Page 35 of Don't Lie To Me

“Sloane, I’m serious. I forbid you from seeing him,” he says, his voice rising.

I sigh heavily, having a nice big swig of my whiskey. “Lucky for me you have no say in what I do in my personal life, Romeo. And if you want this very fresh business deal to run smoothly, you will remember that.”

Chapter 14

AsIhadassumedwould happen, right at seven, Jagger and Asher arrive at The Raven’s Nest. Apparently, this situation calls for not one, but two big brothers. I can hear their booming voices before I actually see them, turning to spot them strutting through the place, heading right for me. Onyx ratted me out again. My pointed look in his direction, sharp and cutting, is met with a careless shrug, his eyes filled with amusement.

“Bit late, boys, I have averted both crises without you.”

Asher kisses my cheek in greeting. “What crisis? We’re here to stop you going out with detective surfer boy.”

I toss my hair over my shoulder. “I had assumed as much, but you’re out of luck tonight. I don’t give a fuck what either of you thinks, I’m leaving here with Reef, and if you interfere in any way, I can promise you, you’re going to regret it.”

“Feisty tonight, Sloane.” Asher chuckles.

“Settle down, Sis, I’m not going to stop you from going out with him. What I said last night still stands. You’re a big girl, you have proven you can take care of yourself. And it might not be a bad idea to have the detective on our side with the new commissioner breathing down our necks.”

“I thought…” Asher says, glancing between us, confused. Even he didn’t expect Jagger to let me leave here with the detective.

My eyes narrow in on him. “If you’re cool with it, why are you here?”

“I said I would let you go out with him, but I didn’t say I wasn’t going to have a friendly chat with the boy first.” His grin twists.

“Boy? He’s a man, probably your age.” I smirk, watching as Reef walks through the door. Yeah, he’s either brave or stupid. I guess tonight I’m about to find out which one. I leave my brothers’ sides and move across the room, feeling like I’m being pulled toward him with magnetic force. I don’t know what it is about him, but I want to know more.

His face lights up, and he tosses his hand through his long hair. “You look ready for a date. Stunning as ever,” he compliments me.

I can’t help but return his warmth. “You must have a death wish.”

“Nah,” he says, a smirk playing on his lips, “I just think you’re worth the risk.”

“Good answer. Let’s get out of here.” I hook my arm through his, hoping to make a hasty exit.

But before we make it to the door, Jagger cuts off our path, his hand directed toward Reef. “Jagger Stryker,” is all he says, his face deathly serious.

I roll my eyes. Here we go.

Reef shakes his hand. “Reef Wilder. Nice to meet you, Jagger.”

“Hurt my little sister in any way and I will end you,” Jagger growls out in warning, sounding every bit the scary motherfucker he is.

“Got it.” Reef tilts his head to the side, my arm still hooked with his, and I can feel the warmth of his body and smell his fresh, clean scent. I lean into him a little closer, enjoying the feel of his body so close to mine. “I have no intention of hurting your sister, but somehow I get the impression Sloane’s not one who needs her big brother looking out for her.”

I grin at him, feeling like he already gets me and kind of loving that he respects me when it feels as though the other numbnuts around here don’t. I find Romeo’s eyes from across the bar, where he has poured himself a drink. He’s watching me, his gaze intense and unwavering, like a hawk focusing on its prey. “I think we’re good, Jagger. Don’t wait up, I might be late.”

Jagger gives Reef one last look then bends to kiss my cheek. “Don’t have too much fun,” he says mischievously, and I know he wants me to make friends with the nice cop so we can have one of them on our side again.

With one last glance in Romeo’s direction, I pray to whoever will listen that leaving tonight won’t give Romeo some advantage I haven’t thought through. For now, he doesn’t have access to any other section other than the front bar, and I have Myriah watching over him. She promised to call if she needs me. Reef and I make it out the front, and he directs me toward an Army-style Jeep.

I know I need to address the elephant out here on the street. I turn to Reef. “If you want me to have a meal with you, there’s one little hitch.”

His brow kicks up. “What’s that, wildcat?” He eyes Onyx who has left the club sneakily behind us, intensely watching us. I can almost hear the low growl coming from his lips. He’s on edge tonight, more so than usual.

I nibble my bottom lip, wishing I didn’t have to have this conversation with some guy I have just met; it kind of dents my badass reputation. “My bodyguard, Onyx, comes everywhere with me, it’s not negotiable.”

I see his shrewd eyes assessing Onyx in more detail. I’m sure he was wondering who the hell the dude following us around was this morning. “Why do you need a bodyguard?”

I force a tight smile, my shoulders stiffening as I avoid the painful details. “My brothers are a little overprotective,” I go with instead. That’s as much as I want him to know about my life.

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