Page 102 of Vengeful Lies

She doesn’t reply as she unbuckles her own seat belt and opens the car door. When I step out on my side, I realize she’s standing across from me. “I said stay in the car.”

“No. We’re in this together,” she states. “This is my mess to clean up. I’m not letting you walk in there on your own.”

She storms toward the entrance, and the two men guarding it, but I grab her wrist. “Jewel, I’m serious. I’m certain whoever it is only wants a meeting with me, and I’m not willing to risk your involvement.”

She smiles up at me. “I was involved the moment your name came across my desk, Eli Monti. We’re in this together.” I lick my lips, wanting to get through to this stubborn, beautiful creature. “You are my fiancée, not my bodyguard.” She places her hand on my heart. “We are equals in this. We’re meant to protect each other. Those are the only vows I’ll commit to, so you are going to have to take me as I am.”

“Please don’t make this hard on me,” I ask earnestly. I would do anything for her, but that might also be oppressing her stubborn nature sometimes.

She raises onto her tippy-toes and presses a kiss to my lips. “You were the one who said we stay together and we die together. We’re in this together, no matter what. You just better be as good at negotiation as you think you are. You dragged me back here so we could handle this head-on, and that’s what we’re going to do. Okay?”

I want to strangle her, this beautiful woman who so easily reads me and soothes me in ways she’s not even aware of.

Before she tries to take off on me again, I grab her hand and walk by her side. I’ve basically been flaunting her in an attempt to lure her client out sooner. I just didn’t think she’d take matters into her own hands and run. I side-eye her. I’m not surprised that this warrior of a woman would be so self-sacrificing, though. She pretends to be selfish, but she’ll die for the people she loves. And I hope she’s not about to learn that I’m willing to do the same.

Because I meant what I said, Jewel Diamond is my family now.

The two men waiting at the door are wearing masks. I don’t like that none of my men have visuals of what’s happening inside, but I trust my instincts greatly.

The men stop us from entering. One of them knocks on the door, and someone from the inside pulls it open, the hinges creak to reveal a dusty, broken-down interior. When I bought the place years ago, the main selling point about it was the amount of space. I’m not so much of a fan of it now as I quickly assess the multiple levels that most likely have men hidden in the shadows.

“I believe I requested Eli Monti dead,” a man standing in the center of the room says. His voice is mechanically altered, which doesn’t put me at ease. Whoever this fucker is, he’s really sensitive about his identity being exposed. He could be a wealthybusinessman, but his size is giving off fighter vibes. Men in masks stand around him, all of them holding weapons.

When I glance down at Jewel, her nose is tipped high in the air, and I try not to smirk at my tigress, who, even with the odds against her, refuses to be intimidated. But right now, more than ever, I realize she is my weakness, and I want to pull her away from the entrance as quickly as she’s trying to push through it.

“Unfortunately, my fiancée and I came to an agreement over caring for one another’s health and well-being,” I say with a tight smile. “I’m assuming, however, that you used Jewel to grab my attention rather than kill me. So you want to discuss business?”

I’m almost positive that’s what this is about. Whoever ordered the hit on me wants to destroy the Monti family businesses and any alliances we currently have in place. Unfortunately, I’ve pissed so many people off coming into my reign it’s hard to narrow down who might be so personally offended. Had I actually ended up being killed, I’m sure this person would’ve been happy with either result.

The two guards at the door begin to pat us down. “If you want to discuss business, you will do so unarmed,” the boss says. My jaw grinds as they fish out my multiple weapons. And it’s not just me but Jewel as well. They’re even careful to check her boots. Whoever this is, they seem to know all our hidey holes.

I give Jewel a pointed look. I just want her to turn and walk away, but the silent communication makes her seem more determined.

“Sit,” the boss orders once we’ve been thoroughly patted down.

Two chairs are positioned opposite one another. The boss takes one seat and crosses his legs, expectantly waiting for me to join him.

Not for a moment do I consider letting Jewel sit instead of me. At least this way, I’ll be partially blocking her. When I takethe seat, she stands behind me, regal in the way she scans the upper levels and masked men who surround us.

Whoever the fuck this is has money—lots of it. And not only that, but power. How had I been so blind that I didn’t realize someone with this amount of influence was in our city?

I spread my legs and lean against the chair casually. “You have my attention. What do you want?”

“You young ones seem to have a lot of fire in your belly. But what you lack is respect.” The voice-altering device irritates me. I want to know exactly who this motherfucker is.

“Says the man who hides behind a mask and men with guns,” I counter. But he has given away that he’s older. How old, I’m not sure.

He seems to consider that. “Kneel. And I’ll consider a discussion. If not, we’ll shoot down everyone here, including your two snipers on the rooftops. In fact, they’ll be the first two targets.”

I clench my jaw with the realization that whoever this is, is smart enough to have already noted Ford and Hawke’s positions.Who the fuck is this?

“Is your pride too much?” the man challenges.

Jewel moves in front of me, and I reach to pull her back. “The Montis do not kneel for anyone,” she says proudly. “I’ll give you your money back times ten, but don’t offend my fiancé and his family.”

Dammit. If we didn’t have a crowd, I’d bend her over my knee right now because of how fucking hot she looks.

The man seems to ponder this. “Unfortunately, money isn’t such a rare asset for me that it actually has value. Removing the Monti heir does. Or at least his pride. What will it be, your men and woman or your pride?”

---