Page 7 of Devious Lies

I tracked him down right after she OD’d. Fucker was slumped over the barstool, a shadow of himself.

The waitress took him for a ride. Emptied his bank account. Left him broken and pathetic.

I remember how I felt looking at the small man he became. Shriveled up and used.

He cried and asked me for money. I shoved his filthy hands off me and spat at his feet.

Anger.

So much fucking anger.

But I made a vow right then. I would never be a fool for a woman.

But here I stand. In my office, like the viper I am creeping around the shadows, lying in wait.

My dick is so fucking hard as I watch the security monitor. Of course, that’s because I’m looking at the front bar.

At her.

There’s just something about Maria Mendoza that strikes me as false.

Like she’s hiding something behind her carefully straightened dark hair.

Even that doesn’t seem right.

Not that she looks bad or anything.

Quite the contrary.

The woman is hot as fuck. She’s been working for us for the past seven months, and in that time, I’ve done nothing but watch her.

I’ve watched her work. I’ve watched her flirt to get better tips. I’ve watched her in her silent moments when she thinks no one is looking.

And I’ve watched her watching Nico. He’s the king of the Vipers. My boss. And my best fucking friend.

Her interest in him is what’s stopped me from approaching her.

There are certain lines guys like me don’t cross. Fucking with another man’s woman is one of them.

But is she his woman? Was she ever?

Nico has a wife now. A pregnant wife.

For all intents and purposes, the king has found his queen, and it isn’t Maria.

I’ve been watching to see how she handles it.

Coiled in my den. Eyes glued to the monitor. I wait patiently like the snake I am.

I’m pretty good at reading people, and Maria’s reactions to this situation are puzzling.

She doesn’t behave like a jilted lover or jealous girlfriend. I’m not in the habit of asking the king who he’s fucking, even if the idea of him touching her makes me want to commit homicide.

Still, her response to his obsession with his wife is, well, it’s good.

I am pretty sure they never fucked, which means I don’t have to fight with my blood brother. Because I would. For her, I definitely would.

And that’s bad.

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