Ruinous Love Trilogy, #2
Leather & Lark
by Brynne Weaver
Contents
Chapter Seventeen: Ascend
Overview
Lark and Lachlan infiltrate Club Pacifico’s office, copy digital files, and photograph a $50k cash contractor invoice, then narrowly avoid discovery in a closet. Their escalating attraction peaks, but Lachlan refuses a kiss until Lark forgives him. News breaks that Dr. Campbell’s disappearance is now a murder case; Sloane quietly affirms Lark. On the rooftop, Lark reveals her home-invasion trauma and thanks Lachlan before he departs for Leander.
Summary
Lark and Lachlan leave the shop as a late FedEx delivery arrives. In the car, an explicit romance audiobook betrays Lachlan’s attempt to learn how to talk to Lark, leading to teasing banter and palpable desire. They drive to Club Pacifico to gather evidence, with Lachlan warning Lark to be careful.
At the crowded club, they scout the floor, then slip into the back offices while Conor manages the cameras. Lachlan copies the laptop, and Lark photographs paperwork, finding a $50,000 cash invoice to a contracting company. When someone enters, Lachlan hides them in a dark closet, steadying Lark through her panic and vowing to protect her. The charged moment peaks as Lark seeks a kiss, but Lachlan refuses intimacy until she forgives him.
Back in the club, Lark receives Sloane’s messages: Dr. Louis Campbell’s disappearance is now a murder investigation, and Sloane reassures Lark with unconditional acceptance. Lark retreats to the rooftop, where Lachlan joins her.
Overlooking the city, Lark opens up about the home invasion that killed her father, injured her mother, and seeded her claustrophobia. She thanks Lachlan for helping with Campbell. They share quiet closeness until deciding to leave. Lachlan drives Lark home, then departs for Leander. Later, they exchange light texts, and Lark begins writing a new song.
Who Appears
- LarkNarrator; teases Lachlan over an audiobook, leads the office search, finds a $50k invoice, reveals home-invasion trauma, thanks him for Campbell.
- LachlanProtective partner; manages the break-in, hides with Lark in a closet, refuses a kiss until forgiven, comforts her on the roof, goes to Leander.
- SloaneTexts Lark; notes Campbell’s case is now a murder investigation and offers unconditional support and acceptance.
- ConorRemotely handles club cameras and will follow up on the $50k contracting lead.
- Dr. Louis CampbellFormer headmaster Lark killed; his disappearance is reclassified as a murder investigation.
- Unnamed club stafferEnters the office while on the phone, prompting Lark and Lachlan to hide.