Page 60 of Sweet Lies

“At least someone in this room has common sense,” Claire bursts out, huffing in irritation. “Now that everyone is standing, let’s have a normal family discussion. With open minds,” she adds, sending Elijah and I a glare.

“I much prefer our style of family discussion. At this moment, I have men standing outside your business ready to burn it to the ground,” he tells me.

Hissing, I step toward him.

“Elijah…” Claire starts, but he lifts his hand, silencing her.

Now Claire has run out of cards. He’s all business, and she knows better than to intervene.

“What do you want?” I ask. He wouldn’t hold it over me if he needed something. He would just have had it burned down if that was the point. Elijah, as per usual, has multiple motives.

“It’s only a matter of time before someone else finds out you’re alive as well.”

“Not necessarily. I’ve been able to stay under the radar this long,” I reply.

“That was before we came back, and you made a spectacle of yourself. Youwillbe found out, and when that happens, you’ll be used against us.”

“Not if they learn I was the one who shot you. They’ll think you want rid of me,” I point out.

“Excellent theory, but I highly doubt it. They know I’d intervene; otherwise, it would make me appear weak.”

“So what’s the plan?” Claire asks, wanting to get to the point.

“The plan is we come out as one single unit. We are the Rossi siblings, after all. All together again. We come out strong and unbreakable. No one sees us as anything other than a team. Daniel Ferrari’s daughter Luna is getting married at their old summer home in Connecticut. Claire and I have been invited. You come with us, along with Andre.”

“That isn’t part of the deal,” Andre barks.

“I’m paying you for your time—why do you care what capacity it’s in?” Elijah snaps.

I feel a rush of heat as Andre glances at me for a second. I know he wants to leave and never look back—there’s too much history between us. I have to wonder how many other women he’s spent his time with since he left me. I grow angry at the thought and remind myself he was never and will never be mine. I have no reason to be upset. And yet, the familiar feeling of jealousy burns in the pit of my stomach.

“It matters because I’m not your errand boy,” Andre spits back.

Elijah takes a menacing step forward as he pulls the gun from his back and aims. “There was a time you swore allegiance to the Rossi family. Is that no longer the case?”

Andre’s fingers twitch, and I know he’s also thinking of pulling his gun. But if that happens, no one is making it out of this house—instead, his hand stills.

“Times have changed. We’re not who we once were. I’ll help you because I owe you that much, but after that, I make no promise to stay. If you can’t accept that, you better end it now.”

“I’ll accept it.” Elijah puts his gun back. “For now.”

He looks back at me. “What do you say, Rebecca? Are you willing to play happy families? Who knows, you may remember why you once loved us.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that outcome. You’re blackmailing me.”

“And you shot me. Stories for the Thanksgiving table. Your answer, Bec, before I call my men.”

“You’re not giving me a choice,” I seethe. I can’t let my business go up in flames. I have the capital to reopen, but that would take time and leave me out in the open, along with my friends.

“We all have a choice, Rebecca. It’s simply a matter of making the correct one. Your answer?” he demands once more, and I know this is the last time he’ll ask before making the call.

“I’ll play the role if you promise to pardon me for shooting you and leave me alone for the rest of our days.”

Claire looks ready to argue the last part, but Elijah once more silences her with a glance. “Done. We do this for Dad and our legacy. Once it’s over, you can have everything you ever wanted and be gone from this life. You’ll never hear from Claire or me, and we expect the same from you.”

“On my blood,” I respond.

Claire gasps and I see Andre’s eye twitch. As expected, there’s no reaction from my brother—he just pulls a knife from his side and slices his palm before handing it to me, and I follow suit. I pass the knife back to him, and he grabs hold of my hand, holding tight while our blood merges. Two Rossi siblings making a deal, an agreement that can’t be broken without both our agreements. Once this is over, we’ll never see each other again—exactly what we both want.

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