Page 87 of Velvet Corruption

“Thank you. Are we eating this tonight?”

“Yes. Open the box, Ruby.”

“Wait, do you want the wine with—I mean, shouldn’t we be having dessert wine?”

Alek didn’t answer. He just leveled a look at me. “Open the fucking box, Ruby.”

I frowned, confused, but did as he said. I flipped open the lid—and froze.

Nestled in the parchment paper, right beside the cake with sorry piped in delicate cursive, was a gun. A 9 mm Glock 43. Black. Solid. Lightweight. There was frosting on the grip, like the gun had been dropped in by mistake, like it wasn’t a threat made real, just another party favor.

My stomach dropped.

“Alek.”

“You need to carry again,” he said, flat, matter-of-fact.

I stared down at the weapon. My hand twitched at my side, muscle memory flaring like it might reach for the thing on instinct alone.

“I don’t think that’s a wise idea,” I said slowly. “It’s been a long time since I carried.”

“Yeah? Well, it’s been a long time since the asshole you put away for beating his wife was on the streets too, and guess what? The parole board released him, and he knows where you work, and where Rosie goes to school. So it isn’t just Kieran Callahan you have to worry about. It’s Mickey Russell, too..”

I blinked. “What?”

“He was spotted outside the campaign office last week,” Alek said. “Didn’t do anything, didn’t say anything. Just lingered. Long enough for me to flag it.”

I closed the box slowly, as if that could erase what I’d just seen.

“You’re running on an anti-mob platform,” he continued. “Your baby daddy is the kingpin’s brother. You’ve been making enemies since day one. So yes, Ruby, you need the gun.”

“I don’t believe in guns,” I said quietly.

“Well, they’re still real,” he snapped. “You had a permit.”

“Right. Ihada permit.”

“It’s still valid.”

I looked up sharply. “What?”

Alek shrugged, arms crossed. “You were busy. I renewed it for you. Just due diligence as your campaign manager.”

An incredulous laugh bubbled out of me. “Jesus Christ.”

“You’re welcome,” he said flatly. I wanted to argue, but I knew better. He wasn’t wrong.

I swallowed, reaching forward slowly, fingers brushing over the cold steel. Ever since I’d had Rosie, the idea of having a gun in the house felt reckless, dangerous, stupid.

But maybe now it was too dangerous not to.

Maybe Alek was right.

“You won’t let me protect you,” he said. “I told you I had contacts. I have people investigating the Callahans as we speak for the case you want to bring against them. Good people, Ruby. Including Kitsuragi. If you had just let him handle it, you wouldn’t be standing here dripping saltwater onto the damn floor.”

I sighed. “It’s not that.”

“Look, I could even hire private security. I know you wouldn’t let me, though. So I’m sorry for losing my shit on you, but here’s what I need. If you don’t let me take care of you, I need you to take care of you.”

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