Stolen Lies (Truths and Lies 2)

“I need to go make sure Mom and Zoe are safe,” I tell him. “I don’t know who we can even trust. I’m going to have her lock herself in the room. Can you tie this fucker up and call Kostas?”

Phoenix’s lips curl into a wide grin.

“What?” I ask, confused.

“Nothing.” He shakes his head. “I just hope one day I find a woman like you. Kostas got himself a good one. He better treat you right.”

“He more than treats me right,” I tell him. “He treats me like his queen.”

When I get to Zoe’s room, the door is closed and locked. “Mom,” I call out.

“Talia! I heard a gunshot! Are you okay?” she says through the door.

“Yes, I’m okay. You can open the door.” I want to make sure nobody is in there. I knew something was up with Fowler. Who knows who else is a rat.

When she opens the door, I sigh in relief at the sight of my daughter bouncing up and down in her crib. “Go ahead and lock the door again. Phoenix has Fowler, and Kostas will be on his way shortly. Don’t open the door unless it’s one of us.”

“Okay, be safe, sweetheart.” She gives me a kiss on my cheek.

I get back to the room to find Phoenix has Fowler propped up in my reading chair and has used my robe belt to tie his hands. He’s awake, but his head is hanging down. I bet he has a massive migraine. The thought makes me laugh. When my husband is done with him, a migraine will be the least of what he feels.

“What the fuck are you laughing at?” Fowler hisses. “You think tying me up is going to stop Aris from getting to you again?” He laughs wickedly, and I take a step back. Gone is the pervy flirt, and present is a ruthless mobster. “That man is on a revenge mission, and he ain’t gonna stop until he has everything Kostas cares about. Mark my fucking words.”

The room chills several degrees like a cold storm has surged into our bedroom, ready to destroy everything in its path.

“My brother will get to my wife again over my dead fucking body,” Kostas says, entering the room. He saunters over to Fowler like he doesn’t have a care in the world. But I can see the darkness in his usually light eyes. He’s pissed and he’s going to make Fowler pay…after he makes him talk.

“We can make this easy or difficult. Are you going to tell me where my brother is, or am I going to beat it out of you?” Kostas cracks his neck to one side and then to the other, the bones popping in an intimidating way.

Fowler laughs. “I’m not saying shit.” He spits at Kostas. “I already know my death warrant’s been signed. I’m not going down a fucking rat.”

Kostas glowers at him as he sheds his jacket and rolls up his sleeves. “The hard way it is.” He turns to me, and I give a look that tells him I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be damned if I don’t get to see this asshole get what’s coming to him. Kostas simply shakes his head, not even bothering to argue.

Kostas unbuckles his belt and pulls it through the loops. For a second, I wonder if he’s going to whip Fowler with his belt, but instead he wraps it around his neck, tightening it so tight, Fowler’s veins in his neck and face bulge. He doesn’t stop until Fowler’s face is bright red.

“This is for teaming with the wrong side.” He tightens it some more, and I worry he’s going to kill him before he gets any information out of him.

“And this is for even thinking you would try to take my daughter and wife from me.” Kostas tightens the belt, and Fowler’s survival instincts kick in. He tries to wriggle his body to get free. His head lashes back and forth as his face color turns to a deep crimson.

“Sis, you sure you wanna be here for this?” Phoenix asks, his tone laced with worry.

“She’s not going anywhere,” Kostas says, answering for me. “Your sweet little sister has quite the dark side in her.” While still choking Fowler, he looks back and shoots me a knowing smirk, causing my belly to flutter with butterflies. Jesus, I think I might be as crazy as my husband.

Kostas

When I’d gotten the text from Phoenix, I’d seen red. But thankfully, Talia’s brother is one of the few people I can trust around here. He’d been onto Fowler’s bullshit already and had his eye on him. And when the fucker thought he could hurt my fucking wife, she shot him.

Good girl.

Good goddamn girl.

The prick is whining and hissing against the leather belt that has him in a chokehold, but all I can do is admire my wife. She looks borderline angelic in her yellow sundress and sunny hair that hangs down her back in what she calls beach waves. Even the smile on her plump red lips is serene. It’s the eyes, though.