Page 27 of Twisted Truths

ARIANA

On Saturday night, the driver once again drops me off in front of Black Magic Bar.

The guilt felt like tar on my skin as I slid the solid gold figurine into my bag before leaving Midnight Manor. I actually felt sick to my stomach. But I reminded myself that my dad and brother are counting on me and forced myself not to put it back.

Bastion is sitting at the same table as last week, and the bartender is leaning against it while he flirts with her. His gaze flicks in my direction, and she looks over her shoulder at me. She straightens when she sees me, looking mildly chastised.

I hang my bag on the back of the chair and chuckle. “Relax, he’s my brother, not my boyfriend.”

Her cheeks glow pink. “Can I get you guys anything?”

“A whiskey on ice for me,” I say, sitting across from Bastion.

“Beer for me,” he says to her with a wink.

Her pink cheeks flare, and she nods, walking over to the bar.

“Whiskey?” He arches an eyebrow. “Rough week?”

I blow out a breath. “Sort of. My boss is really riding my ass this week. It’s getting harder to grin and bear it.”

“Well, it’s not forever, at least.”

I nod. “You able to get rid of that thing from last week?” I glance around to see if anyone is paying us any attention, but they’re all doing their own thing.

He grins. “Hell yeah. That shit was worth some major money, Ari, good job.”

When he tells me how much he got for it, my eyes widen, and the elation is mixed with that oily feeling inside me that what I’m doing is wrong.

I nod, wanting to change the topic. “You able to keep Dad in check?”

Bastion rolls his eyes. “Stop worrying about Dad, would you? You worry about what you’re here for, and I’ll worry about what’s going on at home.”

He’s right, but it’s hard when I know my father to be his own worst enemy. “Fine.”

The bartender delivers our drinks, and Bastion looks around to make sure we won’t be overheard before he asks his next question. “You case a bunch of things this week while you were there?”

I shrug. “Yeah, I have a mental list of what I think will be easy to take without being noticed.”

He grins as though I said I robbed a bank. “Awesome. See, this is why you should have never left the family business.”

I scowl. “Don’t get any ideas. As soon as this is all settled for Dad, that’s it for me… again. This isn’t the life I want for myself.”

Bastion scoffs and takes a pull from his drink. “Are you kidding me? You feeling sorry for some fucking billionaires, Ari? Give me a break. It’s assholes like that who have ruined the world for the rest of us. You know that.”

Dad’s brainwashing has worked on Bastion, for sure.

“Maybe you should try to think for yourself sometimes, Bast, before you eat up everything Dad says. His way of thinking hasn’t exactly led him to a good spot in his life.”

Bastion blinks several times, mouth gaping. “What the hell is going on with you?”

I lean over the table. “You know I want no part of this kind of thing anymore.”

He shakes his head, studying me. “No… there’s something more.” He pauses for a beat. “Ari, tell me you’re not falling for this guy or something. You don’t have feelings for him, do you?”

I scoff, though I can’t help but feel that’s exactly what’s happening. Maybe not feelings exactly, but I sure as hell am drawn to him on a physical level. The fact that we have to go away together next week has been weighing on me.

What will it be like to be on a private plane with him? A hotel? I know we’re not staying in the same room, but still. He and I will be in a different environment, including a ball. I don’t know anything about attending a ball.

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