Page 154 of Never Sleep with the Enemy

I frown.

“Just…” He extends something toward me. “Please. Open your hand.”

I sigh, but do it. He drops something into my palm with a soft slap.

His driver’s license. Face down.

“A minute from now,” he says, “whether you like me or hate me, you can flip that over and read it. All I want is one minute. When it’s over, you can go back to hating me forever if that’s what you want. We’ll go back to being enemies. And that’ll be that.”

The license weighs heavy in my hand; the corners sharp against my skin.

I nod.

Logan pauses, his chest rising and falling once. “I want you to know that... every moment we spent together was genuine. Every word, every touch, every kiss—it was all real. I adore you, Katrina. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you.”

His voice breaks, and it tugs at something buried deep in me.

“It killed me to hurt you,” he says. “Every day, I wanted to tell you the truth, but I was scared of what would happen to Tesla if I did. I hope you can understand that. And maybe, someday... forgive me.”

I wipe my cheek with the back of my hand. “Forgiveness is a big ask, Logan.”

“I know.” He nods. “And if you never forgive me, I’ll get it. But I don’t want you to regret the time we spent together. No matter what happens from here, no matter what you think of me, of all of this… I want you to know you wereloved. You wanted to save yourself for a man who loved you, and you did.”

He steps a little closer; the bridge creaking beneath us.

“If you believe anything I’ve said, let it be that. I love you, Katrina,” he whispers. “You’re the most beautiful soul I’ve ever known. The only time the world makes any sense is when I look into your eyes... and I hear our music.”

His words shake something loose in me. An epiphany all my own.

“I’m not gonna beg,” he says softly. “But I will promise you: if you can find it in that perfect heart of yours to let me back in, I’ll spend the rest of my life earning it.”

“Is that what you really want?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says. “Desperately.” He swallows. “What do you want, Katrina?”

I look into his eyes, my heart hammering. Every nerve ending feels lit up, the air between us vibrating with something undeniable. Somethingtrue.

I believe him.

I believe Logan Shock loves me.

He loves me... just like I love him.

I glance at the card in my hand, then flip it over.

His ID photo is absolutely tragic—wild-eyed and flat-haired—and it makes me smile.

Then I read his full name.

“Milton?” I say, eyebrows arching.

Logan winces. “Yeah.”

“LoganMiltonFinkelstein?!”

“Keep your voice down.” His eyes dart around the playground. “Please.”

“Is that a Roman numeral?” I gasp. “AThird?!You’re aThird?!”

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