Page 90 of Pitiful Lies

Saying she’s my girlfriend isn’t enough. I’m forty fucking two years old. I don’t have girlfriends.

And if I did, Giselle is still more than that.

She’s my, my—she’s mine.

The women stop walking and I narrow my eyes, deciding once and for all. After tonight, Giselle is going to know without a doubt where she stands.

I take two enormous steps, and I grab her arm, yanking her back none too gently from Giovanna’s loose grip.

“Ah, I see how it is,” the blonde says, and I don’t like her smile.

She might think she’s untouchable because of her connection to Margaret. But that means shit to me.

I don’t smile or joke. I simply tuck Giselle against my side and feel her sigh as she leans into me.

“Angel, I am so glad you’re here,” Margaret’s booming voice interrupts us.

The redhead is the new leader of the O’Doyle clan, thanks to the Vipers’ interference, and she’s coming towards me with one arm extended. Her other arm is wrapped around a tall, thin man with a shock of white hair slicked back from his face.

I’m not familiar with him. And I don’t like that she’s bringing him close to my Koukla.

I turn my body slightly, so Giselle is between both my arms. I don’t smile. I don’t even acknowledge him.

The message is simple.

She is mine.

She is protected.

And she is off fucking limits.

My face is like fucking stone, and I don’t move a muscle. I watch silently as Giovanna leans against Margaret’s other side.

“Angel, I want you to meet John Chen. John, this is the Angel Fury,” Margaret says and smiles, and she looks like the cat that got the canary.

Fucking shit.

I know what this is. It’s a flex.

Margaret O’Doyle is showing off her connection to the Vipers. To impress her girl, or maybe this stranger, I don’t know.

Maybe she thinks she can play this game now because she’s a boss.

But she can’t.

Not with the Vipers.

And most particularly not with me.

I don’t play games.

Margaret says something flippant, but I ignore her. I don’t want to start anything here. So, I refuse to engage.

“Angel, you were so much more fun when we visited the Viper’s Den,” Giovanna says, and she eyes Sisi like she’s got some secret or something.

I feel my woman tense, but I squeeze her neck unobtrusively and she settles.

That’s my girl.

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