Page 46 of Sweet Lies

The two years after I saw Claire and Elijah at the restaurant were years of rebirth. I forced myself to become a warrior and hardened myself. I made myself invincible. No one else could ever take credit for my metamorphosis. Everything I am I forced myself to become.

After Andre left, I killed two more on my list before retiring it. I took them both out at the same house—they were drunk when they answered the door, so all I had to do was slip in and pull the trigger. It was almost too easy. I followed what my brother and Andre had taught me about getting rid of bodies, and it was as if the crime had never happened.

They didn’t haunt my dreams—none of them did. The part of me that would once have felt guilt was long gone. I had allowed myself to be dragged into the sea of darkness—had let myself slip under without fighting it.

My darkness called to others of my kind though. Ones who had been hurt and destroyed but still lived. Ones who let the darkness move them forward and not back. I thought it would be hard to find others like me, but it turned out they’d always been there; I’d just never looked.

There’s no leader in our group. I know the others sometimes look to me more than they should, but I have no interest in leading them. I don’t want the responsibility. I like our merry little band the way it is—lawless and leaderless.

The door to my office squeaks open, and Julian’s blond head peaks in.

“Yes?” I ask before my eyes drop back to my paperwork.

I met Julian a week after Andre left. At the time, he had nowhere to live, and I’d just bought a house with the money Andre had gifted me. It was an old home that needed repairs. In return for board, he updated the house. He’s only a couple of years older than me, but he seems much younger. He has this careful joy for life that I find addictive. He’s the one in the meeting making the jokes and finding the bright side. In a way he reminds me of who I used to be. He doesn’t talk about his past and asks nothing about mine—we have a silent agreement to leave our history in the past.

“Rebecca, Billy is gambling. I thought you’d want to know.”

“Of course he is.” I roll my eyes. “He didn’t take the hint last time.”

Juliet only left a few days ago, and I’m determined to handle the business all on my own. She deserves to enjoy her retirement without calls from me. Juliet has her share of secrets, but she’s the closest thing to family I have now.

The hall’s clientele is a mix of all types, from the lowest of the low all the way up to politicians. All are welcome if they have the money. Most come because of our level of security and ability to keep secrets. They don’t want people to know where they are, and that I can offer them—as long as they can pay.

Billy no longer can. I’ve given him a few weeks to pay off his debt, but he’s only halfway there. Time is slipping away for him, and I bet he’s here in the hope he can win the rest of the payment. But his luck has just run out.

“What do you want to do?” Julian asks.

Rubbing my hand against my forehead, I debate. A dead man can’t pay me back, but I can’t afford to gain a reputation for allowing non-payment. Billy just happens to be my example.

“Take him downstairs. I’ll be there shortly. Have Leo get started.”

He seems surprised but says nothing—just nods and backs out the door.

If he disagreed with my decision, all he had to do was say so. I’m not the leader, and I don’t make the final choice in everything. That’s what I tell myself anyway. Being a leader is more responsibility than I want—and would make me far too similar to my siblings.

Fifteen minutes pass before I force myself to stand. This is the part of the business I hate the most. I’ve always made a point about what happens if you can’t pay your debts back, which has saved me time. Those who come in know the rules. Well, all except Billy, it seems.

The hall is broken up into different rooms based on the games and the size of the stakes. The high hitter’s room is filled with rich colors, like gold.

I nod to the familiar faces as I pass, weaving in and out of groups and games, then head down the long hall past the bathroom and descend to the lower level, then lock the door behind me.

I see Leo first and then Ben. Leo is hard to miss, being well over six feet and incredibly broad. He always seems to take up all the space in the room. He makes a great bodyguard, except for the fact he hates violence. He’s a giant cuddly bear and the one person I don’t need in this room right now. Ben, on the other hand, is slim and fast. He can go from zero to one hundred instantly and has no issues inflicting pain.

“Leo, thank you for bringing Billy down. We’ll be right out,” I say, dismissing him.

He clears his throat. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” he asks.

“No.” I almost laugh at the look of relief on his face. “I need you back at the door. This won’t take long.”

He doesn’t need another invitation to leave. Once the door shuts behind him, I turn to Billy and Ben. Billy’s face is turning black and blue. His left eye is swollen shut. His hair is sticking to the sticky blood that’s dripping down his face while he breathes sharply.

Ben stands a few steps away, appearing bored; he’s my top blackjack dealer and a damn good gunman. He could give Claire and Elijah a run for their money.

I bend down, and he flinches as I get closer.

“Ben here thinks you’re never going to pay and that you’re wasting our time, and I hate having my time wasted. On the other hand, I have a little more faith in you. Not much, but just enough to give you five more days to get me the money. If not, well, your face will be the least of your worries. Do we have an understanding?”

He nods slowly, the pain evident.

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