Death Wish (Deception Duet 2)

The loser in question straightens when he sees me. I can tell he wants to come over to talk to me, but the last thing he needs is to be seen with a Mannford triplet. If that gets back to his cousin, Ty will be so fucked. Not to mention, it’d be easier to piece together our involvement with Landry’s escape.

Giving him a slight nod, indicating I have this and not to worry, I make my way over to the bar. A woman in a sleek red dress flashes me a flirty grin. It does nothing for me. All it does is make me want Landry.

Fuck, she’s perfect.

A total bitch, but so goddamn perfect.

I’ve really liked chicks in the past. Never like this, though. Never where I constantly think about them every second of every day. I don’t want to conquer Landry. I just fucking want her. In my bed, in my apartment, in my life. The fact I have to share her is driving me to insanity. However, it beats the alternative. I’d rather share her with my dipshit brothers than lose her altogether.

I’m so pussy-whipped.

I finally get Sully and his always being “perfect boyfriend material.” With Landry, I want to pleasure her and make her laugh. I want to verbally spar with her but then make her scream while I fuck her into oblivion. I want to hold and kiss and fucking pet her like a sweet little kitten.

Stiffy is back.

Fuck.

“Hi,” the red-dress woman purrs, leaning forward, making her tits jiggle from the movement. “Haven’t seen you around before.”

“Hmph.”

Real smooth, asshole.

Undeterred, she grins. “Someone’s grumpy. I’m Stasia. I like to think of myself as a bit of sunshine. Seems like we might get along well.”

Something about her too-perfect smile sets my teeth on edge. I’m not exactly being friendly and she’s persistent, nevertheless. I know I’m hot, but damn. She reeks of trying too hard.

My hackles rise. Normally, I’d flirt right back with a gorgeous woman who was practically throwing herself at me. Not anymore. Especially not when Landry is at home, maybe not waiting for me exactly, but there.

I give Stasia a quick smile before turning to order my drink from the bartender. He gives me a nod and then starts making it. The scent of sweet roses permeates the air as Stasia sidles up beside me. Her bare arm brushes against my tuxedo jacket. I want to move away from her, yet something compels me to stay. I’m curious what her angle is.

“I’ll have what he’s having,” she tells the bartender. “He’s paying, too.”

She looks up at me, grinning wider and batting her long lashes at me.

“You don’t give up, do you?” I grunt, arching a brow at her.

“Never. I’m like a dog with a bone.” Her smile falters briefly, as though she’s given something away. “So, what’s your name?”

“Sparrow. Sparrow Mannford.”

Her eyebrows furl slightly, as though she wasn’t expecting that answer. It makes me more suspicious of her. I’m starting to feel targeted. It’s like she already knows me.

“Sparrow,” she parrots. “What an interesting name. Is there a story behind it?”

More phishing.

“Nope. My mom just liked it.”

She waits for me to elaborate. I don’t.

“So, do you have any siblings?”

Again with the weird questioning. The bartender drops off our drinks. I take a healthy swig that lights my esophagus on fire before I answer her question.

“Two brothers. We’re triplets.”

“Triplets? How interesting!” She nibbles on her bottom lip. “Do you ever play together? Or try to trick people?”

“We had our fair share of tricks as kids.”

“And now?”

“We’re a little too old for that, don’t you think?” I take another sip of my drink. “What do you do? Here for work or family duty?”

“Work.” She glances into the crowd before affixing me with another probing stare. Her finger toys with my bow tie. “You want to get out of here?”

“You barely know me.”

“Yet,” she murmurs. “I want to get to know you.”

I glance down at her cleavage, making a show to lick my lips. My free hand palms her ribs and I run my thumb along the underside of her breast. She playfully giggles, backing away and blushes bright red.

Too late, Stasia.

I felt the fucking wire.

I’m being set up. Did Ty do this? Glancing over at him, I look for clues. He’s eyeballing a man near the door. Ty finds me watching and then makes an obvious show of pointing with his eyes to the man.

Cop, he mouths.

I don’t have to hear it to understand it clear as day. If he’s warning me about a cop, then he doesn’t know there’s more than one. This one, specifically, is trying way too hard to get me to take her back to my place which means they at least suspect we might be involved. But, based on her earlier conversation, I think she expected me to say I was Ford Mann. I’ve thrown her off by stating my real name and not giving in to her flirty advances.