Page 28 of Velvet Corruption

Anger flared in me, sharp and sudden. I stood, towering over him while he stayed seated, perfectly calm—like none of this touched him.

“So that’s it,” I said. “You want me to play nice. Turn a blind eye. Keep the backroom deals running smooth, just like Lenta did. Do you really think so little of me?”

Kieran looked up, steady. “I think very highly of you. That’s why I’m here—because I know you’re not naive. You understand how this city works.”

I shook my head, jaw clenched. “You know your brother already tried this, right? Came into my office with the same tired offer. Money, influence, connections. Told me I’d be safer if I stayed in line.”

His expression flickered—barely, but I caught it. He hadn’t known.

“So imagine how interesting it would be,” I went on, my voice dropping, “if I let Tristan know you’d already had your hands all over the new DA years before she ever ran for office.”

Now he looked at me.

“Because if you think threatening me gives you the upper hand, Kieran, maybe you should ask yourself how well that secret would play in your house.”

We stared at each other for a long beat. “I don’t think you understand--”

Then I grabbed my notes to shove them into my bag.

“I understand that justice isn’t something you can barter,” I said. “And that some of us still believe in doing what’s right.”

He sighed, grabbing what was left of my scone. I watched him, bewildered, as he bit into it, and for a split second I remembered how he used to kiss sugar off my lips over pastries. “Say yes to Marquez is really cute, by the way. Did you come up with that?”

“Why the fuck are you eating my scone?”

“Old habits,” he said through a mouthful, unperturbed by my outburst. “You never did finish your food.”

I stood there, bag slung over my shoulder, half-expecting him to duck after my outburst. But he just continued to chew, completely unfazed. It was infuriating how comfortable he always seemed, no matter the situation.

“We’re done here,” I said, turning to leave.

“Ruby,” he called after me. “Just think about it. That’s all I’m asking.”

I pushed open the door to the street, the cold Boston air biting through my clothes. It felt good; it felt real. The sounds of thecity rushed in to fill the void left by our conversation, but I couldn’t shake the weight of his words.

The way things ended between us? That shit wasn’t right. Not even close.

But what really messed with my head wasn’t the past. It was the part of me that still wanted to reach across the table. To see if his lips still felt like coming home.

Because if this started again—if I let him in, even a little—it wouldn’t just wreck me.

It’d wreck everything.

Chapter Six: Ruby

Before I could even think about escaping to someplace Kieran couldn’t find me, Alek pulled up in front of the coffee shop like a getaway driver.

His sleek black sedan slid to the curb, headlights slicing through the gray morning haze. I spotted him through the windshield — hands on the wheel, scanning the front of the café with that laser-focused intensity of his.

The place was packed. From where he sat, he probably couldn’t see me through the windows, and I knew that would drive him crazy. His brow furrowed. He grabbed his phone.

Mine buzzed in my pocket.

I didn’t check it. I already knew it was him — Alek, wondering where the hell I was. And I couldn’t answer yet. Not until I got my pulse under control.

I stayed behind a street sign for another second, trying to get my breathing right. The drizzle misted across my cheeks, and still it wasn’t enough to cool me down.

Finally, I stepped out.

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