Page 76 of Vicious Vows

I gestured for the waitress to come over so I could get the check and quickly pay the tab. Faye laughed, probably surprised that I was serious about getting this over with.

"You may not like the punishment I have in mind for you," she whispered as the both of us hustled out of the restaurant.

"I'm sure you didn't like what I did to you back at your sister's house either, but you made it through.” I'm sure whatever she has in mind isn't as severe as that. Even as the words came out of my mouth, I felt a twinge of uncertainty.

What if she was going to put me through the same things that I'd put her through at Farrah's apartment?

"So be it, let's go." She shrugged, and we walked out of the restaurant.

* * *

I expected to see Yuri parked out front waiting for us. While he was there, there was another visitor I hadn't accounted for.

"If it isn't junior." Kumar flicked the cigarette he held between his fingers to the ground before he walked over to where I was standing. Instantly, I pulled Faye behind my back and squared my shoulders, ready to fight Kumar if I needed.

"I didn't know we had a meeting today." I kept my voice even, not wanting to let him know that he'd surprised me.

"No, I don't suppose we do." he moved closer to me, his eyes dancing with sinister delight, "I just got back from the hospital; I heard your brother made a miraculous recovery. I wanted to check in on him myself."

"What the fuck for? My brother has nothing to do with our deal."

"No, he doesn't, but let's not forget that he was there when my product was stolen. I just wanted to find out if he had any idea who would be dumb enough to go against us."

I'd yet to broach the subject with Lionel, but Kumar was right; we still needed to find out who was behind the heist. Both of our reputations depended on it.

"And what information did you get from my brother?"

"Nothing of consequence. Seems your brother knew just as much as you did. It was quite disappointing. Still, I hope this doesn't change our agreement. I'd hate to have both of you on the list of people I can no longer do business with. Think of how upset that would make your father." Kumar smiled.

Before all of this went down, I thought setting up a deal with Kumar would skyrocket me head and shoulders above my father, now I wasn't so sure. Suddenly, the thought of expanding my business with him as a client seemed abhorrent. I wished I'd never made the deal with him, but it was too late to turn back. I made my bed; it was time for me to lie in it.

"Our deal still stands. You'll have your merchandise by the day after next." I grabbed hold of Faye's hand and pulled her to the opposite side of me. "Now, if you excuse me, my wife and I are on our way home."

"Ah, yes, I'd heard you'd gotten married recently." Kumar put his hand out and grabbed Faye's. I waited for her to pull away, but she kept her face blank. She was playing her part just as expected. Kumar lifted her fingers and pressed a kiss to them.

"How lovely you are."

"Thank you, it's very nice to meet you," Faye responded perfectly. At least it would be perfect if I didn't see the confusion flash over Kumar's features.

"Nice to meet me? Why Farrah, we've met many times. Don't tell me our time together was so inadequate you'd rather forget. In fact I was quite sure our time together was one for the books."

I snatched Faye back, not wanting her to have to explain herself. The last thing I needed right now was for him to start digging into the fact that the usually crass Farrah wasn't acting like herself.

"She doesn't need to remember you; I'm her husband. All she needs to be concerned with is me. You have a good evening Kumar. I'll be in touch." I ushered Faye in front of me into the car.

I glared at Kumar through the window after I got in. He kept my gaze as the car drove off.

I could almost see the gears turning in his head.

I had to make sure that the deal went through before he put anything together about who Faye really was.

Any more mishaps would give him exactly what he needed to destroy my reputation completely, not to mention he'd be within his rights to shoot me right between the eyes.

I squeezed my eyes shut once we got away from the curb and were on our way. "I need to do some more digging into what happened at that pier. Kumar's not going to back down until I figure this out."

"Don't tell me you're trying to get out of our deal already," Faye spoke, her voice light, free of tension.

My eyes popped open and I jerked them over to her, "What?"

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