Truths and Lies Duet

“You owe our family something far more valuable than your worthless life,” Father tells him, his voice cold and cruel. “Do you agree?”

Niles, clearly eager to save his ass from death, nods emphatically. “I do. I’ll get you your money. Soon, Ezio.”

Father’s nostrils flare, his only tell at how disgusted he is to have to deal with Niles. “Money is of no issue. It’s a way we control people like you.” He sneers. “What I want is priceless to a man like you.”

Niles frowns, and his body stiffens. “And what is that?”

When Father glances my way, his eyes quickly assessing me, a cold chill numbs me to my bone. I don’t like feeling as though I’m a pawn in this game. I’m a power player. I own the fucking board right along with my father. His telling eyes state otherwise.

“Pérasma Hotel & Villas could use a little sunshine,” Father says, smirking at Niles. “I know my son could use a little warmth.”

Our Greek resort that’s a gateway to the Aegean Sea is known for its warm, picturesque location. While we may run darker business under our bright resort face, it’s never for a lack of sun. My father is talking in riddles and it infuriates me. We’re practically partners, and whatever game he’s been playing with Niles for years, I’m not on his team. It’s man against man, and I’m simply a weapon to be used.

Niles sucks in a sharp breath. “No.”

Father’s brow lifts high up his forehead. “No?”

No is not in Father’s vocabulary. I learned that from an early age.

“I, uh,” Niles stammers. “You know that’s unfair.”

The malevolence in my father’s eyes is enough to have Niles taking a step back. “Life is unfair,” Father tells Niles. “But at least you’ll have one. I believe this is the best you could ever hope for.”

And like a worm caught in a hawk’s beak, Niles squirms with unease.

He’ll devour you one day.

One simple nod is all it takes from Niles to seal their deal. Niles Nikolaides will live to see another day because he just negotiated something that is clearly very important to him.

Fucking fool.

Talia

“What’s here? A cup, closed in my true love’s hand?” I pluck the metal tumbler out of Alex’s still hand and bring it to my nose, sniffing the contents. “Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end. O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after?”

I drop to my knees on the hardwood floor and bow my head in a position of prayer. Tears prick my eyes as I glance up at the man before me, lying still in the tomb. “I will kiss thy lips. Haply some poison yet doth hang on them to make me die with a restorative.”

Crawling into the tomb with Alex, I snuggle up next to him and place a soft, chaste kiss to his lips. His tongue darts out playfully, and I have to stifle a laugh. “Thy lips are warm!”

From a distance, a masculine voice calls out, “Lead, boy. Which way?”

“Yeah, noise?” I ask no one. “Then I’ll be brief.”

Reaching over Alex’s body, I find his dagger and pull it out. The silver metal glistens in the light. “O, happy dagger! This is my sheath.” With tears trailing down my cheeks, I stab myself in the stomach and let my body fall limply against Alex’s.

With my eyes closed, I lie in the tomb, listening as the guards speak around me, trying to figure out what has happened. Next my mother and father enter. My mother screams and cries and begs for answers, while my father demands to know what’s happened. Alex and I continue to lie still while the friar explains everything from our love, to our death. My parents cry and mourn the loss of their daughter.

And then the prince speaks. “A glooming peace this morning with it brings. The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head. Go hence to have more talk of these sad things. Some shall be pardoned, and some punished. For never was a story more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”

The curtains close, and the auditorium booms with applause.

“You are such a beautiful Juliet,” Alex says, lifting onto his forearms and caging me in.

“And you are a handsome Romeo,” I say back.

Alex’s lips curl into a boyish grin. His face comes down, about to kiss me, but before our lips meet, we hear, “Not now! Not now! Out! Out!” Professor Marino chides. “We have curtain call! Come!”

Alex steps out of the tomb first and then helps me to my feet, lifting and setting me down. “Later,” he murmurs into my ear. Blush creeps up my neck and cheeks, heating my skin.

We form a line, and the curtains open. Everyone bows and curtsies, and the applause starts up once more. My eyes dart across the people and land on my family. My mom’s face splits into a huge smile. Our eyes meet, and she mouths, I love you.