Page 37 of His Deadly Lies

She’s gone for only a moment before she returns, and one of our housekeepers escorts a young woman into the room.

The interviewer gawks around the space, her eyes wide and blue and taking in the scenery. “This is outstanding,” she murmurs under her breath like no one would be able to hear her. “Wow, what a house. And you actually get to live here?” She turns her megawatt smile on me. “Oh, gosh, Mia Balestra. It’s an honor, really. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“Charmed,” I say with only a hint of dryness and immediately shut that down.

It’s not the girl’s fault we’re here.

She seems different from the picture I had in my head. Not a hawk-eyed, sharp-tongued Barbara Walters type but fresh-faced. College age, if I had to guess, with a shock of blue streaking down one side of her hair and the rest dyed a raven black. Yes, very different from a lifestyle interviewer.

“My name is Alice Charfulle. I just started working for Erie Lifestyle magazine, and this is my first big piece for their lifestyle section. They’ve really let me off the leash for this one as long as I promised that I wouldn’t make this a typical social study. A fluff piece,” Alice explains.

She jerks her arm out in front of me, and for a moment, I stare at it, unsure of what she wants me to do.

Finally, I reach out to shake the offered hand, but her grip is soft and weak. I make it a point not to squeeze her harder in response. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Alice.” Smiling, I continue with, “I’m sure I speak for both Ricardo and myself when I tell you we are quite excited for news of our engagement to reach Lifestyle readers.”

Yeah, right.

Ricardo leans to the side to press a kiss against my temples, and although his lips are warm and plump, my gaze flicks over to Carter just in time to see his scowl deepen.

“Where do you want me to—oh, ha! I see the chair. Thank you. No, it’s no trouble, thank you. I’m just excited.” Alice seems a little scattered even as Mama and our housekeeper help her into the chair directly behind her knees.

Ricardo's arm over my shoulder does not shift, but his fingers press into my skin above my bicep. A small display of annoyance he wants me to feel as we both watch Alice settle herself down and waste our time with her nerves.

“Now,” Alice says with a smile once she’s finally seated with her voice recorder at the ready. “Tell me more about this whirlwind romance of yours. It seems to me that the two of you have not been linked in public before now. Have things been developing long in private?”

“We’ve seen each other, yes, and we’ve done a lovely job of keeping our relationship private until this point. We just adore the thought of sharing our love with the world. Don’t we, dearest?” Ricardo takes hold of the conversation with ease, his grip on the reins tight.

Leaving me with no further job than to work on my impression of a trophy wife. He plays an excellent match through all of the typical questions.

“I think it’s sweet that you both value your privacy in the same way. Although I’ve got to say that you make a lovely couple. Both of you are so young, so good-looking.” Alice is staring at Ricardo and about two seconds away from fanning herself with her hand.

I have to remember to sound like the version of me that she thinks I am. Vapid, flighty, absolutely enamored with Ricardo. And I have to wonder how much he is acting too.

The interview goes well, my attention divided between Alice and Carter the entire time.

What does he think of all this?

Is he calling bullshit on the interview too?

The interview lasts a grand total of thirty minutes. We’re just starting to wrap up when Alice leans forward, her elbows on her knees, her gaze penetrating. “I’ve just got one more question for you, Miss Balestra.” She narrows her eyes. “What can you tell me about your family’s history with drug smuggling and arms dealing?”

11

MIA

Well. Holy shit.

Alice is either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. I’m so shocked I’m having a hard time deciding which one. I’m leaning more toward the second one because it takes a giant pair of balls to ask that kind of question, especially here. In our house.

I’ve always thought it’s impossible to have a completely impenetrable cover story. People get curious, and there’s only so much people can do to cover their tracks.

It’s impossible to fully erase the truth, after all.

Beside me, Ricardo stills. His fingers bite down deep enough to leave bruises.

In the silence, I let out a ditzy laugh. “Seriously, Alice? Don’t tell me you’re buying into rumors? I’ve heard the same kind of thing from a few other people, and it screams gossip.” Condescension drips from every syllable.

“Most people are happy to accept the whispers as nothing but a rumor and go on,” Alice insists. “Not me. I’m not willing to back down. It also seems to me that it’s awfully convenient for no mention of your relationship to slip, and all of a sudden, you’re engaged to each other.” She leans back in her chair. “Call it a reporter’s intuition.”

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