Page 177 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

Now, she thought her best friend was a coldhearted bitch.

We were making progress.

“A bitch who is poisoning you,” I snapped. “You might not have killed Bethany yet, but you’re going to.” I cleared my throat as I walked to the door, pulled it open, and gestured to one of the guards. “Find Bethany and bring her to me. Now.”

What Laila didn’t know was that Sage would be down here tonight, too, and I would force Laila to pull the trigger on one of them. Just as she had chosen to rip the IUD out of Sage and not give Sage a choice, Laila wouldn’t have a choice tonight.

By the morning, Laila would be a cold-blooded killer.

61

sage

Swiping my pen across my tablet, I finished up the drawing that I had been doing of Laila while traveling to Italy. Especially after the fight last night, I hadn’t dared to ask for my tablet because I didn’t want to set Constantino off. But thankfully, he had kept his promise, and one of his men had brought it to me a couple of hours ago.

My lips curled into an easy smile as I colored in her dark brown hair.

I hadn’t ever drawn anyone from my real life before her, and while I usually didn’t love my first drafts, this was … pretty fucking amazing. I really wanted to show Laila how beautiful it was—she was—because when she was with Bethany, I knew she didn’t feel that way.

Once I finished up her hair, I placed my tablet down and munched on some homemade chocolate chip cookies that I had made for Riccardo. He had told me that he didn’t want anything and disappeared into the large mansion, but as soon as the scent drifted down the hallway, he came strolling into the room, as if he suddenly wanted to check on me.

“Boss wants you down at the club,” he said, shoving his phone into his pocket and stealing a cookie from the tray on the counter. He grabbed another in case he got hungry and nodded to the door. “It’s urgent.”

“How urgent?” I asked, arching a brow. “Like … someone died urgent?”

“Like if you don’t get your ass in the car now, Constantino will kick my ass urgent.”

After nodding, I saved my work, turned off my tablet, and grabbed my purse from the foyer, then followed Riccardo to the car. He opened the back door for me, and I slipped into it, pulling out my phone to see if Laila had texted me.

Constantino had technically told me not to talk to her, but I could at least see if she had messaged me, right?

I had a few missed texts and calls from Laila, but most were from Poppy earlier in the day, the last being at two thirty-eight p.m.

Poppy: Hey, are you busy?

My eyes widened as I glanced down at all her messages that I had missed while in Italy. I sighed to myself and threw my head back against the seat. And this was why I didn’t have any friends … because I was hella bad at keeping up with them.

Me: SORRY!!!

Me: I totally missed all your messages. I’ve been traveling.

Me: I’m so sorry! Don’t hate me!

Poppy: Ha-ha, no worries! I was worried something had happened to you. I even stopped by your place and chatted with Laila a bit. I was just wondering if you wanted to go to this art thing with me tonight, but it’s probably too late!

Me: Oh no! I can get us tickets for next time!

Poppy: Don’t worry about it. <3 Whenever you’re free!

Poppy: Will you be at the coffee shop soon? You can tell me all about your trip to Italy!

Me: Hopefully tomorrow, but I’m not sure.

“We’re here,” Riccardo said from the front seat.

I chewed on the inside of my cheek, remembering the first time I’d stepped foot in this club, how Laila and Constantino had flirted with me from across the bar. I pressed my thighs together and hoped that they were finally on better terms.

While I wasn’t sure what kind of ultimatum Constantino had given Laila, I really hoped that she chose us. And if he wanted me to swing by The Syndicate, then she had to have chosen us, right? Or maybe he wanted me to come by for him. Maybe all his men would see him with another woman, and more drama would ensue. The thought gave me a freaking headache.

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