Page 47 of Twisted Lies

“Good.” She nods as we move down the hall to our rooms.

Rebecca had always been the quiet but observant sibling. She had also been the most sensitive to the point if our father yelled at someone on the phone when we were young, she would burst into tears. Our mom called her our little empath. She’s the most sensitive; she’s also the most compassionate. If any of us were having a rough day, she was the first one to notice and try to help. She was a good person. A great person, really. Nick was in for a world of hurt.

My uncles ask me about Nick’s black eye a couple of days later. It seems he didn’t rat me out to his father. I give him some points for that but not enough to change my opinion of him. I tell them the truth, knowing it would stay between us. They understand why I did it. He insulted my sister. There was only one thing I could do. I will also look after my sisters even if they don’t want me to, or in Rebecca’s case, need me to.

The phone rings once more before I can put it back in my pocket, returning to the here and now. It’s James.

“Hello.”

“He knows.” I don’t need to ask who. I already know it’s Connor. James’ voice sounds gruff.

“What did he do to you?” I ask.

“Beat the shit out of me. But I’m alive by some act of God. Sean stepped in and pointed out that killing me wouldn’t buy him any points with you. Connor did hit harder after that, but then he thought about it. I guess the tide has changed.”

“I’m sorry to get you in a mess. I owe you.” Without his help years ago, Claire and I would have been worse off than we already were. He brought me into Connor’s fold. I knew once Connor found out, James would be in the line of fire. My gut twists, knowing I was the cause of his pain. I never wanted him to get hurt.

“I made my choice, old friend. We all have to live with the choices we make. I wanted to warn you to expect a call. Or worse.”

“Thank you. You should come here. I could use a man like you.”

“I’m a walking dead man. We both know that. It may not be today or the next, but Connor will never let this go.”

“Come here, and I’ll make sure Connor doesn’t touch you,” I vow.

“I appreciate it, but I made my bed. I’ve got to lie in it. Decide how you want to handle Connor. He won’t take kindly to being made a fool of, but he’s also not an idiot. He could use your connection. You have the power now. Don’t let it go.” With that final warning, the call ends. When Connor calls, I already know what I’ll say. He’ll be simple enough to deal with. I’ll find a way to get James out in one piece. Stepping back into the office space, I find the agent waiting.

“What do you think?” the real estate agent says, circling the space. Plastering a smile on, I turn to face her. The top of her dress has magically become lower in the amount of time I left her to take the call. In the past, she would have appealed to me. She’s slim with dark hair and bright eyes that shine intelligence, with a hint of cunning. But now I only have one woman on my mind. The woman I can’t allow myself to keep.

“I’ll take it. It’s perfect for my needs.”

“What price?” she asks, clicking her pen, stepping closer with a look the Cheshire Cat would be proud of.

“Full,” I state, and watch as she tries to collect herself.

“Six point five million?”

“Yes. I don’t want it to get away. It’s perfect for my plans.”

“I’ll get the offer in right away.” She steps closer and opens her mouth to add something, but I slide past her. I need to get going. I want to celebrate with only one person tonight, and it’s not Penny, the real estate agent.

“Send me the paperwork,” I call over my shoulder, pushing the elevator bottom. It takes a few seconds for it to reach the fifteenth floor. After retrieving the money my father had hidden away in offshore accounts, this was the first purchase of many since I’ve been back in town. I started buying years ago. Small things, but it was time to open the floodgates. I need businesses that can make money legally, and places I can use for my own less legal needs. Just as I slide into the back of the SUV, Connor’s name flashes across my screen.

“I must be popular,” I state in the way of greeting.

“I’m sure you are. It’s not every day the dead walk amongst us.”

My laugh is tense. “I guess not. For whatever it’s worth, I never meant to betray you. I did what was best for my family at the time. Surely, you can understand that. You would have killed us if you had known.”

“You are correct. Now what am I to do with you?” he asks, and I hear the ice rattling in his drink.

“Let me make up for what you have done for me throughout the years. Let’s be partners in a sense. I like how you do business. I respect you. I like to think you respected Kevin; maybe you’ll find you feel the same about Elijah.”

“Time will tell. I’ve thought about all the different ways this could play out,” he states. “For this to work, you need more men.”

“I’ve found it’s not always the number of men that makes the difference, but the loyalties of the men,” I respond.

“True. I will send twenty men. You make the decision about what to do with them. In return, I expect something when this is all done. Something worth the last few years of my unknown protection and men.”

---