Page 85 of Love, Hate, Love

“I have to get back over there before she leaves,” I said, wanting nothing more than to go into the ranch and bury my head under the covers.

“We need to talk as soon as this is over,” he said.

“I know.” He deservedsomethingat this point. But how much could I say without dragging him into it? I wasn’t sure.

Chapter38

Leah

The second Cassieand her husband left, I’d snuck back into the ranch and poured myself a glass of whiskey on the rocks. I settled onto the couch in an old t-shirt I liked sleeping in and tried to figure out what I was going to say to Kade. There was no denying that something was wrong at this point, but it came down to how much I told him and how much he’d already heard. The last thing I wanted was to get Kade messed up in what Edwin was doing.

The time sped past, and I still hadn’t come up with a solution when Kade walked in.

He went and poured himself a drink before he took a seat on the other side of the couch. His eyes locked on mine as he took a heavy swig.

“Weneedto talk,” he said.

“I know.” There was no putting it off. Not now, after he’d heard at least some of my argument with Edwin.

“Look me in the eye and tell me you stole the painting,” he said.

My throat tightened. “The situation is pretty messy,” I said. I needed to know what he knew. I wasn’t going to drag him into this if I could avoid it. Letting Edwin into your life was like breathing in toxic fumes every day.

“You didn’t take it,” Kade said, his voice firm. “You’re not a thief.”

I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady. “Why do you want to stir up trouble? It would be better for you not to get involved.”

“Trouble for who? You didn’t take that painting.” He looked away. “How could I be so stupid? I know you didn’t. I should’ve fucking killed him tonight. I know it was him, but why? It just doesn’t make any sense. Does he have something on you? Tell me what is going on.” Kade’s voice was softer now, almost pleading.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding so loud it echoed in my ears. “I don’t want to get you mixed up in this.”

“Leah—”

“You think you want to know, but you don’t.”

He sat back, expression unreadable, but he didn’t look away. He wasn’t going to let it go—of course he wasn’t. That wasn’t who he was.

“Why are you taking the fall for him? What happened? Just tell me the truth. What does he have on you?”

The way he was staring at me, almost desperate for me to speak to him, was my undoing. I hadn’t ever wanted this situation, or this secret. And now he knew. The only thing I could do was try to get a compromise out of him before I said anything more.

“This doesn’t go beyond us. Nothing comes from this. This conversation is the end of it. I need you to agree to that.”

He nodded. “Just tell me.”

“I’m going to need a refill.”

He nodded and topped off my glass. I got the feeling he would’ve let me chug from the bottle if it would get him answers.

I waited until I had another sip warming my body. Kade waited patiently, until I’d not only had one sip but three. If I didn’t get the story out soon, I’d be too drunk to tell it.

“This is going to sound unbelievable, but you want to know my truth and this is the only truth I have. That stolen painting was delivered to my apartment while I was out of town. At the time, I had no idea who shipped it. I didn’t know it was there and I’ve still never seen it in person. It was confiscated by the police before I got home from my vacation.

“I’d hired someone to put lighting in for a painting I’d bought but hadn’t received yet. The contractor was doing this while I was away. The super of the building knew I was expecting a painting and put it in my apartment for me. The contractor saw the box placed there, probably close to the location of where I’d had the lighting put in, and thought he was supposed to hang that for me as well. You know the rest. Theworldknows the rest. I got home and the police were waiting at my door before I had a chance to bring in my bags.”

Kade was leaning back, trying to figure out the rest the same way I had initially.

“What about the person who delivered it? Where did it say it came from?”

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