Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 296

She paused, letting her tone soften just a fraction—her final, devastating piece of leverage. "The choice is yours. I'm not forcing you."

He clenched his fists, swallowing the bitter pill of defeat. "Alright. Whatever you say."

Willa smoothly shifted gears, tossing out her final demand. "There's one more thing."

"You are not to go looking for trouble with Corbin. I don't want anyone else finding out about this arrangement and ruining my peace. Do we have a deal?"

The slight lilt at the end of her sentence acted like a hook, dragging across Randal's heart and leaving him aching and breathless.

As long as he could stay by her side, even as her dirty little secret, he was willing to accept it.

As for Corbin, he would eventually find a way to permanently remove the man from the board.

With that thought comforting him, he blindly agreed.

A flash of triumphant cunning flickered in Willa's eyes before quickly smoothing over.

She had won the opening round, but she was walking barefoot over broken glass. She was playing a dangerous game of fire, and one wrong step would burn her to ashes.

But to protect Nolan, she would gladly walk into the inferno.

The car pulled up outside her apartment building. Willa stepped out, and Randal quickly followed, walking her all the way to the lobby entrance.

She spun around, blocking his path. "This is as far as you go."

Randal looked miserable, entirely unwilling to say goodnight. "Let me walk you to your door."

A faint smile touched her lips. She threw him a lifeline to get rid of him. "Pick me up from work tomorrow evening."

Randal blinked, utterly stunned. "Really?"

"If you don't want to, forget it."

"I want to!" he blurted out, terrified she would take it back. "I'll be there right on time."

Willa didn't say another word, turning on her heel and walking into the building.

Hearing his breathless, unrestrained chuckle echoing behind her, her steps faltered slightly, a heavy weight settling in her chest.

A brand-new luxury sedan was parked squarely in front of the building. Randal was leaning against the door, scanning the crowd with anxious intensity, desperate to catch a glimpse of her.

The second he spotted her, he shot up straight, took two eager steps forward, then hesitated at the sight of the bustling crowd, eventually retreating.

Willa walked over, her expression completely unreadable. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Not at all." He immediately opened the back door for her.

This time, they sat much closer. The moment the doors shut, Randal eagerly reached out and grabbed her hand.

Willa yanked it back on reflex, glaring at him. "What are you doing?"

"Willa," he murmured, sounding genuinely wronged. "We're in the car. No one can see us."

Willa stayed quiet for a moment, silently permitting the contact.

She needed to feed him just enough intimacy to keep him on the hook.

Like a prisoner receiving a pardon, Randal carefully wrapped his large hand entirely around hers. A deeply satisfied smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. "Your hands are so soft," he whispered affectionately.