Page 62 of Deceiver

“Do you know what we’re going to do about Bill?” I ask, desperately needing to change the subject.

“We’re changin’ plans. I don’t want him goin’ to prison, I want him six feet under.”

Oh.

“You’re going to kill him?”

“No, the man he works for is goin’ to kill him. Bill is goin’ to fuck up in a big way, and when he does, he’ll be removed.”

I don’t understand.

“How can Bill possibly do that?”

“We have a plan, you don’t need to worry about it. All I can say is, Bill will be caught out and the whole thing will blow wide fuckin’ open.”

“He already suspects that you are onto him, if I suddenly disappear he’ll know that he has been exposed and he won’t make any mistakes.”

“Bonnie,” Western orders, leaning forward. “You gotta trust me.”

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath.

The problem is...I don’t know if I do.

He might crack this wide open and have Bill removed, but all that’ll do is open things up for him and the club.

I have to ask.

I have to.

I can’t keep in inside any longer.

I open my eyes and look him dead in his. “I’m going to ask you something, and I’m begging you to be honest with me. If this,” I point between the two of us, “means anything to you at all, then you’ll tell me the truth.”

His eyes darken, a guard automatically coming up, but he nods for me to proceed.

“I got information that you’re involved with the foster kids going missing, that you’re in on it and Bill is trying to bring you down because it’s too big of a risk. I saw a photo...a photo of you with one of the boys. So, I’m going to ask you once, Western, are you selling those kids?”

His eyes don’t show a single hint of emotion. Not shock, not anger, not guilt...nothing. That’s the problem with Western, it’s incredibly hard to read him because he’s as stony faced as they come. I hold my breath, waiting for his answer.

“No.”

His response is simple, straight forward, and yet leaves me with so many follow up questions.

“Then why was there a photo of you with one of the boys?”

“Wrong place. Wrong time.”

Do I trust him?

Do I give him the benefit of the doubt?

I don’t know how to tell if he’s lying or if he’s telling the truth.

“You’re not lying to me, are you?”

“No.”

His voice stays the same tone, his eyes never once leave mine.