Page 86 of Dangerous Deceit

Babe.He never calls me “babe.” “Baby,” yes, but not “babe.” I’m screwed. He knows I lied.

Anger swells in my chest. No. I don’t deserve this. I didn’twantto be a mafia bride. I didn’t want to do this jobagainstthe yakuza. And I never wanted to give up the name of some random company, but I did what I had to in order to protect my family.

“What happened?” I demand, this time with a stronger tone. Instead of dismissing me, Kenzo locks onto my gaze. His brown eyes are level, but haunting. I bite my lip. I can’t back down now.

“Here’s the thing,” Kenzo says. “Legendary Analysis is the least of my problems right now. You, on the other hand,aremy problem. So tell me,wife,who hired you?”

“The least of your problems?” I repeat. “Why do I get the feeling you’re hiding something evil?”

“Jesus,” he mutters. He rubs his head. “Hiding something? What do I have to hide from you?”

My lips part, but everything inside of me is locked up, too shaken up to do anything. “Kenzo, I?—”

“I didn’t kill your fake contact in Legendary Analysis. Happy?” he barks. “You want to know why I didn’t? Because I know you lied. Now, you’re stuck with me. Until death do us part.”

He walks past me, his gait rigid. He unlocks the office and disappears behind the doors, but he leaves the door cracked. He’s not cutting me off completely, but he’s not inviting me in either.

At least no one died because of me.

But Kenzo knows I’m a liar.

My stomach lurches, and I run to the closest bathroom. I turn on the faucet and the shower, minimizing the noise as I vomit again. I splash water on my face, then stand, preparing myself. I may not be as skilled as Patrick or Uncle Jay, but I’m still a Petrus. I can handle this.

I walk to Kenzo’s office. He looks up from his desk and smiles, but he’s showing too much teeth to be genuine. I’m unwelcome here, but he hasn’t kicked me out yet.

“What do you need?” he asks, like I’m an unwanted interruption. Things have changed between us, and I want to go back to before. When I could still tell him the truth.

“Do you want to do something?” I ask, unsure of what to say. I want to feel normal again. I want this place to feel like home, for that safety to return so I can unravel this coiling knot in my heart and breathe easily like before. “I just feel like?—”

“Feel like lying to me again?”

His expression is calm, his shoulders spread out. He has nothing to fear, and that’s terrifying.

I step back, crossing my arms over my chest. I pretend like I’m angry, but inside, I’m scared. I’m full of guilt and shame, and I want to erase this entire marriage and pretend to be someone else. To take an easy target. To never feel these things Kenzo has awoken inside of me. If being numb and complacent means erasing this mess, then I’ll take it.

But I don’t have that option. So I lie again. It’s the only defense I have.

“I’m not lying,” I shout.

He lunges from his seat and grabs my upper arms. His grip is so tight it hurts, and the light from his brown eyes fades. There’s no fire burning for me anymore. Only darkness.

“Say you’re not lying again, and I will cut out your tongue,” he says.

My body jerks impulsively, shocked at those words. My lips tremble, and Kenzo lets go of me. He smooths his shirt, his palm running over the bloodstain, and he returns to his computer.

“If we’re done,” he says with his eyes on the screen. “I’ve got business to take care of.”

My vision blurs. It’s like I mean nothing to him. And I’m the one to blame for that.

I can’t stand this.

I go to the master bedroom and close the door behind me. I dial Uncle Jay for the millionth time and pray to the con gods watching over us he will actually answer this time.

Finally, a click hums over the speaker.

“Jesus, sweetheart,” Uncle Jay mutters. “You’d think there’d been an accident or?—”

“Come here,” I beg. “Please.”

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