Page 26 of Twisted Lies

“We’ll see, won’t we? Everything is set.”

“Will you stand with me?” I ask, needing the answer. I don’t need Andre to make my plan work, but it would make things simpler.

“I will stand with you that day. The days to follow; we’ll see. Coming back to the family fold, I’ve become too much a loner for that, I fear.”

I nod in understanding. “Thank you, my friend.” Andre had been doing some digging for me, along with Chris and Antonio. The more information I have on the other Five Families, the better. Killing them would be too easy. I want them to pay slowly while I become more prosperous and more powerful. Making them watch me is only half my revenge.

Andre nods before blending back to the darkness.

“Did you know?” I ask.

I sense him stop. He stays quiet, and I don’t think he’ll answer. “No. I thought she was dead, just like you.” With that confession, he leaves me alone again in the alley. Claire was right. Coming here was worth the night out. Just a few more weeks, then everything will be mine. Breathing deeply, I inhale the cold air once more before returning to the hot, clustered club. Returning to the bar, I order drinks and return to the table.

“What took so long?” Owen asks, opening the bottle of whiskey.

“It was busy. I wasn’t in the mood to push,” I state crossly, hoping my tone will end the conversation. Sean gives me a look that would send chills down most men’s backs. I hold his eyes till finally, I look down. I need to remember that here, I’m not the boss. The closer I get to returning home, the more I forget that detail. Looking up, I realize Lily is missing.

“Where’s Lily?” I ask, looking around the group. Claire casts her eyes down. Not a good sign. “Mia?”

“She got up to use the restroom and got caught on the dance floor. She looks like she’s having fun,” she says, looking up. My jaw clenches, my hand clenches the glasses tightly. “Kevin,” Claire starts and reaches for my arm. Pulling away, I give her a heated look before walking toward the dance floor.

Scanning the crowd, it doesn’t take long to find her. Her back is toward me as she dances closely with a man in jeans and a black shirt. Red hot rage fills my body, and I try to control myself from ripping his head from his body for daring to be near her. The man’s hands rest on her back before inching lower till they’re on her ass. That’s it. Stepping forward, I try to take as small steps as I can in hopes that some of my temper will cool. Once I reach them, I see her hands come back and move his hands off her ass before trying to step back. His hands are still clasped behind her, holding her trapped. New plan. If I rip off his hands, he’ll live.

Stepping to the side, I pull him away from her. I hear her gasp behind me at my unexpected appearance. “Kevin…” she starts.

“Not now,” I growl. “Walk away,” I warn the man with both my grip and my eyes. Fear appears as he scurries away. Turning around, I fix my eyes on Lily.

“You didn’t have to do that. I had it handled,” she hisses. The people dancing around us bump into her, causing her to step closer to me.

“I could see that. You’re welcome.”

“Never said thank you,” she bites out.

“Maybe you should. Maybe you shouldn’t put yourself in these situations,” I snap.

Her gasp of outrage warns me I should have left the last part out. “Put myself into what situation? I went to the bathroom. I came out, and he pulled me to the dance floor. I was going to get away after the song. He got a little handsy. Nothing I couldn’t have handled.”

“You should never have given him a dance. He could never have left you after just one dance,” I state. She doesn’t see herself the way the rest of the male population does.

“That so?”

“It is. Everyone here wants more than what you’re willing to give.”

“Including you?” she asks, stepping even closer. I should step back. Her closeness is causing more of my self-control to slip.

“No. Because we both know what you want.” Taking her by surprise, I pull her against me. Her lips part with surprise, and she inhales sharply. This time not with annoyance or fear. Dancing with Lily is how I always knew it would be. Everything else melts away. The strangers dancing around us—Claire, Connor’s sons, my enemies—disappear, leaving just us. It should concern me she has this effect on me. It will after the dance, but for now, in this brief moment, I enjoy just holding her close and having everything else fade.

Taking her hand, I spin her around, giving us some distance for a few seconds before she returns once more to my chest. When I move, she moves. When she moves, I move on instinct. My hands now rest against her lower back.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispers in what little distance there is.

“It’s just a dance,” I say gruffly.

“We both know it isn’t.”

“I suppose we do,” I state truthfully now. This woman may be the death of me, and I know I’ll be the death of her. War is coming. She’ll be caught in the crossfire. It would be best for everyone if I walk away now. I command my feet to move away from her, but they stay planted on the ground.

“We should go back to the table,” I say, trying to make her choose for me.

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