Page 10 of Violent Truth
“Will you look at me?” she asks.
And it’s at that point that I have no control over my body anymore. I break down and look at her. We’re face-to-face. Arousal boils in my system.
Lily stiffens, shrinking back. She wipes her hands on her fishnets. In black knee-high stiletto boots, she’s taller than usual. Matching shiny black material covers her breasts and ass, and with the fishnets, she reminds me of a superhero.
Damn it. She’s not a hero; she’s just a woman. I’m putting her on a pedestal again.
“I don’t know why you tip me,” she says, her voice hesitant. “You don’t want a lap dance. You won’t look at me when I talk to you like this. I don’t get it. But I need your help. My friend disappeared, and I swear Mr. Harryknowswhat happened to her. He may even be behind it. I don’t know.” She links her finger inside of the strap of her purse, a nervous habit she has, a tick I noticed a long time ago.“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
She sinks behind her shoulders; so vulnerable, it’s breathtaking. Almost like she was on that first night.
Helpless. Bare. Clutching that picture of her parents, yearning for the love she’d never receive.
Just like I yearn for her.
My dick hardens. I adjust myself.
“Anyway,” she says, forcing cheerfulness in her voice. “I guess I wanted to see if you knew anything. If you could help me.”
I quirk my head to the side. Why would she askmefor help? There are plenty of people here who know her friend better than I do. Even if she does think I’m close to Mr. Harry, there has to be some other reason why she’s asking formyassistance.
“You’re lying,” I say.
Her brows furrow together in confusion. “Why would I lie?”
I narrow my gaze, my body heating as she scrutinizes me back.
Lily has worked at the Gilded Stage for a long time. Plenty of criminals arrange business meetings here. This is a trick. She knows how to work the system, and if anything, Mr. Harry must be paying her to spy on me—the giant who is too weak to defend himself from the flirtations of a woman like Lily.
I hate myself for what she does to me.
“Has Mr. Harry mentioned anything?” she asks. “Or could you let me know if he does? My friend’s name is Piper. That’s the name she goes by here. Her real name is Patricia. She doesn’t like that name though, because her mother gave it to her. I don’t know. Do you think Mr. Harry got her pregnant and sent her away? I—”
Suddenly, I lean down, putting us on the same level. In those boots, she comes up to my shoulder, and once we’re eye to eye, her rambling stops. I see something else in her.
Loneliness.
My chest tightens in empathy. I don’t let it show. Instead, I straighten and force myself to see the situation for what it is. This is an act. Another trap for Lily to burrow deeper under my skin. And if I’m not careful, I’ll fall for it.
Unless—
“I’ll do anything,” she whispers. “Seriously. Anything you want.”
My cock twitches, and this time, Lily notices my bulge, and her cheeks redden. She pulls a strand of orange hair into her mouth, stuffing her lips.
She probably didn’t mean to sound so suggestive, but my response is clear. And so is hers.
“I just want to find my friend,” she says.
Her desperation reminds me of being stuck inside of a concealed box. Helpless. Longing for acceptance. Desperate for touch.
It unlocks everything inside of me.
Iwantto help her.
Before I can do that, I need to confirm she’s not spying for Mr. Harry. Once I have that information, the rest of my actions will become clear.
You have your choice,Niko had said.That woman has done nothing for you. You owe your life to the Endo-kai. Honor the yakuza like we fucking deserve.
