Page 25 of Don't Lie To Me

His face contorts in anger. “Don’t twist my words because you’re pissed about this. All I’m saying is it wouldn’t hurt to get along with him. The two of you are going to be working closely together whether you like it or not, so make it easy on yourself.” He looks me over, and I see his protective big-brother instincts are still there. “Maybe it’s time we all accept that you’re not a little girl anymore and you’re more than capable of taking care of yourself.”

I have fought so fiercely for my independence over the years, I can hardly believe the words coming from his mouth. In fact, I don’t believe them. “What did he offer you? When he called you last week to discuss my business, what the fuck did he offer you so he could have access to me?” I spit back at him, my anger flaring up again. How dumb does he think I am?

He rolls his lips, and I know I’m on to something. “He’s a dangerous man, Sloane. He and his family hold an awful lot of power, and he’s come prepared. He’s spent months researching everything there is to know about our family and you. And he’s not afraid to use the information to get what he wants.”

I glance at Onyx, wondering what the hell he’s making of this shit. His face doesn’t give a lot away, but I know he’s taking in every detail and has an opinion. “The motherfucker is blackmailing you? How the fuck did that go? Give me access to your sister without her bodyguard around and I won’t rat you and your brothers out to the authorities forall the shit you’re involved in? That sounds like some primary school shit right there.”

“You hit the nail on the head, though. He wanted one night with you, in exchange for his silence. You know I had no choice, Sloane.”

That fucker. Irritation slithers down my spine. What the hell does he want with me? My club and my body? It doesn’t make sense. “You had a choice. You could have come to me and I would have worked this out. I wouldn’t have…” I stare back at my brother, the man who practically raised me, knowing there is no way in hell I’m going to admit how badly I actually let Romeo manipulate me. I feel so stupid. So dirty. He was just using me. I still don’t understand why he needed to fuck me. He already had his share sorted out and enough intel on my family to fuck us over if he needed to. Why spend the night with me at all? He could have just come down here and demanded we give him what he wanted, and we would have had no choice.

“We’re doing everything we can. Malachi is searching for any information he can on Romeo and his family. But I think he wants more than just the club when it comes to you, Sloane,” Jagger says as if he has just read my thoughts.

“Why?” He’s the guy who could have any girl he wanted. He’s wealthy as hell, good-looking, smart. None of those things I would admit to him out loud, but they are all true. Why blackmail my brothers for a night with me? Why spend months researching my family just so he can do it?

“That you will have to ask him.”

I’m suddenly so exhausted I can’t see straight anymore. Jagger is no help. If anything, he’s just made this situation worse because he’s confirmed my suspicion that Romeo has been spying on me like a damn creeper and that’s why he knows so much about me.It’s unnerving. “Any information he finds come straight to me. Don’t keep shit from me again.”

He glares back at me, matching my intensity. He knows I’m serious. “I will fix this,” he says, but we both know he can’t now.

I stalk from the room, slamming my bedroom door for emphasis. In a huff, I shimmy out of my dress, folding it over the armchair in the corner of my room. I take my silk pajamas and slip them on, then climb into bed and turn off the light. I try to close my eyes, but even through my exhaustion, thoughts keep stabbing at my brain. How long was he watching my family for? What exactly does he have on us, and how does he intend to use the information? Why charm me into bed only to fuck me over the next morning? None of it makes any sense.

When I have tossed and turned for what feels like forever, I hear my door slowly creak open and then closed. Onyx’s shadowy figure moves across the room and comes to lie at my side like he has done a million times before when he knows I’m upset. He pulls me into his big strong arms, cradling me carefully, as if he might break me.

I inhale his masculine scent. He feels like home to me. And why wouldn’t he? I have known him forever. I snuggle into him and close my eyes, playing with the delicate bracelet he gave me earlier today.

“Sleep now, my beautiful girl,” he whispers so quietly I nearly don’t hear him.

A silent sob wracks through me. The control I desperately need over every aspect of my life is slipping away. No, scrap that, some asshole is trying to steal it from me. Last night was the biggest mistake of my life, and I’m going to pay dearly for it. Is this what Onyx was talking about when he said I had started something I wasn’t going to be able to stop? Initially, I thought he was referring to us, but now I'm afraid he was actually talking about Romeo.

Chapter 10

Myphonedancesacrossthe kitchen counter, and I collect it, answering immediately when I see who it is. “Sloane, you need to get down here,” Sally’s voice comes down the line, and I don’t miss the hint of panic. I’m up for the day and having breakfast after running ten miles on my treadmill, while Onyx took his aggression out on a punching bag. I was feeling energetic and ready to take on the day, but the tone of her voice has me wanting to crawl back into bed and hide away from the world.

“What’s wrong, Sally?”

“The cops are here,” she mutters, trying to keep her voice calm.

I stand in a rush, grabbing my bag. “For fuck’s sake. Keep them in the front bar until I get there.” I give Onyx a look, and he grabs his leather jacket and the car keys and the two of us are out the door and heading for the elevator. “Actually, keep me on the phone. Put it in your pocket, I want to hear what’s going on until I get there.”

“Alright,” she says, and I hear the rustling of fabric as her phone is slid into her pocket. “The owner is on her way. I can’t give you access to any other areas until she arrives,” she tells them, and I thank God at least my manager is sharp as a tack.

“We can wait,” comes a man’s deep voice. One I recognize from someplace but can’t quite place.

We hop into my Porshe, and Onyx takes off up the road in the direction of The Raven’s Nest. This isn’t the first time we have had the cops sniffing around since the new team took over from the corrupt pigs who were controlling this town. That’s why I have it all set up as a legitimate business. Workers aren’t technically employees but independent contractors, which shields me from legal liability for what happens in the VIP rooms. We wipe all security tapes off the server every twenty-four hours; the only copies being held in an offshore server that Malachi set up for me. As that thought runs through my tired brain, my skin suddenly goes all prickly, with sweat running down my spine. “Fuck.” I cover my phone with my hand so I can’t be heard by Sally.

“What?” Onyx glances my way concerned.

“I didn’t wipe the server yesterday.” I fan my face, feeling like I’m going to be sick. If the cops see what I did with Romeo. Worse, the party. Shit! My stomach rolls.

Onyx’s hand comes to my thigh. “Sloane, stop panicking, I took care of it.”

I meet his dark eyes, my heart starting to settle. “Thank you. I never forget.”

His brow raises, and I know he knows I’m right, but yesterday got out of hand.

“One bad day and I could have fucked up everything.”

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