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Storm’s expression softened into something almost sad. “It’s not the same thing. He’s never dragged me into trouble with him. He does everything he can to keep me away from it. Damon seems to enjoy making you his partner in crime, and I think you like it too. It’s dangerous, Athena. That’s no way to live.”

The other girls quietly nodded their agreement. Of course, I knew they were right. I also knew that at some point I’d fallen for Damon and everything about him. Taking a step back was not an option.

“You’re right,” I agreed, gratefully accepting the tea that Ripley brought me. “I know that it’s dangerous. I know I’m making some really fucked up decisions lately. I’m in love with him. That’s no excuse, and it’s not a reason, but I won’t be cutting things off with him.”

Not one of them could convince me otherwise, and they knew better than to try. They were involved with men living a criminal life too. Even though they themselves were not involved, that didn’t change the fact that they accepted it.

“Being with Damon doesn’t mean you have to be his partner in crime,” Storm pointed out. “You have your whole future ahead of you. Don’t let him fuck that up for you.”

Ripley jumped in then, trying to soften the blow. “We love you, Athena, and we want what’s best for you. If you love him, then we’ll support you in that. We don’t want to see you throw your life away by making some bad decisions where he’s concerned.”

Going on jobs with Damon was most definitely a sign of some bad decision-making skills. And yet my only regret was that he’d been caught. The groom would never have been shot if he didn’t come in waving that gun in Damon’s face. None of that was on Damon.

Not for a second did I consider telling my friends how much I loved the rush. Even though I’d been terrified out of my mind when we ran after the incident, nothing on this earth could have compared to the high. Not bungee jumping or skydiving. Nothing.

Did that make me some kind of textbook thrill seeker or something worse? I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

“Don’t worry about me, guys. I know that I’ve made some mistakes. None of this is Damon’s fault though. I’ve been feeling bored with life lately. Stuck. I wanted some excitement, and I took things too far. I’m going to take some time to think things through.” I did my best to tell them what they needed to hear. Damon may have dragged me into this world with him, but I didn’t exactly try to get away. This wasn’t all on him.

“How about we order something to eat?” Luna suggested. “Or we can whip something up here. Whatever you prefer. I’m betting you haven’t eaten anything since this all happened.”

The thought of food made my stomach turn uncomfortably. The last time I ate was before the wedding. Since everything went down with Damon getting arrested, I had no appetite.

“I’m not really hungry, but we can order something.” I offered them what I hoped was a willing smile.

Storm whipped out her phone to place the order. “We’ll get some of your favorites. You have to eat something. Damon wouldn’t want you wasting away either.”

I settled back against the couch, briskly rubbing my hands up and down my arms. There would be no calming the continuous flow of anxiety. Not until I knew that Damon had made bail.

For the first time in pretty much ever, I wished that he was there with me. I could really use his cool unaffected attitude right then. Nothing ever got to him. I wished I was so chill.

I knew without a doubt that I wanted to be with Damon. A man like him came with many risks. Risks I was willing to take. I was in too deep to turn back now.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

DAMON

Time crawled at a painfully slow rate. My body ached in more places than I could count. I’d been given a regular over-the-counter painkiller that did little to help. For the most part, I laid on my bunk, waiting for the hours to pass. Hoping to soon learn my fate.

The door to my cell stood open, allowing anyone freely roaming to stop by. I wasn’t expecting that to actually happen. When I heard the scuff of shoes against the floor in the doorway, I rolled my head to the side and cracked open an eye.

A man I didn’t recognize stood in the threshold leaning against the door frame. Big with tattoos on every inch of exposed skin. Short hair that was almost buzzed. He stared at me for a long time, neither of us saying a word.

Finally, I asked, “Can I help you? In case you didn’t notice, I’ve kind of reached my quota for getting my ass kicked today.”

He stared at me for several more seconds before pushing forward, taking a few steps into my cell. “Just here to talk. Word has it that you do things for the right price.”

I groaned, not in the mood for this conversation. “Does it look like I’m capable of taking a job right now?”

He shrugged. “You’ll probably be out on bail by the end of the day. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to handle my request.”

“And what might that be?” I struggled into a sitting position, a hand going to my head as the room spun.

“I need you to kill the guy that put me in this place,” he said, getting right to the point. “I won’t be getting out. This is just the first stop until I end up in the pen. This is important. I need you to tie up this loose end for me.”

I studied him for a moment, finding him deadly serious. “Why would I do that? What’s in it for me?”

“For starters, you get to keep walking, talking, and breathing. I have people on the outside who will make sure you get the job done. Otherwise, they’ll turn your life upside down.”