A slight change in expression shows he’s carrying something.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Yes?”
“Remember, I mentioned I was at the club that night you were taken?”
“I do.”
“I was there to stake out Andrew.” My heart stops. Unsure of where this conversation is going, I remain silent to let him finish. “I have been watching him for a while from something he did in the past and unfortunately got away with. He introduced me to Rich, Nolen, and Duncan and asked me to join his group. I was playing along with it once I realized it wasn’t only going to be him I was after anymore.”
River was after them the whole time?
“Is that what you refused to tell me when I asked you what you meant about you and your guys were taking care of it?”
“Yes. Andrew still thinks I’m interested.”
“He thinks you’re one of them?” I ask, my mind spinning.
“He thinks I want to be one of them.”
I knew River was hiding more than what he was telling me, and although I’m grateful for his admission right now, I’m shocked. “Wow. Okay.”
“Lux,” he whispers my name. “There’s something you should know.”
I squeeze my eyes shut making sense of everything he’s saying. “Yeah?”
“This is what I do.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, but I know what he’s alluding to.
“I think you know.”
River leans back in his chair, eying me intently. Like he’s searching for more of a reaction to his confession. But what he doesn’t know is that I don’t care and the darkness in him is something I recognize in myself.
I give him an understanding smile.
He stands. My head tilts upward toward his tall frame, watching him move closer to me. Unexpectedly, he bends to scoop me up. Stifling a stomach of frantic butterflies, I tuck myself into his hard chest.
River sits back in the seat and I melt into him. “That’s better.”
There will be more time to process and ask him questions in the days to come, but right now I’m exhausted.
“Are you upset?” he asks.
“No, I get it.”
A chuckle vibrates his chest. “I’m infatuated with you, Lux Levinson.”
We spend the remainder of the flight in that position.
Chapter 23
Lux
We arrive back at Thompson Manor a little more than an hour later. The three of us ride in silence up the elevator. Then, with a quick wave from Sebastian, he heads down his wing, leaving River and me alone to walk to my room.
“It’s been a rough night.” He shoves his hands into the front pockets of his pants as if nervous. We remain standing in the quiet space as a palpable energy passes between us. “I hope you’re able to get some sleep.”
