Page 93 of Penalty Kiss
"What are you suggesting?"
I lean on the window frame, willing my brain to focus. And I don’t sugarcoat it.
"Tara, underneath all this smoke and mirrors, this psycho is terrified of you." I meet her eyes. "If I had to guess why hesent you that photo of the princess dress—it's because subconsciously, he sees you as the rightful princess of the Delacroix empire while he's nothing but the court jester. Loud, desperate, easy to dismiss once the king notices him lurking around."
Tara eyes grow wide and I can see her wheels spinning.
"He's scared of what you remember. That crown you walked away from in real life? He's terrified you'll pick it up again. That you'll have your father—the king—reinstate you. And then it becomes King versus Jester." I pause, letting that sink in. "We both know who wins that fight."
I step closer, giving her a smirk. "And to be clear—that would make me the knight in shining armor. The one standing beside you when you reclaim what's yours, if you choose to do it."
Tara frowns but I’m on the roll as my mind continues to race.
"You said your father doesn't know the extent of what Lucien's doing."
"According to Max, he doesn't. He thinks Lucien is just trying to bring me home."
"Then you give him the evidence you have, plus this security footage. Let him handle Lucien."
Tara shakes her head. "If I go back, even to expose Lucien, my father will never let me leave again. He'll use it as proof that I need his protection."
"What about your brothers—Laurent and Max? Ask for their help to present the case with all your information."
She considers this for a moment, but I can see the doubt in her eyes.
"Or..." I pause, another idea forming. "We don't go to him. We bring him here."
She stares at me like I've lost my mind. "Bring Julien Delacroix to Cedar Falls?"
"Why not? Your brother said he misses you. That he's getting older. Maybe it's time he sees the life you've built. Sees whoyou've become."
I move back to the couch, taking her hands.
"Let him choose between you and Lucien, but let him make that choice here, on your turf."
"That's..." She pauses, considering. "Actually not terrible."
"I have my moments."
"But dangerous. If Lucien realizes what we're doing—"
"Then we make sure he doesn't. Maybe with a diversion." I pull out my phone. "I'll text Chief Alvarez, show her the fire footage. It's a chargeable crime—arson, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, intimidation… even attempted murder. We'll get official protection while we set this up."
"That could work..." She bites her lip, worry creasing her features.
“Cam, I'm also concerned about what he'll do to the residents of Cedar Falls, what if he lashes out at the town just to mess with me or as a warning. Oh! Your folks—he already met them and knows that they are staying at Skyridge Hotel. He knows they're important to us."
"Then we keep them close. They'll want to help. Luke might complain about the stress on my recovery, but Dad?" I grin. "Dad served three tours in the Middle East. He's not going to be intimidated by some corporate psychopath."
She looks at me, searching my face. "You're sure about this? About all of it? Because once we start, there's no going back. Your life, your family, this whole town—it's all going to be pulled into Delacroix family drama."
I think about the security footage, about Lucien calmly eating my food before trying to burn down my house. I think about the text message, the casual cruelty of threatening to make sure the fire spreads next time.
"He made it my business when he broke into my home." I lean forward, capturing her mouth in a kiss that's part promise, part declaration of war. "Besides, you're forgetting something important."
"What's that?"
"This is Cedar Falls. We take care of our own." I laugh at myself for echoing the small town unofficial slogan. "And you, Taralyn Delacroix, are ours now. That means all of us—Mrs. Henderson with her medicinal bourbon, Scott with his firefighter connections, Lily and Levi with their resources." I grin, feeling the first stirrings of genuine confidence. "Your cousin picked the wrong town to terrorize."
