Page 7 of Twisted Lies

“Oh, goodie. Go get your frustration out on some poor soul; maybe it will improve your mood.”

“The poor soul stole a two-million-dollar painting.”

“Either way, hopefully, it improves your personality.”

“I wouldn’t hold your breath.”

“Don’t worry, I never do,” she chirps, hitting me on the back of my head with the newspaper.

“I’ll see you later,Mia.”

“Have a good day at the office, bro.” She laughs, and I smirk, enjoying the banter.

I’m sure Lily will only last a couple weeks, then move on. I only have to avoid her for a few weeks, and then I’ll get Claire to hire someone who will fit in with our life. Maybe someone’s grandmother. I’ll speak to James about it today—only a few weeks.

ChapterTwo

ELIJAH

One Year Later

Christmas. What was once my favorite holiday is now clouded by shit. It is always a reminder of everything we lost. Thankfully Becca’s birth has made some happy memories to compete with the bad ones. If someone told me I would be celebrating with Alex Moretti, I would have shot them. Taking another large sip of my drink, I contemplate my life at the moment.

Two years after joining Connor, I got the call from Cole—my inside man in Adrian’s empire. He’s hated the Regio family for years, ever since they got his sister killed, so from time to time, he feeds me updates. When he told me Adrian died from cancer I didn’t know how to react. Of all the ways I pictured his death, it wasn’t cancer. I still can’t decide if it was a fitting end or not. Either way, he’s in hell where he belongs. I’ve had to remove him from my revenge plans.Pity.

Alex got thrown back into our lives a few months ago. That was a surprise for us all. He had no idea we were alive, which was the point, nor did he know he had a daughter. I preferred staying dead, but Claire and Becca seem happy.At least someone in this family gets some happiness.I don’t hate Alex’s guts as much as before. I like to think that’s progress. He married Claire a few months ago to get her out of a worse arrangement. I thought for sure it would last a week before Claire killed him, but she’s never seemed happier.

Returning to the present, I picture Lily and grin. I have not seen her in an hour.She must be hiding. I savor the idea of her dodging me. It means I affect her more than she lets on. Messing with her is more fun than I’ve had in years. It’s too easy to ruffle her feathers. She’s been living with us for over a year, helping Claire with Becca.

I hate to say it, but she’s been growing on me. I caught her under the mistletoe earlier and just had to kiss her. I wasn’t expecting her to kiss me back, nor the immediate response of my body. I want more. I need more. For a moment, with her kiss, my mind settled. She smacked me right after and ran off. I called after her. What, I can’t recall. I’m sure it was dense since she glared back.

Claire comes into the room, practically dancing in happiness, and sits on the couch. I have to stop myself from rolling my eyes at her contagious happiness. Claire, Becca, and Alex are all color coordinated like the mafia Brady bunch. With Claire in a red dress, Alex in a bright green holiday sweater that I could not help giving him shit about earlier, and Becca in a red and green dress that she keeps spinning in from room to room. I had come down in dark colors prematurely in the night, and Claire practically took my head off with a spoon. She threw me my Christmas present early and told me to change. Come to find out; it was the same horrendous sweater Alex was wearing. I’m never going to live this outfit down. Alex’s smirk when he saw me told me all I needed to know. He knew this would happen and that’s why he took the crap I gave him in such good nature. He got his revenge and photo evidence.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask, setting the empty glass on the coffee table.

“That you should leave some for Santa.”

“Ha. He should be happy with the cookies. Really, what are you thinking?” I ask, moving forward in my seat.

“Just how everything has worked out. It’s odd.”

“It is.” I stand to refill my drink. “I miss them.” I thought I spoke only in my mind, but she nods at my words. “But things have worked out. Alex is not too bad. I still want to knock him out most days, but just for a few hours.”

“Progress.”

“Progress,” I say, lifting my drink in a cheers motion. I’m mid-sip when the doorbell rings. “Who the hell is here now?” I moan, moving toward the door. Claire stands and moves behind me to see who it could be. We’re not expecting anyone till morning.

I pull open the door and choke. I can’t recall the last time I had such a gut reaction. I’m always in control of my emotions and actions; at this moment, I know I’ve lost all control. It feels as if I’ve been hit by a train and am still riding on the front. I grip the door handle till my hand goes white.

I can’t.

This can’t.

She can’t.

It’s impossible.

My body goes into shock, along with my brain. If this were a deer in headlights situation, I would be flat on the concrete. Maybe I’m having a stroke. Maybe I died and haven’t realized it. This is hell. Someone sent this vision to torture me. Claire inches around my body.

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