Page 139 of Problematic

The truth landed between my ribs.

“I know.”

Vale glanced at me.

I kept my eyes on the tower in the distance. “She thinks I bought the café to own her.”

“You did buy the café.”

“Lux Corp did.”

“Lux.”

I sighed. “I bought the café . . .”

He smiled.

“Don’t make me punch you.” I rubbed a hand down my face. “I bought it because she was working sick, exhausted, and one broken machine away from another panic spiral.”

“Aaannnd because you’re possessive.”

“Yep.”

“And because Kalon worked there.”

My jaw tightened.

Vale nodded. “There it is.”

“I handled Kalon.”

“You kidnapped him.”

“I hosted him.”

“You locked him in a penthouse for four days,” he said without glancing up from his phone.

“With room service and Hellflix.”

“That defense is not as strong as you think it is.”

“He is alive, paid, informed, and no longer pursuing her.”

“Very generous of the kidnapper.”

I gave him a look. He ignored it. Vale had always been bad at fearing me when I preferred it.

“Kalon goes on payroll,” I said.

“He already signed the NDA and is scheduled to start training.”

“He needs to focus on succubus signs, public extractions, defense training, and surveillance. No one tells Liv yet.”

Vale’s mouth flattened. “Oh sure, that won’t blow up.”

Somewhere behind me, Liv Heart was probably pouring espresso, pretending her hands were steady, pretending she could make it through a shift like the world hadn’t begun turning its hungry face toward her.

I would defend her choice if it was the last thing I did. Until my Little Flower decided whether she wanted to bloom in the dark or run from it, I would keep her safe.