Page 17 of Vengeful Lies

This isn’t what I signed up for. I signed up for a hit and a little bit of toying with Eli beforehand. But I’m already in too deep, and I’m certain whoever the fucker is who hired me and is paying me such a generous amount could just as easily put a target on me if I were to go back on our agreement.

“Don’t worry,” I say to the girls. “I can look after myself.”

I always have.

CHAPTER 9

Eli

“Why did you do that?” Dutton asks as we get out of the car. They’d all been smart enough to remain silent in the car, but my cousin has always had the uncanny ability to provoke me where the other two at least know where to stop.

“Do what?” I ask him.

There is no reason or rhyme to what I do. I do what I want when I want.

And he thinks because we’re blood, it keeps him immune from my temper.

“You invited her to the club. Why would you do that?”

I look up at the elegant building that belongs to Edward Graham, a man with whom it would appear I have unfinished business.

When I don’t answer Dutton, he sighs, frustrated. “Will found everything on her, you know that. Why are you pushing this? If your father knows someone has a hit out on you, he’ll deal with it immediately himself.”

I impose on his space, and Hawke and Ford have better sense than to get between us. My cousin is shorter than me, but he isn’t deterred by the physical difference. Very few intimidate him.

“I’lldeal with this. And if you so much as speak of this to my father or mother, I won’t be lenient with you.”

“Need I remind you that I don’t work for you?” Dutton all but snarls.

“No, but you sure as hell like to get up in my business.”

Dutton smiles, actually fucking smiles, like a wild man. “Fucking pussy whipped already.”

I grab him by the collar of his shirt. “What the fuck did you say to me?”

“I don’t repeat myself,” he says, placing his hand over mine. “And as much as you’re being an asshole right now, you’re still my cousin, and I will always protect family. Even if you can’t see clearly right now.” He breaks my grip on his shirt and pushes me away.

I don’t have to answer to anyone, but I remind him, “Someone has a hit on me. I’d rather unravel which family is behind pulling the trigger, not the woman behind the scope. I can handle her.”

“Keep your enemies close, huh?” Hawke says, trying to dissipate the tension. I adjust my suit, and Dutton brushes his light-brown hair back, not that any of it is out of place. His square golden ring shines in the light, and I remember the last time he clocked me with it. That ring has certainly busted my lip more than once.

“Besides, we’re here for business,” I remind Dutton, who cracks his neck to one side and then the other. This is a personal matter for him, too.

We enter the office space, which is a large twenty-story building filled with agents. I don’t even spare a glance for the receptionist as we stride to the elevator and hit the button for the top floor.

It’s a tight fit with all four of us, and I adjust the cuffs of my suit out of habit.

“I like her,” Hawke blurts randomly from behind me. Dutton side-eyes him, and Ford nudges his brother. This fucker never knows when to shut his mouth or leave something alone.

“You can never read a room, can you?” Ford shakes his head in disapproval.

“What I’m saying is maybe you should marry her so your father can finally hand everything over to you, and once you’re done with her, knock her off if you’re already planning on doing that.”

“That’s a fucking stupid idea, Hawke. Eli isn’t going to marry a woman who puts fucking rats in his drawers and stalks him,” Dutton barks back.

Ford cautiously asks, “So why does he look like he’s thinking about it?”

And I do everything to refrain from smirking. Hawke’s not the brightest guy, but sometimes that motherfucker is a genius. But I’m not sure if I want to deal with the hassle.

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