Page 16 of Sweet Lies

“I love you, Bec. I always have.” I push the words from between my tight lips and know it will be both our undoing. Footsteps have us both glancing around hastily.

“Go,” I order.

She opens her mouth. Before she can say a word, I step forward and push her away. “Now. No one can know,” I say, harshly this time. I try not to let her look of hurt cause me guilt as she rushes away. I did the right thing by sending her out. Nothing good will come of any of them knowing we kissed.

“Hey. Where have you been?” Elijah asks, drinks in hand. He hands me one while he waits for my response.

“You know, just about,” I mutter, taking a needed drink.

“Kissing the maid’s kid again, were you?” he says, laughing.

“Something like that. Let’s go shooting. I could do with letting some steam out.”

“You could always find the chick you were just kissing and blow steam off that way,” he replies, laughing.

Concealing my facial expression, I laugh—though it’s the last thing I feel like doing.

He can never know what just happened. No one can. I wasn’t lying to her when I said she’s the princess in the tower. And I am anything but a prince. She deserves to get out of this life. That’s what Elijah and Claire are planning for her; she just doesn’t know it yet.

I’ve done many terrible things in my brief time on this earth, but tying Rebecca to this life would be the worst of all. She needs to be free, and I’ll do everything in my power to give her that, even if it means never having her in my life the way I want her to be. Maybe that can be my redemption. Or perhaps she’ll be my own personal hell.

I push the thought away as we move on to the shooting range. I don’t need Elijah picking up on anything else. I need to keep Rebecca Rossi far away from my mind and body. Even if it hurts her, that’s what I’ll do. It’s what best for her. One day she’ll see.

ChapterFive

REBECCA

Seven Years Later

Running my fingers along the banister, I climb the stairs. No dust appears on my fingertips. It’s spotless, as is the rest of the house. I made sure of that; everything should be immaculate. While everyone else in my family concerns themselves with the business outside the home, the house is my domain. It was what I took pride in. After my mother’s death years earlier, Claire threw herself into training, and Elijah focused on taking over the family business. I took over the house and everyone else’s schedules.

Even with the schedules, there are so many code names and places used in case the police demand the records that I can only make heads or tails of a few. But I take comfort in knowing where everyone is at any given time. It gives me the control I need.

Because I take care of the schedules, I’m surprised when I run into my father coming down the large wooden stairs as I went up.

“Are you leaving?” I ask. We’d planned to have breakfast together this morning, but he looks like he’s on his way out. He’s dressed in a suit and has several men behind him. It’s odd for him to break his word, even over something as simple as eating a meal together. His belief has always been that if someone goes back on the small things, what will stop them from going back on the large deals as well?

His dark eyes widen in surprise. I can tell by the hard edge of his mouth that his mind’s on business. His suit is pressed to perfection and there are weapons on his body—some visible, others well hidden under his dark clothes.

“Yes, my dear. I’m sorry, I’ll have to take a rain check for breakfast. I have a meeting with Daniel Ferrari.”

“I thought that was in a couple of days?”

“It was. But it changed. Some things can’t be helped. I won’t be long.” He kisses me on the cheek. “Elijah will be back from his trip soon, and Claire should be here at some point. She and Mike are supposed to come over to go over some wedding plans.” He frowned. “I still don’t like the guy.”

I laugh. “No one will ever be good enough for Claire. At least his background check came back clean.”

Claire had brought Mike home a year ago, and it was a shocker—Claire, the ice queen, was in love. But I like Mike—he’s a good fit for Claire.

My brother and dad have a different opinion. They would never approve of anyone for Claire, even if they’d picked them, but I’m delighted my sister got to choose her husband. I thought for sure her marriage would be to seal an alliance. It sends some unease through my body because that’s one less alliance for the family, so I know my chances of selecting my husband are growing slimmer. But that’s a selfish thought, and I quickly banish it to the back of my mind.

He appears unconvinced, but there’s no way he left any stones unturned. “Yes. I don’t think anyone would be good enough for you or your sister. Time will tell how he does in the family.”

Mike was a civilian in the world of mobsters. While I’m happy for Claire, I was as shocked as anyone that she’s marrying him. It must be love, because I’m sure she’s getting hell from both our dad and brother over the fact that’s one less alliance that can be made. If she were part of any other family, this wouldn’t be happening. She’s lucky our father believes in love and had found it with our mom—otherwise, she’d be getting a very different ending.

“Will you call me when you finish?” I ask. It always makes me nervous when he goes to meetings, and this one has my stomach in knots. I don’t like the fact that neither Claire nor Elijah is going to be there. Our men are good, and I trust them, but I always feel better when one of my siblings goes with him.

“Of course. We’ll try to do lunch. I don’t think it will last long.”

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