Roth's murky business connections...

“Whatever comes out of their mouth, don’t react. They’ll bait you, try to get a rise out of you.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s the kind of men they are.” A pause and then, “And they know you aren’t one of us.”

She hauled back on his hand. “Us?”

He turned to face her, a scowl on his face. “I’m not like your father.”

“But you aren’t like them either,” she said forcefully and waited, heart pounding in her ears for his confirmation.

“No,” he allowed and she relaxed. “But I have more in common with them than you.”

“Roth!”

He ignored her loud protest and continued to drag her to the door.

“Whatever you hear me say, go along with it. I’ll explain what I can later,” he said quickly. “And Jasmine.”

“What?” she snapped, panicked, freaked out, and annoyed.

He turned to face her to warn, “Don’t leave my side.”

She blinked. “What?”

He leaned down, expression grim and lethal as he enunciated, “Don’t. Leave. My. Fucking. Side. Get me?” When she stared at him, his eyes narrowed and his hand went to her throat and gripped. “They’ll leap on any opportunity to exploit a weakness of mine.”

“And I’m a weakness?” she said sarcastically.

His eyes tracked over her face for a moment before coming back to lock on her frazzled gaze. “What did Gray tell you the first time you met?”

Her spine straightened. “That I was your downfall? That’s a load of—“

He covered her mouth with his in a hard, bruising kiss. She thumped his shoulder with her fist in protest, but he didn’t draw away until he was ready. He eyed her swollen lips with savage satisfaction before he growled, “Everyone knows our story. It’s up to you whether you want to corroborate the story in the press or make up your own.”

“You’re giving me a choice?”

“For now. But, if I have to intervene, I will. And if I do that, don’t contradict me. This isn’t the time or place for that.”

He tugged her closer and gave her another kiss. This one was much softer.

“You’re safe with me.”

“I know.”

“What?”

That disconcerted him. She wasn’t sure why.

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Sins. Please do not share or distribute.

Copyright © 2025 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.