Page 17 of Little Horrors & Deceptions

Johnathan’s hazel eyes followed me like a hawk. A smirk played on his lips, but he stayed silent, waiting.

“We’ll go over your file together more in the morning,” I continued, avoiding his gaze, focusing instead on gathering scattered papers from the coffee table. “We’ll make sure we have our story straight, and then I’ll introduce you and Liam at the next event we have.”

“Sounds like a plan.” His voice was steady, but his eyes still carried that amusement. I glanced up, catching the glint of the mischief there, but I knew better than to engage. Not tonight. Not when my own thoughts were a tangled mess about Liam.

“Goodnight, captain.” Johnathan saluted me, a gesture so comically formal, it almost drew a laugh out of me.

“Goodnight,Jordan.” My voice firmer than I felt, I added a playful lilt to his undercover name. I scooped up the last of the papers, then turned toward my bedroom. He could have the couch. I closed the door behind me and made my way to the bed. I sank into the mattress, the day’s events replaying in my mind like a haunting melody. Liam’s piercing green eyes. The thrill ofthe chase. The dance around truth and lies. Each thought pulled me deeper into the night’s embrace until sleep finally claimed me, dragging me under its dark waves.

Chapter 11

Liam O'Connor

The night air tried to cool me, but it did little to quell the fire burning in my chest. I stalked toward my home, each step fueled by a toxic mix of jealousy and rage.

Who was that guy? What gave him the right to touch her like that? And again, why the fuck did I care so much?

My fingers twitched, itching to wrap around something—or someone. I took a deep breath, trying to regain control. I couldn't let this consume me. I had plans, important ones. But the thought of another man's hands on Jade's skin…

“Get it together, Liam,” I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair. But the image wouldn't fade. Jade's smile, her laugh—directed at him. My stomach churned. I wanted to be the one making her laugh, the one she came home to.She's not yours,I reminded myself. She was my fucking employee for crying out loud.

But she could be—should be—something more.

I gripped the ornate banister, my knuckles turning white. The cool wood beneath my palm grounded me, reminding me of my purpose, my power. The reason I started all of this—the Croixes.

As I ascended the stairs, my mind drifted to the incident earlier today. That bumbling idiot, knocking Jade down like she was nothing. My jaw clenched involuntarily. I was getting tired of people touchingmy things.Mine.

I paused at my door, hand on the knob. The anger still simmered, threatening to boil over. I needed to channel this, use it. After all, wasn't this what drove me? I had plans for Damien.

I burst into my apartment, the door slamming behind me with a satisfying bang. The familiar scent of leather and whiskey filled my nostrils. Derek lounged on the couch, feet propped on the coffee table, casually sipping a drink. His relaxed posture grated on my already frayed nerves.

My best friend barely glanced up, but I caught the moment his eyes widened, registering the murderous expression on my face. “You alright, man?” he asked, his tone light but laced with concern. “You look like you're about to kill something—or someone.”

I tossed my jacket onto the couch next to him, resuming my relentless pacing. The plush carpet muffled my angry footsteps but couldn't dampen the rage burning inside me. “You're not wrong,” I muttered, my jaw clenched so tight it ached.

Derek sat up, putting his drink down with a soft clink. His brown eyes held a sharp, calculating look. “What happened?” he asked, leaning forward. And then the image of her living with another man popped into my head, them sharing space, moments that should bemine mine mine. The thought made my blood boil all over again.

“Some asshole lives with Jade,” I snarled, pacing like a caged animal. “And Damien, the dickhead, knocked her down today. Can you believe that?” My nails bit into my palms. “That guy…he's been bad for business. Sloppy. I've been thinking about getting rid of him, and today just solidified it.”

“Wait, wait…” Derek leaned forward. “You're planning to kill Damien? Over a girl? Seriously?”

The question grated on me. “It's not just about her,” I snapped, though even I wasn't sure if that was entirely true. “He's a liability. A loose end that needs tying up.”

Derek's skeptical look told me he wasn't buying it, but I didn't need his approval. The decision had already been made, the darkness inside me singing with anticipation of what was to come.

Derek shook his head, rising to his feet. His usually calm demeanor was tinged with worry. “Man, you're really in knots over this girl,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “This wasn't part of the plan.”

I scoffed. Plans changed. They evolved. Adapt or die—that was how we'd survived this long. But looking at Derek's face, I saw genuine concern there. It gave me pause, just for a moment. Was I letting my emotions cloud my judgment?

No. This was necessary. For the business. For Jade. For me.

“It is now.” I stated simply, my tone brooking no argument. “He's a rookie. A third cousin no one will notice. They'll think he got killed for botching jobs, nothing to do with me.”

Derek's face hardened. He folded his arms across his chest, his stance widening as if bracing for impact. “Like the last guy who just died?” he challenged, his voice low and tense. “Remember that? They thought it was you behind that, too.”

“I told you, Derek, that wasn't me. I didn’t kill Marco.”

Derek's shoulders sagged. He rubbed his forehead, a gesture I'd seen a thousand times when he was stressed. “Listen, man,” he said, his voice softer now, tinged with concern. “We've come too far to get caught over something like this.”

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