Page 106 of Desperate Crimes

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Those eyes.

That sharp, electric blue that sees too much, wants too much, owns too much.

My heart gives a traitorous flutter.

Mom says something else, but I miss it.

I’m too wrapped up in thoughts of him.

Of tomorrow.

Of how everything’s going to change when I walk into the house with my secret husband at my side.

“Sorry,” I say, snapping back. “Can you repeat that?”

“I asked how the job hunt’s going,” she says. “Any idea what you’d like to do with that shiny new master’s degree?”

“Right. Uh, no, not really.”

Another lie.

Or maybe just avoidance.

The truth is, I haven’t thought about work.

Not really.

Not since Nico pulled me into his world and refused to let go.

Now, I’m orbiting something dark and magnetic—and I can’t tell if I’m the moon or the flame.

“I’m just taking a little time to figure things out,” I say, keeping my voice breezy.

There’s a pause, then Destiny speaks. “That’s okay, sweetie. Just don’t lose yourself in waiting.”

My breath catches.

Too late.

But I don’t say that.

Not yet.

Because tomorrow, I’ll have to say everything.

To my parents. To my family. To the world.

That I’m Nico Fury’s wife.

That I walked willingly into that particular Viper’s den.

And I’m still not sure if I’m walking toward salvation or surrender.

Chapter Twenty-Eight-Nico Jr

The limo glides smoothly through the streets, eating up the miles between us and what promises to be the most important confrontation of my life.

But we could be crawling through gridlock or suspended in fucking time for all I care.

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