Page 54 of The Lies You Love
Ramsey is standing in her open apartment door when the elevator pings open on her floor. She’s shooting daggers at me, but I ignore it and pass by her and into her space. A place I’ve never been, and also somewhere that’s familiar in ways that would creep Ramsey out.
“You need to start talking, Beckett,” Ramsey hisses, slamming the door behind her.
I thought about this on the way over, and I have to stick to this dumb-ass plan as a way to conceal my real purpose in her life.
“I miss Auden, okay? I happened to see her walking the dog and just followed a bit. That’s all that happened.”
She lifts one brow. “You’re serious with that bullshit right now?”
“What do you mean?” I ask, stumbling over my words.
Her demeanor is off, and as she folds her arms across her chest, she looks like a force to be reckoned with.
She sits down on a barstool and remains staring at me. “Do you really think I don’t know? That you’re my Charge Man? That your only job in life is to make sure I stay alive? Beck, Beck, Beck, you offend me for how little credit you offer.”
“Ramsey, I’m not doing this.”
“Doing what? Your job?”
I shake my head and try to compose myself. She’s shocked me, and I’m questioning everything. “You’re speaking nonsense. If you want to talk about Auden, great. That’s why I’m here.”
“If you think Taerpietier business stopped just because my mom got rolled up, you’re dumber than I’ve thought this whole time. I’ve played you like a child’s instrument. So easy and unassuming. While you were busy protecting me, I’ve been running the fucking family business. I’ve manipulated every chess piece on the board. Nothing, and I mean, nothing was happenstance.”
She stands, rubbing a leaf on a tree on her way by to the kitchen. She pours herself a glass of wine and fills a second glass. She pushes the glass toward me, but there’s no way I’m drinking it without spilling the contents of my stomach all over her floor. My breathing speeds and I feel heat creeping up my neck.
“Do you know how long ago this started?”
I swallow and merely shake my head. I bend my knees because I need to stay on my toes, literally.
“My mom took the fall for my crimes. It was always the plan. She never did the things she admitted to and was charged for. That was me, Beck. I never stopped either. I’ve always found ways to steal the money and clean the money. The bank robbery, all those years ago?” She smiles as she speaks the last sentence and I try to keep my face neutral even though my blood is boiling. I think of the last words my sister spoke and a pang of grief rips through me. “That was my men. Now listen, no one was supposed to die that day, but when I figured out you were my Charge Man and that was your sister, I played the only card I could to get close to you.”
“Why are you telling me this? You realize you’re incriminating yourself if any of this is true?”
She ignores my question and goes on. “You fell in love fast. I knew she was the recipient of your sister’s heart, but even I didn’t plan that. When I put Auden in your orbit, I had a feeling nature would take its course, but then I looked into your past and realized how fucking perfect you both are for each other.” She clears her throat after she has a long sip. “All of the fucking I did just to encourage her to sleep around to finally get to you.”
At the mention of my sister, my stomach flips upside down and I get light-headed. “There’s no way any of this is true. You’re monitored.” Admitting to being her Charge Man is the least of my problems right now. “There’s no opportunity.”
“When there’s a will there’s a way. My mother is suffering in prison, Beck. You don’t think I’ll do everything in my power to continue our legacy? My father is out of the country taking care of everything on the back end. That’s why I’m telling you now. I’m leaving and you’re going to look like a fool. You and Grey.”
My heart plummets. “How?”
“Six minutes is all it takes. You should know better. Six minutes and a laptop you don’t know about.”
Her fucking blow-drying process, I knew it took her too long. I blow out a breath and drag my hand through my hair. This isn’t my fault. I’ve done my job, and who she is can’t be my problem.
“You’re really admitting to killing my sister and playing matchmaker?”
“You’re welcome, Beck. Didn’t think you’d ever turn off the whore button.”
“Oh, my whore button?” I toss back. “You are one to talk!”
Ramsey laughs. “We’re arguing about our body count instead of your lackluster bodyguard skills?”
“You’re fucking alive.”
“I am, but is Auden okay?” Her smirk pulls up more in one corner of her mouth. “I’m cleaning so much money through the store there’s no way she’s not going to jail for it after I leave. Tess’s name on the email was a nice touch, wasn’t it?” After she pours more wine into her glass, she meets my gaze. “You didn’t make it easy, but I should thank you for the challenge.”
“Fuck you, Ramsey. You’re going to prison to join your mom.”
