Page 87 of Cruel Revenge

I know this conversation needs to happen, sooner or later, especially if he saw what I did at Martina’s house.

But I’m not ready to risk losing him yet.

Not when he means more to me than I ever thought he would.

Kalani looksup as I stumble into the laundromat the next morning. “You look like you haven’t slept in a thousand years. That hot husband of yours keeping you up at night?”

“Something like that.” I slink to the office at the back and toss my purse onto the couch in the corner. “We’re fighting right now, actually.”

Without another word, Kalani scurries into the room and shuts the door behind her. She drapes herself onto the arm of the couch beside my purse, holding her head up with her hand. “You’re going to have to tell me more about this alleged fight you’re having.”

“It’s a fight.” I groan and sink down into the chair behind my desk. “I wish it wasn’t, but he’s being stubborn, wanting to know some things about me that I don’t know if I can tell him yet. It’s the kind of thing that makes you look at a person a different way.”

Before Kalani can say whatever is on the tip of her tongue, the door to my office bursts open, and Emily Granville walks in, her expression smug, and her nose tipped up in the air.

“Oh, good. I was hoping you would be here.” She doesn’t bother acknowledging Kalani as her heels click against the vinyl floor to my desk. “It’s time that you and I had a talk.”

I glance at Kalani, rolling my eyes. “I’m so sick and fucking tired of everyone wanting to talk to me.”

Emily sighs and pulls over the wooden chair, looking down at it as if it might be diseased before perching on the edge. She looks at her nails, arching an eyebrow at me when a few seconds pass and Kalani still doesn’t leave.

“Is this going to be over sooner if I ask Kalani to leave?” I give Kalani a pointed look, and she stands, leaving the room and shutting the door behind her.

Emily smirks and leans forward, folding her forearms on my desk. “What’s it going to take to make our little problem go away?”

“And what little problem is that?”

Emily clicks her tongue and shakes her head like I’m some poor innocent person who doesn’t have a clue what the world is like.

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms. “You’re going to have to explain to me what the fuck you’re doing in my office and what problem you think we have.”

“You know, if I told my father that you were speaking to me like this, he would make sure that we ceased doing business with your husband immediately.”

“I doubt that, but you’re more than welcome to try.”

A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as she looks seconds away from exploding.

I lean forward, letting the grin take over. “If your daddy is the biggest threat you have, you’re out of luck.”

The color drains from her face, her lips pressing into a flat line. “If you end things with Joshua, I’ll speak to my father about cutting out the middle man and dealing directly with your family.”

Which would mean far more money lining the pockets of my family. We wouldn’t have to pay the fees that Joshua charges,even if they are severely reduced rates and he’s replaced supply for us after attacks twice.

I drum my fingers on the desk, shrugging one shoulder. “You know, I think this little crush that you have on my husband is rather pathetic. I mean, look at you right now. You’re trying to trade cocaine for a relationship. Doesn’t that scream desperate to you?”

Emily’s face turns a deep shade of red. Her acrylic nails sink into her palms as her eyes narrow. “And yet, you’re the one who knows nothing about your husband or what he’s really involved in, aren’t you? You can’t honestly think that cocaine is the only business he’s involved in.”

“When did I say I don’t know what he does with his life?”

The hair on the back of my neck prickles, though.

It seems like everyone knows what Joshua is doing except me.

That’s going to end.

Emily relaxes a little. “Fine, maybe you do know. Either way, you need to end the relationship with him. It’s only a matter of time before you both see that this marriage is never going to work.”

I sigh and get up, rounding the desk and heading to the door. I pull it open and stand to the side. “You should leave. I would hate for you to still be here when you realize that this time, you aren’t getting what you want.”

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