Chapter 81 The Investigation
JEREMY
Something was off.
Amelia had never initiated like this before. She had never been this desperate or this needy.
And her nipples—they were more sensitive than usual. More responsive.
Like they'd been—
I pushed the thought away. Focused on her. On giving her what she wanted.
After several minutes, I felt her shift. Felt her body relaxing. The desperate edge fading into something softer. Calmer.
"Better?" I asked against her skin.
"Yes. Thank you."
I pulled back. Started to adjust her dress.
Her hand caught mine. "Wait. I want—" She bit her lip. "I want to return the favour."
"You don't have to," I protested.
"I want to." Her hands found my belt. Started unfastening it. "You did something for me. Let me do something for you."
My breath caught as she worked my pants open. As her hand wrapped around me.
"Amelia—"
"Tell me if I'm doing it wrong." She leaned forward. Her breath was hot against me.
Then her mouth. Tentative and exploring.
"Christo," I groaned. "Not wrong. Definitely not wrong."
She gained confidence. Used what I'd taught her. Added her own instincts.
It was—perfect. Too perfect.
I fisted my hands in the couch cushions. Trying to maintain control. Trying not to lose myself too quickly.
But Amelia was learning fast. Learning exactly what I liked. What made me groan. What made my hips jerk involuntarily.
"Amelia—I'm going to—"
She didn't pull away. Didn't stop.
I came with a groan that was probably too loud even for the soundproofed room.
She pulled back. Wiped her mouth.
"Good?" she asked, a small smile on her lips.
"Very good." I pulled her up. Kissed her. Tasting myself on her lips. "My turn now."
"Jeremy,"
"I want to." I positioned her on the couch. Knelt between her legs. "Fair is fair."
I pushed her dress up. Removed her underwear. Spread her thighs.
"You're already wet," I said, running my fingers through her folds. "Were you aroused the whole time you were—"
"Yes." Her voice was breathy. "Having you—it turns me on."
Good. That was good. That was normal.
There was no evidence of anything else.
I pushed the paranoia away and focused on her. On making her feel good.
One finger inside. Then two. Finding that spot that made her gasp. That made her arch.
"Jeremy—"
"I've got you." My thumb found her clit. Circled it. "Come for me. I've got you."
She came apart quickly. Crying out. Her body clenching around my fingers.
Beautiful. She was so beautiful like this.
I worked her through it. Gentling my touch as she came down.
Then I cleaned her up. Helped her dress. Fixed my own clothes.
"That was—" she started.
"Unexpected?" I kissed her forehead. "But good. Very good."
"I should—I should let you get back to work."
"Probably." But I didn't want to let her go. Something still felt off with her. "Amelia?" I called her suspiciously.
"Yeah?"
"Are you sure everything's okay? You've been—different today. Since you got back."
"I'm fine. Just missed and wanted to be close to you." She smiled. "Is that so strange?"
"No. Not strange." But still—
"I love you," she said quietly.
"I love you too."
I guided her back to the main office. Unlocked the door.
"Go rest. "I'll be done in a couple of hours, and we can have dinner together."
"Okay." She kissed me once more. Then left.
I stood there for a long moment. Thinking.
Something had happened today. Something she wasn't telling me.
But what?
And why did I have the terrible feeling that when I found out, everything would fall apart?
AMELIA
I made it back to my room and closed the door behind me.
My body was satisfied. My nipples no longer tingled with Alex's touch—only with Jeremy's.
I'd covered it up. Successfully. Jeremy suspected something, but he didn't know what.
And he wouldn't. Because I was done with Alex. Done with the lies. Done with the shooting lessons.
I'd gotten what I wanted. The skill. The knowledge. The power.
Now I just needed to figure out how to get a gun without revealing I already knew how to use one.
And maybe—maybe I could just tell Jeremy. Explain that I wanted to learn. That I wanted to be able to protect myself.
He'd understand that. Wouldn't he?
Or would he be angry I hadn't asked him first? Angry that I'd gone behind his back?
I didn't know.
But I knew I couldn't keep lying. Not after what happened today. Not after Alex crossed that line.
Jeremy deserved to know. Deserved the truth.
Eventually.
Just—not yet.
Not until I figured out how to tell him without destroying everything we'd built.
I lay down on my bed and closed my eyes.
One more secret. One more lie. One more day of guilt.
Then I'd figure out how to make it right.
JEREMY
I tried to focus on work but couldn't.
Amelia had been different. Desperate. Needy in a way she'd never been before.
And that smell—the one I'd noticed when she first came in. Not her usual scent. Something else underneath.
Cologne. It's men's cologne.
It was faint. Almost undetectable. But there.
My stomach dropped.
No. No, she wouldn't—
Would she?
I pulled out my phone. Texted Luca:
Where did Amelia go today? Exact details.
His response came quickly:
She left around 10:30am. Said she was meeting Elena for lunch. Got back around 2pm. Why?
Elena.
I called Elena's number. The one she'd given me when I'd brought her to visit.
She answered on the third ring. "Hello?"
"Elena, it's Jeremy Santoro. Quick question—did you have lunch with Amelia today?"
"What? No. I worked a double shift today. Nine to nine. I haven't seen Amelia in almost a week." She paused. "Why? Is she okay?"
My blood went cold. "She's fine. Sorry to bother you."
I hung up.
Amelia had lied. Had said she was with Elena. But Elena had been at work all day.
Which meant—
Which meant Amelia had been somewhere else. With someone else.
Someone who wore men's cologne.
Someone who'd left her desperate and needy and guilty.
I stood up. Paced my office.
Who? Where? Why?
And what had happened that made her come to my office and practically beg me to touch her?
I needed to know. Needed to find out.
But confronting her directly would just make her defensive. Would make her lie more.
I needed proof. Evidence. Something concrete.
I pulled out my phone again. Texted Vincent Russo:
I need you to follow Amelia. Discreetly. Find out where she goes. Who she sees. Everything. Starting tomorrow.
You got it, boss. Any particular reason?
She's lying to me. I need to know why.
Understood. I'll handle it.
I put the phone down.
I didn't want to spy on Amelia. Didn't want to invade her privacy.
But she was lying. About where she'd been. About who she'd been with.
And I needed to know the truth.
Even if it destroyed me.
I had to know.