Page 74 of Addicted Lies

I can feel the intensity of his gaze, and eventually, he releases the door, and I slam it shut.

I hold my head high. It has to come to an end. This back and forth is too painful.

CHAPTER 34

Ford

I’m waiting for him to leave the hotel room. I’ve watched him since the moment he first arrived in Manhattan and showed an interest in Billie. Now that she’s openly rejected him, I can finally take matters into my own hands.

He often frequents a bar only a few blocks away from his hotel, a bar that’s known for its shady dealings, which is exactly the type of place I expect a man like Matthew to go. For someone who is used to classy establishments and prestige to fuel his ego, I love that he chooses such a low-class establishment.

He walks a short distance down the sidewalk and then steps into an alleyway. I kick off my car and silently follow him; the hood of my sweatshirt pulled up over my head, and my small backpack slung over my shoulder. Just before I enter the alley, I put a mask on and slip the two crowbars out of my backpack.

He’s smoking, whistling a tune as he walks down the narrow passage. He frequents this hotel because every night, he hires a woman to visit him and then afterward goes out to the same bar. I know this because Eli owns the bar. And every time, he purchases the same amount of drugs.

I’m not going to judge someone for their habits, but what I won’t excuse is him touching another woman while giving Billie the idea that she’s something special to him.

Besides, I’m wildly pissed off that he ever touched her in the first place.

I’m unreasonable.

I’m spiteful.

And I’m entirely addicted to her, so I’m not in a place to share.

I drag a crowbar along the row of trash cans as steam creeps from the manhole covers.

He spins, finally noticing he’s not alone.

Sheer horror mars his features as he turns and quickens his pace. I match him step for step, with cool control, still dragging my crowbar.

Suddenly, he turns and holds his hands up. “I don’t know what this is about. I don’t want any trouble.”

I’ve never wanted anything for myself, and I’ve never ignored the restrictions and rules laid down by my family and Eli Monti.

But Billie Taylor has become a poison I can’t help but ingest, and I’ve learned that I’m not entirely a sane man when it comes to her. Now I just need to make sure this asshole never reaches out to her again.

It’s not my style to hide behind a mask. But it feels like the more I spiral in my need for Billie, the more addictive lies I’m willing to create for her.

That, and I don’t want my little visit getting back to Eli or Dutton.

Again, I’ve never done anything for myself, and even now, I feel like I’m betraying Eli. But I’ll do anything forher. It’s not her older brother she has to worry about anymore.

“Do you know who my family is?” he says nervously. “What do you want? Money? Is this about the recent smear campaign?”

I shake my head, taking great pleasure in the way his hand shakes.

Killing him will complicate things, and Eli will most certainly dig into the person behind it. So I choose to remain a faceless demon, terrifying enough to spook him and run him off from my woman.

He looks confused as he licks his lips. “Is this about the hooker?”

I shake my head slowly again.

His eyebrows dip, and I rub my crowbars against one another as if to warn him of my impatience. I can’t risk him recognizing my voice.

“Wait!” he shouts as I take a step forward. “Is this about the Monti family?”

I tilt my head to the side. He’s close. The dumbass sparks with a thought. “No? The Taylors? Billie Taylor?!”

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