“No.” He stretched his chin above my fist, his eyes hard. “I told Amanda Herschel I would consider the offer, hoping it would hold her off from doing anything stupid while I had her investigated.” His fingers closed around my wrist at his neck. “Imagine my surprise when I connected her to a dirty business deal you made fifteen years ago.”

“That deal was legal.” Gritting my teeth, I shoved him away.

“But still dirty as fuck.” He laughed, straightening his tie. “Christ, you were a cruel motherfucker. I’m fucking inspired.”

“Lucian.” Elaine elbowed him. “Stop goading him.”

“He’s right.” I lowered into the chair and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I wasn’t a good man.”

Fuck, I hated this. I hated that Lucian Morelli was a spectator of my filthy secrets. But as I turned to look at Tinsley, she was the only one who existed.

“Amanda Herschel was in love with me.” I searched her bright, angelic eyes.

“I can’t blame her for that.” She rested a palm against my rigid jaw as if trying to soften it.

“I didn’t reject her gently. Instead, I fucked her brutally. Then I fucked her over on a business deal and left her destitute.”

And brokenhearted.

My cruelty against Amanda was the least of my sins. I’d spent ten years as a priest, attempting to absolve a decade of crimes.

“You’re not that man anymore.” Tinsley touched her brow to mine, her sweet breath stroking my lips.

Since she knew every horrific detail of my past, this didn’t faze her.

What sent my heart into a rage was the revelation that a spurned woman from fifteen years ago had decided to take revenge on my wife.

Tinsley and I had married this year, and the wedding had been a grand, overly publicized affair. How many other nutjobs were lurking in the shadows, waiting to attack after hearing about our nuptials?

First, I needed to deal with this one.

“Where is Amanda?” I glared at Lucian. “I assume you had her followed.”

“Yeah, but my guy lost track of her four nights ago.”

“The night the poisoned wine was delivered to Tinsley.” My hands clenched.

“Yep. Amanda gave my guy the slip a few hours before Caroline’s dinner party.”

“That guy no longer has a job.” Elaine squared her shoulders, her watery gaze on Tinsley. “I swear, we didn’t know Amanda would go off on her own and try to hurt you. We didn’t know she was anywhere near Mother’s dinner party. God, Tinsley, we didn’t even know the wine we sent got poisoned until Mother called me.”

“I don’t know where the murderous bitch is now.” Lucian’s scowl curled into a shit-eating grin. “But she’ll be at the Morelli Christmas Ball.”

“What?” My head pounded as I tried to guess his game. “Why?”