From His Ex-Wife to the World's Most Sought-After Restorer (Jade and Hudson) novel Chapter 275

Amara shrieked, "You're going to get us killed!"

Lyndon stood up and pulled her into his arms.

"Hudson loves you, right? Use that. Make him clear my name."

"Are you insane?"

Amara shoved him away so hard she nearly toppled the chair.

"We barely got away with the ransom! Hudson might suspect me already. If I ask him to help a wanted man, I'm signing my own death warrant!"

Lyndon grabbed her again, throwing her onto the stained mattress and pinning her down.

"He just paid $10 million for you. He'll do whatever you say if you play it right."

Amara felt his hands on her and felt a wave of pure revulsion.

She realized then that Lyndon wasn't a partner anymore. He was a parasite.

She'd lived her life on a knife's edge because of him, forced into a dozen different lies.

But back then, he had power. Now, he was just a fugitive.

He was the biggest threat to the life she'd fought so hard to build. He was a bomb that could go off at any second.

And if he was going to stay, he had to go.

Permanently.

Amara's eyes hardened, but she forced her body to relax, her legs curling around his waist.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I'll find a way to talk to him. Cortney needs her father, after all."

Lyndon's grip softened as he leaned into her. "I knew you still loved me."

"Of course," Amara whispered, her voice like honey.

"I'm a woman who loves her freedom, yet I gave you a child. Doesn't that prove everything?"

Lyndon was drunk on her words, his guard completely down.

Amara watched him, then reached around him to sit up. "Promise me one thing? No talking until I've handled Hudson."

Lyndon gasped for air. "I promise. Anything you want."

Amara's hand slid across the nightstand, her fingers closing around the handle of a paring knife. She smiled.

"I don't believe you."

Lyndon frowned, moving to roll over, but she pinned him down. She leaned into his chest, her breath hot against his skin.

Bastian looked up as if just realizing the time. He closed his laptop and stood.

"I suppose I should."

Jade waved him off. "Drive safe."

Bastian reached the door, but when he saw Jade heading toward the small kitchenette, he stopped and turned back.

"What are you doing?"

Jade jumped, clutching her chest. "God! You scared me. I was just going to make some ramen. I'm starving."

Bastian stepped closer, his blue-gray eyes full of an obvious, childlike hunger.

"I'd like some too."

Jade opened the fridge to check the ingredients. As she turned back to speak to him, she realized he had followed her into the narrow kitchen. She walked straight into his chest.

The impact wasn't hard, but it was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She looked up.

Bastian was looking down at her, his presence overwhelming.

Up close, his features were even more striking.

He was incredibly tall—she barely reached his chin. His shoulders were so broad they seemed to block out the light, casting her into a warm, safe shadow.