Page 16 of Lie to Me

I could get used to hearing that sound.

Chapter Eight

Sloane

Present

Growing up, I was always seen as the weak link of my family. The useless component that would just be used in some sort of deal to gain money for my family. I was the one who was discarded while my brother was the one who was trained to take over the family one day.

What my father didn’t know was that once my brother was finished with his training for the day, he’d take me out to the old, abandoned cabin that’s hidden at the back of our property and teach me everything he had learned. He didn’t want me to be unable to protect myself, knowing that at some point I might find those skills useful.

One of the things he taught me was to pick up on when I was being watched. To notice the shift in the air when I was no longer alone. To notice if anyone was tracking my movements.

Which is how I know that Marco fucking Romano has been following me around all week. I’ve let him have his fun, waiting for him to approach me. Only he hasn’t, and I’m sick of his mind games.

I march across the hospital parking lot towards his car where he’s been sitting and watching every time I’ve left work this week. He’ll usually follow behind me in his car for a couple of blocks before parking up and following me onto the subway. Not fucking today. I’ve had enough.

Marco’s eyes widen as I approach. Clearly, he hadn’t known I was aware of what he was doing.

I open the passenger side door of the car and slip inside.

“Drive,” I grunt as I slam the door closed behind me.

He stares at me for a moment before giving me a slight nod and shifting the car into drive. I know Marco, and I know the way he drives. Usually, he drives like an asshole, ignoring the speed limits. Not today. Today it seems like he’s trying to drive as slow as possible.

“Why the fuck have you been following me?”

“Just making sure you’re safe,” he grunts.

I roll my eyes. “Just take me home, Marco.”

He hums in response, and I stare out of the window. I should have just confronted him in the parking lot and gone on my way, though no doubt he still would have followed me, anyways. The thing about Marco Romano? He always seems to get what he wants. Or he used to, back when I thought I knew him.

I need to remind myself that the Marco I once thought I knew wasn’t real. He was a carefully cultivated illusion made to reel me in before he spat me back out. Marco Romano isn’t the man who took me on dates and listened as I told my truths. He wasn’tthe man who would do anything for me. He wasn’t who I thought he was. No, he was a liar, a true liar, from the beginning, and he broke my fucking heart. He shattered me, pulled me apart piece by piece. He built me up only to tear me apart, leaving me bruised and broken.

Only he wasn’t actually the one to break me, it was the aftermath of him that ruined me. It was—

“Have you spoken to your brother lately?” Marco’s gruff voice pulls me from my spiraling thoughts and I turn to face him.

I study him for a moment, once again taking in the changes in him over the years. He was handsome when we were younger, and the years have been good to him, since he’s goddamn breathtaking now.

Why the fuck does he have to look like that?

“Why do you want to know?”

He rolls his eyes and grunts.

Classic Marco.

“There’s shit going down, Sloane. I just wanted to make sure you knew. You need to keep an eye out, don’t let your guard down. I’m sure whatever is happening won’t affect you, but just try and stay safe, okay? Especially if you won’t let me watch over you.”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. “I can take care of myself, Marco. I’ve been doing it my whole fucking life, even more so after I moved to Arizona.”

His head snaps towards me. “What does that mean? Did someone hurt you?”

Yes, you did.

I say nothing, only roll my eyes and shake my head in exasperation.

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