Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 92 Richard pov James introduced us again with his usual smug look, like he was pulling all the strings here. I wanted to wipe that look off his face, but right now, we needed him, and he knew it. "This here's Monty and Kit," James said, nodding toward the two men across from us. "They're... experts in keeping things quiet." He gave a low chuckle, clearly pleased with himself. Monty leaned back, studyingwith narrowed eyes. "So, you two want a way in?" As if he didn't ask Sarah the skind of question.

I nodded, keeping my voice calm. "We need information. Something we can use." He shrugged, glancing at James. "And why should we trust you?" James shota look, a warning. "Because Richard's good at keeping secrets. Isn't that right, old friend?" "Let's get something straight," I said, looking him dead in the eye. "This is about staying a step ahead. Nothing more." But even as I said it, I could feel Sarah watching me, as if she was looking for cracks in my confidence. I knew she had questions, and probably doubted I was telling her everything.

I could feel the distance between us, that small space widening with every lie, every half-truth. But it was too late to turn back now.

Monty snorted, amused. "Alright, tough guy. We'll see if you're up for it. Kit here will show you a bit of what we know, but it'll cost you. Nothing's free in our world." Kit, who'd been quiet till now, gave a slow grin, revealing a gold tooth. "Yeah, we know sthings. Names, connections-enough to keep you up at night." I wanted to get straight to business, but I had to be smart. These men knew the rules of survival, and if they smelled any weakness, they'd use it against us. I kept my tone even, businesslike. "Let's hear it." Kit rattled off a few names, places, and meeting times-the kind of details that seemed small but held weight in their world.

I kept my focus tight, memorizing every word. I'd have to sift through it later to separate fact from bait.

Sarah hadn't said a word since I began talking, but I felt her tension. She was taking in everything, but I knew she had her own doubts, her own fears.

And, damn it, I couldn't blher. If I were in her shoes, I'd be wondering how much I could trust myself, too. After they'd given us the basics, I pulled James aside. "Is that all? You and I both know these men hold the real power here. If we're going to be useful to them, we need more than scraps." James gavethat old, familiar look, the one that used to mean he was about to tellsomething he'd kept under wraps.

"Easy, Richard. Don't want to push too hard. You start demanding too much, and they'll think you're planning to take them down." "Maybe that's the idea," I shot back, my voice low enough that only he could hear.

James laughed softly. "Still the sold Richard. Always thinking you're a step ahead." I didn't answer, just walked back to where Sarah waited. I could feel her eyes onas I reached for her hand. It was instinctive, like I needed to remind myself why I was doing this. "Let's go," I murmured to her. "We got what we needed." As we left, I felt her fingers slip from my grasp. There was a look on her face I didn't like, a mixture of hurt and suspicion.

She hadn't said it outright, but I could tell she thought I was hiding something. And maybe I was.

But she didn't know the things I'd done before we met, the people I'd had to work with to get where I was.

I had told her the whips of it but haven't gone deep. It is scary to admit it myself. Those days were ignorant times, I wished I could go back in tto correct my mistakes.

I wanted to tell her, to explain everything thoroughly, but every tI thought about it, the words stuck in my throat.

I was afraid that if she knew the whole truth, she'd walk away. She'd see a side ofI'd buried a long tago, and maybe she wouldn't understand.

The drive back was quiet. I tried to focus on what we'd learned, but my mind kept drifting to Sarah.

The way she looked atnow, as if she wasn't sure who I was anymore. And maybe that was fair. Maybe I wasn't even sure who I was.

She broke the silence first. "Do you trust them? Monty and Kit?" "They're not exactly trustworthy people," I replied, keeping my eyes on the road. "But they'll do what they're paid to do." She looked at me, her eyes searching. "And James?" I hesitated, feeling the weight of her question. "James... has his own agenda. But he won't cross us, not unless he thinks he can get something out of it." She sighed, looking out the window again. "So, we're trusting people we can't trust." I felt the edge in her voice, the frustration. "It's not about trust, Sarah. It's about survival. These people can help us, even if they're not exactly friends." She didn't answer, but I could feel her doubt. I wished I could reassure her, and tell her it would all work out, but I didn't want to lie.

I'd spent too many years telling myself that the lies didn't matter, that they were just part of the job.

But with Sarah, it was different. I didn't want to keep things from her, but I also didn't want to drag her deeper into this mess.

As we neared home, the betrayals, the threats, the uncertainty piled up, and I could see it in Sarah, too.

She was carrying this burden with me, but I wondered how much longer she could handle it.

When we finally pulled into the driveway, I turned to her. "Sarah know this isn't easy know know you're worried. But we'll get through it. I'll make sure of it."

She looked at me, her expression softening just a little. "I want to m believe that, Richard. But you have to letin. I can't keep feeling like I'm only getting half the story." I felt a pang of guilt, but I nodded. "You're right. I'll try to be more open. I just... I don't want you to seethe way they do." She took my hand, squeezing it gently. "I already see you, Richard. And I'm still here."

Her words hitharder than I expected, and for a moment, I felt like I didn't deserve her. But I knew that I couldn't lose her-not to this, not to anything. "Then let's go inside," I said, feeling a sense of determination settle over me. "We've got work to do." As we walked in, I made a promise to myself: whatever it took, I wouldn't let this mess tear us apart. We'd get through this, one way or another.