Desperate Lies (Lies 2)

Her tied up.

I shake my head like a magic eight ball, like I can just shake away my thoughts.

I start typing the name on the driver’s license into the computer while I scroll through the phone, finding his most called numbers.

The first number is labeled ‘Mom,’ so I ignore it.

But the second number has no name associated with it.

This is going to be too easy. I really could use a challenge someday. Maybe that’s half the reason I decided to go after Liesel’s inheritance.

My head falls back in frustration against the headboard.

I only wish I were just looking for a challenge, and that’s why I need Liesel’s money. Then I could step away whenever I wanted.

I take a deep breath and then open my eyes. The top search of Edgar Jacobs lists him as a car salesman. Clearly, he’s not. It’s a front. Just like the bars Enzo and Kai own are fronts for their business. Places that look like normal businesses, but are really the offices of a criminal organization if you look closely.

I’m ninety-nine percent sure that I’ve found the location of the man who ordered the attack.

I hit call on the nameless number in Edgar’s phone.

“Is it done?” a man answers.

Jesus, this is too easy.

“Yep, I killed every single one of your pathetic men.”

Silence.

I think he might have hung up, but apparently, this idiot really thought he had a chance to bring me down.

“Now that I have your attention…” I brush the dirt off my nails, barely even thinking about this conversation. My voice holds enough of a threat to let this man know that I’m serious. “…you will not attack me again.

“I now have men monitoring your every movement. If you do anything out of the ordinary, if I suspect in any way that you are going to attack and come after me again, then I will have you killed. Along with everyone who works for you, everyone you love, everyone you’ve ever met. Do you understand, Mr. Tirkel?” I say as I pull up the name associated with his number on my computer.

He’s speechless, but his breathing is heavy and nasally, so I know he’s still on the line.

“Mr. Tirkel? I need confirmation that you heard me.”

“I—uh—I heard you.”

“This is your only warning. And you should know that I don’t give warnings often. The only reason you are getting one is because I don’t want to bother with sending someone to kill you. That’s how little you mean to me. But make one wrong step and I will.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. And oh, Mr. Tirkel? Next time you try to take down a stronger man than yourself, don’t send your men in to fight for you. Grow some balls, man up and fight yourself. If you’re not capable of doing that, then you shouldn’t order the attack in the first place.”

I hang up the phone, putting no more thought to Mr. Tirkel.

He’s an idiot with no skills and no money. He won’t be attacking again. His attempt smelt of desperation. He needed money for his organization so badly that he was willing to try me.

I lean my head back again. The sun has begun to set.

I have a choice to make. Stay here with Phoenix and hope that Liesel obeys me by coming back tomorrow, or go out and search for Liesel myself before she slips through my fingers.

I’m pretty sure Liesel isn’t coming back. She may want answers, but she’s too stubborn to listen to anything I say. I should have told her to never come back, and then she might show up on my front door tomorrow.

But I’m not one hundred percent sure. She’s tired of the lies too. She wants answers as much as I do. Although, we each have our own reasons for wanting answers.