Page 79 of Shades of Ruin

Her nose scrunches up as she thinks for a moment. “Donuts.”

“Won’t they have enough of those at the station?” I laugh in spite of the grim circumstances.

“But they won’t be made by the best chef in all of Chicago,” she replies, batting her thick eyelashes.

“Flattery is an admirable tactic, but you know I don’t make dessert,” I tell her with a tap on her pretty lips.

She nips at my fingers. “And here I thought you loved me.”

“Fine,” I huff. “I’ll spend all night glazing donuts just for you.”

She narrows her dark brown eyes. “Why do I feel like I should be worried about you sneaking in somethingelsethat’s white and creamy?”

“Because you know me so well.” I swoop down and press a soft kiss against her lips. “Be a good girl, and I’ll see you soon.” I swat her ass just for fun as she follows Detective Montgomery out of the club.

I turn back to find Ashford looking like he’s about to vomit. “Jesus, are you two always like that? It’s disgusting.”

“Now you know how I feel about you and Kara.” I cross my arms over my chest. “So what is so important? I have donuts to bake.”

He gets right to it. “My lawyer asked me to look into Angélica before he got to the station so he knew what he was walking into. Brax found something when he was digging through records from Colombia.”

“Whatkindof something?” I ask, vaguely remembering that Brax is the name of his tech guy.

“The incriminating kind.” Ashford pauses before continuing, and that means the news will be bad. “She killed someone back in Colombia. That’s why she ran to America. She needed to get away from the authorities who were circling her house every day looking for answers—and a body.”

“Impossible,” I scoff. “She told me she was clean. And I believe her.”

“Well, I guarantee she isn’t. There’s a statement from herfather saying she did it. There’s evidence. And she was the last to see the man alive.”

I glare at him. “I still don’t believe it.”

“Christ, think with your head and not your cock for once. If shehadn’tdone it, wouldn’t she have told you why she left Colombia? Wouldn’t she have mentioned the fallout with her parents? The disappearance of a man she’d known her whole life? The fact that she said nothing makes her guilty.”

Goddamnit. He’s right, and I’m a lovesick idiot who fell for the lies of a pretty girl. Again.

“I’ll get the truth out of her. Just make sure the lawyer steers the cops clear of any questions about her life before America.”

“Will do. And Greyson—you don’t know the whole story. She might have a good reason for lying.”

“There’s never a good reason for her to lie to me,” I snarl. “And I’ll make sure she remembers it.”

“Go easy on her, Greyson.” Caden Ashford making a plea for mercy? They all must have liked Angélica even more than I expected. Pride and anger twist in my gut at the same time.

“Don’t tell me how to handle my girl, and I won’t tell you how to fuck yours. Got it?”

Ashford shakes his head, but he doesn’t take the bait. He knows I’m eager for a fight, and he’s not going to be the one to give it to me. “Just let me know how everything goes. You and Angélica should come over to the manor for a drink after it all settles down.”

“I’d love to drink my way through your most expensive whisky collection. I could definitely use it right about now.”

“I’d invite you over tonight, but I’m afraid I’ll be occupied. The future Lady Ashford is in desperate need of a spanking after the shit she pulled tonight.”

“You’ll never deserve her, you know that, right? Kara is better than the both of us.”

“I couldn’t agree more. But I’ll keep her for as long as she’ll have me,” Ashford replies with a slight smile that reminds me he actually has a heart beneath all that stoic, British brooding.

“Well, you better go find your captive before she tries to run away.”

“True. Try not to worry too much about Angélica. Randall is the best in the business. He’ll keep them from finding anything substantial enough to hold her.”

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