Page 105 of Pretty Little Threats

“You know I can’t talk about other clients with you.”

“She’s going to tell me, anyway.”

Orion chuckles. “Maybe, but I have my rules. I won’t break them.”

A smile tugs at my lips. “That’s part of why I like you. Thanks for helping her.”

“She’s paying me.”

I roll my eyes. Orion will never admit it, but I know he rearranged his schedule to fit Cassia in because we’re friends in the loosest use of the term. It’s hard to be close tosomeone who lives their life slinking through the shadows. Still, Orion is a good guy, and Cassia is in good hands. “All right, tough guy. Let me know when you have something.”

Orion hangs up without saying goodbye and I shake my head. At first, I was offended, but now I’m used to his ways and it doesn’t bother me so much.

“Who was that?” Dare’s voice cuts through the air like an axe, brutally sharp.

Heart skipping, my gaze jumps to the doorway, where Dare stands, jaw clenched and eyes narrowed. “You scared the shit out of me.”

Dare prowls into the room. Something dark shimmers in his rich brown irises. “Who was on the phone, Rose?” His shoulders are bunched together, fingers curled into fists.

He’s . . . mad?

No, that’s not quite right.

Dare is jealous.

“My PI.”

“Show me.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“Rose,” he warns, dropping into a squat in front of me, steepling his fingers in front of his face. His eyebrows are drawn down, and his eyes bounce between mine. He’s not giving up until I show him the phone.

I grab the device and show him the call screen. Dare studies the name, then looks back at me, a menace in his gaze that isn’t directed at me. “He’s a PI, Dare.”

“Thought he was a tough guy?” he taunts.

Okay. This is silly, but given the way we came together, I can’t blame him for feeling insecure. I set the phone on the arm of the chair and wrap my arms around his neck, scooting to the edge of the chair. Dare’s hands drop to my knees. My lips ghost over his plush mouth.

“Have you forgotten who I belong to?” I tease, pulling back to hold his gaze. “I’myourwife, and as much as I hate to admit it, no one could ever compete with you.” Running my finger over the jagged skin of the scar that cuts between his eyebrow, I try to ease some of his tension.

Dare clenches his jaw and looks away, his eyes straying over the scattered papers. “You were gone for so long. I thought for a minute you were running away.”

“Dare.”

He refuses to look at me, his brow furrowed so hard, he’s probably going to get a headache.

I grab his chin and force him to look at me. “I’m not running.” Pausing, I wait until he nods in acknowledgement, then continue explaining. “I was trying to remember what my mom looked like, so I could draw her, but I needed a picture, and it doesn’t even matter, because I’m struggling to do her justice.”

Dare’s fingers flex on my knees. “You’ll get it.”

Releasing his chin, I shake my head. “I don’t think I will, but your faith in my abilities is reassuring.”

“If Orion isn’t a PI?—”

“He is.”

“Well, then. If you’re using him against me. . . or if you think you can fuck him behind my back, I’ll kill him, Rose.”

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