Page 16 of Bluff

I’ve done everything I can to avoid Mikhail. We still sleep in the same bed, but I put pillows between us so I’m not tempted by my desire for him. He avoids me too, which makes me think he’s tired of me already. He hasn’t touched me since I got Lyric captured. Maybe I’m too much of a handful for him.

I want there to be something more. I deserve more. At least a relationship where we care about each other. It doesn’t have to be love. I don’t even know if I believe in love.

Taking a deep breath, I sigh as I walk around the house. I hate being in lockdown. I hate how we are living.

Chloe called me to wish me a Happy New Year, but I can’t go out to see her. I need to get out of this house. I need a release. If my fiancé doesn’t desire me, maybe I should go to the club and find someone who does.

My phone pings with a text message, and I pull it out of my pocket.

Ric: I’m leaving for my honeymoon in a few days. Want to go shopping with me?

Me: Okay

Perfect timing. I don’t want to get her in trouble, but I can sneak off while we’re out.

I change into a pair of jeans and an off-the-shoulder sweater, then slip on a pair of chunky heeled boots.

Lyric pulls up in an armored SUV. Her hand is still in a cast.

“Could you come to the house and help me with something first? I tried to do it myself, but I can’t type, and my hand hurts today.”

“Sure.” I climb in, and we head back to her house.

I follow her up to the office and spot Aleksei on the wall of monitors. He’s at the Lucky Dice. He’s been working steadily, clearing his schedule, so they can go to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

Lyric directs me on what to do, and I help her. After a few moments, she turns away.

“Give me a minute. I need to use the bathroom.” She leaves, and I sit there, waiting.

Staring at the computer, I notice a file named Duncan and click on it. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t stop myself. My curiosity gets to me.

A video pops up, and I watch it in shock. Jimmy is strapped to a chair. He’s bleeding, and his clothes are torn and dirty. He looks like he hasn’t showered in days. His hands have missing fingers. The camera pans out, and I see his legs twisted at an odd angle. I glance at the sledgehammer next to his chair.

I gasp and put a hand over my mouth as I continue watching.

“What did you do to earn the Irish’s trust?” a man I don’t know asks him.

“I d-didn’t just have the I-I-Irish’s trust,” Jimmy says.

“Who else?” the man asks.

A sinister smile forms on Jimmy’s face.

“B-B-Barone too.”

Oh my God, he worked for Barone and the Irish. He was married to the head of the Irish mob’s aunt.

“What did you do for him?” the man asks.

“Hits,” Jimmy says, and the man shakes his head in disbelief. “N-Not like Bronwyn.”

Lyric told me Jimmy was bad and that he was killed because of it, but this is really bad.

“How so?”

He coughs, hacking violently, before smiling again. “I’d hire thugs to do it.”

“Who did you take out?”

---