Page 6 of Filthy Liar

“Riley was the turning point. She cracked through my outer shell and became my fucking lifeline. So did you guys and Blake. The only person who’d cared about me since I lost my sister and mother was Dante, so finding family in you guys? It was unexpected. By then, I felt like I couldn’t tell you the truth. If I told Riley I’d only been here to possibly take down her family, I would've lost her. You guys would’ve all turned on me too, and I couldn’t face that.”

“Slick?” Reid asked bluntly, nausea swimming inside me at the mention of that prick’s name. He’d been the one to cause Reid’s crash, and he’d burned to death in his car a month later after almost killing Riley too.

Ander’s jaw was tight as he nodded. “He was part of it too, it’s why I couldn’t just kick him out of the races. When I eventually snapped, I had to make up some bullshit about Riley’s family getting suspicious because of Slick’s actions, and thankfully, Stefano agreed that Slick needed to back off. Riley knew I had secrets, I told her so myself, but she trusted me anyway. That in itself spoke volumes, and I had to make up bullshit intel after that to keep them safe. I couldn’t do it anymore.”

“I don’t give a fuck who you are,” I said sharply, his gaze burning into me as he listened. “All I care about is that you didn’t tell me before fucking me. I don’t trust people, you know that. I finally let you in, only to find out that you’re a lying piece of shit. That isn’t exactly something I can just forgive.”

“I know. I just ask that you let me try to fix this.”

“I don’t think you can, Ander. I don’t fucking know you.”

“You know me better than anyone!” he snapped, reining his frustration back in again when Zavier gave him a dirty look. “I could let my guard down with you. I could just be Ander Lavaro, and not Andre Ricci. I never asked for that life, I was forced into it, and you took all of that away.”

“You still should’ve told me before we took things further,” I said angrily, clenching my fists by my sides. “I don’t want to see you right now.”

“Please don’t leave me,” he said so quietly I barely heard him.

“I’ve heard enough today. Respect my right to process things. I’m not staying here with you.”

He looked like he wanted to argue, but instead, he nodded. “I just want to know you’re safe.”

“I was until you strolled into our lives,” I answered, not caring if it stung.

I headed into the bedroom to grab my things, forcing myself to keep my shit together. Ander wasn’t going to see me cry over him, I wouldn’t let that happen.

Logan appeared in the doorway as I angrily shoved things into bags, and when he silently moved in behind me and slid an arm around my waist, I turned and buried my face in his chest.

“I’ve messaged Beckett. She said we can all crash at hers tonight to figure out a plan,” he said quietly.

“You told Beckett?” I croaked out, a little surprised that she hadn’t kicked the door in and murdered Ander on the spot.

“No, I just said that some shit is going down and you guys need somewhere to stay tonight. We’ll talk to her when we get there.”

This wasn’t going to go down well. She’d had it out for Ander just as long as I had, but she would literally murder him, unlike me.

We moved around the room in silence after that, collecting mine and Zavier’s things until we were sure we had it all. Logan took the bags and walked out ahead of me, making sure to keep himself between me and Ander as we got to the front door, taking my bra from the couch on the way past.

They stared at each other for a moment before Ander stepped out of the way, his eyes burning into me as he let me leave without a fight.

Zavier and Reid followed, both of them climbing into the Challenger and leaving me and Logan to take the Plymouth.

We drove off first, and Logan gave me the side-eye. “So, you and Reid?”

I could tell it hurt him to know he was the only one still on the outs, but he was trying to make conversation.

“I can’t handle that conversation right now,” I mumbled, sliding my hand onto his thigh to let him know I wasn’t mad, just tired. “Can we talk about it later?”

“Absolutely. We’ll grab you something to eat on the way to Beckett’s too. Zav said you haven't eaten today.”

He placed his hand on mine, threading our fingers together when I let him take my hand properly, and he thankfully pretended like he didn’t notice when a few tears finally leaked from the corners of my eyes as we drove into Ashburn.

CHAPTERTWO

RAVEN

Logan slung my bags over his shoulders as he led us into Beckett’s house, where we found her waiting in the kitchen with her arms crossed. Maddox appeared to be scratching serial numbers off a few handguns at the table near her, his eyes flicking up to us to acknowledge we were there, but he returned his attention to the task in front of him without a word.

Beckett’s eyes skimmed over us before she spoke, her voice cold. “What the fuck did he do?”

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