Page 65 of Twisted Truths

I take a hefty pull off my beer.

“So, how’s life working for the other half?”

“It’s not so bad.” My mind drifts to Obsidian and the vision of him naked in bed where I left him a short while ago. Hopefully he’s still there when I return.

“What’s that smile about?”

“What smile?”

“You just had this goofy smile on your face.”

“I did not.” I lift my beer to my lips.

“You did. What were you thinking about?”

“Nothing. Enough with the interrogation.” I scowl at him.

Bast sets his beer on the table with force and sets his hands on the edge of the table. “You know, I thought something was up weeks ago, but now, I’m positive.”

I shake my head. “I’m not going to listen to this.” Standing, I grab my bag off the back of the chair and walk toward the door.

I’m only ten steps outside when Bastion flies out of the bar and brings me to a halt with a hand on my elbow. “What the fuck is going on, Ari?”

I’m cornered. There’s no way to do what I feel is right in my heart and help my family.

Tears gather in my eyes, and I shake my head. “I can’t.”

“Tell me.” He sets his hands on my shoulders and brings his face down to meet my eyes. “Are you sleeping with him?”

“Worse,” I whisper, not wanting to tell my brother. I’ve broken every rule my dad has set when we go after a mark.

His hands fall to his sides, and he steps back then pushes them through his strawberry-blond hair. “You can’t love him?”

I sniffle and nod. “And he loves me.”

Bastion shakes his head. “C’mon, Ari. Why would a man like Voss fall in love with you? No disrespect, but the guy is a billionaire. He could have anyone—models, movie stars, other billionaires.”

My brother’s comments crack me open. He’s only repeating everything my subconscious has been telling me since Obsidian said the words.

“I don’t know, but he does,” I shout at him.

Bastion grips my arm and walks me down the stairs at the side of the porch, moving me into the parking lot away from the bar. “So what, you’re going to ride off into the sunset as a billionaire’s bride and leave Dad and I to suffer the consequences? I’m sure the billionaire can keep you safe, right? Why worry about us?”

I rip my arm from his hand. “I’m not the one who got us into this mess!” My finger stabs him in the chest. “And of course I’m not going to leave you two to deal with it on your own. I don’t know what I’m going to do, though. I can’t steal from him anymore, Bast.”

His mouth drops open. “You didn’t bring anything with you tonight?”

“No! I couldn’t do it. I’ve betrayed his trust so many times already, and I can’t do it anymore.”

A tear drips down my cheek, and Bastion pulls me in for a hug. “Okay, okay.” He’s quiet while he comforts me. “We’re so close, Ari. With another couple of decent lifts from you, we have it paid off.”

I shake my head into his chest, knowing I can’t do it anymore, then I step back, wiping the tears from my face with my hands. “We need to figure something else out.”

He places his hands on his hips and looks at the ground. Then his head whips up. “If this guy loves you, could you just ask him for the money?”

“Bast, no! It would raise too many questions. I can’t admit to him what I’ve already done, how I was raised, and who I used to be.” The idea of Obsidian knowing that information about me spurs nausea as if I’m abandoned at sea on an innertube.

He blows out a breath. “I don’t know what we’re going to do then.”

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