Page 68 of Cruel Lies

Fuck, and now I was hard as a rock.

The look she shot me over her shoulder told me she knew exactly what she was doing to me, too.

I was fucked. And this girl would be my downfall.

THIRTY

HARPER

When I returned to consciousness,of course there would be turmoil going on. Because fuck me, why wouldn’t there be? I lived with killers, in an asylum, a temporary prisoner thanks to something out of my control. I abandoned my job, and I’d be lucky to get work when I went back. And if I stayed unemployed much longer, I wouldn’t have a home to return to, either.

And if I had to stay cooped up in this place much longer, I’d go fucking insane.

Rowan waltzed in from his office with a folder in hand, Angel trailing behind him looking very unhappy with whatever had transpired between them. His whole posture was stiff, and he looked like he hadn’t slept all night.

But he fell asleep out here on the couch with me last night. Hell, he was out first.

But he hadn’t been there when I woke up.

Maybe he still hated me.

Maybe I was overthinking it.

Maybe—

"Harper. You’re going to be running with Angel today. He’s got a side job to handle, and I want you to go with him. I’ve got . . . other business to attend to."

I crossed my arms and prepared to pout. "And why do I have to go with him? Why can’t I just stay here?"

"Trust you not to run out on us? Ha. Rowan’s not that stupid, brat." He fanned his perfectly flawless face with that folder, his eyes rolling back into his skull as he scoffed. "I don’t want a tail any more than you want to tail me, but orders are orders, no matter if I disagree or not. So put on some decent clothes and walking shoes, and meet me at the door in five."

It was my turn now to scoff. "Five minutes to get ready? How the hell am I supposed to take a shower in that time?"

"Not my problem, woman. Now get ready. If we’re late because of you, I’ll find a way to make youregret it."

He disappeared into his room, leaving me to turn my pleas of reconsideration on Ro’s deaf ears.

"Come on, Ro, he’s gonna bemiserableto tail today." I put on my best puppy dog eyes and sidled up to him like a cat in heat, rubbing against his arm like the temptress Angel accused me of being. I wasn’t above playing my only advantage. "Why can’t I come with you?"

"Not safe for you where I’m headed," he muttered, refusing to give me anything more on the subject. "Angel will keep you safe if you listen to him. Don't cause any trouble while you’re out, okay?"

"Why can’t I hang with Nash instead?"

His eyes darted to Nash’s closed door, and he sighed. "He’s busy," was all Rowan said, and I felt like he knew exactly why me hanging out with Nash would be a horrible day.

He’s avoiding you,a little voice whispered in my head.Last night really happened, and now he’ll do his best to avoid you until you leave and go home.

I couldn’t wrap my head around how on and then off he was. Nash had never been so self-conscious in his life. He was confident, cocky, and didn’t give two fucks what anyone had to say about him.

Or at least, he had been . . .before the scars.

"Oh. Okay then." I didn’t have a choice, it seemed. I was stuck going along with Angel. "I suppose there’s nothing to do, then."

All the sulking I did had no effect on Ro, so I gave up and checked the clock once more.

Fuck. Two minutes left. Guess there’s no time for a shower.

I scampered into the office and rummaged around for some decent clothes, then threw my boots on and hopped one-legged over to the door again as I zipped them up one by one.

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