Page 22 of Softer Than Stone
While true, I struggled to not feel responsible. If only I’d investigated the creepy basement. When I’d discovered the secret door, I’d been beyond excited. But after ten minutes too long down there—in a basement with no electricity and the scent of cold stone preventing me from smelling the earth—I’d hightailed it out of there. It made sense I hated the feel of the place since it was used by Brax to stash evidence against Kole that could get him killed or help him take over her business.
Shaw’s voice cut through my overloaded brain. “Got it,” he said, emerging from the office. He held up a heavy, leatherbound ledger—the kind that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand secrets.
“This it?” Michaels asked, gesturing to the book.
Chris nodded grimly. “That’s got to be it.”
“Lots of names in here,” Shaw added. “Dates. Transactions. Looks like Kole’s personal blackmail file.”
The air left my lungs in a rush. That unassuming book had nearly cost me my life.
“I still can’t believe it was Brax’s uncle who sold me this place,” I said, the words tumbling out as if speaking them would make them easier to bear. “Back then, I thought I’d lucked out. I didn’t know the guy. Never met him in person—everything went through the real estate agent. But I’d never met Brax nor heard of him. Why would I?” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to continue, “Brax must’ve thought he was being clever, using this place to stash the ledger. He probably figured his uncle’s place would be the last place Kole would look. Do you think she knew he had it all along?”
Chris exhaled slowly, his hand rubbing soothing circles against my back.
Michaels answered, “From what we know about Kole, very little gets past her.”
“I mean, it worked… for a while,” I said bitterly. “Until it didn’t. Kole found out about the ledger and about Brax’s side hustle. It’s why he was nearly killed, isn’t it?”
Chris nodded. “She doesn’t leave loose ends. That he survived at all is a miracle.”
“And now I’m the loose end.”
“You’re not,” Chris said firmly, his voice cutting through the despair threatening to pull me under. “We’ve got the ledger now. Kole can’t use it against you—or anyone else.”
“Good.” I took a shaky breath. “Take it. I don’t want it anywhere near this place.”
Shaw nodded. “We’ll secure it.”
As the team moved with purpose, I glanced around Kurranba again. It was my sanctuary, my dream made real. And now, it felt like a stranger to me.
Chris pulled me closer, his voice soft but steady. “You’re still standing. That’s what matters.”
I looked up at him, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his eyes. “Barely.”
“Barely counts.” He smiled—a real smile this time—and it was enough to chase away some of the bitterness clinging to me. “You’re tenacious, remember? You’re not going to let some shady basement and a vampire ruin your dream.”
The warmth spread, chasing away some of the bitterness. “You think so?”
“I know so.” He nudged me gently, his expression softening in a way that made my heart do a strange little flip. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here. You can figure out what’s next when you’re not in the middle of all this.”
I hesitated, my gaze lingering on the polished floors and neatly set tables. Tan had done their job well.
And so would I.
“Okay,” I said finally, leaning into Chris as we turned to leave. “Let’s go.”
I kneaded Chris’s butt-cheeks,my grin quick to come when he released a loud groan that sounded like sin. After stopping by Chris’s apartment for him to collect a change of clothes, we’d then headed back to my house.
We’d eaten, made out on the sofa, then scrubbed each other down with exploring fingers and mouths, which led us to now. Shifting could be brutal for some species—for panthers, not so much. Regardless, it was as necessary as breathing.
But with the speed Chris had shifted when coming to my rescue, no doubt it left a residual ache behind that he’d likely feel for a few hours yet. A transformation like that left its mark. The same would have happened to me had I even attempted a shift that fast.
Working my fingers over Chris’s muscles was the price I willingly paid for all he’d done.
“Are you trying to ruin me?” Each breathy sigh that escaped Chris rolled over me like a heady caress. I loved I could make him melt, unravel him so it felt like his aching bones turned to jelly.
“Maybe.” I pressed a kiss to the back of his neck, continuing to work the warm oil into his skin.
