Page 90 of Sweet Lies

Even as the thought crosses my mind, I know it’s a lie born out of anger. I don’t regret my choices, or at least the outcome of them. I’m on track to rebuild my relationships with both my siblings and, hell, maybe even having something more with Andre than we’d ever thought possible. I probably shouldn’t have gone about it by trying to kill my brother; nevertheless, the outcome could have been worse.

Finally, the car stops, and I prepare myself for whatever happens next. I won’t go back to being captive. I’ll die first—by their hands or my own. I’m Rebecca Rossi and I’m no one’s prisoner.

The trunk pops open, revealing Sebastian’s face.

“Bec, we need to stop meeting like this.” He grins evilly.

“You have a death wish. You should have stayed underground and escaped while you could.”

“You have such faith that your brother will come to your rescue? Do you truly believe he’s forgiven you for almost killing him? How sure are you he doesn’t hope you die so he can cross one more problem off his list?”

Doubt enters my mind for a split second before I push it away. “Even if that’s true, your fate is still sealed. He’ll never let the person that killed me live,” I taunt, letting him believe whatever he wants. I know the truth.

“You know, I knew your twin,” I tell him.

Shock enters his eyes, as if he’d forgotten all about his brother. He’d been killed years earlier, and by all accounts, it almost destroyed Sebastian. Sebastian had always had problems with addiction, but he’d spiraled after his twin’s death.

“Yes, I met him at a few events. He was kind. He spoke highly of you. I wonder what he would say now…”

His breathing quickens, and I see a wounded look enter his eyes. I’m hoping this distraction will give Elijah and Claire more time to find us, but my time seems to be up—his gaze hardens and he pulls me out of the trunk.

“When you see him, tell him hi,” he hisses in my face, shoving me to the ground.

* * *

Like daylight slowly slipping through a window, my eyes start to flutter open and, gradually, the scene forms fully before me. My head feels heavy, and my hand drifts to the knot forming on my forehead.There are several men in the bedroom. Slowly, I stand.

“What’s your plan?”

I watch as Sebastian paces the space, his eyes wild, as if he’s on something. His eyes were clearer earlier on.

“He’ll be here soon,” he mutters.

“Who?”

“He owes me money. Once I have that, we’ll be far away. Where they’ll never find us.”

“Why take me? Why not just leave?”

“Because you and I are the same—or at least I thought we were. We both hated them so much. But you,youturned your back on the plan. Going back to them,” he yells, swinging his arms wildly. “They will pay. When you remember what they did to you, we’ll return and take them all down.”

“Why take the girl?”

“Because that’s what he wanted in exchange for the money. He wanted to know he could take something from them.”

“Who?”

“It doesn’t matter. He won’t matter after today.”

My eyes drift to the other men. “When they come for me, you’ll all be dead.”

Sebastian moves quickly, so I don’t have time to move before he slaps me across the face, yelling at me to shut up. The blow sends me reeling backward.

“Whatever he’s paying you isn’t enough.”

“I. Said. Shut. It!” he screams in my face, his hands digging into my shoulders as he shakes me like I’m a rag doll.

The men in this room were hired. They hold no loyalty to him and we both know it.

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