Page 101 of Vengeful Lies

I choke on a laugh because it’s so absurd with how hysterically I’m crying. I haven’t really cried since my father’s funeral. The irony is not lost on me; I’m crying over the man I chose to save by leaving him, but he still won’t let me walk this path alone.

“Let’s meet your client and finish this. We’ll kill them and then get married,” he says as if it’s the most obvious and easiest answer.

“We don’t even know who it is, Eli. What if you get killed in the process?” I ask, looking up at him, and he laughs as he wipes away my tears.

“Wasn’t that the goal in the first place? And, unfortunately, I’m hellbent on marrying you.”

I choke on another laugh. This asshole is absurd and unhinged. But now I’m certain he’s mine—if we make it out of this alive.

I let myself fall into the truth and the lack of guarantee that this love won’t break me like all the others.

But I only had the strength to walk away from Eli Monti once.

He presses a kiss on my forehead. “And if we die, then so be it. We were always meant to die together, married or not. But, surely, by now, the one faith you have in your husband is that nothing can kill me. And I sure as hell won’t let anyone or anything touch you.”

I wipe at my tears, happiness, and fear rolling together inside me. “Those are some vengeful lies, Eli Monti because you’re nothing but reckless.”

“The world is about to discover how devoted I am to my wife, Jewel Monti,” he declares as he leans in and kisses me with the fierceness and depravity of a man who has only one reason to live. His hands cling to mine, and I feel the cool touch of the engagement ring slide onto my ring finger. For the last time. Because I’ll take it to the grave with me.

I hold on to him, too scared that he’s a mirage. Or even worse, that I’m just a phantom destined for a life without him. Luckily, Eli is a ball and chain I’ll happily force onto myself.

CHAPTER 54

Eli

Ihave to assume Anthony’s gang is involved. Particularly because after Jewel turns her phone back on, she’s been sent an address—the same address of the abandoned nightclub I’d shown her only a week ago. Either that or whoever has the hit on me has been tracking our movements.

“It never made sense to me that your client asked you to toy with me instead of taking me out immediately. I think they’ve been using you all along as bait to flush me out,” I muse. I’d been thinking about this for some time now but wanted to figure out who the culprit was first. But even Will couldn’t track the mysterious client, which says a lot about the mastermind behind all of this because Will Walker can findanyone.

“But that doesn’t make any sense either because there was no value for you to try and risk anything for me,” Jewel is quick to reply, pragmatic about the situation. “You could’ve killed me that first night we met.”

“But that wouldn’t have impacted the client if they had no attachment to you. So whoever it was must’ve known I’d be intrigued by you, or at the very least, I’d want to sniff out who your client was by using you.”

Jewel is quiet for a moment as we drive throughout the neighborhood, then she blurts, “I don’t like that it’s only us going in. It’s too risky when we don’t know what’s on the other side.”

“I’m mostly certain this person wouldn’t have gone to all these lengths to simply kill me. Had they not, I would already be dead.” I can’t help the smirk as I add, “Well, they’d havetriedto kill me.” I grab her hand and stroke my thumb over hers. I can tell she’s uneasy about this situation, but if this is the only way I can free her, then I’m willing to get to the bottom of it. No matter the risk. “I think they want to do business with me.”

“It’s still too risky.” She sighs, watching me carefully.

“That’s the line of work we’re in, Kitten. Don’t go soft on me now just because you’re willing to admit you have feelings for me.”

“Shut up.” She smiles and chuckles. “Had I known it would go to your head, I wouldn’t have confessed to it.”

“I don’t recall giving you an option,” I purr, and she rolls her eyes.

I’d already called Hawke, Ford, and Dutton to organize reinforcements. I don’t want to leave anything at risk when it comes to Jewel’s safety. The other times I’d taken her into potentially dangerous situations, I was certain she’d be able to hold her ground and handle herself by my side. But I can’t gauge the risks involved because I still don’t know who the enemy is in this case,.

I hate to admit my father was right, but I’ve become arrogant about not having my men by my side. I need to have more faith in the men who are willing to lay down their lives for me instead of thinking I’m always able to conquer things on my own.

When we pull up at the abandoned building at midnight, three cars are waiting outside. I purposefully had Hawke and Ford take sniper positions. They’re not as good as Jewel is, butthey’re decent enough shots. It was actually her idea to position them this way.

I notice Dutton parked on a side street on his motorcycle, but I doubt Jewel has seen him. He still has his helmet on and is sitting in the dark. I asked him to remain hidden in case this goes badly. Jewel is to be protected no matter what, and he’s her ticket to safety if we need it.

I don’t like the fact that only two men standing outside the building; it means the rest are inside, and I don’t know how many of them are waiting for us. I wait for Hawke and Ford to report back, but they don’t have a clear enough view to give us a headcount.

Fuck.

“Stay in the car,” I order Jewel, unbuckling my seat belt.

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