Page 46 of Vengeful Lies

“What if I told you it involves guns?” he asks in a mischievous tone. I can feel the excitement light within me, but try my hardest to cover it.

“What job?” I ask nonchalantly. His rough thumb trails over my bottom lip, and I inhale a sharp breath.

“Just a boring debt collection.”

I roll my eyes. “How very mafia of you.”

“How very smartass of you. I’ll even reward you with a gift of your liking.”

I lean back skeptically. “What’s the catch?”

“You’re my fiancée; there is no catch.”

“The catch is being your fiancée,” I sass back.

The corner of his mouth tilts upward just a bit. “You can’t tell me you’re not the least bit curious about mafia things, Kitten.” He leans in and inhales my scent. “You reek of recklessness and poor choices.”

I can’t help but chuckle as I push against him. “Aww, my fiancé really sees me. Still sounds stupid if you ask me.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t. You might want to put those tight leathers on again.” He slowly pushes me off and heads for the door, adjusting his cock on his way out, expecting me to follow him. I wring my hands in the air, wanting to throttle this asshole. Then the ring catches the light, and I’m reminded all over again of the horror show of being someone’s fiancée.

I stare at his broad back as he looks around the living room once again. I guess he’s used to people following him and still hasn’t realized I’m not the type.

CHAPTER 23

Jewel

Ifollowed, not because I wanted to but because my life literally hinges on it.

I need to learn more about Eli and his family if I intend to get myself out of this situation. That, and I figured it didn’t hurt to blow off some steam, assuming Eli wasn’t lying about there being some kind of gunplay. That usually brings my twitchy nerves to a standstill.

I also know tonight is when he usually conducts business at Lucy’s, which might give me time to slip into his mansion and see if I can find my guns. He’s hiding them somewhere, and that seems like a good place to start searching. Tonight would also usually be when he’d go and pay his fuck buddy a visit, who I can assume isn’t happy about the ring on my finger and the bold declaration he made last night.

Then again, he’s a man with needs, and I’m hellbent on ensuring I’m not the one taking care of them.

Our car ride is filled mostly with him providing me with his likes and dislikes. And I answer some in return, as long as it’s something that doesn’t go too deep. The questions that feel too personal, I just don’t answer.

Without warning or context, Eli pulls over to a seafood restaurant on the wharf. It’s the only one here, and at five in the evening, it still seems closed. Only a few cars are parked outside, which most likely belong to employees. I immediately get the sense this isn’t an ordinary restaurant.

Eli leans over and puts his hand between my legs with an arrogant smile. I don’t even flinch as he pulls a small bag out from beneath my seat. When he unzips it, I see an array of guns and knives inside.

Well, fuck me. I wish I knew that was under my seat this entire time because I might’ve blown his brains out on the way here, especially for that arrogant smile he’s sporting as if knowing my train of thought.

“Take this, and don’t be too tempted to use it on me, Kitten. Be prepared for my family to hunt you down and kill you if you do. And trust me, they will find you no matter where you are.” He hands me a gun, and I slip it into the waistband of my jeans. I purposefully didn’t wear my leather, now that I know how much he appreciates the view. I couldn’t come entirely willingly. “Besides, the moment you turn against me during our little treaty, I will destroy your guns.”

“You can’t do that if you’re dead,” I remind him. It’s as if this fucker keeps forgetting that I’ve been hired to kill him. However, I can’t say I won’t hesitate when the order to take him out finally comes… just because I really need my guns back.

“Ah, but I can. I’ve ordered the twins to take care of it if something happens to me,” he says as we step out of the car.

“Of course, you have,” I say with an eye roll. He circles the car and stands in front of me, squeezing my cheeks in his hands.

“Roll your eyes at me one more fucking time, and I will spank you,” he warns.

“Keep touching me without permission, and I’ll make sure to put laxatives in your drink next time,” I bite back, though it’sbarely understandable because of how hard he’s squeezing my cheeks. He kicks up a smile.

“This might get a bit crazy, dear. Consider this your first wifey trial.” He releases my cheeks, and before I can reply with a smart-ass remark, I notice the shift in his demeanor. Any type of playfulness is gone, and the monster has come to the surface.

Okay, weareon some serious mafia business shit.

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