Lie (Betrothed 8)

“Why are you so worried about it?” Anna must have recognized the unease on my face because she studied me as she smeared her cheese onto her slice of baguette.

I made up an excuse. “You know me… I always worry.”

Her expression became confused. “No. You’re the exact opposite.”

“Well, I’m maturing.” I excused myself from the table. “I’m going to go to the bathroom.”

“Alright…”

I stepped inside, and the second the men heard the door, they turned quiet, like they were discussing something they didn’t want to be overheard. They stood near the dining table, close together like they were plotting.

I pretended like I didn’t notice. “Damn, I’ve got to piss after chugging all that wine.” I walked to the bathroom and stepped inside, shutting the door loudly so they would think I was oblivious to them. But I quickly cracked it so I could overhear them if they spoke loudly enough.

They resumed their conversation like they believed my ploy.

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea, Damien.” Hades moved his hands into his pockets, his head slightly bowed as he looked at my brother. “You’re lucky he didn’t kill you.”

“No. He needs to go.” He kept his voice low, but the rage was obvious in his tone.

Why did I feel like they were talking about Heath?

“So, what’s your plan? It has to be solid because if it backfires, you’ll be out of chances.”

Damien crossed his arms over his chest, keeping his voice a whisper just in case I could hear him across the room in the bathroom. “We put snipers on the roof. He’ll come to get the money on Friday night, and when he walks out with the money, the second he steps foot on the sidewalk, they pull the trigger.”

Shit, they were talking about him.

“If you kill him, you’re going to anger the rest of the Skull Kings. Then they’ll come after you to avenge their leader.”

“No. That won’t be a problem.”

Hades cocked his head slightly, confused by the statement.

“One of his guys came to me and assured me that wouldn’t happen. He’s been wanting to get rid of him since he came into power in the first place. He’ll take advantage of the situation and take over, get me off the hook. Win-win.”

Hades was quiet for a while, like he didn’t see any problems with that plan. “Then you have to make sure his men don’t see the snipers. And the snipers have to get that shot. Because if they miss and he’s in that armored truck, it’ll be over.”

“I know. I’ve got four of my best guys.”

Hades gave a slight nod and pulled his hands out of his pockets. “Then it should work.”

“Fuck yes, it’ll work. And that fucking piece of shit will finally get what’s coming to him.”

I was in shock.

I wished I’d never overheard that conversation.

Now, I was in a predicament I didn’t want to be in. I’d told Heath I would never betray my brother’s plans if I knew about any of them, but now that I was actually in the position, I didn’t know what to do.

If I didn’t tell him…he would die.

I sat up in bed, my knees to my chest in the dark. Heath and I hadn’t been seeing each other long, and while there was a connection there, it was nothing more than physical. There had been an expiration date from the beginning, and considering his line of work and ongoing feud with my brother, it was no surprise it would end with his death.

So, I had to let it be.

Right?

Heath was guilty of every crime Damien had accused him of. There was no doubt about that. He was getting what he deserved.

That’s what I continued to tell myself…over and over.

My phone lit up with a text message on the nightstand. It was two in the morning, so there was only one person who would contact me at this time of night.

As if he knew I’d been thinking about him, he texted me. I’ll be there in two minutes. You better be naked by the time I get there.

I could hear his voice in my head as I read the words, hear the deep sound of his command ring in my ears. I’d told him I’d be busy for a few days, so I hadn’t heard from him in a while, but he obviously grew impatient and took matters into his own hands.

Couldn’t happen at a worse time.

My phone lit up with a notification, stating my alarm had been disabled by another user.

He had my alarm app on his phone?

Then I heard the locks start to turn.

I knew if I weren’t naked by the time he walked into my bedroom, there would be consequences, so I stripped off all my clothes, finishing just seconds before he stepped into the room, his silhouette clear in the dark.