Page 82 of Cruel Lies

"What does it matter? What’s done is done."

"On one hand, it makes you an idiot. An inexperienced idiot, but still an idiot. On the other hand, it makes you disobedient and shows no consideration for the future or safety of your brothers or yourself. So, Rowan," he said with a cunning, knowing smirk as his eyes met mine, "which was it?"

"Get fucked," I spat, hating this man from the bottom of my heart. "I’m not doing it. You can find someone else to do your dirty work."

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "Do you know what happens when you cross me, boy? Do you remember?" His fist launched out and snapped across my jaw, catching me off-guard—the only time he’d ever be able to say he’d done that. "You’re preparing to cross the point of no return, so think carefully before you step any further." The bastard rubbed his wrist as he examined the hand he’d hit me with.

I held my jaw and stared sideways at him, hating the fucker with every breath in my body. "I’m done being your errand boy, you hear me? Done being your fucking mule, your slave, your punching bag—all of it!" My locs danced around my head as I shook off the shock and slight pain, accentuating my words. "I’m not completing the fucking contract."

"It’s her or you. She needs to die before Friday. You won’t like the consequences of going against me if she doesn’t."

I slammed my fist on the desk, narrowly avoiding the urge to slam it into his face. "That’s two days."

"There’s a lot of money riding on this one. You’d best not fuck up twice." His eyes flashed with rage as they scanned my frame again. "Or I’ll take it out on your brothers."

He knew my weakness. Knew the only way to get to me. The only thing in life I would do anything to protect—my brothers. They were my Achilles’ Heel. My sole purpose was to ensure they were protected and cared for.

"What do you think you can do to touch them anymore? They’re all grown up, Father. All of us are." I snorted as I realized the man I’d spent a lifetime afraid of was no longer in control. He had no power over us and hadn’t for a long time. "The time of us being afraid of you is over."

"Don’t you want to know whatreallyhappened to Angel’s mother? I know he does. He’s been after the truth for years."His hand settled on my shoulder, and I tensed up as his broken, jagged nails dug into the fabric of my shirt. "And what about Nash? I’m amazed he hasn’t given up on life yet. I guess the only thing keeping him going is the childish attachment to his comatose mother." His eyes danced with sick, vicious humor, and I had to hold back an urge to vomit. "It would be so easy to just call the hospital and have them turn off the life support."

"You’re a monster," I spat, the words like chewed-up gravel on my tongue. "And I’m just sorry I didn’t stop it sooner."

"If I don’t get that money, Rowan, your brothers will suffer. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg." Fucker had the audacity to stroll around the room in a perfect arc, ending up back where he started—behind that fucking ornate wooden desk he was so proud of. "After I’ve made them suffer, I’ll makeyousuffer. I’ll take everything you’ve ever loved, everything you’ve ever wanted, every last ounce of joy in your life, and I will destroy it. And you’ll be powerless to do anything but watch."

"I dare you to try, old man." My whole body was alive with rage, seething, uncontrollable rage that I turned into fuel. "Go right the fuck on ahead and try to hurt them. I’ll make sure you pay for it."

"I think you misunderstand me, Rowan." His nails tapped against the hard surface, beating a staccato rhythm into my brain that reminded me of nights in my childhood when he’d done the exact same thing just before making good on one of his many promises. "I’m not suggesting what might happen. I’m promising you whatwillhappen. And when I’m done ruining them, when they’ve got nothing else to live for, I’ll come for you." His man appeared at the door to his study, and Father flicked a cursory glance in his direction, sending him off with a little nod. "I’m all out of time to give you, boy. Run along now, and make sure you finish what you started seven years ago. In a timely manner this go-round."

"There are a million and one ways to make money, and youknow them all. Why the fuck do you have to kill Harper to get it? What makes her money so damned important?"

"I have my reasons."

"She’s an innocent. She doesn’t deserve this?—"

Father chuckled, quirking a brow in my direction. "You know, Rowan, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you’re in love with the bitch." His eyes narrowed dangerously as he parsed through that line of thought.

I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. Any response to his assumption would give me away. And revealing my newest weakness would only give him more ammunition against me.

"I won’t do it."

In a flash, he lunged over the desk between us and grabbed me around the neck, dragging me toward him until we were eye to eye, nose to nose. His hand was weathered and worn down, but it still managed to steal the breath from my lungs, cutting off my oxygen quite efficiently. Giving him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt me was what he wanted, so of course, I refused to do just that. I’d die right here in his office before I let him think he’d won.

"You’d better not try any of your games, Rowan. I’ve been playing them far longer than you have, and I’m much more experienced at them than you. My reach is further than you could ever imagine." His grip tightened, and spots danced at the edge of my vision. I could break from his hold at any moment, yet I stood there like a frozen little child, like we’d rewound the clock twenty years, dredging up all sorts of buried trauma in one fell swoop. "If you come for me, there are others in the wings, ready to make sure you all suffer for your rebelliousness. If you think about subverting me, I will make good on the promise to ruin your lives. And if Harper fucking Daniels isn’t dead in less than forty-eight hours, all three of you unfilial sons of mine will lose everything you have in this world, piece by piece, until there’s nothing left but the sweet embrace of death. You willwelcome it,after I’m through with you." His hand released me just as I began to pass out, and I sucked in great lungfuls of air, fighting to stay conscious. "So choose your move wisely, Rowan. Because it just might be your last."

He let me stagger from his office with a mocking laugh echoing at my back, filling his room with the taste of something sour as the doors closed on the most miserable man ever to have walked this earth.

I’d never been happier to leave that house behind.

It had never been home.

And now, it only contained terrible memories and my inevitable undoing.

I couldn’t lose my brothers, but I also couldn’t lose her. Not again. To solve this situation, I needed the one thing I didn’t have—time.

And the clock was still ticking.

The driveback to the Guild was a long one. When I walked into the common living room of our shared living quarters, the clock read nearly four in the morning. I didn’t expect to find the apartment silent and dark, not a soul in sight. And yet, that was exactly what greeted me.

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