Page 73 of Sinful Empire (Mount Trilogy 3)
“Then I suggest you uncomplicate it right now. I’m starting to wonder if I have a clue who you really are, and I really don’t like wondering that.”
With his fingers pressed to his temples, Lachlan’s eyes close for a beat before fixing on me. “My past is ugly.”
“And I married you knowing exactly what and who you are—at least, I thought I did.” I point at the woman on the monitor. “She shot me. She told me she was your destiny. She said you were supposed to love her. I think I deserve an explanation.”
Lachlan’s face turns into that unreadable mask I’ve seen too many times. “Then you better sit down, because this isn’t a short story. It’s the story of my fucking life.”
I drop into his desk chair, my injuries protesting at the sudden movement, and I look at the image of the unconscious woman strapped to a hospital bed and then back at my husband.
“You can start whenever you’re ready. Preferably now.”
Mount
Thirteen years earlier
College graduation. This was the first one I’d ever attended, because I sure as hell didn’t spend a day in college myself. Watching Destiny cross the stage and accept her diploma from MIT caused a rush of pride to roll through me.
After the ceremony, I waited outside among a crowd of families hugging and celebrating. I’d never felt more out of place in my life, regardless of how expensive my suit was.
When Destiny rushed through the crowd, she didn’t stop to talk to anyone. Her eyes were locked on me, and she launched herself into my arms. Out of sheer instinct, I caught her.
“See? I did it!”
“Never doubted you for a second.” Destiny had always been smart.
“I wish . . . I wish Hope had been here to see it.”
Guilt stabbed into me, sharper than the switchblade I carry in my pocket. I still didn’t know whether I was responsible, or if she was dead before I got there. There was no way for me to ever put that guilt to rest.
I forced a smile onto my face when I looked at Destiny. “I’m sure she’s looking down on you.”
A smile trembled on her lips. “You think?”
“Of course.”
“I think you’re right.”
Desperate to change the subject, I asked, “You ready?”
“Yeah. My apartment’s packed.”
I turned, but the words she just spoke stopped me before I could take a step. “I meant for dinner. Not to move. You’re not coming back to New Orleans. There’s nothing for you there.”
Destiny, the girl I still remembered as the five-year-old whose door I slept outside of, crossed her arms with a stubborn tilt to her chin. “I’m coming back. I didn’t bust my ass to learn all this stuff to put it to work for someone else.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I’m coming to work for you.” Her tone was adamant, but not as adamant as mine.
“The fuck you are. Not a chance in hell. You wouldn’t last a day in my world, Desi. You need to stay as far away from me and New Orleans as you can after today.”
I headed for the car, her heels clicking on the sidewalk behind me as she hurried to catch up. I unlocked the rental as she stopped at the passenger side.
“Hand-to-hand combat. Sharpshooter training. Microexpression identification. Tactical driving.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“I’ve spent the last four years learning every single thing I could in and out of the classroom so I’d be an asset to the organization. An asset to you. You never wondered why I needed all that extra money for classes? This is why. If you think you’re going to ship me off somewhere and expect me to stay away, then you don’t know me very well.”
