Page 79 of Lies Like Love

Incinerate isn’t half bad, but I’d rather spend the evening between Fel’s legs.

“Good.” Crew stands up and stretches his arms. “Can’t wait to get some more time with your littlefriendto see what’s got you so whipped.”

“Look at her wrong, and I’ll slit your throat.” My eyes are fixed on Crew as he stands and heads to the door.

Sage might make a few comments to piss me off, but he wouldn’t actually try anything. Crew, on the other hand, is unpredictable, so I wouldn’t put it past him.

“Don’t doubt it.” Crew smirks, dipping out of the room.

“Fuck, dude.” Sage chuckles. “You’re really into that chick.”

Into herdoesn’t really capture it. Obsessed, addicted. I’m tempted to cut us both open so we can climb inside each other.

It’s a good thing no one can read my mind.

“I’m watching out for her.” It’s not a lie, even if it’s also not the full truth.

Sage stands up and walks over to the desk, knocking on it once. “Sure you are.”

I shrug, trying to play it off.

“Avoid talking about your shit all you want, you’ll tell me eventually.” Sage reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a piece of paper. “Besides, I got you something.”

“This what I was asking about?”

Sage nods. “But you’re probably not going to like it.”

“Didn’t think I would.”

I might not talk to Sage about all the deep, dark details of my past with Fel, but I needed information only his connections could provide. People who aren’t scared to dig into illegal places to obtain information.

After my conversation with Fel’s grandfather at the gala, I was certain there was more I was missing. Dots I needed to connect to understand what he meant when he said I didn’t know the whole truth back then. So I asked Sage for a favor.

Sage might not be a patched member of the Twisted Kings Motorcycle Club, but he’s close enough with a few of them to tap their connections.

Sage drops the folded piece of paper onto the desk.

“Thanks, man.” I pick it up and slip it into my pocket.

I could open it right now and get my answers, but I’ve already overshared by asking him to look into this.

Sage nods, turning to leave, but as he does, he almost runs into Echo popping through the doorway.

“Jude—” She runs square into Sage.

He grabs her shoulders and practically picks her small frame up as he catches her.

“You invited Fel to your party?”

It’s official, I’m unhinged because I don’t care what she has to say, Fel is all I can think about.

Echo’s mouth snaps shut, and her eyebrows pinch at my sudden question. “Well, yeah. She’s my friend.”

“No, she’s not.”

Echo crosses her arms over her chest and her eyes narrow. The sweet façade she presents slips away to the darkness underneath. Sage must also sense it because he walks away laughing and shaking his head.

“Yes, she is.” Echo faces off with me.

---