his ears. He nestles into my hand and then lays his enormous snout on my thigh. Dylan stares at us, dumbfounded. He’s speechless and I smile big. I’m reminded of my father’s smile, all toothy and wide. It doesn’t make me sad, however.

“You’re such a good boy, Max,” I praise and then kiss his nose.

Dylan grins and his legs move and he plants his bare feet on his manicured lawn to face me fully. He closes his book and sets it on the round glass table between the chairs.Fuck,he’s hot. Okay, focus.

“Max hasneverdone that before.”

“Please, you want me to believe you got a killing machine here?” I rub my finger up and down Max’s snout and his face eases onto my lap and he closes his eyes. “You’re secret’s out, rookie.”

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