Page 30 of Don't Lie To Me

“I’m so sorry, Sal, Syd is fucking us over from the grave,” I cry as Onyx and I get in my car and he starts up the engine.

“I don’t know what that means, but can you please try and explain in English? The staff are getting anxious.”

“Is Romeo still there?”

“He’s making himself at home, set up his laptop at a booth table and all. Please tell me what he said to the cops isn’t true, he doesn’t own this place alongside you.”

“If I can’t stop him by five today, then unfortunately yes. But keep that to yourself. I’m going to try and stop him, but I need you to cover for me.”

“Okay,” she says tentatively. “Where are you going?”

“Moretti Media,” I say with a sly smirk. There is only one person I know who can help me now.

“Good luck with that.”

I glance at Onyx, and I know even he thinks I have lost my mind this morning. “Thanks, I think I’m going to need it.”

Chapter 12

ImarchintoAlex’soffice on a mission. There is only one way to deal with this infuriating man, and that’s meet fire with fire.

He glares up from his computer, his brow furrowing. “Sloane Stryker, what can I do for you?” he asks, surprised to see me. It’s no secret I’m not his favorite person and he’s not mine, but we tolerate each other for Harley. He offers a nod to Onyx as he moves in to close his office door and stands by it. The last thing we need is anyone in Moretti Media getting wind of this conversation.

I stare him down. “You can force your cousin out of town.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen. From what he’s told me, Romeo intends to stay in Ravens Hollow indefinitely. He has a thing for the women here. Are you two having a lovers’ quarrel? You looked pretty cozy at your party.”

My glare intensifies, anger radiating off me. I couldn’t just sneak off and fuck a man. No, I had to do it so damn publicly everyone knows about it, even Alex Moretti. “Well, you better fucking do something, or all of our hard work is going to be for nothing.”

Now I know I have his attention. He straightens, his playful expression turning serious. “What the fuck are you talking about, Sloane?”

“Check your emails. I just forwarded you the bullshit that was sent to me this morning. That asshole thinks he’s going to take over my club and destroy every good part of it. The girls are going to freak thefuck out, Alex. Girls you and I have both saved. I might not be your favorite person, but you and I both know how important what I’m doing is to this town and its people.”

He brings up his email, and I watch as he reads over the bullshit email Romeo sent me as I pace back and forth, not able to settle into a seat. I have all this erratic energy buzzing through me. I feel so out of control. Just knowing he is there in my space while I’m out trying to fix this problem makes me feel icky. I don’t know how yet, but he has to go.

While I wait for Alex to read over the document, I pull the business card I stashed in my top out. I had forgotten it was there. I study it. Detective Reef Wilder. His name has such a ring to it. Maybe I could call my new detective friend and see how willing he really is to help me. But that would be a last resort. I’m sure when Alex sees exactly how bad what Romeo intends to do is, he will help me. He has to.

“For fuck’s sake,” I hear him curse as he runs a hand through his hair, the vein in his neck looking like it’s going to burst. Then his furious eyes are back on me. “This won’t work.”

My eyes lock with his. “No shit. We have until five p.m. today. You have got to dig some dirt up on him or some shit so I can stop him.”

“What do you want me to find?” Alex asks, and even he looks perplexed as to what he can do.

“I don’t give a shit what it is, Alex, just find something good. You have better resources than any of us. I need leverage. He thinks he has shit on my family and a claim because of what Syd did, selling his papa a massive share of the business. It has to be good enough I can use it to stop him. With a family like his, there are some skeletons in the closet, there has to be.”

Something flashes in his eyes, something dark, and I know there is. Alex already knows more than he is saying. He stands, moving aroundto lean on his desk as he watches me. “I can’t be seen to be involved in this.”

I nod, understanding his predicament. He has to look loyal to the family, I get how it works. I also know deep down Alex is one of the good ones; he wouldn’t have saved all those girls from his papa if he wasn’t. “But you will help me. I took in your girls when you needed me to, and this is going to affect them as well.”

“I didn’t say I wasn’t going to help you. I just can’t be seen to be. Anything I find didn’t come from me. Got it?” His eyes lock with mine, and I know how serious this is.

“Yep.”

He moves toward the door, ready to kick us out. “Alright. You will have what you need by five.”

“Thank you.” I glance back at him. I’m not a hugger, and for the most part I can’t stand this man, but if he can actually help me, he will earn a new tier of respect from me.

Onyx and I take the elevator down to the ground floor. I inhale a deep breath, my head spinning a little as the car takes us down the ten floors. I can feel his eyes on me the whole way. “What?” I eventually snap.

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