Page 42 of Twisted Lies

“No. They don’t have much choice at the moment. I’m sure they’re trying to find angles. They’ll find them at some point, but by then, it will be too late. You’re doing great.”

“All I’ve done is a walk in a room and said a sentence,” I point out.

“You’ve not run out screaming in panic. That’s a big part of this. Remember that as the night goes on. I don’t know what they have planned, but don’t show weakness,” he says before we reach the bar. He orders a whiskey for himself and a red wine for me. Taking a small sip, I let the flavor wash over me, hoping it calms my nerves. “Where are Chris and Antonio?” I ask.

“Here and there. It’s better if they are unseen. Makes it easier to gather any interesting information. All the men here have their colleagues wandering around.”

Slowly, I glance back to where the men were standing a moment ago and note they are gone. Elijah looks in that direction as well and says, “Let’s go over here. There are lots of people to meet. Remember, everyone here is a spy for someone. There are no friends here.”

“What are you?” I ask.

“Nothing good. We are all devils in this room; the only innocent one is you. They would love to corrupt you.” His words have me taking a larger sip of the wine. He introduces me to more groups of people. Elijah does most of the speaking, for which I’m grateful. I feel like I have to watch every little thing that comes out of my mouth. They seem to like me, or at least put up with me. They ask me a few things about myself but not much. They are too curious about what Elijah has been up to since his alleged death. He gives little information and instead gracefully changes the subject toward them in such a way they hardly notice. Or if they do, they don’t give it away. I have to use the restroom once I finish my second glass of wine but don’t dare move, considering the last time I used the bathroom at an event with Elijah.

Every now and then, I feel eyes on my back, and I know it’s not one of the men we had spoken with earlier in the night. Their gaze seemed more piercing than the rest. Elijah stands by my side the entire evening. Surprisingly, we do not talk to the men from earlier the rest of the night.

We finally leave around three a.m. My eyelids had started drooping an hour ago. Elijah finally said ‘let’s go’ when I about passed out on his shoulder. I lasted longer than some. Several people had decided to stay in one of the many guest bedrooms. There was no way in hell I was going to do that. I try to stay awake on the ride home, but before I know it, I’m leaning into Elijah’s shoulder and passing out. I wake a little to the lights of the hotel as he carries me to the room. I feel my body fold into his, but I roll my head deep into the pillow and allow my mind to go entirely into the darkness of sleep. We made it through the night.

* * *

ELIJAH

I watch her sleep. Brushing the hair from her eyes, I sit on the edge of the bed and breathe the first sigh of relief of the night. I didn’t allow myself in the car. There was still time for shit to hit the fan.

I’m unsurprised that we didn’t speak to the other men of the Five the rest of the night. They were watching the whole night, taking notes. That’s what I would do. Lily could not have done anything better. She was perfect. Friendly, but also had the edge that said she could stand up for herself. That’s what was needed in that room. They would have sensed any weakness. While they were watching her, it allowed me to watch them. The next step will be a smaller meeting. More personal. I’m more concerned about that. It will be nerve racking for her. They were intimidating men. Once we get through that, it will be better. They will have no complaints about her. There is no reason to.

Standing, I move to close the bedroom door. Going to the farthest side of the room, I call Alex. He picks up on the second ring. “What is it? I’m in the middle of something.”

“Your brother is still a dick,” I state.

Alex laughs. “Now you got my attention. Tell me something I don’t know. Why was he there tonight?” I hear him closing a door.

“He’s up to something. I can feel it. Has he spoken to you?” I ask.

“Do you really think he’s that stupid to talk to me about it? I’m married to your sister. As far as I know, he’s going to stay out of your way, as long as you stay out of his. I mean it, E. Stay out of it. I understand you want his head on a plate in replacement of your father’s, but he’ll be a much better ally. You’ll need these going forward.”

“My father had those, remember? It didn’t do him much good.”

“Time to move forward, or you’re going to drag down those around you, including Lily and your sister. I won’t allow her to go down with you. Don’t make me your enemy. I will have her hatred over her death every day. Remember that.”

“When this is over, she’ll be able to come home and be Claire again. Don’t you want that for her?” I ask.

“Yes. But she’s always been Claire to me. No matter what happens. I hope whatever plan you have works. Remember what I said about Logan. He’s better to have in your corner,” he says before hanging up the phone.

I sit there for a while before annoyance eats away at me, and I leave for the hotel bar. What’s the point of owning a hotel if I can’t sit and drink for free?

“Tell me, what did you find on the others to have them agree to let you live?” Logan asks, sitting down on the barstool next to me. Aside from the bartender, we’re the only ones here.

“Come to ruin my peace and quiet?” I inquire before taking a drink.

“You’ve been dead for years. Have you not had enough of that?” he asks, calling over the bartender with a wave. “I’ll have what he’s having. Thanks.”

“Not when it concerns you,” I answer.

“I’m a little hurt I wasn’t the first one you visited on your return back to life.”

“We all have to live life with disappointment. Next time hold your breath as you wait for me. That should do the trick.”

He laughs as the bartender drops the drink off. “Give us the bottle,” he says, pulling out his card and sliding it over the bar top. Once the bottle clinks on the metal, Logan gives the man a look, and he finds somewhere else to be. “Glad to see your humor didn’t die with you. I could have told them you were alive months ago.”

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