The Rake (Boston Belles #4) by L.J. Shen

“Let him go. Tell him you don’t want anything to do with him. Open the path for him to go back to his family, to his sister, to me. This is his destiny. It’s what he was born for.”

“He was born to make his own decisions.”

“No, maybe you were. A commoner, with no legacy or responsibilities. Devon was made for greater stuff.”

Outrage propelled me from my seat. I threw my hands up in the air for good measure.

“You want me to tell him to screw off so you can marry him? Give me one goddamn reason why I should.”

“Very well. I’ll give you one million of them.”

Louisa slammed her bag between us on my desk with a thud and took out a pre-written check.

I had to blink rapidly to see if the numbers were right. Yup. Sure were. One million dollars, paid to the order of Emmabelle Petra Penrose.

I twisted my thumb ring without touching the check, which was now sitting on the desk between us. I ran my teeth over my lower lip.

My rage was replaced with worry and trepidation.

How did she know my middle name?

How long had she been gunning for me to leave Boston?

And didn’t all of this feel just a little too … familiar? Like maybe Frank wasn’t the only source of the threats toward me.

I tried to think about it pragmatically. To do what was best for me and the baby.

Devon was a risk. I felt all kinds of things toward him. Things I had no business feeling. If he married Louisa, I wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore. I’d never touch a married man again, dead or alive. The problem would be solved.

And while we were speaking about the pros of taking the money, I would be set for life. I could keep Madame Mayhem and still take a huge step back. Provide security for myself without having to jump through hoops, carry a weapon, and beg Sam Brennan to pick up my calls.

I could put Ross in charge of the club, which I was growing tired of anyway—being raunchy and shocking was a full-time job, it seemed—and find another venture.

Maybe a high-fashion store. Or an interior design company.

Then there were the cons.

And many of those too.

First and foremost, I didn’t want Louisa to win.

She was strong-arming me, and I didn’t respond well to bullying.

The second thing was it wasn’t fair to Devon.

It wasn’t my place to decide for him who he’d marry or not marry.

Ultimately, though, there was one deal breaker—Louisa and Ursula could both be behind the threats against me, and by taking this deal, I could protect my child.

I just had to play my cards right and ensure that neither my baby nor Devon would get the short end of the stick in this situation.

Picking up the check, I threw it in front of Louisa’s face with a smile.

Time to play hardball.

“Sorry, no dice, princess. Dev and I have a contract in place. I already agreed he’ll be a part of the baby’s life and share custody with me. I intend to keep my word.”

“Oh, Devvie,” Louisa clipped, massaging her temples. “You had to go for the one whore with the heart of gold …”

“I’m not a whore,” I hissed. “But I can recognize a bitch when I see one.”

“He’ll be in the baby’s life.” She pushed the check toward me again. “I give you my word. We both know I can’t stop him from doing that. But he’d still be married to me.”

“Dandy. Then what are you asking me for exactly?” I asked.

“Dump him,” Louisa said quietly. “I’ll do the rest. But please, just … just cut it off with him. I know women like you. You don’t have a future with him. You don’t take him seriously. Your intentions aren’t pure—”

“And yours are?” I cut into her words.

She screwed up her face in distaste.

“He is about to lose everything his family has worked centuries for.”

Arguing with her on this topic was pointless. Devon had admitted as much to me himself.

At the end of the day, Devon and I weren’t a good fit. No one would be a good fit for me.

“I’ll take the money and leave him, but I’m not pushing him away from the baby’s life, and I’m not moving out of Boston.”

It amazed me, just how much I hated myself in that moment.

How I turned out to be as bad as the people who scarred me.

The Mr. Lockens of the world. Without virtue, morals, or direction.

“Fine. Fine. That’s good enough for me. When will you do it?” Louisa asked.

Numbly, I pocketed the check in my purse under my desk. I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. Like it wasn’t me who was sitting in front of this woman now.

It’s for the best.

He would hurt you.

Every other man you put your trust in has.

“Today.”

“Good. Then I’ll be sure to be on standby when he seeks my comfort.”

She stood up, clapping her hands together once. “Ursula is going to be very happy with the news.”

“Oh, I’m sure.” I was about to keel over and throw up.

“You’re doing the right thing,” she assured me.

Nodding faintly, I pointed at the door. I could barely breathe, let alone talk.

Louisa walked away, closed the door behind her, and left me with the weight of my decision, knowing full well it was going to crush my soul to oblivion.