Page 75 of Don't Lie To Me

With a careless shrug, I sidestep the issue, the air thick with unspoken tension and the scent of avoidance, but answering that question would have gotten me in more trouble than I am already in. I move back to my seat, making sure to glare a few daggers in Romeo’s direction. “Reef, how did you and Romeo meet?” I ask the question that has been on the tip of my tongue all night.

His grin widens, then he collects his shot glass and throws back his whiskey.

I raise a brow at the two of them. “I guess next round I’m asking Romeo the same question since he has no secrets to keep from me.”

He smirks at me, but I can already see in his eyes there is no way he’s telling me that secret. And now I want to know even more.

From across the table, I feel Reef’s leg brush against mine again, a light touch that sends a flutter through me and pulls my attention to him. His face lights up with a flirtatious smile. It’s his turn next, and he wants my eyes on him.

“Onyx, who in this room do you think is the biggest threat to you?” Reef asks, still looking my way. Is he trying to distract me from the disappointment of him not answering my question?

“Sloane,” Onyx answers a little too quickly.

“Thanks,” I mutter, kind of surprised. He has two men in this room he knows want me, and I’m the biggest threat to him!

Our eyes lock, a seriousness washing over him. “You know you are, trouble.”

He really does think I will get him killed, or am I more a threat to his heart? That I could live with because I know he’s a damn big threat to mine.

“Now it’s Romeo’s turn to answer one of mine.” Onyx’s lips twitch up at the sides in a way I haven’t seen before, a familiarity passing between him and Romeo. “If one person at this table had to obey your every command for a day, who would you pick?”

“You,” Romeo throws right back at him, surprising me. I would have thought for sure he would want me at his beck and call, but Onyx? What the actual hell.

Onyx doesn’t flinch. He already knew what the answer would be, but he wanted the rest of us to know as well. He has me intrigued.

The look they share intensifies. “The other two members of this table already follow my command. It might be fun to see what I could get you to do, big guy.”

“Like hell I do,” I snap. “Just making sure every fucker at this table is clear, I do not take instructions from Romeo.”

Onyx bursts out laughing, the sound so unusual I feel like I have just stepped into the twilight zone.

I toss back the rest of my wine, having had enough of this game. I’m more confused than when we started playing. I stand to leave, the warmth of bed calling my name.

“Sit and finish your food,” Onyx demands, his hand to my arm stopping me from taking off.

“Your game is fun, Sloane. We’re all getting to know each other, stay a while longer,” Reef tries to encourage me. But the truth is, they’re freaking me out. All these looks I don’t quite understand and very pointed questions. I feel like the odd one out.

Romeo’s eyes fix on Onyx. “If I asked you to tell me your darkest secret right now, would you tell me the truth or lie straight to my face?”

“I don’t have any secrets,” Onyx huffs.

“The man who quietly watches people for a living has no secrets. Somehow, I doubt that. Why don’t you tell the lovely Sloane how you came to work for her family? I’m sure that’s a doozie. Or would you like a dare?”

Onyx shakes his head, collects my now refilled shot glass, and throws it back.

I gasp in shock. He really is breaking all his damn rules for me, but this one I don’t want him to break. I want to know how he ended up here. “Tell me, Onyx.”

“It’s best if you don’t know, you hate Syd enough,” he grumbles. “Romeo is just trying to start trouble.”

I stand in a rush, adrenaline pumping through me. “Tell me,” I demand, so sick of being kept in the dark when it comes to him.

His eyes meet with mine, a deadly seriousness coming over them. “Sit down, trouble,” Onyx says after some time. His voice cuts through the tension in a way that has me sitting down immediately.

Reef finds my eyes from across the table and offers a sympathetic smile. I’m not sure what for. Because Onyx is acting like an asshole or if it’s because I’m in the dark, when the three of them all seem to know each other’s secrets.

I know it’s my turn, but there really is only one thing I want to know right now, since Onyx has already made it clear he won’t be spilling. “My question is aimed at two of you. Let’s see who can answer me first. Because if one of you doesn’t, whatever the fuck is going on here is done. The three of you might think you can hold me here against my will, but I will find a way out.” My hands tremble as I say the words, my anger starting to rise.

“What’s your question, wildcat?”

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