Page 43 of Twisted Lies

“I know. Why didn’t you?”

“I wasn’t in the mood.” This translates toI have a completely different game I’m playing. Sounds more like Logan.

“What game are you playing?” I question.

“Where’s the fun in just telling you? Don’t worry. It won’t affect your end goals. We stay out of each other’s way, and both get what we want.”

“I don’t trust you.”

“Good thing I didn’t ask you to. I just said stay out of my way,” he mocks, lifting the glass to his lips and finishing his drink. Pushing the bottle toward me, he adds, “Enjoy the rest.”

“Always a pleasure, Logan,” I call after him. Pouring more into the glass, I’m thankful to be left to my thoughts. My mind drifts from memories of the past to the future. It can’t seem to make a decision where it wants to land. Instead of fighting it, I just let it wander; maybe something will trigger a better plan. I have a plan B and C, but nothing wrong with having a plan D. By the time the bottle only has one glass left in it, my mind wanders to the darker parts of my past.

It took my father’s men longer to find him than I thought. He was able to hide for a while, but it was only a matter of time. The moment he stole money from us, he was living on borrowed time.

The man looks with wide eyes. His body is broken, along with what little spirit he had started the evening. My father’s men gather around almost in a circle. I feel hard eyes watching my every move and expression. This is the moment that will define everything moving forward. If I flinch, it will be remembered. It will show weakness, and now is not the time. They need to know I’m one of them and that one day I’ll be the one leading them.

My father steps to my side, and I know it’s time. He hands me the gun without a word. His eyes are hard, and I know I have no choice. If I don’t do this, I will both disappoint and embarrass him. That, I can never do. Once more, I look into the man’s eyes, knowing that I’ll always remember him. I know one day they will blend together, but not this man. Not this night. He is my first kill. The man is broken to the point that he leans toward me to finish the job. Lifting the hard, heavy metal, I count to three. Without blinking or moving, I pull the trigger. He falls to the ground, dead. I hand the gun back to my father, but he waves it away.

“It’s yours. You’ve earned it tonight.” With the deed done, the others turn amongst themselves. I rest the gun at my side. I’m thankful eyes are no longer on me; my hands shake. The only inkling that I feel anything by my actions tonight.

ChapterSixteen

LILY

Waking the next day, I look for Elijah, but he’s long gone. Pacing the room, I debate what to do. I don’t want to be stuck here all day while he’s doing whatever the hell he’s doing, but I know he’ll be pissed if I leave without him.

My phone starts to ring, and I jog to the bedside table and unplug it from the charger. “M…Claire. Everything okay?” I need to get used to their real names.

“Yes. I was calling to make sure you’ve not pushed my brother out a window. How are things progressing?”

“I think good. Your brother doesn’t give too much away.”

She laughs. “No, he does not. He’s at a meeting this morning.”

“Of course he is. It would have been nice if he had given me a heads up.”

“Feel free to give him hell when he returns. Any good plans for the day?” she asks.

“I think I’m going to wander. Elijah showed me a few places the other day. If I’m going to be here for a month, I want to get my bearings,” I state, making my decision. Elijah can just get over it. I’ll be back before him anyway.

“Just be safe. I’ll make a call and have someone go with you.”

“That’s not needed.”

“I know you think it’s not, but I would feel better if you had at least one man. Elijah would have my head if he found out,” she argues. She has a point, but I’m not too fond of the thought of having someone follow me all day. It happened a couple of times in Chicago when things arose, but here it feels different; it feels more intimate. “You won’t even know they’re there,” Claire adds. Based on her tone, I don’t have a say. I chat with her while I get my coat and purse, hoping that she’ll forget to make the call, but I know she won’t. We hang up as I exit through the hotel doors. I don’t have a destination in mind. I’ll go in and out of stores, maybe just do some window shopping. I don’t notice eyes on my back till the third store. Claire found her bodyguard.

Returning to the hotel room a couple of hours later, I find Elijah typing on his laptop. “I heard you did some exploring,” he states, not glancing up from the keys.

“Yes. I was going crazy sitting here all day. How were the meetings?” I ask, sliding on the couch next to him.

“Thankfully, just fine. We discussed what each family has been doing the past few years and looked at the maps to see where each cut off. I already had a good idea, but it was good to confirm my knowledge.”

“Are you going to get the same area back?”

“Yes. That is without question. I’m also gaining some. I need to take a look around and do more research to see what I want to claim.”

“Are you concerned at all that they’re so easy going about all this?” I ask, picking at my nails.

---