Page 61 of Mischievous Lies

As promised, details come through for a party being thrown a few days from now. My mind goes blank. Okay, I’m not even focusing on whatever the fuck that was about until after this. I’m sure Billie has all the details and will be going as well, so it’ll be fine.

Except maybe it won’t. If everyone in our circle knows that Hawke and I are sleeping together, I’m sure it hasn’t taken long for his parents to hear about it. Which I know will eventually get back to my parents, and I’m not really sure how they will handle that kind of news. My mother loves Hawke. My father, however… will probably hunt him down to the ends of the earth, promising him immediate death.

Whatever. I’m not dealing with those spiraling thoughts right now.

I walk into the restaurant and give my name to the hostess, who then takes me to where Jared is waiting. I try to put on a sympathetic smile, playing the part of the grieving friend who’s worried about his mourning, which is very fucking difficult when I know he’s the one who slit her throat.

I’d gathered enough information to confirm it was him. All I need is the name of who he’s working for but more importantly, why he did it.

He stands and gives me a hug, which I grudgingly return. “Sorry I couldn’t come back sooner; I had some business to deal with,” he says as he takes the seat across from me.

“No problem. I’m sure you’re dealing with a lot.” I lean across the table and lay my hand over his. His gaze dips straight to the contact, and his face softens as if falling into the role he’s supposed to play.Piece of shit.

“I knew you’d eventually come around,” he says, signaling to the waiter that he’s ready for the food that he’s pre-ordered for the table. This man does not waste any time, and the waiter places two plates in front of us. If this were a real date, I’dprobably walk out the door at the fact that he ordered me a fucking salad.Asshole.

But I grit my teeth and smile as I ask, “What do you mean?”

He sighs as if he’s reluctant to tell me, but it’s all an act. For the first time, I can see the real Jared. I never had a reason to look deeper before. “I always liked you, you know that, right?”

A lump forms in my throat. Is this guy fucking serious? Then again, I’m pretty sure men who slit their girlfriends’ throats don’t exactly tread on the side of sanity. “I don’t know if it’s appropriate, what with Makayla’s death, you know. It’d be wrong to?—”

“We were never that serious,” he interrupts as he reaches across the table and takes my hand. I resist the urge to pull my hand away from his. This guy is out of his fucking mind, but if I can use that to my advantage, I will. Whether he confesses or not, everything else is in motion. I’m just the bait. But I want him to confess. I need him to admit to me what he did waswrongand all kinds of fucked-up. Makayla wasn’t perfect, but she didn’t deserve to be manipulated and murdered by this piece of shit.

I sigh contemplatively, playing the role I’ve given myself for this evening. “You’re not around very much. You seem to jump around from place to place.”

“You do, too.” He’s not wrong. “It doesn’t have to be anything serious.”

I shrug. “I’m starting to like Manhattan a little more lately. I’m taking more jobs here, so I think I’m after something stable.”

His eyebrows dip as he licks his lips. “I’ve just got this new job that I can’t really pull out of anytime soon. But I’m making a fuck-ton of money from it, so it’ll be better for us. I can spoil you.”

I try to hold back the vomit that wants to rise up my throat. As if a piece of shit like this could ever spoilme.I wonder whenthe crazy started for him or if it was something that was always beneath the surface, waiting to be exploited. I consider my next words carefully as I lean in, giving a clear view of my cleavage.

“I don’t know if you can handle me. Besides, I’ve just started some new work too. I can’t really go into much detail, but it pays well too.”

“Really?” he purrs, staring at my tits.

“Yep.” I smack my lips together, and his gaze goes straight to them as if hypnotized. I place my hand under the table on his knee. “You have me curious now. I want to hear more about your job.”

His gaze snaps to my eyes, but I don’t let it deter me. I’m a confident woman; getting men to respond to me has never been difficult. And I won’t allow Jared to be an exception. Once he’s in my trap, it’s game over.

“I really shouldn’t…”

I giggle. “Now I’m even more intrigued. I like a man with secrets. Someone who’s doing mysterious things. Makes for a good time. But I do have high expectations of a man if he says he can look after me.”

He licks his lips, and I know for a fact that Jared has never been with a woman like me, and it makes it easy to play on the fantasy.

“Uh, well… It’s not exactly… legal,” he stammers, and I slide my hand farther up his thigh, dragging my nails against his pants. I bet the pour guy is already rock hard. “I mean, I don’t think it’s that bad, though.”

“What is it?” I encourage.

“Drugs,” he blurts quietly as I squeeze as high as my hand can reach.

“Oooh,” I purr. He’s staring at my mouth and licking his lips. This guy couldn’t be any easier to lure into a honeytrap. “What kind of drugs? The fun kind?” I arch an eyebrow.

Wherever this is leading, I hope it gives me an indication of his employer, or I’ll thread it into a confession of Makayla’s murder. I know I’ll get the answers, but I want them for myself. I want to crack this man in two since I’ve been consumed with him for the last two weeks. I want the answers. I need them for my own peace.

“Just stuff. But my boss pays me a lot of money for it. But sometimes he’s intense.”

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