Page 34 of Deceptive Desires (The Syndicate #2)

Roman

As soon as the door closes to Dad’s study, three sets of eyes glare at me.

“What the fuck is that?” Dom spits out pointing at the door in the general direction of the dining room.

“What is what?” I feign confusion. “You’ve never met a girlfriend before? Or you’ve never seen a pretty woman? Or is it you’ve never experienced a woman being kind to her man?”

It’s petty to come after his lack of a dating life, but I don’t care. They pulled me away from Cecilia, and I’m pissed about it.

Plus, Matthias laughed at it, so I’m not too far off.

“You little shit! Did you forget I’m not only your older brother, but also your boss? And the head of this family?” Dom glares at me, his nostrils flaring in anger.

“You’re really going to try to control me with those things? The Syndicate wouldn’t be anything without me doing your dirty work, and you damn well know it!” I seethe.

I’m hoping if we focus on work, the attention will shift from my relationship.

“Speaking of work, I didn’t realize you were on Syndicate Enterprise’s payroll,” Matthias muses.

“I didn’t want to expose who we are and what we do to her until I knew we were serious. I also don’t want to expose her to the underworld. I have to keep her safe.” I glare at Matthias. “You of all people should understand that.”

“What I’m seeing isn’t just you lying about your job. You’re lying about everything. Hell, she doesn’t know you at all. You’re acting like a complete stranger. We both know you aren’t loving and caring. And you sure as fuck aren’t a hero!” Matthias throws back at me.

I have him pinned against the wall, my arm against his neck in seconds.

“I am her hero!” I grit out, beyond furious. I won’t tolerate anyone saying otherwise.

“Down boy,” he croaks out as I’m choking him. “I see I’ve hit a nerve.”

Dom pulls me back before Matthias passes out.

“Why are you hiding who you are?” Dom demands.

“I’m not hiding. Maybe this is who I truly am! Ever thought of that?” I counter.

“Bullshit. We know you better than anyone else. You’re a vicious killer. An instrument of pain. You’re the best at what you do for a reason. You’re not a sweet boyfriend,” Dom calls me out.

“Fine… It all spiraled too quickly. And once she realizes that I’m not a good man, she’ll leave me. She’s too kindhearted to be with a killer. So, for now, she doesn’t need to know.” I pause, then add. “And if any of you tell her, I’ll fucking destroy you.”

“You’re fucking catfishing her!” Bash accuses.

“I’m doing what to her? What the fuck is catfishing?” The only catfish I’ve ever heard of is the bottom feeder.

Bash rolls his eyes at me but explains anyways. “You’re pretending to be something you’re not. You’re lying to her and hiding your true identity. It’s vile.”

“Fine, so what if I am catfishing her? What she doesn’t know won’t kill her!” I argue with my full chest. “Matthias, wouldn’t you have rather Margot not have known about the Bratva and anything Syndicate related? She would’ve been much safer.”

Matthias sighs, knowing I’m right.

“Yeah, it would’ve kept her safer and avoided that whole situation. And I’ll never involve her in Syndicate affairs again.” He sighs. “I’m on Roman’s side here. Until he’s sure she can trust him and won’t run away from him, I think he can keep his darker side hidden.”

“What is wrong with you two?” Bash demands incredulously.

“Get off your high horse. When you meet the love of your life, you’ll understand the drastic lengths you’re willing to go to keep her,” I scold him.

Bash looks to the side longingly. His eyes get a faraway look, and I can tell his mind has drifted elsewhere.

“Bash?” I hiss, breaking him from his stupor.

“What? Oh… yeah. Fine, I get it. Whatever it takes to keep her.” It’s as though he understands the words. As though he’s doing whatever it takes.

“Slow down, everyone. How well do you actually know this woman? Are you sure she isn’t a spy?” Dom asks, paranoid as ever.

“Cecilia isn’t a spy. She’s the most peace-oriented, kindhearted human to ever walk this planet.

She’d never be involved in something nefarious.

Plus, I’ve gone through her apartment multiple times and tailed her for days.

She’s just a normal woman,” I explain, smiling at how sweet of a woman my sunshine is.

“You’ve been tailing your woman and breaking into her apartment!” Bash’s eyes about fall out of his head. “You’re a sick fuck!”

“You would do the same thing if you were in my shoes!” I counter, but I’m not quite sure it’s true. Bash has always had the tightest moral compass out of us. He’s only just forgiven Matthias for how Matthias got Margot and his unwitting role in it all.

But to my absolute shock, he keeps quiet. He doesn’t attack me like he did Matthias when he found out what he’d done to get Margot. He doesn’t fight me on this at all. In fact, the more he stews on what I said, the more he relaxes, until he finally nods in agreement.

What the fuck is going on with him?

“I’d also perform an extensive background check on my woman… er, I mean, if I had one. Want me to check out Cecilia? I just need her full name,” he confesses, not making eye contact.

Why is he acting so weird?

“Do it,” Dom demands.

“No need,” I counter. “Cecilia is an open book. She’ll tell me anything I want to know. She’s not a threat.”

They stare at me slack-jawed. I know it goes against everything we preach, but it’s just not needed. Cecilia isn’t hiding anything.

“Are you sure? I can get it to you within the day,” Bash offers.

“Do it,” Dom repeats. “This isn’t up for discussion.”

“Fine. I can send it to you tomorrow.”

“I can just stop by, and you can explain everything to me,” I offer, not wanting to inconvenience him more. “Your penthouse isn’t far from Cecilia’s place.” It offers me a great excuse to visit her.

“Oh… umm. I actually moved,” Bash reveals.

He’s met with three more shocked faces.

“Where’d you move to?” Dom demands.

“Shady Meadows.”

“Why the fuck did you move to the middle-class suburbs an hour away from the Syndicate and Syndicate Enterprises? Fuck, it’s an hour away from all of us. You have millions in the bank! Why live somewhere so below your paygrade?” Dom asks what we’re all thinking.

It doesn’t make sense. His penthouse is in a better location and is much nicer. It’s also heavily secure with Syndicate Enterprise measures. Why would he move?

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll send you the update. You’ve been away from your woman for forty minutes. Don’t you want to get back to her?” he counters.

I know he’s just trying to switch the subject, but I don’t care. I need to get back to Cecilia.