Page 84 of Sinfully Yours

And I especially don't like that Ava is walking right onto it with me.

She shifts beside me, pressing her fingertips against the foggy glass. "Liam?"

I flick my gaze toward her. "Yeah?"

Her voice is quieter now, like she's almost reluctant to ask. "What happens when this is over?"

The question hangs between us, thick as the mist curling over the river.

I grip the wheel harder. "We find whoever's behind this. We make them pay."

"That's not what I meant."

She doesn't look at me, but I don't need her to. I can hear the real question in her voice. What happens to us?

I should have an answer. Hell, I should have a hundred answers, all neatly arranged with exit strategies and contingencies. But the truth is, I have no fucking clue.

So I do what I do best. I deflect.

"We'll figure it out," I say.

Ava laughs, but it's hollow. "Right. Just like we figured out that fake dating would make things less complicated?"

I don't have a comeback for that.

The city skyline rises ahead, the glass and steel buildings cutting through the haze. My loft is on the upper floor of a converted warehouse, sleek and modern—a far cry from the warm chaos of Ava's apartment. It's always been my retreat, my carefully curated world where everything is controlled and predictable.

Now, it just feels cold. It feels like a world I don't belong to, even though I've been part of it forever.

When I pull into the underground garage, Tyler is already waiting outside the elevator, leaning against the wall, flipping a coin between his fingers. He straightens when he sees us, pushing off the wall with a low whistle.

"Damn, Carter. You look like hell."

"Good morning to you too," I mutter, unlocking the elevator.

Tyler grins as he steps inside. "And Ava. Always a pleasure."

"Tyler," she greets, crossing her arms. "Give us the bad news."

His grin fades as the elevator doors slide shut. He glances at me before speaking. "Tracked the burner phone. It was purchased with cash from a gas station just outside the city, but here's the kicker—the security footage is conveniently missing for that day."

Ava frowns. "So it was wiped?"

"Looks that way. And before you ask, yes, I checked nearby ATMs, street cameras, even traffic light footage. Whoever this is? They knew exactly how to cover their tracks."

"But you found something."

Tyler nods. "Got a name. Cliff Reyes."

Ava's brow furrows. "Who's that?"

I don't even have to think. "A fixer. Works in the art world, mostly for shady gallery owners who need problems handled quietly." My brows knit together. "Vanessa's used him before."

Ava's eyes darken. "So she is involved."

"Looks that way," Tyler says. "But here's the problem—Cliff isn't just some hired thug. He's smart. Careful. If we go after him without a solid plan, he'll slip through our fingers, and we'll lose our best lead."

I exhale sharply. "I don't care. We track him down, now."

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