They won’t care that he was a lying, abusive piece of murdering shit.

They won’t care…because no one will ever know the truth.

Because every action has a consequence…

And silence is still mine.

Chapter 53

Aspen

I bring the wine glass to my lips and take a sip.

I always swore I’d never drink—especially merlot, my mother’s favorite—but here we freaking are.

To say my nerves are shot would be an understatement. The detectives asked Knox to come in for questioning after they were done with me this afternoon, but that was hours ago.

My heart sinks when I look at the clock on the stove. It’s just after nine p.m.

It’s not like I can barge into the police station and demand to know what’s going on with my stepbrother, because I had to pretend our relationship isn’t serious.

Nerves bunch in my stomach and my skin breaks out in a cold sweat.

What if they don’t believe us?

What if one of us accidentally slipped up without even realizing it?

What if they think we killed our parents so we could be together without their judgment and disapproval?

My stomach churns and it feels harder to breathe.

What if Knox took the fall, and they locked him up?

Maybe I should hire a lawyer.

The thought has me laughing, because the only lawyer I know is—was—Leo.

But he’s dead.

Because I shot him.

I take another sip of wine. The bastard deserved it.

I grip the edges of the island so hard my knuckles turn white.

Where is he?

My anxiety rapidly turns to fear and I’m about to lose my shit and implode when I hear the front door open.

I freeze—my mind flashing with images of men from the swat team raiding the house before they drag me out in cuffs.

“Stray.”

My head snaps up at the sound of his deep voice.

Relief courses through me so rapidly, I grow lightheaded. “You’re here.”

Knox’s eyes flick to the half-empty wine glass and he frowns. “You’re drinking.”

“I’m nervous.” My voice drops to a whisper, “You’ve been gone so long, I thought they locked you up.”

A weary sigh leaves him. “It actually went better than I thought it would.” His strides eat up the distance between us. “Everything is fine. We’re not suspects, and even if we were, they have nothing on us.” He tips my chin. “And they never will…unless one of us confesses.”

He’s right.

Logically, I know this…but still.

I can feel him studying me like I’m a specimen under a microscope. “When was the last time you ate?”

I shrug because I’m honestly not sure, the last few days have all blurred together.

He walks over to the fridge. “I’ll make you a sand—”

“No.” Gripping my wine glass, I stand on shaky legs. “I’m not hungry.”

Making a low growly noise in his throat, he stalks back over to me and takes the glass out of my hand. “Cut this shit out. You’re not your mother.”

That’s where he’s wrong.

Because just like her, I’m going to spend the rest of my life pretending to be something I’m not.

But that’s not what scares me.

What scares me is not knowing what the future holds.

I’ve always had my life planned out. Even after my dad died and it lit my world up in flames, I still had my goals and worked toward them.

I still always knew who I was—despite what I picked and chose to show others.

But now…everything’s different.

And all I can focus on—all I can think about—is him.

Because the thought of losing him is something I know I won’t survive.

His irate face hovers inches above mine. His lips are slightly parted, his stubborn, chiseled jaw is tense, and his eyes—eyes that used to terrify me—are looking at me like I’m the only thing on earth that’s significant to him.

“Knox—”

He captures my lips, stealing my breath and sending everything spiraling.

“Is this what you want?”

“No.” I pull back and look at him, his eyes—one green and one blue—are hooded, and lust has shadowed all his anger.

I reach for his belt buckle and undo it. “I need it.”

I need him.

A yelp of surprise leaves me when he lifts me into his arms, swings open the basement door, and proceeds to carry me down the stairs.

He drops me on the bed and kneels in front of me, his rough hands immediately going to the zipper on my jeans. I raise my hips as he tugs them off. My shirt, bra, and panties follow shortly after.

I reach for the hem of his shirt and bring it over his head.

I need to feel his skin on mine.

I need to feel him inside me…owning me, claiming me, fucking me.

Making everything make sense again.

I open my mouth to tell him so, but his lips brush mine and he kisses me again, siphoning all the oxygen out of the room.

My pulse skyrockets when he trails his fingers down my throat, stopping at my breast and teasing my nipple. He plumps it in his hand before bringing his hot, wet mouth down. Giving it greedy, urgent sucks.

“Spread your legs.” His hands curl around my hips as his head moves between my parted thighs. He sucks and bites the sensitive skin above my pelvis, teasing me. “More. Show me every part of that wet pussy so I can eat it all.”

I spread wider, and he presses his hands on my inner thighs, keeping me wide open for him as he begins devouring me.

“Fuck my face,” he rasps before his serpent tongue goes back to licking me.

I arch my back, bucking my hips into his jaw as he attacks my clit, giving it just the right amount of suction to drive me crazy.

My orgasm hits me like a freight train, and I can only hold down his head as my eyes roll back and I fight for air.

He grabs my hips, flipping me so I’m on my belly before smacking my ass.

I know what he’s about to do, and I know it will feel good, just like it always does, but I need something different right now.

Something deeper.

I flip back over. “I want to be on top.”

I can tell he wants to argue, but I wrap my hand around his length, jerking him. “Please.”