Page 55 of Vengeful Lies

“You should fall out of the habit of telling me what to do,” I snap back as I drop my hair and reach for the matching earrings. I can’t believe I’m crazy enough to do anything or go anywhere this crazy fucker suggests. But I must confess, I’m kind of curious now.

CHAPTER 28

Eli

The irony of her last name is not lost on me. Because Jewel is a diamond in many ways, but she’ll look so much better with my last name instead of hers. I keep that thought to myself, of course, because it was hard enough getting her to wear the fucking ring.

She’s grumbling complaints in the passenger seat after touching up her makeup and hair. Not that she needs to; she’s stunning as it is. “This better be worth it.”

I can’t help the arrogant smile that touches my lips because I know she’s going to fucking love it. “You love picnics, don’t you?”

I feel the sensation of her hateful glare boring into the side of my head and the unspoken promise of a thousand deaths if that’s what I have planned. I laugh, unable to stop myself. She’s too easy to rile up, especially at the mention of anything romantic or commitment-related.

We pull into one of Ivanov’s estates. Hawke and Ford’s adoptive parents, Anya Ivanov and River Bently run the underworld auctions within the city alongside their uncle, Alek Ivanov. Alek and River primarily run the gun auctions. My family has worked with them for years, establishing a friendly agreement. None of them are ready to retire, and I’m certainAnya will take her jewels to the grave, but her riches and business will go to the twins.

Jewel’s eyebrows crinkle slightly as she assesses the wealthy clientele making their way up to the mansion. The majority of those who attend these auctions are men, and most of them are intimidated by the red-haired woman standing at the door, welcoming everyone with an insincere smile.

Anya Ivanov, who is nearing her sixties, is not a woman to be trifled with. So I’m certain Jewel will like her very much.

I step out of the car and round the front before the valet can offer his hand to Jewel. I hold my own hand out to her, and she unenthusiastically takes it and steps out. “Remember to pretend to like me. After all, you are my soon-to-be wife.”

“You’re really looking forward to an untimely death before the wedding, aren’t you?” she threatens with a sweet smile. I return the smile as I hook our elbows so I can escort her.

Anya sneers at the back of the person she just so “kindly” welcomed into her home. “Disgusting choice in shoes,” she says when her husband steps out beside her.

“Eli?” River says, surprised to see me. He steps up to us and takes my hand. His father and mine have been doing business for many years now. River is known for shipping high-quality weapons into the city. I don’t know much about his and Anya’s marriage, but from what the twins told me, he blackmailed her into doing business with him; she tried to kill him multiple times, and then they somehow fell crazily in love. “I wish I knew you were coming tonight.”

“I was hoping you could make room last minute for me and my fiancée,” I say, motioning to Jewel.

“Fiancée?” Anya says over River’s shoulder, basically pushing him out of the way to get a better look at Jewel. “I haven’t heard this.” She sweeps her gaze over Jewel, and to her testament, Jewel isn’t intimidated. And then Anya zeroes in onthe ring and necklace. Anya is known for her love of jewels. “Well, it would appear the boy has good taste at the very least,” she notes, taking my fiancée’s hand and peering closely at the ring.

“I wish she looked at the ring I tried to hand to her all those years ago in the same way,” River jokes from behind her. She gives him a pointed glare.

“You were lucky I married you,” she’s quick to remark.

“This is Anya Ivanov. She runs the auctions with her brother, Alek. She’s also Hawke and Ford’s mother.”

“Adoptive mother,” she corrects. “Those little shits would have more manners if I’d trained them from the very start.” But her tone has softened. As terrifying as this woman is, she would kill anyone who spoke poorly of them. Except for herself.

“I think they learned most of their poor behavioraftermeeting you,” River jests.

The corner of her lips tilt into a smile. “Are my thugs of sons with you tonight?” she asks, looking over my shoulder and dropping Jewel’s hands.

“Not tonight. I wanted to have some alone time with my fiancée. She has a fondness for guns, so I was hoping to treat her to some gifts this evening.”

Anya’s gaze slides back over to Jewel, mischief glittering in her expression. “A woman who can handle herself is always welcome through these doors. As long as you promise me the moment Mr. Monti makes you feel less than, you’ll put a bullet in his brain.”

Jewel actually laughs at that. “I can absolutely promise you that. The still-healing knife wound to his leg can attest to it.”

Anya’s expression breaks into a wicked smile as she turns to me. “I like her.”

River pulls her back by the shoulders. “Please don’t give my wife any more ideas.”

“There might be hope for the new generation yet,” she says over her shoulder. “Come. I’ll personally escort you to the auction. Be a good husband and greet our guests, River.”

Jewel leans into me and whispers, “She’s kind of terrifying, but I love it.”

“Of course you do,” I reply, not at all surprised.

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