Page 120 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

She looked around before talking again, her eyes turning into slits and voice coming out low and threatening. “You’re responsible for three of them now, Tristan. If you ever make her shed a single tear even if they are happy tears, I’ll happily shred you into pieces and hand them out as souvenirs at your funeral. Have you seen me murder a cockroach? It’s brutal. Trust me, you don’t wanna end up like that,” she finished and smiled broadly at me, sitting back.

“So, what do you recommend I order? I don’t know half of the food on this bougie menu,” she said, pouting at the menu clothed in leather.

“Excuse me,” she called to the man walking past us.

He turned to her with a strained smile. I adjusted my tie like it was suffocating me.

“I will have this and, ugh … this one,” she said, pointing at the menu while the waiter grabbed his notepad and wrote it down. “Thank you,” she chirped as the waiter walked away.

She faced me with a questioning look, picking up her phone from the table. Now that I looked at it, she and Adrian were so different. While Adrian wore his heart on his sleeve, she wore armor around hers.

“I need one more favor,” I said.

“Okay,” she hummed.

“It has to do with Chloe,” I said and got her attention. I smiled and leaned closer to the table.

***

It was almost eight in the evening when I pulled into the driveway to Mr. Simpson’s condo. I took a deep breath before coming out of the car. I thought of what to say as I walked to the large door with a bottle of red wine. I pressed the doorbell and waited. He opened the door a few seconds later and smiled warmly at me. I’d thought he’d be murderous, like Belvina.

“Good evening, Mr. Simpson.”

“Tristan Sanchester. What a surprise.”

“Sorry to show up unexpected. I was wondering if we could talk.”

“Sure, come on in.” He opened the door wider for me.

I beamed and walked in with sweaty palms. I was doing this for the woman I loved. I was prepared for any threats and insults so long as I showed my intentions and assured her family and best friend Chloe was safe with me and I was ready to sacrifice everything for her.

31

______________________

Paris

CHLOE’S POV

I felt movement on the bed and opened my eyes. I watched Tristan change into running shorts and a muscle shirt. He caught me staring as he took a seat to tie his shoelace. His lips tilted up, and he returned to tying his shoelace. I looked beside me at Kayla and Kayden. We’d all slept in Tristan’s king-size bed last night. Kayla wouldn’t stop singing and giggled every time I asked her to stop and sleep. I had to carry her to Tristan’s room, where I’d been spending my nights. She stayed with me till she finally slept. Tristan had walked in later with Kayden, who was wide awake. We all went to sleep somewhere around one a.m. and got too tired to move the twins to their cribs. They had slept between us, Kayla next to me and Kayden next to Tristan. I wasn’t surprised to see Kayden’s one leg hanging off the bed after Tristan got off.

“Could you put some pillows around him, please?”

Tristan finished with his shoes and caged Kayden with two big pillows.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

He nodded and headed for the door. I wished I could join him on his morning runs, but I wouldn’t make it past one minute.

I closed my eyes and went back to sleep.

I woke up to a small voice. I opened my eyes and found Kayden trying to wake up Kayla.

“Kaywa.” He shook her shoulder.

“Hey, come here,” I whispered, sitting up and reaching for him.

He crawled to my arms and hugged me. I grinned and came down from the bed, holding him in my arms.

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