Page 75 of Wicked Lies

“It shouldn’t have come to this.” Carlos held the gun with both hands like it was too heavy.

“What the fuck?”

“Frank warned you so many times.” Carlos’s shoulders sagged, his voice a conflicted mix of anger and frustration.

“He got you to do his dirty work?” Nick edged away, his hand skimming the top of the couch.

“He said he told you what would happen if you didn’t listen, but you went ahead with the club in Manhattan anyway.”

“So this is it, huh? All the help me and Samson gave you setting up the club here in Miami. Making sure you made a success.” The painful edge of betrayal cut through his words. “I even sponsored some of your family when they came from Cuba.”

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

“What’s he offering you? What’s my life worth? More money—”

“I do this or he kills Alejandro.”

“Shit, he sure does know how to fuck with people.”

“I was in the middle.” Carlos shouted. “What was I supposed to do?”

Frank having Carlos do the job really hit hard. The psychotic bastard always found the weakest link to drive his point home.

“Yeah, you set me up good. Meeting with me, giving me false hope, and all the while getting ready to stab me in the fuckin’ back. You invited me to the club last night, then had me rousted by the cops. You played it real cool. I’ll give you that.”

“Frank didn’t contact me until last night. Much later after you already left the club. He threatened my family.” Carlos’ voice caught. “Don’t you see? The kind of people Alejandro associates with, it would be easy to have him killed. I had no choice.”

Nick’s gaze flitted to the bedroom, willing Cheryl to stay in there.

The storm raged louder as gales of wind slapped rain against the windows. A shock of lightning flashed, and Carlos flinched.

“What’s the matter?” Nick taunted. “Not as easy as you thought it would be?”

Nick could’ve overpowered Carlos in a fair fight, but unarmed in a gun fight, Nick would come up the loser.

“Nick?”

Carlos spun around to the sound of Cheryl’s voice, but kept the gun trained on Nick. Cheryl, entering the room still wrapped in her robe, was not the diversion he’d hoped for. He cut her a look that said,Get the hell outta here.

Carlos waved the gun at Cheryl. “Why don’t you ask her why the cops showed up?”

Nick stiffened. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Apparently, Frank called her right after you got down here.” Carlos spat out the words. “Offered her a sweet deal.”

Nick jerked his head to Cheryl. “Did Frank call you?”

The guilt etched across her face floored him.

“Yes, but—”

“I couldn’t believe it either.” Carlos waved the gun in Cheryl’s direction.

“Frank called you?” Nick’s throat tightened, and suddenly being held at gunpoint meant nothing. “Youset me up?”

“Nick, let me explain,” Cheryl pleaded.

Carlos smirked. “You of all people getting conned by a beautiful woman.”

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